Page:Our Hymns.djvu/280

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260 OUB HYMNS :

volume after volume, till he had, in 1820, completed eight volumes, including one hundred discourses. Simple, evangelical, and earnest, these sermons met a v, r ant, and were blessed by God to the salvation of many souls. They have been translated into Malay, Singalese, and other tongues. In 1821 he published twelve " Sea Sermons," the nautical phrases being corrected by a minister who had been in the navy ; and in 1826, twelve " Cot tage Sermons." And in 1828, when approaching his own end, he prepared twelve " Sermons for the Aged." These various sets of sermons have had a great sale nearly a million copies before his death and the author heard of many instances in which they had been useful, and in some cases by their occasional use the hearts of unconverted clergymen were changed and a regular gospel ministry was introduced. Mr. Burder was also the author of " Evangelical Truth defended," 1788; "Missionary Anecdotes," 1811 ; and several other works.

In the year 1803, he left Coventry to undertake important duties in London. He succeeded the Rev. John Eyre, who had died, in his offices as editor of the " Evangelical Magazine," and secre tary of the London Missionary Society. This institution, founded in 1795, owed very much at its origin, if not that origin itself, to the zeal of the delegates sent to London by the "Warwickshire Association of Ministers for the spread of the Gospel both at home and abroad." In the formation of that association Mr. Burder had taken an active part. For twenty-four years, up to 1827, he continued to be the laborious but unpaid secretary of the London Missionary Society. Along with these onerous duties, Mr. Burder undertook the pastoral office at Fetter Lane, a charge he retained till his death. In 1804 he assisted in the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society ; and in 1806 he became one of the preachers of the ancient " Merchants Lecture." During the last few years of his life, his failing sight and other infirmities rendered it necessary for him to give up his duties one by one ; but he was able to preach occasionally till within three months of his de parture. His second wife died March 6th, 1824. He peacefully

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