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MEMOIR 
 
 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON, 
 
 FIRST PASTOR OE THE WHITEFIELD CHURCH, 
 
 NEWBURYPORT, MASS. 
 
 BY REV. RUFUS W. CLARK, 
 
 EAST BOSTON, MAS3. 
 
 ABKIDGED BY TiSt 
 
 01^ THE 
 
 [univeesity: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 160 NASSAU-STREET, N E W - Y O R K . 
 
s*<^^ 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by Rufus W, 
 Clark, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Mas- 
 sachusetts. 
 
 %*/&/% 
 
 Right of publisLing transferred to the American Tract Society 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Intuoduction, 5 
 
 CHAPTEE 1. 
 Infancy and childhood, 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 From his professing religion to entering college, . . 40 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Residence at Amherst college, 62 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Residence at Conway, Mass., . 07 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Connection with Princeton Theological seminary, . . 147 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Settlement over the Whitefield chm-ch in Newburyport, 195 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Closing scenes of his life, 234 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 This memoir has been abridged with the 
 desire of rendering it more acceptable to the 
 general reader, and with the hope that its use- 
 fulness may be increased. 
 
 Mankind are influenced more by example 
 than precept ; a life has more power than a 
 principle. Men, before adopting a truth or 
 system, desire to see its workings upon char- 
 acter, as well as listen to arguments in its 
 favor. It is well, therefore, that a new living 
 testimony to the practical power of Christi- 
 anity should be perpetuated. Who, compara- 
 tively speaking, would have heard of James B. 
 Taylor, Harlan Page, James Brainerd, and 
 others that might be mentioned, had not their 
 memoirs been published to the world ? These 
 holy men died in order to live. They, most of 
 them, died young, in order that their influence 
 might possess immortal youth. Their death 
 was the signal that attracted public attention 
 
6 JHHK INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to their memory, and never at any former 
 period was their influence greater than it is 
 now. While they lived, a few minds were 
 "benefited by their example, instructions, and 
 prayers. Now, thousands throughout Chris- 
 tendom feel the hallowed influence of their 
 piety. Multitudes, as they read of the re- 
 ligious exercises, emotions, conflicts, and vic- 
 tories of these heroes in the Christian warfare, 
 have their own faith strengthened, their hopes 
 quickened, and their desires for usefahiess 
 kindle with new and fresh ardor. They obtain 
 at their hands weapons, with which to fight 
 the battle of life, with which to contend 
 against the triple forces of *'the world, the 
 flesh, and the devil." They learn from them 
 the way of access to the mercy-seat ; learn the 
 value of the diligent study of God's word ; 
 learn the benefits of religious meditation, and 
 thorough self-examination ; learn, what we 
 most need to know, how to die — how to leave 
 these familiar scenes with composure, and 
 enter upon the mysterious future life with 
 <^ songs and everlasting joy." 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 EEV. JOHN E. EMERSON 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 
 1823-1836. 
 
 John Edwards Emerson was born in New- 
 buryport, Mass., September 27, 1823. He 
 was the son of Mr. Charles L. and Mrs. Rhoda 
 P. Emerson, and grandson of the Rev. John 
 Emerson, who for more than fifty years was 
 an able and devoted minister of the gospel in 
 Conway, Mass. The ancestry of Mr. Emerson 
 is distinguished for a large number of faithful 
 ministers. Joseph Emerson, who came from 
 England, was a clergyman in Mendon, Mass,, 
 
8 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 and removed to Concord, where he died in 
 1680. His grandson, Joseph Emerson, was 
 settled in Maiden in 1721, and died in 1767, 
 aged 67. Three of his sons were ministers: 
 Joseph of Pepperell, William of Concord, and 
 John of Conway. 
 
 The subject of this memoir, at a very early 
 age, manifested a high degree of conscientious- 
 ness. His pious parents and friends treasure 
 in their memory many striking and pleasing 
 incidents illustrative of his sensitiveness under 
 the least deviation from rectitude and truth. 
 Whenever he did any thing that he thought 
 was wrong, he could not rest until he had 
 hastened to his parents and obtained their for- 
 giveness. 
 
 One day, having read in his Bible the pas- 
 sage, '' Confess your faults one to another," he 
 went to his mother, and with much feeling 
 referred to what he had been reading, and said 
 that he had taken something from the closet 
 without permission, and wished to confess the 
 wrong as the Holy Bible required. 
 
 Every Sabbath noon the children were accus- 
 tomed to repeat the ten commandments, and 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. -9 
 
 after each one they were asked whether during 
 the preceding week they had been guilty of its 
 violation ; a plan eminently calculated to im- 
 plant right principles in their young hearts. 
 One evening after the eighth commandment 
 had been repeated, John remarked that the day 
 before, he had picked up a cent in an adjoining 
 yard ; and thinking that it might belong to one 
 of the neighbors, he did not feel it to be right 
 to retain it, and proposed to take it to them 
 the next day, and very cheerfully did so. This 
 hour on the Sabbath, between one and two 
 o'clock, was peculiarly precious to John through 
 life. It was at this time especially that his 
 mother sought to make deep religious impres- 
 sions upon the minds of her children, and lead 
 them to repent of the sins they had committed 
 during the previous week. Even when John 
 was absent from home, he would spend the 
 hour in prayer and meditation. 
 
 When very young, he was in the habit of 
 praying in secret ; and from the commence- 
 ment, his prayers made with his mother or 
 other associates were remarkable for their ap- 
 propriateness and fervency. 
 
10 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 Among his childish propensities was a fond- 
 ness for imitating the preacher, and going 
 through with the services of pubhc worship. 
 He would even carry the matter so far as to 
 appear to exchange pulpits with the neighbor- 
 ing ministers; and so perfectly did he imitate 
 the voice, manner, and gestures of each, that 
 it was at once apparent with whom he was 
 exchanging. 
 
 This disposition of his mind to imitate, which, 
 however, seldom degenerated into mimicry, he 
 early restrained ; and from a child was re- 
 markable for his profound reverence for every 
 thing pertaining to religion. 
 
 He was always more or less thoughtful and 
 serious ; but on the last Sabbath in December, 
 1833, he passed through a crisis in his feelings 
 that decided his rehgious character for this 
 life, and his hopes for eternity. The previous 
 Saturday evening a more than usual serious- 
 ness was apparent in his countenance and de- 
 portment. The Spirit of God was evidently 
 striving with him, and he felt that he must 
 make a full and entire consecration of himself 
 to Christ. 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 11 
 
 On Sabbath morning he came home from 
 church bathed in tears. He asked his mother 
 to accompany him up stairs, saying that he 
 was a great sinner. She urged him to go to 
 God with his desires and troubles. Referring 
 to his meditations, he said, " But Mary kept 
 all these things, and pondered them in her 
 heart." He then fell upon his knees, and 
 poured out his soul in supplication before G od. 
 His mother stood near, perfectly astonished at 
 his fervency, and the appropriateness, beauty, 
 and force of his language. He prayed as one 
 who had long had access to the mercy-seat — 
 one who was acquainted with the workings 
 and treachery of the human heart, and who 
 felt his entire dependence upon God for strength 
 and hope. After dinner he communicated his 
 feelings more fully to both his parents; and 
 they, with parental affection and Christian ear- 
 nestness, directed him to '' the Lamb of God, 
 which taketh away the sin of the world." 
 Again they had a season of prayer together, 
 and the spirit of the young disciple was com- 
 forted and refreshed. 
 
 A few days after this, an inquiry-meeting 
 
12 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 was appointed to be held in the church at the 
 close of a public religious service. All who 
 desired to converse with the minister on the 
 subject of their salvation were invited to re- 
 main. John accepted the invitation and tar- 
 ried. While sitting in his seat, he observed 
 some boys in the gallery pointing at him and 
 laughing. The blood rushed to his cheeks, and 
 feeling keenly the ridicule, he took his hat in 
 his hand to leave the house ; but just as he 
 was rising to go, these lines flashed into his 
 mind: 
 
 "Ashamed of Jesus, that dear friend, 
 On whom my hopes of heaven depend!" 
 
 In an instant he was ready to reply, 
 
 " No ; when I blush, be this my shame — 
 That I no more revere his name." 
 
 Immediately he resumed his seat, laid aside 
 his hat, and resolved that, God helping him, 
 he would strive, in spite of every obstacle, to 
 obtain salvation. 
 
 In conversation with the minister, he stated 
 his views and wishes, and was urged to exer- 
 cise sincere repentance for sin, and rely solely 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 13 
 
 upon the merits and sufferings of Christ for 
 pardon and acceptance. 
 
 A pious friend residing in the family relates 
 the following touching incident : 
 
 '* In February, 1834, when John slept in the 
 trundle-bed in my room, very early in the morn- 
 ing I heard him weeping, and caught now and 
 then a whisper ; at first I took no notice of it. 
 He continued weeping for some time ; I then 
 said, * John, what is the matter?' He did not 
 answer me, but wept more bitterly. I went 
 to him and said, ' What ails you, John ; are you 
 sick?' He then with great sobbing said, 'I 
 am such a great sinner, I am afraid God will 
 not forgive my sins.' I said a little to him 
 about Christ. His heart seemed to be broken, 
 and his face was w^et with tears. I told him he 
 
 might go into aunt L 's room, and she would 
 
 talk with him. He went, and found her en- 
 gaged, so that she could say but little to him. 
 He then came to me and said, ' No one cares 
 about my soul.' I told him to go to his room, and 
 tell the Saviour all about it ; he would care for 
 him. He went and staid until breakfast was 
 ready, when he came to the table, ate but little. 
 
14 REV. JrOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 and appeared very solemn, and seemed in a 
 very subdued state." 
 
 In March, being then ten years old, he wroto 
 to his brother "William the following letter, giv- 
 ing an account of his feelings and hopeful con- 
 version. 
 
 '' Newburyport, March 22, 1834. 
 
 '* Dear Brother — I have long wanted to 
 write, to tell you my feelings. The last time 
 that you were at home from Andover, on Satur- 
 day evening, a dark and stormy night, mother 
 was conversing with us on the subject of relig- 
 ion. She said that probably a great many per- 
 sons before the next Saturday night would be 
 sealed for heaven or hell. Those words made a 
 deep impression upon my mind, and I hope will 
 never be effaced. The next day I felt very much 
 what a sinner I was. I read the second chap- 
 ter of Proverbs, which gave some comfort to 
 my mind : I hope that you will read it. 
 
 " I kept on with my hope in Christ, till one 
 Sabbath morning I received such light, peace, 
 and comfort, that I came down from my cham- 
 ber and asked mother to go up with me. She 
 did so, and we read and prayed, and had a 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 15 
 
 most delightful season. I went to the Sabbath- 
 school afterwards, and communicated my feel- 
 ings to my teacher : he was delighted. I then 
 went to meeting, and heard a sermon from this 
 text, ' Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out 
 of it are the issues of life.' It was just what I 
 wanted. I went home rejoicing in my Saviour. 
 
 '' After the meeting in the afternoon an in- 
 quiry-meeting was appointed, and a great many 
 persons stopped. I was one of them. Dr. Skin- 
 ner addressed us, and showed us our duty, that 
 Christ requires us to deny ourselves, take up 
 the cross, and follow him. 
 
 '^ For the last two or three days I have had 
 light and comfort poured into my soul. I feel 
 as though I could trust in the Lord at all times. 
 0, William, I do earnestly hope that you and 
 Charles will be brought to see the error of your 
 ways, and now ' turn unto the Lord, who will 
 have mercy upon you, and to our God, who 
 will abundantly pardon.' I do hope that your 
 feet will be taken out of the horrible pit and 
 miry clay, and planted upon the rock Christ 
 Jesus. I know how many temptations and 
 snares you are exposed to, but you must pray 
 
16' REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. -W"^ 
 
 to God to keep you from them, and from the 
 great adversary of souls. 
 
 *^I have a chamber where, morning, noon, 
 and evening, I retire to read the Scriptures, 
 pray, and meditate, and sometimes sing. I 
 have many a time had sweet communion with 
 God, and many a time have had to weep and 
 mourn over my folly and sins. But I trust 
 that I shall not have to mourn much more, for 
 I hope to live very near to God. We have no 
 minister yet at our church ; but we have meet- 
 ings almost all the time, and I attend them, 
 and find them a great deal more interesting 
 than I did before I felt as I do now on the sub- 
 ject of religion. The Sabbath is more precious 
 to me now, and I can treasure up a great deal 
 more of the sermon than I used to. Some- 
 times I feel as if I could see God right before 
 me while I am praying ; but I find that when 
 I sin, I do not get such nearness to him. 
 
 '' Mother, Samuel, and I, have an hour every 
 Sunday between the ringing of the bells in the 
 afternoon, and we have very pleasant seasons 
 together. Samuel, we hope, is thinking on the 
 subject of religion. He has attended a great 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 17 
 
 many of the meetings. He told mother to-day, 
 that what made him want to pray was this sen- 
 tence : ' Praying will make us leave off sinning, 
 and sinning will make us leave off praying.' 
 He wants you to learn it. He prays for you 
 every day most sincerely, and I hope his pray- 
 ers for you will be answered. 
 
 '' We have now a great revival in this town; 
 many souls have been converted. 
 
 '' I hope you will write me a very long letter 
 in return for this, and I hope to hear that you 
 have turned to God. Pray for me, and the Lord 
 be with you and bless you for ever and ever, 
 *'Your affectionate brother, 
 
 "J. E. EMERSON." 
 
 In such simple and pious language did our 
 little convert relate what the Lord had done 
 for his soul. His allusions to his seasons of 
 prayer are peculiarly touching, and indeed, 
 prayer was his meat and drink. 
 
 On one occasion he was praying aloud as 
 was his custom, and a friend in an adjoining 
 room overheard him. After listening for a few 
 moments, she was so affected by his earnest- 
 ness and childlike confidence in God, that she 
 
18 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 burst into tears. Such a prayer she never 
 heard before from infant lips. 
 
 When he felt the burden of sin, or had any 
 thing upon his mind that troubled him, he 
 went to the throne of grace, and there obtained 
 relief and comfort. This privilege was not a 
 mere form, but a blessed reality. He felt that 
 there was power and efficacy in prayer; and 
 he loved to bend the knee before his heavenly 
 Father, and abide in the light of his divine 
 countenance. He had each day three seasons 
 of prayer, and as he entered his little sanctuary 
 he would repeat the following lines : 
 
 *' By morning light I '11 seek his face, 
 At noon repeat my cry ; 
 The night shall hear me ask his grace, 
 Nor will he long deny." 
 
 After he commenced attending school, he 
 would hasten home to his quiet retreat, and 
 enjoy a little season of communion with God. 
 
 Feeling a strong desire to be useful to others, 
 he voluntarily established a prayer-meeting 
 among his school-mates ; and he led their de- 
 votions with all the propriety and solemnity of 
 one who had enjoyed a long Christian experi- 
 
INFANCY AND CHMiH^S^ J^ *^.^9r 
 
 ence. Often, too, he might ^Jra^ji earnestly ^ 
 conversing with them upon the imptJrtance of 
 loving God, obeying their parents, speaking ^ 
 the truth, and avoiding every sin. 
 
 His interest in the public services of the 
 sanctuary was manifested at a very early age. 
 He loved to go with his parents to the house 
 of God ; and his remarks upon the sermon and 
 other exercises on returning home, showed that 
 he had listened with attention, and with unu- 
 sual discrimination for one of his years. 
 
 The views he entertained of ministerial ex- 
 cellence were high ; and he took great delight 
 in the society of ministers. "When listening to 
 their conversation or prayers, and especially 
 when they conversed with him, he seemed to 
 be perfectly happy. 
 
 The Sabbath was a very precious day to 
 John. Its morning light he hailed with grati- 
 tude and pleasure. Early might his voice be 
 heard ascending to his Father in heaven, for 
 the divine blessing upon his own soul, upon his 
 parents, and upon the exercises of the day. 
 Its hours were never wearisome, its duties 
 never irksome, even to his youthful spirit. 
 
 I 
 
20 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 There seemed, indeed, every day to be a Sab- 
 bath abiding in his soul, with its peaceful hal- 
 lowed influences ; and the privileges and sacred 
 associations of the day appeared to be more 
 congenial to his feelings, than the employments 
 of the week. 
 
 We would by no means present the charac- 
 ter of this youth as faultless. We would use 
 no false colorings in delineating his traits and 
 virtues. We simply give the impressions that 
 we have received from many witnesses. All 
 testify to his purity, loveliness of disposition, 
 and tender regard for sacred things. 
 
 His fondness for reading was manifested at 
 an early age. The books that specially inter- 
 ested him, were the lives of persons eminent 
 for their piety. The memoir of Nathan Dick- 
 erman, of Mary Lothrop, of Harriet Newell, 
 and works of a similar character, he read over 
 and over again. He longed to be imbued with 
 their devotional spirit, and to mould his char- 
 acter after the patterns here presented. 
 
 The Bible, however, was John's greatest 
 treasure. He did not simply read it. He 
 studied it. He prayed over it. He could say, 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 21 
 
 "• Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a 
 light unto my path." He stored his memory 
 with its most precious and forcible passages; 
 and this enabled him during his life to make 
 on all occasions appropriate and striking quota- 
 tions from the Scriptures. He often appeared 
 to think in Bible language, and mould his 
 ideas in Bible imagery. The beautiful figures 
 scattered throughout the Psalms of David, the 
 sublime language of the prophets, the simple 
 instructions of the Saviour, delighted his youth- 
 ful imagination. He was particularly fond of 
 the Proverbs of Solomon ; and the second chap- 
 ter he was in the habit of calling his chapter, 
 as he had read it over, I think I may say hun- 
 dreds of times. He referred to this chapter on 
 his death-bed, and remarked that it had always 
 been his guide. The words of the wise man 
 seemed ever to ring in his ear, " If thou criest 
 after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for 
 understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, 
 and searchest for her as for hid treasures ; then 
 shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and 
 find the knowledge of God." 
 
 When Mr. Emerson was between ten and 
 
22 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 twelve years of age, he read entirely through 
 Scott's Bible, with the notes and practical re- 
 marks. It was his custom to read a chapter 
 or two each day aloud, with the notes. Thus 
 he furnished his mind with a fund of biblical 
 knowledge that he found of great service in 
 after-life. He also acquired by this exercise 
 no small degree of mental discipline, and cul- 
 tivated a taste for the study of other and more 
 critical commentaries upon the Scriptures. The 
 completion of this undertaking within so short 
 a period, is proof of the energy as well as the 
 devotional character of his mind. But few at 
 his age would have manifested such persever- 
 ance, or have devoted so much time to such an 
 exercise. While other lads were engaged in 
 their sports, he was in his little sanctuary 
 bending over the sacred volume, and prepar- 
 ing, though unconsciously, for an early sum- 
 mons to the temple above. 
 
 His parents, besides doing all in their power 
 to develop e and strengthen these religious ten- 
 dencies, were also careful to shield their son 
 from the evil influence of improper companions. 
 For such society John, too, had a positive aver- 
 
IITFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 23 
 
 sion. The wicked language and censurable 
 conduct of such boys sent a chill through his 
 heart, and he avoided them as much as pos- 
 sible. In so doing, he certainly acted most 
 wisely; for of all the pernicious influences to 
 which children are exposed, I know of none 
 more destructive than that which flows from 
 bad associates. In vast multitudes of instances 
 the faithful instructions of parents, the warn- 
 ings of friends, the good effects of early relig- 
 ious culture, are lost in this vortex of iniquity. 
 While the Christian parent at home is doing 
 all in his power to promote the growth of right 
 principles and fortify the mind against the 
 power of temptation, the child is often learn- 
 ing that abroad which will blast and scathe 
 his character, and eventually defeat all the 
 efforts that are made to train him to habits of 
 virtue and holiness. Many of the young who, 
 on leaving home for our large cities, fall vic- 
 tims to dissipation, carry with them the seeds •» 
 of vice sown by the hand of improper associ- 
 ates. While they remain under the parental 
 roof, they are subject to restraints that prevent 
 these secret sins from ripening into open trans- 
 
24 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 gression. But these restraints removed, and 
 the youth left free to act for himself, then the 
 poison begins to work — then its ruinous effects 
 are experienced ; and in the contest between 
 the hallowed influences of home and these 
 awakened evil tendencies of the heart, the 
 youth is fortunate if he escapes absolute de- 
 struction. / - 
 
 This, however, is not the place to discuss so 
 grave and important a subject ; yet we cannot 
 but remark that Mr. Emerson was greatly in- 
 debted for his purity of mind, integrity of char- 
 acter, and strict conscientiousness, to his free- 
 dom from these baneful influences. He uni- 
 formly sought the society of the good, the vir- 
 tuous, and the wise. He delighted in the com- 
 pany of those older than himself, and was fond 
 of mingling with those visitors who were emi- 
 nent for their piety and were ready to converse 
 on religious subjects. The fair little boy, with 
 his intelligent blue eye, his thoughtful brow, 
 his pensive countenance, his respectful de- 
 meanor, might be seen often sitting for hours, 
 and drinking in the words that fell from those 
 who spoke of Christ and conversed upon the 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 25 
 
 doctrines and blessings of true religion. Under 
 such influences was he nurtured, and by such 
 means was he protected from the evils of per- 
 nicious companions. 
 
 When between ten and eleven years of age, 
 John was prostrated by sickness. His dili- 
 gence in his studies, and constant attendance 
 upon religious meetings, exhausted his strength 
 and weakened his constitution, which was nat- 
 urally feeble. His religious impressions at 
 this time were becoming very deep ; and the 
 glow of a heavenly fervor was pervading more 
 fully his soul. He knew not but he should 
 die ; yet his spirit was full of rapturous de- 
 light. He felt that he could rely upon God, 
 that Jesus was his friend, that heaven was his 
 home. Much of his time was spent in fervent 
 prayer, and in listening to the reading of the 
 Bible and other religious books. Several hymns 
 which he had committed to memory, he re- 
 peated often, and with much apparent emo- 
 tion. The following beautiful stanzas of the 
 hymn commencing, '' Ye \ngels who stand 
 round the throne," afforded him very great 
 delight. 
 

 26 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 *• Oh, when will the period appear, 
 
 When I shall unite in your song ? 
 I 'm weary of lingering here, 
 
 And I to your Saviour belong. 
 I 'm fettered and chained up in clay ; 
 
 I struggle and pant to be free ; 
 I long to be soaring away. 
 
 My God and my Saviour to see. 
 
 " I want to put on my attire, 
 
 Washed white in the blood of the Lamb; 
 I want to be one of your choir, 
 
 And tune my sweet harp to his name — . 
 I want — Oh, I want to be there. 
 
 Where sorrow and sin bid adieu — 
 Your joy and your friendship to share. 
 
 To wonder and worship with you.'^ 
 
 The last stanza he repeated with deep emo- 
 tion. 
 
 On recovering his health, he felt more than 
 ever the importance of making an entire conse- 
 cration of himself to Christ. His feelings at 
 this time are expressed in the following letter, 
 which he wrote to his friend, Mr. S. N. Tenny 
 of Boston, July 5, 1834: 
 
 '' Dear Sir — Your kind letter of June 12, I 
 received and read with much pleasure. You 
 were certainly very kind to take such an in- 
 
INFAKCY AND CHiLDHOOD. 27 
 
 terest in me, as to write such a long letter. 
 You say that you hope my health is improv- 
 ing. I can with pleasure assure you that it 
 has entirely recovered, and I can truly say, 
 ' What shall I render to the Lord for all his 
 benefits V I hope that I shall remember his 
 goodness with gratitude, and live nearer to him 
 than 1 did before. I hope that you will pray 
 for me, that I may have that tenderness of con- 
 science and humble heart that you spoke of in 
 your letter. 
 
 '' Our little praying circle of boys still con- 
 tinues to meet, and nearly all feel interested 
 in the great and important subject of rehgion. 
 This afternoon we had a meeting, and though 
 there were but three present, we yet had a 
 good time ; for the Lord has promised that 
 where two or three are met together in his 
 name, he will be in the midst of them. Oh, 
 Mr. Tenny, do pray for us that we may continue 
 steadfast — that we may not go back to the 
 beggarly elements of this sinful world, but be 
 enabled to * press toward the mark for the prize 
 of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' 
 What an awful thing it would be, after seek- 
 
28 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ing Christ, to turn back again to sin and folly 
 and unbelief. Do pray for me, also, that I 
 may not be left to go back to the world, and 
 that I may be kept from the great adversary 
 of souls. Please to pray also for my dear young 
 companions, who, I fear, have no interest in 
 Christ, that they may be brought to love the 
 Saviour, and repent before it is for ever too 
 late. Remember especially those who have no 
 dear parents to pray for them as I have. 
 
 "I hope that the dear children under your 
 care in the Sabbath- school will profit much by 
 your instructions, and that you will have the 
 pleasure, if God spares your life, of seeing 
 them grow up and doing good for Christ. I 
 will try to remember them and you in my 
 
 prayers 
 
 " Your affectionate voung friend, 
 
 "J. E. E." 
 
 At this time John commenced keeping a 
 journal, thinking that by daily recording his 
 feelings he might better watch over his heart 
 and life. The following are selections from the 
 first few pages : 
 
 ^' Sabbath-day, July 13, 1834. I have re- 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 29 
 
 solved to write a little in this book, as often as 
 I can, respecting my feelings. For two or three 
 days past I have been in a pleasant frame of 
 mind. I have felt more like obeying my par- 
 ents, conforming to the wishes of my friends — 
 more like serving God, and praying, and read- 
 ing the Bible and good books. The sermons I 
 heard to-day were very excellent, and I trust 
 that they will do me good. 
 
 '' Monday. I make it a practice to perform 
 my closet duties at some stated time ; at seven 
 o'clock in the morning, twelve at noon, and 
 seven at night. As the length of the days alters, 
 I alter the times for prayer. 
 
 *' Sabbath-day, August 17. This has been 
 to me a blessed day. I think that I have felt 
 the preciousness of heaven more than I ever 
 did before. Oh, the bliss of that bright world 
 where saints and angels dwell ! My heavenly 
 Father has permitted me to go up to his house 
 twice to-day, and listen to two sermons, which 
 I trust will be blessed to me, and to all others. 
 
 " Monday. My feelings to-day are not as 
 they were yesterday; yet I hope that I may 
 have more of those feelings. As I grow in 
 
30 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 years, I hope to grow more and more in the 
 knowledge of my Lord and Saviour, and to 
 love and serve God better than I have in years 
 past. 
 
 ^^ Wednesday. Oh, that I had more of the 
 spirit of Jesus — that mild and forgiving spirit 
 that he constantly exercised. I feel that I am a 
 great sinner ; I offend the very God who made 
 us, and who is so good to all his creatures. 
 
 " Friday. I have taken an earlier time for 
 my closet duties this morning. I will try and 
 see if I cannot follow in my blessed Master's 
 steps ; for he arose before daylight, and agonized 
 in prayer. 
 
 " Saturday, August 23. The blessed Sab- 
 bath is drawing near. Delightful day. May 
 I be prepared for its duties, and enjoy its sa- 
 cred privileges. What have I done the past 
 week ? Oh, I fall far, far short of my duty. 
 Oh, may I wake up, and realize where I am, and 
 what I am doing, and whom I am serving.-' 
 
 '' March 16, 1835. It is a long time since 
 I have written in my journal, but I now feel 
 in the right frame of mind to write, and tell of 
 the love of Jesus, which is burning in my soul. 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 31 
 
 During the past winter, I have not felt as Christ 
 requires his followers -to feel. I have been in- 
 different and cold in religion. My heart has 
 been like the rivers and lakes, bound up with 
 impenetrable ice. But now that spring has 
 come, and the sun shines brightly, I trust that 
 my spirit will be warmed, and I hope that 
 every changing season will find me more en- 
 gaged in loving and serving God. 
 
 '^Sabbath, March 29. Through the abun- 
 dant goodness of God, we are permitted to see 
 another Sabbath. But what have we done for 
 God the past week? I think that I have had 
 more than usual delight in prayer and in reading 
 the Scriptures. My sins continue to trouble 
 me, but I pray to God for forgiveness, and for 
 strength to resist temptation. Have been read- 
 ing that beautiful Psalm, ' The Lord is my 
 shepherd, I shall not want.' Oh, that it might 
 make a deeper impression on my mind ; that I 
 might indeed lie down in green pastures, and 
 beside the still waters of salvation. 
 
 '^ Thursday, April, 1835. This is Fast-day, 
 appointed by the state as a day in which to 
 repent of sin and humble ourselves before God. 
 
32 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 How have we improved it ? I fear that many 
 have been neglecting the day, and playing, 
 rather than confessing their sins. 'Behold,' 
 says God, 'ye fast for strife and debate, and to 
 smite with the fist of wickedness. Is it such 
 a fast that I have chosen — a day for a man to 
 afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as 
 a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes 
 under him? Is not this the fast that I have 
 chosen ; to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo 
 the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go 
 free, and that ye break every yoke ? Is it not 
 to deal thy bread to the hungry?' Now, have 
 we obeyed these injunctions? Has this fast 
 been an acceptable one to the Lord ? I fear 
 that too many of us have failed to examine 
 our hearts, failed to repent of sin, and pray as 
 we ought for Grod's blessing upon our guilty 
 nation. 
 
 ''Sabbath, April 12. Through the tender 
 mercies of God we have been permitted again 
 to go up to his house, and some of his children 
 have had the privilege of sitting around the 
 communion-table, and commemorating the dy- 
 ing love of Christ. Oh that I may soon be one 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 33 
 
 of their number, and enjoy the rich benefits of 
 meeting my Saviour at his own table. I long 
 for sanctification, for a vital union to Christ. 
 
 " I also feel anxious to be useful, to do some- 
 thing for the honor of my Master, to labor in 
 his vineyard, and to live more entirely for his 
 glory than I have ever done before. 
 
 Under date of April 9, 1835, he wrote to his 
 friend Mr. T of Boston : 
 
 ^' Dear Sir— Your letter, dated Feb. 17, I 
 received, and was very much gratified that 
 you had not forgotten me. At your request, I 
 will try to give you some account of my feel- 
 ings the past winter. I do not think I have 
 felt as much engaged in the subject of religion 
 as I did a year ago. But for a week or two 
 past, I have had my feelings somewhat revived. 
 I have felt more like loving God, more like 
 praying, and more like serving him, than I have 
 ever before. I have had, along back, many 
 fears of death. I feared I was such a sinner 
 that God would not accept me ; but now I feel 
 these doubts in a measure removed. I hope 
 you will pray for me, that I may hate every 
 
34 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 sin, and grow in every Christian grace ; that I 
 may have strength to speak to my young com- 
 panions on the subject of religion, and set be- 
 fore them a good example. I have hitherto 
 had too many fears about speaking to them on 
 this all-important subject. I fear that most or 
 all of those of my young companions who met 
 to pray when you were here, have gone back 
 again to the world. They do not appear to wish 
 to say any thing upon the subject. I hope you 
 will pray for me, that I may be kept from deny- 
 ing Christ, or following a multitude to do evil. 
 '^ I was glad to hear that so many of your 
 Sabbath scholars have an interest in the Sav- 
 iour. I hope they may be enabled to keep on 
 in the Christian course ; and may they, and I, 
 and all children, be at last found on the right 
 hand of God. I am glad that you have had 
 such joyful news about your little brother. I 
 hope that he may grow up to be a minister of the 
 gospel, and be the means, under God, of saving 
 many souls. My health, which was poor when I 
 was in Boston, has been very good this winter. 
 I have been able to attend school and meetings 
 most of the time. "We have no minister yet. 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 35 
 
 but have had some excellent preaching. I lately- 
 heard a sermon on justification by faith, which 
 I liked very much. Pray for us. 
 
 ' * Yours, with affection, 
 
 "J. E. E." 
 
 When John had reached the age of twelve 
 years, he thought it was his duty to make a 
 public profession of his faith in Christ. He 
 heard one Sabbath a discourse upon this sub- 
 ject, which made a deep impression upon his 
 mind. He felt that the command of the Sav- 
 iour, ^*This do, in remembrance of me," was 
 addressed to him, and that he must obey it. 
 Accordingly, he sought the advice of his Chris- 
 tian friends, and made the matter a subject of 
 frequent and fervent prayer. His friends, think- 
 ing that he was too young to make a public 
 profession, did not encourage it. They advised 
 him to wait until he was older, and had ac- 
 quired more experience in the Christian life. 
 Biit he thought otherwise. Though modest 
 and retiring in his disposition, and inclined to 
 pay great deference to the opinions of his par- 
 ents, and Sabbath-school teacher, and others, 
 yet he was impressed that it was his duty to 
 
36 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 acknowledge Christ before men; and trusting 
 in God, he resolved to present himself as a can- 
 didate for admission to the church. 
 
 In an interview that he had with his pastor, 
 the Rev. Mr. Stearns, the following statement 
 and inquiry was presented to him : ^' John, you 
 have occasion to thank God that almost all 
 your near friends are Christians; they have 
 longed to see you one, and nothing could de- 
 light them more than to learn that you have 
 determined to follow Christ. But suppose the 
 case reversed: suppose your friends were all 
 enemies of religion, and even your father and 
 mother were disposed to deride you for becom- 
 ing a Christian, do you think you would still 
 adhere to the same determination?" He hung 
 his head, and remained silent. It was very 
 evident that a conflict was going on in his 
 young bosom, for the probe had been inserted 
 just where his heart was most sensitive. At 
 length he said, timidly, ^' I don't know; I think 
 Christ would keep me." " Yes, he would keep 
 you," was the reply, " and he will keep you in 
 all trials, if you continue to trust in him." 
 
 Soon after this interview, an afternoon was 
 
INFANCY AND CHffl^^qrD. 37 T' 
 
 appointed for the examinatioiBtoJ^diyiiidatps for 
 admission to the church. Wheh^'^ti^timfe ar- 
 rived, a little boy dressed in a short brown 
 jacket with a white collar turned over it, might 
 be seen wending his way alone to the vestry of 
 the Federal-street church. With a modest yet 
 firm step he goes from his little sanctuary, 
 where he has sought divine direction and 
 strength, to be examined for admission to the 
 church of Christ. Though no friend is with 
 him, angel messengers from the courts above 
 attend him. The great Shepherd, who gently 
 carries the lambs in his bosom, watches over 
 him. The omniscient Being, 'who knows how 
 short will be his career here, directs his foot- 
 steps, and inclines him thus early to seek a 
 union with his visible church. 
 
 Reaching the room, the fair youth enters and 
 takes his seat. A slight indication of embar- 
 rassment appears in his countenance ; but the 
 cloud soon passes away. The officers of the 
 church look upon the lad with some misgiv- 
 ings. But on listening to his account of his 
 religious experience and hopes, their doubts 
 quickly vanish. While they wish to act with 
 
38 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 discretion, they cannot take the responsibiUty 
 of refusing the young applicant admission to 
 Christ's fold. Accordingly, it was decided to 
 receive him, and on the Friday evening follow- 
 ing, February 12, 1836, he made a public pro- 
 fession of his faith in Christ; and on the fol- 
 lowing Sabbath, being then twelve years old, 
 partook for the first time of the emblems of the 
 Saviour's broken body and shed blood. At the 
 same age at which his Master was found " in 
 the temple, in the midst of the doctors, both 
 hearing them, and asking them questions," this 
 young disciple was found entering his service 
 and putting on the armor for the great battle 
 of life. This Sabbath was a precious one to 
 our young Christian. He thus refers to it in a 
 letter written a few days afterwards : 
 
 '' That Sabbath was a delightful day to my 
 soul. I feel as if God was very near to me. 
 After the benediction was pronounced, and 1 
 remained in the pew to commune with the 
 people of God, I could say from the heart, 
 
 " 'Why was I made to hear thy voice 
 And enter while there 's room, 
 When thousands make a wretched choice, 
 And rather starve than come ? 
 
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. 39 
 
 " * 'T was the same love that spread the feast, 
 That sweetly forced us in ; 
 Else we had still refused to taste, 
 And perished in our sin.' " 
 
 John now felt that he had obtained that 
 peace ** which passeth all understanding." His 
 spirit was at rest. He had long looked forward 
 to the time when he should be received into 
 the fold of Christ, and his interests be identified 
 with those of the Redeemer's kingdom. In his 
 letters written at this period, he refers to the 
 duties and privileges connected with his church- 
 membership. " Now," he says, " when the 
 church-meeting is mentioned, I feel that I can 
 go with the people of God and unite my prayers 
 with theirs for the prosperity of Zion." Yes, 
 child of the covenant, heir of the promises ; and 
 God only knows, eternity only can reveal, the 
 power and blessed effects of those prayers. 
 
40 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 FROM THE TIME OF HIS PROFESSINa RELIG-- 
 lON TO HIS ENTERINa COLLEaE. 
 
 1836-1840. 
 
 Mr. Emerson had now buckled on his armor 
 for the Christian warfare, and his extreme 
 youth, the gentleness of his spirit, and the 
 trials peculiar to one in his circumstances, ren- 
 der his career from this point one of peculiar 
 interest. His conversion tore the most deci- 
 sive marks of being genuine and thorough. 
 His heart was sincere, his motives pure, and 
 his faith strong. He had before him a high 
 standard of piety, which he daily struggled to 
 reach. He longed for holiness. He could say, 
 ''As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, 
 so panteth my soul after thee, Grod. My 
 soul thirsteth for God, for the living God." 
 
 His desires for usefulness were intense. He 
 labored and prayed for the salvation of his rel- 
 atives and companions as one who realized the 
 
HIS YOUTH. 41 
 
 infinite value of the soul. In going to and 
 from school, he availed himself of opportunities 
 to converse with others upon religious subjects. 
 His life, also, was a constant recommendation 
 of the value and excellence of the Christian 
 religion. So perfectly consistent was his de- 
 portment, so kind was he to all, and so free 
 from a vindictive or revengeful spirit, that his 
 school-mates often remarked, although they 
 had little confidence in the pretensions of many 
 others, they '' had no doubt that John Emer- 
 son was a Christian." 
 
 But our young hero had his trials, and se- 
 vere ones too. He was constantly exposed to 
 the ridicule and opposition of thoughtless and 
 vicious boys ; and the bitterness of such as- 
 saults, to a tender and sensitive spirit, can only 
 be fully known by experience. In mature age, 
 the ability to endure such opposition increases 
 to such an extent as to enable one to regard 
 with indifference many sources of irritation and 
 pain. Then the character is formed, the habits 
 fixed, and the purposes have acquired a stead- 
 fastness which is not easily shaken. But here 
 is a lad just entering upon life. His character 
 
42 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 is in the process of formation. His faculties 
 are just opening, under the influences of men- 
 tal and moral culture. His position is pecul- 
 iar. He sits at his desk in the school-room, 
 stands in the recitation class, and appears upon 
 the play-ground, the only professor of religion 
 in the group. His words, his conduct, his 
 spirit, are watched more narrowly than those 
 of an adult Christian. Even his intimate and 
 beloved associates, in their thoughtless gayety, 
 find it difficult to restrain their boyish jests at 
 the expense of his Christian profession. Yet 
 the youthful warrior bears it all calmly, pa- 
 tiently. Though his sufferings were often keen, 
 and his heart was ready to burst with inward 
 grief — though the tear of intense emotion would 
 start in his eye, yet he would guard his tongue, 
 and suppress, as far as possible, his feelings. 
 Hurrying from school, he sought his chamber, 
 and there poured out his complaints and sup- 
 plications before God. Here his feelings were 
 soothed^ his armor was brightened, and his 
 arm nerved for renewed conflicts. 
 
 In a letter to a friend, he thus alludes to this 
 subject : 
 
HIS YOUTH. 43 
 
 '' Now, dear sir, I will tell you a little about 
 my trials. Trials? I should rather say, joys; 
 for they strengthen me in the Christian course. 
 They make my belief in God's word stronger ; 
 for you know it says, ' If they have persecuted 
 me, they will persecute you also.' My com- 
 panions do deride me, but I try to look to God 
 for direction and strength. I desire myself to 
 do good to their souls. I feel as though I had 
 a great work to do, and I want to be about it. 
 I have been reading lately the life of Harlan 
 Page. Oh, how much good he did. I think 
 that the Saviour has called me into his vine- 
 yard to labor, and my question now is, ' Lord, 
 what wilt thou have me to do ?' Pray, my 
 dear friend, for me, that I may not be an un- 
 profitable servant. Pray also that my young 
 companions may be brought into Christ's fold, 
 and that God's Spirit may be poured down, and 
 the whole town become converted. 
 
 " One of the boys in the class with me in 
 the Sabbath-school, came to me the other night, 
 and said that what the teacher had said to him 
 had not been lost upon him. He felt that he 
 was a sinner, and must repent and believe in 
 
44 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 Christ. I was rejoiced to hear him say so. I 
 tried to direct him to the Saviour, and urged 
 him not to grieve away the Holy Spirit. I 
 hope that he will thus early be brought into 
 the fold. Do pray for him, and for all my 
 young companions." 
 
 On one occasion, some rude boys stopped 
 John in the street, and pressing him into a 
 corner, declared that he should not go home 
 until he had prayed in their presence. This 
 rudeness he bore with Christian fortitude, al- 
 though he felt it keenly. Had he followed the 
 promptings of the natural heart, he would have 
 resented it. But rather than retaliate an 
 injury, he was ready to confer a favor upon 
 those who had wronged him. He obeyed liter- 
 ally the command, *' Bless them that curse 
 you, do good to them that hate you, and pray 
 for them that despitefully use you and perse- 
 cute you." 
 
 Several times he was ridiculed for going 
 to the communion, and was asked very ir- 
 reverent questions respecting the bread and 
 wine. 
 
 Here the writer must take occasion to re- 
 
HIS YOUTH. 45 
 
 mark, that of all sins, there are few in his 
 view more heinous, than that of making sport 
 of a person's religious feelings, and endeavor- 
 ing to impede or destroy the spiritual growth 
 of a young convert. To hinder a soul that is 
 struggling to escape the snares of the adver- 
 sary, that is striving to overcome its depraved 
 inclinations, that is earnestly seeking the light 
 of God's truth, and is anxious to avoid the 
 retribution of despair, is one of the darkest 
 sins. The difficulties, the doubts, the harass- 
 ing fears that at best beset the young disciple, 
 are enough without the sneers of ungodly 
 companions. If any in our highly favored 
 communities are by their waywardness, scep- 
 ticism, or profligacy, bent upon the ruin of 
 their own souls, I pray God that they may 
 not be so destitute of all moral sensibility, so 
 lost to the dictates of a common humanity, as 
 to labor to drag others with them to per- 
 dition. 
 
 Had not our young hero received a large 
 measure of divine grace, had not the shield of 
 his heavenly Father been over him, and holy 
 angels encamped round about him, he could 
 
46 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 not, at so tender an age and with so little ex- 
 perience, have withstood their persecution. But 
 his fortitude never failed him, his Christian pa- 
 tience never forsook him. After passing one 
 day through a very trying scene, he simply, on 
 reaching home, made this mild remark, *' I do 
 not think that men would treat each other so, 
 for they have more politeness than boys." 
 
 Some of John's school-mates sympathized 
 with him in these trials. One, a lad older 
 than himself, addressed to him the following 
 note on the subject : 
 
 *' Dear Friend — The insulting language 
 which your class-mates use towards you, it is 
 probable will soon cease ; I mean, that I will 
 
 do all in my power to prevent it. With J , 
 
 who is a vile fellow, I can have no influence. 
 "Where I can assist you, T will. Bear it as 
 well as you possibly can, and endeavor not to 
 regard it at all. If they think it vexes you, 
 they will continue it longer. Be of good cour- 
 age. Although I do not think it wise for one 
 so young to join the church, that is, for my 
 own part, yet when I can restrain the abuse 
 
HIS YOUTH. 47 
 
 heaped upon you, I will with pleasure. For 
 surely in this free country each should be 
 allowed to worship God as he pleases, and 
 even monarchs cannot repress the thoughts ol 
 their subjects. 
 
 '^ Yours, etc., 
 
 "W. F. T. 
 "Monday morning, February, 1836." 
 
 To this John sent, the next day, the folio w- 
 ing reply : 
 
 ^'My dear Friend — Your kind letter I re- 
 ceived, and read alone, as you requested. I 
 thank you for the kindness shown to me. I 
 do not intend to mind what they say at all. I 
 think they will soon get over it. My motive 
 for joining the church was this. Perhaps you 
 know that I have been thinking on the subject 
 of religion for some time past ; and I thought 
 it was my duty, if I was a Christian, to do all 
 the Saviour commanded ; and this was one of 
 his commands, ^ This do, in remembrance of 
 me.' I thought that it was my duty to obey 
 it, and now you see how they revile me for it. 
 But I will look to God for strength. I think 
 
48 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 it was very kind in you to feel for me, and my 
 prayer for you is, that you may soon be brought 
 into Christ's fold and be the means of doing 
 much good. 
 
 ** Yours, in sincerity, 
 
 "JOHN E. EMERSON." 
 
 Mr. Emerson was prepared for college in the 
 excellent classical High-school of his native 
 town. Here he made very commendable pro- 
 ficiency in Latin and Greek, and in other 
 studies. Having in view, from his childhood, 
 the gospel ministry, he prosecuted his studies 
 w^ith great diligence, being anxious to be thor- 
 oughly qualified for his great work. His teach- 
 ers testify to his diligence, obedience, and-strictly 
 consistent conduct during his connection with 
 the school. 
 
 While prosecuting his studies with diligence, 
 John was also punctual in his attendance upon 
 religious meetings. On the occasion of the 
 annual church fast, he attended a meeting at 
 which it was the custom for the church-mem- 
 bers to pray in the order in which they sat. 
 He had never been called upon to pray in pub- 
 lic, and he was greatly perplexed to know what 
 
HIS YOUTH. 49 
 
 he ought to do. His modesty inoHned him to 
 retain his seat and not attempt to lead the de- 
 votions of the assembly, and yet he did not 
 wish to shrink from his duty in the case. As 
 his turn to pray was drawing near, and he 
 was revolving what he should do, he suddenly 
 thought of the children of Israel, as they were 
 ahout to pass the river Jordan on entering the 
 promised land. He remembered that the wa- 
 ters did not divide until their feet touched the 
 edge of the stream ; and he felt confident that 
 the same God who opened a passage for them, 
 after they had moved forward in obedience to 
 his command, would give him strength at the 
 moment when the duty should devolve upon 
 him. Nor was his confidence misplaced. He 
 arose and offered a simple, fervent prayer, which 
 was listened to with breathless attention. It 
 was evident to all that this was no unusual 
 exercise to him. He pleaded as one who had 
 influence at the throne of grace, one who had 
 faith in the efficacy of prayer. 
 
 His time was so much occupied that he could 
 not write with much regularity in his journal. 
 We make the following extracts : 
 
50 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 *^ Sabbath, May 8. I have been thinking 
 this morning, what I could do for the advance- 
 ment of Christ's cause in the world ; and one 
 way in which I thought that I might he useful 
 was by setting a holy example, by not counte- 
 nancing any sin, and by appearing cheerful 
 without being too light or gay. I will make 
 a beginning to-day, and will go to God for 
 strength, and will ask his blessing upon the 
 effort. 
 
 *.* Tuesday. Tried to talk with my playmate 
 
 J. S , and to lead him to the Lamb of God 
 
 that taketh away the sin of the world. I hope 
 he is a child of God. Have written a letter 
 
 to-day to W. and J. P , who belong to our 
 
 Sabbath-school class, and who expect to leave 
 town soon. I hope that they may get good 
 from it. 
 
 " Saturday. Have been reading to-day the 
 life of Harlan Page. What a pious, devoted 
 man he was. that I might be as useful, 
 that I might do something to advance the king- 
 dom of Christ. 
 
 " FRmAY, May 27, 1836. Through the good- 
 ness of my heavenly Father, I am brought here 
 
HIS YOUTH. 51 
 
 again, after an absence of a week. My mind, 
 while I have been gone, has been too much 
 taken up with the vanities of the world, and I 
 fear my prayers have been too cold and too 
 short. The objects that I have seen have dis- 
 tracted my attention and led me away from 
 heavenly things. May God forgive me, and 
 may I live henceforth more to his glory. 
 
 " Saturday, June 4. I feel as if I could say 
 in sincerity, 
 
 ' Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, 
 With all thy quickening powers.' 
 
 *^ I long to have my heart warmed — long to 
 be quickened in the divine life. I am too liable 
 to wander and grow cold, and forget the great 
 work to which my God calls me." 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1838, Mr. Emer- 
 son prayed earnestly for a revival of religion. 
 It occasioned him the deepest sorrow to see his 
 companions and friends living in sin and ex- 
 posed to the wrath of God. In February there 
 were tokens of the divine presence, and ere long 
 the Spirit of God was poured out, and souls 
 were converted. In April, John wrote to a friend 
 as follows ; 
 
52 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 "Newburyport, April 6, 1838. 
 
 '' Dear Friend — It being some time since I 
 have written to you, I thought I would take 
 up my pen to address you a few lines. There 
 has been a gracious outpouring of the Spirit in 
 this town, and sinners have been converted, 
 and God's people have been awakened. I feel 
 that my own soul has been quickened; for I 
 had, previous to that time, been cold and dead, 
 and had got far away from God. But I trust 
 the Spirit of the Lord has awakened me anew 
 to my duty, and that I have a desire to labor 
 in his vineyard and to do more for him than I 
 have done before. Pray for me, my dear sir, 
 that God would keep me in his way, and en- 
 able me to do his will. The work has been 
 principally confined to the young, especially to 
 young men from the age of sixteen to twenty. 
 They appear very much engaged. I wish you 
 could look into our meetings here, in the morn- 
 ing at half-past five, and see the young men 
 conduct them. I think you would feel your 
 own soul quickened. There is quite a waking 
 up among the boys, for at a meeting last even- 
 ing, at our house, there were eighteen or nine- 
 
HIS YOUTH. 53 
 
 teen present. Your brother, Mr. John T , 
 
 was present and spoke with us a few evenings 
 ago. I should like it very much if you could 
 he here and meet with us. Pray for us and 
 for this whole town, that the Lord would carry 
 on his work. 
 
 ** April 7. I have now returned from our 
 morning meeting. It has been very interest- 
 ing. They pray without being called on, and 
 the Spirit of the Lord is evidently present among 
 us. There are about one hundred who attend 
 now, and there is also another meeting in an- 
 other part of the town. Mr. Johnson from 
 Boston was present with us this morning, and 
 gave us some account of the state of religion 
 there, which was very interesting. It was our 
 union meeting of churches last evening. There 
 was also a meeting especially for children. It 
 was judged that about one hundred and fifty 
 children were present. It was stated at the 
 church-meeting last evening, that about two 
 months ago it was thought the Spirit had 
 begun to work, because two were interested. 
 The next month there were nearly one hun- 
 dred inquirers, and last night they spoke of 
 
54 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 twenty that had hopefully experienced relig- 
 ion." 
 
 In May, 1838, John resumed his journal as 
 follows : 
 
 '' May. 2. I am now reading a book on the 
 hidden life of a Christian. It is a delightful 
 work, holiness seems to breathe through it. 
 How much I need an increase of holiness, and 
 the quickening influences of the Holy Spirit. 
 Oh that I might receive a fresh baptism from 
 on high. 
 
 '' May 3. I have received the news to-day 
 of the death of a young lady in town, about 
 seventeen years of age. She was sick but a 
 short time, and was deprived of her reason pre- ' 
 vious to her departure. But I trust she has 
 gone to that land where 'the wicked cease 
 from troubling, and the weary be at rest.' 
 that this event might solemnize our minds, and 
 lead us all to be ready for the coming of the 
 Son of man. 
 
 '' May 6. Another Sabbath has dawned. 
 May it be indeed a sweet sabbath of rest to 
 my soul. May all distracting cares be left 
 behind, while I go up to worship in God's 
 
HIS YOUTH. 56 
 
 holy temple ; and may it be a sweet prelude to 
 that eternal sabbath of rest beyond the skies. 
 
 '' During the past week a terrible accident 
 has happened — the blowing up of a steamboat, 
 by which over one hundred persons, almost 
 without a moment's warning, were hurried 
 into eternity. How it becomes us to watch 
 and be ready for the summons to depart. We 
 know not how soon we shall be called to ren- 
 der up our final account. 
 
 ^' This afternoon a sermon was preached on 
 the occasion of the death of the young lady 
 mentioned on the third. It was very solemn and 
 impressive. The minister spoke to the younger 
 members of the church to which she belonged, 
 and asked them if they were faithful and pre- 
 pared to meet God in peace. I pray that I 
 may be enabled to look into my own heart, and 
 see how I stand with my God. ^ Search me, 
 God, and know my heart ; try me, and know 
 my thoughts ; and see if there be any wicked 
 way in me, and lead me in the way ever- 
 lasting.' 
 
 *' May 7. Began yesterday, ^ The Christian 
 Father's Present to his Children,' by Mr. James, 
 
t 
 
 56 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 and ' Young Christian,' by Abbot ; both of them 
 very good books. May I be enabled to profit 
 much by them. 
 
 *'May 12. Have been reading a chapter in 
 'Father's Present,' etc., on decision in religion, 
 and I think I need more of it. I think I am 
 more afraid of the scoffs and sneers of the world 
 than I ought to be. Lord, give me decision 
 and strength to say iVb to wickedness. 
 
 ''May 13. Another blessed Sabbath has 
 dawned upon us. I have attended meeting 
 this forenoon, and heard a discourse on Psalm 
 19 : 13, ' Cleanse thou me from secret faults.' 
 The minister attempted to show some of our 
 secret faults. He said, ' Supposing an angel 
 from heaven should come in and write on the 
 wall the thoughts of all present, how ashamed 
 we should be.' I think all are guilty in this, 
 and that we all have a great many impure and 
 wicked thoughts, which we would not let even 
 our most bosom friends know ; still they are 
 all known to a holy God. His eye is ever 
 upon us all. This afternoon heard a very sol- 
 emn discourse on the character of the traitor 
 Judas. It was a powerful appeal to our church. 
 
HIS YOUTH. 57 
 
 The minister said, ^ There are Judases now, 
 and probably there are some here.' that we 
 might be enabled to look into our own hearts, 
 and ask, ' Lord, is it I ? Is it I V 
 
 '^ May 16. I have set apart this day as a 
 day of special prayer to God for an increase of 
 holiness, and for more of the influences of the 
 Holy Spirit, which I greatly need. that I 
 might be enabled to ask in faith. On this day 
 also the mothers hold their monthly meeting to 
 pray for their children. 
 
 *^ May 20. It is again the sweet and peaceful 
 Sabbath. that it might be a foretaste of 
 the eternal sabbath of rest. We love these 
 earthly Sabbaths, but what a sabbath shall 
 we keep when we shall rest above. Yet how 
 little do we think of it, and how engrossed are 
 our minds in the world. Lord, take off* our 
 affections from earth. 
 
 " May 27. Another Sabbath has returned. 
 Have I done any thing for God the past week ? 
 Have I done any thing to save souls ? Have I 
 advanced any in holiness ? I fear I have done 
 very little. Lord, waken this stupid heart 
 to feel more and love more. 
 
58 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ^' September 27. To-day completes my fif- 
 teenth year — fifteen years old! my soul, 
 look back upon the past and see how it has 
 been spent. How little have I done for the 
 cause of Christ. How little have I done in 
 any good thing. Therefore, for my own good, 
 as well as for the cause of Christ, 
 
 ''Resolved 1. To rise early in the morning. 
 
 ^'2. To have my time of prayer before break- 
 fast as often as I can. 
 
 '^3. To strive to set a holy example at school, 
 and before the world. 
 
 ''4. To attend as regularly as I can on the 
 monthly and week-day meetings of our church. 
 
 ''5. To read, more than I have done, the 
 lives of good and holy men. 
 
 "6. To feel and pray more fervently for the 
 conversion of impenitent sinners. 
 
 ''7. To be more kind and obliging to my 
 younger brother. 
 
 *^8. To read and study ancient history 
 more. 
 
 ^^9. To cultivate more love for study. 
 
 [' 10. To have my time of evening prayer as 
 soon as possible after supper. 
 
HIS YOUTH. 59 
 
 '^11. To try to do the things ahout house 
 more cheerfully. 
 
 ^'12. To talk more on the subject of re- 
 ligion. 
 
 " 13. To strive to do more for God's glory. 
 
 '^ 14. To try in God's strength to keep these 
 resolutions, so that if I am permitted to live 
 to see my siicteenth birthday, it may find me 
 more engaged for God and his cause than this 
 birthday has." 
 
 Mr. Emerson was now fast ripening as a 
 Christian. We have looked at his trials, and 
 witnessed their effects upon his life and char- 
 acter. We should not overlook the advan- 
 tages he enjoyed for spiritual culture. He was 
 blessed with devotedly pious parents, who did 
 all in their power to encourage and strengthen 
 him in the divine life. Though he had severe 
 trials abroad, yet in his pleasant home he found 
 the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace. 
 
 A friend who resided in the family, and to 
 whom John was ardently attached, took the 
 deepest interest in his welfare. Her prayers, 
 counsels, and sympathies, he valued very high- 
 
66 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ly. When he was quite young she was in the 
 hat it, as well as his parents, of retiring with 
 him for social prayer, and these seasons were 
 very refreshing to him. He referred to them 
 in. conversation with his mother on his dying- 
 bed, and said, ^*Did we not have sweet com- 
 munion together with God ?" 
 
 The religious community by which Mr. 
 Emerson was surrounded, was of a character 
 eminently calculated to deepen and strengthen 
 his piety. Through the influence of maternal 
 associatioHLS, female prayer-meetings, and other 
 religious privileges, Christian mothers strove 
 to qualify themselves to discharge faithfully 
 their duties to their children. Under a deep 
 sense of their responsibility, they sought divine 
 direction, took counsel one of another, and 
 labored to train up their offspring in '^the 
 nurture and admonition of the Lord." As 
 the fruits of their toil, large numbers of their 
 children have been brought into the church, 
 and have occupied and still occupy posts of 
 usefulness. The churches, too, have been long 
 distinguished for their vigorous piety, sound 
 doctrine, and wide-spread influence. Nor can 
 
HIS YOUTH. 
 
 61 
 
 we fail to observe in these features the salutary- 
 effects of an able and devoted ministry, con- 
 tinued through a long series of years. 
 
 Under the influence of such piety was the 
 character of young Emerson moulded. Such 
 were the genial influences that nourished his 
 faith, stimulated his hopes, and strengthened 
 him for the duties and conflicts of life. 
 
 ;^%^ 
 
 
62 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 RESIDENCE AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 
 1840-1844. . 
 
 In September, 1840, Mr. Emerson left his 
 pleasant home to become a member of Am- 
 herst college. Possessing such filial affection, 
 and depending so much upon his Christian 
 friends for counsel, encouragement, and relig- 
 ious communion, it was hard to sunder even 
 for a few months the ties that bound him so 
 close to them. In bidding them farewell, his 
 hearty grasp indicated the depth of his love, 
 and the moistened eye and tremulous voice 
 showed the conflicting emotions that were agi- 
 tating his young heart. He was aware that 
 new trials and untried dangers awaited him, 
 and while on his journey he offered up his 
 silent petitions to God to give him strength to 
 discharge the duties and meet the perils that 
 were before him. 
 
 Having passed a satisfactory examination, 
 he was admitted a member of Amherst college, 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEGE. 63 
 
 September 23, 1840, being seventeen years of 
 age. His letters and journal indicate his ear- 
 nest desire to prosecute his studies with dili- 
 gence, and improve to the utmost his time and 
 advantages. Above all, his great desire was to 
 make progress in the divine life, and be of 
 service in the cause of his divine Master. From 
 his letters we make the following extracts. 
 
 ^' I make it a point to keep close to my room, 
 visit very little, and try to perform faithfully 
 every college duty. I have the consciousness 
 of having tried to do well in mathematics, even 
 if I have not been successful. I have been 
 but once absent from an exercise, and was 
 then unavoidably detained. Above all, I try 
 not to forget my duty to God, and the glory 
 that is due to his name for having, as I trust, 
 snatched me from the horrible pit when ' my 
 steps had well-nigh slipped;' and I feel at 
 times as if he did reveal himself to me as a 
 prayer-hearing God. 
 
 ''Have just returned from our usual Sunday 
 noon exercise of prayer. I think of you now 
 as assembled in that consecrated spot where 
 
64 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 we used to meet and pour out our united sup- 
 plications to our common God and Father. 
 Doubtless you have been praying for me, who 
 am far away from home. How sweet to think 
 that we can pray to the same covenant-keep- 
 ing God for blessings on each other. Shall we 
 meet again in that consecrated spot ? is a ques- 
 tion of deep and thrilling interest. God in his 
 infinite mercy grant we may; but if not, 
 that we may all, by his grace, be prepared to 
 join that innumerable company; that blood- 
 bought throng, 'the general assembly and 
 church of the first-born,' whose names are 
 written in heaven. 
 
 '*I feel animated to-day with joy to see a 
 different state of things among some of the 
 Christians in college. I record it with joy and 
 trembling : joy, because it seems like an indi- 
 cation of the outpouring of the Spirit ; trem- 
 bling, for fear it may prove like the morning 
 cloud and early dew, which soon passeth away. 
 Several prayer-meetings have been established, 
 and some of the brethren seem to manifest a 
 deep anxiety for the salvation of souls. Pray 
 for us, that the Spirit may not pass us by ; that 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 65 
 
 now, while there exists a tender state of feeling, 
 the windows of heaven may be opened and a 
 blessing descend. Pray much for me, that I 
 may not have mere animal excitement, but a 
 baptism of the Holy Ghost ; that I may ever 
 remember my high and holy calling, and keep 
 near to God. for more of the Spirit, for 
 more conformity to him. There is need of 
 watchfulness and prayer, lest I be entrapped 
 in the wiles and snares of the enemy of souls. 
 Pray unceasingly that I may be kept from the 
 temptations of a college life." 
 
 Mr. Emerson was exceedingly attached to 
 his Sabbath- school teacher, Mr. Charles Morse, 
 and wrote to him frequently in the most affec- 
 tionate manner. The following was addressed 
 to him after a severe sickness : 
 
 '' The Lord has been laying his rod heavily 
 upon you ; but doubtless you are ever ready 
 to say, * Let him do what seemeth him good.' 
 I have sympathized with you, my dear brother, 
 in your pains and sufferings, and gladly, 
 how gladly, would I have flown to your bed- 
 side to minister to your wants, and if possible 
 
66 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 to soothe your pains ; but that privilege was 
 denied me, and I could only bear you on my 
 heart in supplication at the throne of grace. 
 Grod has been better to me than my fears, and 
 has raised you up, I trust, to be an instrument 
 of great and extensive usefulness in the world. 
 To me you have been, as it were, a spiritual 
 father. Your kind admonitions, counsels, warn- 
 ings, and anxiety for my welfare, can never be 
 effaced from my memory. Your unwearied 
 efforts for my good, your desires for my growth 
 in grace, your tender and watchful solicitude 
 lest I should go astray, your affectionate fare- 
 well the night before I left for college, cannot 
 soon be forgotten, and will endear you to me 
 by a thousand ties. 
 
 '' I suppose you will be interested to know 
 something of the state of my feelings during 
 the past winter. I cannot say that I have been 
 visited with any special manifestations of the 
 divine Spirit, but still I have at times an in- 
 ward longing to be made more and more like 
 my Redeemer. I have to lament over my own 
 sin and folly and departure from Christ. 
 how cold have I been in his service ; how little 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEGE. 67 
 
 have I done for him. At times I hardly know 
 whether I am a child of his or not. 
 
 * If I love, why am I thus ? 
 Why this cold and lifeless frame ?' 
 
 ^' I can truly say, ' 0, that I were as in 
 months past ;' for I do believe, my dear Chris- 
 tian brother, that I have seen times in years 
 gone by when I drew very near to God, and 
 held sweet communion with him in prayer and 
 praise. I trust those happy days, those ' golden 
 hours,' have not for ever fled. Pray for me, 
 that I may not halt in the ' race that is set be- 
 fore me.' I trust you are dwelling near the 
 throne, and drinking deeply at the fountain- 
 head. Write to me, my dear brother, some of 
 your own experience. It would be very grati- 
 fying to me at all times to receive counsel and 
 direction from you in the Christian course. We 
 have been much together, and you well know 
 how to advise." 
 
 While Mr. Emerson was prosecuting with 
 faithfulness his studies, and gaining every day 
 the confidence of his teachers and the affection 
 of his class-mates, his soul burned with long- 
 
68 REY. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ings for a revival of religion. In January, 
 1841, he wrote thus to his mother: 
 
 **Dear Mother— I have just returned from 
 our usual Thursday evening lecture. We had 
 a minister here to preach, who I believe is 
 from Deerfield. Chum and I have just been 
 speaking about the prospects of a revival here 
 at this time. He says, Mrs. F. remarked that 
 the revivals which have occurred here have 
 taken place during this term; and something 
 rather singular occurred to-night. Two of the 
 most hardened students, apparently, in college, 
 came in to the lecture this evening. For what 
 purpose I cannot tell. May it not possibly be 
 an indication for good? May it not be that 
 God is about to pour out his Spirit on Amherst 
 college? 0, continue to pray for us. That 
 you do pray for us, I do not doubt; but con- 
 tinue, continue to pray. 
 
 " The last Thursday in February will doubt- 
 less be an interesting season to you this year, 
 if you are spared to see it. 0, that Amherst 
 college might be especially remembered. I 
 wish I felt more for it myself. But, alas, I 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 69 
 
 feel that I must begin at home. I find that 
 my own garden needs culture before I can un- 
 dertake for others. How far have I lived from 
 duty and God. How unholy an example have 
 I set. I feel that I need to be awakened. 
 Christians here need a revival as well as sin- 
 ners. There seems to be a kind of lethargic 
 stupor among them upon the great and all- 
 important subject of religion. They do not 
 seem to be engaged in carrying forward the 
 cause of the blessed Redeemer. But what 
 wonders would a revival work upon the hearts 
 of all. May each one be enabled to say, with 
 the psalmist David, ' Search me, God, and 
 know my heart ; try me, and know my thoughts ;* 
 and see if there be any wicked way in me, and 
 lead me in the way everlasting.' " 
 
 " Sunday-noon. "We have had a very solemn 
 and impressive discourse this forenoon from 
 President Humphrey, on the parable of the un- 
 profitable fig-tree. The house was quite still, 
 and the audience seemed to be attentive. that 
 it might prove to be a day of conversion to God 
 to many souls. He spoke very solemnly, also, 
 to professors of religion. ' Three years have I 
 
70 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 come and sought fruit on this my vine. Cut 
 it down. "Why cumhereth it the ground?' 
 May we all hear the warning voice, and be en- 
 abled this year to bring forth much fruit to 
 the honor of our Redeemer's name. 
 
 ^' I think I have great reason to bless my 
 heavenly Father for the many distinguishing 
 mercies he has shown towards me, in placing 
 me in this seminary of learning, in continuing 
 me here a term, in permitting me to see my 
 friends in peace and safety, and returning me 
 to this place again in health. How many mer- 
 cies have I to thank the Lord for. Truly, my 
 cup overfloweth with blessings. Yet how cold 
 and stupid I remain. Do pray that I may be 
 quickened in duty, that I may have more faith, 
 more of the influence of the Holy Spirit ; that 
 I may live nearer to Christ, be less conformed 
 to the fashion of this world ; and that I may be 
 enabled to do some good, even in this place, 
 and advance in useful knowledge and in the 
 path to the heavenly Canaan. I have reason 
 to regret that since I came into Christ's vis- 
 ible church I have done so little for him who 
 hath done so much for me; that I have set 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 71 
 
 SO unholy an example and lived so unprofit- 
 ably." 
 
 During his second year in college, his pray- 
 ers and those of Qod's people were answered 
 by a precious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 
 An account of the work and the state of Mr. 
 Emerson's feelings may be gathered from the 
 following letters : 
 
 *'I was very much surprised and delighted 
 last Saturday evening, at receiving a large folio 
 sheet filled with interesting intelligence from 
 home. I hardly knew how to begin to read it, 
 I was so overjoyed. I ran into the next room 
 the first thing, to show the letter and to have 
 my friends rejoice with me. The contepts 
 were of the most pleasing kind. To hear that 
 you were having an outpouring of the Spirit 
 was truly refreshing. My own soul seemed to 
 be revived. Before I received your letter, I 
 trust that I had a fresh visitation of the Spirit 
 from on high. Dr. Humphrey appointed a 
 meeting that evening, a general meeting, and 
 invited such as had accounts of revivals from 
 other places to rise and state them. Many 
 
H^ KEY. JOHN E. EMEilSON. 
 
 rose. I felt as if it was my duty to rise and 
 speak, but it was a great cross. There was 
 an impenitent person in the room, before whom 
 I felt as if I dared not speak. Conscience 
 whispered that this was the cross, and I must 
 not go round it; and almost before I was 
 aware, I was upon my feet, giving an account 
 of the revival in Newburyport. I felt that I 
 , had done my duty, and it gave me a new im- 
 pulse to go forward in my Christian course, 
 
 '' During this week I have been in a differ- 
 ent state of mind. Communion in the closet 
 and religious duty have been sweet, and I think 
 I have found a near access to my heavenly 
 Father; and now what I want is firm faith, 
 and grace to persevere even unto the end. 
 There is nothing to me like taking a decided 
 stand in religion. I have thoroughly proved 
 that. I have found it so, in my refusal to 
 attend that convivial entertainment last term, 
 which I told you of when at home. That was 
 the touchstone with those students to try the 
 firmness of my principles ; and now they shun 
 me, and do not dare to invite me to partake of 
 their festivities. Every new cross I take up, 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 73 
 
 every self-denial I make for my Lord and Mas- 
 ter, gives me a new impulse, a new spur in 
 my Christian course. I think I am now striv- 
 ing daily to guard against my easily besetting 
 sins; and though I fall into them heedlessly 
 now and then, I try not to be discouraged, but 
 make a new trial, and look to heaven for 
 strength and support." 
 
 " May 9, 1842. The students having most 
 of them gone home, of course we cannot expect 
 any thing of particular interest in college at 
 present. Having been left alone some of the 
 time, I have been able to devote a part of it to 
 reflection and religious meditation. I carried 
 myself back to-day in imagination to the times 
 when I first felt that I had an interest in the 
 atoning blood of Christ, and when I was led to 
 make a profession of my faith in Christ, and 
 compared them with my present state of feel- 
 ing, and I could not but exclaim, 'Where is 
 the blessedness I knew when first I saw the 
 Lord V I believe, dear mother, if ever I had 
 true love for the Saviour, it was then ; if ever 
 I did any thing from a true desire of fulfilling 
 all the will of God, it was when I entered into 
 
74 REV. JOHN E. E]\IEESON. 
 
 a solemn public engagement with him to be 
 for ever his. Those were days when I felt 
 genuine love to God burning in my heart, and 
 when I believed I could truly say, ' I am my 
 Lord's, and he is mine ;' when ' I sat under his 
 shadow with great delight, and his fruit was 
 sweet to my taste ; when he brought me into 
 his banqueting-house, and his banner over me. 
 was love.' 
 
 *' Though now, I trust, I have an interest in 
 the atoning blood of the Redeemer, and have 
 been washed and sanctified, yet I do not have 
 those holy exercises of mind, those sweet fore- 
 tastes of heaven, those clear evidences of eternal 
 salvation, which I formerly had ; that strict 
 conscientious uprightness I am also wanting 
 in, which I formerly possessed. I thank you 
 heartily for the good and wholesome advice 
 which you gave me in your last letter. 0, 
 that I may indeed be ' an uncommon Chris- 
 tian,' a ' living witness' for God. Though we, 
 as yet, have no revival here, we are still wait- 
 ing for the blessing. You have heard of the 
 very powerful revival of religion in Williams 
 college. The feeling was so great that some 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 75 
 
 of the exercises were suspended. When shall 
 we witness such an outpouring of the Spirit 
 here V 
 
 In June, the shower which had been so long 
 anticipated descended. 
 
 "Amherst College, June 16, 1842. 
 
 " Dear Mother — In view of the existing 
 state of things in this institution, I can no 
 longer refrain from addressing you a letter, in 
 order that your soul as well as mine may be 
 refreshed by the glorious tidings. The Lord 
 in deed and in truth is pouring out his Spirit 
 upon our beloved college. A cheering revival 
 of religion is in progress. After long years of 
 drought and spiritual death. Almighty God, in 
 his boundless and infinite mercy, has seen fit 
 to refresh this part of his thirsty Zion with a 
 shower of divine grace. ' Not unto us, Lord, 
 not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.' 
 I attempted in a former letter to give you a 
 brief account of its commencement, and of the 
 then increasing interest among us. I will now 
 give you some particulars with regard to its 
 further progress, and its wonderful and soul- 
 cheering effects. And 0, my beloved mother, 
 
76 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 if the only fruit of this blessed revival has been 
 the return of your own wandering, sinful, prod- 
 igal son to his Father and his Grod, would there 
 not be joy among the angels in heaven, and 
 joy, praise, and thanksgiving in at least one 
 heart on earth on this account? 
 
 But God, in his infinite loving-kindness, has 
 not stopped here. He has brought back, as 
 we humbly trust, most of his erring, back- 
 sliding children in this institution to himself. 
 The ' new song' has been put into the mouths 
 of many of those who but a short time since 
 were the bitterest enemies of ihe cross of Christ, 
 and whose tongues were filled with curses and 
 revilings. He has also stopped the mouths 
 of those who were the opposers of revivals of 
 religion in our colleges, on account of their 
 occurring so periodically — such revivals having 
 usually taken place in the spring term, in the 
 months of March and April — by granting us a 
 gracious outpouring of his Holy Spirit in the 
 summer term, an unusual and unexpected time, 
 and a time when all were busily engaged, the 
 seniors in preparing for commencement, and 
 the other classes for our regular summer exhi- 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 77 
 
 bition. He has taken not only those who were 
 not thus engaged, but some of those who were 
 most busily employed, and made them trophies 
 of divine grace. 
 
 " There has been no very particular excite- 
 ment, no remarkably unusual stir, no suspen- 
 sion of studies or omission of college exercises. 
 Though we have meetings every day and even- 
 ing, filled to overflowing, and the most pro- 
 found attention paid to the preaching of the 
 word, and many, as we have reason to hope, 
 are thereby convicted of their sins and guilt 
 and led to seek refuge in the ark of safety, yet 
 it is for the most part in the private room and 
 in the closet that we hear the stifled sobs of 
 the convicted, and the fervent thanksgivings 
 of the redeemed. One by one they are led to 
 seek for pardon and salvation by means of ^ the 
 great atonement,' and week by week do we 
 hear fresh accessions to the ranks of the Re- 
 deemer's chosen ones. 
 
 " Two weeks ago to-morrow the Christians 
 in this institution held a day of fasting and 
 prayer. It was not noised abroad. It was not 
 publicly announced from the pulpit, but each 
 
78 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 Christian came by individual invitation into a 
 meeting the night before, and we were there 
 earnestly exhorted to humble ourselves before 
 God on the coming day, and to entreat him to 
 continue the influences of his Spirit among us. 
 Private prayer and humiliation in the closet 
 were chiefly recommended. We, however, met 
 from the hour of twelve till two in my room, 
 for the purpose of social prayer. The room 
 was filled, and the Spirit of God was shed 
 down upon us. We met also at five o'clock in 
 another room, and invited in the impenitent. 
 It was a solemn time. 
 
 '^ The next day occurred the celebration of 
 the Lord's supper, and it was a precious sea- 
 son to many souls. It was during this and the 
 succeeding week that God began to make 
 more signal displays of his love and mercy. 
 Before this, quite a number in the Freshman 
 class had been anxiously inquiring the way of 
 salvation, and some few had indulged a trem- 
 bling hope. But the work now began to spread 
 into the other classes. The members of our 
 own class met frequently to pray for our im- 
 penitent brethren. There were three, however, 
 
^^ Ol THE 
 AT AMHERST COl|h|^|^ J "7 1; 79$ I • 
 
 in the class, who were so hardeSj^ej^ ;iiiiquity, 
 that though we committed them tS^tsBt^iSod in 
 prayer, still it seemed as if we could not have 
 faith that they would be brought into the king- 
 dom. But 0, how weak and vain is man. 
 The first member of our class that was brought 
 under conviction was one of these three. His 
 attention was arrested by a sermon that was 
 preached on Sabbath evening. The next case 
 of conversion in our class was another of these 
 three, and it was a most striking and wonder- 
 ful conversion. Its subject was a most hard- 
 ened rebel, one whose mouth had been ' filled 
 with cursing and bitterness,' one who drank to 
 intoxication, and, in fact, one who was con- 
 sidered as being sunk as low in every species 
 of vice and profanity as any person in college. 
 He had been so vile, that not a person had 
 even dared to ask him into a religious meeting. 
 And it was from this fact, that he, by the 
 powerful aid of the Spirit of God, was led to 
 look upon his lost and ruined condition as a 
 sinner, and to cry to God for mercy. He was 
 sitting in his room alone a week ago to-night ; 
 and as he sat, he began to think of the revival 
 
80 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 which was in progress in college, and why it 
 was, that when every other member of the 
 class had been conversed with on the subject 
 of religion, and urged to immediate repentance, 
 he had been passed by. This led him to re- 
 flect on his past course ; and as he reflected, 
 the truth was powerfully set home to his heart. 
 The following day he strove, by plunging into 
 vice, to drive away his impressions, but could 
 not succeed. On Sunday he went in deep dis- 
 tress to Prof. T., and told him of his situation. 
 All day Monday he was under deep conviction, 
 and Monday evening he was led to give him- 
 self wholly up into the hands of his Redeemer. 
 '^ But I cannot enumerate individual cases. 
 They are too many and too striking. All the 
 Junior class except three are indulging hope 
 ii^ Christ, and one of those three is under deep 
 conviction. The Lord is doing indeed a mighty 
 work. Our most open opposers have been 
 brought to bow to the Saviour. In one entry, 
 where they boasted that a prayer-meeting 
 could not be held, all but four are indulging 
 hope. One of those, a most hardened wretch 
 heretofore, is under deep impressions, and an* 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 81 
 
 other is out of town. I have only room to add, 
 pray, pray abundantly for us. We want to 
 see all in this college brought in." 
 
 "Amherst, July 15, 1842. 
 
 '^ Dear Mother — If your absent son was 
 conversing with you face to face, would not 
 your two first interrogatories be, ' Is your 
 health good?' and, 'Are you yet continuing 
 strong in the Lord V To the first I would 
 say, ' Yes,' and to the second I would reply — 
 humbly, I hope — ' I trust I am.' My dear 
 mother, the only evidence that I get of a 
 change in my feelings is, that from day to day 
 I find a nearness to God and a devotion to his 
 cause, which I have not felt in weeks and 
 months past. And though I am still carnal, 
 though I have still within me an ' evil heart of 
 unbelief,' which prompts me to neglect duty 
 and to go into the by-paths of sin and folly, yet 
 I trust I am in a manner enabled to resist 
 temptation, and to come off victorious over 
 some of my adversaries. I find that it must 
 be by constant prayer, constant watching, con- 
 stant effort, by living near to God and keeping 
 eternal things in view, that I can continue in 
 
 Emerson. 6 
 
82 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 this frame of mind and pursue a Christian 
 course. When I am led away into temptation, 
 as I sometimes am, I do not feel as I did be- 
 fore like giving up all for lost and returning 
 again to my former courses ; but I find I am 
 enabled to go to G-od with some degree of peni- 
 tence for my sin, and in my closet mourn over 
 it, and there seek strength and guidance for 
 the future. But 0, we shall never be freed 
 from this load of guilt and sin which is weigh- 
 ing us down, till we rest in heaven. 
 
 ^'I try from day to day to think of death, 
 and of the manner in which I should wish to 
 live, did I know that death was at the door. 
 But I find that ' in many things I offend, and 
 in all I come short.' I find every now and 
 then some sin unthought of before, which I 
 have been committing — some avenue of guilt 
 into which I have been straying, though it was 
 unheeded by me before. Thus I perceive that 
 I can never lay my armor down on earth, but 
 must co7itinue to ' fight the good fight.' Per- 
 haps this has been my fault heretofore. I have 
 been striving after perfection, and when I 
 found that I did not reach it, have felt like 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 83 
 
 giving up the contest and dropping my armor. 
 But perfection cannot be attained in this life, 
 and we must fight if we would reign. An in- 
 creasing love for the closet I feel as if I now 
 possessed. When I can get alone by myself 
 and pour out my soul in prayer to God, and feel 
 the influences of the Holy Spirit resting upon 
 me, I believe it is one of the sweetest seasons 
 I enjoy on earth. You know that I date my 
 first decline in religion from a neglect of those 
 seasons. God grant that it may never be so 
 again. I may not feel the neglect at first. I 
 think I did not then. But it does have a 
 silent influence, and its dreadful effects will 
 sooner or later be felt through the whole 
 Christian system ; for, 
 
 'Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, 
 The Christian's native air.' 
 
 I am striving to conform my life more and 
 more to the pattern which my Lord and Mas- 
 ter has set me, and to be a ^ burning and a 
 shining light.' 
 
 ^'My Bible, I think, I relish much more 
 than formerly. I am now reading it in course ; 
 began with Romans and have got to Hebrews. 
 
84 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 Some of Paul's charges to Timothy, to Chris- 
 tians, to backsliders, etc., I find very useful to 
 myself at this time. An increasing taste for 
 * good books,' also, I think I possess. I am in 
 the habit of reading every day one sermon of 
 that devoted and pious man, W. B. Homer. 
 Have you read his memoir? If not, I think 
 you and Eliza would be greatly interested in 
 it. I hope to read to you some in it when I 
 get home. 
 
 ^'I have nothing particularly new to write 
 concerning the religious interest in college. I 
 believe there have no new conversions taken 
 place since I wrote you last. Though the in- 
 terest manifested is not so deep as it was a few 
 weeks since, yet there is still a good attend- 
 ance upon our meetings and much of the spirit 
 of prayer. AVe have a prayer-meeting every 
 day, either at half-past one or five P. M., which 
 is generally well attended. Preaching three or 
 four evenings in a week. Those who have in- 
 dulged hope all continue to appear well. This 
 is very cheering. I long to see you, that I 
 may tell you more particularly about them 
 tha,n I can on paper. I long to be at some of 
 
t 
 
 AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 85 
 
 your evening meetings. Is there a good at- 
 tendance ? Do the Monday evening church 
 prayer-meetings continue? I wish old Mrs. 
 Beck's prophetic revival might occur while I 
 am at home. I think I anticipate more re- 
 ligious enjoyment this vacation, than I have at 
 any other. Our Sunday noon prayer-meetings 
 in the chamber, I think much of, I pray for 
 you at such seasons individually, and I pray 
 for the church. 
 
 " Sometimes I think, dear mother, that my 
 course for a few months past is to be blessed 
 to both of us. Perhaps you were thinking too 
 much of my being such a Christian as J. B. 
 Taylor was, while in college, and God has dis- 
 appointed you. Perhaps I placed too much 
 confidence in self, and he has humbled me in 
 this manner. I hope I shall be enabled to 
 make any sacrifice for Christ. But I know I 
 have sin in me still, and I, above all others, 
 need to keep close to G-od if I would abstain 
 from it. 0, do all of you pray for me that I 
 may be kept from falling into sin.'' 
 
 Journal letter for his mother. 
 " /'October 2, 1843. A calm and pleasant 
 
86 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 Sabbath. A sacred day of rest. Sweet fore- 
 taste of the eternal sabbath in the upper 
 sanctuary. All nature seems to harmonize with 
 the quiet stillness of this day of rest. I had a 
 peculiarly interesting season of prayer this 
 noon for my beloved parents and friends ; I 
 prayed for each one in particular. I thought 
 of my dear mother, kneeling alone perhaps in 
 the room where we, her children, have so often 
 at noon of the holy Sabbath knelt with her ; 
 and now they are both, in the providence of 
 God, removed from her for a season. As I 
 thought, I felt my heart drawn out in prayer 
 for her, and for the dear younger brother who 
 has just gone from under the paternal roof. I 
 prayed that he might never forget the pious 
 counsels he has had instilled into his youthful 
 mind, and that he might be kept from the 
 temptations of that great city whither he has 
 gone. It was to me a hallowed hour. for 
 many more such. 
 
 " October 4. A most interesting ^nonthly 
 concert of prayer was held last evening in col- 
 lege, and very fully attended. The claims of 
 a dying world were urged upon us with pe- 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 87 
 
 culiar force, and interesting statements were 
 read. Professor H., in speaking of deciding 
 upon what was our duty with regard to going 
 out as foreign missionaries, remarked, that the 
 question ought not to be with us, ' Shall I go V 
 for that is our Saviour's express command to 
 every one of his professed disciples : ^ Go ye 
 into all the world ;' hut, * Shall I remain at 
 home ?' ' Are there reasons sufficient to justify 
 my staying at home to preach the gospel ?' If 
 not, then he thought it was plainly our duty to 
 go. He believed it was proper for a student to 
 make up his mind in college, on this subject, 
 and become early imbued with a missionary 
 spirit ; * for do we not find,' said he, ' that 
 those persons who have made the greatest 
 advancement in science, literature, and the arts, 
 turned their attention early to these subjects ?' 
 So should it be in the missionary cause. 
 
 '^ Lord, teach me my duty. I have begun 
 to read the Missionary Herald. I became in- 
 terested in the September number. Last Sab- 
 bath I read part of the October number aloud 
 to a friend in college, and we mean to continue 
 the plan of reading regularly if we can. 
 
88 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 *' Sabbath-noon, October 9. I have just 
 risen from my knees, where I have been pray- 
 ing for the dear church of which I am a mem- 
 ber, whose members, I doubt not, are at this 
 moment sitting at the table of their Lord and 
 Master, to commemorate his dying love. I 
 have prayed for a descent of the Holy Grhost 
 upon them, and I trust that the season will 
 prove indeed ' a feast of fat things ' to their 
 souls. 
 
 " October 11. I have had my mind much 
 occupied for a day or two by having some ex- 
 ercises to prepare for college. I find that such 
 things are apt to take oft' my attention from 
 higher and spiritual duties. for more devot- 
 edness to God, and more engagedness in his 
 service. I want more of that spirit which will 
 enable me at all times to keep near to God, 
 and inspire me with more devotedness to his 
 cause. 
 
 *' October 13. The return of our Thursday 
 evening lecture puts me in mind of the good 
 old Wednesday evening meetings at home. 
 how have I enjoyed those meetings, though 
 sometimes they have seemed so tedious. Some 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 89 
 
 of the happiest hours of my Ufe have been 
 spent in that old out-of-the-way chapel, and I 
 could not even now see it torn down to give 
 place to a new one without deep feelings of 
 sorrow. We hardly ever prize our privileges 
 while they are in our possession. "When they 
 are gone we look back upon them, and reflect 
 how we might have been benefited by them." 
 Mr. Emerson sometimes received special vis- 
 itations of divine grace, as in the following 
 instance : 
 
 "Amherst, Feb. 10, 1843. 
 
 ^' You will want to know something, dear 
 mother, with regard to my religious feelings, 
 and I have long been wanting to write you 
 concerning them. I believe I mentioned to 
 you in a former letter something about the 
 state of my mind the Sabbath after I returned. 
 That was indeed a day of visitation to my soul 
 from on high. As I was sitting in church on 
 that day, in a most unaccountable and sur- 
 prising manner I seemed to have poured upon 
 me the influences of God's Holy Spirit. I 
 looked upon things in the light of eternity, and 
 the realities of immortality seemed pressing on 
 
90 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 my view. I was led to look in a different light 
 on my duty, and felt that it was high time I 
 should be awake, and be up and doing. I re- 
 solved to live nearer to God, to give up my 
 easily besetting sins, and examine myself to 
 see" whether I was in the faith. Those impres- 
 sions, I trust, have not left me. I think I may 
 say in truth, G-od has met me by the influ- 
 ences of his Holy Spirit, and I have had a 
 revival in my soul. 
 
 '' Since then, my Bible has been to me a de- 
 light, and my prayers a joy and comfort. I 
 have found it sweet to meditate on God and 
 heaven and divine things. I have been ena- 
 bled to look forward with some degree of calm- 
 ness to the time when I shall have to leave 
 all things below, and be here no more for ever. 
 This precious season was sudden and unex- 
 pected. No particular sermon, or prayer, or 
 remark, arrested my attention. It seemed to 
 be the Spirit of God whispering in my ear, and 
 urging upon me anew my duty. 
 
 " You spoke in your letter about my birth- 
 day. I remembered it, and offered up fervent 
 prayer on that day for future strength. I trust 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEG-E. 91 
 
 I am enaMed to make some advances in holi- 
 ness, and in the divine life. I have felt of late 
 more of a spirit of prayer, and a stronger de- 
 termination to press on in my Christian course. 
 I begin now to realize more than ever the 
 responsibilities which will come upon me when 
 I leave college. I look forward to them at 
 times with some anxiety, but I place my trust 
 in God. He can give help in every time of 
 need. I hope to be able to get much discipline 
 of mind this year, and to be prepared to be a 
 successful teacher when I leave college." 
 
 Again, in June, 1843, God graciously visited 
 the college, and souls were converted. Indeed, 
 as we shall see, revivals of religion seemed to 
 attend our beloved brother to the very close of 
 his career. 
 
 *' Amherst, June 24, 1843. 
 
 *' Dear Mother — Though you have received 
 a letter from me this week, and may not be 
 expecting one so soon again, yet I feel desirous 
 of writing to you, because I am persuaded you 
 will be anxious to know how the work of the 
 Lord is progressing among us, and because I 
 
92 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 am assured that a line, liowever often, from 
 your dear, and, I trust, humbled son, will not 
 come amiss. I am rejoiced to be able to inform 
 you that the Lord is still continuing his good 
 work, and the Spirit, by his convicting and con- 
 verting influences, is still manifestly among 
 us. Though the past week has not been so 
 signally marked with displays of divine grace 
 as the week before, yet we trust that three 
 have been born into the kingdom of our God 
 since the week commenced, two from the Fresh- 
 man class and one from ours. 
 
 *^ Last Saturday the professors of religion in 
 college had a day of fasting and prayer. Much 
 fervent supplication was offered up. I devoted 
 the forenoon to prayer, perusing the Scriptures, 
 and meditation. I took different subjects, and 
 made them one by one the burden of my pray- 
 ers, retiring to my closet at intervals during 
 the forenoon. Our class met in an adjoining 
 room, at one o'clock, to pray for spiritual bless- 
 ings to descend upon us. At five P. M. we 
 had a general meeting for all the members of 
 college in the rhetorical-room. My own mind 
 had been, during the day, in rather a gloomy, 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 93 
 
 desponding, and doubting frame ; but between 
 the hours of eight and nine in the evening, as 
 I was alone in my room pouring out my soul 
 in prayer to Almighty G-od, light broke in upon 
 me, and I felt a nearness of access to God 
 which I had not experienced during the day. 
 I trust I felt my heart going out in love to my 
 Saviour and my God. 0, what a power there 
 is in secret prayer. 
 
 '' Sunday morning was a time long to be 
 remembered in this institution. In our morn- 
 ing meeting; some of those who had lately in- 
 dulged hope in Christ rose and led in prayer. 
 It was truly affecting to hear from the lips of 
 one who had only a few days before been curs- 
 ing and blaspheming his Maker, thanksgiving 
 and praise for his deliverance from the thral- 
 dom of sin and iniquity. Those who have 
 been the most haughty, the most profane and 
 wicked, and the most opposed to this good 
 work, have been made to bow at the feet of 
 Jesus. Some of those who were from the most 
 respectable, wealthy, and influential families, 
 and who would have considered it a lasting 
 disgrace to be seen in a meeting of any kind, 
 
94" REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 except when obliged to go "by the faculty, are 
 now seen sittmg like little children at the feet 
 of Jesus, and humbly supplicating at the throne 
 of his grace. One of the most pleasing and 
 delightful fbatures of this revival has been the 
 unity and harmony of spirit which has pervaded 
 the hearts of Christians. Where before there 
 was wrangling, bitterness, and contention, all 
 now is peace and love. 
 
 ''You will be desirous to know, dear mother, 
 the state of my own feelings at this most inter- 
 esting time; but I hardly dare express them. 
 I trust I am 'strong in the Lord, and in the 
 power of his might.' If I know my own heart, 
 I am fully determined to live for G-od. But 
 0, if I am deceived with regard to my hope, 
 what a dreadful thing it will be. I strive to 
 examine myself daily at the bar of conscience, 
 and by the word of Grod, to see whether I am 
 living aright. I often ask myself the question. 
 If I am this night called away, can I say sin- 
 cerely, ' I know in whom I have believed V 
 One great evidence that I get of my change of 
 heart, is an increased love for my closet duties, 
 and for the ordinances and worship of God's 
 
AT AMHERST COLLEaE. 95 
 
 house. I feel as if the things that once I loved, 
 now I hate, and those I hated, now I love. I 
 tremble lest I should again be left of God. I 
 feel that I need to keep very close to my Sav- 
 iour. I do not ask you to pray for me, my 
 dear mother, for I know that abundant, fer- 
 vent prayer goes forth from your lips, that Al- 
 mighty God would bless and keep your absent 
 son from the paths of vice and folly, and enable 
 him to lead a holy life." 
 
 Mr. Emerson, in other letters, alludes to his 
 studies, and gives sometimes a detailed account 
 of the branches to wliich he devoted his atten- 
 tion. It was his constant aim to discharge 
 faithfully every duty. His influence among 
 the students was of the happiest character. 
 His diligence, his kindness and courtesy, and 
 above all, his ardent piety, made a salutary 
 impression upon those around him. His at- 
 tachments to his class-mates continued through 
 life, as his correspondence abundantly shows. 
 
 He graduated with honor, August 8, 1844. 
 The last scenes of college life deeply impressed 
 his mind. He was anxious to return to his 
 pleasant home, and yet it was painful to part 
 
96 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 with his class-mates, and especially with those 
 with whom he had taken sweet spiritual com- 
 munion. But the changes incident to human 
 life he felt that he must submit to. His sad- 
 ness, however, was mingled with devout thank- 
 fulness to Grod, for having carried him safely- 
 through his college course, and conducted him 
 so far towards the great object of his heart's 
 desire, the gospel ministry. 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 97 
 
 . CHAPTER IV. 
 
 RESIDENCE IN CONWAY, MASS. 
 1844-1846. 
 
 Mr. Emerson's father having been unsuc- 
 cessful in business, his son was desirous of 
 earning something towards his own support. 
 Accordingly, in September, 1844, he went to 
 Conway, Mass., the place of his grandfather's 
 ministerial labors, and there took charge of a 
 school. 
 
 His qualifications for teaching were of a 
 very high order, and he entered upon his new 
 duties with ardent desires to mould the char- 
 acter, as well as promote the intellectual de- 
 velopment of his pupils. He carried with him 
 to Conway his devotional spirit, his habits of 
 self-contemplation and secret prayer, and his 
 deep interest in the salvation of souls. The 
 Spirit of God seemed to attend him and to 
 direct his steps. In his school, in the families 
 with whom he boarded, in the church, and in 
 
98 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 the community, he labored to exert a strong 
 rehgious influence. 
 
 After being at Conway a short time, he 
 wrote to his parents as follows : 
 
 "September 15, 1844. 
 
 ** Mr. Harris has preached at home all day. 
 I think I shall enjoy his preaching very much. 
 Our intermission is only an hour and a quarter 
 at noon, and I do not know but I shall have to 
 observe our season of prayer after meeting in 
 the afternoon. There is so much going in and 
 out here, in the intermission, that I cannot very 
 Well be retired. I trust the season will con- 
 tinue to be one of great interest and profit to 
 us both. I have consented for the present to 
 supply any vacancy of a teacher which may 
 occur from Sabbath to Sabbath, and shall not 
 take a regular class just yet. Mr. Harris 
 wishes me to take charge of a Sunday evening 
 meeting, but I don't feel spiritual life enough 
 to do it. 1 wish I was more engaged. I know 
 I need to be. Do, my dear parents, pray 
 that I may have a quickening from on high. 
 I do not feel as if I was at all qualified for 
 the great work of the ministry. I have none 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 99 
 
 of those feelings which were manifested by 
 J. B. Taylor, Homer, and others. If I do not 
 feel as if I could speak in a prayer-meeting 
 here, what shall I do when called upon to 
 address the great congregation? The Lord 
 grant me his Spirit. 
 
 '' My first week in Conway has closed. How 
 many weeks I shall spend here, God only knows. 
 I feel as if I had made a beginning, and could 
 go on for this term. I think I can say I do 
 like Conway. Every thing conspires to make 
 it pleasant. It is a favorable time of year, and 
 fine weather, and I feel as if my name gave 
 me a license to become acquainted with any- 
 body. People seem disposed to be familiar, 
 and invite me freely to come and see them. I 
 hope to be able not only to make myself con- 
 tented here, but also to do good, and grow in 
 knowledge and grace." 
 
 *' October 1, 1844. 
 
 *^ My school is still flourishing; every "Wed- 
 nesday afternoon we have an exercise in com- 
 position and declamation. My evenings are 
 spent in reading, writing, and visiting. I was 
 glad to receive your letter on the morning of 
 
100 REV. JOHN E. E]\1ERS0N. 
 
 Fast-day, and to know that you also had been 
 iooking forward to the day with feelings of in- 
 terest. It proved a good day to me. I gave 
 up my school in the afternoon and attended 
 meeting. It was the fullest church meeting I 
 have attended since I have been in Conway. 
 There was a spirit of freedom, and I thought 
 the power of the Holy Ghost was present. In 
 the evening I attended our usual Thursday 
 evening prayer-meeting. 
 
 '' I must tell you a little about our religious 
 state. We begin to have the hearing ear among 
 us. The number in the district where I am 
 now boarding, that attend meeting on Sabbath 
 evening, varies from sixty to seventy-five, and 
 I am permitted to speak to them every week 
 of things pertaining to the Saviour's kingdom. 
 We have had some solemn meetings, great 
 attention, and considerable weeping, but as yet 
 no signs of genuine repentance. One encour- 
 aging fact I will mention. A professor in this 
 neighborhood, who has for a long time been 
 indifferent to the things of religion, has re- 
 ceived a sudden and powerful refreshing and 
 come out decidedly for the cause again. He 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 101 
 
 now assists his brethren by his prayers and ex- 
 hortations. Other symptoms of vitality have 
 begun to appear in members of the church, in 
 different parts of the town. In view of this 
 state of things, I proposed to three of the 
 brethren to set apart Monday evening for spe- 
 cial prayer for this village in which we are 
 laboring. The plan met their views, and we 
 held our first meeting a fortnight ago last Mon- 
 day eve. Mr. H met with us, and we had 
 
 a comforting season. At our second meeting, 
 we agreed to devote a few minutes at nine 
 o'clock every evening in our closets, to pray for 
 the same object; also to converse personally 
 with some impenitent sinner. 
 
 Every fortnight, Mr. C and I go into a 
 
 neighboring district on Saturday evening, to 
 help the brethren in sustaining a prayer-meeting 
 which was commenced this fall. - The attend- 
 ance thus far has been very encouraging. We 
 are looking for a revival w^ith some hope and 
 great fear. If we could only get clear of self, 
 and feel that Grod alone must be glorified, and 
 precious souls saved from the second death, we 
 should have more encouragement. But this 
 
102 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 one thing, I believe, we are fully determined 
 to do — to pray that we may serve and glorify 
 God, and in this we are united as touching one 
 thing. I set apart Saturday, the 27th, for 
 prayer, meditation, reading the Scriptures, and 
 reviewing rhy journal; had a cheering day. I 
 found a record which I made on the day I was 
 eleven years old, which affected me very much. 
 I hope I gave myself away anew to the Lord 
 on that day." 
 
 Mr. Emerson took a very deep personal in- 
 terest in the happiness and welfare of all his 
 pupils, entering cordially into their joys and 
 sorrows. This is touchingly illustrated by the 
 following incident : 
 
 ^'To night is one of those times in which I 
 feel peculiarly like writing, and such times 
 have been more frequent since I returned from 
 home than ever before. I have been trans- 
 ported back to-day to the time when I was ten 
 years old, and have been passing through, in 
 imagination, some of the scenes that I then 
 passed through, and have exclaimed, ' that 
 I felt and lived and prayed as in months past.' 
 
 '' The cause of these feelings is this : I have 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 103 
 
 attended, this afternoon, the funeral of the fa- 
 ther of one of my best scholars. He was one 
 of our most respectable and wealthy citizens, 
 and only the last winter represented the town 
 in the legislature at Boston. He died of con- 
 sumption, aged forty -two, leaving four children, 
 three of them under twelve years of age. Their 
 own mother died about four years since, a 
 pious, lovely woman. They deeply mourned 
 her loss. Her eldest son, now just past fifteen, 
 was very affectionate, kind, and attentive to 
 her. Her death made a deep impression on 
 his mind, and soon after that event he indulged 
 a hope of salvation ; and at the age of twelve 
 united with the church. He has proved him- 
 self, I think, a Christian indeed. I learn from 
 a gentleman who lived next door to him, that 
 he always used to overhear him, morning and 
 evening, at his private devotions, in which he 
 was very punctual. He has attended my 
 school ever since I have been in Conway, and 
 has been in my Sabbath-school class. I think 
 he has the most amiable disposition of any boy 
 I ever met with. He is fitting for college, and 
 is almost, if not quite, the best scholar I have 
 
104 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 had in my school. I never loved a scholar as 
 I have loved him. He is so manly, so mature, 
 so conscientious, so strictly upright, that you 
 could not help loving him with all your heart. 
 So punctual has he been in his attendance, 
 that, until a few days ago, when his father 
 was taken worse, he rarely failed of being pres- 
 ent in his seat. All my sympathies have been 
 enlisted in his behalf, during the last fortnight. 
 His father went out until that time. Then he 
 became deranged, and remained so, except at 
 intervals, until his death. 
 
 '' The little fellow loved his father dearly. I 
 well recollect one morning, after I had made 
 mention of him in my morning prayer at 
 school, that he cried as if his heart would 
 break, and it was a long time before the vio- 
 lence of his feelings could be repressed. And 
 never shall I forget the morning of his father's 
 death. His friends had promised to send for 
 him, if there was a change ; and just after 
 school had commenced on Thursday, the other 
 boys saw his younger brother coming at full 
 speed down the hill. The color quickly for- 
 sook his cheek, for he knew too well his 
 
^ 
 
 RESIDENCE AT CQ^VTXY. 105 
 
 errand. ^ He 's dying,' said ^e little messenger, " 
 and I turned to call my pupil out. But | 
 found I could not speak, and I Reckoned liim 
 to the door. With a face wet with tears, he 
 looked up to me and said, ' Shall I take my 
 satchel V I could not help noticing, and being 
 struck with the question. So faithful had he 
 always been to take home his books for study, 
 that even in that dread hour he hardly knew 
 whether it would be duty to leave them. ' No,' 
 I exclaimed, as I hastily took them from him, 
 and bade him hurry home. His father breathed 
 his last just as he reached the door. 
 
 '^It would have melted your heart could 
 you have seen him stand to-day, in the pres- 
 ence of the vast crowd assembled at the fu- 
 neral, and drop his scalding tears thick and 
 fast upon the face of that beloved father, now 
 cold in death. After the funeral, I went to 
 the house to invite him to take a walk. ' This 
 seems a gloomy world to-night,' said the poor 
 boy. I felt almost unable to reply to any thing 
 he said, for though young in years he was 
 truly old in sorrow. We conversed together 
 on death and eternity, and it was a solemn 
 
106 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 liour. So like my own experience did his con- 
 version seem, that I was, as I said at the be- 
 ginning of this letter, transported back to the 
 time when I was ten or twelve years of age. 
 I have often spoken of late to large audiences, 
 in the conference-room, but never have I 
 spoken with such heartfelt emotion as I did 
 when I addressed that audience of only one, 
 seated on an old board in a retired place 
 whither we had strayed. I hope I shall be 
 enabled to do him much good. I must ask 
 your pardon for having filled so much of my 
 letter with this account ; but my heart is full 
 df it, and I could write nothing else now." 
 
 It is interesting to notice that whatever 
 topic Mr. Emerson may commence writing 
 upon, we are certain, very soon, to find him 
 floating on the stream of his religious feel- 
 ings. It is also a significant fact, that wher- 
 ever he was, he witnessed the descent of the 
 showers of divine grace around him. 
 
 After excusing himself for not writing be- 
 fore, he says, 
 
 ^^ November 7, 1845. Just before my cold 
 came on, I had agreed to deliver the annual 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 107 
 
 address "before the Conway Agricultural As- 
 sociation. I did it reluctantly ; at first posi- 
 tively refusing : but on being more earnestly 
 solicited, I consented. Immediately after I had 
 consented to do this, the Lord commenced rain- 
 ing down righteousness upon us. I verily be- 
 lieve we are on the eve, if not in the begin- 
 ning, of a glorious revival of religion. As soon 
 as these indications of good commenced, I felt 
 as if I must be in the work ; and the very week 
 in which I wrote a large part of my address, I 
 not only was in school every day, but also 
 attended a meeting ever j/ evening' during the 
 week, riding one evening three or four miles 
 to attend one. # # # 
 
 *^ You will be anxious to hear more about 
 the interest in religion. It has commenced in 
 this village, and the first case of awakening 
 was in the house next to the one w^here I 
 board. I think I have already written you 
 about the increased attendance on our meet- 
 ings, and the new spirit of prayer which had 
 been stirred up among some of the brethren. 
 This has been continually increasing ; and a 
 few Sabbaths ao:o there was a minister in town 
 
108 REV. JOHN E. EMEESON. 
 
 from Arkansas. In the evening he came up 
 and preached a most powerful sermon in the 
 school-house in this district, and the truth took 
 deep root. The next day one of the girls who 
 works in the factory came to him to inquire 
 the way of eternal life. 
 
 ''Last Saturday evening I attended a most 
 solemn meeting. The voices of new-born souls 
 were heard, testifying of God's goodness and 
 giving praise to his name. The meeting was 
 solemn as the grave, the silence broken only 
 by the outbursting and irrepressible tears and 
 sobs of those present. There is also a very 
 interesting state of things in the church. At 
 the preparatory lecture, a week ago, after 
 preaching a most excellent and appropriate 
 sermon, Mr. H. was so much affected that it 
 was with difficulty he got through his last 
 prayer. The church were melted. "When we 
 came together yesterday, some feared that the 
 interest was somewhat diminished on account 
 of the meeting the evening before. But no ; 
 the feeling had increased. The church were 
 again melted into brokenness of heart, and we 
 felt that it was good to be there." 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 109 
 
 He relates the following incident as having 
 occurred on his journey to Conway : 
 
 ^'I was very much interested in a young 
 man that I found boarding in Mr. B.'s family. 
 They said he was a very good young man, but 
 rather * green ;' 'verdant' they called it. I 
 soon found, however, that his greenness con- 
 sisted in his readiness to speak at any time on 
 the subject of religion. A Universalist com- 
 menced a discussion with him during the even- 
 ing, and for two hours the young man de- 
 fended the religion of Christ like a good sol- 
 dier. It was triumphant, unanswerable. I 
 slept with him that night. Without knowing 
 that I was a professor of religion, or that I 
 cared for any of these things, he took down his 
 Bible and announced his intention of reading. 
 I of course assented. He read a passage and 
 commented on it, and then offered a short and 
 fervent prayer to the throne of grace. We lay 
 awake till near twelve o'clock, conversing on 
 religion, and I found that he took a deep in- 
 terest in the welfare of P. and L. He has 
 offered L. a seat free in Park-street church, if 
 he will attend regularly." 
 
110 UEV. JOHN E. EMEf.SON. 
 
 In December, the revival reached his school, 
 and the desire of his heart was gratified in the 
 conversion of some of his pupils. 
 
 " My school has opened very prosperously, 
 numbering twenty-nine scholars, and I am 
 expecting another soon. But best of all, the 
 Lord has poured out his Spirit upon us. I 
 have ten young ladies, and, if I can judge cor- 
 rectly, all but one are interested in the subject 
 of religion. Three are professors, three have 
 lately indulged hope, and three appear anxious, 
 and are beginning to attend the inquiry-meet- 
 ing. C. H., of whom I wrote you in my last 
 letter, attends my school, and appears well. 
 P. B. is quite engaged, and is, I think, doing 
 good. He took home one of his companions to 
 spend the night with him, a short time since, 
 and conversed with him on the subject of re- 
 ligion. He found his mind quite tender. 
 Things appear different in school. Instead of 
 trifling and vanity, I now hear such words as, 
 ' meeting,' ' inquiry-meeting,' ' eternal things.' 
 On the whole, I think I may safely say we are 
 enjoying a precious revival of religion. The 
 work seems to be principally in the centre of 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. Ill 
 
 the town. The evenmg meetings are very 
 fully attended. Although there was quite a 
 storm last Thursday, a number came two or 
 three miles to attend the evening conference. 
 Extra prayer-meetings are established, and 
 well attended. The work is very silent, un- 
 usually so. On this account I hope it will 
 prove lasting and genuine. Some young men 
 in town appear to be serious, and it is hoped 
 that they will soon come out on the Lord's 
 side. Mr. H. is constantly engaged, and active. 
 I have not called on him yet, but hope to have 
 a talk with him soon. I of course cannot be 
 unmoved amid such a state of things, but I feel 
 my insufficiency. Every day convinces me 
 that, if I am a Christian, I am not where I 
 should be. I trust I have some longings to be 
 more like Christ, and something of an earnest 
 desire to continue in his love. I feel sick of 
 this living by impulses. I want ' to abide 
 under the shadow of the Almighty.' I have 
 again commenced a course of self-examina- 
 tion, and hope, by the grace of God, to be 
 enabled to prosecute it. I have endeavored 
 to give more time to secret prayer, and 
 
112 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 have commenced the reading of Isaiah, with 
 Scott." 
 
 The revival continued into January, 1846. 
 He writes again as follows : 
 
 ^' It would have given you joy to witness 
 such scenes as we have been passing through 
 in this place for several weeks. The Spirit has 
 been poured out, not like a ' rushing mighty 
 wind,' but like the soft dews and gentle rain, 
 fertilizing and making glad our Zion. I had 
 prayed for a blessing, and thought I had faith 
 for my school as a grain of mustard-seed ; but 
 when the blessing came, I am not sure but I 
 was as much astonished as the witch of En- 
 dor was, when Samuel himself actually ap- 
 peared. Seven of my scholars give pleasing 
 evidence of a change of heart, and three or 
 four more attend the inquiry-meeting, but I 
 cannot say that they are feeling deeply. I do 
 not know of any conversions since the one I 
 last mentioned, but Mr. H. tells me that two 
 or three times, when he thought the interest 
 tiad subsided, it seemed to revive and increase. 
 [ hope it will prove so again. 
 
 " Our meetings are full and solemn. Many 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 113 
 
 are interested who do not profess to be in- 
 quirers, and much fervent prayer has been 
 offered for them. The desire seems to be that 
 the work may go on unto perfection. With 
 me God has been dealing in an unusual man- 
 ner. I sing of mercy, and not of judgment. I 
 have not felt that peculiar, intense excitement, 
 which I am apt to feel on such occasions ; but 
 in some way — may I not attribute it to the 
 Spirit ? — have felt at morning, noon, and even- 
 ing, a gentle drawing towards Christ. I have 
 sinned every day, and many a dark cloud has 
 appeared in my spiritual sky in consequence. 
 But I have not felt so much cast down, that I 
 could not look to the Lord and implore aid for 
 another effort at resistance ; and by his help I 
 have gained some victories. 
 
 " I resolved when I came back to commence 
 a careful study of the prophetical part of the 
 Bible, with Scott, as I am in more ignorance 
 of this portion than any other. In doing this, 
 I think I have been blessed. I generally read 
 two chapters a day, and as I could not well do 
 this if I read the practical observations, I have 
 chosen to omit them in going over it this time. 
 
114 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 I suppose you would tell me that this is the 
 very marrow of the reading ; but my object is 
 to get an understanding of the prophecies be- 
 fore entering the seminary, and must substi- 
 tute other religious reading for this portion of 
 Soott. I think, upon reflection, you would fall 
 in with this plan. My closet devotions, though 
 not of that rapturous kind that I have now and 
 then enjoyed, have been continued feasts. I 
 have felt a stronger faith in casting myself on 
 God, in committing all my ways to him, and 
 in believing that he will work out that which 
 is good. 
 
 " I have made the path of duty in regard to 
 teaching another year a special subject of 
 prayer, and have prayed that if God wishes 
 me to commence my preparation for the min- 
 istry next fall, he would make the way so 
 plain that I cannot mistake it. I trust I shall 
 experience no disappointment if the decision is 
 to teach, but I desire to be about the great 
 work to wliich I have devoted my life. I 
 think I should now differ from some of the 
 views which I expressed to you when at home, 
 tL ugh I do not yet dare to say so. Some 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 115 
 
 habits of mine cling so close to me, that to 
 tear them off is like taking away a part of my 
 very self. Still, I am beginning to see the 
 necessity of effecting a great work in these 
 particulars, and I am making a very feeble 
 beginning. I think I set a somewhat higher 
 value on time than I did in 1845. I am try- 
 ing to search my heart, and to distinguish 
 animal feeling from true zeal, and a romantic 
 piety from a sincere steady walk with God. 
 Pray for me ; for Satan desireth me, and my 
 weak faith may fail. I am praying that all 
 your doubts may be removed, and that you 
 may come into perfect liberty." 
 
 In his journal while at Conway, his topics 
 are the same as those in his letters — the state 
 of religion in his own heart and in the com- 
 munity around him. 
 
 '' April 13. I sometimes feel that I have no 
 love for souls ; I pray for dying sinners, I talk 
 to them, but Oh, I do not have that love for 
 them which many waters cannot quench nor 
 floods drown. Last night and to-day wrote 
 No. 6 of my loose papers.^ I sometimes try 
 
 *^ Short addresses for social prayer-meetings. 
 
116 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 this plan, as I am but little used to speaking 
 ex tempore. I hope that the paper may be 
 blessed when I shall make use of it. 
 
 *' June 10. Returned last Saturday from a 
 visit of six weeks to my dear native home. I 
 have enjoyed the society of beloved friends 
 much, but *have let my God, my Saviour, 
 go.' I have neglected prayer and the Holy 
 Bible, and have permitted my heart to go out 
 after its own sinful vanities. Thus it is with 
 me; in the daytime the drought consumes 
 me, and by night the frost. 0, when shall I 
 be like Him after whom, I trust, my weary 
 soul pants ? 
 
 *' September 2. I have set apart this day 
 as a day of special humiliation and prayer 
 before the face of Almighty God, on account 
 of my grievous backslidings and fearful wan- 
 derings from him during the past summer. I 
 have indeed cast off fear and restrained prayer 
 before him. So low have I sunk, that for a 
 long season I have neglected secret devotion; 
 and that too while I was urging its necessity 
 upon others, and in the belief of those around 
 me who are the disciples of Jesus, practising it 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 117 
 
 steadily myself. the blackness of the human 
 heart. the depth of my depravity. Will 
 the Lord Tbe favorable any more ? I will seek 
 him yet again. I have read the ninth chapter 
 of Daniel, and have looked away in prayer to 
 Daniel's Grod. My first prayer has recounted 
 Grod's mercies to me from infancy to the pres- 
 ent moment; has spread out before him the 
 long dark catalogue of my sins, and has im- 
 plored his forgiving mercy through Christ. I 
 have sought for the special manifestation of 
 his face and favor to-day. I have also reviewed 
 my journal, and find something written just 
 ten years ago to-day. Would that I felt the 
 love of God burning in my heart as I trust I 
 did about that time. My second prayer was 
 for strength to run with new vigor and alacrity 
 the Christian race ; that I might to-day give 
 myself unreservedly to the Lord. And I hum- 
 bly hope I did once more give myself aw^ay, in 
 sincerity, in a new and everlasting covenant 
 never to be broken, to Father, Son, and Holy 
 Spirit. My third prayer was, that I might 
 have grace given me to continue in well-doing, 
 that I might not be deceived in regard to my 
 
118 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 hope, that I might be delivered from spiritual 
 pride, and might be enabled to get the victory 
 over those temptations which have heretofore 
 hindered me in my journey heavenward. My 
 fourth prayer was, that I might be enabled to 
 live and act like a Christian, in the village in 
 which I dwell ; might do good in my school, 
 and might be a lasting benefit to the members 
 of my Sabbath-school class ; also, that my labors 
 in the conference-meeting might be blessed. 
 My fifth petition was, a review of the petitions 
 offered daring the day, and a renewed com- 
 mittal of myself to Jehovah. God grant that 
 it may not be in vain that this day has been 
 set apart, but may his good Spirit rest upon 
 and dwell with me now, henceforth, and ever- 
 more. Amen. 
 
 "Saturday, September 27, 1845. Another 
 mile-stone in the journey of life has been 
 reached. I am twenty-two years old. Eleven 
 years ago to-day I wrote in my journal, ' I am 
 eleven years old.' God only knows whether 
 eleven years hence the hand that now pens 
 these lines shall be mouldering in the grave, or 
 whether it will be able to write, ' I am thirty- 
 
EESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 119 
 
 three years old.' The uncertainty that attends 
 it makes me solemn ; would that it might keep 
 me solemn. I have set apart the day as a day 
 of special prayer, and my only purpose for the 
 coming year is, I will go on in the strength 
 of the Lord God. 
 
 " December 21. The Lord has been pour- 
 ing out his Spirit upon this place during the 
 last two months, and in a still manner has, we 
 trust, called about twenty souls from darkness 
 to light. Among the number are several of my 
 scholars, who seem to give good evidence of a 
 change of heart. But 0, how insensible am I 
 to the goodness of God ! 
 
 ' Yet I mourn my stubborn will, 
 Find my sin a grief and thrall.' 
 
 ^^ January 1, 1846. 'Thus far the Lord 
 hath led me on;' and here would I make men- 
 tion of his goodness, and with the new year 
 resolve in the strength of Grod, and record my 
 determination to live for him. What scenes 
 await me during this year, God only knows. 
 This much I know, that during the past year I 
 have not attained unto perfection. But I be- 
 lieve I have a closer walk with God, and have 
 
120 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 an assurance in my own soul that I am his. I 
 am convinced that there is such a thing as 
 walking with Grod day by day. I am tired of 
 this fitful religion, this spasmodic piety. I am 
 determined to entreat God every day to let me 
 live with him and for him. The year which 
 has just closed has been a year of unbroken 
 mercies. Every day has found me in the pos- 
 session of life, health, food, raiment, friends, 
 and innumerable mercies. Every Sabbath has 
 found me in the house of God ; and above- all, 
 the close of the year has found me in the midst 
 of a precious revival of religion, and my school 
 is sharing largely in the blessing. 0, have I 
 not reason to be thankful ? Have I not abun- 
 dant occasion to say, ' I will go on in the 
 strength of the Lord?' 0, my heavenly Fa- 
 ther, I desire to begin the new year in thy ser- 
 vice, and whether I live to complete all its 
 months and weeks and days on earth, or whether 
 during its fleeting course I am summoned by 
 thee to an unending state of existence, may I 
 still be found in the glorious employment of 
 loving and serving thee. 
 
 ^'Sabbath, January 18. Have been very 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 121 
 
 dull and lifeless in the sanctuary; Lut this 
 evening have enjoyed a delightful season of 
 prayer, committing myself to that God whose 
 I am, and whom I believe I desire to serve. 
 Satan, for a day, has had the advantage ; but, 
 by the grace of God, his reign shall be short, 
 and 
 
 ' A feeble saint shall win the day, 
 Though death and hell obstruct the way.' 
 
 God has worked wonders in my school. Seven 
 or eight are indulging a hope, and appear to 
 give good evidence of a change of heart. To 
 the Lord be all the glory, and may the work 
 be carried on by him. 
 
 '^ January 25. Last night went out with 
 some of my Christian brethren about four miles, 
 to attend a prayer-meeting at the house of a 
 good mother in Israel, now ninety -two years of 
 age. Had a delightful season with the old pil- 
 grim, and felt that I was standing by one who 
 would soon stand near the throne of God. The 
 snow was deep and the road much obstructed, 
 but the Lord made a way for us, and we felt 
 his love burning in our hearts. To-day (Sab- 
 bath) was feeble in mind in the sanctuary, but 
 
122 EEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 at our evening conference had unusual freedom, 
 though I hesitated about going, for I felt as if 
 I could not say a word. I hope I shall not 
 mistrust my God again. Was much comforted 
 when I returned from meeting in opening the 
 Bible, and accidentally casting my eye on^Jere- 
 miah 1 : 4-9. 
 
 '' February 4. My heart was cheered to-day 
 by a proposal from one of my scholars, to have 
 those who had lately become interested in the 
 subject of religion hold a meeting for prayer 
 during the intermission at noon. They held 
 one after the exercises this afternoon. The 
 Lord grant that they may be long continued. 
 Have enjoyed a blessed season this evening in 
 closet devotion, and think I have felt in some 
 measure that there is nothing worth living for 
 but Christ, and nothing true but heaven. 
 that I might always feel thus. 
 
 '' February 7. Finished this evening a fresh 
 perusal of the life of Harlan Page. how 
 much he was permitted to do for God. And 
 why may not I do as much? I almost shud- 
 der as I ask myself the question, and contrast 
 my sinful life with his humble walk with 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 123 
 
 God, and my poor selfish efforts with his self- 
 denying, sin-renouncing, Grod-glorifying labors. 
 Why should I not lead such a life, and attain to 
 such a communion with Grod? 0, my blessed 
 Saviour, it is not because thou dost not draw 
 me by the tender cords of thy love, but because 
 I will not run after thee. 
 
 '' February 15. Have been reading to-night 
 the life of Mrs. Judson. One remark of hers 
 particularly struck me. * I have always found 
 that full employment of time, and much retire- 
 ment from company of every description, is the 
 grand secret of living near to God.' 
 
 '' February 22. The week just past has 
 been one of great excitement, and I have min- 
 gled much with the world. I have proved the 
 converse of the remark made by Mrs. Judson, 
 which I penned one week ago, to be true ; that 
 little employment of time, and frequent min- 
 gling with company of every description, is not 
 the way to live near to God. I long to be so 
 devoted to the service of God, that mingling 
 with the w^orld when I must, will not have such 
 a tendency to make me forgetful of prayer and 
 other religious duties. Lord, while I am 
 
124 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 in the world, keep me from the evil of the 
 world." 
 
 Mr. Emerson found it improving to his own 
 mind, as well as beneficial to others, to write 
 his thoughts in the form of short addresses, 
 which he presented in substance in the social 
 prayer-meetings. It was difficult for him to 
 speak extempore, and yet he had a strong de- 
 sire to do his part towards rendering the social 
 meeting interesting and profitable. 
 
 Several of these " loose papers," as he termed 
 them, are preserved, from which we select the 
 following : 
 
 "THE PATH OF THE JUST AS THE SHININa 
 LiaHT. 
 
 '' ^ The path of the just is as the shining 
 light, that shineth more and more unto the 
 perfect day.' I have been struck with the 
 many points of resemblance between the true 
 Christian and the ' shining light,' and will no- 
 tice some of them. The Christian and the 
 shining light may be compared together in the 
 beginning' of their course. The rising of the 
 one has been preceded by a night of darkness 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 125 
 
 and gloom. But, anon, a faint streak is dis- 
 cerned in the eastern horizon; it is the har- 
 binger of approaching day. And lo, the morn- 
 ing Cometh. The bright ' king of day ' makes 
 his appearance over the eastern hills, gladden- 
 ing the face of the earth and drinking up the 
 dew which has collected during the darkness. 
 So is it with the Christian. His conversion 
 succeeds a long dark night of sin. But the 
 ' Sun of righteousness ' rises in his heart, chases 
 away that darkness, drinks up the tears of 
 penitence w^hich have begun to fall, and im- 
 parts joy and gladness. 
 
 " The Christian and the shining light may 
 be compared together in their progress. The 
 sun does not stay on the eastern hills, but 
 mounts up, and up^ and up the blue pathway 
 of the sky. So the light, joy, peace, and love 
 which the Christian experiences at the begin- 
 ning of his course, are but a foretaste of what 
 he shall enjoy hereafter. The little rills of 
 peace and comfort which now trickle into his 
 soul, shall increase until they swell to a deep, 
 broad river. His light ' shineth rnore and more 
 unto the perfect day.' 
 
126 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 *^The Christian and the shining light may- 
 be compared together in the /o^ which each 
 imparts at its approach. Animate and inani- 
 mate nature rejoices at the approach of the 
 sun. The birds herald his coming. The fields 
 and woods delight to bathe themselves in sun- 
 shine ; the beasts show signs of gladness, and 
 man goeth forth to his labor, and exclaims, 
 *0 Lord, how manifold are thy works; in wis- 
 dom hast thou made them all; the earth is 
 full of thy goodness.' So is it at the approach 
 of the truly good man. Prattling childhood 
 runs out to meet him and receive his benedic- 
 tion. Vigorous manhood suspends its labor to 
 do him reverence as he passes, and old age tot- 
 ters up to ask his blessing and receive his cheer- 
 ing smile. 
 
 ^' Again, the Christian and the shining light 
 may be compared in their diffusive benevolence. 
 The sun shines with equal warmth upon the 
 ' gold-clad emperor of the palace, and the rag- 
 clad beggar of the ditch.' It sheds a flood of 
 glory into the spacious banqueting-hall, whose 
 inmates are ' clothed in purple and fine linen, 
 and fare sumptuously every day,' and darts a 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 127 
 
 beam of light into the dark, under-ground 
 hovel, where hollow-eyed want and gaunt fam- 
 ine reign triumphant. Here goes out a sower 
 with a full seed-basket, scattering abroad its 
 contents with a lavish hand; and there comes 
 the poor man, casting in here and there of his 
 small portion ; and the same sun shines upon it 
 with its warming and vivifying beams, causing 
 it to spring up and grow, and in due time they 
 both shout the abundant harvest home. Now 
 take the devoted Christian. He has a look of 
 love, a smile of joy, and a tear of sympathy for 
 all. Are any rejoicing in the abundant good- 
 ness of God, manifested towards them? He 
 rejoices also. Are any bowed down by deep 
 and severe affliction? In all their afflictions 
 he is afflicted. Are any drawing near to ' the 
 dark valley of the shadow of death V He hast- 
 ens to the bedside of the sufferer, holds out the 
 consolations afforded by the gospel, whispers 
 words of Christian kindness into the ears of the 
 mourning friends, wipes the cold death-damp 
 from the brow of the sufferer, closes the glazed 
 eye, and hands the departing spirit gently over 
 to the angels who have come to bear it home. 
 
128 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ^' Once more, the Christian and the shining 
 light may he compared together in their depar- 
 ture. "We have a sure behef that we shall see 
 them again. Suppose it were announced to- 
 night that the glorious sun would set for the 
 last time, and we should behold his bright disk 
 no more for ever; how should we assemble 
 on all these hills to watch his decline, and run 
 from peak to peak to catch his last lingering 
 rays; and when the latest one had faded into 
 darkness, with what bursting sorrow should 
 we grope our way to our homes in the dark- 
 ness, never more to be cheered by the blessed 
 light and warmth which had heretofore been 
 to us almost as life itself. But far otherwise 
 is the case. Even if we see the sun go down 
 behind the darkened west, we expect to see it 
 reappear on the coming day, clothed in new 
 beauty, ' rejoicing like a strong man to run a 
 race.' How inconsolable, too, would be our 
 grief, if, when standing in ^the chamber where 
 the good man meets his fate,' we should feel 
 that he was about to pass away for ever from 
 our sight. But we mourn not as those that 
 have no hope. "We are assured that our brother 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 129 
 
 shall live again. "VYe know that he is only 
 putting off this corruptible, in order that he 
 may put on incorruption. We know that there 
 is a natural body that waxeth old and vanish- 
 eth away ; while we know, also, that there is a 
 spiritual body that never fadeth. ' They come 
 not up,' says one who went down in the fresh- 
 ness of life's morning to the dampness of the 
 tomb, ^ they come not up in the great day, rusty 
 and time-worn, from their tabernacles of clay, 
 or congealed and dripping from their cold, dark 
 bed in the ocean. Blessed be God, there is a 
 spiritual body.' As the sun in his agoing down 
 gives a sure pledge of his glorious return, so 
 the righteous, in his death, gives promise that 
 he shall live again." 
 
 "aROWTH IN aHACE. 
 
 *'We are commanded to *grow in grace, 
 and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ.' How few of us there are who 
 give the command any attention; how many 
 who do not bestow on it a passing thought. 
 Are we not too apt to feel that we ^have 
 already attained, or are already perfect,' 
 
130 REV. JOHN E. E-^IERSON. 
 
 when we come out and publicly profess our- 
 selves on the Lord's side ; and are we not 
 satisfied if we thenceforward keep ourselves 
 from the reproach of the world, and avoid 
 bringing dishonor on our profession? But is 
 this growing in grace? Is this advancing in 
 the divine life ? Let us apply the test else- 
 where. Would you call the product of that 
 field valuable, in which the seed planted should 
 spring up far enough to show that it had been 
 planted ; and then, uninfluenced alike by the 
 genial sunbeam and the refreshing shower, 
 cease to grow? Would you deem that tree 
 valuable, which, though it blossomed year 
 after year, never brought forth fruit to perfec- 
 tion? Would you deem that man wise in 
 worldly matters, who, when he might be con- 
 stantly adding to his wealth, should consent to 
 live possessed of barely enough to keep him 
 from starvation ? Would a parent send his son, 
 day after day, and week after week, to school, 
 if he found that he was making no progress in 
 knowledge ? no. You call your harvest valu- 
 able, only when there has appeared, * first the 
 blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 131 
 
 ear.' You call only that tree good which, 
 after the glory of its blossoming is over, daily 
 continues to show its enlarged fruit, until it* is 
 weighed to the earth with its goodly burden. 
 You call that man worldly-wise, who leaves 
 no measure untried, nor stone unturned, to add 
 to the wealth he already possesses. You re- 
 tain your child at school, that he may increase 
 in knowledge, and become better fitted for the 
 active duties of life. But how much the re- 
 verse of this is the Christian life. How many 
 do no more than blossom here. A very few, 
 praised be God, grow in grace, become ripe, 
 and bear mellow fruit, that is constantly ready 
 to be plucked by the owner of the vineyard. 
 But the great majority of the church blossom, 
 yet bring forth no fruit. You see them every 
 two months at the communion-table ; and 
 here they may be said to blossom, for here 
 they show to the world their profession. But 
 they go away and return only to blossom again. 
 Or if they do bear some fruit, so knotty and 
 deformed is its appearance, so sour and crab- 
 bed to the taste, that it is not worth the pluck- 
 ing ; and then it clings so to the tree on which 
 
132 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 it grew, and to the stem which supports it, 
 that it would seem far better to let it perish in 
 its deformity, than to attempt to gather it in 
 with the good fruit. 
 
 *' My brethren, in the figure which I have 
 used, I have too nearly described my own case. 
 Have I not described yours ? And if so, is it 
 right that we should be in such a condition ? 
 Since in matters of the lowest importance we 
 deem the law of progress to be essential, why 
 should it not apply also to matters of infinite 
 moment ? If, then, our condition is such as 1 
 have described, ought we not to be awake to 
 it? Could we occupy a fixed position, our 
 condition might be less dangerous ; but it is a 
 fearful thought that this cannot be. If we are 
 not growing in grace, then we are retrograd- 
 ing ; for Christ says, ' He that is not with me 
 is against me,' and it cannot be that we are 
 with Christ unless we are constantly growing 
 like him. If, now, we are convinced of the 
 importance of growing in grace, the question 
 comes. How shall we? Surely not by inac- 
 tivity, for we have just seen that inactivity 
 works out no good, but only destruction. Can 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 133 
 
 we grow in grace by resolving to grow in 
 grace ? What would you think of an army 
 of men that came to batter down the walls of 
 a city, and should spend their whole time in 
 making huge engines to break down the ram- 
 parts, and yet never advance to make use of 
 them? Yet this is just the case with some 
 Christians. They spend all their time in 
 making resolutions, and most powerful resolu- 
 tions they make ; enough, if only put in exe- 
 cution, to make great havoc with their sins, 
 and push themselves far onward in the Chris- 
 tian course. But they make no use of them, 
 they only treasure them up ; and I very much 
 fear, that at the Judgment some will have 
 nothing to offer but a storehouse of good reso- 
 lutions laid up while on earth, any one of 
 which, if put to its proper use, might have 
 been of signal service to them in their journey 
 heavenward. The growing Christian does not 
 stop to make many resolutions. He breaks 
 down a great deal of the wall with very small 
 engines, and for the simple reason that he 
 keeps constantly at work. My brethren, we 
 have no time to spend in sharpening our weap 
 
134 REV. JOHN E. ExMERSON. 
 
 ons. They must be kept in order by con- 
 stant use. "We cannot always stop to polish 
 our arrows, and make tliem ready upon the 
 string. We must often twang the bow, and 
 shoot at a venture. It may be that some one 
 of the King's enemies will be smitten. Up, 
 then, and be doing. Depending on the prom- ' 
 ised strength of Jehovah, the most feeble need 
 not fear." 
 
 ''THE RAINBOW ROUND THE THRONE. 
 
 '' In the glowing description given by John, 
 of the view which he was permitted to take 
 of the glories of the upper world, he makes 
 use of this expression : ' There was a rain- 
 bow round about the throne.' Why, we may 
 be permitted to ask, should the rainbow be 
 chosen above all other things to mark the 
 place where the ' Ancient of days ' sits en- 
 throned ? What peculiar significance in the 
 rainbow ? Has it a deep meaning which noth- 
 ing else possesses ? Does it contain a lan- 
 guage that will make the throne eloquent when 
 all besides is dumb ? Why not have a sun, all 
 radiant with celestial light ? Why not have a 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 135 
 
 moon, girt about with the silvery-shining, 
 * trailing garments of the night?' Why not 
 have one of those bright, beautiful stars, ' first 
 in night's diadem?' Will none of these an- 
 swer ? No, says John, ' There was a rain- 
 bow round about the throne.' Do you recol- 
 lect the account recorded iix the Scriptures, of 
 the time when G-od poured out the floods of 
 his wrath upon a guilty world, and swept off 
 all its inhabitants, save the chosen eight, who, 
 seated in the ark which they had built by 
 divine corrimand, rose as high towards heaven 
 as the haters of Grod sunk beneath his frown ? 
 And do you remember, when the waters had 
 subsided and the ark rested on mount Ararat, 
 that the Almighty stood by Noah as he stepped 
 forth on dry land, and lifting his finger tow- 
 ards the retreating clouds on which the sun 
 had again broke forth, said, ' Behold my bow ! 
 I have set it in the cloud ; it shall be for a 
 token of a covenant between me and thee V 
 Here, then, is its deep significance made mani- 
 fest ; here its hidden mystery declared. In 
 this consists its wondrous fitness for the place 
 it occupies ; it is a token of the covenant be- 
 
136 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 tween Grod and man. Bright token. Who 
 does not love to gaze upon it? Who has not 
 seen, on some fair summer's morn, the dark 
 clouds rearing their caps in the western hori- 
 zon, and heard the muttering of the distant 
 thunder, and noted the gleam of the lightning, 
 and watched the dense masses as they rolled 
 up in awful majesty, obscuring the light of the 
 sun and shrouding the earth in funereal gloom ? 
 And when the tempest swept by in its wrath, 
 threatening to repeat the desolation of the old 
 world, have you not remembered the token of 
 the covenant, and felt sure that that bright 
 token would soon be hung out in heaven ? And 
 was it not so? When the storm had gone over 
 your head, did you not see, spanning its dark 
 brow, the bright, the beautiful, the seven-col- 
 ored bow of promise ? Was there not a rainbow 
 round about the cloud ? And is it not a fitting 
 emblem for Jehovah to throw around his throne ? 
 Shall we not do well to gaze upon it and study 
 its meaning and read its language ? Especially 
 would the Christian do well to take heed to it ; 
 for it is to him a token of a Father's care, a Fa- 
 ther's love, a Father's undying remembrance. 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 137 
 
 *' Doubting Christian, it has a language for 
 thee. Are you sometimes almost led to believe 
 that the promises of God will fail of their ful- 
 filment, and that he has forgotten to be gra- 
 cious ? Behold that bow. It is a token of his 
 unfailing love, and assures you that though a 
 woman may forget her first-born, yet he cannot 
 be forgetful or unmindful of thee. Tempted 
 Christian, have the allurements of an insnaring 
 world and the temptations of the great adver- 
 sary at times almost obtained the victory? 
 Remember the token. The evil one shall not 
 gain the advantage, for the Lord knoweth how 
 to deliver those that are tempted. 
 
 ^'Afflicted Christian, have all the waves and 
 the billows of the Almighty gone over you, 
 and have you been compelled, in the bitterness 
 of blasted hopes, to exclaim, ^ Lover and friend 
 hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaint- 
 ance into darkness V can you not see woven 
 into the bright colors that compose that bow 
 the glorious promise of your Lord, ^ When thou 
 passest through the waters, I will be with thee, 
 and through the floods, they shall not overflow 
 thee?' 
 
138 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ^^ Dying Christian, we have no need to tell 
 you that there is a rainbow round about the 
 throne. How gorgeous its colors and distinct 
 its outline, as you draw near the pearly gates 
 of the celestial city. But when you have ar- 
 rived there, behold, it ' melts away into the 
 light of heaven.' For what need of the token, 
 when He who gave it has made himself to 
 stand in its place, and has taken you to be for 
 ever in his blissful presence.'' 
 
 ''HE IS JOINED TO HIS IDOLS; LET HIM ALONE. 
 
 '' There are doubtless many persons who have 
 sinned away their day of grace, and against 
 whom that terrible edict has gone forth, ^He 
 is joined to his idols ; let him alone.' There 
 is a point beyond which the long-suffering pa- 
 tience of G-od will not go ; there is a time when 
 his mercy is clean gone for ever, and when he 
 will be favorable no more. The Spirit of God 
 strives long, but will not strive always, with 
 men. The promises and threatenings of the 
 word of God may for many years address them- 
 selves to the conscience, but there is a time 
 when they will ^ neither melt nor move.' There 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 139 
 
 is such a thing as being given up of God, left 
 to hardness of heart and bKndness of mind, 
 never more to be visited by the Spirit, never 
 more to have any concern for the never-dying 
 soul ; sinking into that deep, unconscious sleep, 
 from which it is impossible to be aroused, until 
 the ' worm that never dies and the fire that 
 never is quenched' have begun to prey upon 
 the soul. In what awful language does the 
 Scripture clothe itself, when speaking upon this 
 point : ' Because I have called and ye refused ; 
 I have stretched out my hand, and no man re- 
 garded ; but ye have set at naught all my coun- 
 sel, and would none of my reproof; I also will 
 laugh at your calamity ; I will mock when your 
 fear cometh.' This state of mind is induced 
 by continually resisting the strivings of God's 
 Spirit ; by lulling the voice of conscience ; by 
 running into temptation; by efforts to put to 
 sleep the convictions attendant upon the faith- 
 ful ministrations of the sanctuary ; by restrain- 
 ing prayer ; by putting off to a more convenient 
 season the thoughts of death, the judgment, 
 and eternity. It is not a state of mind peculiar 
 to those who dwell in tlie darkness of heathen- 
 
140 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ism, or to those who have been nourished in 
 the midst of crime and infidelity. If it is pe- 
 culiar to any, it is to those who have been 
 brought up under the sound of gospel truth, 
 who have lived in the full blaze of gospel light, 
 who have had line upon line, counsel upon 
 counsel, warning upon warning, and that Sab- 
 bath after Sabbath, year after year. But all 
 have been disregarded, or put off to that fatal 
 period, to-morrow. And now the man has 
 been given over to destruction, and in refer- 
 ence to him it may be truly said, ' There re- 
 maineth no more sacrifice for sin.' 0, if there 
 is one of Grod's creatures upon whom it is 
 heart-rending to look, surely it is that person 
 who has sinned away his day of probation ; 
 who is per>mitted to continue a little longer on 
 the earth, and yet dead — a corpse among living 
 men. How it would surprise us to see one of 
 those forms which we have lately deposited in 
 yonder graveyard, suddenly start up, endowed 
 with the power of motion alone, and going forth 
 among us. How frightful to know that the 
 principle of life would never enter it again, 
 and yet it is walking by our side in the street, 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 141 
 
 sitting down at our tables, and touching with 
 its skeleton hand, but not tasting the food we 
 have prepared, and lying down by our side at 
 night. How terrible to see the flesh dropping 
 daily from its bones, and to know that it would 
 never be clothed anew, and that no breath of 
 the Lord would ever breathe upon it again. 
 But just such is the condition of the person we 
 are describing. The silver cord that bound the 
 soul to a Redeemer's love has been loosed, the 
 golden bowl of salvation has been broken, and 
 yet by a mysterious providence he is permitted 
 to stand a little longer a monument of the 
 divine displeasure, a cumberer of the ground, 
 a tree riven with the red thunderbolt, waiting 
 only to be cut down and burnt with devouring 
 fire. Nothing now will, or can affect him. 
 So often has he been pierced by the sword of 
 the Spirit, that there is left no place where a 
 wound can be inflicted : you may preach to 
 him the most alarming discourse, and it will 
 not move him ; you may set before him the 
 glorious hopes and promises of the gospel, or 
 you may array the awful threatenings and 
 denunciations of the Almighty before him, and 
 
142 REV. JOHN E. EMEESON. 
 
 he will be unaffected. The pestilence that 
 walketh in darkness, and the destruction that 
 waste th at noonday, have no terrors for him. 
 A thousand may fall at his side, and ten thou- 
 sand at his right hand, but no tear of peni- 
 tence moistens his eye. The thunders of Sinai 
 peal over his head, but he hears them not; the 
 lightnings of divine wrath flash full in his face, 
 but he sees them not; the smoke of the bot- 
 tomless pit rolls up, and wreathes its thick 
 volumes around him, but he heeds it not; he 
 waits only for death to come and assign him 
 his portion in a world of despair." 
 
 "FAST, FOR THE DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 '' One of the most interesting and fervent 
 prayers which is recorded in the word of Grod, 
 is that put up by Habakkuk the prophet. * 
 Lord,' he says, ' revive thy work in the midst 
 of the years, in the midst of the years make 
 known; in wrath, remember mercy.' Who 
 that has ever read this prayer can doubt that 
 it was offered up with 'strong crying and 
 tears,' with a deep sense of the need of the 
 blessing which was sought, with a strong 
 
RESIDENCE AT CONWAY. 143 
 
 feeling of dependence, with humble boldness, 
 and with an earnest expectation of a speedy 
 answer ? How appropriately might the prophet 
 offer up his prayer if he were present with us 
 to-day, and how agonizing his supplication 
 would be, could he look abroad on the desola- 
 tions of our Zion. But he sleeps with his 
 fathers, and who is there to stand up for him, 
 and using his language to cry with his faith, 
 * Lord, revive thy work V 
 
 '^ Let us consider some of the reasons why 
 this prayer is so peculiarly applicable to us on 
 the present occasion, and why the earnest ex- 
 pression of the prophet should be used at this 
 time by every member of this church. First, 
 on account of the apathy manifested by most 
 professing Christians in the cause of Christ. 
 We may not have committed outbreaking sins ; 
 we may not have run riot, like others, and 
 been guilty of all manner of excess ; on the 
 contrary, we may have seemed to our fellow- 
 disciples to be ^ growing in grace,' and to the 
 impenitent to be consistent, devoted men. But 
 let us come closer home than this. What say 
 our consciences in regard to some known, well- 
 
144 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 beloved sin? Has it been indulged when no 
 eye saw us, no ear heard us, and no lips ap- 
 proached us ? Ah, is not the name of our 
 sins legion, and have we not occasion to say, 
 as they rise up before us, * I do remember my 
 faults this day V What say our closets ? 0, 
 could the walls of that neglected spot speak 
 out, would they not cry against us ? Would 
 they not exclaim, in regard to day after day, 
 and perhaps of week after week, Deserted, 
 deserted? Would they not bear witness to 
 lukewarm petitions, to longings after earthly 
 good, to an earnest desire to depart, and be 
 not with Christ, but with the world ? What 
 says our seat in the social prayer-meeting? 
 Vacant, vacant ; or, if there, spell-bound^ 
 tongue-tied, ashamed to say a word for our 
 Master, for fear, perhaps, that we had not a 
 gift to speak, or for some other equally friv- 
 olous reason. What say our impenitent neigh- 
 bors and friends ? One says of a professor, 
 ' He seems to be confident that he has found a 
 pearl of great price, but he never invited me 
 to share it with him. I hear him tell at times 
 of the danger of continuing in sin, but he 
 
RESIDENCE AT COWAY. 145 
 
 never warned me to flee fww ^at danger.' 
 Do not these things testify toNjjAr. ^^hame, and '. 
 is there not abundant need, in vi&W--©f them, 
 to put up the prayer, ' Lord, revive thy 
 work V 
 
 " This prayer is needed, because few come 
 up to Zion's solemn feasts. Every day is 
 diminishing the numbers in the ranks of the 
 sacramental host of God's elect, and none are 
 found to fill their places. The standard-bear- 
 ers in Zion's army begin to faint, and no one 
 is ready to relieve them. What means the 
 astounding fact, that the deaths and dismis- 
 sions in the Congregational churches in this 
 state, have exceeded by several hundreds the 
 additions to them, during the past year ? 0, 
 is not this fact a loud call upon us to put up 
 the united prayer, ' Lord, revive thy work V 
 
 ''We need to offer this petition, because 
 precious souls are daily going down to eternal 
 death. Those with whom we take counsel 
 from day to day, with whom we walk and 
 converse, and are on terms of the closest in- 
 timacy, are among the number of those whose 
 * steps take hold on hell' And without the 
 10 
 
146 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 converting influences of God's Holy Spirit, they 
 must for ever perish. Can we see and know 
 this, and yet remain unaffected ? Can we 
 delay another hour crying out, with the ear- 
 nestness of one who will take no denial, * 
 Lord, revive thy work V 
 
 ** Once more, we need to offer up this 
 prayer, because ' now is our salvation nearer 
 than when we believed.' Brethren, every day 
 is carrying us onward towards our heavenly 
 home. Do we realize this? Do we believe 
 that the 'beatific vision' shall soon break in 
 upon us ; that the songs of the redeemed shall 
 soon strike upon our ears; that we shall, ere 
 long, be of that white-robed company that 
 * follow the Lamb .whithersoever he goeth ?' 
 And have we done all that we could wish to do 
 before that time arrives ? Then call mightily 
 upon God. Like the voice of a trumpet, wax- 
 ing louder and louder, put up the earnest, be- 
 lieving prayer, ' Lord, revive thy work.' " 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 147 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CONNECTION WITH PRINCETON THEOLOGI- 
 CAL SEMINARY. 
 
 1846-1849. 
 
 The time had now arrived for Mr. Emer- 
 son to enter upon the last stage of his discipli- 
 nary course, preparatory to the work of the 
 ministry. His views respecting the impor- 
 tance of a thorough preparation of mind and 
 heart for this sacred profession, were clear and 
 correct. Especially at the present day, when 
 so much is required of the minister of the gos- 
 pel in the various departments of philanthropic 
 effort. Christian benevolence, and literary and 
 scientific research, he felt that it was only by 
 great diligence and labor that he could be 
 qualified for so responsible a station. 
 
 Those who imagine that the life of a theo- 
 logical student is one of indolence or ease, or 
 that there is any inherent power in a seminary 
 to fit him for his profession, independent of 
 personal toil, are greatly mistaken. The sci- 
 ence of theology itself is sufficient to tax the 
 
148 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 student's powers to their utmost, and well 
 may he exclaim, as he looks over the field of 
 theological truth, '^ Who is sufficient for these 
 things ?" But there are many other branches 
 which he should not neglect. He must be in 
 some degree familiar with the literature, of the 
 day. He must keep up with the progress of 
 scientific discovery. He must be able to meet 
 the most subtle forms of scepticism, and be 
 supplied with weapons with which to defend 
 '' the faith once delivered to the saints." 
 
 Mr. Emerson entered Princeton Theological 
 Seminary August 27, 1846. On the following 
 day he gave his friends his first impressions of 
 his new residence. 
 
 ''Dear Parents — Having been duly admit- 
 ted a member of the Theological seminary in 
 this place, having obtained a room, and consid- 
 ering myself settled for at least nine months, 
 I sit down to fulfil my promise of writing you 
 the full particulars of my journey, arrival, and 
 reception among this people." 
 
 After giving a minute account of his journey, 
 and his efforts to obtain a room, he adds, 
 
 *' Not knowing who the family were, I felt 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 149 
 
 a little anxiety, the first night, about security; 
 but when I heard a psalm read in the other 
 room, and the voice of prayer, I felt quite 
 secure, and thought of the lines, 
 
 ' Prayer can force a passage through 
 Iron bars and brazen gates.' 
 
 From the windows of my room I can see dis- 
 tinctly the buildings of Princeton college, or 
 Nassau Hall as it is generally called, five in 
 number, and all beautiful buildings. They 
 are about half a mile from the seminary. The 
 seminary building is a fine one of stone, and 
 the picture of it, with the large yard in front, 
 is a good representation. The library building, 
 in front of the seminary, is very beautiful. It 
 is purely of the Grothic order, with large stained 
 windows, variegated marble floor, large apart- 
 ments for books, and every thing in beautiful 
 proportion. There are many fine residences in 
 Princeton, with extensive and beautiful flower- 
 gardens in front, and abundance of shrubbery. 
 I was agreeably disappointed in the town. 
 
 " There is a feeling of kindness among the 
 students here which is very gratifying. It is 
 not like college, where all seek their own. 
 
150 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 There are no class distinctions ; all sit together, 
 and walk and talk together, and you feel that 
 every one is your friend. There are none of 
 Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, but all seem to be 
 of Christ. All are pious. They feel friendly 
 towards the professors, who are just what they 
 profess to be, and apparently just what they 
 ought to be. They love the students, and the 
 students honor them, and it is indeed a lovely 
 seminary. Our class will number, I suppose, 
 about fifty. 
 
 '^ Sabbath, August 30. This is my first 
 Sabbath in Princeton, and it has been a beau- 
 tiful day. You will want to know something 
 of the order of exercises. At nine o'clock in 
 the morning the students meet for prayer by 
 colleges ; that is, the graduates of a college 
 meet as such, to pray for their own college. 
 
 As Mr. T was not here, we of Amherst 
 
 did not meet to-day, but probably shall here- 
 after. I think there are but four here from 
 Amherst, and three of us have but just come. 
 At eleven o'clock we assemble in the chapel 
 for public worship. Dr. Alexander, senior, 
 preached this morning a very able discourse. 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 151 
 
 It is the custom in all this region to have 
 preaching morning and evening, and none in 
 the afternoon. The Sabbath-school is usually 
 held at that time. In place of preaching, we 
 have at the seminary a very delightful exer- 
 cise. All the students meet in a room called 
 the ' Oratory,' at half-past three, with the pro- 
 fessors, and hold familiar conversation on some 
 topic given out on the previous Sabbath. All 
 are invited to take part in it. The students 
 first speak, and then the professors give their 
 views. The topic to-day was, ' The proper 
 feelings to be cherished by students on com- 
 mencing a new session of study.' Those who 
 speak remain seated, as if in a room convers- 
 ing together. It was very pleasant to listen 
 to the paternal counsel of the professors, and 
 to notice the deep interest they seemed to take 
 in our welfare. We are all candidates for the 
 gospel ministry, and as such they addressed us. 
 '' How different is this from college. There 
 are none disorderly here, no disturbance, all 
 have one aim and one end in view, and that a 
 holy one. The topic for next Sunday is, ' Self- 
 knowledge ; its importance and the means of 
 
152 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 attaining it.' In the evening the students at- 
 tend church, if they choose, at Dr. Rice's. I 
 shall go this evening. You perceive by the 
 arrangement of our meetings, that I have am- 
 ple time to meet you at noon at a throne of 
 grace. I took one o'clock to-day. This is most 
 convenient, as it comes soon after dinner. I 
 shall try always to improve it. It would gratify 
 
 me much if our friends Mr. and Mrs. M 
 
 could also join us at that hour. You know I 
 need special prayer now. To-day, when my 
 imagination went rapidly over the long distance 
 that intervenes between us, and I thought of 
 the dear parents and friends whom I love so 
 much, and who love me so much, I longed to 
 be with you. But I knew that duty and God 
 were here, and here I hope to feel willing to 
 stay my appointed time." 
 
 Soon after becoming settled, he made the 
 following records in his journal : 
 
 " Princeton, N. J., Aug. 30, 1846. 
 
 *^ In the good providence of God I am now 
 a member of the Theological seminary here, 
 and this is my first Sabbath in this place. I 
 desire to record God's goodness to-day in so 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 153 
 
 signally preparing the way for me to come 
 here, and raising up so many friends for me. 
 In the expectation of spending three years in 
 this place, if God should spare my life, and 
 looking back with regret on my misspent time 
 and opportunities in college, I desire before 
 God to-day to make the two following resolu- 
 tions, which I pray God Almighty to enable me 
 to keep. Resolved, 
 
 ^^1. Never to neglect, while connected with 
 this institution, the duty of reading the Scrip- 
 tures, and of secret prayer morning and even- 
 ing. 
 
 "2. Not to neglect one regular recitation or 
 lecture when it is in my power to attend. 
 
 '' Sabbath, September 13. I have now been 
 here three Sabbaths, and God has been pleased 
 to bless me with continued health and strength, 
 and enabled me to commence with zeal the 
 studies of this institution. Thus far also I 
 have been enabled to keep the resolutions which 
 I made at the commencement of my course, 
 and the Lord being my helper, I design still to 
 keep them. I have been permitted to-day to 
 go to the table of the Lord, and renew my 
 
154 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 covenant with him to he for ever and entirely 
 his. I desire to make record of the deed. I 
 give myself to the Lord: I desire to be only 
 his. Lord, make me v^hat thou wouldst 
 have me to be, and prepare me especially for 
 the great and solemn work of the gospel min- 
 istry, to which I have devoted my life. 
 
 '' Sabbath, September 27, 1846. Again has 
 returned the anniversary of that day which I 
 desire always to keep as a day of devout thanks- 
 giving to God for his past mercies, of unfeigned 
 sorrow for sin, and humble supplication for 
 mercies in time to come. It is the anniversary 
 of my birthday. I am now twenty-three years 
 old. As I make this record from year to year, 
 I know not that I shall ever be spared to make 
 it again. But God yet keeps me in being, and 
 shows forth his mercy towards me, though a 
 rebel against him. I have just heard of the 
 death of one of my class-mates in Amherst 
 college, who graduated in 1844 with much 
 honor. I think he is the first of that class who 
 has been called away since we left that insti- 
 tution. Why was not I the one taken? 
 Lord, thou only knowest. 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 155 
 
 " I have this morning reviewed my journal, 
 and find reason to bless God that he has en- 
 abled me to write in such a manner that I can 
 trace the most important events of my life from 
 the time I was ten years old until now. And 
 I hope to continue this record, that it may give 
 me occasion, in time to come, to sing of mercy, 
 and review the waymarks of my course until 
 time with me shall be no more. The past has 
 been a year of mercies. My friends have been 
 spared, and my own health continued. God I 
 believe has clearly pointed out the path which 
 has led me to this seminary ; and now, just as 
 I commence my twenty-fourth year, and about 
 six years from the time of entering college, I 
 am permitted to enter upon a course of theo- 
 logical study. I desire renewedly to conse- 
 crate myself to the Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost, to express once more my firm and hearty 
 belief in the religion of Jesus Christ as set forth 
 in the holy Scriptures, to renew the resolutions 
 which I made at the opening of the present 
 session of study, and to implore divine assist- 
 ance and the guiding and illuminating influ- 
 ences of the Holy Spirit in time to come. 
 
156 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 '^ Lord, make thy face to shine on thine 
 unworthy servant, and prepare him to do and 
 suffer all thy will here and glorify thee here- 
 after." 
 
 To his Parents. 
 
 " September 29, 1846. 
 
 '' I wish you could hear some of our preach- 
 ing. Last Sunday we had a very able sermon 
 
 from Professor A on the argument for the 
 
 Scriptures from prophecy. I thought it unan- 
 swerable. I used to fear that when I came to 
 the Theological seminary, I should have my 
 faith very much tried in regard to some doc- 
 trines of the Bible that I had received in child- 
 hood without proof, such as the divinity of 
 Christ, etc. But I find that the very reverse 
 of this is thus far true. The proofs in favor of 
 our holy religion, and the doctrines of the gos- 
 pel, as I received them in the closet and Sab- 
 bath-school in childhood, multiply upon me 
 every day. And when I see our excellent and 
 learned professors of one mind, men of prayer, 
 and meekly sitting at the feet of Jesus, I can- 
 not but feel that there is a power in the doc- 
 trines of the cross that can be found nowhere 
 
EESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 167 
 
 else. My opinion now is, that you should in- 
 struct a child in the doctrines of the gospel, 
 and let him take them on trust until he is able 
 to examine them for himself. There is no fear 
 of the result. 
 
 ''It is very pleasant to hear, as I do, the 
 voice of prayer morning and evening ascending 
 on all sides of me. I feel as if I was doubly 
 guarded from evil. I generally rise about half- 
 past five, and spend the time before prayers 
 and breakfast in devotional exercises and read- 
 ing in my Grreek Testament. After breakfast 
 I walk a mile or two, and also after supper. 
 In the evening I am in the habit of reading in 
 the Old Testament, and meditating upon its 
 great truths. I am now again reading Paley's 
 Evidences of Christianity. I am reading also 
 Dr. Chalmers' works in course, and some of 
 Stephens' Travels again. I write out in sep- 
 arate books four courses of lectures, and read 
 on subjects connected with them. "We have a 
 great deal of writing to do. Every thing goes 
 on prosperously. I have had a peculiar visita- 
 tion of the Spirit, in some respects remarkable 
 and differing from what I ever had before. I 
 
158 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 think I never have had such strength imparted 
 to me from ahove as now. My times of prayer 
 are seasons of great delight, especially on Sab- 
 bath noon. I have prayed with new zeal for 
 Samuel, and intend to write to him on the 
 subject of his soul's salvation this very week. 
 I wish I could have a long, long talk with you. 
 How much I would say. But I think of you 
 often, and pray for you at least twice every 
 day." 
 
 In October he continued his journal. 
 
 '^October 11. I find it profitable to devote 
 the first portion of my time in the morning to 
 prayer, praise, and reading the sacred Scrip- 
 tures. This is due to my Creator, as being 
 the time generally when the mind is most 
 vigorous and active; and moreover, it is the 
 most fitting time in which to return thanks to 
 Him who has watched about my pillow and 
 shielded me from harm. The second portion 
 of my time I think proper to devote to exercise, 
 in order that I may enter with vigor and suc- 
 cess upon the studies in which I am engaged, 
 that if I have granted me 'sana 7nens,^^ I may 
 
 * A sound mind. 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 159 
 
 have it ' in sano corpore.'^^ The third portion 
 I devote to study, reading, attendance on reci- 
 tations, lectures, etc. By the blessing of God, 
 I am now making some progress in the Hebrew 
 language; commenced translating yesterday 
 the first chapter of Grenesis. I am also attend- 
 ing four courses of lectures weekly, and writing 
 notes on them. I read the New Testament in 
 Greek in the morning, and at evening the Old 
 Testament in English, in connection with the 
 course of lectures on biblical history. 
 
 '' October 20. Last evening had a delight- 
 ful interview with Dr. Scudder, missionary 
 from India. He came into the Oratory and 
 attended prayers, after which he took each of 
 the students by the hand, and presented them 
 with a little book he had just published, enti- 
 tled ' The Redeemer's last Command.' It was 
 an affecting meeting, and God grant it maybe 
 productive of much good. 
 
 *' October 25. Read to-day the little book 
 referred to above with deep interest, and trust 
 that I shall not be unmindful of its appeal. I 
 hope that my desire is neither to waver or 
 
 * In a sound body. 
 
160 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 shrink from the call of duty as to my future 
 situation. I have determined to-day to pray 
 more earnestly for those before whom, in time 
 past, I have set an unholy example, that they 
 may all become devoted Christians, and be 
 more consistent in their conduct. 
 
 " November 22. I set apart yesterday as a 
 day of fasting and prayer, that I might be de- 
 livered from the dominion of my spiritual foes. 
 God has been very gracious to me in giving 
 me strength to resist them for a few weeks ; 
 but constant and renewed application will do 
 me no harm, nor displease my heavenly Father. 
 
 " December 12. God continues to speak in 
 thunder-tones, admonishing me of the short- 
 ness and uncertainty of life. Since I came to 
 Princeton I have heard of the death of at least 
 eight with whom I was once acquainted. One 
 was a young man who was a class-mate with 
 me during our four years' college course; an- 
 other, a college friend mentioned under date of 
 October 18th; two young ladies in Conway, 
 one of whom was a pupil of mine during the 
 last term that I kept school there, and who 
 seemed at one time to have serious impressions, 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 161 
 
 which afterwards wore off; the old * mother in 
 Israel,' mentioned under date of January 25, 
 and three young men of about my own age, 
 who were formerly school-mates of mine. One 
 died far from friends, of rapid consumption, in 
 Calcutta ; another, a midshipman, was drowned 
 in the Gulf of Mexico. The third, a noble 
 youth, perished in that fearful gale which 
 wrecked the steamboat Atlantic in Long Island 
 Sound, on her way from Boston to New York, 
 the particulars of which are still fresh in our 
 recollections, and the thought of the horrors of 
 which still sends an electric thrill through my 
 veins. Early their work has been accom- 
 plished, and they have passed into eternity. 
 Lord, who shall go next? Is it I? Is it I? 
 0, if it is, may I be found of thee in peace. 
 May it be gain for me to die, and may I die in 
 thine own time, and in thine own way. But 
 when the hour comes, then. Lord Jesus, receive 
 my spirit. 
 
 '' December 27. The last Sabbath in the 
 year has come, and I am not in hell where I de- 
 serve to be, nor in heaven where I hope, finally, 
 through the mercy of God, to be; but I am 
 
 Emerson. 1 1 
 
162 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 yet on earth, in health and strength, and in 
 the possession of all my faculties. I love to 
 note time as it flies ; to seize such occasions as 
 the present to make mention of his loving- 
 kindnesses to me, who hath loved me with an 
 everlasting love, and to implore his favor in 
 time to come. 
 
 ' I love to think on mercies past, 
 And future good implore.' 
 
 Had any one told me on the last Sabbath of 
 last year, that to-day I should have stood within 
 the walls of this seminary of learning, I should 
 have been much surprised ; but by God's help 
 here I am. I made it at one time, during the 
 first part of the year, a special subject of prayer 
 that God would give me direction as to pur- 
 suing my theological course this year. I prayed 
 that if he designed to have me go on immedi- 
 ately he would make it known to me, and show 
 me by unmistakable signs what he would have 
 me do. Others prayed for me, and God heard 
 those prayers. I here record it for my future 
 encouragement in seeking divine guidance — 
 God heard those prayers. 
 
 '* About the first of June many of my friends 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 163 
 
 felt an uncommon interest to have me come to 
 this seminary. But I had no money to carry 
 me through. Would the Lord ' make windows 
 in heaven?' Yes, if need be. Behold, just at 
 the expected moment, the Lord raises up one 
 who lends me sufficient for my purpose. Many 
 remarkable minor providences were connected 
 with this affair. Can I doubt that the Lord's 
 hand was in it ? To doubt would be, I believe, 
 an awful sin against God. I have a praying 
 mother and praying friends, and the Lord has 
 inclined my heart to prayer, and prayer is not 
 in vain. I record it again, prayer is not in 
 vain. What now doth the Lord require of me, 
 but to keep his commandments and to love 
 him with all my heart? Lord, I stand pledged 
 to thy service for another year. Many times, 
 during the past year, hast thou called me to 
 note the death of those with whom I once asso- 
 ciated. Shall any one mark mine down during 
 the coming year ? Or shall I be spared ? If so, 
 may it be to glorify thee, to grow in grace, to 
 do good, to ripen for heaven and eternal glory. 
 let thy guiding hand be with me in time to 
 come, as it has been in time past. 
 
164 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ' Guide me, thou great Jehovah, 
 
 Pilgrim through this barren land : 
 I am weak, but thou art mighty ; 
 Hold me with thy powerful hand. 
 
 Bread of heaven, 
 Feed me till I want no more.' " 
 
 *^ April, 1847. It will require much study 
 for me to prepare to feed acceptably a flock ol 
 God, of which I may have the oversight. The 
 nearer I approach the ministry, the more I 
 shrink from it. I once thought no man led an 
 easier life than a minister. Aside from the 
 awful responsibility of the sacred office, I now 
 feel that a minister's labors are of no small ac- 
 count. While the Bible is a rich fund from 
 which all may derive unlimited benefit, people 
 will not long be satisfied with the barren gen- 
 eralities of unsanctified expounders of it. I 
 believe it is only the deeply spiritual man who 
 can look into its ' hidden mysteries,' and only 
 the growing Christian minister who can con- 
 tinually bring forth out of this treasure-house 
 
 * things new and old.' If such men as Ed- 
 wards, "White field, and Pay son could exclaim, 
 
 * Who is sufficient for these things ?' what 
 must we, candidates for the same office, say, 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 16o 
 
 whose gifts, faith, and knowledge, when com- 
 pared with theirs, are ' less than the least.' I 
 know, however, that despondency is the oppo- 
 site extreme to spiritual pride, and I know 
 also that God raiseth up men of low degi'ee. 
 Asahel Nettleton was a man not distinguished 
 for his intellectual or scientific attainments, 
 and yet of what a glorious host is he the 
 spiritual leader. 
 
 ' 'T is not a cause of small import 
 The pastor's care demands, 
 But what might fill an angel's heart, 
 And filled a Saviour's hands.' 
 
 *' I rejoice to learn, by your last, that there 
 are so many indications for good in Newbury- 
 port. I trust that they will not, as hereto- 
 fore, prove like the ' early dew that vanisheth 
 away.' I should rejoice to come home and 
 find you in the midst of a revival. I went out 
 yesterday afternoon and spoke at a school- 
 house in Mapleton parish, in Kingston, a town 
 adjoining this. The walk was about three 
 miles. Mr. R. goes out every Sabbath after- 
 noon, and teaches a Bible class at three o'clock, 
 and speaks to a small congregation at four. 
 
166^ REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 He invited me to go out with him and speak. 
 The congregation was not quite as large as 
 usual, on account of the day being cold and 
 very windy. We took tea in a pleasant fam- 
 ily, and returned before dark. 
 
 ^' January 10, 1847. I think I have derived 
 comfort and spiritual nourishment to-day at 
 the sacramental table. I feel as if I had met 
 my Grod and Saviour, and as if I had touched 
 the golden sceptre which he extended to me ; 
 as if I had preferred my petition, and received 
 an answer of peace. Last evening, as I looked 
 back on a week in which I had committed 
 many and grievous sins, and as I looked for- 
 ward to the celebration of the sacred supper, I 
 hope my heart melted in penitence. I felt in 
 an unusual degree the freeness and fulness 
 there is in Christ, and my own vileness and 
 helplessness. that I may always feel thus. 
 Lord, I make a new surrender of myself to 
 thee. Take me, bless me, save me in thy 
 everlasting kingdom." 
 
 " August 29. Through the abounding good- 
 ness of my God, I am brought to behold the 
 first Sabbath of my second year in Princeton 
 
RESIDEl^CE AT PRINCETON. 167 
 
 Theological seminary. My heavenly Father 
 is kind, very kind to me, and abundant in 
 long-suffernig. I tremble to-day as I review 
 J;he record I made on the first Sabbath of last 
 year, and think how far I have come short. I 
 tremble as I look forward to a new year, and 
 think of its temptations and its dangers. I 
 hope that I feel in some measure convinced that 
 my strength is perfect weakness, and I trust 
 that my desire is to lean only on the Lord 
 Jesus for guidance and a blessing. 
 
 '' To thee, Grod, I renewedly dedicate my- 
 self, and all that I am and have. 
 
 ''Upon thee, Saviour, and upon thy pre- 
 cious atonement, I cast myself. 
 
 '' Guide me, Holy Spirit, and let me be 
 led by thee, that I may become one of the 
 ' sons of God.' 
 
 *'I was permitted to return home in May, 
 and enjoy many weeks in the pleasant so- 
 ciety of my well-beloved parents and friends. 
 Through the goodness of my heavenly Father, I 
 am now in health permitted to commence the 
 duties of a new session. May the Lord watch 
 over those dear friends, while we are absent 
 
168 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 one from the other. May my own life and 
 health be spared, that I may meet them again, 
 and rejoice with them in the goodness of our 
 common God and Father. 
 
 ^' September 12. Have been permitted to- 
 day to go to the table of the Lord, and renew 
 my covenant with him. may I be for ever 
 the Lord's. Have been exceedingly refreshed 
 to-day, in reading anew a part of the hfe of 
 that eminent man of God, Rev. Jeremiah Hal- 
 lock. Lord, I pray to have much of his 
 devotedness in thy service. 
 
 *^ September 17. 
 
 * Feed me. Lord, with needful food : 
 
 I ask not wealth or fame ; 
 But give me eyes to view thy works, 
 A heart to praise thy name. 
 
 * Oh, may my days obscurely pass, 
 
 Without remorse or care ; 
 And let me for my parting hour 
 From day to day prepare.' " 
 
 '' September 19. Finished reading to-day, 
 for the second time, the Life of Rev. J. Hal- 
 lock. I think it, in many respects, the most 
 spiritual memoir I ever read. for some of 
 
EESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 169 
 
 his faith and piety. for his unshaken hope. 
 
 for a home with him where Christ is. 
 
 '' September 27. I am this day twenty-four 
 years old. Another year of unbroken mercy 
 and heavenly favor. 'Bless the Lord, my 
 soul.' Another year of indulgence in many 
 sins, and scarcely any growth in grace. Be 
 humbled, my soul, in the dust on account of 
 it. Must it always be thus, Lord ? Must 
 every year be a record of spiritual leanness and 
 barrenness? Am I never more to grow in 
 grace ? 0, it cannot, it must not be. I think 
 
 1 do desire to be holier and more heavenly. 
 "Why, then, am I not so ? * Search me, 
 Lord, and know my heart ; try me, and know 
 my thoughts ; and see if there be any wicked 
 way in me, and lead me in the way everlast- 
 ing.' I feel conscious, I think, to-night, that 
 I am a guilty sinner, deserving God's everlast- 
 ing wrath and curse. If saved from the guilt of 
 sin, it must be only by the precious blood and 
 righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. To 
 that precious fountain I fly. ' Create in me a 
 clean heart, God.' Make me wholly thine, 
 and thus prepare me to be the means of direct- 
 
170 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ing others to the Saviour. To thee I commit 
 myself, Lord, and air I am and have — my 
 life, health, reason, parents, brothers, sisters, 
 friends, my body and soul. Thou hast done 
 great things for me in years past. let a 
 greater work, even the quickening of my soul, 
 be done for me this year. 
 
 " To Grod only wise be glory, through Jesus 
 Christ for ever. Amen." 
 
 " Princeton, (Sabbath, 2 o'clock,) Sept. 5, 1847. 
 
 '' Ever dear Mother — At this consecrated 
 hour I feel as if I must say a few words to 
 you. I have just risen from my knees, where 
 I have been endeavoring to pray fervently for 
 my father and you, for myself, and for all the 
 beloved members of our family. It is, my 
 dear mother, a season peculiarly sweet. At 
 this hour, ever since I can rememxber, have 
 you led your beloved children to the throne of 
 grace, and committed them to Him who hath 
 said, ' I will be a Grod to thee and thy seed 
 after thee.' The instructions you have given 
 us at this hour will not be lost ; ' in due season 
 you shall reap.' Every prayer you have offered 
 is remembered by our faithful God ; every tear 
 
 & 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 171 
 
 you have shed is in his bottle ; your heart shall 
 be made glad. Oh, I seem to-day to feel it and 
 know it. If I am cast out, our beloved Samuel 
 will be brought in. But 0, we must, we must 
 all walk the shining streets of the new Jeru- 
 salem together." 
 
 "Sabbath-noon, September 12, 1847. 
 
 ^^ My dear Mother— Again, at this hallowed 
 hour, I sit down to hold converse with my dear- 
 est earthly friend. I do not deem it a profana- 
 tion of the day thus to write, because I want 
 to say to you just the things I would if I were 
 present with you ; and, now we are separated, 
 this is our only means of communication. I 
 love to have letters from you written at this 
 hour. They seem to be of a more sacred char- 
 acter. I received your kind letter yesterday, 
 and was, I trust, truly thankful that you had 
 been brought safe home again, and were seated 
 by your little desk to write to me. Grod was 
 indeed kind to us during our long journey, both 
 in sparing our lives and giving us such pleasant 
 weather. I think we could not have selected 
 out of the whole summer, five more favorable 
 weeks than those in which we were absent. 
 
172 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 '* I agree with you that travelling is not the 
 way to grow in grace. I presume you can say, 
 now that you have returned to our dear home 
 and your quiet Bethel, It is good for me to be 
 here. I have often wished since my return 
 that I was at least as near to you as Boston or 
 Andover, where I could run in and see you 
 sometimes ; but then I have thought how 
 plainly the path seemed marked out for me to 
 come here, and in what ways of mercy God 
 has dealt with me since I have been here : and 
 shall I now run away, and that too without a 
 sufficient cause ? No. This, I think, would 
 be to tempt God. Perhaps we are so situated, 
 that we may love and think of each other 
 more, and pray more for each other ; and since 
 I am such a dumb Zacharias about talking 
 with you on spiritual things when we are to- 
 gether, we may, by writing, stir up each other's 
 minds in holy and divine things. 
 
 " I begin to feel as if God had commenced 
 a new work in my soul, and had given me 
 some new views of the awful responsibility 
 and sacredness of the gospel ministry. I have 
 been led often since my return to ask my- 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 173 
 
 self the question, Why I have commenced 
 preparing for the ministry? Is it because 
 you wanted me to be a minister, or because 
 I thought I could make the most of myself 
 in that office, or was it without having any 
 very definite end in view ? If any or all 
 these were my motives, how unworthy am 
 I of that great work. But I trust that these 
 have not been my governing motives, though 
 I fear that they have had too much influence. 
 I pray God that they may not be the motives 
 with which I shall eventually enter the office. 
 I pray that nothing short of the one and all- 
 absorbing desire to save precious souls, and 
 thereby glorify God, may prompt me to become 
 a minister. For this I desire to have you pray, 
 and for this I mean to pray myself. 
 
 ^' 1 thank you for your good advice, and I 
 think God has set forth some of my defects 
 this summer more plainly to my own mind, 
 and I trust he will give me strength to over- 
 come them. There is a restlessness under re- 
 proof, and a severity in my manner when I am 
 reproved, of which I am too often guilty. This 
 I must try to overcome. Moreover, I am too 
 
174 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 listless, and have too little self-confidence, and 
 altogether too little of a self-denying spirit. 
 These things I know as well as you; and to 
 will to get rid of them is present with me, but 
 how to perform I know not. Prayer only, I 
 believe, will effect it. To this refuge, then, let 
 me flee continually. 
 
 *'"We have been privileged to-day with an- 
 other season of communion at the table of our 
 Lord. My heart w^as cold and my affections 
 not in lively exercise; still, I trust I did in 
 some measure enjoy God in his house." 
 
 " October 31. I can hardly refrain from 
 saying to you a few words on paper every 
 Sabbath-noon, as you seem so peculiarly near 
 to me. I love to think of you always, but 
 especially on this blessed day, and at our hour 
 of prayer. ' I have prayed for thee ' to-day, 
 my beloved mother, ^that thy faith fail not.' 
 I have remembered your request made in your 
 last letter, and what you said about the near- 
 ness of eternity and your feelings in view ^f it. 
 If I felt better prepared myself for its solemn 
 realities, perhaps I could afford you some 
 more encouragement. Still, dear mother, un- 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 175 
 
 worthy as we are, and many and aggravated 
 as are our sins, Christ has died for us. Here 
 is our only hope. The importance of this 
 blessed truth presses upon my attention more 
 and more every day. We can do nothing, ab- 
 solutely nothings without it. In vain do we 
 wash ourselves with snow-water and make 
 ourselves ever so clean ; without Christ we are 
 plunged in the ditch, and our own clothes are 
 made to abhor us. It is in vain that we look 
 for comfort in animal excitement, and frames 
 of mind, and religious feelings ; these are all 
 worthless. If we are without Chirist, we are 
 of all men most miserable." 
 
 Mr. Emerson was licensed to preach the 
 gospel on "Wednesday, April 26, 1848, and on 
 the next Sabbath, April 30, preached his first 
 sermon in his native city. Before him were 
 his nearest relatives and friends, the compan- 
 ions of his childhood, and many who had 
 watched with deep interest his career, and the 
 growth of piety in his soul. They now heard 
 from his lips that gospel which was so precious 
 to him, those sacred truths which he ardently 
 
176 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 loved, and which had become incorporated into 
 the very essence of his being. And they felt 
 that ^* a man of Grod" was addressing them — 
 that a messenger duly commissioned of heaven, 
 clothed with ministerial authority by the great 
 Head of the church, fitted for his work by the 
 Holy Ghost, was addressing them. As they 
 listened to his message, they could exclaim, 
 with sincerity and earnestness, ^'How beau- 
 tiful upon the mountains are the feet of him 
 that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth 
 peace ; that bringeth good tidings of good ; 
 that publisheth salvation." His prayers, his 
 discourse, his manner, earnestness, devotion, 
 all showed that here was no false teacher, no 
 mere formal declaimer of gospel truth ; but an 
 earnest messenger, to whom the ministry of 
 Christ was a solemn reality, to whom the ser- 
 vice of God was a delight, and one who felt 
 the value of immortal souls. 
 
 But he had not preached long before he was 
 reminded of his own frailty, and the uncer- 
 tainty of all earthly hopes. In September he 
 made the following record in his journal : 
 
 '' Friday, September 1, 1848. After hav- 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 177 
 
 ing been permitted, in the good providence of 
 God, to preach something more than thirty 
 times, I was seized, on the first Sabbath in 
 August, with a slight attack of raising blood, 
 which was followed, during the week, by other 
 attacks. These laid me aside from labor for 
 two Sabbaths, but I preached half the day on 
 the third Sabbath after I was taken. I am 
 now in comfortable health again, and trust, if 
 the Lord will, that I shall not have another 
 attack of the disease, but be raised up to glo- 
 rify him in the ministry of reconciliation. 0, 
 that this 'light affliction' may work out for 
 me ' a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
 of glory.' Have read with interest, recently, 
 the Memoir of W. G. Crocker, missionary to 
 xifrica." 
 
 Mr. Emerson, after preaching as opportu- 
 nities offered, with very great acceptance, re- 
 turned to Princeton in December, to continue 
 his preparation for his great work. On becom- 
 ing settled, he resumes his journal : 
 
 " December 17. Yesterday, through God's 
 mercy, I again reached Princeton, and this is 
 
 Emerson. 1 2 
 
178 REV. JOHN £. EMERSON. 
 
 the first Sabbath in my third year in this sem- 
 inary. Though detained at home much beyond 
 the time of the commencement of the session, 
 I have abundant reason to bless Him who has 
 returned me under circumstances of mercy ; 
 and to his kind care and watchful providence 
 would I once again commit myself. The Lord 
 watch between me and my friends while ab- 
 sent ; and if I am spared to finish my course, 
 may he direct me where to go, and aid me in 
 endeavoring to build up his kingdom; and to 
 his name shall be the praise. 
 
 ''December 26. Finished, to-night, Dr. 
 Spring's ' Power of the Pulpit.' 0, how great 
 a work is that committed to a minister. How 
 delightful; how interesting; how laborious; 
 how responsible ; how solemn ; how fearful : 
 God's ambassador, set ' to watch for souls 
 as one that must give account.' "What mo- 
 tives, drawn from three worlds, are there to 
 induce him to be faithful. What guilt will 
 rest upon him, if found unfaithful. I pray 
 that the perusal of this interesting book may 
 serve to deepen my sense of the responsibility 
 of the work in which I am engaged, and lead 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 179 
 
 me to earnest endeavors in winning lost men 
 to Him who has died that they might have 
 Ufe. 
 
 " January 14, 1849. The table of the Lord 
 has been spread to-day, and his children have 
 gathered about it. 0, what will be our joy, if, 
 when the ransomed of the Lord return, we 
 shall be found meet for the table that shall be 
 spread in heaven. Grant me, my heavenly 
 Father, so to live that I shall then be a par- 
 taker, with thy redeemed ones, of the manna 
 and wine which thou dost give them. Have 
 just observed my usual Sabbath-noon season 
 of prayer for my dear parents, the members 
 of our families, and other friends. This season 
 my dear mother has observed with her children 
 as far back as my recollection extends. Praise 
 to God for pious parents, who have, in truth, 
 brought me up ' in the nurture and admonition 
 of the Lord.' 
 
 " January 17. Finished reading to-day that 
 wonderful book, ' Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.' 
 This book, I think, ought to be often read by 
 every Christian. 
 
 '' January 23. This day has been set apart 
 
180 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 by the members of this seminary, as a day of 
 fasting, humiliation, and prayer. The state of 
 religion is low, and the love of the brethren 
 has waxed cold. Yet Grod seems to be giving 
 many of his children to-day a spirit of prayer 
 and supplication, of penitence and humility. 
 Who knoweth if he will not grant us a blessing? 
 I think I have had a quickening of the Spirit 
 recently, and have enjoyed more of the light 
 of Grod's countenance. But sin often draws a 
 veil, and hides me from him whom, I humbly 
 hope, my soul loveth. for grace to-day to 
 forsake sin, and henceforth to cleave unto holi- 
 ness. I am soon, if God spares my life, to go 
 forth as an 'ambassador' in his name. 
 Lord, work mightily in me, that I may preach 
 to others what I have myself experienced. 
 
 '^ February 4. This Sabbath has been one 
 of the few which are a holy ' rest ' unto my 
 soul. I hope I have in some measure enjoyed 
 God to-day, and been able to get near him in 
 prayer. How sweet such days; and besides 
 these, ' there remaineth a rest to the people of 
 God.' 
 
 " February 11. This is communion -day at 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 181 
 
 the dear church with which I am connected in 
 Newburyport. Thirteen years ago I was per- 
 mitted to sit down for the first time at the 
 table of our Lord wdth that beloved church. 
 What an unworthy member have I been. I 
 trust that I say this feelingly ; for when God 
 at times discovers to me the depravity of my 
 own heart, as I think he has been recently 
 doing, I find it to be a very sink of iniquity. 
 0, none but G-od knows what a sinner I am. 
 I feel to-day, that were it not for the rich mercy 
 of God in Jesus Christ, I should be entirely 
 undone. I have nothing to plead on my own 
 behalf. I am nothing, and can do nothing. I 
 flee to the fountain of thy blood, thou incar- 
 nate God. "Wash me ; make me clean. Thou 
 knowest that I would be thine. If saved at 
 all, it must be wholly by thy blood and right- 
 eousness. Make me to do thy will on earth, 
 and then take me to thyself in heaven to praise 
 thee for ever. 
 
 ''Tuesday, March 13. I have set apart this 
 day as a day of special fasting, humiliation, 
 and prayer, mingled with thanksgiving for past 
 mercies. As I am so soon to go forth as a 
 
182 E.EV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 minister of Jesus Christ, I feel that I have 
 great need for prayer, fervent, constant prayer. 
 I would this day seek the special presence and 
 blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy G-host. 
 Think upon me, my God, this day for good. 
 I have endeavored, in my morning devotions, 
 to look for a blessing on the exercises of the 
 day. 
 
 '' Half-past ten, A. M. I have endeavored 
 to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for past and 
 present mercies. I have tried to thank Grod 
 for early religious training and instruction — 
 for God's grace, manifested in blessing the 
 pious conversation of my mother to my awak- 
 ening and, I hope, turning to God — for blessing 
 to my special attention the second chapter of 
 the book of Proverbs, which I have since called 
 * my chapter' — for the joy in God I often found 
 even at that tender age (ten years old) in pri- 
 vate devotion, in the reading of the Scriptures, 
 in perusing religious books, and in assemblies 
 for prayer and Christian conference. I have 
 thanked him for having my attention called by 
 a sermon of my pastor to the importance of 
 making a public profession of religion — for being 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 183 
 
 permitted, after deliberation and advice with 
 friends, to present myself as a candidate for 
 admission to the church — for being accepted 
 and propounded — for the opportunities of com- 
 munion so frequently enjoyed — for strength to 
 withstand evil companions — for preparation for 
 college — for answers to prayer in being pro- 
 vided with a pious, discreet room-mate — for 
 deliverance from evil companions and from 
 backsliding, while connected with college — for 
 being permitted to graduate with honor, in 
 presence of my friends — for success in teach- 
 ing, and for a revival of religion in my school — 
 for an opportunity, specially in answer to pray- 
 er, to come to the Theological seminary — for a 
 license to preach the everlasting gospel — for so 
 many opportunities of proclaiming it — for the 
 numerous manifestations of kindness by many 
 friends — for deliverance from threatening sick- 
 ness, and renewed health— for the Saviour, the 
 Bible, the Sabbath, the way of salvation, and 
 the hope of eternal life. These mercies I find 
 to be ' more than the hairs of my head,' and 
 ' as the sands of the sea innumerable.' I have 
 noted down some of them as themes for grati- 
 
184 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 tude and praise on other occasions, in connec- 
 tion with mercies yet in store. 
 
 " Twelve, M. Endeavored to confess my 
 sins before Grod, and to seek forgiveness for 
 Christ's sake. But how can I begin to recount 
 the black and fearful catalogue ? Original and 
 actual sin — sins of omission and commission — 
 sins against a most holy God — sins against 
 my parents, my friends, companions, Chris- 
 tians, the church, the impenitent — against 
 myself. 0, they run parallel only with Grod's 
 large and free mercies. Forgive these sins, 
 my heavenly Father, and impute not my ini- 
 quities unto me, but pardon me through the 
 righteousness of thy dear Son. 
 
 '' Half-past one, P. M. Have brought before 
 God, in prayer, my particular sins, from which 
 I desire to be delivered, and which have long 
 had control over me, namely, sloth, an evil tem- 
 per, the indulgence of vain and wicked thoughts, 
 and my ' easily besetting sins.' These have 
 taken fast hold upon me, and by some of them 
 I have already been so far brought into cap- 
 tivity, that I know not that I shall be free 
 again. But ' I can do all things through Christ, 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 185 
 
 which strengtheneth me.' for strength, this 
 day, to burst these more than iron fetters, and 
 shake off these heavy yokes. 
 
 " Half-past three, P. M. Have tried to com- 
 mit myself to God for the remainder of my 
 term of study in this institution ; praying that 
 I may be enabled in thought, speech, and be- 
 havior to glorify him who hath hitherto helped 
 me, relying on him alone for strength, and 
 never feeling that I am sufficient of myself to 
 keep myself. Lord, keep me ever mindful 
 that all my sufficiency is of thee." 
 
 In the midst of our rejoicings over the near 
 completion of our beloved brother's studies, we 
 are saddened by the indications that his jour- 
 nal and letters give of the insidious workings 
 of disease upon his system. 
 
 In February, after giving a minute account 
 of the state of his health, he writes, 
 
 '^ I trust I have been more blessed than 
 usual with the light of Grod's countenance and 
 the visits of his love. I try to feel that I am 
 wholly in his hands. I pray earnestly that I 
 may live to preach the gospel, but hope to be 
 
186 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ready to say also, ' to die is gain.' I feel daily 
 that I am a poor lost sinner, wholly dependent 
 on the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ for 
 salvation. This feeling I desire to keep in 
 lively exercise. 
 
 '' To-day is the day of prayer for colleges. 
 Our students meet by colleges at nine o'clock, 
 and at eleven o'clock the professors meet us in 
 a general meeting. I shall hope to have an 
 account in your next of the observance of the 
 day with you. I was interested in the account 
 of the church fast, and should have been glad 
 to have been with you on that day. I hope 
 the dispensations of God's providence among 
 you will be improved and blessed. 
 
 ^^ Half-past two, P.M. Our meeting at 
 eleven was quite interesting. The different 
 colleges from which we came were called in 
 alphabetical order, and reports of the state of 
 religion presented from most of them. I hope 
 the meetings have not been given up this year 
 in Newburyport. I feel rejoiced that you have 
 been so free from colds this winter as to be 
 able to attend most of the meetings, and visit 
 those who are sick. 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 187 
 
 ^' March 9. I am very grateful to you all 
 for your kind remembrances of me, and only 
 regret that I cannot make my own communi- 
 cations as interesting for you. You will be 
 pleased to learn, that through divine goodness 
 I am better than I was when I wrote you last. 
 I took another cold ; but it did not go to my 
 lungs, and is now passing oft'. I have not yet 
 as much vigor as I could desire ; but as I do 
 not have the labor of preaching this winter, 
 hope to return in better health than when I 
 went away. 
 
 ^'I have not been wholly idle since I re- 
 turned; for, besides attending all the regular 
 exercises but one, I have been through with 
 one entire course of theology, one course of 
 history, and have written about fifty letters, 
 besides performing quite an amount of miscel- 
 laneous reading, and reviewing a large part 
 of my studies for the two past years, in prepa- 
 ration for examination. 
 
 '^ When I think of myself as just ready to 
 go forth into the great harvest-field, I almost 
 shrink. . But I feel confident that the Lord 
 has bid me come thus far, and I cannot go 
 
188 EEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 back. If he designs to put me into the min- 
 istry, earth and hell cannot hinder ; but if he 
 is about to cut me off in the midst of my days, 
 he is a wise and just Being ; and ' though he 
 slay me, yet will I trust in him.' I have been 
 enabled to indulge a stronger confidence in 
 God this winter, I think, than for some time 
 before. I feel the need of abundant prayer. It 
 would give me great pleasure if my intimate 
 friends, such as Mrs. M., Mrs. J., and others, 
 would, with yourself, devote an afternoon to 
 special united prayer for me, in reference to 
 my soon entering on the ministerial work. It 
 would encourage me greatly if you would. 
 The Sabbath-noon hour has been one of un- 
 usual interest to me this winter. I intended 
 before now to suggest a passage of scripture to 
 be read in concert. Suppose we read through 
 the epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus ?" 
 
 The following was addressed to a friend in 
 Newburyport : 
 
 *' I am glad you felt so free to speak of the 
 subject of religion. It is truly a great thing 
 to be a consistent Christian. My greatest 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 189 
 
 sorrow is, that I have not lived more as a pro- 
 fessor of our holy religion should live. Noth- 
 ing can give us more comfort when we come 
 to die, than the thought that we are Christ's, 
 and that we have spent our lives in trying to 
 advance the interests of his kingdom. If we 
 would die peacefully, we must live consist- 
 ently. Let us then see to it that we grow in 
 grace daily, and live self-denying, holy lives. 
 What if we do give up some sensual gratifica- 
 tions, and are thus looked upon with contempt 
 by the world. "What have we in prospect? 
 Heaven and an eternity of bliss. And when 
 our work is done, and well done, then, with a 
 hope full of immortality, may we be admitted 
 to the society of those whom you say you so 
 much desire to see — Paul and Moses, and many 
 more ' of whom the world was not worthy.' 
 Who knows but that we may be permitted to 
 converse on this very sentence together some- 
 time during the ages of eternity ? I love to 
 think that we shall know each other in an- 
 other world, and talk over what has interested 
 us here. Take courage, then, my friend ; re- 
 sist every fycmptation ; persevere in every good 
 
190 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 work ; pray often and fervently ; be consistent ; 
 let your light shine ; and God be with you and 
 bless you. Write me without fail very soon. 
 Give my love to my parents, and tell them I 
 am as well as when I wrote. 
 
 '' Truly yoiirs, J. E. E." 
 
 JOURNAL. 
 
 ^^ Again I have lifted up my soul to God 
 for a preparation for the great work of the 
 gospel ministry. I have prayed, that, if con- 
 sistent with his will, my life may be pro- 
 longed and health granted me for the work ; 
 that my field of labor may be pointed out, and 
 that I may be willing to go just where God 
 shall send me ; that I may be prepared for the 
 great work by a baptism of the Spirit, by 
 prayer, by the study of divine truth, and by 
 deep inward experience of the power of the 
 truth in my own soul, so that I may preach to 
 others that which I do know, and that which 
 I have felt ; so that I may be ' a workman 
 that needeth not to be ashamed.' 
 
 ''I trust that this has not been a lost day, 
 but beneficial in many respects to my soul. 
 
rut i: 
 
 RESIt)ENCE AT FRto'C^.TON. 191 ^ 
 
 God grant that the prayers \mtwS^3^^Ve' of- 
 fered before him to-day may "be returned with 
 gracious and abundant answers of peace. The 
 following scriptures I have read to-day, I trust 
 not without profit : 2 Chron. 34 : 1-8, 29-33 ; 
 Psalms 143, 51, 71 ; Ezra 9, 10 : 1-17 ; DanJ 
 9 ; Ezek. 3 ; Psalm 121. 
 
 ''April 26, 1849. One year ago to-day I 
 was licensed to preach the gospel. I would ever 
 keep the day in remembrance. Often have I 
 been permitted to speak in God's name in his 
 holy house ; but 0, how little have I really 
 done for his glory. How much have I preached 
 for my own interest, and forgotten that my 
 business was to preach Christ and win lost 
 men to Jesus. that God would mercifully 
 forgive the sins, imperfections, and short-com- 
 ings of the past year, and give me grace to labor 
 for him and his glory during the year to come 
 
 ''May 13, 1849. Through God's goodness 
 I have reached the last Sabbath of my stay in 
 this sen inary. How long the time seemed in 
 prospect as I penned my record on the first 
 Sabbath in my course here. How short are 
 the years in the retrospect. It is with deep 
 
192 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 humiliation that I recur now to the resolutions 
 I made on that first Sabbath, and compare my 
 course with them. I am ashamed to note my 
 many and fearful delinquencies. God, for- 
 give these my sins, for the sake of thy dear 
 Son. I am about to go forth as a herald of 
 salvation. God, send me not forth alone, 
 but go thou with me. Help me to preach 
 Christ alone. And give me souls for my hire. 
 I have to-day fed on the body and blood of 
 Christ. May I remember the covenant into 
 which I have anew entered, and may I have 
 strength given me from on high to determine to 
 be wholly the Lord's. 
 
 " May 15, 1849, ten o'clock, P. M. Another 
 solemn point in my life has been reached. I 
 am now a graduate of Princeton Theological 
 seminary, having received my diploma with 
 my class-mates about an hour since from the 
 hand of the President of the Board of Directors. 
 
 '' Now we are to go forth under the com- 
 mission of our ascended Lord. Divine Teacher, 
 go with us ; direct us to fields of labor ; give 
 us success ; may we win many to thee ; and 
 reunite us in heaven with a great multi- 
 
RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON. 193 
 
 tude saved by the power of the Spirit of God, 
 through the instrumentahty of our preaching." 
 
 Mr. Emerson now bade farewell to the semi- 
 nal j; and returned again to his beloved home, 
 carrying with him the following kind testi- 
 monial to his piety and scholarship, from the 
 venerable and learned Dr. Miller. The com- 
 munication was addressed to his pastor : 
 
 ^'This letter will be delivered to you by our 
 highly respected and beloved pupil, Mr. Emer- 
 son, whose health has again become delicate. 
 
 '' The more we have become acquainted 
 with this amiable and highly promising youth, 
 the more we have become attached to him, and 
 the higher we haTve estimated the prospects of 
 his usefulness. He was late in coming to the 
 seminary this session, but we have all cordially 
 rejoiced that he did come. He appeared ex- 
 ceedingly well before; but, recently, better 
 than ever. His diligent attention to study; 
 his improvement by study; his remarkably 
 amiable temper ; his highly promising talents ; 
 and the uncommon excellence of all his public 
 performances, have endeared him to us in an 
 
 Emmoo. 13 
 
194 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 uncommon degree. We do cherish the hope 
 that he is preparing to he a great blessing to 
 the church of God. 
 
 '' We have some soHcitude about the health 
 of Mr. Emerson. He has an impression that 
 a cold eastern climate will be more favorable 
 to him than a warm southern one. I confess 
 my impressions are somewhat different ; and 
 though I certainly could wish that he might 
 remain an ornament and a blessing to his na- 
 tive state, yet I cannot resist the conclusion 
 that he would be more likely, with his delicate 
 pulmonary system, to enjoy vigorous health in 
 South Carolina or Greorgia, than in Massachu- 
 setts. I trust he will be divinely and merci- 
 fully directed. We shall all- follow him with 
 our esteem, our affections, and our prayers. 
 
 *^ I am, reverend and dear brother, yours in 
 Christian bonds, 
 
 "SAMUEL MILLER." 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 195 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HIS ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 
 
 After leaving the seminary, Mr. Emerson 
 preached in several vacant pulpits in the vicin- 
 ity of Newburyport. His labors for several 
 Sabbaths at Byfield were greatly blessed. The 
 church was quickened and revived under his 
 ministrations, and his preaching was blessed 
 to the salvation of souls. Several persons, 
 when examined for admission to the church, 
 stated that their first serious impressions were 
 received under the preaching of Mr. Emerson. 
 
 In September, 1849, he was invited to preach 
 in the Market-hall in Newburyport, by a small 
 society which had recently been formed. 
 
 During the summer, several devoted and 
 zealous Christians of the town felt that some 
 means should be adopted to bring under the 
 direct influence of the gospel those who were 
 not in the habit of attending public worship 
 on the Sabbath; and hence the origin of this 
 enterprise at the hall, which was at first en- 
 
196 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 tered upon as an experiment. The churches 
 of the town were generally well filled, and were 
 supplied with able, efficient, and devoted pas- 
 tors, and yet a large class of the population, 
 and many strangers who had been drawn to 
 the place by its manufacturing establishments, 
 were living in the neglect of Christian privi- 
 leges. To meet the wants of these persons, 
 and to extend the interests of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom throughout the town, the public wor- 
 ship of God was established in the Market- 
 hall, a commodious building, very conven- 
 iently situated for this purpose. Those who 
 projected and carried forward the enterprise, 
 were judicious, zealous, and energetic men, 
 well qualified for the noble work in which they 
 were engaged. They were fully aware that it 
 was no ordinary task to gather a new religious 
 society and establish it lipon a firm and per- 
 manent basis. They were conscious that to 
 embark in the enterprise would make large 
 draughts upon their time and their liberality, 
 as well as add to their cares and responsibil- 
 ities. Yet they did not shrink from the work, 
 but went forward looking to God for success. 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 197 
 
 The first Sabbath that Mr. Emerson preached 
 to them, about ninety persons were present. 
 Very soon the audiences increased, and after a 
 few Sabbaths a strong desire was felt to retain 
 Mr. Emerson's services. His preaching and 
 labors awakened a very general interest through- 
 out the community, and especially among the 
 young. They came in crowds to hear him, 
 and went away either under strong convictions 
 of sin, or impressed with the reality and im- 
 portance of religion. 
 
 A call from the people was soon extended to 
 him, and they were prepared to proceed at once 
 to organize a church. 
 
 The question of duty presented to Mr. Emer- 
 son was one which it was very difficult for him 
 to decide. His health was precarious, and his 
 disposition and mental habits fitted him to take 
 charge of a society already well established, 
 rather than to perform the labor of laying a 
 new foundation, and meet the discouragements 
 incident to such a work. But his feelings had 
 already become strongly enlisted in this infant 
 society, and the affections of its members were 
 very soon entwined around him. This, too, 
 
198 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 was his native town, the residence of his par- 
 ents and dearest friends ; and the unanimity 
 and earnestness with which the call was ex- 
 tended, strongly influenced his mind. The fact 
 that here were the scenes of his childhood, a 
 circumstance which ordinarily might be re- 
 garded as unfavorable to extensive usefulness, 
 in this case was a reason why he should accept 
 the invitation which he had received ; for that 
 childhood, as we have seen, was distinguished 
 for its purity and piety. The little boy of ten 
 years of age was a *' preacher of righteous- 
 ness," an epistle '' known and read of all men." 
 The foundations for his usefulness were already 
 laid. His infant prayers, his Christian deport- 
 ment, his earnest counsels to his school-mates, 
 were all remembered. He had no prejudices 
 to live down, no enemies to reconcile, no youth- 
 ful indiscretions to contend against. The invi- 
 tation to settle was made the subject of fre- 
 quent and fervent prayer; and after seeking 
 divine direction, and asking counsel of his 
 friends, he decided to accept the call. 
 
 Under the preaching of Mr. Emerson in Mar- 
 ket-hall, the audience increased to between 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 199 
 
 five and six hundred persons ; oftentimes sev- 
 eral would leave, unable to obtain seats. 
 
 In October, 1849, the society was formed 
 under the name of the Whitefield^ Congrega- 
 tional Society ; and on January 1, 1850, twenty- 
 two persons were organized into a church of 
 Christ; and the same day Mr. Emerson was 
 solemnly ordained and installed as their pastor. 
 At an early hour the church was densely 
 crowded, and throughout the exercises a deep 
 solemnity pervaded the audience. The new 
 congregation, as well as the new pastor, had 
 awakened a great interest in a large portion of 
 the community, and this circumstance, in con- 
 nection with the pastor's youth, ardent piety, 
 and eminent qualifications for the work of the 
 ministry, drew together a vast audience. Mr. 
 Emerson felt very deeply the new responsibil- 
 ities and solemn duties that were imposed upon 
 him. The long- cherished desire of his heart, to 
 be a minister of Christ, was now realized. The 
 solemn charge to be a faithful, earnest minister 
 
 ^ The remains of the eminent and gifted Whitefield are 
 deposited under the pulpit of the Federal-street church, iu 
 Newburyport. 
 
200 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 of the gospel, he now received. The right 
 hand of fellowship was cordially and affection- 
 ately extended to him, amidst the warm sym- 
 pathy of his brethren, the ardent love of his 
 people, and the respect of the community. 
 
 How long he would be permitted to hold the 
 sacred office to which he had been inducted, 
 God only knew. As I looked upon his frail 
 form and pale countenance, I could not but 
 have my fears that the time might not be far 
 distant, when we should be summoned to the 
 same pulpit to perform other services for our be- 
 loved brother. But my prayer to God was, that 
 he might long be spared, and that he might be 
 the instrument of gathering a great multitude 
 of immortal beings into the fold of Christ. 
 
 On returning home after the ordination, Mr. 
 Emerson made the following short entry in his 
 journal ; 
 
 " January 1, 1850. I have this evening beeiL 
 solemnly ordained as pastor of a church and 
 people. O Lord, who is sufficient for these 
 things ? hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. 
 Help me, my God, to live and to act as a* 
 minister of the gospel." 
 
ORDIISATION AND SETTLEMENT. 201 
 
 On the first Sabbath after his ordination, 
 he preached to a very large and attentive 
 audience, and the day was one of great interest 
 and solemnity to his church. Much prayer 
 was offered to God, that he would strengthen 
 his young servant, and bless his efforts to win 
 souls to Christ. 
 
 About this time Mr. Emerson held an inter- 
 esting correspondence with a young friend, who 
 was awakened and hopefully converted under 
 his preaching; thus showing that in the midst 
 of his ministerial duties he did not neglect op- 
 portunities of doing good to individuals. Let- 
 ters to this friend contain frequent allusions to 
 the public labors and responsibilities he had 
 just assumed. 
 
 '' My dear Friend — I hope that this day, 
 like those which have preceded it, finds you in 
 the possession and enjoyment of the Christian's 
 hope, and that you can say with all your 
 heart, 
 
 ' What sinners value, I resign ; 
 Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine.' 
 
 Let me advise you, as one who is deeply in- 
 terested in your spiritual progress, 
 
202 REY. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ^' First, never be ashamed of being called 
 a Christian. Always be found on the side of 
 God. Let the world take knowledge of you 
 that you walk with Jesus. 
 
 ** Second, be very particular and punctual 
 about your times for secret prayer. 
 
 ' Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, 
 The Christian's native air.' 
 
 Let nothing tempt you to put by your regular 
 season for morning and evening devotion. 
 
 '^ Be an active Christian. Do all the good 
 you can while you live. Seek opportunities to 
 talk with your impenitent friends. 
 
 ' Tell to sinners round, 
 What a dear Saviour you have found.' 
 
 "I know you will be a cheerful Christian. 
 I love your cheerfulness ; you need not repress 
 that. 
 
 * Religion never vsras designed 
 To make our pleasures less.' 
 
 " Come and see me as often as you can 
 spare a moment. Your visits are always wel- 
 come. I never tire of seeing you or talking 
 with you. Do not let Satan tempt you with 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 203 
 
 doubts. Look to Jesus. Be faithful unto 
 death, and G-od will give you a crown of life. 
 Write me soon. 
 
 '' Your friend, sincerely and affectionately, 
 
 "J. E. E." 
 
 '' I feel very grateful to you for your visit 
 last evening. It did me good to see and con- 
 verse with you. Especially am I thankful that 
 we were permitted to bow the knee together 
 before our Father who is in heaven. 0, my 
 friend John, it gives me unspeakable delight to 
 have you, whom I regard so highly, numbered 
 among the followers of Jesus. ' Follow on to 
 know the Lord.' ' Keep thy heart with all 
 diligence.' Live near to Jesus. * Pray without 
 ceasing.' My own mind has been much solem- 
 nized to-day by the subject on which I have 
 been writing. 0, how swiftly our time passes. 
 But what of this, if we are prepared for eter- 
 nity? 
 
 " Do not fail to let me hear from you on 
 Monday. * I do not care how soon' you come 
 and see me, or let me hear from you. 
 ^' Truly your friend, 
 
 "J. E. E." 
 
204 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 " Newburyport, Saturday, P. M., Jan. 5, 1850. 
 
 *^ This has been to me a busy, exciting, and 
 solemn week. I feel fatigued and rather low-spir- 
 ited. It is now between three and four o'clock, 
 and I have had my pen in hand almost ever 
 since breakfast, not getting through as usual at 
 two o'clock. But I could not refrain from writ- 
 ing once more to express my interest in you. 
 
 " G-od bless you, my dear friend, and cause 
 you to grow in grace every day. May he make 
 you eminently useful, and prolong your life in 
 his service. 
 
 " January 12. I love to converse with you 
 on religious subjects, and answer the questions 
 which you put to me. May you know more and 
 more of the Bible, and may your eyes be opened 
 to behold wondrous things out of God's law. 
 
 "Rest assured of my earnest, sincere, and 
 growing friendship. May we be friends in 
 heaven." 
 
 The day after his officiating for the first time 
 at a wedding, he writes, 
 
 " Dear J. — I was gratified at your desire to 
 attend the ceremony. You may think of it in 
 after-years. If you and I should live to grow 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 205 
 
 old, never let us forget that in the same room 
 we first had that deeply interesting conversa- 
 tion concerning your precious soul. John, 
 I reflect with more pleasure on the conversa- 
 tion of that evening, than I should on a score of 
 weddings. 
 
 '^ If I am taken away before you are, come 
 and stand once in a while by the grave of him 
 who loves you as a friend and a Christian 
 brother. 
 
 " We have added one more to the landmarks 
 which we may look back on as we travel on 
 in life together. "We will not forget the first 
 religious conversation, the first prayer, and the 
 first marriage ceremony. 
 
 ''May the God of heaven grant you bless- 
 ings more abundant than I can wish for you. 
 May we meet in that world where ' they neither 
 marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as 
 the angels of God.' 
 
 " Truly your friend, 
 
 «J. E. EMERSON." 
 " Sunday-eve, 5^ P. M., February 17. 
 
 ^' John, John, John, I am worn out, dis- 
 couraged, almost sick. I have labored hard, 
 
206 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 and it seems as if I had almost spent my 
 strength for naught. To you, the Sabbath is a 
 refreshing day, a day of rest. To me, it is a 
 day of anxiety, toil, and fatigue. I do not 
 know when I have felt so worn out as I have 
 to-day. 0, how I wish I could hear singing 
 after my labors on the Sabbath; but every 
 harp is hung upon the willows in this house. 
 Alas, we cannot sing. I am almost inclined to 
 learn. 
 
 *'I want to have you tell me in your next 
 letter something about your spiritual exercises. 
 Does the Bible still seem like a new book? 
 Do you still maintain and enjoy constant secret 
 prayer? I fear we have not talked as much 
 about religion lately as we ought to. I long 
 to have another evening when we can pray 
 together, and talk about God, heaven, the soul, 
 and eternity. 
 
 ''Ever yours, "J. E. e." 
 
 " February 12, 1850. 
 
 '' My dear Friend John — I have been look- 
 ing back with much interest upon the time of 
 our acquaintance, and especially upon our inter- 
 views the first of the present winter. The 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 207 
 
 evening of the third of December is memorable 
 on more accounts than one ; and we have made 
 it still more memorable since, by the intimacy 
 of our friendship. 
 
 '^ God has led you along, I trust, by his 
 most holy Spirit, and made you a partaker of 
 his rich grace in Jesus Christ. What thanks 
 are due from you to him, who has delivered 
 you from everlasting death. 
 
 •^ I have been for some time anticipating 
 the day when you would have brought before 
 your mind the question on which we conversed 
 last evening, namely, the propriety of your 
 asking admission to the church ; and you must 
 not, you will not suppose, that I had felt 
 wholly indifferent as to the particular church 
 with which you should connect yourself. I 
 should have been possessed of less than com- 
 mon sensibility, if I had felt no degree of in- 
 terest in the matter. "We had talked together 
 freely from the outset of your Christian course. 
 You had poured your joys and sorrows into my 
 ear, and I had told you freely all my feelings. 
 It was a question, however, that I thought you 
 ought to decide wholly for yourself; and you 
 
208 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 will bear me witness that I have not attempted 
 to influence you. Of this one thing, however, 
 you may rest assured, wherever you go my 
 prayers will follow you, and my love and friend- 
 ship remain with you." 
 
 '' My dear Friend John — I have a special 
 request to make of you for to-morrow morning. 
 I wish you to remember me in prayer at a 
 quarter before nine in the morning. You know 
 it is an important and solemn day with me, 
 and I need much prayer. I will remember 
 you at the same time. We will feel that we 
 are praying for each other. I want you to 
 pray that I may be assisted and blessed in the 
 exercises of the day, and I will remember you 
 in relation to the matter concerning which I 
 spoke last evening." 
 
 Mr. Emerson had now entered fully upon 
 his pastoral and pulpit labors, and every day 
 he was gaining the confidence and affection of 
 his people. They loved him with a devotion 
 which is seldom felt towards a pastor, and their 
 love was most cordially reciprocated. In the 
 ties that united them, there was far more than 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 209 
 
 usual tenderness and strength. It was the 
 constant desire of the pastor to feed his people 
 with the bread of life ; to lead them into green 
 pastures, and recline with them beside the 
 still waters of salvation. He felt a deep per- 
 sonal interest in every member of the flock. 
 The sick he was ready to visit, and for the 
 afflicted he had a heart full of sympathy. He 
 rejoiced with those that rejoiced, and wept with 
 those that wept. 
 
 From several letters that he addressed to 
 the bereaved, I select the following to a young 
 father who had lost a child ; it shows the ten- 
 derness and warmth of his heart. 
 
 " Newburyport, March 27, 1850. 
 
 " My dear Friend — Most deeply have I sym- 
 pathized with you in your recent severe afflic- 
 tion. I have shed no public tears, but in the 
 silence of my own retirement have I mourned 
 over your loss, and prayed that you might be 
 supported. This is the first cup of sorrow 
 which you have been called to drink. This is 
 the first practical lesson you have learned in 
 regard to earth's sorrows. The tender bud 
 which Grod had put into your hands has with- 
 
 Emwson. 1^ 
 
210 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ered away. You were looking with an interest 
 which none but a parent can feel, for it to open 
 its little leaves and delight you with its fra- 
 grance. But Hhe Lord gave, and the Lord 
 hath taken away.' 
 
 ''And now it only remains that we who 
 have professed ourselves friends in the time of 
 your joy and sunshine, should prove the sin- 
 cerity of our friendship by our sympathy in 
 the time of your darkness and affliction; and 
 that you should give us an example of Christian 
 submission, in accordance with the principles 
 of the holy religion which you have professed. 
 
 " How willingly would the friends who stood 
 about your lovely dying infant, have made any 
 sacrifice to snatch the child from death. But 
 0, how powerless we find ourselves to be in 
 Buch an hour. Agonized as our hearts were 
 to hear his groans and witness his sufferings, 
 not one of us all, nor all of us united, had the 
 ability to lessen one pang or repress one groan : 
 I felt then as I feel now. How great is God; 
 how less than nothing, in comparison with him, 
 is the creature man. 
 
 "I feel smitten, my dear friend, as well as 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 211 
 
 yourself; for I loved the infant not only on 
 account of my high regard for the parents, hut 
 because I considered him a hoy of uncommon 
 promise, and I was watching with great interest 
 for his development of mind and body. But 
 he is gone. That little coffin-lid has closed 
 upon the fondest expectations and the most 
 cherished hopes. The beautiful and smiling 
 countenance has bestowed its last smile of 
 recognition upon the father that idolized the 
 child, and upon the mother that doted upon it. 
 No more kisses shall fall from those lips, and 
 the arms of the cherub which once folded so 
 lovingly about the neck of its parents, are rest- 
 ing for ever on its own motionless bosom. 0, 
 how unsparing is death; how cruel is the 
 grave ! 
 
 -^^But blessed be God for the lively hopes 
 that triumph over this sorrow, death, and cor- 
 ruption. Blessed be He who has brought to 
 light eternal life. By his death and resurrec- 
 tion, you have the assurance that while the 
 mortal body of your lovely child sleeps in yon- 
 der graveyard, his little redeemed immortal 
 spirit lives in everlasting glory. ' Of such is 
 
212 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 the kingdom of heaven.' Many years may roll 
 over your head, and you may be called to lay 
 away other loved friends in the tomb ; your 
 own time to depart may be late in life ; but if 
 faithful unto death, you shall see your infant 
 boy again. Who knows but that as you step 
 behind the veil which separates things tem- 
 poral from things eternal, the angelic voice of 
 your first-born may give you the welcome to 
 eternal bliss? 
 
 ^' I trust I have said nothing, my dear riend, 
 to harrow up your feelings; I desire to com- 
 mend you and your beloved partner to God. 
 Let us all give heed to what God is saying to 
 us in this time of his rebuke. Let us be better 
 for having been afflicted. Let us have our 
 conversation in heaven more than ever before. 
 Let us, as 'strangers and pilgrims,' live by 
 faith on the Son of God ; and may we have 
 part, at last, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 
 in the kingdom of heaven, and join in praising 
 our Redeemer with the ' millions of infant souls ' 
 that ' compose the family above.' Such is the i 
 prayer of your sincere and constant friend, 
 
 "J. E. E.» 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 213 
 
 In the spiritual progress of the church, the 
 pastor felt a strong interest. He labored and 
 prayed that every member might be entirely 
 consecrated to God ; and he had the happiness 
 of feeling that he was surrounded by those 
 who would cooperate with him in all his plans 
 for doing good. 
 
 But he was specially anxious for the con- 
 version of the impenitent. Their condition 
 weighed as a heavy burden upon his spirit. 
 Nor was it long before he received indications 
 of the divine favor. The same heavenly Dove 
 that hovered over him in childhood, while in 
 college, and in the seminary, continued to abide 
 with him in his new field of labor. The same 
 bright cloud guided him by day, the same pil- 
 lar of fire by night. He seemed to carry about 
 with him a revival of religion in his heart. 
 His warm and ardent piety impressed all with 
 w^hom he came in contact ; streams of religious 
 influence flowed forth from his conversation, 
 his prayers, his remarks in the social prayer- 
 meeting, and his preaching. Even before his 
 ordination, there were evidences of the presence 
 of the Holy Spirit in his congregation. At 
 
214 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 first a few were found to be under conviction 
 of sin, and soon many were anxiously inquir- 
 ing what they must do to be saved. Mr. Em- 
 erson soon discovered the interest which was 
 awakened, and appointed meetings for religious 
 conversation. Several persons who attended 
 these meetings, have kindly given expression 
 to their impressions of the revival, and of the 
 scenes in which their pastor's fidelity and zeal 
 were strikingly conspicuous. 
 
 One writes, '^ Never shall I forget the kind, 
 the tender, the encouraging words which fell 
 from our pastor's lips, while attending the 
 meetings for inquiry. It seemed as if he 
 wished to take each and every one of those 
 precious souls, and lead them at once to that 
 Saviour whom they sought. At the first meet- 
 ing, as well as those that followed, the Spirit's 
 influence was manifested in a wonderful man- 
 ner. It appeared as though God had touched 
 his servant's lips with a coal from off his altar ; 
 so touching were his appeals, so applicable 
 his remarks to each individual present, so much 
 interest manifested in the eternal welfare of 
 others. None but those present at those sea- 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 215 
 
 sons can fully realize his worth. After con- 
 versing with each person by remarks suited to 
 their situation, encouraging those that were 
 hoping yet trembling, and urging the inquirer to 
 decide immediately for Christ, he would make 
 a few general remarks, and then offer fervent 
 prayer, committing them each to God. His 
 efforts were blessed, by the aid of the Holy 
 Spirit, to the conversion of many souls, whom, 
 we trust, he will welcome to that heavenly 
 world to which he has gone. 
 
 '' Ever anxious to do good, he appointed 
 meetings for the study of Bunyan's Pilgrim's 
 Progress, which were very interesting and in- 
 structive. But he was soon deprived of the 
 pleasure of attending these meetings, as the 
 strong hand of disease was laid heavily upon 
 Mm, and he was obliged, though very reluc- 
 tantly, to relinquish them." 
 
 Another writes, " During the revival of 1850, 
 I attended the inquiry-meetings held by Rev. 
 Mr. Emerson, and I always found them inter- 
 esting and profitable. He seemed to forget 
 himself in the solicitude he felt for others, lest 
 some might quench the Holy Spirit. While 
 
216 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 he strove to impress upon the mind of the sin- 
 ner the truth that he had a part to act in the 
 salvation of his soul, yet he never for a mo- 
 ment gave him reason to think that his own 
 good works would save him, but ever ascribed 
 all to the sovereign grace of God. In his con- 
 versation with the inquirer, he made the path 
 of duty so plain that no one could mistake the 
 way. With him, Christ was all and in all. It 
 was, he said, simply * Believe on the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' I think that 
 all that attended those meetings can testify to 
 his faithfulness. For some time after the inquir- 
 ers had indulged a hope, he had weekly meet- 
 ings for the purpose of conversing with them ; 
 and he would advise, encourage, and warn them 
 in a most affectionate manner, ever urging 
 them to be active and consistent Christians." 
 
 Another says, '' Such appeals, such melting 
 invitations as fell from his lips at that time, 
 cannot be described. He was truly baptized 
 with the Holy G-host, and every one who be- 
 held his beaming countenance, and heard the 
 heavenly words he uttered, took knowledge of 
 him that ' he had been with Jesus.' " 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 217 
 
 Another, who a few months previous came 
 to Newburyport a stranger, who had been 
 awakened by his ministry, and soon after his 
 death publicly professed faith in Christ, says, 
 ^' I called to see him two days before he ex- 
 pired, but he was so feeble and low that I was 
 told that I could not see him. I went away 
 deeply grieved with the thought that probably I 
 should never see him again, and that he would 
 never talk with me. The next day a message 
 came to me, that if I would go directly down to 
 the house, I could see him. I hastened down ; 
 and on entering the room he recognized me, took 
 me very affectionately by the hand, and said 
 he was glad to see me. Being told that if he 
 did not feel strong enough he had better not 
 converse with me, he roused up and addressed 
 me as one who had risen from the grave — his 
 countenance, manner, and voice were so full 
 of earnestness and deep heavenly feelings. He 
 expressed regret that he had not seen and 
 talked with me before ; said he had felt a 
 strong interest in my spiritual welfare, and had 
 desired to tell me about the glorious religion of 
 Jesus Christ. ^ 0, sir,' said he, ' this is a 
 
218 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 solemn and honest hour to me — at this hour 
 men will deal honestly with themselves. Will 
 you not, my young friend, take Christ as your 
 portion? Will you not give your heart to 
 God ? He will more than make up to you 
 the loss of your dear parents. He has promised 
 to be 'a Father to the fatherless,' and he will 
 guide you safe through life, and give you at 
 last a home in heaven, if you will but put your 
 trust in him.' He then entreated me in the 
 most earnest and persuasive manner to em- 
 brace Christ, and to serve him faithfully. I as- 
 sured him that I would try to do so. ' Oh,' said 
 he, ' pray, pray, pray much. Pray to God, and 
 he will hear you. ' Seek him while he may be 
 found." I gave him my word that I would. 
 He again took my hand, and I looked for the 
 last time upon his heavenly countenance." 
 
 So strong was his desire for the salvation of 
 souls, and so deeply and fully did he enter into 
 the revival, that he was often deprived of sleep. 
 Yet, though exhausted and wasted by disease, 
 he did not relax his efforts. His increased 
 paleness seemed to give increased force to his 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 219 
 
 words, while his failing strength led him to 
 give himself to the work of his Master with 
 redoubled energy. Among those who attended 
 the inquiry-meetings, were several interesting 
 and promising young men, who became hope- 
 fully converted. 
 
 So great was the work, that Mr. Emerson 
 was obliged to call upon his Christian brethren 
 for assistance, and they can all bear testimony 
 to his faithfulness. Some were astonished at 
 his skill and wisdom in meeting the several 
 cases that were brought before him. So in- 
 tense was the feeling at times, that many 
 present were bathed in tears ; and though the 
 weather was often inclement, yet it neither 
 lessened the number present, nor the interest 
 of the meetings. As the result of the revival, 
 twenty-nine persons became hopefully con- 
 verted, and made a public profession of their 
 faith in Christ. 
 
 On one Sabbath, Mr. Emerson preached from 
 the text, '' Escape for thy life, look not behind 
 thee." The sermon was blessed to the awak- 
 ening of six persons in the congregation. He 
 preached the same discourse in another pulpit, 
 
220 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 and under its influence several others were 
 induced to make their escape to the mount of 
 refuge. 
 
 Another states that his manner was so win- 
 ning, and his words so full of tenderness and 
 love, that even strangers were very soon af- 
 fected by them. Sometimes he would rise to 
 speak when the hearts of those around him 
 were almost crushed under the weight of sin 
 and guilt ; and before he had closed, his sooth- 
 ing words would seem to calm their agitation 
 and remove their burdens. At other times he 
 would rise when all was cold and no apparent 
 interest was felt, and before he had concluded 
 many would be ready to exclaim, " What must 
 I do to be saved ?" 
 
 On one occasion when the terrors of the law 
 had been forcibly exhibited by another, and 
 the hearts of many were filled with pain and 
 deep anxiety, he rose, and in an attitude and 
 with an expression of countenance that indi- 
 cated strong feeling, he exclaimed, '^ Shiloh 
 has come; yes, Shiloh has come, and he is 
 ready to accept any who will go to him. Oh, 
 sinner, flee for protection into his arms. Flee 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTI^^'^NT. 221 
 
 now ; for now is the accepted lidife. * Be wise ^ J 
 to-day, 'tis madness to defer. "^V , ^^^ 
 
 As Mr. Emerson saw the work adSJ5ailchig,4^^ ^ 
 rejoiced greatly. His most ardent desires were 
 now gratified, and though his strength was 
 wasting away, his joy was every day increasing. 
 
 Besides his interest in inquirers and young 
 converts, he felt very solicitous for the pros- 
 perity of the Sabbath-school. This he regarded 
 as the nursury of the church ; and he delighted 
 to converse with the scholars, and encourage 
 their teachers. One day he remarked to a 
 friend, '' The Sabbath- school is like a beauti- 
 ful garden, in which I can walk and be re- 
 freshed after the labors of the day." 
 
 The communion-seasons with his beloved 
 people he enjoyed very highly. He anticipated 
 them with great interest, and endeavored to 
 prepare his own heart and the hearts of his 
 church for the solemn meeting with the Sav- 
 iour at his own table. He refers to these 
 seasons in his journal, in which, however, his 
 engagements and ill health allowed him to 
 make but few entries. The following are 
 among the last that he made : 
 
222 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 *^ September 27. One more anniversary 
 has dawned upon me. I am twenty-seven 
 years old to-day. I cannot say, as in former 
 years, that I have enjoyed uninterrupted health 
 during the year, for much of the time I have 
 been sick. I find that the seeds of mortality 
 are as thickly sown in me as in others. I 
 know not but God may have appointed an 
 early death for me ; but I rejoice that my 
 times are in his hand, and that the number of 
 my days is with him. During the year he has 
 been pleased to make me a minister of the 
 everlasting gospel, and to bless me with an 
 interesting revival of religion among my church 
 and people. Praised be his name for these 
 things. 0, for grace to live this year near to 
 God. 
 
 '^ December 1. Administered- the commun- 
 ion to my beloved church for the sixth time. 
 It is just seventeen years since I trust I found 
 peace in believing. 
 
 *' December 31. Finished the reading of 
 the Bible, which I commenced September 27, 
 1848. To the best of my knowledge, I have 
 read it every word aloud.^^ 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 223 
 
 On the first Sabbath in January, 1851, Mr. 
 Emerson felt a very strong desire to preach to 
 his people ; but the state of his health would 
 not permit it. He therefore made to them the 
 following remarks : 
 
 *'It is well known to most of you, my hear- 
 ers, that the anniversary of our organization 
 as a church, and of my own ordination, oc- 
 curred on the first day of the present year. 
 One year ago to-day, I preached to you my 
 first sermons as a settled pastor. I then looked 
 forward with fond anticipations to the recur- 
 rence of this anniversary, as a day when we 
 should together recount the joys and sorrows 
 of the past, and look forward hopefully to the 
 future. But to my great sorrow of heart, I 
 find myself baffled in the first attempt. It 
 would have been extremely gratifying to my 
 own feelings, had I been able to preach to-day. 
 I had even selected my text, and formed the 
 plan of a sermon, but I found myself unequal 
 to the task of its execution. A few facts, which 
 I thought might be of interest to you, and which 
 I had intended to embody in a discourse, I have 
 noted down. 
 
224 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 '' Up to the first of June I was atle to min- 
 ister regularly on the Sabbath. Since that 
 time my public services have been in a great 
 measure suspended. But I have endeavored 
 to do what I could during the week. I find, 
 on reference to my record, that I have made, 
 during the year, four hundred and thirty-five 
 pastoral calls. I have probably received as 
 many again, so that during the year I have 
 attended to more than twelve hundred calls on 
 matters pertaining to the great duties for which 
 you called me to labor among you. The church 
 which one year ago to-day numbered twenty 
 individuals, now numbers eighty -nine. The 
 congregation which at the beginning of the 
 year was fluctuating and uncertain, has now 
 become fixed in its character ; and so far as I 
 can judge, we have an afternoon attendance 
 generally of from four hundred and fifty to five 
 hundred persons. On every Sabbath of the 
 year the doors of this house have been thrown 
 open, and the word of life dispensed. There 
 have been one hundred and fourteen sermons 
 preached here the past year. 
 
 ** For myself I can truly say, that notwith* 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 225 
 
 standing my affliction, the past has been one 
 of the happiest years of my life. The lines have 
 fallen unto me in pleasant places, and I have 
 a goodly heritage. The increasing affection of 
 a beloved people to their pastor, their untiring 
 spirit of kindness, their many words of encour- 
 agement, their almost innumerable gifts, de- 
 mand of me this public return of my warm 
 and most heartfelt thanks. From the little 
 girl who begged of her mother that she might 
 have something to send to her minister, up to 
 those ladies who furnished the warm winter 
 garments — to each and to all, I present a pas- 
 tor's warmest thanks. Nor do I count these 
 alone gifts. For every pressure of the hand of 
 friendship, for every tender inquiry after my 
 health, for every prayer offered in my behalf, I 
 thank you all. Grod bless you, my dear people, 
 and make this new year happy to you through 
 all its course. When I shall be permitted to 
 preach to you again, God only knows. May 
 he in infinite mercy speed the day. 
 
 ^'But of one thing be assured: whether 
 the warm gales of the next summer blow on 
 my invigorated frame and more healthy cheek, 
 15 
 
226 REV. JOHN E. EilERSON. 
 
 or whether they wave the gi'ass over my new- 
 made grave, be assured that the interests of 
 this church and people shall he ever near my 
 heart. And while a breath or a pulse remains, 
 will I seek her peace and prosperity. Be 
 assured, that 
 
 ' For her my tears shall fall, 
 For her my prayers ascend ; 
 To her my cares and toils be given, 
 Till toils and cares shall end.' " 
 
 "When the speaker took his seat, apparently 
 exhausted by this effort, the deepest emotion 
 was manifested by the whole audience. His 
 allusion to his own grave touched and melted 
 every heart. All felt, that as this was his first, 
 so it was, in all human probabiUty, his last an- 
 niversary with his people. They felt that the 
 fair form now before them must soon moulder 
 in the cold grave ; that the eye that beamed 
 upon them with so much affection, must soon 
 be closed ; that the lips that had told them of 
 Jesus and of heaven, must soon be sealed in 
 death. They thought of the long, long silence 
 in the grave of that voice, the sweet tones of 
 which were now so clear and distinct. The 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 227 
 
 remembrance, too, of their pastor's instructions, 
 entreaties, appeals, faithful, untiring labors, 
 and the crowd of interesting associations that 
 rushed into the mind, overpowered the assem- 
 bly. There were hearts there whose emotions 
 language cannot describe — hearts from which 
 the impressions of that hour will never, never 
 fade away. 
 
 Mr. Emerson continued, although so feeble, 
 to attend public worship, and occasionally he 
 read a hymn or offered a short prayer. He 
 was anxious to devote his little remaining 
 strength to God. It was my privilege to spend 
 a Sabbath with him about this time, and in all 
 the exercises of the day, and in every thing 
 pertaining to the congregation, he took the live- 
 liest interest. In the afternoon the impenitent 
 were particularly addressed ; and on his way 
 home he expressed a very earnest desire that the 
 discourse might be blessed to their salvation. 
 
 About the middle of January he said to a 
 friend, ^' I feel that a crisis in my case is near 
 at hand. I have a desire that the church 
 should hold a day of fasting and prayer on 
 account of my health. I want to try the power 
 
228 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 of prayer, and shall not feel that every means 
 has been used till this is tried. It has been a 
 great struggle to my mind to give up preach- 
 ing. When I think that five hundred precious 
 souls are expecting to hear the gospel from my 
 lips, that a dear church is looking up to me for 
 counsel, I feel that it requires more prayer yet 
 to bring my mind to a right state." 
 
 At another time he said, '' I begin to feel 
 willing to leave the matter with God, though 
 my prayer daily is, ' Lord, spare me yet a little 
 longer, that I may preach Christ again to my 
 dear people.' I have felt a greater desire than 
 ever, since my illness, to preach Christ once 
 more." 
 
 The day of fasting and prayer was appoint- 
 ed ; and when it arrived, Mr. Emerson made 
 the following entry, which is the last in his 
 journal : 
 
 '' January 29, 1851. This day has been 
 set apart by the members of my church, as a 
 day of fasting and prayer for the recovery of 
 their pastor's health. I have not preached for 
 eleven Sabbaths, on account of ill health ; and 
 indeed have preached but very little since last 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 229 
 
 June. God has laid his hand heavily upon 
 me. I am troubled with cough, loss of strength 
 and appetite, etc. What God is intending to 
 do with me I know not, but I think I desire 
 to lie passive in his hands, and know no will 
 but his. If I am to be raised up, the blessing 
 of God alone can do it. that God would 
 help my church to offer up this day the prayer 
 of faith which ' shall save the sick.' " 
 
 On this occasion he addressed to the members 
 of his church the following communication : 
 
 '' Dear Christian Friends — I have been 
 looking forward to this day with the deepest 
 anxiety and interest. For many months, as 
 you well know, God has laid the hand of afflic- 
 tion upon me. I have been deprived of the 
 pleasure of performing the more active duties 
 of the ministry among you. My strength also 
 has failed me, and ' I am like a broken vessel.' 
 In all these difficulties you, my dear people, 
 have deeply sympathized, and hare felt your- 
 selves afflicted also. 
 
 ** Could your kindness and sympathy have 
 restored me, I should now have health and 
 vigor. But the hand of God yet presses heav- 
 
230 £EV. JOHN E. EMEESON. 
 
 ily upon me, and from him alone deliverance 
 must be sought. "While I am aware that for a 
 long time much prayer has been offered up in 
 my behalf, both in public and in private, I have 
 still felt strongly desirous that a day should be 
 appointed, when the prayers of this church 
 should go up unitedly to the throne of grace. 
 My heart was deeply moved at the favorable 
 reception with which my proposal met. I have 
 again and again entreated the Lord to be with 
 you on this day, and give you the spirit of fer- 
 vent, prevailing prayer. 
 
 " It would be impossible for me to go over 
 the instances recorded in the Bible, of the an- 
 swers given to fervent prayer. Read, if you 
 please, at your meetings to-day, the thirty- 
 eighth chapter of Isaiah. Why may we not 
 expect a like answer, if we offer up the prayer 
 of faith? Remember too, my dear friends, that 
 we have committed ourselves before the world. 
 Many listened when notice was given that you 
 were going to try the power of prayer in behalf 
 of a sick pastor. Will you not entreat the Most 
 High to convince them that he does hear and 
 answer prayer? 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 231 
 
 ** But I do not ask you to pray uncondition- 
 ally for my life. I desire to live longer only if it 
 is God's will. If I am spared, pray for me that 
 I may be more useful, may set a holier ex- 
 ample, may be a better Christian and a better 
 minister. If, after all our prayers and efforts, 
 God should indicate his design of taking me 
 away from earth, pray for me that I may have 
 heartfelt resignation to the divine will, a well- 
 grounded hope, the clear assurance of faith, an 
 easy departure, and that I may be able, on a 
 dying bed, to testify to the power of our holy 
 religion. 
 
 " My prayers will mingle with yours to-day, 
 brethren and friends ; this day will not soon 
 be forgotten ; its results take hold on eternity. 
 that God would manifest himself to us to- 
 day, as he has never done before. 
 
 ''"While I live, you and your interests will 
 be ever near my heart. "With my earnest prayer 
 for God's blessing upon you, I remain, 
 '' Your sincere friend, 
 
 ''And affectionate pastor, 
 
 "JOHN E. EMERSON." 
 
 This was indeed a solemn day tp this afflicted 
 
232 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 people. They listened to this short address 
 from their pastor with flowing tears, and fer- 
 vent were their supplications that he might be 
 spared to them. Yet they could not but feel 
 that the time was not far distant when they 
 must separate. The evidences of disease were 
 too apparent to leave now any room for hope. 
 
 Towards the latter part of February, Mr. 
 Emerson felt almost too feeble to attend public 
 worship. The last Sabbath that he was out 
 was March 2. The Saturday previous, feeling 
 very weak, he prayed earnestly that God would 
 give him strength to attend upon the exercises 
 of the sanctuary. On Sabbath morning he 
 asked his mother to pray for him. They had 
 an affecting season together, and he walked to 
 church, leaning, as it were, on the arm of his 
 blessed Saviour. In attempting to offer prayer, 
 his voice faltered, his strength failed, and he 
 sunk back into his chair. His prayer remained 
 before his audience like a beautiful, yet broken 
 column — a column which, though abruptly 
 sundered, yet pointed towards heaven. On 
 returning home, he threw himself upon the sofa 
 and burst into tears. He felt that his last 
 
ORDINATION AND SETTLEMENT. 233 
 
 public service had been performed. The '* sil- 
 ver cord" was now loosened; the *' golden 
 bowl" was broken. He remarked to his par- 
 ents that he had looked upon his beloved flock 
 for the last time, and had bade them farewell. 
 In alluding to his prayer he said, '' 0, those dear 
 young men, I did long to make one more effort 
 to do them good. I did want to offer one more 
 public petition in their behalf." 
 
234 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE CLOSINa SCENES OF HIS LIFE. 
 
 Mr. Emerson was now obliged to spend 
 much of his time at home, and friends who 
 were with him have kindly furnished the fol- 
 lowing facts and incidents connected with the 
 closing scenes of his life. 
 
 "About three weeks before he took his cham- 
 ber, at his request a few friends spent the 
 evening alone with him in his study. He 
 spoke freely of his views in regard to his sick- 
 ness — that he trusted he was resigned to the will 
 of God, though he had a strong desire to live, 
 that he might preach the gospel. ' I have been 
 to God again and again with the petition, that 
 if this desire was wrong he would take it away.' 
 He asked if a strong desire to live was incon- 
 sistent with true submission. 
 
 " During the conversation he remarked, 
 'When I awake in the night I ask myself, 
 Am I ready to go now, if God should call ? I 
 think I am. I feel that I have cast myself 
 
CLOSINa SCENES. 235 
 
 upon Christ, and trust in him alone for salva- 
 tion ; and what more can a poor sinner do ? I 
 wish to he stripped of every thing else, and he 
 wrapped all around with the rohe of Christ's 
 righteousness. Could I be permitted to preach 
 again, I would preach Christ more, pray Christ 
 more, sing Christ more. 0, how I long to 
 take my sermons, and breathe into them the 
 spirit and feelings I now have.' 
 
 ^' At another time he said, ' I have been re- 
 viewing my past life to-day, and I feel that I 
 am a great sinner; but I tell you what I am 
 going to do. I am going to put all my sins in 
 one bundle, and carry them to Jesus.' The 
 next morning, on going into his room, he ex- 
 claimed, *I have done it; I have carried all 
 my sins to Christ, and he has forgiven and 
 accepted me.' 
 
 *' On another occasion he remarked, ' I have 
 been reviewing God's dealings with me as it 
 regards my illness ; how wisely and gently he 
 has dealt with me. Had I known, at the com- 
 mencement of my illness, what was to be the 
 result, I could not have borne it. When it 
 became evident that I must cease my active 
 
236 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 labors, I felt at first as if it could not be — I 
 must preach. But God said, Stop. Then I 
 felt I can visit my people, I can attend the 
 meetings for conference and prayer. But G-od 
 soon said to me, You must give up these. 
 Still I could meet with my people on the Sab- 
 bath, and occasionally read a hymn or offer 
 prayer. But God has now said to me. You 
 must give up this also; and he has enabled 
 me to say. Not my will, but thine be done. I 
 trust I am now willing to live or die, just as 
 God pleases. He has been with me thus far, 
 and I know he will be with me to the end; 
 he will give me grace for the dying hour; I 
 can trust him, for he is faithful.' 
 
 '' March 8, spent the afternoon with Mr. 
 Emerson. Soon after my entering his room, 
 he said, with much emotion, ' how many 
 are my mercies ! I am pressed down and 
 overwhelmed with them; what can I do to 
 evince my gratitude? What a mercy that I 
 am here. What should I do, were I from 
 home, and among strangers? Can we doubt 
 that the hand of God is in our church enter- 
 prise ? I do not think it was ambition that 
 
CLOSING- SCENES. 237 
 
 induced me to settle here. I was willing to 
 preach to a small number ; and it was with 
 the desire and hope that I might be useful, that 
 I settled here.' The remark being made, that 
 God had in a wonderful manner blessed his 
 efforts, and that he had been permitted, during 
 his short ministry, to see more of the fruits of 
 his labors than some ministers have during a 
 long life ; and that it must be gratifying to 
 know there are those who bless God that he 
 has been instrumental in plucking them as 
 brands from the burning ; he replied, ' I bless 
 God if he has made me in any degree useful. 
 I needed this affliction, to show me that God 
 did not need me as an instrument.' 
 
 '' On another occasion he said, ' It seems 
 evident now what the will of God is. I have 
 given up my church and people. Satan some- 
 times tells me my submission is forced ; but I 
 do not believe it. I gave them up just as 
 soon as I felt it was God's will that I should 
 do so.' At another time he remarked, ' I have 
 taken this dear church, and carried it and 
 placed it in the hands of the great Head of the 
 church, and I know he will take care of it.' 
 
238 i^EV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 ** On another occasion, the conversation 
 turned upon the joys of heaven. He remarked, 
 ' How strange that those who believe heaven ^ 
 such a deUghtful place, should be so reluctant 
 to enter there. It is but little indeed that we 
 can know of heaven. The Bible, in speaking 
 of its joys, uses figures drawn from earthly 
 things, golden streets, pearly gates, etc. ; but 
 it is enough for me that we shall glorify God ; 
 that to me is the bliss of heaven.' * In my 
 anticipations of heaven, it has always been a 
 delightful thought that those friends in whose 
 society I have spent so many happy hours 
 here, will be with me there.' 
 
 ^' At another time : ^ I love to think of meet- 
 ing friends in heaven, but I do not want them 
 put first — the Saviour, the Saviour first. 0, 
 it is a delightful thought, that perhaps I may 
 be employed as a ministering spirit to those I 
 loved. Who knows ? Who knows ? I am go- 
 ing to heaven a little in advance, and there I 
 shall meet and with open arms welcome my 
 friends and the members of my church, as 
 they one after another are admitted to the 
 mansions of the blessed. God grant that not 
 
CLOSING SCENES. 239 
 
 one of this little baud shall be missing.' At 
 another time, as one wiped his brow, he ex- 
 claimed, ' Grod, God himself shall wipe away 
 all tears from their eyes.' 
 
 '' On one occasion, reference being made to 
 his past life, and to the incidents connected 
 with his early years, so unlike childhood in 
 general, he instantly checked any further re- 
 mark of the kind by saying, ^ I place no reli- 
 ance on any thing of this kind ; I have not a 
 shadow of hope on that account ; my only hope 
 is in the atoning sacrifice and righteousness of 
 Christ.' A remark made by some who called 
 to inquire after him, that they almost envied 
 those who had the privilege of watching around 
 his bed, being repeated in his hearing, he said 
 with much emotion, ' Oh, I am sorry any one 
 should make a remark like that ; I am nothing 
 but a poor sinner.' 
 
 " The next day he remarked, ' The doctrines 
 that I have loved, and the gospel I have 
 preached, are now my only support. The last 
 sermon I wrote was from the text, ' Believe 
 on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be 
 saved ;' and I find that this is all that I can do. 
 
240 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. ■'*-'^d^ 
 
 Simple faith in Christ is all that can sustain in 
 an hour like this. I cast myself entirely on 
 Christ. 0, how many times I have done this, 
 this winter. I feel that I am a great sinner ; 
 but the blood of Christ can cleanse us from 
 all sin. These two passages have afforded me 
 great consolation : ' Laid in Zion for a founda- 
 tion,' and, ' Him that cometh unto me, I will 
 in no wise cast out.' ' 
 
 ^' At another time, after some remarks upon 
 the foundation of his hopes, he asked with 
 great emphasis, ' If I have come to Christ, and 
 cast myself upon him, what then ?' It was re- 
 plied, ' Why, he has received you ; for he has 
 declared. Him that cometh unto me, I will 
 in no wise cast out.' * Well, and what then ?' 
 * He has promised, when he has begun a good 
 work, he will carry it on to perfection.' ^ And 
 what then ?' ' He will be with you in life, go 
 with you even through the valley of the shad- 
 ow of death, and land you safe on Canaan's 
 side.' With increasing earnestness and energy 
 he again repeated the question, ' And what 
 then ?' It was replied, ' I can go no further ; 
 for inspiration has declared, ^ Eye hath not 
 
CLOSlNa SCENES. 241 
 
 seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into 
 the heart of man, the things which God hath 
 prepared for them that love him.' ' On his re- 
 plying in the negative to the question, ' Do you 
 suffer much pain ?' it was remarked, ' Your 
 heavenly Father deals very gently with you.' 
 He immediately replied, ' Yes ; had I known 
 all this last summer, I could not have endured 
 it. But God has very gently and kindly bro- 
 ken to me my situation.' " 
 
 On Sabbath morning, March 9, he had two 
 ill-turns, and was thought to be dying. He 
 conversed, however, about death with great 
 composure ; said, if it was God's will, he was 
 ready to go now. '^ I feel that I have given 
 myself to Christ, and that he has accepted me, 
 and it makes but little difference which of us 
 goes first. The separation will be short. "We 
 shall soon meet to part no more." 
 
 '' My people would not have invited me to 
 become their minister, if they had supposed 
 that in little more than a year I should receive 
 another call, and one that I must accept. But 
 God will provide for them a shepherd." 
 
 Emerson. 1 6 
 
242 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 During the day, he conversed much on the 
 subject of religion, and frequently offered 
 prayer. He prayed for himself, that he might 
 be prepared for the scenes that were before 
 him ; for his parents, that God would support 
 them under their afflictions, and enable them 
 to submit to his will ; for all his dear relatives 
 and friends ; for the church of Christ, and for 
 those who were living without hope and with- 
 out God in the world. 
 
 He saw that day three impenitent young 
 men, members of his society, and conversed 
 with them with great earnestness and faithful- 
 ness. He entreated them to attend now to the 
 matter of their souls' salvation. " What should 
 I now do," said he, '' without an interest in 
 Christ ? I beseech you to be prepared for such 
 an hour as this ; for it surely will come." 
 
 Through Monday and Tuesday he continued 
 about in the same state, seeing a large num- 
 ber of people, and conversing with them upon 
 the interests of eternity. He was exceedingly 
 apjpropriate in adapting his remarks to the dif- 
 ferent cases that came before him. 
 
 On Tuesday evening he was very much ex- 
 
CLOSINa SCENES. 243 
 
 hausted from seeing so many persons, and ex- 
 erting himself to do them good. There were 
 fears that he would not revive ; but after a 
 few hours he appeared more comfortable, al- 
 though he was much weaker than before. 
 During the night he rested but little, and con- 
 versed on heavenly things. 
 
 The next day he asked for one of his ser- 
 mons that he had recently preached. On look- 
 ing at it he remarked, ^^ I will rest at this hour 
 upon what is therein written. I have endeav- 
 ored to preach the simple truths of the gospel, 
 and upon these I now rely for hope and com- 
 fort." 
 
 The conversation turned upon the covenant 
 of redemption, and he discoursed upon it with 
 much animation and interest. He remarked 
 that he desired to hold Christ forth, and to put 
 himself in the background — that Christ was 
 all in all, and himself but a worm in the 
 dast. 
 
 Frequently, in the course of his sickness, he 
 would exclaim, " I long to glorify Grod." At 
 times he would cry out in an impassioned 
 manner, and with his soul glowing with un- 
 
244 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 speakable rapture, ^* 0, to glorify God! 0, to 
 glorify G-od!" 
 
 One day his mother said to him, that it 
 must afford him great consolation to have been 
 the instrument of establishing the Whitefield 
 church, and to think that his name would be 
 handed down to posterity as its first pastor. 
 
 ''My name^''^ said he, raising himself in his 
 bed, and with a countenance beaming with 
 animation, 
 
 " ' My name is printed on His breast, 
 
 His book of life contains my name ; 
 I 'd rather have it there impressed, 
 Than in the bright records of fame. 
 
 ' When the last fire burns all things here, 
 
 Those letters shall securely stand ; 
 And in the Lamb's fair book appear, 
 Writ by th' eternal Father's hand.' " 
 
 At another time, when he was speaking of 
 death, he was asked if he had any fears. He 
 replied, " No, not exactly fears, but 
 
 ' The pains, the groans, the dying strife, 
 Fright our approaching souls away.' " 
 
 Then, after a moment's pause, he added, 
 
 " While He affords his aid, 
 I '11 never yield to fear ; 
 Though I should vi^alk through death's dark shade, 
 My Shepherd 's with me there.'* 
 
CLOSING- SCENES. 245 
 
 These lines were very precious to him, and 
 he often repeated them. Sometimes he seemed 
 to be longing to go, and would say, '• I hope I 
 shall not be impatient, but be willing to wait. 
 God's time is the best time. 
 
 * Ob, if my Lord would come and meet, 
 My soul would stretch her wings in haste, 
 Fly fearless through death's iron gate, 
 Nor feel the terrors as she passed.' " 
 
 He had some darkness and temptations, and 
 was sometimes afraid that his submission was 
 forced. He would say, '' I kept up as long as 
 I C'^uld ; was that wrong ? Yet I desire to be 
 swallowed up in the divine will. I roll myself 
 on Grod ; I leave all with him ; I am a poor 
 lost sinner, and God has this last winter made 
 me feel it. 0, what should I do without a 
 Saviour ? This is an honest hour ; I have tried 
 to do something for Christ ; I love my church 
 and people, but God has made me willing to 
 give them up." 
 
 About a week before his death he had a 
 severe conflict with the adversary, and the 
 Saviour hid his face from him. It was in the 
 night. He had been lying still for some time 
 
246 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 with his eyes closed, when he turned his face 
 towards his watcher and said, " I am in great 
 trouble ; I fear I have not been sincere ; I have 
 not lived to the glory of Grod." Thinking he 
 had been dreaming and was not quite awake, 
 he was requested to look around the room, and 
 was asked, ^^Do you know wTiere you are?" 
 After a moment's pause, he said, with great 
 emphasis, *'0h, I am out of hell. What a 
 great sinner I am!" The bed shook with his 
 agitation. It was said to him, '^ Jesus died to 
 save sinners,- and his blood cleanseth from all 
 sin. Turn the eye of your faith to Christ." 
 His favorite passage was repeated : ^' Him that 
 Cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." 
 He remarked, ^' I fear that I have not been 
 sincere in my preaching, nor in my prayers. 
 I have preached myself, and not Christ, and 
 now I am going to die. "What shall I do ? 0, 
 what shall I do?" Many promises from the 
 word of God were repeated to him, but he 
 could not take hold of them. He was told 
 that this was a temptation from Satan ; that 
 God was permitting it for the trial of his faith ; . 
 perhaps to see if he could trust his Saviour in 
 
CLOSINa SCENES. 247 
 
 the dark. But he seemed to refuse all conso- 
 lation. He suddenly broke out in prayer, and 
 such confessions of sin, such loathing of self, 
 and prostration of soul before God, and such a 
 resting of all on the Lord Jesus Christ, few 
 have ever witnessed. He was reminded of his 
 early impressions, when he suffered ridicule 
 for his religion. He replied, ^* I think I was 
 sincere then, but I have not lived for the glory 
 of God." His soul refused to be comforted. 
 
 It was said to him, " One thing you can do." 
 "With great earnestness he asked, ^^What is 
 it?" ^^Why, you can let all that is past go, 
 and begin now for the first time." This seemed 
 to give him new light. He was reminded of 
 the mercy of the Saviour to the thief on the 
 cross. '' I am going to begin anew," he said; 
 '^yes, I will leave all, and throw myself on 
 Christ." 
 
 He tried to pray, but he was so exhausted 
 that he could say but a few words. With a 
 most imploring look, he said, ^'Do pray." It 
 was a solemn moment. He and his friends 
 tried to make a new consecration of them- 
 selves to God. He seemed a little more calm, 
 
248 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 and said, ''What would my people think if 
 they were here ? I have been urging them 
 to trust in Christ, and now their minister 
 cannot trust him." Bunyan's Pilgrim was 
 referred to, when he got into Doubting castle, 
 and lay there for some time ; but the key of 
 promise opened every door, even the iron gate. 
 He replied, ''0, how good that is." Many 
 promises were repeated, and he seemed to be 
 meditating upon them. His attendant gave 
 him something to take, and tried to persuade 
 him to go to sleep and get a little rest. He 
 lay still some time, and then looked up, and 
 with a placid countenance said, '' I can trust 
 Him now ; I think that he has received me ; I 
 roll myself upon him." The remainder of the 
 night he was calm. The Saviour had lifted 
 the light of his countenance upon him, and he 
 was filled with peace and joy. He repeated 
 the words, 
 
 *'In spite of all my foes, 
 
 Thou dost my table spread j 
 My cup with blessings overflows, 
 And joy exalts my head." 
 
 His friend retired to rest about foqr o'clock 
 
CLOSING SCENES. 249 
 
 in the morning. After resting a few hours, 
 she went into his chamber. He turned his 
 eyes towards the door, and as soon as he saw 
 her, he said, with a sweet smile, " Peace, peace, 
 sweet peace!" '' I think," says she, '' I never 
 saw his countenance, through his sickness, 
 beam with so much glory as on that morning. 
 I could think of nothing but his face, like unto 
 the face of an angel. He appeared to be swal- 
 lowed up in God; heavenly things filled his 
 soul. He said that he felt the glow of heaven 
 through his whole system. It needs more than 
 a human tongue to describe his appearance. 
 In the course of the day he alluded to the 
 temptation of the night before, and said, ' I am 
 glad mother was not here. Say nothing about 
 it to her, because it will distress her.' " 
 
 He conversed on the doctrine of the Trinity, 
 and spoke much of God's covenant ; wished 
 that those around would give him their views 
 of the covenant of grace ; and then he ex- 
 pressed his own thoughts upon it. He spoke 
 of the wonderful love of God in the covenant 
 of redemption, and desired to examine anew 
 these great subjects. 
 
250 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 The next day he remarked that he should 
 like to have a few friends cluster around his 
 bed, and talk about heaven. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Morse, who were below stairs, were called up. 
 After they came in, he said, ^'Here is dear 
 father, and mother, and cousin, and friends, 
 looking so happy. I thought I should like to 
 talk about heaven. 0, what pure worship 
 there is in the upper sanctuary. There they 
 serve Qod without sin." He conversed as 
 long as he had strength; then the hymn was 
 read, 
 
 " Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love " 
 
 He entered into it fully, and seemed to have 
 caught the spirit of the heavenly world. 
 
 One lady who watched with him one night, 
 said that she would not hav.e missed of the 
 privilege on any account. His conversation 
 and prayers were a rich treat to her soul, and 
 she felt strengthened, elevated, and blest by 
 the interview. 
 
 One afternoon a friend was sitting near him 
 and heard him say, very faintly, *'I want to 
 go home ;" she replied, '' You are at home now." 
 He then said, ^^I am sick." ''Yes," she re- 
 
CLOSINa SCENES. 251 
 
 plied, ^^you are sick here in your own room, 
 among your own friends." He looked up, and 
 in the words of Scripture said, ''And the inhab- 
 itant shall not say, I am sick." 
 
 On Saturday, March 15, he was attacked 
 with severe spasms. On recovering, as soon 
 as the power of utterance was restored, he 
 said, with great emphasis, ''On the Rock, on 
 the Rock; peace, peace like a river." On ad- 
 dressing his mother with the question, "Are you 
 supported?" and receiving an affirmative reply, 
 he said, "Christ is my support;" repeating, 
 with energy, 
 
 " The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, 
 He will not, he cannot desert to his foes ; 
 That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, 
 He'll never, no never, no never forsake." 
 
 Adding, "He has loved me, he has saved me, 
 he has carried me almost through." After a 
 few moments he repeated the lines, 
 
 " Jesus, to thy dear faithful hand 
 My naked soul I trust, 
 And my flesh waits for thy command 
 To drop into the dust." 
 
 After resting a few moments, he commenced 
 the hymn, 
 
 " Why should we start and fear to die ?" 
 
252 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 repeating the whole with remarkable distinct- 
 ness and emphasis. At the close of the verse, 
 
 "Jesus can make a dying bed 
 Feel soft as downy pillows are," 
 
 he raised his eyes to heaven, and with an ex- 
 pression almost heavenly added, *' Yes, yes, 
 yes." The remark being made by one who 
 loved him with almost parental affection, 
 '^ Dear pastor, our hearts bleed, but not for 
 you— you are a happy man;" he replied, ''It 
 is Grod who has done it ; it is God, it is God 
 who has placed me here." 
 
 Sabbath morning, March 16, after lying 
 for some time apparently too feeble to con- 
 verse, he suddenly engaged in earnest suppli- 
 cation. He first alluded to its being the Sab- 
 bath; then prayed most fervently for those 
 assembled for public worship — for those who 
 proclaimed the messages of salvation ; then for 
 the church, that they might be quickened in 
 duty — for the impenitent, that God would 
 make bare his arm for their salvation ; and 
 finally for himself, that the Saviour would still 
 be near — that underneath him might be laid 
 the everlasting arms — and that, if it was God's 
 
CLObiNa SCENES. 253 
 
 will, he might have a quiet and easy dismis- 
 sal. At the close of these petitions, which 
 were offered in a whisper, he seemed suddenly 
 to be indued with new strength. He began 
 to converse, and continued with little inter- 
 mission for more than two hours. 
 
 He first remarked, '' It is the Sabbath. 
 What a blessed Sabbath they spend in the 
 sanctuary above, where they worship without 
 sin." It was asked, *' Would you like to join 
 them ?" He replied, '' yes, I long to wor- 
 ship God without sin ; I would glorify God. I 
 do believe I have desired heaven, that I might 
 glorify God." Again he remarked, '^ God 
 gives me strength to' speak a few words more 
 to some of my people. Let us cluster around 
 here, and spend the day in praise. I want to 
 praise him, I will praise him ; ' Bless the Lord, 
 my soul.' " On his mother's coming into 
 the room, he requested her to take a seat near 
 him; and affectionately taking her hand and 
 kissing it, said, '^ Precious, precious mother ; 
 have we not had sweet communion together? 
 Oh, I love to think of those hours of prayer. I 
 am glad we have had them" — referring to 
 
254 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 the season of devotion they had from his child- 
 hood enjoyed on Sabbath noon. He then, with 
 a power and pathos which language in vain 
 attempts to portray, went over some incidents 
 connected with his Christian experience. 
 
 '' At ten years of age, I trust I gave my heart 
 to the Lord ; and at twelve, openly professed 
 my faith in him. If ever I enjoyed communion 
 with God, it was during these first two years' 
 of my Christian life. I well remember, that 
 during my school-hours I used to look for- 
 ward with great delight to those seasons of 
 devotion, which I always observed three times 
 a day. Ever since then I have endeavored^ 
 though in a poor and feeble way, to serve the 
 Lord. "When I wandered, I seemed to see the 
 Father and Son in consultation, and heard 
 them say, ' This our child has wandered; we 
 must bring him back, if it is by chastisement ; 
 but the stripes shall be few, we will lay the 
 rod very gently upon him ;' and Oh, how 
 gently it was. I did hope God would spare 
 me to labor longer in his vineyard, that I 
 might glorify him in being the instrument of 
 saving souls. But he has ordered it otherwise, 
 
CLOSINa SCENES. 255 
 
 and his will be done. I trust I shall glorify 
 him in heaven. There has been a great deal 
 of speculation about heaven and its joys, but' 
 I think we can know but little about it; 
 it is enough for me that I shall glorify God 
 there." 
 
 Shortly after he expressed a wish to con- 
 verse further with two young men, companions 
 of his childhood, who had called on the evening 
 previous. One of them had come from a dis- 
 tance, that he might see his friend once more. 
 He took them both affectionately by the hand, 
 expressed the deep interest he felt in their wel- 
 fare, and urged them, by the love they bore 
 him, and by the most weighty considerations 
 drawn from the solemnities of a dying hour, to 
 attend immediately to the concerns of their 
 souls. On the remark being made by one of 
 these young friends, that '' he had come from 
 Providence, with the hope that this scene 
 might be blest t6 him;" he replied, *'I am 
 glad to hear you say that. I wish you could 
 say, you had resolved to begin now to serve 
 God." He expressed many thanks for their 
 tokens of affection; said he had ever loved 
 
256 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 them, and longed for their salvation. *^ But," 
 said he, *^ I have not been as faithful person- 
 ally with you as I should have been. Forgive 
 me for this." It was said, in reply, ^*You 
 have nothing to reproach yourself for, on that 
 account. Had we listened to your counsel, we 
 should have been happier men than we now 
 are." It was remarked by another young 
 friend who was present during this interview, 
 and to whom he addressed a similar remark, 
 '' Your life has been a constant reproof; it has 
 always condemned us." During the day he 
 conversed with several other young men be- 
 longing to his congregation, some of whom had 
 formerly been inquirers, and all of whom were 
 particularly and solemnly addressed, as the 
 case of each one seemed to demand. 
 
 March 17, afternoon. To one who had taken 
 a seat near his bedside, he looked up with 
 one of his sweetest smiles, and said, " Here 
 are father, mother, cousin, and all my dear 
 friends." His father replied, ''Here are your 
 best friends." He answered, ''Yes, and I love 
 you all ; but God calls, and I wait his bidding 
 to go. And where he is, there shall I be also." 
 
CLOSING SCENES. 257 
 
 After lying silent for a few moments, he said 
 in a kind of soliloquy, '^ God supporting, Christ 
 sustaining, heaven expecting ; these are high 
 joys, but they are not heaven — they are not 
 heaven. I shall he satisfied when I awake in 
 thy likeness. 
 
 ' glorious hour, blest abode ; 
 I shall be near and like my God.' " 
 
 After a few moments he exclaimed, ^' Billions 
 upon billions, billions upon billions, and heaven 
 still !" His mother replied, in those beautiful 
 lines of Watts, 
 
 " There we shall see His face, 
 
 And never, never sin ; 
 There, from the rivers of his grace, 
 
 Drink endless pleasures in." 
 
 As soon as she closed, he replied, 
 
 "Yes, and before we rise 
 To that immortal state," etc. 
 
 It was said to him, '' You have found God 
 faithful." '^ Oh, yes," he quickly answered, 
 '' faithful to his promises." At another time 
 he remarked, '' God has fulfilled his promises 
 to the very letter." During the afternoon, he 
 remarked to his mother, '* How wonderful it is 
 that you are thus supported, and can sit by the 
 
 Emenoft. 17 
 
258 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 bed of your dying son and be so calm." A 
 little while after he said, '' I hope you will 
 never distrust God again. Will you not from 
 henceforth trust him ? Oh, I want to praise 
 him ; had I voice and strength, I would sound 
 his praise from shore to shore." 
 
 Tuesday, March 18, he repeated with great 
 emphasis, the whole of the hymn, 
 
 " Lord, at thy temple we appear." 
 
 In repeating the words, 
 
 " Jesus, the vision of thy face," 
 
 and the verse following, his countenance as- 
 sumed an expression almost unearthly. It 
 seemed indeed as if his face shone with a glory 
 reflected from the heavenly world, with which 
 he held such blissful communion. Just after 
 repeating this hymn, he looked upon each of 
 those who were present, and with a beautiful 
 smile, said, ^* It is pleasant to be with dear 
 friends, but it is better to be with Jesus. I 
 shall soon be with Jesus. Where Jesus leads, 
 I shall go; the Saviour of the world is my 
 Saviour." Then he repeated the hymn, 
 
 " How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 
 In a believer's ear." 
 
CLOSING- SCENES. 259 
 
 A day or two afterwards, after a season of 
 severe suffering, he said, " Pray for me, that I 
 may not be impatient, but be wilHng to wait 
 the Lord's time." On asking the hour, and 
 being told, he remarked, ^' How slowly the 
 hours move ! Why are his chariot wheels so 
 long in coming ?" 
 
 Sabbath, March 23, he said but little dur- 
 ing the day. He expressed to his attending 
 physician his unshaken reliance upon Christ; 
 repeated those lines, 
 
 " Blest Jesus, every smile of thine 
 Shall sweet endearment bring." 
 
 Towards night it was evident he was entering 
 the dark valley, and for a short season the light 
 of his Father's countenance was withdrawn. 
 His agony, during these few momients, seemed 
 to bear some resemblance to His who exclaimed, 
 ^'My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken 
 me?" He threw his arms upward, raised his 
 eyes heavenward, and with an indescribable 
 earnestness exclaimed, " Saviour, I will come 
 to thee ; I have come to thee ; I do now come 
 to thee.^^ Turning to those around, he ex- 
 claimed, *^ Repeat to me some of the promises." 
 
260 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 Several were repeated, among which were the 
 following: ^'Hina that cometh unto me I will 
 in no wise cast out ;" '^ In a little wrath I hid 
 my face from thee for a moment; but with 
 everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, 
 saith the Lord thy Redeemer." " Does he say 
 that? does he say that?" he asked with deep 
 emotion; ^^ then I will trust him." Instantly 
 the darkness was dispelled, the Sun of right- 
 eousness arose upon his soul never more to set, 
 and quiet as an infant he reposed on the bosom 
 of his Redeemer. On his mother's coming in, 
 he remarked, *'The Saviour hid his face from 
 me for a moment, but it is all over now: he 
 has come. I am, as it were, embosomed in 
 God ; he is within, above, below, and around 
 me." 
 
 Shortly after, he expressed a wish to see the 
 deacons and some of the brethren of the church. 
 Several were sent for. He then asked to have 
 the hymn read, commencing, 
 
 "I would not live alway, I ask not to stay." 
 
 It was read and sung in his chamber, and ap- 
 peared to soothe and comfort him. In a mo- 
 
CLOSING SCENES. 261 
 
 ment afterwards his soul was filled with joy 
 Heavenly pleasures seemed to roll over him, 
 and pervade the whole man. ^^Oh," he ex- 
 claimed, '' peace, peace, sweet peace, the peace 
 of G^od that passeth all understanding ! It flows 
 like a river, calm, bright, reflecting the tem- 
 ples and palaces of the celestial city." One 
 who had lately joined the church he took by 
 the hand, and said to him, *' Do be a faithful, 
 praying Christian ; consecrate your all to the 
 blessed Saviour." 
 
 To another who had long been a church- 
 member he said, *' Sir, I trust that you will 
 speak often of that religion which you profess. 
 0, set not your heart on earthly riches; they 
 are the merest bubbles. To glorify G-od is the 
 great end of your being." He then remarked, 
 **How gently I have been let down to the 
 grave, giving up gradually one thing after 
 another. I thought at first that they could 
 not do without me at the Wednesday evening 
 meeting; but I find they can. They have 
 good meetings now. It takes the presence of 
 God to make a good meeting. Where he is 
 with his smiles and love, there, there is life and 
 
262 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 peace. I often used to think, when a boy, 
 that I should like to die of consumption, that 
 I might have time to arrange every thing, and 
 be prepared for the solemn event. I hope that 
 I shall have my reason to the last. "When I 
 am found to be dying, call together the family 
 and friends, that I may bid them an affectionate 
 farewell." 
 
 The remark was made to him, " Perhaps 
 you may recover even now." '^Oh no," said 
 he ; '' and I don't know that I desire to get 
 well." '^ But," replied a friend, *' if God has 
 a work for you to do here, should you not be 
 willing to live?" ^^ Yes, yes," he said; ''but 
 then I should be so disappointed, as I have got 
 so near to heaven now. I want to see my 
 heavenly Father, and the Saviour, and the 
 bright angels ; and I shall be so delighted to 
 welcome you all to heaven." 
 
 For several hours he coughed without cessa- 
 tion, and it was feared that he would strangle. 
 Once, after a very severe attack, he uttered a 
 groan, which was the only one that was heard 
 during his sickness. When he revived so as 
 to be able to speak, he cried to God for grace 
 
closinct scenes. 263 
 
 to enable him to bear with composure all that 
 might be laid upon him. '^ Oh, send me relief," 
 he exclaimed ; " nevertheless, not my will, but 
 thine be done." 
 
 In the afternoon deacon Thurston called, 
 and after a little conversation, Mr. Emerson 
 said to him, ^' I want to deliver to you the 
 church books, and perhaps now is as good a 
 time as any." On these being handed to him, 
 Mr. Emerson remarked, ^^ I think that you will 
 find every thing correct. I have made all the 
 entries myself, and have endeavored to insert 
 every thing in its proper place." His habits 
 of order were indeed remarkable through life ; 
 and they continued with him to his dying hour. 
 
 He now felt that his work on earth was 
 done, and that he must wait for the summons 
 to depart. He repeated the beautiful stanza, 
 
 " So shall my minutes smoothly run, 
 While here I wait my Father's will ; 
 My rising and my setting sun 
 
 EoU gently up and down the hill.'' 
 
 Some flowers were sent in to him. He took 
 them in his hand, and looking upon them said, 
 " These are the last flowers that I shall see on 
 
264 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 earth, and they are sent to adorn my pathway 
 to the tomb. Oh, that I may soon enter the 
 celestial paradise, where flowers never fade, 
 where all is freshness and purity and love. 
 But I am so unworthy of the meanest place in 
 heaven. Lord, cleanse me from all guilt; 
 sanctify me, that I may be a flower to wave and 
 bloom for ever amid the breezes of heaven. 
 
 Some persons came into the room after a 
 prayer-meeting, and asked him if he would 
 like to hear about it. He replied, " Yes, I 
 should. It does sinners good to hear about 
 prayer." He was informed that some inquirers 
 had tarried for religious conversation. " I am 
 glad of it," said he ; ''I wish I had strength 
 to talk with them and lead them to Jesus." 
 
 He desired to pray, when two friends stood 
 by his side, and holding up his hands, he prayed 
 in the most fervent and touching manner. His 
 countenance was radiant with heavenly glory ; 
 no words can describe his appearance. Several 
 persons who saw him have assured me that 
 no language could portray this and similar 
 scenes. They seemed to be communing with 
 a departed spirit, while with him. With clasped 
 
CLOSINa SCENES. 265 
 
 hands and uplifted eyes and a most heavenly 
 countenance, he pleaded with God — pleaded as 
 one who was directly before the throne, and in 
 the presence of the divine Majesty 
 
 He conversed about his burial with perfect 
 composure. It was his request that his late 
 beloved pastor, the Rev. J. F. Stearns, D. D., 
 should preach his fimeral-sermon, and that the 
 writer should offer the prayer. Fearing that 
 he might die on Saturday evening, he particu- 
 larly requested that no work that could possi- 
 bly be avoided, should be done on the following 
 Sabbath. He wished that the family might 
 spend the day in prayer and religious worship. 
 
 On being asked where he wished to be buried, 
 he replied, '^Oh, my dear people will find a 
 resting-place for me ; I should like to lie where 
 my mother can rest by my side." He then 
 repeated the hymn, commencing, 
 
 ''Jesus, full of all compassion." 
 
 When he reached the last stanza, he raised his 
 voice, with great emphasis, and said, 
 
 " Saved! — the deed shall spread new glory 
 Through the shming realms above ; 
 Angels sing the pleasing story, 
 All enraptured with thy love." 
 
266 REV. 30HN E EMERSON. 
 
 He now rallied all his energies, and exerted 
 his remaining strength to give those around 
 his dying admonition and counsel. As some 
 were about to leave, he said, *'Do not go yet, 
 I have a little more to say." It was remarked, 
 ** You are so weak, perhaps you had better not 
 attempt to speak any more." He replied, ^'I 
 must ; there will never be such an opportunity 
 again. I feared the cloud which came over 
 my mind a short time since might cause your 
 faith to waver. But it was only for a moment. 
 I cast myself on Christ; he has received me. 
 Though all my church should forsake him, I 
 would still cleave to him. Dear brethren, do 
 not let your faith be shaken ; trust in the Lord ; 
 he will be with you." 
 
 The last prayer that he offered was a fervent 
 petition for the members of his beloved flock. 
 He pleaded that God would abundantly bless 
 them — would watch over them — would permit 
 him to meet them all in that bright world 
 where there will be no more parting — no more 
 pain, sorrow, or death. 
 
 Soon after, he was asked if he would not 
 try to sleep, as he must feel fatigued. He 
 
. CLOSING SCENES. 267 
 
 signified his assent, folded his arms upon his 
 breast, and closed his eyes for ever on earthly 
 scenes. His breath grew shorter and shorter, 
 until ten minutes before one o'clock, on the 
 morning of Tuesday, March 25, 1851, when 
 without a struggle he sweetly breathed out his 
 soul, which was borne by angels to mansions 
 in the skies. 
 
 He had often, during his sickness, prayed 
 that he might lean his head on Jesus' breast, 
 
 *' And breathe his life out sweetly there." 
 
 His heavenly Father heard and answered his 
 prayer. 
 
 His funeral services were performed in the 
 Federal-street church, in Newburyport, on 
 Thursday. The morning opened bright and 
 beautiful, and preparations were made for the 
 performance of the last solemn rite to the re- 
 mains of our young brother. Between one 
 and two o'clock, the people from every part of 
 the town were seen flocking to the church. 
 At the hour appointed for the services, two 
 o'clock, the church was so densely filled that 
 it was impossible to gain access to the pulpit, 
 
268 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 except through the entrance in the rear. When 
 I reached the pulpit, and looked over the vast 
 multitude of mourners, I was overcome by the 
 impressive scene before me. The walls of the 
 church, the organ, and galleries, were all hung 
 in deep mourning. Every spot where one 
 could stand was occupied, and very many 
 persons were outside, unable to get within the 
 doors. Among the audience were a very large 
 number of clergymen, many of whom had 
 come in from the neighboring towns. In the 
 aisle in front of the pulpit rested the corpse, 
 robed in white, with a beautiful bouquet of 
 white flowers upon the breast, and another 
 upon the coffin. The countenance of the de- 
 parted w^as placid and sweet, even in death. 
 Here he quietly rested in the venerable and 
 time-hallowed church, the walls of which had 
 echoed the voice of a White field, a Murray, a 
 Dana, a Williams, and a host of other eminent 
 preachers of righteousness — a church in which 
 he had made a public profession of his faith in 
 Christ — in which he had been ordained for the 
 holy work of the ministry. Upon the services 
 of a sanctuary which had iii times past so 
 
CLOSINa SCENES. 269 
 
 often delighted and nourished his soul, he is 
 now an unconscious attendant. The swell of 
 the organ reaches not his ear; the vast crowd 
 around him he sees not. heeds not. He is 
 worshipping in another temple, gazing upon 
 other scenes, listening to other music. He has 
 left the church militant and joined the church 
 triumphant. He has ^*come unto mount Sion, 
 and unto the city of the living Grod, the heav- 
 enly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable com- 
 pany of angels, to the general assembly and 
 church of the first-born, which are written in 
 heaven, and to God the judge of all." 
 
 The exercises of the occasion, throughout, 
 were solemn and impressive. When allusion 
 was made to the departed, the sympathies of 
 the audience were at once manifested, and 
 many eyes were suffused with tears. At the 
 close, an invitation was given for those who 
 desired to look upon the corpse, to pass up 
 the centre aisle, and retire from the house 
 through the side aisles. For more than half 
 an hour there was a constant stream of peo- 
 ple, who availed themselves of the opportunity 
 to look upon the remains, and drop the last 
 
270 HEV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 tear of afFeotion over the beloved pastor and 
 friend. 
 
 The procession that followed him to the grave 
 
 ^was the longest ever v^itnessed in the town. 
 
 Besides his own relatives and parishioners, 
 
 many others joined to pay to him their last 
 
 tribute of respect. 
 
 At the cemetery the scene was deeply affect- 
 ing. The crowd gathered around the new- 
 made grave, that was open to receive the young 
 pastor. The trees were just putting on their 
 spring attire, and the earth was clothing itself 
 in its robe of green. A few flowers were start- 
 ing up, emblematic of the immortal spring 
 which had already burst upon the ransomed 
 soul of the departed. 
 
 As soon as all in the procession had reached 
 the grave, the following dirge was sung by the 
 choir of the Whitefield congregation : 
 
 " Go to the grave in all thy glorious prime, 
 
 In full activity of zeal and power : 
 
 A Christian cannot die before his time ; 
 
 The Lord's appointment is the servant's hour. 
 " Go to the grave, at noon from labor cease ; 
 
 Rest on thy sheaves, thy harvest task is done ! 
 Come from the heat of battle, and in peace, 
 Soldier, go home ; with thee the fight is won! 
 
CLOSING- SCENES. 271 
 
 " Go to the grave, for there thy Saviour lay- 
 In death's embraces, ere he rose on high; 
 And all the ransomed, by that narrow way, 
 Pass to eternal life beyond the sky. 
 
 '* Go to the grave ; now take thy seat above ; 
 Be thy pure spirit present with the Lord, 
 Where thou for faith and hope hast perfect love, 
 And open vision for the written word." 
 
 As the assembly retired to their homes, many- 
 breathed the silent prayer, ^'Let me die the 
 death of the righteous, and let my last end be 
 like his." 
 
 My dear reader, shall he welcome you to 
 that bright world whither he has gone ? Could 
 he leave for a season the mansions of the new 
 Jerusalem, and wing his way back to earth 
 and sit by your side, would he not entreat you 
 to be prepared for eternity? Would he not, 
 with streaming eyes, and with a heart beating 
 with intense anxiety — would he not, in accents 
 of melting tenderness, plead with you to love 
 the Saviour? If you are already entertaining 
 a hope of heaven, would he not say to you, 
 '' Strive^ strive to enter in at the strait gate ;" 
 *' Run with patience the race set before you, 
 
272 REV. JOHN E. EMERSON. 
 
 looking unto Jesus," looking; unto Jesus ? If 
 you are still in impenitence, would he not tell 
 you of the thrills of joy that run through the 
 shining ranks of the angels of God, when one 
 sinner repents ? If indeed he could utter one 
 wish respecting this memoir, would it not be, 
 that God the Father, and God the Son, and 
 God the Holy Ghost might bless it to your 
 conversion and final salvation ? 
 
r 
 
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