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THE
CLERGY OF AMERICA
M
^ti^t^dat^s
ILLIJSTKATING THE LIFE AND LABOITE
MINISTERS OF RELIGION IN THE UNITED
STATES.
LONDON:
MORGAN AND CHASE, 38, LUDGATE HILL.
May be ordered of any Bookseller. ^
PinLADELPIIIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
CS"6~
PREFACE.
The facts placed before the reader of this voluirie, are no!
only pleasing to the fancy, and interesting as calling up many
deiightfid and solemn reminiscences, but they are important as
materials of History. They show the character of the age,
illustrate nature and religion, and supply those details oC knov>-
ledge which cherish the habits of induction : without these
there can be no certain philosophy.
In the compilation of this work, fir more labour and pains
have been expended than the vast majority of its readers would
suppose ; but its editor has been well repaid by the happiness
he has enjoyed in going through the biography of so many
eminent men, at once ornaments to the church and blessings
to the world. No part of the globe has furnished brighter
specimens of what Christian ministers should be, than these
United States.
It is scarcely necessary to say much either of the materinis
of which the volume is composed, or the manner in which
they are classified. The former, the editor believes, are all
true ; and, as to the latter, he has done what he could so to
arrange the facts as to please and to profit his readers. At all
events, here is a volume perfectly imique — unlike every thing
else in the language.
1* rrO
»/••>>« /~»/^>« «*
VI PREFACE.
In carrying out his design, the editor has found materiala
accumulate on his hands far beyond the capabilities of a single
volume. Whether the other collections shall see the light,
remains in a very great degree for the readers of this volume
to decide. He has contemplated somewhat even beyond this,
and would be happy to furnish one or two volumes of import-
ant and valuable specimens of American pulpit eloquence.
Time will decide as to whether these projected volumes may
hereafter be called for and published.
The Editor has now only to commend his volume to the
blessing of God and the friendship of the Reader.
CONTENTS.
PREPARATION OF THE CLERGY FOR PUBLIC DUTIES,
Rev. William Robinson.
Rev. Hugh Knox,
Rev. Mr A.
Kev. Mr. Ravencross,
A New England Divine,
Two Clergymen,
An Able Minister,
Six Young Ministers,
Several Young Ministers,
Rev. J. W. James,
A Young Clergyman,
A New England Clergyman,
Rev. Mr. Polk,
Rev. S. Nightingale,
Rev. S. Stoddard,
Rev. Dr. M'Cartee, .
A Pious Bishop,
A Zealous Minister,
Rev. W. Cooper,
A New England Minister,
Kev. Dr. West,
An Old Clergyman,
'I'he Beecher Family,
Rev. Joseph Eastburn,
Rev. Mr. C,
Rev. President Edwards,
Rev. Dr. Dwight,
Several Young Clergymen,
Rev. Mr. Japhet,
Rev. Dr. Patten,
Rev. W. Tennent,
Rev. S. Blythe,
An Indian Preacher,
Rev. Charles Beatty,
PARE
17
18
22
22
23
'25
27
28
30
33
34
35
36
37
38
38
40
4(3
41
4U
44
44
46
47
48
48
49
53
54
54
57
58
59
vm
CO?
fTENTS.
Rev. Presidem Davles,
• . •
60
Kev. Dr. Rodgers,
.
•
• •
61
Rev. Dr. Harris,
•
. .
63
Rev. Dr. King,
,
•
, ^
64
Rev. Dr. King and Rev. H.
Lyman,
• • •
65
A Clergyman,
.
.
• • 1
68
An Indian Missionary,
.
. •
69
Several Clergymen,
,
71
A Young Minister,
,
• • •
71
Rev. Mr. Willey,
.
,
• «
72
Rev. Dr. Griffin,
,
• • •
73
Several Eminent Clergymen,
.
• •
74
Rev. E. T. Taylor,
.
• • •
76
Rev. Dr. Payson,
,
,
•
78
Rev. Dr. Strong,
.
*
7i)
INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE PULPIT LABOURS OF THE CLERGY.
Rev. Dr. Rodgers, ......
83
Rev. Mr. S., .
87
A Clergyman in Indiana, .....
88
Rev. J. kennaday, .....
89
Rev. Dr. Griffin, ......
90
Rev. W. Robinson, .....
94
A Clergyman in Maine, .....
95
An Indian Missionary, ....
96
An Impressive Preacher, ....
103
Rev. Dr. Pavson, . . . . •
104
Rev. E. T. Taylor, .....
106
Rev. Sylvester Larned, ....
107
Rev. Dr. Fisk, ....'.
108
Two Clergymen, .....
109
Rev. Dr. Bedell, ......
109
Rev. Dr. Miller, ..,,..
HI
Rev. T. Hooker, ......
111
A Forcible Preacher, . . . . .
112
Rev. Dr. Staughton, .....
113
Rev. Dr. Humphrey, ......
115
A Faithful Minister, . . . ^ .
116
Rev. VV. Tennent, . . . ' .
117
Rev. Bradford Homer, .....
120
Rev. Mr. Howe, ......
122
Rev. Dr. Lathrop, .....
122
Rev. Dr. Beecher, ......
123
An ElFective Clergyman, ....
124
Rev. Dr. Mercer, .....
125
A New England Clergyman, ....
130
Rev. T. Porter,
130
R-^v. Mr. Rawson, ...
131
CONTENTS.
\X
Rev. Dr. Welsh,
An Aged Clergytnan,
Rev. John Sunday, ,
Rev. George Whitefield, .
Rev. Mr. Bennett,
Rev. Dr. Hitchcock,
A Minister in New England,
Kev. Mr. S.,
Rev. Dr. Stillman, .
An Eminent Clergyman, ,
Rev. Mr. Gillespie, .
Rev. Mr. Moody, . .
Rev. Mr. Willard,
Rev. Mr. Truair,
Rev. Dr. Waddell,
Peter, the Indian Preacher,
Rev. Z. Adams,
A Clergyman in Massachusetts;
A Good Preacher, .
Rev. Mr. S.,
Rev. President Edwards,
A Methodist Clergyman,
An Eccentric Clergyman,
Rev. President Davies, .
Rev. B»en]amin Harvey,
A New England Clergyman,
^3olored Preachers,
ilev. Dr. J. M. Mason,
i{ev. Dr.F.,
.{ev. Mr. Stevens, .
Rev. B. Standford, •
Several Clergymen,
Rev. Professor Sheppard,
Rev. Dr. Stanford, .
A Universalist Minister,
Rev. John Eliot,
Rev. John Gano,
A Clergyman,
A Practical Preacher,
Rev. Luther Rice,
Rev. John Summerfield,
A Young Clergyman,
131
133
134
135
145
145
148
148
149
150
161
152
154
155
155
159
160
161
ibl
162
163
165
166
166
167
169
171
172
172
173
175
175
177
177
178
178
180
181
181
182
184
185
DEVOTEDNi:;SS OF CLERGYMEN TO THEIR LABOURS.
Rev. John Brock,
Rev. President Davies,
Bishop Griswold,
A Missionary in New York,
189
190
191
192
CONTENTS
Kev. S. Stoddard,
Kev. S. H. Stearns,
Kev. G.Whitefield,
A City Minister,
Rev. S. Allen,
Rev. Dr. J. M. Mason,
Rev. President Edwards,
Rev. John Eliot, . ,
Rev. Dr. Rodgers, .
Rev. Dr. Manning, •
Rev. D. Tinsley, •
Rev. Dr. Coke,
Rev. Dr. Chaplin, *
Rev. Dr. Rice, . .
Rev. Dr. Payson, .
Rev. John Shepherd, •
Rev. Dr. Byles,
Rev. Dr. D wight, . .
Rev. Dr. Nott,
A Popular Minister,
Rev. Dr. Porter, .
A Missionary to the Indians,
Rev. Dr. Beecher, .
A Devoted Pastor, .
Rev. Dr. Mather,
Rev. Mr. Bailey,
Rev. Mr. Backus,
Rev. Dr. Mercer,
Bishop Asbury,
195
195
196
197
200
200
201
202
202
203
204
204
205
206
206
207
207
208
208
209
210
210
211
213
215
2] 7
217
218
219
INTERCOURSE OF THE CLERGY WITH EACH OTHER.
Rev. Dr. Rodgers,
Thoughtless Ministers,
Rev. Dr. Stanford,
Rev. Dr. Harris,
A Minister in New Hampshire
Rev. Gideon Hawley,
A Minister,
Rev. Joseph Craig,
A Universalist Preacher,
Rev. Dr. Livingston,
Two Clergymen, •
A Baptist Clergyman,
Rev. Dr. Emmons,
Rev. Dr. Dwight,
Rev. Dr. Scudder,
Rev. Thomas Brown,
Rev. Dr. Taylor,
22.3
2:24
225
225
2:26
227
228
2:39
229
23J
231
231
232
235
235
235
237
CONTENTS.
XI
Rev. Lemuel Haynes, ,
Kev. Dr. Nettleton,
Aged Clergymen,
Two Clergymen,
Rev. Dr. Furman, . .
Rev. Dr. Pond,
Rev. Drs. Cooper and Chauncey,
Two Ministers, » .
Rev. Dr. Staughton, . .
Rev. Dr. Payson,
Rev. John Eliot, . .
Rev. Dr. liathrop,
A Persecuting Clergyman,
Bishop George,
Two Young Ministers,
Rev. Dr. Bellamy,
Two Clergymen,
Rev. George Whitefield,
Several Clergymen,
Rev. John Leland,
Rev. Dr. Mercer,
Rev. Caleb Blood,
INTERCOURSE OF THE CLERGY WITH SOCIETY,
Bishop Chase,
A Faithful Minister,
Travelling Clergymen,
Rev. Dr. Armstrong,
A Young Minister in the West,
A Colored Preacher,
Rev. Mr, Moody,
An Unsuccessful Minister,
Rev. Thomas Brown,
An African Preacher,
Rev. Dr. Staughton,
A Presbyterian Clergyman,
A Delighted Minister,
A Wise Pastor,
A Clergyman in Virginia,
Rev. Dr.' Nettleton,
A Baptist Minister,
A Poor Minister,
A Courteous Clergyman,
Rev. Joseph Eastburn,
Rev. John Wesley,
R''v. Dr. Spring,
Rev. Mr. Clap,
Rev. Dr. Waddell, .
238
241
244
24.^
246
247
248
249
250
252
254
255
256
257
262
263
264
264
266
267
268
269
273
276
277
280
282
283
285
286
287
289
290
290
292
292
293
296
311
312
312
313
315
316
317
•^17
XII
CONTENTS.
Hev. Mr. Spencer,
Rev. Bela Jacobs, .
l\cv. Mr. Estabrook,
All Anxious Pastor,
A Clergyman, . ,
Kev. Dr. Judson,
A Good Pastor,
A Minister in New York,
Bishop Griswold, . .
A New England Clergyman,
Kev. Dr. Mercer,
A Clergyman in Philadelphia,
Rev. Mr. F., .
A Faithful Minister,
A Minister in Boston,
Two Clergymen,
Rev. John Gano, . .
Rev. 'I\ P. Benedict,
An Unknown Preacher, •
Rev. Samuel Harris, .
Rev. Dr. Laidlie, . •
An Aged Minister, .
Rev. Dr. Stanford, •
A Village Clergyman,
A Travelling Minister, •
Rev. Mr. Grafton,
Rev. Calvin Colton, .
Rev. Dr. Beecher, .
Rev. Dr. C,
Rev. Mr. Coley,
A Clergyman in New York,
Rev. E. Byne,
Rev. Mr. Baker,
Rev. Dr. Todd,
A Clergyman in Tennessee,
Rev. W. Tennent,
An Aged Clergyman,
Rev. Dr. Harris,
Rev. Mr. Hyde, . .
Several Clergymen,
A New England Minister,
Rev. Dr. Griffin,
A Penitent Minister,
A Universalist Minister,
A Methodist Clergyman, .
A New England Clergyman,
Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, •
A Good Preacher,
ilev. Dr. Baldwin, . •
CONTENTS.
XUl
Rev. Mr. Bushnel,
Kev. Mr. Walker,
A Clergyman in Virginia,
Rev. John Cotton,
Kev. Dr. Coke, «
Rev. Mr. Cross,
Kev. Dr. C. Mather,
An Aged Clergyman,
Rev. Mr. Bennett,
Kev. Dr. L.,
A Wise Clergyman,
Rev. Mr. Hull,
Rev. John Summerfield,
Rev. Dr. J. M. Mason,
Rev. Mr. Worcester,
Rev. J. Armstrong,
A Clergyman at New Orleans,
Rev. Mr. Case,
Rev. Dr. Lathrop,
Rev. T. Hooker,
Rev. Mr. C,
A Pastor,
Rev. Dr. Livingston,
Rev. Dr. John H. Rice,
Rev. Dr. Payson,
A Minister in New York,
A Clergyman at St. Louis,
Rev. Dr. Henry,
Rev. Mr. Trefit,
A Shrewd Minister,
A Travelling Clergyman,
SUCCESS AND ENCOURAGE MEIVT OF" THE CLERGY
Rev. President Edwards,
Rev. Mr. S., . . , . .
Rev. Dr. Rodgers, ....
A Universalist Minister, . . .
Rev. John Bailey, ....
An Aged Minister, ....
Several Pastors, ....
American Missionaries,
The Puritan Ministers,
Rev. Dr. L. Beecher, ....
Rev. Dr. Hopkins, ....
Rev. J. Patterson, ....
Rev. Mr. M., ....
A Clergyman in New York,
A New England Minister,
XIV
CONTENTS.
Rev^ Mr. Prince, .
Bishop M'llvaine,
A Minister among the Cherokees,
A Preacher from England,
Rev. G. Whitefield,
A Mistaken Minister,
Rev. David Brainerd,
Kev. President Davies,
Rev. Gilbert Tennent,
Rev. Dr. B.,
Rev. Dr. Backus,
A Home Missionary,
A Minister in New York,
Rev. Mr. Massey,
A Discouraged Young Minister,
Rev. Dr. Stanford,
A New England Minister,
A Southern Clergyman,
Rev. Joseph Smith, . .
A Missionary among the Indians,
Moravian Missionaries, •
A Discouraged Pastor, •
Rev. Sylvester Lamed, •
A Clergyman, . •
444
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
455
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
466
467
468
469
469
PREPARATION OF THE CLERGY FOR PUBLIC
DUTIES.
(15)
THE
AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. WILLIAM ROBINSON.
One of the most eminent Christian ministers of the South
n the last century was the Rev. W. Robinson, whose conver-
sion was exceedingly striking. He was the son of a weahhy
Quaker in England. Being permitted to pay a visit of a few
weeks to an aunt in the city of London, from whom he had
considerable expectations, he greatly overstayed the time which
had been allowed him ; and becoming deeply involved in dis-
sipation, he incurred large debts, which he knew his father
would never pay, and which his aunt refused to discharge. In
this situation, fearing to return home, and unable to remain
long in London, he determined to quit his native country, and
seek his fortune in America. In this determination his aunt
reluctantly acquiesced, and furnished him with a small sum of
money for that purpose. Soon after his arrival in America,
he had recourse, for subsistence, to teaching a school in New
Jersey, within the bounds of the Presbytery of New Bruns-
wick. He had been for some time eni2;a2;ed in this business,
without any practical sense of reliirion, when it pleased God
to bring him to a knowledge of himself, and of the way of sal-
vation, in a remarkable manner. He was riding at a late hour,
nne evening, when the moon and stars shone with unusual
brightness, and whon every thing aroimd him was adapted ?o
2* (\7)
18 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
excite reflection. While lie was meditating on llie beauty and
grandeur of tlie scene which the firmament presented, and was
saying to himself, " How transcendently glorious must be the
Author of all this beauty and grandeur!" the thought struck
him with the sadness and the force of lightning, " But what do
I know of this God ? Have I ever sought his favor, or made
him my friend ?" This happy impression, which proved, by
its permanency and its effects, to have come from the best of
all sources, never left him until he took refuge in Christ as the
hope and life of his soul. He soon resolved to devote himself
to the work of the gospel ministry ; completed his academical
education, and studied theology, while he went on with his
school ; and was, in due time, licensed and ordained by the
Presbytery of New Brunswick. He was remarkable for the
native vigor'of his mind, and still more for the fervour of his
piety. Wherever he went, it pleased God to grant him some
precious fruits of his ministry. He died at St. George's, in
Delaware, April, 1746.
REV. HUGH KNOX.
Mr. Hugh Knox, a native of Ireland, came to America
when quite a young man, about 1753 or 1754. He immediately
waited on his countryman, the Rev. Dr. Francis Allison, then
residing at New London, Pcnna., to whom he had letters, and
in whose academy he hoped to find employment as a teacher.
Dr. Allison, not being able to give him a place in his seminary,
furnished him with a letter to Mr. Rodgers, requesting his
good offices in endeavouring to procure a £[rammar school for
the young stranger, within the bounds of his parish. Mr. Rod-
gers soon succeeded in formingf a respectable school, at the
REV. HUGH KNOX. 19
Head of Bohemia, about ten miles from St. George's, as mas-
ter of which Mr. Knox was comfortably placed. He conti-
nued to preside over this school for more than a year ; and
having received a good classical education in his own country,
being remarkably prepossessing in liis personal appearance
and manners, and attending with great assiduity to the duties
of his station, he soon became much esteemed by his employ-
ers ; and was considered as most agreeably settled. He at-
lended public worship, with great punctuality, at Mr. Rodgers's
Lower or Forest church, near Middletown, and looked up to
the pastor as his patron and friend. Things had been going
on in this happy and promising manner for a number of months,
when a sudden reverse occurred. Mr. Knox, though a respect-
able attendant on public worship, and a young man, hitherto,
of decent morals, had manifested nothmg like real piety. He
was accustomed, every Saturday afternoon, to meet some gay
companions at the tavern of a Mr. VVitherspoon, near the place
of his residence, with whom he passed several hours, at first
with decency and temperance; but, after a while, not so entire-
ly in this manner as could have been wished. On a certain
S[iturday afternoon, when Knox and his companions had been
diverting themselves in their usual way, some of the company
said to him, " Come, parson," (a title they gave to him on ac-
count of his beino; the most i!,rave of their number, and a jrreat
admirer of Mr. Rodgers,) " Come, parson, give us a sermon."
He declined. They urged liim. He still resisted. At length,
however, overcome by their importunity, and probably excited,
in some degree, by liquor, he said, " Well, come, I will give
you the sermon which Mr. Rodgers preached last Sunday.'
Mr. Rodgers had preached, on the preceding Sabbath, from 2
Cor. V. 20, and had given an unusually solemn and excellent
discourse. Mr. Knox, having a good memory, a flexible voice,
and great powers of imitation, was enabled, not only to recol-
ject and repeat the substau'-e of the discourse, as he heard it
:?0 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
ilclivrrcci, but also to copy the voice aiul manner of Mr. Rod-
gers so closely, that Mr. Witherspoon, who heard it all from
an adjoining apartment, declared that, if he had not known to
the contrary, he should really have supposed it was Mr. Rod-
gers himself preaching. In short, he was carried beyond him-
self, and spoke so much like a man preaching the gospel in
good earnest, that his profane hearers were deeply affected, and
when the discourse was ended, one after another silently with-
drew. But what is still more remarkable, Mr. Knox himself was
solemnly impressed by his own mock preaching, especially as
he drew towards the close of the discourse ; and when it was
finished, he sat down with mingled emotions of shame and
horror at the profane mockery of which he had been guilty,
and deep conviction of the important doctrines he had been de-
livering in application to himself. So strong, indeed, were these
impressions, that he could not bear the thought of looking Mr.
Rodgers, or any of his other pious patrons, in the face, after
such conduct: and accordingly, early the next morning, with-
out waiting to collect any of his dues, or to adjust his affairs,
he precipitately quitted thai part of the country, and was not
heard of for a number of months.
The next autumn, when Mr. Rodgers attended the commence-
ment of the college of New Jersey, which was then seated at
Newark, he was surprised to find Mr. Knox at the house of the
Rev. Mr. Burr, the president of the college. The young fugi-
tive had applied to Mr. Burr, soon after his retreat from Bo-
hemia, for admission into one of the classes of the college ;
but having informed him that his last residence had been in the
neighbourhood of Mr. Rodgers, and being unable to produce
testimonials from that place of his good moral character, Mr.
Burr advised him to wait in Newark until the commencement,
when he expected to have an opportunity of seeing Mr. Rod-
gers, and of conversing with him on the subject. Mr. Knox,
upon first meeting his old pastor, was much agitated, and, as
REV. HUGH KNOX. 2l
soon as possible, took him aside ; acknowledged his unworthy
conduct, with every appearance of humiliation ; implored his
pardon for the offence committed against himself, in turning his
sermon into profane mockery ; and informed him of the situa-
tion in which he stood with regard to his expected admission
into the college. Mr. Rodgers promised to speak as favourably
of him to Mr. Burr as truth would permit, and not to disclose
the conduct which led to his elopement from Bohemia, unless
it should be drawn from him by unavoidable questions ; and,
with these promises, left him in the most painful anxiety.
Here Mr. Rodgers learned from young Knox, that the seri-
ous impressions made on his mind by tlie sermon which he had
so profanely repeated had never been eradicated ; that his wick-
edness had been overruled, as he hoped, for his eternal good ;
that he had for some time cherished a hope concerning him-
self, as a real Christian ; and that his earnest desire was to
complete his education at the college with a view to the gospel
ministry.
Happily, president Burr, in the hurry of the commencement,
only asked Mr. Rodgers whether he knew Mr. Knox ; and
whether he would advise that he should be admitted into the
college. To both these questions Mr. Rodgers answered
uromptly in the affirmative. The young man was admitted •
passed through the college, and his subsequent theological stu-
dies, with reputation ; and, afler receiving many testimonials
of sincere and active friendship from his old pastor at St,
George's, entered on the work of the gospel ministry, and be-
came equally honoured and useful in his profession.
22 THE AMERICAN CLERGY,
REV. MR. A.
The Rev. Mr. A — , of B — , Mass., some time since public-
ly stated that when a student of law in the vicinity of B — ,
and in the midst of fatal error, he became desirous of know-
ing more about religious truth. He went to B — , and searched
through all the book-stores of that city, asking for a copy of
Baxter's Saints Rest, of which he had heard in his youth.
At last he found an old, mutilated copy, with a green morocco
cover, in Bumstead's second-hand book-store. He seized it
as though it were a treasure, and bore it home ; "and now,"
said Mr. A., "if I ever attain to the 'saints' everlasting rest,'
I owe it, under God, to that old book." He became one of the
most evangelical and useful ministers in New England.
REV. MR. RAVENCROSS.
Mr. Ravencross was a slave-holder in Virginia, and re-
puted a hard master. His poor distressed slaves were in the
habit of meeting at night in a distant hut, for the purpose of
worshipping God. He was informed of this, and at the same
time put on his guard, as it wns suspected their motives for
meeting were different from what they held out, and that an in-
surrection might be the consequence. Under this impression,
he determined to prevent their assembling in future, chastised
the promoters of this work, and gave positive orders, under the
most serious penalty, that they should never assemble again
under any pretence whatever. A short time after he was told
t.hey had been seen going in a body into the hut.. ' Much dis-
A NEW ENGLAND DIVINE. 23
pleased at their disobedience, and resolving that night to put a
stop to their proceedings, he approached the hut with all the
feelincrs of an offended master. When he reached the door,
it was partly open. He looked in ; they were on their knees.
He listened ; there was a venerable old man, who had been
long in his service, pouring out his soul in prayer to God. The
first words which caught his ear were, " Merciful God, turn
my poor massa's heart : make him merciful, that he may ob-
tain mercy ; make him good, that he may inherit the kingdom
of heaven." He heard no more, but fainted. Upon coming
to himself, he wept ; went into the sacred hut, knelt by the
side of his old slave, and prayed also ! From this period he
became a true penitent, studied the Scriptures, took orders, and
became a shining light. He preached at the general conven-
tion of the Episcopal church, in the cit^ of Philadelphia, before
more than two hundred of the clergy, in the year 1820.
A NEW ENGLAND DIVINE.
A clergyman in New England, thus addressed his congrega-
tion : —
I once knew a young man, who was a student in one of our
universities, who, by reading the works of Combe, and others
of similar character, had become very skeptical on such points
as prayer, the total depravity of man, regeneration, and the
influence of the Holy Spirit. Though he professed religion
and was studying for the ministry, he had lost all religious en-
joyment, and was fast going down an inclined plane into the
abyss of infidelity. During a vacation in mid- winter, he was
travelling on business among the Germans in the interior of
24 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Pennsylvania, when he was laid on his bed with a dangerous
disease — hundreds of miles from home, "a stranger in a strange
land." When he began to think of dying, he found himself
entirely unprepared. His new sentiments hovered like dismal
clouds around his sick-bed, so that not a star of hope shone
through. There was little time for logic then : but one short
mode of reasoning swept away his skeptical notions like chaff.
He thus reasoned from effect to cause : — Embracing these new
sentiments has evidently brought my mind into this wretched
condition ; and as the fruit is bad, the tree must be bad also.
He that followeth me, says Christ, "shall not walk in dark
ness ;" therefore, as I am walking in darkness, it must be be-
cause I have been led astray from him. These new opinions
must, therefore, be erroneous. I will renounce them forever,
and embrace, in all humility and simplicity, the truths of the
Gospel, as I embraced them at first. Speedily did he put his re-
solutions into action, and he soon found his way back to the
fold of Christ, to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls. He re-
covered from his sickness, and returned home, rejoicing to tell
his friends what great things God had done for him. And that
young man, my hearers, is preaching to you to-day ! I have
many blessings for which to thank God, for he has strewn my
way with the gifts of his providence ; but for the blessing of
that affliction, I sometimes feel that I ought to praise him
most. And if I am ever so happy as to get to heaven, I shall
remember that affliction with gratitude still.
TWO CLERGYMEN. 25
TWO CLERGYMEN
The folio <ving interesting statement of facts was written by
Bishop M'llvaine.
It is now aearly thirteen years since a very remarkable
work of grace occurred in the Military Academy of the United
States. During a condition of almost universal indiflerence to
religion, and of wide-spread infidelity, against which the efforts
of the ministry of one man, set for the defence of the gospel,
seemed for a long time to make not the least way, suddenly
almost, in a very few days, many minds, without communica-
tion with one another, and without personal intercourse with
the minister, appeared deeply, and almost simultaneously in-
terested in the great matters of eternal life. Officers as well
as cadets participated in this, and to such an extent, that the
minister's study was soon occupied every evening with assem-
blies, composed of both, for prayer and the exposition of the
word of God ; and a serious impression, more or less deep and
abiding, was spread over a large part of the whole military
community. Several became at that period very decided sol-
diers of Christ. Many others received the seed of the word,
in whom, though it seemed to die, it has since, under the con-
tinued influence of the Spirit, sprung up and brought forth
fruit. Some are still in military life. Others have been, long
since, adorning the Christian profession in the ministry of the
gospel.
The verv first appearance of this work of grace, so remark-
ably and singularly the work of God, was the coming of a
cadet, alone and most unexpectedly, to introduce himself to
the chaplain, and unburden the sorrows of a contrite iieart.
AlII around him was coldness and skepticism. To speak de-
cidedly in favour of religion was then feo unusual in the acade-
my, that il inadn one singular. To converse with the chap-
•26 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
lain on tlint subject bad not been ventured by any, except out
of opposition to the truth. That any one would appear there
seriously seeking eternal life, even the chaplain was afraid to
hope. A cadet, however, did venture to corne, in open day,
to the chaplain's study, too deeply concerned to heed what
would be said of him. He was personally unknown to the
chaplain. His message he tried to utter, but could not. Again
he tried, and again ; but his heart was too full for speech. At
length he said, "Tell vne what I must do ; 1 have come about
my soul. I know not what I want ; I am entirely in the dark.
What must I seek'.' where must I go ? Such was the first de-
claration of one who, for some days, had been awakened under
the preaching and reading of the truth. A sermon preached
on the Scriptures, and a tract, sent at a venture from the chap-
lain's study, to whomsoever it might meet, had been blessed to
his soul.
Doubts and cavils were all abandoned. Implicit submission
seemed his engrossing principle. From that moment the young
man appeared to take up the cross, and to stand decidedly and
boldly on the Lord's side. The singular and very prominent
evidence of the hand of God in this case, was very greatly
blessed to others. After graduating at that institution, and
leaving the army, he passed through a regular course of study
for the holy ministry, and was successively ordained deacon
and presbyter. Many years have since elapsed. The chap-
lain has since been called to a higher order in the ministry, and
more enlarged responsibilities in the church. The cadet,
meanwhile, after many vicissitudes of active duty and of dis-
abling ill health, supposed he had settled himself for the rest
of h"s life as a preacher and pastor to an humble and obscure
congregation of negroes, whom he had collected together from
neighbouring plantations ; to whom, living entirely upon his
o • n pecuniary means, he appropriated a part of his own house
for a church and to whose eternal interests he had chosen
AN AHLE MINISTER. 27
chLjerfully and happily to devote himself, as their spiritual
father, with no emolument but their salvation. But such was
just the true spirit for the highest of all vocations in the church.
To be a servant of servants is the very school in which to pre-
pare for the chief ministry under Him who " took upon him-
self the tbrm of a servrnt." The church needed a mission-
ary bishop for a vast field, for great self-denial, for untiring
patience, lor courageous enterprise. Her eye was directed to
the self-appointed pastor of that humble congregation. With
most impressive unanimity did she call him away to a work,
not mdeed of more dignified duty, but of more eminent re-
sponsibility , not indeed of more exquisite satisfaction to a Chris-
tian heart, (for what can give a true Christian heart more ex-
quisite satisfaction than to lead such of the poor to Christ /)
but of severer trials, and vastly greater difficulties and hard-
ships. Counting the cost, he has not dared to decline it. Re-
garding the call as of God, he has embraced the promised
grace, and is now ready to be offered. And thus the chap-
lain has here met the beloved cadet again, seeing and adoring
the end of the Lord in that remarkable beginning.
AN ABLE MINISTER.
A YOUNG man, who had graduated at one of the first col-
leges in America, and was celebrated for his literary attainments,
particularly his knowledge of mathematics, settled in a village
where a faithful minister of the gospel was stationed. It was
not long before the clergyman met with him in one of hi?
evening walks, and after some conversation, as they were
about to part, addressed him as follows : — " I have heard you
28 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
are celebrated for your mathematical skill ; I have a problem
which 1 wish you to solve." "What is it"?" eagerly inquired
the young man. The clergyman answered, with a solemn
tone of voice, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul ?" The youth returned
home, and endeavoured to shake ofi* the impression fastened
on him by the problem proposed to him, but in vain. In the
giddy round of pleasure, in his business, and in his studies,
that question still forcibly returned to him, "What will a man
profit, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul V*
It finally resulted in his conversion, and he became an able
advocate and preacher of that gospel which he once rejected.
SIX YOUNG MINISTERS.
There is something in the following narrative eminently
illustrative of the vitality of the gospel, and adapted to encour-
age the heart of the Christian minister amidst every discour-
agement.
About half a century since a Christian church was organ-
ized in Virginia. For some years it eminently flourished, but
after a while the pastor died, some of the members removed
to different parts of the country, and others returned into the
world. The house of worship fell into decay, the doors were
broken from their hinges, and the birds of the air built their
nests upon the deserted walls. The pulpit bowed to its fall,
and utter desolation reigned where once the praises of Zion's
King had resounded. Close by arose a grog-shop, and it soor
became the Sunday resort of the young and old in the vicinity.
In that neighbourhood lived a wealthy gentleman, who had on*
SIX YOUNG Ml.\rs^^:RJ^. 29
son, a youth of great promise. This youth was in tlie practice
of spending his Sabbaths with other young men at the grog-
shop above named, though it had not been said that he ever
was guilty of any outbreaking immorality. One Sabbath, as
he was going to the general place of rendezvous, when pass-
in<j- the old meeting-house, he turned his head and saw an old
gray-headed negro sitting on one of the benches. A degree of
superstitious fear came over his mind, and an impression was
produced which rendered the society at the grog-shop irksome,
and he soon returned to his father's. On the next Sabbath, as
he was again passing the old house, he saw the old negro again,
seated on a bench, leaning his head on the top of his staff'.
Riding up to the window, he inquired of the old man what he
was doing there. "Get down, young master, and come and
sit down, and I will tell you," was the reply. He accordingly
went in and took his seat by the side of the old man, whom by
this time he recognised as the aged servant of a neighbouring
planter.
" Thirty years ago," proceeded the old man, with deep emo-
tion, "I used to come to this house of a Sunday to meet God
and his people. And precious times we have had here. This
house used to be filled with professed Christians, engaged in
the service of God, and anxious sinners inquiring the way to
be saved. In that old pulpit, now leaning ready to fall, used
to stand th^ servant of God, telling us the precious truths of
the gospel of Jesus. Now he is dead ; some of the members
have moved away, some gone back to the world, and some are
dead, while the old house is ready to fall. Young master, I
used in those days to come here to meet God. I have come
here to-day to meet him in this house, and he has met with me.
He is here now." The aged man then resj)ectfully, yet earn-
estly, pressed upon the youth the importance of religion, and
the danger of neglect. " Young master, you see my head, it
IS white. I was once young like you. I am now old and
3*
30 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
shall soon dio. And vou will die too. Are you prepared ?'*
The young man wept, and the old Christian proposed that they
should kneel down and pray for the salvation of his soul. They
knelt down, and God teas there. During the ensuing week
the young nnan was greatly distressed, and early the next Sab-
bath morning repaired to the old church to meet the old negro,
who preached Jesus to him as the way, the truth, and the life.
In a few days the young man obtained a hope, and by his ex-
ertions, and the blessing of God's grace, an extensive revival
of religion very soon commenced. A new church was soon
organized, the old house was repaired, a minister settled, and
many were converted to the faith as it is in Jesus. As one of
the fruits of that revival, six individuals from that neighbour-
hood entered upon the work of the ministry, and the Lord
greatly blessed their labours. One person converted at this
time became afterwards the governor of a state, and died, after
a life of usefulness, as the righteous die. These facts were
communicated to the writer since by a person who received
them from some who were themselves the subjects of the re-
vival.
SEVERAL YOUNG MINISTERS.
As the following facts connect themselves, as it will be seen,
with the conversion of more than one minister; they are here
narrated, on the authority of a pious pastor. An old man
called his children around his dying-bed, and entreated their
attention to a narrative : —
When young, I enjoyed religious privileges, and was the
subject of occasional serious reflection. When just entering
SEVERAL YOlJXn 3IINISTERS. ^\
my sixteenth year, religious impressions were made on my
mind with unusual force. I seemed to hear a voice continually
saying to me, Seek retigioti now ! I was unhappy ; my for-
mer amusements lost their relish. Still, 1 was not vv'illinf-'
wholly to relinquish them, and obey the voice which urged me
io seek religion immediately. One day, after much rellociion,
1 deliberately promised to God, that as soon as the season of
youthful amusement was past, I would give myself to religious
pursuits. My anxieties immediately left me ; I returned to my
amusements, and the whole subject was soon forgotten.
When at thirty-five, the monitory voice returned, reminded
me of my promise, and again pressed upon me the importance
of eternal things. Though 1 had not thought of my promise
for years, 1 acknowledged its obligations, but an immediate
fulfilment seemed more impracticable than it did nineteen years
before.
J vowed with increased solemnity, that when the cares of a
rising family should subside, I would certainly attend to the
concerns of religion.
Again I applied myself to worldly avocations, and soon
buried all thoughts of the admonition 1 had received. At fifty,
when you, my children, were diminishing, instead of increas-
ing my cares, this heavenly monitor returned. " Fulfil your
promise ; seek religion now ;" was continually pressing upon
my mind. I knew that I had made such a promise, but I felt
dissatisfied that its fulfilment should be claimed so soon. I re-
i^retted that I had not attended to the subject before, when I
could have done it with less difficulty; but such was the ext(>nt
and pressure of my business, that to do it then seemed im-
possible. The subject made me unhappy, and after much de-
liberation, I sought relief to my troubled feelings by most so-
lemnly renewing my promise to God. When, I said, the press-
ure of business is past, I will devote my whole attention ro a
preparation for eternity.
:3'-3 THK AMERICAN CLERGY.
No snonor lind I li.xed my mind on tliis course, than my
anxiolics lel't me — tlie strivings of tl)e Spirit ceased in my
bosom, and ceased for ever. When sickness warned me of ap-
proaching death, I sought to fix my feelings on this subject,
but it was in vain. There was a gloom and terror drawn
around reliiiion, at which mv soul slmddered. I felt that I was
forsaken of God, but it did not move me. 1 had no love to
God, no repentance for sin, nor wish to forsake it. I felt no-
thing but the sullen gloom of despair — I knew I was in the
hands of a justly offended God, from whom I expected no
mercy, and could ask none. With these feelings I am now
about to enter the eternal world. To you, my children, I can
only say — Profit by my example ; quench not the Spirit ; seek
religion now, if you would avoid a miserable eternity — put noi
off the concerns of your soul till The sentence died upon
his lips ; his strength, which had been all summoned to make
this last effort, suddenly failed — he fell back upon his bed, and
with a groan that seemed to speak the pains of another world,
the immortal spirit took its flight from that body which it had
inhabited nearly fourscore years, to receive according to that
it had done.
This little narrative 1 had from a grandson of the old man,
who stood by his dying bed. He was a minister of the gos-
pel, and dated his first permanent conviction from the solem-
nities of that awful scene. The descendants of the old man
were numerous, most of whom became hopefully pious. Two,
who are now preachers, and several others, were first awaken-
ed by his dying charge.
REV. J. W. JAMES. 33
REV. J. W. JAMES.
In a lecture to Sunday-school teachers, a few years since,
the Rev. J. W. James, of Philadelphia, related the following
narrative : —
A young man who had been piously educated, and whose
religious impressions in early life had been strong, while at
college mingled with worldly and gay companions; so that in
a short time he ceased to be serious or prayerful. He gradu-
ated as worldly and careless as his classmates, and removed to
a distant city. Ambitious of eminence in the profession he had
chosen, he secluded himself from society, not from fear of its
contamination, but to preserve his time from unnecessary waste.
VV^hile thus engaged, he became acquainted with the pious
superintendent of a Sabbath-jchool, whom he was not long
after invited to succeed. After much persuasion he reluctantly
consonted, but was unacquainted with the duties of the school.
On finding that he must open the school with prayer, he started
and turned pale. He had formerly been taught by his mother
to pray, but he had now forgotten how to address the Author
of his mercies. By the aid of the prayer-book he succeeded,
but his conscience allowed him no rest. He could not retire
from the work. For some weeks he endured the lashes of an
awakened and guilty conscience, until at length, by the assist-
ance of the Holy Spirit, he was enabled to give up all for Christ.
Ho retained his office of superintendent for more than a year:
then, at length, after a course of theology, was settled as a
Christian pastor in one of the Atlantic cities, where he was
engaged in winning souls to Christianity ; " and now," he
added, — and his face grew pale, and his limbs trembled with
emotion as he spoke — " and now, he has the satisfaction of
addressing this assemblage of superintendents and teachers."
34 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A YOUNG CLERGYMAN.
A YOUNG licentiate, after throwing off a highly wrought, and,
as he thought, eloquent gospel sermon in the pulpit, in the pre-
sence of a venerable pastor, solicited of his experienced friend
the benefit of his criticisms upon the performance.
" I have but just one remark to make," was his reply, " and
that is, to request you to pray that sermon."
"What do you mean, sir?"
" I mean literally just what I say ; pray it, if you can, and
you will find the attempt a better criticism than any I can make
upon it."
The request still puzzled the young man beyond measure ;
the idea of praying a sermon was a thing he never heard or
conceived of; and the singularity of the suggestion wrought
powerfully on his imagination and feelings. He resolved to
attempt the task. He laid his manuscript before him, and on
his knees before God, undertook to make it into a prayer. But
it would not pray ; the spirit of prayer was not in it, and that,
for the very good reason — as he then clearly saw for the first
time — that the spirit of prayer and piety did not compose it.
For the first time he saw that his heart was not right with
God ; and this conviction left him no peace imtil he had
" Christ formed in him the hope of glory." With a renewed
hsart, he applied himself anew to the work of composing ser-
mons for the pulpit ; preached again in the presence of the
pious pastor who had given such timely advice ; and again
solicited the benefit of his critical remarks.
*' I have no remarks to make," was his complacent re])ly,
" you can pray that sermon."
A NKW ENGLAND CLERGYMAN. 35
A NEW ENGLAND CLERGYiMAN.
A FEW years ago, a gay iady in New England had occa-
sion to go to a neighbouring town, where she had often been
before. In the immediate vicinity was a stream which she had
to go near, um\ which at this period was high. With a viaw
of showing her courage to a young person whom she had taken
with her as a companion, she went into the stream with her
horse, and in a very little time was thrown into the water, —
had already sunk once or twice to the bottom, and felt that she
was within a few moments of an eternal world, without being
prepared for so great a change.
It so happened, that a young man in another neighbouring
town had felt a powerful impression on his mind that morning,
that he should visit the same place He had no business to
transact ; but, being forcibly impressed with the importance of
going thither, he invited a young man to accompany him. Ar-
riving at the side of the stream just as the young ladies were
about to cross it, they saw it was improbable that they could
ford it ; yet, as the ladies went, they determined to follows
By the time the young lady was thrown from her horse, the
others had nearly reached the opposite shore ; but, perceiving
her danger, one of them immediately followed her on his
horse, and in the last moment of life, as it then appeared, she
caught hold of the horse's leg ; he thus secured her, and
I snatching hold of the other drowning young lady, she was
' saved also. After the use of proper remedies, they recovered ;
i and the young gentlemen, believing that the design of their
' coming from home was now answered, returned hack,
i The impressions made on the mind of this voung lady wore.
permanent, and she was led to reflect on the sins she had com-
mitted against God, to pray for the pardon of her guilt, and to
36 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
devote herself to the Divine service. She embraced the mercy
of the Lord, believing in the Redeemer, who alone saves from
the wrath to come.
In the same town with herself lived a young gentleman, who 4
had often spent his hours in vain conversation with her. On
her return home, he went to congratulate her on her escape,
and to his surprise, found she attributed her deliverance to the
ppwer of God, and urged him to seek that grace which they
had both neglected. Her serious conversation was blessed to his
conversion, and he became a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.
REV. MR. POLK.
The Rev. Mr. Polk, at a general meeting of the Religious
Tract Society, in London, stated, that he had a right to speak
of the value of tracts, because, under God, he was indebted
for all he knew of Christianity to a tract. In an institution for
the education of young men, in his own country, out of two
hundred and fifty individuals, there was not one who was a
Christian ; and though the minister laboured among them with
great zeal, he seemed to labour in vain. At last, he got a
young man to go through the building, and distribute some
religious tracts. He left a tract on infidelity in one of the
rooms, where two young men lodged together, one of whom
was apparently of doubtful principles. The other, however,
got hold of it, and read it. It arrested his attention, and set
his mind on inquiring; and he afterwards fell in with Dr. Olin-
thus Gregory's "Letters," which led him to procure a Bible.
The truths of that blessed book were brought home to his mind
with great power, and he became a converted man. And his
REV. S. NIGHTINGALE. 37
conversion was the beginnins; of a revival of religion in that
place, during which twenty other young men, and some of the
professors, became converted to Christ.
REV. S. NIGH riNGALE.
In the beginning of 1845, at a union prayer-meeting in Phi-
ladelphia, the Rev. S. Nightingale, a Baptist minister from
Montgomery county, was present by invitation, and at the close
of an exhortation related the following anecdote :
" About twenty years ago, there was a wild and daring lad
in the city, who feared neither God nor man. One day he was
thrown accidentally into the company of a clergyman, who
had some serious conversation with him on religion. Amont;
other things, he told him that it was his opinion, that in after
life he would either join the aTmy or become a minister of
the Gospel. A few years after this conversation, that boy
made a profession of religion and entered the ministry. I,"
added he, " am that individual ; and," pointing to Dr. Ely,
who sat on the platform beside him, " this is the minister who
held the conversation with me when a boy."
The congregation appeared electrified ; and Dr. Ely, who
had forgotten the boy in the person of the speaker, now recol-
lecting the circumstance, started from his chair, and embraced
him.
38 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. S. STODDARD.
The Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, the prede-
cessor of" the far-famed President Edwards, was engaged by
hrs people on an emergency. They soon found themselves dis-
appointed, for he gave no indications of a renewed and serious
mind. In this difficulty iheir resource was prayer. They
agreed to set apart a day for special fasting and prayer, in
reference to their pastor. Many of the persons meeting for
this purpose, had necessarily to pass the door of the minister.
Mr. S. hailed a plain man whom he knew, and addressed him,
"What is all this! What is doing to-day?" The reply was,
" The people, sir, are meeting to pray for your conversion."
It sunk into his heart. He exclaimed to himself, " Then it is
time I prayed for myself!" He was not seen that day. He
was seeking in solitude what they were asking in company ;
and "while they were yet speaking," they were heard and
answered. The pastor gave unquestionable evidence of the
change j he laboured amongst a beloved and devoted people
for nearly half a century; and was, for that period, deservedly
ranked amoui^ the most able and useful of Christian ministers.
REV. DR. MCARTEE.
The Rev. Dr. M'Cartce, of New York, in delivering an ad-
dress at a tract meeting in Philadelphia, related the following
anecdote : —
The mention of two of the publications of the American
REV. DR. M'CARTEE. 39
Tract Society, in your report, sir, has excited emotions in my
own mind whicli 1 cannot repress. I well remember when two
young lawyers, both far from God, and engaged in the pursuit
of the honours and wealth of this world, met in the city of
New York, when, as one took some legal documents from his
pocket, the other, to his surprise, discovered among them
' Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion.' Nor was
the surprise of the first at all less, when he discovered lying
on the table, at the hand of his fellow, ' Baxter's Saints'
Rest.' Each appeared at first confused and ashamed at the
discovery, for they had not yet learned to glory in the cross.
But a few moments, however, had elapsed, when they mutually
found that the attention of each had been powerfully arrested
by those volumes, and that each was deeply anxious for the
salvation of his soul. Together they sought the Lord ; and,
agonizing to enter into the kingdom, they both, about the same
time, were enabled to hope in the mercy of .Tesus Christ for
eternal life. One of them, having fought the good fight, and
kept the faith, has long since gone upward, I doubt not, to rest
m the bosom of the Saviour he loved and served. The other,
called, as he believes, of God, became a preacher of the Gos-
pel of Christ, and still lives to proclaim to dying sinners, in
his native city, salvation through the blood and righteousness
of the blessed Redeemer ,* and now, when he finds your soci-
ety engaged in sending forth, among your other valuable pub-
lications, these two precious volumes, he (referring to himself)
presents himself before you to add, this evening, his feeble, but
heartfelt testimony to the excellence of the Tract Society.
40. THE AMERICAl^ oLERGY.
A riOlJS BISHOP.
A WORTHY and excellent bishop of the Episcopal oliurch,
was in early life an immoral and dissipated man. Dining one
evening with a party of gentlemen, they sat late over their
wine, and with a view to promote merriment, this young man
sent for one of his slaves, who was in the habit of preaching
to his companions in slavery, and ordered him to preach a ser-
mon to the company. The good man hesitated for a time, but
at length began to address them. Instead of the mirth, how-
ever, which they anticipated from the ignorance and simplicity
of the poor man, the piety and fervour of his discourse pro-
duced a contrary effect. The solemn truths he delivered sank
deeply into the hearts of some of the company, and, through
the Divine blessing, carried conviction to the heart of his mas-
ter, who now seriously inquired after the way of salvation ;
which having learned, he began from a sense of dnty to pub-
lish the grace of Christ, and became an ornament to the Chris-
tian ministry.
A ZEALOUS MINISTER.
The Rev. J. Perkins, a missionary to Persia, has recorded
the following remarkable anecdote in his journal : — A physi-
cian, who had been personally acquainted with the infide^
Paine, had embraced his sentiments, and was very profane
nd dissipated. After striving for more than a year against
the convictions of the spirit of God, which were so powerful.
I
REV. W. COOPER. 41
and his stubbornness so great, like a bullock unaccustomed to
the yoke, as to bring him to a bed of long confinement, and
the most awful depression of mind, he became an humble, zeal-
ous, exemplary Christian. And as soon as his health was
recovered, he qualified himself, by preparatory studies, to go
forth to the world, and preach that Jesus, whom he for many
years considered as an impostor, whose name he had habitu-
ally blasphemed, and whose religion he had counted foolish-
ness, and a base imposition on the world.
REV. W. COOPER.
The late Rev. W. Cooper, of Boston, very early in life set
his heart upon bemg a minister of Jesus Christ ; and this ob-
ject of his choice he never abandoned. At seven years old,
while hearing a sermon from the Rev. Mr. Colman, with whom
he afterwards was colleague, he was so attracted by the elo-
quence of his manner, that he went home with a determination
to read like him : a circumstance which drew from that vene-
rable man, who survived him, and preached on the occasion
of his death, the following humble but affectionate remark : '* I
ought to thank God, if I have served, in any way, to form him
for his since eminent pulpit services; and, in particular, his
method of preaching Christ and Scripture. So a torch may
be lighted at a farthing candle."
4*
42 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A NEW ENGLAND MINISTER
At a missionary meeting in New Hampshire, in 1833, a
minister rose and said that he once knew a man in a very
awful state, for whom the wood was drawn together, to make a
cage, in which he might be kept from doing himself and others
injury. " While in that state, one solitary female prayed for
him ; God heard her prayer, and now he is in the midst of
you, a happy man, and a minister of Jesus Christ. I am,"
added he, " that man : and that woman was my wife, whom I
wish to honour by making her a life member of the Missionary
Society."
REV. DR. WEST.
Mk., afterwards Dr. Stephen West, had entered the ministry,
and settled in Stockbridge, while yet a stranger to experiment-
al religion. Like other learned men, who trust in their own
righteousness, he had laboured to accommodate his theology
and his preaching to his own standard of personal religion.
Two pious female members of the church, who had often
lamented their want of spiritual instruction and benefit from
the ministry of their pastor, at length agreed to meet once a
week, to pray for him. Amidst many discouragements, they
continued their united supplications to the Hearer and An-
swerer of prayer ; but, as they afterwards remarked, they were
never both discouraged at the same time. On leaving the
house of God, one would say, " We have had no food to-day ;"
REV. DR. WEST. 43
ihe other would usually answer in words of encouragement, -
* God is able to do for us more than we ask ; let us continue
our meetings tor prayer." At length their prayers were
heard ; there was a sudden and remarkable change in the
preaching of their pastor. They met as usual at the close of
worship: "What is this?" asked one. " God is the hearer of
prayer," answered the other.
The means by which this change was brought about were
truly interesting. Mr. West, and Mr. Hopkins, a neighbour-
ing minister, were in the habit of frequently meeting to discuss
their different views of divine truth. At those meetings Mr.
Hopkins allowed Mr. West to state his views, and to exhaust
his arguments before attempting a reply ; and then proceeded,
in the kindest and clearest manner, to show their opposition to
the word of God. In one of these interviews, Mr. West, who
had been walking up and down the room in great agita-
tion, said to Mr. Hopkins, " Only reconcile Divine sovereignty
with man's agency, and I will give up my sentiments to em-
brace yours." "And cannot you reconcile them, Mr. W^est ?"
"No," said he, "I cannot." "Well," said Mr. Hopkins, with
great mildness and sincerity, " I have, to your conviction,
proved that God is a Sovereign ; and you are conscious that
man is a free agent. Now, therefore, if you cannot reconcile
God's sovereignty with man's agency, you must, be damned."
The solemn appeal was not in vain. The words rested on his
mind day and night. He felt he was a stranger to godliness,
and a blind leader of the blind. With great fearlulness he
continued to preach, but became more practical, and preached
the truth as he began to feel it. The first sermon he preached
after this change filled the hearts of those females with holy
joy. Dr. W^est was afterwards the author of an excellent
work on the Atonement of Christ.
44 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
AN OLD CLERGYMAN.
A VENERABLE clergyman, and doctor of divinity, in New
Hampshire, at the age of seventy years, lodged at the house
of a pious friend, where he observed the mother teaching some
short prayers and hymns to her children. " Madam," said
he, " your instructions may be of far more importance than
you are aware: my mother taught me a little hymn when a
child, and it is of use to me to this day. I never close my
eyes to rest, without first saying,
' Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep :
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.' "
THE BEECHER FAMILY.
The huiTfible, weary, and anxious toils of the nursery, some
times need glimpses of the future, to impart to them their true
dignity and value. Let any mother who feels that she is of
small value, and that her duties and cares are of little account,
ponder over such incidents as these :
On the east of Long Island, in one of the most secluded
spots in this country, more than thirty years ago, a mother,
whose rare intellectual and moral endowments were known to
but few, made this simple record :
"This morning I rose very early to pray for my children:
THE BEECHER FAMILY. 45
and especially that my sons may be ministers and missionaries
of Jesus Christ."
A number of years alter, a friend who was present, thus
describes the mother's dying hour: "Owing to extreme weak-
ness, her mind wandered and her conversation was broken ;
but as she entered the valley of the shadow of death, her soul
lighted up and gilded its darkness. She made a feeling and most
appropriate prayer, and told her husband that her views and
anticipations had been such, that she could scarcely sustain
them ,* and that if they had been increased, she should have
been overwhelmed ; that her Saviour had blessed her with con-
stant peace, and that through all her sickness, she had never
prayed for life. She dedicated her five sons to God as minis-
ters and missionaries of Jesus Christ, and said that her greatest
desire was, that her children might be trained up for God.
" She spoke with joy of the advancement of the kingdom of
Christ, and of the glorious day now ushering in. She at-
tempted to speak to her children, but was so exhausted, and
their cries and sobs were such, that she could say but little.
ller husband then made a prayer, in which he gave her back
to God, and dedicated all they held in common, to him. She
then fell into a sweet sleep, from which she awoke in heaven."
The prayers of this mother have been answered. All her
eight children have been "trained up for God." Her five sons
are all "ministers and missionaries of Jesus Christ." And the
late Rev. George Beecher was the first of her offspring whom
she welcomed to heaven.
46 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REA^ JOSEPH EASTBURN.
When a youth, after he had entered upon his apprentice-
sliip to the trade at which he so long worked, this young man
fell into company which would have led him into evil practices.
Being removed from parental guardianship, and showing an
unregenerate heart, he was disposed to follow the evil example
to which he was now exposed. On one occasion he had en-
gaged with some of his companions to spend the Sabbath in
sinful amusement in the country ; he had already passed the
suburbs of the city, when the distant sound of a church-bell
struck upon his ear. He was affected by the sound ; he re-
membered that often, in company with his parents, he had been
summoned by it to the house of God ,* and now what was he
doing? turning his back upon the sanctuary, and violating the
holy Sabbath. Entertaining such reflections for a moment, he
suddenly stopped, then left his companions, and went to the
house of prayer. It was the turning point of his life ; this
salutary remembrance of the manner in which he had been
taught to regard the Sabbath, induced a change of conduct, and
he subsequently became one of the most devoted servants of
Jesus Christ,
This excellent minister is well known as the founder of the
first Mariner's Church in Philadelphia, and as an eminent
preacher to seamen. At his grave, the Rev. Dr. Green gave
an account of the origin of this peculiar department of labour.
When he began to preach to seamen, about 1820, he procured
a sail-loft, and on the Sabbath hung out a flag. As the sailors
passed by they hailed him and his friends, "Ship ahoy!"
" We," says Mr. Eastburn, "answered them. They asked us
wnere we were bound ?" We told them to the port of New
Jerusalem — and that they would do well to go in the fleet.
REV. MK. C 47
'Well,' said they, ' we will come in and hear your terms."*
Such was the commencement ot' a work on which the blessinii
ot" God has so greatly rested.
REV. MR. C.
At a meeting of a Religious Tract Society, at Otsego, the
Rev. Mr. C, a clergyman well known to the meeting, arose
with deep emotion, and said, " My friends, I stand before this
congregation as a monument of the etTicacy of tracts. When
a young man, careless, unbelieving, and impenitent, as I was
one day passing along the road, I saw a little piece of paper
half-covered with mud ; it attracted my attention ; I picked it
up, and t'ound it to be the tract ' Poor Joseph.' I seated my-
self on a bank beside a small stream, and read it ; and oh ! I
shall never forget the feelings I had as I rend over that simple
story. The Spirit of God sent home its truths to mv heart. 1
trembled and wept in view of my sins, and f never rested until
1 reposed on the blood of Christ for salvation. If I have ever
done any good in the cause of Christ, and if I may be here-
after made instrumental in leading lost and perishing souls to
the Redeemer, it may be all traced to that tract, [t has started
a train of causes that must operate through eternity."
48 THE AMERICAN CLERGY
REV. PRESIDENT EDWARDS.
Few things would tend more to encourage the Christian
education of children, especially on the part of pious mothers,
than a careful examination of the history of eminent Christian
ministers. President Edwards was the only brother of ten
sisters, and the son of eminently pious parents. He was the
great-great-grandson, on his mother's side, of a n)inister in
London in the days of Queen Elizabeth ; and the family of his
mother for several generations was equally singular for their
devotedness to God. To his mother, especially, is the church
indebted, under God, for much of the eminence to which this
extraordinary man attained.
REV. DR. D WIGHT.
Still more remarkable than the case of President Ed-
wards, was that of his grandson. President Dwight. His mo-
ther, the daughter of Edwards, possessed uncommon powers
of mind; and for the extent and variety of her knowledge, she
has been rarely excelled in this or any other country. Though
married at an early age, and a mother at eighteen, she found
time, without neglecting the ordinary cares of her family, to
devote herself, with the most assiduous attention, to the instruc-
tion of this son, and a numerous family of children, as they
successively claimed her regard. She began to instruct him
almost as soon as he was able to speak, so that at four years
of ajie he could read his Bible with ease and correctness. She
SEVERAL YOUNG CLEKGYMEN. 49
aimed, at a very early period, to enlighten his conscience, to
make him afraid of sin, and to know the way of pardon only
through the righteousness of Christ. The impressions tl)us
made were never effaced. His most valuable instructor through
life was his mother.
SEVERAL YOUNG CLERGYMEN.
A FEW years since, some gentlemen in this country, who
were associated in preparing for the Christian ministry, felt
interested in ascertaining what proportion of their number had
pious mothers. They were' greatly surprised and delighted in
finding, that out of one hundred and twenty students, more
than a hundred had been blessed by a mother's prayers, and
directed by a mother's counsels to the Saviour. Though some
of these had broken away from all the restraints of home, and,
like the prodigal, had wandered in sin and sorrow, yet they
could not forget the impressions of childhood, and each was
eventually brought to Jesus, and proved a mother's joy and
blessing.
From the " Quarterly Register," published about the same
time, we learn that of the one hundred and fourteen students
whose names were tlien on the catalogue of the Theologica'
Seminarv at Princeton, one hundred and four, oi- about oleven-
twelfths of tlie whole number, had mothers embracing Chris-
tianity ; eighty-two had parents both of whom were professors.
In twenty-two instances the mother professed religion, and the
father did not. Mot a single case where the father was a
professor, and the mother was not.
5
50 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A Missionary from this country says, " I recollect particu-
larly, that once my mother came and stood by me as I sat in
the door, and tenderly talked to me of God and my duty to
him, and her tears dropped upon my head. That made me a
missionary.''
Another clergyman has stated that in his boyhood a colored
nurse impressed it upon his mind, by her simple remarks, that
he was to become a minister. This impression never left him,
even during his most sinful years, but proved a leading instru-
mental cause of turning his mind to religion, and fmally of
constraining him to enter the ministry.
The Rev. Dr. Scudder states that a clergyman told him that
when he was about five years of age he saw some pictures of
the Tuscarora Indians which had been sent by a lady who had
gone as a missionary from his native place. This circum-
stance made an impression upon his mind respecting missions
which he never lost, and he considered this as one of the means
which God used for his conversion.
Some years since, a gentleman was travelling from Phila-
delphia to Boston with his daughter. At Providence a young
man, a profane sailor, entered the coach, whom the gentleman
reproved for his profanity, and recommended him with much
seriousness to read Doddridije's Rise and Proiiress of Religion ;
and at Boston they parted from each other with regret.
In the coach with them travelled a young anan, a student at
one of the colleges, of whom, however, but little notice was
taken, A few years afterwards, a gentleman came into thf
store of our traveller at Philadelphia, whom, however, he dio
SEVERAL YOUNG CLERGYME.X. ~)l
not know till he was informed that he was the y(.inig man who
travelled with him and the sailor to Hostoii. 'Vho pleasing- facts
were now elicited, that, influenced by what the gcuirlcman had
said to the sailor, the present visitor had bo(Mi iiHluc<'d to rend
" The Rise and Progress," which had been blessed to the conver-
sion of his soul, and that he was now come to reside in Philadel-
phia, to study for the ministry, under the ex •client Dr. Staiigh-
ton. The young man thus benefited by a casual conversation
m a stage-coach, became a minister in Massachusetts.
Rev. Mr. B , of C , related the following interesting
fact at an anniversary meeting of the benevolent societies of
Chittenden co., Vermont :
" Previous to entering the ministry, while on a short journey,
as he stopped to water his horse, there came along a ragged,
dirty boy, to whom he gave a tract. About six years after,
while in the seminary, a young man called at his room and
asked him if he recollected that tract — holding one in his hand.
He replied in the negative. The young man then opened the
tract, and inquired if he did not remember that pencil-mark ?
He observed that it was his own handwriting, and replied that
he had a faint recollection of giving such a tract to a boy some
years before, ' I am that boy,' replied the young man. ' I was
very wicked and abandoned, when I received the tract, and my
parents were equally bad. They never attended church or
gave me any religious instruction. I read the tract again and
again, and thought it was very wonderful : my wickedness
seemed so great that I had no rest till I found" it in the Saviour.
I am now in my junior year, preparing for the ministry.' '
A drunkard naving obtained possession of a good book,
pledged it for liquor. Before the vendor of ardent spirits had
i)2 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
removed it from the bar, a very dissipated young man entered
the place, and being too well known to obtain credit, he was
constrained to lay down three cents for a glass of rum, before
he could obtain it. This troubled him, for it was the last three
cents he had, and he dreaded being unable to get his usual
dram in the morning. While these thoughts perplexed him, he
saw the book, and judging rightly how it came there, he sup-
posed that, could he purloin it, his difficulty would be removed,
for he could in like manner pledge it at some other bar. He
accomplished the theft unobserved, and, much pleased with his
success, went home. That he might avoid being suspected
when offering the book, he opened it to see what it was ; the
first words he saw were these : " There is nothing covered that
shall not be revealed." In a moment this solemn truth was im-
pressed upon his conscience ; and his course of life, his deeds
of darkness, his choice of wicked associates, and his future
prospects, forced themselves upon his attention. He lay down,
but could not sleep : and after spending a restless night, he
arose to seek, not the Jire-water to which he was accustomed,
but those streams that make glad the city of God. An intole-
rable burden oppressed him, and in bitter anguish of spirit he
went to some of the servants of Jesus Christ, and asked for
.their counsel and their prayers. In this state of mind he con-
tinued for a season, but at length the Lord heard his cry, and
delivered him from the horrible pit, and set his feet upon a
rock, and put a new song into his mouth, and established his
goings. That man is now a minister of the Gospel
REV. MR. JAHHET. 53
REV. MR. JAPHET.
Dr. Cottox Mather has related a very pleasing incident
which occurred in the seventeenth century, in connection with
Mr. May hew.
It appears that soon after he began to preach in Martha's
Vineyard, the wife of Pammehannit, a leading man among the
Indians, became deeply impressed with the gospel. In the con-
fession she made before her admission into the church, she
stated that long before she heard the gospel, she lost five child-
ren m succession, while very young, and that when her sixth
was borji, who was a son, agitated with fear lest she should
lose him also, she took him in her arms, and walked into the
fields. While there she mused on the insufficiency of all hu-
man help, and it was suggested to her mind that there was an
Almighty God who ought to be prayed to, — that He had cre-
ated all things — and that He who had given life to all was able
to preserve the life of her child. With these feelings she cried
to God for the life of her child, and the child lived. As soon
as this poor woman heard the gospel, it was evident that her
mind was fully prepared to receive it. Her son became an
eminent Christian, and a laborious minister of an Indian church,
consistinii; of some scores of regenerated souls. He was livincr
when Dr. Mather wrote in 1696, faithfully and successfully
labouring to extend the Gospel among the Indians on the main
land. His name was Japhet.
54 THK AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. DR. PATTEN.
The Rev. Dr. Patten, of New York, stated, at a meeting of
the American Tract Society in that city, that a pious man of
colour, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, whom he knew and often
conversed with, when he first began to turn his thoughts to
the Christian ministry, held with him an interesting conversa-
tion. This poor Tom, for so he was called, had been convert-
ed when a slave, had learned to read, was called to the dying-
bed of his master to read the Bible, was emancipated by his
master's will, and, after having redeemed his wife, had re-
moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia. Poor Tom said to Dr.
P., " Massa, me hear you are going to study to be a minister !*'
"Yes." "Will you let poor Tom say one thing to you ?"
"Yes." "Well, you know the good Master says. Watch and
pray. Now you may watch all the time, and if you no pray,
the devil will get in. You may pray all the time, and if you
no watch too, the devil will get in. But if you watch and
pray all the time, the devil no get in ; for it is just like the
sword of God put into the hand of the angel at the entering
of the garden — it turn every way. If the devil come before,
it turn there ; if the devil come behind, it turn there. Yes.
massa, it turn every way."
REV. V^. TENNENT.
The history of very few ministers has ever been found to
present more remarkable events than those connected with this
extraordinary man.
REV. W, TENNENT. i)D
In early life he was a very diligent student, and made great
proficiency in the languages. Being very deeply impressed
with a sense of divine things, he determined to follow the ex-
ample of his father, and to devote himself to the ministry. He
was preparing for examination by the presbytery, when his
health failed, and he became almost a skeleton. He was at-
tended by a young but eminent physician, who was attached
to him by warm friendship, but who had to grieve over the
entire loss of his health and spirits. One morning, while Mr.
Tennent was conversing with his brother, in Latin, on the
state of his soul, he fainted, anu a} y^arently died. On the fol-
lowing day, the neighbours were invii'-w to attend his funeral.
In the mean time his physician, who had been in the country,
returned, and was greatly affected with the news of his death.
He could not be persuaded that it had taken place. He tried
every means to ascertain the existence of life, but without effect.
The funeral, by the determination of the physician, was delayed.
On the third day the people were again invited to discharge
the last duties owing to the dead ; still, however, the physician
was not satisfied, and implored, at length, for only one quarter
of an hour more delay. x\t this critical moment, the body, to
the great astonishment of all, opened its eyes, uttered a dread-
ful groan, and sunk again into apparent death. This, of course,
put an end to all thoughts of burying him, and every effort
was employed in hope of speedy resuscitation ; in about an
hour the eyes again opened, and in a few hours he was restored
to life.
Still, however, for about six weeks his recovery was doubt-
ful, and twelve months elapsed before he was in good health.
After he was able to walk about the room, his sister, who had
stayed from church on the Sunday afternoon, was reading in the
Bible, when he asked her what book she had in her hand. She
told him, and he asked, " What is the Bible ? I know not v hat
you mean." She was deeply affected, and with tears told hun
')() THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
tliui he was once well acquainted with it. On examination it
was found that he was totally ignorant of every transaction of
liis ibrmer life. He could not read a word, nor had he any
idea of wliat it meant. He was taught to read and write after
the manner of children, and be<i;an to learn the Latin laniiuaoje
under the tuition of his brother. One day, as he was reciting
a lesson in Cornelius Nepos, he suddenly started, placed his
hand on his head, as if something had hurt him, and said that
he felt a sudden shock, and it seemed to him as though he had
read that book before. By degrees his recollection was.
entirely restored.
The account he gave of the solemn transaction to which we
have referred, was, in substance, that while he was conversing
with his brother, he found himself in a moment in another state
of existence, conducted by a superior being to an ineffable
glory, an idea of which it was impossible to convey. He reflected
on his happy change, and saw an innumerable company of
happy beings surrounding the inexpressible glory, in acts of
joyous adoration and worship. He felt unutterable joy, and
requested his conductor to attend him to join the happy throng;
he was informed, however, that he must return to earth. This
communication greatly pained him, and in a moment he saw
his brother disputing with the doctor. He added, " Such was
the effect on my mind of what I had seen and heard, that if it
be possible for a human being to live entirely above the world
and the things of it, for some time afterwards I was that per-
son. The ravishing sounds of the songs and hallelujahs that
1 heard, and the very words that were uttered, were not out of
my ears when awake, for at least three years. All the king-
doms of the earth were in my sight as nothing and vanity ;
and so great were my ideas of heavenly glory, that nothing
which did not in some measure relate to it, could command
my serious attention."
Further particulars were expected to have been found amouij
V.F.V. >. BLYTHE. 57
Mr. T.'s papers after his death, as he was known to have writ-
ten them; but unhappily these papers, by the calamities of war,
and the sudden death of his son, were lost.
REV. S. BLYTHE.
This worthy man, who emigrated from the east to Alabama
in a very early period of his history, entertained considerable
doubts as to his cull to the ministry ; and arranged with his
wife that his having preached should, for a time at least, be
kept secret. Not many days after, he met with a pious old
lady, who had newly arrived in the wilderness, and who deeply
lamented that there was no house of God, no preaching, no
preacher, and no one who felt like herself. She was anxious
.0 find a congenial spirit with whom she could hold in rcourse.
After a very little conversation, she looked anxiously and
seriously ui his face, and said, " My dear sir, are you not a
professor of religion?" He answered, with a faltering voice,
" Ah ! I am a sort of one." The good old lady instantly
asked, "Are you not a minister of the gospel?" He could con-
ceal the fact no longer, but acknowledged that though he had
wished to conceal it, he had been accustomed to preach. The
good woman was greatly delighted, and urged him to make an
appointment for preaching, which he did, and in the course of ?
year or two, established several churches.
59 THE AMERICAIV CLERGY.
AN INDIAN PREACHER.
HiACooMES, the first Indian convert on Martha's Vineyard,
was a remarkable man. He was an Indian of Great Harbor,
now Edgartown, The Indian sachems and others of their
principal men looked upon him as an ordinary or mean
person, on account of his humble parentage, slow speech and
uninteresting countenance — yet there was that within him,
which afterwards appeared of greater value than the endow-
ments of those who looked upon him with contempt. Living
among the English, some of them visited him in his wigwam,
and were courteously entertained by him ; and he visited them
in return, evidently that he might learn something that would
be for his advantage. About the same time, he went also to
the English meeting, where the Rev. Thomas Mayhew, vi'ho
was then minister to the few English families in Edgartown,
preached. Mr. Mayhew had not, as yet, made any direct
efforts for the conversion of the Indians, but was revolving in
his mind some plans whereby to reach them. The coming of
Hiacoomes to his meeting, the disposition he manifested to hear
and receive instruction, and the gravity of his demeanour, in-
duced the preacher to try what he could do in innucncing him
(o become a Christian He immediately sought an opiJorl unity
for conversation, and finding encouragement in his interview,
he invited the Indian inquirer to come to his house every Sab-
bath evening, that he might speak to him of religion. The news
soon spread among the Indians, and the sachems and paw-
waws were much alarmed, and tried to discourage Hiacoomes
from holding communication with the English and receiving
their instructions, but all to no purpose, as he was strongly
bent after still higher attainments in the knowledge of God.
This was in 1643, and in two years afterwards, having in the
REV. CHARLES BEATTY. 59
meanwhile been prepared by Mr. May hew, he commenced
teaching to the Indians the things of Christianity. He was not
suffered to proceed without opposition from the pawwaws,
sachems and other Indians — but he made this improvement of
the injustice done him. " I had," he remarked, " one hand foi
injuries and another hand for God ; whilst I received wrong
with the one, I laid the faster hold on God with the other."
These words should be written in letters of gold.
REV. CHARLES BEATTY.
Many of the most eminent ministers have been introduced
to their work in a very unexpected manner. This was the case
with Mr. Beatty, an excellent Presbyterian minister of the
last century. He was a native of Ireland, where he obtained
a pretty accurate classical education ; but his circumstances
being narrow, he emigrated to America, and employed several
of the first years of his life on this side the Atlantic in the
business of a pedlar. In the pursuit of this vocation, he halted
one day at the " Log College," on the Ncshaminy, then under
the care of the Rev. William Tennent, the elder. The pedlar, to
Mr. Tennent's surprise, addressed him in correct Latin, and
appeared to be familiar with that language. After much con-
versation, in which Mr. Beatty manifested fervent piety, and
considerable religious knowledge, as well as a good education
in other respects, Mr. Tennent said to him, "You must quit
your present employment. Go and sell the contents of your
pack, and return immediately, and study with inc. Il will ho
a sin for you to continue a pedlar, whon you inav be so inii«.-h
60 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
more useful in another profession." He accepted Mr. Tennent's
offer, returned to Neshaminy, completed his academical and
theological studies, and m due time became an eminent mi-
nister. He died in Barbadoes, where he had gone to solicit be-
nefactions for the college of New Jersey.
REV. PRESIDENT DAVIES.
A LITTLE more than a century ago, the Rev. W. RobinvSon
had been preaching in North Carolina^ having been sent there
by the " New-light" presbytery of New Brunswick. He was
compelled by persecution to make a precipitate retreat, which
was so hasty that his many warm friends had no opportunity
to contribute any thing as a compensation, or even to defray
his expenses. A collection was, however, made, and sent after
him by some trusty friends. But he peremptorily refused to
receive a penny of it, saying he knew what his enemies would
say if he should receive any part of it, and he was resolved they
should have no occasion to speak ill of him or of his Master's
cause. He at length consented to receive it, saying he knew
a very pious and promising young man, who was in very in-
digent circumstances, and had been for some years prosecuting
his studies for the ministry ; he would, with their leave, expend
it upon him, with the promise that if he should enter the minis-
try, he should come and preach to them. To this they con.,
sented. Samuel Davies, then studying under the care of the
Rev. Samuel Blair, at Fogg's Manor, Pennsylvania, was this
youth ; and by his coming and labouring among them the pledge
was redeemed.
REV. DR. RODGERS, 61
One of the confidential elders of this extraordinary preacher
once said to him; — " Mr. Davies, how is it, that you, who are
so well-informed upon all theological subjects, and can express
yourself with so much ease and readiness, should think it ne-
cessary to prepare and write your sermons with so much care,
and lake your notes into the pulpit, and make such constant
use of them? Why do you not, like many other preachers,
ofreiier preach extempore?' Mr. Davies replied, " I always
thought it to be a most awful thing to go into the pulpit, and
th'^re speak nonsense in the name of God. Besides, when I
have an opportunity of preparing, and neglect to do so, 1 am
a 'raid to look up to God for assistance, for that would be to
ask him to countenance my negligence. But when I am evi-
dently called upon to preach, and have had no opportunity to
make preparation, I am not afraid to try to preach extempore,
and I can with confidence look up to God for assistance."
REV. DR. RODGERS.
There is something in the following anecdote equally adapted
to interest the Christian and to excite a spirit of inquiry in the
mind of the philosopher.
In the earlv life of Dr. Rodgers, he was appointed by his
presbytery to visit three congregations in Virginia, in com-
pany with the Rev., afterwards President Davies. On thoir
way a remarkable circumstance occurred. Mr. Rodgers, from
his earliest years, had been unusually fearful of lightning and
thunder. So great, indeed, were his agitation and sufiin'ing
during thunder-storms, that the prospect of one made him un-
happy. He had taken much pains to get the better of lliis
6
62 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
weakness; but, to use his own language, "neither reason, phi-
losophy, nor religion availed any thing;" and it was the more
distressing, because both he and his friends thought it might
seriously interfere with his ministerial usefulness. But in the
course of the journey of which we are now speaking, he was
entirely delivered from this infirmity, and by means the most
unlikely to be imagined to produce such a happy effect.
While he and Mr. Davies were riding together in Virgniia,
one afternoon., they were overtaken by one of the most tremen-
dous thunder-storms ever known in that part of the country.
They were in the midst of an extensive forest, and several miles
distant from any house which offered even tolerable shelter,
either to them or their horses. The storm came up with great
rapidity; the lightning and thunder were violent beyond all de-
scription; and the whole scene such as might be supposed to
appal the stoutest heart. Their horses, terrified and trembling,
refused to proceed. They were obliged to alight; and, standing
by their beasts, expected every moment to be precipitated into
eternity by the resistless element. Providentially, however,
they escaped unhurt: and the consequence was as wonderful
as the preservation was happy. From that hour Mr. Rodgers
was entirely delivered from the infirmity which had hitherto
given him so much distress.
A member of the Doctor's congregation in New York once
complained to him that his prayers were too methodical, and
that they appeared to be studied. "You are right, sir," said
the doctor, " my prayers are studied. Would you hav(> m^
offer to God that which costs me nothing?"
REV. DR. HARRIS. 63
REV. DR. HARRIS.
The Rev. N. Hall, in his funeral sermon for this valuod
minister, relates an incident which occurred i the first year in
College, interesting in itself, and which exercised a great influence
on his character in the whole of his after life.
His mother, having learned, by a visit to his room, his great
need of comfortable clothing, and unable herself to help him,
save by her hands, had proposed to him to raise in some way
the sum of money, a very small one, which would enable hi.T
to purchase for him what he needed. After many, fruitless
attempts to do this, he set off to meet his mother, as by pre-
vious arrangement, in Boston ; having nothing in possession or
prospect, but a few* cents, which he had transferred from his
trunk to his pocket as he left his room; and these — so strong
were his benevolent sympathies — he gave to a poor cri|)plo(l
soldier that he met on his way, and who, faint and famishing,
solicited his aid. As he went on, deeply depressed at his des-
titute condition, and in despair at his seeming fate, he perceived
something: adhering to the end of his rude staff he had cut on
his way ; and found it to be a gold ring, into which his stafi"
had stuck itself as he walked, and having engraved upon it the
words, " God speed thee, friend." Its pecuniary worth proved
sufficient for his present exigency, and its moral value was in-
calculable, giving him a cheerful faith and confidence in Ckh].
The whole incident, acting upon his sensitive nature, subdued
and overwhelmed him, and gave to his character a stronirer
religious determination. "That motto," said he in after life,
'' has ever been the support of my faith when it was feeble,
and the strentith of mv heart when it was faint."
tJ4 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. DR. KING.
1\ the month of December, 1807, Mr. Maynard was teaching
«'hool m Plainfield, Mass. One cold, blustering morning, on
entering his school-room, he observed a lad whom he had not
seen before, sitting on one ot^ the benches. He was fifteen
years old; his parents lived seven miles distant ; he wanted an
education ; and had come from home on foot that morning, to
see if Mr. M. could help him to contrive how to obtain it.
Mr. M. asked him if he was acquainted with any one in that
place.
" No."
" Can your parents help you towards obtaining an education?"
" No."
" Have you any friends that can give you assistance T'
" No."
" Well, how do you expect to obtain an education'!"
" I don't know, but 1 thought I would come and see you."
Mr. M. told him to stay that day, and he would see
what could be done. He discovered that the boy was possessed
of good sense, but no uncommon brilliancy, and h-e was parti-
cularly struck with the cool and resolute manner in which he
undertook to conquer difficulties which would have intimidated
weaker minds. In the course of the day, Mr. M. made pro-
vision for having him boarded through the winter in the family
with himself, the lad paying for his board by his services out
of school. He gave himself diligently to study, in which he
made good, but not rapid proficiency, improving every oppor-
tunity of reading and conversation for acquiring knowledge,
and thus spent the winter.
When Mr. M. left the place in the spring, he engaged a
minister, who resided about four miles from the boy's father, to
hear his recitations ; and the boy accordingly boarded at home
KKV I)K. KiNi; AM) KEV. HENRY LYMAN.
anil pursued his studies. It is unnecessary to pursue the nar-
rative further. Mr. M. has never seen the lad since; but this
was the early history of the Rev. Dr. Jonas King, whose exer-
tions in the cause of oriental learning, and in alleviatiufj- the
miseries of Greece, have endeared him alike to the scholar
and the philanthropist, and shed a bright ray of glory on his
native country.
rf:v dr king, and rev. henry lyman.
^^''e propDS'^ to sketch another incident, or series of incidents,
connected with Mr. King. They were communicated by an
ardent friend of the missionary cause, and who has contri-
buted largely of his abundant means for its advancement. It
will be remembered that Mr. King, after his election to a pro-
fessorship in one of the eastern colleges, was sent to Europe
on business connected with the institution. While there, it was
deemed important by the American Board of Commissioners,
that he should proceed as a missionary, under their direction,
to Palestine. The college, after some solicitation, was prevail-
ed upon to consent to the arrangement, and a letter was writ-
ten to Mr. King, informing him of the wishes of the Board of
Commissioners. This letter reached Mr. King at Paris, and
was received for him by the gentleman to whom we have
alluded, who was then engaged in mercantile business in
that city This gentleman received a letter at the same time,
d(:siring him to unite with the Board in their endeavours to pro-
cure the valuable services of Mr. King, in that most interest-
ing and important field of labour, Palestine. When Mr. Kins
:;ame into the counting room, the letter was handed to him
f)6 niE AMERICAN CLERGY.
He inmirdiafclv retired with it to a small private adjoining
room. He did not return for about three hours. When he
came out, reaching his hand, he inquired, "What shall I do?"
"Go." "Behold," says he, "I go bound in the spirit to Jeru-
salem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there."
The gentleman immediately wrote to several friends of the
missionary cause in Europe, saying, " Mr. King has consent-
ed to go to Palestine. I will give a certain sum for so many
years : will you do the same ?" Affirmative answers were
returned in every case.
Before he left for Jerusalem, Mr. King requested his friend,
on his return to America, to go and see his aged parents, and
administer to them such consolation as their condition should
require. This he promised ; and this promise he kept, when,
a few years after, he found himself at Northampton, in Massa-
chusetts, and within a few miles of their residence. Knowing
that they were still in indigent circumstances, he determined
not to visit them without an open hand. It was in the winter
season : a sleigh was procured and laden with provisions, and,
rccompanied by a young man, the son of the host from whom
he had procured the sleigh, he started on his long-promised
errand of mercy. On arriving at the house, he found it as he
expected, small and decayed, the inmates of which might well
say :
"No beggar soils the knocker of my door:
The child of rags by instinct shuns the pocr."
VVhen that door was opened by the aged mother, in every
liiu'am(;nt was seen the features of Jonas King. There was
no mistaking the parentage. " I have come," said the am-
hnssador, for such he may well be termed, "from your son
at Jerusalem." The venerable father rose up to receive him,
nnd, after a few hurried questions, said, "Let us pray ;" and
bending down, he returned fervent thanks for his social privi-
leges, and especially for the opportunity offered him of hearing
REV. DR. KING, AND REV. HENRY LYMAN. 67
from his long-absent and beloved son. The provisions were
brought ill. "These," said the ambassador, "are sent by your
son ; at least I present them in his name." "What!" said the
aged and simple-hearted mother, "did these things come all
the way from Jerusalem ?" As the coffee, and tea, and sugar,
were successively placed before them, the good old man said,
"Of a truth God has this day abundantly blessed us : again let
us return thanks;" and he bowed the knee and lifted up his
voice, and gave thanks to God for his goodness to them. The
table was soon spread, and the aged pair, and their son's friend
and their benefactor, were gathered around it ; the lad who
had driven the horses was among the number. A blessing was
invoked, and the meal partaken of with grateful hearts. When
it was over, the day was drawing to a close, and the gentle-
man signified his intention of returning. Before he departed,
the old family Bible was brought forward, and a chapter read.
The eyes of the pious old man were dimmed with ay;e, and he
regretted their decay, especially as it prevented his reading the
sacred word. Again the old man said, "Let us unite in prayer,"
and again he bowed himself, and invoked the choicest blessings
upon hi? son and upon his friend. With a heart filled with love
and admiration of the piety of these aged saints, and depos't-
ins secretly between the leaves of the old Bible a twentv-dol-
lar bill, that friend departed, expecting in all probability never
to see their faces again on earth. A few years afterwards, the
same jientleman was attending a Commencement in one of the
New England colleges. After the close of the exercises, a
young gentleman approached him, and, addressing him by
name, said, "You probably do not recollect me, but I am the
person who accompanied you on your visit to the parents of
Jonas Kincr ; I date my first serious religious impressions from
that day." That young man was the Rev. Henry Lyman, who
was afterwards missionary to India, and whose prospects ot
usefulness, and whose life, were terminated by the melanc^holy
'^9 THE AMERICAN CLB:RGY.
je.ith of liimsoir and associate, by the cannibals of the island
of Borneo. The good old man has gone to his rest, and by
his will, left to the friend of his son, the old family Bible.
A CLERGYMAN.
Some years ago, a clergyman, who was a widower, married
the widow of a deceased minister of another denomination.
She was a woman highly esteemed for her correct views of
Divine truth, and for sincere and consistent piety. She had
not long accompanied her new companion in his public and
social worship, before she became pensive and dejected. This
awakened the solicitude of her companion, who insisted on
knowing the cause. At length, with trembling hesitancy, she
observed, " Sir, your preaching would starve all the Christians
in the world." " Starve all the Christians in the world !"
said the astonished preacher ; "why, do I not speak the truth ?"
"Yes," replied his wife, "and so you would were you to stand
in the desk all day, and say my name is Mary. But, sir, there
is something besides the letter in the truth of the gospel." The
result was, a very important change in the ministerial efforts
of this clergyman ; after which his partner sat and heard him
with great delight.
AN INDIAN MISSIONARY. 69
AN INDIAN MISSIONARY.
Every Christian must review with deep interest the history
of the rise and progress of religion among (jur Indians. The
following narrative was given by a gentleman of the United
States, when on a visit to England, and was published in that
country in 1838 : —
It was in the autumn of 1832, in the regions of the far-west,
when the shadows of the forest were deepening in the twilight
over the waters of the Columbian river, that a traveller, whom
commerce had led to seek out the tribe of Indians dwellinor
upon its borders, (commonly called "the Flat-headed Indians,")
appeared at the entrance of a wigwam, asking for food and
water, in broken accents, but in their own language. When
rested and refreshed, its owner asked his errand, which proved
to be one of barter, and made him very welcome to these child-
ren of the wilderness.
The savage who received him was tall, erect, and finely
formed, with an expression of intelligence about his eyes and
forehead which might have bespoken the power of civilization.
"You are weary," he said to the stranger, "and it was well
that you reached our shelter before the voice of the great
Eagle was abroad upon the mountains."
"What do you mean ?" asked his guest, at the same m-MTient
looking forth at the clouded sky ; — " and what is the voice of
the o;reat Ea2;le ?"
" Hear it now," replied the savage, as the first peal of thun-
der rolled, and echoed round the hills. "The great Spirit is
riding down the water-fall ! Do you not hear him in the
wind? I am afraid of him, and so surely you must be. Let
us speak against his harm."
"I fear nothing," replied the hardy wanderer. " Rut is this
spirit a good or a bad spirit? — and have you more spirits than
one in your country ?"
id THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
"We have a good Spirit," was the answer, " but we never
speak to him — he will do us no evil : and we have a bad
spirit, who is the great eagle I told you of; and we pray to
him, that he may not work us harm. What spirits have vou
in your country ?"
" 1 come," said the stranger, "from the Ohio ; and the men
in those parts have a book which teaches them a new way to
heaven ; or, as you would call it, to the sky. They say that
they shall live again after they die, and live up there — that is,
if they please their great Spirit."
" What is a book ? — 1 should like to see it," said the Indian.
"And about living after death, I want to know. How far is
it to the Ohio?"
" It is three thousand miles," replied the traveller, "and all
through the desert. You never will reach the Ohio; — but all
I have said to you is true."
The Indian turned into his hut to sleep ; but he could not
sleep at all, — and he walked out again into the clear still moon-
litrht, when the storm was hushed, to think about the book
which could teach the way into the sky. There were two men
in his tribe to whom he repeated, the next morning, what the
traveller had said ; and he asked them if they would go with
him to fetch such a book from beyond the mountains. They
agreed, — and after a~ season the traveller went on his way, and
they too took their journey in an opposite direction. They
lived by the chase, endured innumerable perils, and were six
pionths on their road ; — but at last arrived at their destination,
and entreated to see the book of which they had heard, and to
be taught that which they did not know.
Their history excited great interest — they were welcomed and
instructed ; but ere many months had passed, the savage who
had first heard the good news from the traveller, — worn out
with the fatigue and hardships of his journey — fell ill and died :
not, ' ( wever, before he had listened to the glad tidings of sal-
A YOUNG MINISTER. 71
vation bv Jesus Christ ; and declared that he believed the book.
A still deeper feeling was occasioned by his death. A mission-
ary offered himself to return with the two others to their
homes ; and did accompany them back to the Columbian
River. Accounts were received from him of his safe arrival,
his joyful reception by the tribe, and of his beginning to dis-
tribute among them the water of life.
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN.
Pains taken in the composition of sermons are not labour
thrown away. An eminent scholar, the president of one of
our universities, re- wrote the most useful of his sermons
thirteen or fourteen times, and laboured, in connection with
a literary tnend, two whole days on two sentences. A living
divine, who has been called the prince of our pulpit orators,
spent a fortnight on a single discourse, which has already ac-
complished more good than four thousand sermons written
by another of our pastors, at the rate of two a week. On
the blank leaf of one of Dr. Griffin's manuscripts, it appear-
ed that his discourse had been preached ninety times ! Thus
had it been touched and retouched, reviewed and rewritten,
till, so far as the author's power availed, it was perfected.
A YOUNG MINISTER.
A YOUNG minister, a few years since, received a call from
wo different societies at once, to become their pastor. One
I
i2 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
()'■ them was unit(?d and rich, and therefore able to give him a
large salary ; the other was poor, and so divided that they had
driven away their minister. In this condition he applied to
his father for advice. An aged coloured servant, who over-
heard what was said, made this reply; "Massa, go where
there is the least money and the most devil." The minister
took the advice, united the church, and converted many souls
to Christ.
REV. MR. WILLEY.
The Rev. Mr. Willey, of New Hampshire, at a public meetmg
in Park Street church, Boston, gave the history of a lad in a
retired part of the country, to whom a pious lady, after seri-
ous conversation, gave the " Saints' Rest." He read it, became
deeply interested, and carried it to the barn where he was em-
ployed, weeping over its pages, and over his hardness of heart,
and praying to be saved from the miseries of the lost. But
these impressions died away ; and some years after, on the
Sabbath, in Boston, he wandered into the very church where
the meeting was then assembled, where, under the appeals of
the venerable Dr. Griffin, all his former solicitude for his un-
dying soul was revived, and he was led immediately to apply
to a clergyman of the city for the " Saints' Rest." After con-
siderable trouble the long-sought volume was found and read,
portions of it, time after time, during the week. On the Sab-
bath this youth was seen in this house, a weeping stranger,
sometimes in one part of it and sometimes in another. It was
in that gallery, referring to the west galk^ry, as he has since
ventured to hope, he poured out his soul unto God, and that
light began to dawn upon him, which has since been as the
KEN. DR. GRIFllN. 73
rising light of day. This youth was the eldest in a family of
ten children, all of wJiom, together xcith both parents^ have
since been brought to hope in the mercy of God, and to unite
with his people ; and of the five sons, four are in the Christian
ministry. ^
REV. DR. GRIFFIN.
TifE late Rev. Dr. E. D. Griffin was exceedingly careful in
the preparation of his sermons. Dr. Sprague says that he
was once at his house, and in view of preaching, went into his
study to read over his sermon. He called for ink and sand,
and began to strike out, and to pour on the sand. The manu-
script was already black with erasures and insertions, but the
work went on, the paper growing darker every moment. One
of the little children coming up, and looking on the blotted and
blurred manuscript, corrected and re-corrected, said, " How can
you read your sermon? It is all scratched out'.'" He was
particular in covering with ink every word erased, so that it
could not be read.
The remark of the child led him to speak of his custom;
and said he, " This I regard as one chief excellence of my
preaching, if I have any." He continued, " I have a plain
figure which I use in the study ; it will not do for the public
ear; but it serves to illustrate my point. If you put swing-
ling tow upon a hetchel, you can ride to Boston on it ; but if
you pull out the tow," holding up his fingers to represent the
process, "and let the points stick up, they will prick : so," added
he, " you may cover up the truth with ornaments and words,
till the conscience cannot be reached. You must jiull out the
7
7 4 iHl:: A.MKKKJA.N CLLKGV.
tou- — tlie points arc the truth — pull out the tow, and let lh<:
points stick up." A better illustration, ns Dr. Sprague remarks,
was never given. If our sermons had less " tow," and more
naked " points," they would do more execution.
SEVERAL EMINENT CLERGYMEN.
The Rev, Dr. Hill, of Virginia, some time since, made the
following statement at a public meeting of a Tract Society : —
I lost my sainted mother when I was a youth, but not before
the instructions which I received from her beloved lips had
made a deep impression upon my mind ; an impression which
1 carried with me into a college, (Hampden Sidney,) where
there was not' then one pious student. There I often reflected,
when surrounded by young men who scoffed at religion, upon
the instructions of my mother, and my conscience was frequent-
ly sore distressed. I had no Bible, and dreaded getting one,
lost it should be found in my possession. At last I could stand
it no longer, and therefore requested a particular friend, a youth
whose parents lived near, and who often went home, to ask
his pious and excellent mother to send me some religious books.
She sent me Alleine\ Alarm^ an old black book, which looked
as if it might have been handled by successive generations for
one hundred years. When I got it, I locked my room and lay
on my bed reading it, when a student knocked at my door;
and although I gave him no answer, dreading to be found read-
ing such a book, he continued to knock and beat the door, until
I had to open il. He came in, and seeing the book lying on
the bed, he seized it, and examining its title, he said, — "Why,
Hill, do vou read such books?" I hesitated, but God enabled
SEVERAL EMINENT CLERGYMEN. 75
me to be decided, and tell him boldly, but with much emotion,
" Yes, I do." The young man replied with deep agitation,
"Oh, Hill, you may obtain religion, but / never can. I came
here a professor of religion ; but through fear, I dissembled it,
and have been carried along with the wicked, until 1 tear that
there is no hope for me." He told me that there were two
others, who he believed were somewhat serious. We a<'-reed
to take up the subject of religion in earnest, and seek it toge-
ther. We invited the other two, and held a prayer-meeting in
my room on the next Saturday afternoon. And Oh, what a
prayer-meeting ! We tried to pray, but such prayer I never
heard the like of. We knew not how to pray, but tried to do
it. It was the first prayer-meeting that I ever heard of. We
iried to sing, but it was in a suppressed manner, for we feared
the other students. But they found it out, and gathered around
the door, and made such a noise, that some of the officers haa
to disperse them. And so serious was the disturbance, that
the President, the late excellent Rev. Dr. John B. Smith, had
to investigate the matter at prayers that evening, in the prayers'
hall. When he demanded the reason of the riot, a rinsleader
in wickedness got up and stated, that it was occasioned by
three or four of the boys holding prayer-meeUng^ and they
were determined to have no such doings there. The good
President heard the statement with deep emotion, and looking
at the youths charged with the sin of praying, with tears in his
eyes, he said, "Oh, is there such a state of things in this col-
lege? Then God has come near to us. My dear young
friends, you shall be protected. You shall hold your next
meeting in my parlour, and I will be one of your number.''
Sure enough, we had our next meeting in his parlour, and half
the college was there ; and there began the glorious revival ol
religion, which pervaded the college and spread into the coun-
try around. Many of those students became ministers of the
gospel. The youth who had brought mo AHeine's Alarm from
76 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
his mother was my friond, the Rev. C. Still, preaching in this
State. And he who interrupted me in reading the work, my
venerable and worthy friend, the Rev. Dr. H , is now pre-
sident of a coUeue in the West.
REV. E. T. TAYLOR.
A PIOUS English widow, who resided among ignorant and
vicious neighbors in the suburbs of Boston, Mass., determined
to do what she could for their spiritual benefit. She opened
her little front room for weekly prayer-meetings, and engaged
some pious Methodists to aid in conducting them.
Among others who attended was a young sailor of intelligent
and prepossessing countenance. A slight acquaintance showed
him to be very ignorant of even the rudiments of education ;
but he had evidently such superior talents that the widow became
much interested in his spiritual welfare, and prayed much that
God would instruct and convert him, and make him useful.
But in the midst of her anticipations, he was suddenly sum-
moned away to sea. He had been out but a short time when
the vessel was seized by a British privateer and carried into
Halifax, N. S , where the crew suffered by a long and wretch-
ed imprisonment.
A year had passed away, during which the good woman had
heard nothing of the young sailor. Still she remembered and
prayed for him with the salicitude of a mother. About this
time she also was called to Halifax on business. While there,
her habitual disposition to be useful, led her with a few friends
to visit the prison with Bibles and tracts. In one apartme t
were the American prisoners. As she approached the grat- '
REV. E. T. TAYLOR. 77
door, a voice shouted her name, calling her mother, and a youth
appeared and leaped for joy at the grate. It was the lost sailor
boy ! They wept and conversed like mother and son, and
when she left she gave him a Bible — his future guide and
comfort.
During her stay at Hali ax, she constantly visited the prison,
supplying the youth with tracts, religious books, and clothiuir,
and endeavouring by her conversation to secure the religious
impression made on his mind at the prayer-meetings in Boston.
A-fter many months she removed to a distant part of the pro-
vince ; and for years she heard nothing more of the young
sailor.
We pass over a period of many years, and introduce the
reader to Father Taylor, the distinguished mariners' preacher
in the city of Boston. In a spacious and substantial chapel,
crowded about by the worst habitations in the city, this distin-
guished man delivered, every Sabbath, discourses as extraordi-
nary, perhaps, as are to be found in the Christian world. In
the centre column of seats, guarded sacredly against all other
intrusion, sat a dense mass of mariners — a strange medley of
M'hite, black, and olive, Protestant, Catholic, and Pagan. On
the other seats in the galleries, the aisles, the altar, and on the
pulpit stairs, were crowded, week after week, and year after
year — the families of sailors, and the poor who had no other
temple — the elite of the city — the learned professor — the stu-
dent — the popular writer — the actor — groups of clergymen,
and the votaries of gayety and fashion, listening with throb-
bing hearts and wet eyes, to a man whose only school had
been the forecastle, whose only endowments were those of
grace and nature, but whose shrewd sense, keen wit, glow-
ing fancy, melting pathos, and energetic delivery would
allow none to be inattentive or luiafTected in his audience.
In the year 183-, an aged English local preacher moved
into the city of Boston from the British provinces.
78 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
'I'lie old local prrachf'r was mingling in a public throng one
(lay wilh a friend, vviicn ihcy met " Father T — ." A few words
of introduction led to a free conversation, in which the former
residence of his wife in the city was mentioned, and allusion
was made to her prayer-meeting — her former name was asked
by "Father T — ;" he seemed seized by an impulse— inquired
their residence, hastened away, and in a short time arrived in
a carriage, with all his family, at the home of the aged pair.
There a scene ensued which must be left to the imagination
of the reader. " Father Taylor" was the sailor boy of the
prayer-meeting and the prison. The old lady was the widow
who had first cared for his soul. They had met once more !
REV. DR. PAYSON.
A WRITER in the Christian Mirror says : — As a preacher,
Payson was eminently prayerful. It was manifest in private
intercourse with his Divine Master. " Payson," said an elder-
ly minister of Christ, respecting him, "Payson does not need
to go to the throne of grace, for he is ahvays there." About
the time I was licensed, and was leaving for the field where I
laboured sixteen years, he said to me — " Brother M., I would
never leave my study without having first prayed." And he
seemed to read the holy word with much prayer. He studied,
he planned, he wrote, he pronounced his sermons in prayer.
He seemed to be habitually sensible that God only could give
his words success ; and such was his faith in the efficacy of
prayer, that he once said to the writer, "If 1 really knew I
needi.'d two such worlds as this for my own private accommoda-
REV. DR. STRONG. 79
tion, I should no more hesitate to ask for them, tlinn I should
hesitate to ask for my daily bread." And exercising this laith
in the efHcacy of prayer, it is not strange that he should be
much in prayer for the Holy Spirit to accompany his efforts
in the ministry. Here was his chief dependence for success.
For though his powers of oratory were far above most in the
holy office — though his imagination was most inventive and
brilliant — seldom surpassed — his memory remarkably tena-
cious, and his reading extensive, yet his dependence for suc-
cess, I repeat it, was on the promised assistance of the Holy
Spirit. This was seen in his sermons. It was especially seen
in his addresses at the throne of grace. The assembly to whom
he administered were, by his manner in prayer, made to feel
that their minister leaned upon an almighty arm, in his great
work. They heard him address the Saviour in such humble
confidence, as to convince them that there was his only hope.
REV. DR. STRONG.
The Rev. Mr. was appointed many years ago to preach
the election sermon before the governor, senators and repre-
sentatives of Connecticut. Unaccustomed to such an audience,
he displayed no little diffidence and trepidation in prospect of
appearing before so much talent and dignity. This being no-
ticed by the company in which he was, a brother in the minis-
try, of a different mental character, said to him, "Why, bro-
ther , don't mind the governor and the great people; just
think they are all cabbage heads, and then you will be at your
ease." "Think no such thing," said the excellent Dr. Stronu,
taking his friend aside; "think that you are going to preach
80 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
before the most intellectual, and honorable, and learned audi-
ence that can be assembled in the State ; hear in mind that
they are immortal men, who will stand with you in the judg-
ment of the great day ; remember that angels are present, and
so is your Lord and Master ; fill your thoughts with a sense of
his presence, and your obligations; think of his goodness and
his promises ; let God fill your whole field of vision, and man
will appear in his proper diminutiveness ; rely upon it, the
more your mind is awed by reflections like these, the more
calm, and balanced, and composed will it be." The preacher
took the advice thus rendered, and afterwards thanked the
friend who gave it, for the happy effects which it produced.
INCIDENTS CONNECTED AVITH THE PULPIT
LABOURS OF THE CLERGY.
(81)
REV. DOCTOR RODGERS. P"l
REV. DOCTOR RODGERS.
The following is one among many instances which migh
De given of the striking character of the preaching of this ex-
cellent man, while he resided at St. George's, before his remo-
val to New York.
The celebrated George Whitefield had appointed, on a cer-
tain day, to preach within a few miles of Mr. Rodgers' resi-
dence; and the people of the neighbourhood assembled to the
number of from five to six thousand. Owing, however, to
some circumstance, not now known, Mr. Whitefield did not
arrive. The people, after waiting in vain for a considerable
time, urged Mr. Rodgers, who was present, to rise and address
them. For any man, with the best preparation, to take the
place of Whitefield, and preach to an audience assembled to
hear hiin^ would have been an arduous task ; but to do this on
a sudden call, and with scarcely any preparation, was much
more so. Mr. Rodgers, however, wisely made it one of the
first principles of his ministry, never to shrink from any ser-
vice to which the providence of God evidently called him. He
therefore determined, without any hesitation, to comply with
the request of his friends ; and, after a moment's premeditation,
rose and preached to the multitude in the open air. The con
sequences were most happy. It proved, indeed, a day of
power. It was the opinion of many who heard him, that not-
withstanding all the disadvantages of the occasion, the preacher
scarcely ever spoke so acceptably or so well. The congregation,
on dispersing, unequivocally manifested that they had not been
disappointed ; and very many had reason long to remember tn*;
soi?mn;nes of the day with grateful and endearing joy.
\
&4 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
When the Doctor was a young man, in the summer of 1748,
he spent some time in Maryland, where his preaching and his
manners were very attractive, and where he met with con-
siderable success.
One case, that of a Mr. Winder, a gentleman of great wealth
and urbanity, may be more distinctly alluded to. He was a polite
scholar, and a member of the Episcopal Church, but, neverthe-
less, called with much courtesy on his neighbours where Mr.
Rodgers was visiting, and invited the young Presbyterian
preacher to pay him a visit. Mr. Rodgers accepted, and, pre-
viously to his going, was apprized by his friends that Mr. W.
was a zealous, high-toned Episcopalian, and a very determined
opponent of the doctrine of Election. He was scarcely seated
in his chair at Mr. W.'s house, before that gentleman introduced
the controversy respecting Election, by asking his opinion of a
book on the subject which lay upon the table. Our young
preacher replied that he had never before seen the book, but
that he was a very firm believer in the doctrine of Election, and
regarded it as a very important and precious part of the Christian
system. This plunged them at once into the very midst of the
dispute, which was continued, with a few interruptions, during
the day. At its close, Mr. W. acknowledged himself silenced
but not convinced, and dismissed his guest in the evening with
much respect and friendliness.
The next Sabbath Mr. Rodgers preached in the neighbour-
hood, and Mr. Winder was one of his hearers. The faithful
and animated discourse was founded on Ephesians, ii. 8 ; " For
by grace are ye saved, through faith ; and that not of your-
selves, it is the gift of God." This sermon reached the heart
of Mr. W. He, in common with a number of others, was
deeply affected in the course of the service, and retired from trie
house of worship with very different views of himself, and of
the way of salvation, from those which he had entertained
before. The next day he called on Mr. Rodgers, not to cavil
REV. UK. KODGEUS, 85
ut the doctrine of Election, nor to speculate on the mysteries
of religion, but to ask, as a convinced .simier, what he must do
to be saved. His heart was now softened, his difficulties in a
great measure removed, and he was convinced that if he were
saved at all, it must be by grace alone. He was ready to
acknowledo-e himself an instance of the sovereimity of divine
mercy, and in a short time found peace and consolation in the
truths which a few days before he had opposed as unscripturai
and forbidding. He united with the church, and became for
many years an exemplary ruling elder, and often spoke of the
revolution which his views and hopes had undergone, and of
the circumstances attending it, with deep humility and lerveni
gratitude.
The impression which this excellent man could produce b\
his preaching, may be further judged of from the following
facts :
At the meeting of the Synod in 1774, he was appointed to
spend a number of weeks, in the summer and autumn of that
year, on a missionary tour, through the northern and north-
western parts of the province of New York. He devoted seve-
ral months to that service, and with renewed zeal and assiduity,
for the most part in places utterly destitute of the means ot'
erace. These labours were the immediate or remote means
of forming many churches, which have since proved large,
flourishing, and happy.
The period at which the Doctor fulfilled this mission was that
rendered memorable by the warm dispute hot ween the settlers
in the territory whirh is now Vermont, and the government
of New Yoi-k, which claimed that territory as lying within its
jurisdiction. Measures of great decision, and even violence,
had been taken bv both parties a short time before he went into
that country ; so that ho found the public mind, particularly in
86 THE A3IEKICAN CLERGY.
Vermont, highly irritated and inflamed. Nothing was further
from tlie Doctor's view than any j)olitical design; but some of
tlie jealous and exasperated Vermonters, knowing that he came
Irorn the capital of New York, and connecting every thing
with the existing disputes, suspected him of being engaged in
some mission or plan unfriendly to their claims. Tn a par-
ticular town which he had entered by appointment, for the solo,
purpose of preaching, he observed, a little before the public
service began, several rough and fierce-looking men approach
the house in which he was about to preach, and enter into
very earnest and apparently angry conversation with those
who stood near the door. He was utterly ignorant at the time
of their design, or of the subject of their conversation; but was
afterwards informed that they were very warmly contending
with his friend that he was a spy, and of course a very
dangerous person, and th'it he ought to be immediately arrested.
It was in vain that the friends of the Doctor remonstrated, on
the ground of the sac redness of his office, and the solemnity
of the duty in which he was about to engage, and to attend on
which the people were now collected together. His angry
accusers replied, that the more sacred his office, the greater
his power of doing mischief; and that to allow him to escape
would be treason to their cause. At length, finding that all
they could say availed nothing to his exculpation, and that the
most positive assurances of his being known to be a man of
pious and exemplary character, only rendered these hostile
and ardent spirits more determined in their original purpose,
the Doctor's friends only begged them to delay the seizure of
his person until after divine service should be closed, as it
would be a pity to disappoint so large a congregation as had
then assembled for public worship. To this proposal, after
much persuasion, they reluctantly consented, and divine service
began. The exercises were more than usually solemn and
.mpressive ; many of the congregation were in tears; and even
REV. MR. S. 87
those who had come into the assembly filled with so much
resentment, were observed to be softened with those around
them. When worship was ended, they said nothing about
their plan of arresting the preacher, but quietly retired, and
suffered him to pursue his journey.
Two or three days after this, while the Doctor was preaching
in a more northern town in the same district of country, soon
after the service had begun, he saw two men enter the assembly,
marked with countenances of peculiar ferocity and rage. He
afterwards learned that they had come under the same impres-
sions and with the same views as their predecessors in violence.
They had, however, resolved to wait till the service should be
ended, and then to arrest the preacher. The exercises of the
day, as in the former case, were the means of disarming them.
When the benediction was pronounced, they withdrew, saying
to each other, that they were probably mistaken in the man,
and had better go home.
REV. MR. S.
The Rev. Mr. S., a distinguished Methodist preacher, who
was well known in the West, was once preaching with great
fo rvQur on the freeness of the gospel, and around him was an
attentive congregation, with eager eyes turned to the preacher,
and drinking every word into their souls. Among the rest
was an individual who had been more remarkable for openin<j'
his mouth to say amen, than for opening his purse. Though
he never gave money for the support of the gospel, yet he
might be said to support the pulpit, for he always stood hi/ if.
He had, on this occasion, taken his usual place near the
Drencher's stand, and was making his responses with more
than usual animation. After a burst of burning eloquence
I
88 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
from the preacher, he clasped his hands, and cried out in a
kind of ecstacy, " Yes, thank God ! I have been a Methodist
for twenty-five years, and it hasn't cost me twenty-five
cents !" " God bless your stingy soul !" was the preacher's
emphatic reply.
A CLERGYMAN IN INDIANA.
On a fine summer's day, in 1840, a clergyman was called
to preach in a town in Indiana, to a youthlul congregation.
At the close of his discourse, he addressed his young hearers
in some such words as these: " Learn that the present life is
j a preparation for, and has a tendency to, eternity. The pre-
' sent is linked to the future throughout creation, in the vegeta-
ble, in the animal, and in the moral world. As is the seed, so
is the fruit; as is the egg, so is the fowl ; as is the boy, so is
the man ; as is the rational being in this world, so will he be in
the next. Dives estraniied from God here, is Dives estranged
from God there; and Enoch walking with God here, is Enoch
walking with God in a calmer and better world. I beseech
you, then, live for a blessed eternity. Go to the worm that you
tread upon, and learn a lesson of wisdom. The very cater-
pillar seeks the food that fosters it for another and similar
state ; and, more wisely than man, builds its own sepulchre,
from whence in time, by a kind of resurrection, it comes forth
a new creature, in almost an angelic form. And now, that
which was hideous is beautiful ; and that which crawled, flies
and that which ied on comparatively gross food, sips the dew
and revels in the rich pastures — an emblem of that paradise
where flows the river of life, and grows the tree of life. Could
the caterpillar have been diverted from its proper element and
mode of life, it had never attained the butterfly's s[)lendid form
REV. J. KENNADAY. 80
and hue ; it had perished a worthless worm. Consider her
ways, and be wise. Let it not be said that j'ou are more
neghgent than worms, and that your reason is less available
than their instinct. As often as the butterfly flits across your
path, remember that it whispers in its flight, ' Live for the
Future.' "
With this the preacher closed his discourse; but, to deepen
ihe impressions, a butterfly, directed by the Hand which guides
alike the sun and an atom in its course, fluttered through the
church, as if commissioned by Heaven to repeat the exhorta-
tion. There was neither speech nor language, but its voice
was heard, saying to the gazing audience, " Live for the
Future."
REV. J. KENNADAY.
The following facts were narrated by the Rev. J. Kennaday,
in a sermon before a Methodist Conference in the United States :
1 remember, on one occasion, in the early part of my minis-
try, when I visited one of my appointments upon the circuit I
then travelled, I was seated amid my studies, seriously reflect-
ing upon my labours in that village, when one of the brethren,
an aged and judicious man, entered my room, and after a few
moments' conversation on the state of the congregation, more
marked for the greatness of its numbers, and the solemnity of
its general attention, than for the instances of conversion,
observed, " I have thought that I would suggest to you the
propriety of preaching, this evening, on the love of God. I
sometimes think we hear so much of terror and of wrath, that
the people become hardened." I thanked him for his advice,
f )r I believed it was given in candour and affection. He had
been gone from my room but a little while, when aiifthei
8*
ijy) THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
pnlered, a brother deservedly beloved, and of no less influence.
I soon perceived that the state of the congregation was the
burden of his heart. In a little time be remarked, " I thought
I would take the liberty of advising you to preach a sermon
to-night, on the terrors of the law. It is a long time since we
heard a sermon truly alarming, and the people, I fear, are
presuming unjustly upon that love of which they hear so con-
stantly. Give us something, brother, that will arouse." Could
opinions be more conflicting? And yet they were men of sound
piety, and of no ordinary judgment. This little incident, so
early occurring, taught me, through my ministry, incessantly
and intensely, so to "speak, not as pleasing men, but God."
REV. DR. GRIFFIN.
Soon after the settlement of the late Rev. E. D. Griffin at
Newark, he preached a sermon on the doctrine of election.
Many of his hearers were offended; and some of his principal
supporters threatened to leave him. A great excitement
existed ; for a heavy blow had been struck. They went to
Dr. Richards with their complaints. He told them to be
,calm — not to act rashly. If that doctrine was of God, it
would stand : and he cautioned them not to be found fighting
against God. Dr. G. soon after called upon him, and said, in
great agitation, " I have ruined myself — I have broken up my
congregation." " I hope not," said Dr. R. Dr. G. inquired
what he should do. Dr. R. replied, " I will tell you. Go
home, and write two sermons on the doctrine of election, with
as much care and consideration as though your life depended
on cvf ry sentence. Pray over them ; and next Sabbath
preach them, under the consciousness that the eye of tha
REV. DR. GRIFFIN. 91
Saviour is upon yon." He sat with a fixf^d look, uhilo his
friend was speaking. No sooner had he ceased, than iJr G.
sprang on his feet, and said, as he left the room, " I'll do it."
The Sabbath came. Dr. Richards obtained a supply for his
pulpit, and was present to hear his friend. In the interval, he
had seen the disaffected persons, and others; and urged all to
attend. He sat in a retired part of the house, and observed
Dr. G., as he entered the church, fiis great soul was op-
pressed. His noble countenance beamed with light — his eye
was full of fire. He preached like a dying man. The house
was still as death. The Spirit of God was there. In the
afternoon, every seat, and aisle, and corner, was crowded.
All Newark was moved. Dr. G. stood up, and vindicated
the law and government of God. He rose with the subject,
till an awe was felt which subdued every heart. The effect
was wonderful. Those very men came round him, as he de-
scended from the pulpit, and wept. The Spirit of God sub-
dued them. That day, " the great revival," of which every
one has heard, began ; and before it ceased, hundreds were
converted to Jesus Christ.
A writer in the Christian Review of 1839, gives the following
description of a scene he himself witnessed. Speaking of Dr.
Griffin, he says : — We remember him, on one occasion, as he
was about to preach before a large assembly of an evening. It
was a time of deep interest in religion. He always took ample
time to review his sermon, and get his heart in a proper frame,
before he went into the pulpit. As he entered the sanctuary,
his majestic form and snow-white head attracted every eye
He seemed to be pondering awful subjects, as he ascended the
sacred desk. He rend the hvmn in a frcmuI.Mis tone. His
praver was short, 'v:mi)lf', '"^'' '"'"'i'*'!'^'^'' ^s he arose behind a
I
{)\i THE AMERIf'AX ( LERCY.
KMiiporary breast-work, erected to accommodate his unusual
lioight, he looked around the assembly with the solicitude of a
|)arcnt. His text was Isa, i, IS. — "Come, now, and let us
reason together, saith the Lord." His feelings, the subject, the
place, the assembly, all conspired to give uncommon interest
to the effort. After a few remarks, he said : — " My business,
at present, is with impenitent sinners. I would single them
out from the crowd, and take them aside, and say in their
ear — I have a message from the Lord to deliver to you. I
am sent to reason with you, in His name, about the high con-
cerns of a future world — about your interests a thousand ages
hence — about the claims which the Sovereign of the world has
upon you, and the long score of uncancelled charges which
He has against you. Let Christians stand by, and assist me
with their prayers, while I attempt to recall from death this
interesting multitude." This happy introduction seemed to
divest his manner of the formality of the preacher, and his ad-
dress of the regularity of a sermon. We could think of no-
thing but a parent speaking, in all the tenderness of his heart,
to his wayward offspring. His tender spirit, and subdued
tones, served to render the illusion the more complete. " My
poor hearers," he continued, " you have oflen considered an
address from the pulpit as a matter of course, and felt no per-
sonal interest in it. But it must not be so now. I have
a solemn errand from the Lord to do to you, one by one."
Each one seemed disposed to give him his hand, and come to
his side, to hear his message. He then proceeded, in an easy
way, to reason and expostulate with them. There was the
most breathless attention. He was short, direct, and over-
whelming. We think we see him now, as he stood, at the
close, referring his weeping hearers to the awful scenes of the
judgment : — " My beloved friends," he said, " I expect soon to
meet you at that bar, and give an account of my labours
among you to-night." It is solemn to reflect, that many who
J
REV. DR. GRIFFIX. 93
heard him on that evening are in eternity. They have met
him before the throne of God. As though an unwonted .solem-
nity had come over him, he said, wiili deep unction : " It is in
lull view of that awful scene, that 1 am speaking thus to you.
I would not have you perish ; but" — gathering himself up, he
said, with great deliberation — " but if you perish, I would clear
my garments of your blood."
As though not satislied, and reluctant to leave them, he
came forward in the pulpit, and said, with impassioned tones:
— " But you must not perish. The calls of mercy are still out.
I have returned to my text, and found it written — ' Though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' These hea-
venly words, issuing iVom the eternal throne, still mingle their
sounds about your ears. There is yet hope. You need not
perish. The door of mercy is not yet closed. That Saviour
whom you just now saw on the judgment-seat, once died or.
Calvary. Though you have so long trifled with his blood —
though you have so long abuseti sermons and Sabbaths —
though you have ten thousand times been found in arms
against the Sovereign of the world, yet in that blood, all your
stains may be washed out — all your treasons purged. Only
do not now seal your damnation, by longer rejecting his
mercy. Fall down now at his feet : go not from this house,
till you have bathed them with your tears, and wiped them
with the hairs of your head. This is an awful moment.
Heaven, earth, and hell, are now oj)ened before you. From
the throne of God, which is placed in the midst, the invitation
is still proceeding. Not man, but God himself, is now speak-
ing to you. If you turn away, it will be like those who turned
away when their feet touched the borders of the promised
land. They could not be forgiven, but must perish in the
wilderness. Take care what you do ; for you are now stand-
ing near the Shechinah. Drop the wc^apons from your blocdy
(
<M THE AMERICAN CLERGY-.
hands. With thoso trembling arms, clasp ITis feet; resolving
never to quit your hold : — that if he tread you down, you wih
sink, but that you will never leave the spot, till one look as-
sures you that your sins are forgiven. Oh, could we see you
thus ! Are you afraid to go? Why, it is the same Being who
left the realms of glory to die for you. Go, with greater con-
fidence than you ever went to an earthly parent. Go, with all
your sins upon you. It is not io judge that He has now come.
He has come to heal the broken-hearted, and to preach deli-
verance to the captives. The love of Jesus looks out of his
eye. His hands, bearing still the prints of the nails, are ex-
tended to receive you. Go, and give pleasure to that heart
which bled on the point of the spear. Go, and find your hea-
ven in the sweetness of that embrace. Go. — You see him
there ! — Oh, go !"
Some of his tones yet linger on our ear. Some of his
expressions of countenance are yet present to our recollection.
That picture can never fade from our mind.
REV. W. ROBINSON,
In the year 1473, the Rev. W. Robinson was sent by the
" New Light" presbytery of New Brunswick to preach in
North Carolina, and was engaged to pay a visit to some towns
in Hanover.
On the Saturday before the Sabbath on which he had engaged
to preach there, he had to ride late at night to reach a tavern,
within eight or ten miles of the place. The tavern-keeper was
1 shrewd, boisterous, profane man ; and when uttering some
horrid oath, Mr. Robinson ventured to reprove him ; and
although it was done in a mild manner, the inn-keeper gave
him a sarcastic look, and said, " Pray, sir, who are you, to
A CLERGYMAN IN 3IAINE. 95
•ake such aulhority upon yourself?" " I ani a niinislcr of the
U'ospel," replied Mr. R. "Then you belie your looks very
much," said the tavern-keeper. This referred to the circum-
stance that, owing to the small-pox, Mr. R. had a very rough
face, and had lost the sight of one ol' his eyes. Mr. Robinson
said, " If you wish certainly to know whether I am a minister
or not, if you will accompany me to such a place, you mav be
convinced by hearing me preach." " I wiji," said the nm-
keeper, " if you will preaclj from a text which I shall give
vou." " Let me have it," said Mr. Robinson, " and if there
is nothiny; unsuitable in it, I will." The waggish tavern-
keeper, with the wish of turning him into ridicule, assigned
him the text, *' I am fearfully and wonderfully made," (Psalm
cxxxix. 14.) Mr. Robinson promised that if he would accom-
pany him, he would preach, among iiis first sermons, one from
that text. He did so, and before the sermon was ended, this
wicked man was made to feel that he was the monster, and
that he was fearfully and wonderfully made himself. It is
s;url that he became a very pious and useful member of the
church.
A CLERGYMAN IN MAINE.
'J^HE following fact we copy from Dr. Cotton Mather s Mag
nolia ; we are afraid that it does not present the only instance
where clergymen have attributed good motives to their people
without their being deserved.
There were more than a few attempts of the English, to
people and improve the parts of New England, which were to
rnc northward of New Plymouth ; but the designs of tnose
attempts being aimed no higher than the advancement of some
wnrldlv interests, a constant series of disasters had confounded
ifK^n, until there was a plantation erected upon the noble/
f^fi THE AMERICAN CLERG V
desiiiiis of Christianity ; and that plantation, though perhans it
has had more adversities than any one upon earth, yet, havjng
obtained help from Ciod, it continues to this day. There have
been very fine settlements in the north-east regions ; but wh^t
has become ot' them? I have heard that one of our ministers,
once preaching to a congregation there, urged them to consider
themselves a religious people from this consideration, — that
otherwise they would contradict the main end of planting this
wilderness; whereupon a well-known person, then in the
assembly, cried out, " Sir, you are mistaken : you think yo.i
are preaching to the people at the Bay : our main end was lo
-atch fish."
AN INDIAN MISSIONARY.
In the year 1798, one of the missionaries to the Indians of
the north-west was on his way from the Tuscarora setilement
to the Senecas. Journeying in pious meditation through the
tbrest, a majestic Indian darted from its recesses, and arrestee^
his progress. His hair was somewhat changed with age, and
his face marked with the deep furrows of time; but his eyes
expressed all the fiery vivacity of youthful passion, and his
step was that of a warrior in the vigour of manhood.
" White man of the ocean, whither wanderest thou?" said the
Indian. *' I am travelling," replied the meek disciple of peace,
" towards the dwellings of thy brethren, to teach them the
knowledge of the onlv true God, and to lead them to peace and
happiness," "To peace and happiness!" exclaimed the tall
chief, while his eye seemed to flash fire — "behold the blessin.\js
tliat follow the footsteps of the white man; wherever becomes,
<he nations of tho woodlands fade from the eye, like the misrs
M' morning. Once, over the wide forests of the surrounnmy
world, our people roamed in peace and freedom, n(jr ffvr
AN INDIAN MISSIONARY'. 97
dreamed of greater happiness than to hunt the beaver, the bear,
and the wild deer. From the furthest extremity of the wide
dee(), came the white man, armed with thunder and lightning,
and weapons still more pernicious, in war he hunted us like
wild beasts; in peace lie destroyed us by deadly liquors, or yet
more deadly frauds. But a few moons had passed away, and
whole nations of invincible warriors, and of hunters that fear-
lessly swept the forest and the mountain, perished, vainly
opposing their triumphant invaders ; or quietly dwindled into
slaves and drunkards, and their names withered from the
earth. Retire, dangerous man ; leave us all we have yet left,
our savage virtues and our gods ; and do not, in the vain
attempt to cultivate a rude and barren soil, pluck up the few
thrifty plants of native growth that have survived the fostering
cares of thy people, and weathered the stormy career of their
pernicious friendship." The tall chief darted into the wood, and
the good missionary pursued his way with pious resolution.
He preached the only true Divinity, and placed before the
eyes of the wandering savages the beauty of holiness, the suf-
ferings of the Redeemer, and the sublime glories of the Christian
heaven. He allured them with the hope of everlasting bliss,
and alarmed them with denunciations of an eternity of misery
and despair. The awe-struck Indians, roused by these accu-
mulated motives, many of them adopted the precepts of the
missionary so far as they could comprehend them ; and in the
course of eighteen months, their devotion became rational,
regular, and apparently permanent.
All at once, however, the little church in which the good
man was wont to pen his fold, became deserted. No votary
canio as usual to listen with decent reverence to the pure
doctrines which they were accustomed to hear; and only a
few solitary idlers were seen of a Sunday morning, lounging
about, and casting a wistful, yet fearful look at their little,
peaceful, and now silent mansion.
9
98 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
The missionary sought them out, inquired into the cause of
this mysterious desertion, and told them of the bitterness of
hereafter to those who, having once known, abandoned the
religion of the only true God. The poor Indians shooi<: their
heads, and informed him that the Great Spirit was angry at
their apostasy, and had sent a prophet from the summit of the
Alleghany mountain to warn them against the admivssion of
new doctrines ; that there was to be a meeting of the old men
soon, and that the prophet would then deliver to the people the
message with which he was intrusted. The zealous missionary
determined to be present, and to confront the impostor, who
was known by the appellation of The Prophet of the Alleghany
He accordingly obtained permission from the chiefs to appear
at the council, and to reply to the charges that might be brought
forward. The 12th of June, 1802, was the time for the decision
of the solemn question, " whether the belief of their forefathers
or that of the white men was the true religion." The usual
council-house not being large enough to contain so great an
assemblage of people, they met in a valley about eight miles
to the westward of Seneca Lake. This valley was then em-
bowered under lofty trees; it is surrounded on almost every
side with high rugged hills, and through it meanders a small
river.
It was a scene to call forth every energy of the human heart.
On a smooth level, near the bank of a slow stream, under the
shade of a large elm, sat the chief men of the tribes. Around
the circle which they formed, was gathered a crowd of won-
dering savages, with eager looks, seeming to demand the true
God at the hands of their wise men.
In the middle of the circle sat the aged and travel-worn
missionary. A few gray hairs wandered over his brow, his
hands were crossed on his bosom, and as he cast his hope-
beaming eye to Heaven, he seemed to be calling with pious fer-
A?r INDIAN MISSIONARY. 9ft
vour upon the God of truth, to vindicate his own eternal word
by the mouth of his servant.
For more than half an hour there was silence in the valley,
save the whispering of the trees in the south wind, and the indis-
tinct murmuring of the river. Then all at once a sound of
astonishment passed through the crowd, and the prophet of the
Alleghany was seen descending one of the high hills. With
furious and frenzied step he entered the circle, and waving his
hand in token of silence, the missionary saw with surprise the
same tall chief who, four years before, had crossed him in the
Tuscarora forest. The same panther skin hung over his
shoulder, the same tomahawk quivered in his hand, and the
same fiery and malignant spirit burned in his red eye. He
addressed the awe-struck Indians, and the valley rung with his
iron voice.
" Red men of the woods, hear what the Great Spirit says to
liis children who have forsaken him.
"Through the wide regions that were once the inheritance
of my people, and where for ages they roved as free as the
wild winds, resounds the axe of the white man. The paths of
your forefathers are polluted by their steps, and your hunting-
fields are every day wrested from you by their arts. Once, on
the shores of the mighty ocean, your fathers were wont to
enjoy all the luxuriant delights of the deep. Now you are
exiles in swamps or on barren hills ; and these wretched pos-
sessions you enjoy by the precarious tenure of the white man's
will. The shrill cry of revelry or war is no more heard on
the majestic shores of the Hudson, or the sweet banks of the
silver Mohawk. There, where the Indian lived and died as
free as the air he breathed, and chased the panther and the
deer from morn till evening — even there the Christian slave
cultivates the soil in undisturbed possession ; and as he whis-
tles behind his plough, turns up the sacred remains of your
l)!iried ancestors. Have ye not heard at evening, and some.
100 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
times at dead of night, those mournful and melodious sounds
that steal through the deep valleys, or along the mountain
sides, like the song of echo ? These are the wailings of those
spirits, whose bones have been turned up by the sacrilegious
labours of the white man, and left to the mercy of the rains and
tempest. They call upon you to avenge them — they adjure
you, by every motive that can rouse the hearts of the brave, to
wake from your long sleep, and, by returning to the invaders
of the grave, the long arrears of vengeance, restore again the
tired and wandering spirits to their blissful paradise, far beyond
the blue hills.
"These are the blessings you owe to the Christians. They
have driven your fathers from their ancient inheritance — they
have destroyed them with the sword and poisonous liquors —
they have dug up their bones, and left them to bleach in the
wind — and now they aim at completing your wrongs, insuring
your destruction, by cheating you into the belief of that Divinity,
whose very precepts they plead in justification of all the mise-
ries they have heaped upon your race.
" Hear me, O, deluded people, for the last time ! If you
persist in deserting my altars, if still you are determined to
listen, with fatal credulity, to the strange, pernicious doctrines
of these Christian usurpers — if you are unalterably devoted to
your new Gods, and new customs — if you will be the friends of
the white man, and the followers of his God — my wrath shall
follow you ; I will dart my arrows of forked lightning amongst
your towns, and send the warring tempest of winter to devour
you. Ye shall become bloated with intemperance: your num-
bers shall dwindle away, until but a few wretched slaves sur-
vive ; and these shall be driven deeper and deeper into the
wild, there to associate with the dastard beasts of the forest,
who once fled before the mighty hunters of your tribe. The
spirits of your fathers shall curse you from the shores of thai
hap])y island in the Great Lake, where they enioy an everlast-
AN INDIAN MISSIONARY. 101
iiig season of luinling, and chase the wild deer with docpg
swifter than the wind. Lastly, I swear by the lightning, the
thunder, and the tempest, that in the space of sixty moons, of
all the Senecas, not one of yourselves or your posterity shall
remain on the face of the earth.-'
The prophet ended his message, which was delivered with
the wild eloquence of real or fancied inspiration ; and all at
once the crowd seemed to be agitated with a savaore sentiment
of indignation against the good missionary. One of the fiercest
broke through the circle of old men to despatch him, but was
restrained by their authority.
When this sudden feeling had somewhat subsided, the mild
and benevolent minister of God obtained permission to speak
on behalf of Him by whom he had been sent. Never have 1
seen a more touching, pathetic figure, than this good man. He
seemed past sixty — his figure tall, yet bending — his face mild,
pale, yet highly intellectual — and over his forehead, which
yet displayed its blue veins, were scattered, at solitary dis-
tances, a few gray hairs. Though his voice was clear, and
his action vigorous, yet there was that in his looks which
seemed to say that his pilgrimage was soon to close.
With pious fervour he described to his audience the glory,
power, and beneficence of the Creator of the universe. He
told them of the pure delights of the Christian heaven, and of
the never-ending tortures of those who rejected the precepts of
the gospel. He painted, in glowing and fervid colours, the
filial piety, the patience, the sufferings of the Redeemer, ana
how he died on the cross for the sins of the whole human
race ; and, finally, he touched with energetic brevity on the
unbounded mercies of the Great Being who thus gave his only-
begotten Son a sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.
When he had concluded this part of the subject, he pro-
reeded to place before his now attentive auditors the advan-
lages of civilization, of learning, science, and a regular system
9*
102 THE AMFRICAN CLERGY.
of laws and morality. He contrasted the wild Indian, n aming
the desert in savage independence — now revelling in the blood
of enemies, and in his turn the victim of their insatiable ven-
geance — with the peaceful citizen, enjoying all the comlbrts of
cultivated lile m this happy land; and only bounded in his
indulgences by those salutary restraints which contribute as
well to his happiness as to that of society at large. He de-
scribed the husbandman enjoying, in the bosom of his family,
a peaceful independence, undisturbed by apprehensions of mid-
night surprise, plunder, and assassination ; and he finished by
a solemn appeal to Heaven, that his sole motive for coming
amono- them was the love of the Creator and of his creatures.
As the missionary closed his appeal, Red Jacket, a Seneca
chief of great authority, and the most eloquent of all his
nation, rose and enforced the exhortations of the venerable
preacher. He repeated his leading arguments, and with elo-
quence truly astonishing in one like him, pleaded the cause of
religion and humanity. The ancient council then deliberated
for 'nearly two hours; after which, the oldest man rose and
solemnly pronounced the result of their conference — " That
the Christian God was more wise, just, beneficent, and power-
ful than the Great Spirit; and that the missionary who delivered
his precepts, ought to be cherished as their best benefactor —
their guide to future happiness."
When this decision was pronounced by the venerable old
man, and acquiesced in by the people, the rage of the Prophet
of the Alleghany became terrible. He started from the ground,
seized his tomahawk, and denouncing the speedy vengeance
of the Great Spirit on their whole recreant race, darted from
the circle with wild impetuosity, and disappeared m the sna-
dows of the forest.
AN IMPRESSIVE PREACHER. 103
AN IMPRESSIVE PREACHER.
A MINISTER, a few years since, made the following striking
statement : —
When I was travelling in the state of Massachusetts, twenty-
six years ago, after preaching, one evening, a very serious-
looking young man arose, and wished to address the assembly.
After obtaining leave, he spoke as follows : " My friends, about
one year ago, I set out in company with a young man, an
intimate acquaintance, to seek the salvation of my soul. For
several weeks we went on together, we laboured together, and
often renewed our encray-ements never to sjive over seeking till
we obtained the religion of Jesus. But all at once the young
man neglected to attend public worship, appeared to turn h's
back on all the means of grace, and grew so shy of me that I
could scarcely get an opportunity of speaking with him. Hi^:
strange conduct gave me much anxiety ; but still I felt resolved
to seek the salvation of my soul, or perish making the pub)*-
can's plea.
" After a kw days, a friend informed me that my companion
had received an invitation to attend a ball, and was determined
to go. I went immediately to him, and, with tears in my eye?,
endeavoured to persuade him to change his purpose, and to go
with me, on that evening, to a prayer meeting. I pleaded with
him in vain. He told me, when we parted, that I must not
give him up as lost, for after he had attended that ball, he
intended to make a business of seeking religion. The appointed
evening came ; he went to the ball, and I went to the prayer-
meeting. Soon after the meeting opened, it pleased God, in
answer to prayer, to turn my spiritual captivity, and make my
S(jul rejoice in his love. Soon after the bull opened, my young
friend was standing at the head of the ball-room, with the hand
of a young lady in his hand, preparing to lead down the dancr ;
J 04 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
and while tlio musician was timing his violin, without one
moment's warning, the young man fell backwards dead on the
floor. I was immediately sent for to convey his remains to his
father's house. You will be better able to judge what were
mv emotions, when I tell you that that young man was my
own brother."
REV. DR. PAYSON.
Dr. Payson, of Portland, Maine, always seized upon every
uncommon occurrence, in his congregation, to turn it to reli-
gious account. So settled a habit was this with him, that when-
ever, during the week, any extraordinary event happened,
there was frequently a considerable degree of interest felt
among his people, in respect to the manner in which it would
be made to tell, in the production of moral and religious im-
pression, in their pastor's sermon on the next Sabbath.
Dr. Payson's meeting-house was situated at the corner
formed by one of the principal streets in the city and anothei
narrow street, or perhaps lane, which opened into it. Across
this narrow street, opposite the meeting-house, a convenient
and pleasant conference-room, or vestry, as it was sometimes
called, had been erected. His people had become warmly
attached to this building ; a fact which all who ever attended
Dr. Payson's evening meetings, will readily understand. One
night, the inhabitants of the town were aroused by the cry of
fire ; and, on going out, they found the whole heavens in a
glare, from the flames of this conference-room. It was built
of wood ; and the next morning nothing was left but a heaj)
of black smoking rubbish, and the whole side ot the meeting-
house, opposite, was browned by the scorching heaf of the
flames.
The next Sabbath there was the most intense interest felt,
REV. DR. PAYSON. 1 Oo
by all in ihe meeting-house, when he arose in the pulpit, and
stood prepared to name his text. The whole congregation
seemed to say, by the eager and inquiring expression of their
countenances, " What have you to say to us about this cala-
mity V And he pronounced his text as if replying : " For the
time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God ,
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them who
obey not the gospel of God." 1 Pet. iv. 17. Then followed
one of the most eloquent and powerful appeals ever heard
from his lips. He explained that one mode by which God
endeavours to call sinners to him, and to arouse his people to
repentance, is his providence. He tries kindness; and when
that fail, he tries frowns. He enumerated a number of events
which had occurred, within a few past months, each more dis-
tinct and decided than the preceding: — "And now," said he,
" God has come nearer still." He then spoke for several minutes
with great power and effect, in regard to the loss they had sus-
tained, pointing to the blackened ruins, which were in full
view. " Even this sanctuary," said he, " God has but just
spared, and that, not without leaving upon it the marks of his
frown." After further remarks to his church members, he
turned to the congregation generally, and warned them of the
danger of resisting God's calls. " I am no prophet," said he,
" and [ pretend to no extraordinary knowledge of God's will ;
but here is the solemn declaration of his word. Take care, then,
of your houses. Take care of your stores; for if this people,
in spite of God's repeated warnings, will go on obstinately in
sin, they must not be surprised if he should arise in his anger
and send a sweeping conflagration to desolate the town."
The impression made by the view he took of this providence,
as a solemn warning from God, was universal and most pow-
erful. The sermon was extemporaneous ; and Dr. Payson, it
was understood, afterwards said that he did not consider that
calamities were always *o be viewed as judgments, though they
106 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
ouo;ht to be reo;arded as v/arnin^s, intended to awaken us to
penitence, and to renewed fidelity in the service of God.
It would, indeed, be dirlicult to nicely discriminate between
the judgments of God and the ordinary dispensations of Provi-
dence; but some occurrences are so clear, that we must
exclaim, " This is the finger of God."
Dr. Payson being taken suddenly ill, and, as every one
thought, about to die, he remarks : " What gave me most
concern was, that notice had been given of my being about to
preach ! Whilst the doctor was preparing my medi-cine, feeling
my pains abated, I on a sudden cried out, ' Doctor, my pains
are suspended; by the help of God, I will go and preach, and
Ihen come home and die.' In my own apprehension, and in
appearance to others, I was a dying man ; the people heard
ftie as such. The invisible realities of another world lay
open to my view. Expecting to stretch into eternity, and to
be with my Master before the morning, I spoke with peculiar
energy. Such effects followed the word, that I thought it was
worth dying for a thousand times." His biographer says,
" He had something so peculiar in his manner, expressive of
sincerity in all he delivered, that it constrained the most
abandoned to regard what he said as not only true, but of the
last importance to souls."
REV. E. T. TAYLOR.
The following is an extract from the Boston Transcript of
h few years since :
VV^e happened last Sunday afternoon to be at the Bethel in
•^ »4h -Square. The house was running over with seamen.
REV. SYLVESTER LARNED. 107
who filled the body of the house, the stairs to the pulpit, and
even the pulpit itself. We give the following extract from the
sermon oi" the afternoon, as a lair specimen of the style in
which the Rev. Mr. Taylor makes a practical application of
an iini^ortant truth: "1 say, shipmates, now look me full in
the face. What should we say of the man aboard ship, who
was always talking about his compass, and never using it?
What should you think of the man, who, when the storm is
gathering, night at hand, moon and stars shut, on a lee shore,
breakers ahead, then first begins to remember his compass, and
says, ' Oh, what a nice compass I have got on board,' if before
that time he has never looked at it? Where is it that you
keep your compass? Do you stow it away in the hold? Do
you clap it into the forepeak?" By this time Jack's face, that
unerring index of the soul, showed visibly that the reductio ad
absurdum had begun to tell. Then came, by a natural logic,
as correct as that of the school, the improvement. " Now
then, brethren, listen to me. Believe not what the scoffer and
the infidel say. The Bible, the Bible is the compass of life.
Keep it always at hand. Steadily, steadily fix your eye on it.
Study your bearing by it. Make yourself acquainted with all
its points. It will serve you in calm and in storm, in the
brightness of noon-day, and amid the blackness of night ; it
will carry you over every sea, in every clime, and navigate
vou, at last, into the harbour of eternal rest."
REV. SYLVESTER LARNED.
When the gloom of the pestilence was gathering over the
city of New Orleans, and multitudes leaving with a view to
escape it, the late Rev. Mr. Larned entered his church one
evening to perform divine service. Few were present ; the
108 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
lamps untrimmed and unlighted; and every thing indicated the
presence of sorrow and apprehension. He assisted the sexton
in his duties; and finally, in the dim light of the faintly illumi-
nated temple, the faces of a few, who had gathered around the
altar, were revealed. It was late, and as he stepped within
the pulpit, he exclaimed, "Watchman, what of the night'.'"
and, inspired by the solemn aspect of Providence, and his
dread responsilities in such an hour, spoke, as with a commis-
sion from heaven in his hand, to that fixed, silent audience;
and so impressed their hearts by truths, which were the
treasure and life of his own, as, amid all the changes of time
and place on earth, could never be forgotten.
REV. DR. FISK.
A STRIKING instance of the power of the oratory of the late
Dr. W. Fisk, is given in the funeral sermon preached for him
by the Rev. Dr. Bangs : —
While preaching on a certain occasion, in the large church
m Forsyth street. New York, having finished the discussion
of his subject, he addressed himself directly to the heart and
conscience. He described the danger of the wicked man; his
exposure — his constant liability to death. He followed him to
the brink of death's dark precipice, and painted him plunging
over the edge into perdition's gulf. The whole scene was
vividly before the eye. A preacher below him, suddenly and
unconsciously, threw out his arms to catch the sinner in his
fall, and carry him in faith to the Lamb of God.
RE\^ DR. BEIiELL. 109
After Dr. Fisk had been once showing the power of his
eloquence, in the chapel of the University over which he pre-
sided, a lady of cultivated mind, decided genius, and strong
feeling, — a stranger in the place, — as she came away, said to
another, with a half-stifled voice, " Flave you any irreligious
students in your college?" and on being answered in the
affirmative, added, "astonishing!"
TWO CLERGYMEN.
The villages of Gardiner, Hallowell, and Augusta, on the
Kennebec river, lie near to each other. Rev. Mr. S. lived in
Gardiner. He was visited by Rev, Mr. N., who preached in
Hallowell and Augusta, who was allowed to look over a sketch
of a sermon which Mr. S. had been writing. This, Mr. N.
copied, and the next Sabbath he preached it at Augusta. It so
happened that Mr. S. preached in the same church in Augusta,
the Sabbath after, and delivered the same sermon, not knowing
that another had used it before him. And what was a little
amusing was, when he came out of church, a good lady said
to him —
" Mr. S., you preached us a good sermon, but you ought to
have given Mr. N. credit for it, as it was the same sermon he
preached. here last Sabbath !"
REV. DR. BEDELL.
One Sabbath morning, while the late Rev. Dr. Bedell, of
Philadelphia, was preaching, a young man passed by, with a
number of companions, as gay and thoughtless as himself. One
10
I 10 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
of them proposed going into the church, saying, " Lot us go
and hear what this man has to say, that everybody is running
after." The young man made this awTuI answer: "No, 1
would not go into such a place if Christ himself was preach-
ing." Some weeks after, he was again passing the church;
and, being alone, and having nothing to do, he thought he
would go in without being observed. On opening the door, he
w-as struck with awe at the solemn silence of the place, though
it was much crowded. Every eye was fixed on the preacher
who was just about to begin his discourse. His attention was
instantly caught by the text: "I discerned among the youths
a young man void of understanding." Prov. vii. 7. His con-
science was smitten by the power of truth. He saw that he
was the young man described. A view of his profligate life
passed before his eyes, and, for the first time, he trembled
under the feeling of sin. He remained in the church till the
preacher and congregation had passed out ; then slowly re-
turned to his home. He had early imbibed infidel principles;
but the Holy Spirit, who had aroused him in his folly, led him
to a constant attendance on the ministry of Dr. B., who had
been the instrument of awakening his mind. He cast away
his besetting sin, and gave himself to a life of virtue and holi-
ness. He afterwards declared openly his faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, and his desire to devote himself to his service.
In a sermon, delivered a few years since. Dr. Bedell said, •' 1
have now been nearly twenty years in the ministry of the
gospel, and I here publicly state to you, that I do not believe I
could enumerate three persons, over fifty years of age, whom
I have ever heard ask the solemn and eternally momentous
question, ' What shall I do to be saved?' "
REV. T. HOOKER. HI
REV. DR. MILLER.
The late Rev. Dr. Miller, Professor of Theology, in a ser-
mon delivered at Baltimore, in 1820, related a fact which ouijht
not to be forgotten by those who think lightly of the errors of
Unitarianism. The preacher stated that Dr. Priestley, two or
three years before his death, said to him, " I do not wonder
that you Calvinists entertain and express a strongly unfavoura-
ble opinion of us Unitarians. The truth is, there neither can,
nor ought to be, any compromise between us. If you are
right, we are not Christians at all ; and if ive are right, you
are fiross idolaters."
REV. T. HOOKER.
The Rev. Thomas Hooker, having paid a visit to Cambridge,
Massachusetts, was invited to preach on the Sabbath afternoon,
\nd Governor Winthrop went from Boston purposely to hear
.lim. Flaving read his text, he proceeded with great fluency
for about a quarter of an hour, when he suddenly found him-
"^elf at a loss for something to say. After several ineffectual
ittempts to proceed, he candidly confessed his difficulty, and,
requesting the congregation to sing a psalm, withdrew for half
m hour. He then returned, and preached for about two hours,
with propriety and vivacity. After the sermon, he said to some
jf his friends, " We daily confess that we can do nothing
without Christ ; and what if Christ should prove this to be the
fact befon; the whole congregation !"
112 THE AMERICAN CLERGY
A FORCIBLE PREACHER.
The Western Review, a few years since, stated the following
fact :—
A clergyman was preaching in a town which was much in-
fested with the Universalist heresy ; where a preacher, holding
its doctrines, was present to "withstand the truth," became
greatly enraged. The sermon was no sooner closed, than he
began to challenge the preacher to a defence of his doctrines.
As it was rather late, the clergyman who had been preaching
declined a formal debate, but proposed that each should ask
the other three questions, to which a direct answer should be
returned. This was agreed to. The Universalist began — put
his questions, and they were promptly answered. It then
came to the clergyman's turn. His first question was, " Do
you pray in your family?" Thunderstruck and dismayed, the
preacher of smooth things knew not what to say. At length
he asked, " Why, what has that to do with the truth of my
doctrine?" " Much," was the reply ; " by their fruits ye shall
know them." At last, he frankly confessed that he did not.
Then for the second question : " When you get somewhat dis-
pleased, do you not sometimes make use of profane language?"
This was carrying the war into the inner temple of his infidel
abominations. There was no door of escape. Answer he
must. It was of no use to deny it. He confessed he was pro-
fane. " t will go no farther," said the pious clergyman ; " I
am satisfied" — and turning to the congregation, added, " I
presume you are also. You dare not trust your immortal wel-
fare to a prayerless and profane guide."
Here was a practical argument. Every one saw and fell
its force. A dozen lectures on the subject would not have done
half so much sjood.
REV. DR. STAITGHTON. 113
I
REV. DR. STAUGHTON.
The Rev. Dr. Staughton, of Philadelphia, was remarkable
for the energy of his delivery, and for the originality of many
of his remarks. On one occasion, he was preaching from the
words, "God be merciful to me a sinner." His soul kindled,
as he proceeded, with intense ardour for the salvation of his
h'^arers. He presented, in a strain of vivid and powerful
eloquence, the joy of the angelic hosts on the repentance of
one sinner. Perfect silence reigned through the vast audience.
There was a moment's pause, and it was obvious, from his
countenance and his attitude, that his mind was preparing for
some powerful and overwhelming flood of feeling. He pro-
ceeded : " Shall I retire with the desponding reflection, that,
in all this conCTrepration, there is not one soul humbled before
God! Shall angels prepare their wings for flight, and the
voice of contrition be unheard? It cannot be. I will cherish
the hope that there is, at least, one sinner here, whose heart is
melted down before the Lord, and trembling at the prospect of
future retribution: that there is, even now, one whose agony
is on the point of extorting from his lips the cry of the publi-
can." Suddenh^ throwing up his arm, with a voice full, loud,
and rapid, he exclaimed, "Hark !" The effect it is impossible
to describe. His arm remained for a time elevated, during
which the most awful stillness reigned, interupted only by an
apparently delicate and indescribable breathing, that seemed to
pass over the congregation, midway in the edifice. Then,
with a grace and energy peculiar to himself, he brought down
his hand upon his breast, and repeated the prayer, " God be
merciful to me a sinner." The feelings of the assembly were
wrought to the highest point, and s )me time elapsed before ihey
were enabled to breathe freely.
10*
I 1 \ THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
On one Sabbath evening, the worthy Doctor discoursed to
his coKgregation from the words of John the Baptist, in the
third of Matthew, " He shall gather the wheat into his garner,
but shall burn up the chafTwith unquenchable fire," and was,
of course led to describe the torments of hell. The thunder
of his eloquence rolled, and its lightnings flashed in every di-
rection. Indulging his imagination, he exclaimed, "Yonder
you see a miserable group, who, while on earth, were compa-
nions in swearing and Sabbath-breaking; in another direction
you behold a wretched young man who was disobedient to his
parents" — at this moment turning his eye to the left hand of
his vast church, he discovered a pew full of ladies laughing at
some trivial incident connected with themselves, and on them
he fixed his full gaze, as he closed his powerful paragraph with
the words, "and here is a party that went to church to laugh."
He proceeded in his sermon without any further remark on the
impropriety, and it scarcely need to be added that the reproof
had the desired effect.
Another beautiful illustration of the character and power of
this admirable preacher's eloquence, may here be given. The
following address formed the close of a sermon before a chari-
tiible association : —
What more shall I add, my brethren, to excite y(;ur liberali-
ty? Could I take you severally into the mansion of misery in
our city, and show you the pallet where the child of want and
distress is lying, whose former condition of life makes the
idea of an alms-house affiicting, and whose distresses are cheered
only by the hopes that spring will bring better days, and that
Christian bosoms are not dead to sympathy; — could I place
before your eves the shivering infant, the starving grandsire
the poor widow, f()rsaken, neglected, forgotten, or oven the
REV. DR. IirMPHREY. 115
repenting, tattered profligate, I know you would melt : in spite
of all the apologies sell-love might suggest, your charity would
abound.
Two boats, some time ago, were sent from Dover to relieve
a vessel in distress. The fury of the tempest overset one of
them, which contained three sailors, and a companion sunk.
The two remaining sailors were floating on the deep ; to one
of them a rope was thrown ,• but he refused it, crying out,
''Flivgit to Tom: he is just ready to go down ; I can last some
time longer." They did so ; Tom was drawn into the boat.
The ro|)e was then flung to the generous tar, just in time to
save him from drowning. Look on the boisterous sea of this
world. You have your conflicts, we acknowledge, but there
are some that cannot last like you. Throw out immediately
to their assistance, or it may be too late. Accomplish now,
what I persuade myself you thought of yesterday, during the
cold and heavy snow-storm. Come, my brethren, discharge
vour duty, adorn the gospel, disappoint the devil, and revere a
present God.
REV. DR. HUMPHREY.
In the biography of the late Rev. Dr. Nettleton, we are
furnished with a very pleasing account of a sermon preached
by Dr. Humphrey, when pastor of the church at Pittsfield. It
appears that in 1820, a promising state of things existed there.
Dr. Nettleton was present, and it was resolved to devote the
day of the declaration of Independence to religious services.
To this arrangement many ungodly persons in the neighbour
hood objected, and while the people were assembling aim
crowding the church, the rioters exploded crackers, and in
other ways sought to annoy them.
The service having commenced, and having proceeded with
116 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
great solemnity, Dr. H. read as his text, John viii. 36, " If the
Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
He had not proceeded far, when the word " fire" was given,
and their ears were suddenly stunned, and the congregation
startled, by the report of cannon. It was the attack of the
adversary, and it was well kept up. But, unfortunately for
him and his agents, every shot preached louder than ten
thousand thunders ; for while the drums beat, and the fifes
played, and the soldiers marched backward and forward,
animated by the noise of the cannon, and anticipating a
glorioun triumph over the cause of God, they were labouring
hard to defeat themselves. So skilfully did the preacher allude
to, and apply his discourse to the conduct of the opposition out
of doors ; such advantage did he take of every blast of the
cannon, and every play of the drum, by some well-pointed
remark, that it all went, like a two-edi:red sword, to the hearts
of listening sinners. Nothing could possibly have subserved
more the object of his discourse. A few persons trembled for
the result, but Dr. Nettleton and others were more than hope-
ful, and they were right. That evening service crowded the
place more than ever before — a most powerful impulse was
given to the revival, and from that time Emmanuel spread his
trophies among great and small. They who thought to crush
the work of God were bitterly disappointed, and retired with
shame; and one hundred and forty converts declared them-
selves on the Lord's side.
A FAITHFUL MINISTER.
A MINISTER, in travelling to fulfil an appointment for
preai hing, stopped on the way to deliver a sermon to a church
ih.it s* as without a pastor. In his discourse he animadvert! d
REV. W. TENNENT. 117
with some severity on the disgraceful practice of intemperance,
especially among professors of religion. On visiting the same
place some time afterwards, he was told that he had hurt the
feelings of some of the brethren; and in a second discourse ho
apologized to this effect : — " I understand, my brethren, that
when I was last here, I was so unfortunate as to hurt the feel-
ings of some of you by remarks upon drunkenness. Since
nothing was further from my intention, I feel it my duty to
make an apology, which is this : — Being a stranger here, I
most solemnly declare that 1 did not know that there was a
drunkard belonging to the church." The hint had its effect.
The grumblers were drunkards, and at the next church
meeting were excluded.
REV. W. TENNENT.
This eminent minister, who, in the last century, was dis-
tinguished for great usefulness, was one day passing through
a town in the state of New Jersey, in which he had never
preached, and stopping at a friend's house to dine, was in-
formed that it was a day of fastmg and prayer m the congre-
gation, on account of a very remarkable and severe drought;
which threatened the most dangerons consequences to the
fruits of the earth. His friend had just returned from church,
and the intermission was but half an hour. Mr. Tennent was
requested to preach, and consented, after great hesitation, as
he wished to proceed on his journey.
At church the people were surprised to see a preacher,
wholly unknown to them, and entirely un^^xpccted, ascend the
pulpit. His whole appearnnco, in \)\^ trnvcllin'j-drcss, covered
with dust, and exhibiting a long nnd (UfaLn-c vis.iLjc, onM?|(.(.(l
their attention, and excited their ruriositv. (^ii his rising ii]i,
118 THE AMERirW CLERGY.
in5?t(\Hi of IjeginniniT to pray, as was tlie usual practice, he
lookt'd around the congregation witli a piercing eve and
earnest attention ; and after a minute's profound silence, he
addressed them, with great solemnity, in the following words:
" My heloved hrethren, I am told that you have come here to-
day to fast and pray ; a very good work indeed, provided you
have come with a sincere desire to glorify God ; but if your
design is merely to comply with a customary practice, or with
the wish of your church officers, you are guilty of the greatest
folly imaginable ; as you had better have stayed at home, and
earned your three shillings and sixpence." (At that time this
was the stated price of a day's labour.) " But if your minds
are indeed impressed with the solemnity of the occasion, and
you are really desirous of humbling yourselves before Al-
mighty God, your heavenly Father, come, join with me, and
let us pray.
This had an effect so uncommon and extraordinary on the
congregation, that the utmost seriousness was manifested.
The prayer and the sermon added greatly to the impressions
already made, and tended to rouse the attention, influence the
mind, command the affections, and increase the emotion which
had been so happily produced. Many had reason to bless God
for the unexpected visit, and to reckon the day one of the
happiest ol their lives.
Durincj the great revival of religion in America, which took
place under Mr. Whitefield, and others distinguished for their
piety and zeal at that period, Mr. Tennent was laboriously
active, and much engajred to help forward the work ; in the
performance of which he met with strong and powerful tempta-
tions. The following is from his own lips : —
On the evening preceding public worship, he selected a sub-
REV. W. TENNENT. 119
ject for the discourse intended to be delivered, and made some
progress in iiis preparations. In the morning he resumed the
same subject, with an intention to extend his thoughts further
on it; but was presently assaulted with a temptation that the
Bible was not of Divine authority, hut the invention of man. He
instantly endeavoured to repel the temptation by prayer, but hi:-
endeavours proved unavailing. The temptation continued, and
fastened upon him with greater strength as the time advanced
for public service. He lost all the thoughts which he had pre-
pared on the preceding evening. He tried other subjects, but
could get nothing for the people. The whole book of God,
under that distressing state of mind, was a sealed book to him ;
and, to add to his affliction, he was " shut up in prayer ;" a
cloud, dark as that of Egypt, oppressed his mind.
Thus agonized in spirit, he proceeded to the house of God,
where he found a large congregation assembled, and waiting
to hear the word ; and then he was more deeply distressed than
ever; and especially for the dishonour which he feared would
fall upon religion, through him, that day. He resolved, how-
ever, to attempt the service. He introduced it by singing a
psalm, during which time his agitation increased to the highest
degree. When the moment for prayer commenced, he arose,
as one in the most painful and perilous situation, and with arms
extended to heaven, began with this exclamation, " Lord, have
mercy upon me." On the utterance of this petition, he was
heard ; the thick cloud instantly broke away, and light shone
jpon his soul. The result was a deep solemnity throughout
the congregation ; and the house, at the end of the prayer, was
a place of weeping. He delivered the subject of his evening
meditations, which was brought to his full remembrance, with
an overflowing abundance of other weighty and solemn matter.
The Lord blessed this discourse, so that it proved the happy
means of the conversion of about thirty persons. This day
he ever afterwards spoke of ns " his harvest day."
120 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
At another time, Mr. Tennent took great pains to prepare a
sermon to convince a celebrated infidel of the truth of Christi-
tianity. But, in attempting to deliver this laboured discourse,
ho was so confused as to be compelled to stop, and to close the
service by prayer. This unexpected failure, in one who had
so often astonished the unbeliever with the force of his elo-
quence, led the infidel to reflect that Mr. Tennent had been, at
other times, aided by a divine power. This reflection proved
the means of his conversion. Thus God accomplished by si-
lence what his servant wished to effect by persuasive preaching.
Mr. Tennent used afterwards to say, that his dumb sermon
was one of the most profitable he ever delivered.
Those who love to become acquainted with the manners of
the old men of former generations, will read with interest the
description given not long since by an old man then living in
Monmouth county, and furnished to the Newark Sentinel.
Mr. Tennent's manners were altogether primitive. He had
three pegs behind the pulpit ; and when he entered it, he took
off" his hat, and hung it on one of them ; his wig, and hung
that on the second ; and often drew off' his coat, and hung that
on the third. His sermons were pre-eminently full " of strong
meat," and were delivered with great earnestness and simpli-
city.
REV. BRADFORD HOMER.
M^E place on record the following remarks from a sermon
of the late Rev. Bradford Homer, as they entirely meet the
sympathy of every minister of the gospel, and apply to every
congregation with which we are acquainted.
REV. B. HOMER. 121
" I beseech you that you be not over-scrupulous about the
height of the thermometer, or the aspect of the clouds on a
Sabbath morning — that you doom not the preacher to come in
from a lowering and desolate sky to the more desolate scene
of an empty church. I mean not to intrude upon the delica-
cies of life, and 1 know that there are many constitutions inal
will not bear an exposure to the inclemency of the storm. I
leave every man's conscience to be his bodily physician. Hut
I beg of you to be consistent patients; for that admirable doctor
is never more stupid than under the sound of the church-going
bell ; and if the fireside of home looks inviting, and the storm
beats cheerlessly against the window — above all, if the heart
from within does not cry out for the courts of the Lord, it is
easy, too easy, to get an invalid's exemption from one unscien-
tific guide, or to conjure up some lion, in the shape of a formi-
dable snowdrift, or a pelting rain, or a smoky house — no one
of which would excuse us to a client or a customer, but any
one of them we can put off on our minister or our God. Still,
politeness forbids me to enter the private circle and say to this
and that person, You ought to be at church : as a gentleman, I
leave you to judge for yourselves; but, as a minister, you
must excuse me if I beg you to remember the man whose pro-
fession obliges him to go to church in all weathers ; whose
taste will not permit him to reward the faithful few with an old
sermon, or a desultory talk inspired by empty pews; whose
sense of justice obliges him to bring out the hard earnings of a
week's toil, when one and another and another for whom that
sermon was written, are not in their seats. I say I wish they
would think of him from the good easy-chair, and by the
blazing hearth of home, and cast on him the wing of then-
sympathy, if they cannot give him the light of their flices."
11
122 THE AMERICAN CLERGY
REV. MR. HOWE.
It is related of Rev. Mr. Howe, late of Hopkinton, Massa-
chusetts, that during the period his people were discussing the
subject of" a uew nieeting-house, one day, while he was preach-
ing, observing his congregation in rather a lethargic state, he
^topped in the middle of his sermon, and, casting his eyes
around, remarked they were talking about erecting a new
meeting-house; but he did not know that it was worth while,
as the timbers looked in pretty good condition, and ho was
sure the sleepers were sonncl.
REV. DR. LATHROP.
The late Rev. Dr. Lathrop, of Springfield, in a sermon in-
tended to show how God often answers prayer in very unex-
pected ways, related a very striking illustration of his doctrine
in the case of a negro, who had, by a contemplation of nature,
while in his own country, been led to conceive of the existence
of a supreme, wise, and good Being, who made and governed
the world. He was accustomed to pray to him, that he might
know his character, and the manner in which he could be
pleased. While in this state of mind, he was, with many
others, stolen, and his faith began to waver. He was brought
into a pious family in New England, where he was instructed
in the knowledge of Christ, and became his devoted follower.
He used to admire the kindness of God, who, in this mosi
remarkable manner, answered his prayers.
REV. DR. BEECHER. 123
REV. DR. BEE CHER.
The following anecdote of Dr. Lyman Beecher, when a
young man, is related on the authority of the Philadelphia
iVorth American. While, on the one hand, it may reprove th"
.senior brother who may be disposed to judge " according to
the outward appearance," so, on the other, it may encourage
the young and timid to aim after excellence.
When, in the early years of his life. Dr. Beecher was living
in Litchfield, something caused him to spend a Sunday in New
Haven. He was dressed in homely simplicity, and was difh-
dent in conversation ,* so that it was no easy matter to judge
of his quality. Dr. Strong was then settled over the Congre-
gational Church in that city, and professional usage required
that he should entertain Beecher at his house, and invite him
into his pulpit. He looked distrustingly upon the plain country
pastor, and lamented the terrible necessity. But there was no
alternative but in the violation of courtesy. Beecher sat
meekly in the pulpit, through the morning and afternoon, but
was not asUed to take any part in the services. In the even-
ing, Dr. Strong intimated to him very coldly, that if he chose
to do so, he could preach for him, and was shocked by his
instant acquiescence. "A man who will accept an invitation
tendered in such a way as this," thought Strong, "cannot
preach a sermon fit for miy congregation to listen to !" He
was mistaken, however. Beecher had hardly less pride than
genius, and he felt keenly the chilling coldness of the great
mail, as Dr. Strong was considered. The evening came on;
the church was brilliantly lighted, and thronged with the
beauty, fashion, and intelligence of that home of gentleness
and learning. Dr. Strong had offered the opening prayer, and
was sitting in stern ill-humour, while the choir were singing
i|u^ hymn to [)recefle the sermon. Mr. Beecher becanie rest-
124 TiiE A3IERICAN CLERGV.
less, and his face was flushed with a sudden excitement. He
turned to the Doctor, and inquired, in a low and hurried voice,
if the sermon could be a few moments deferred — he had left
his manuscript in his chamber. " No !" said the Doctor, with
exultant but ill-natured sharpness — and grasped the Bible to
select a text for himself, glad that an accident was to relieve
him and his congregation from the mortifying infliction he had
dreaded. He was too fast; his young brother had been stung
to the heart by his manner, and recognising the words of the
last line of the hymn, sprang to the desk, and ere Dr. Strong
had recovered from his astonishment, announced his text foi
an extemporaneous discourse. " It is the will of God !" thought
the vexed and humbled pastor, and prepared himself to listen
with Christian resignation. For a few moments the young
preacher spoke with slight hesitation, as if, while giving his
introduction, he was revolving in his mind an extended argu-
ment. Soon his voice rang clear and loud, his sentences came
compact and earnest, and his manner caught the glowing fer-
vour of bis thought. AH was hushed but his impassioned
tones ; the great assembly was still as death ; and leaning
forward, with blended wonder and admiration, the pastor felt
stealing over him from the hushed air the rebuke of his Mas-
ter, for his harsh judgment and cold treatment of his young
brother. In after life, he used to relate the story, and confess
that he had never heard such eloquence as that of the home-
spun young Mr. Beecher.
AN EFFECTIVE CLERGYMAN.
A CLERGYMAN in the United States, concluding a sermon to
young persons, took occasion to impress upon parents the duty
REV. DR. MERPER. r^.")
of [)n"ontnl laitli, and illustrated its power in the following
manner : —
About two-and-twenty years ago, a little circle were met
around the couch of an apparently dying male infant; the man
of God who led their devotions, seemed to forget the sickness
of the child, in hi - prayer for his future usefulness. He prayed
for the child, as a man, a Christian, and a minister of the word.
The parents took hold of the horns of the altar, and prayed
with him. The child recovered, grew towards manhood, and
ran far in the ways of folly and sin. One after another of that
little circle ascended to heaven ; but two, at least, and one of
them the mother, lived to hear him proclaim the everlasting
gospel. " It is," said the preacher, ''' no fiction ; that child,
that prodigal youth, that preacher, is he who now addresses
vou."
REV. DR. MERCER.
Few men could produce more effect in making a solemn
appeal to the consciences of his hearers than Dr. Mercer. He
once preached from the language of the apostle, " If any man
love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema marana-
tha," when one of the most distinguished men in the country
was present, and was deeply impressed with the discourse.
On coming away, he said, "I could feel the very curse of God
runninii throusrh my bones."
►
This excellent man had once spent a fortnight in a preaching
tour, chieflv labouring in a district favoured with an extensive
revival of religion. On his return he met his church at their
regular meeting. He was aware that the church was in a very
11*
126 iHi. am::::i(;an clekgy.
languid state, and liis strmon was on the deceitfulness of the
heart, in crying peace, peace, when there is no peace. At the
close of his discourse he became deeply affected, and addressed
his congregation thus: — "Dear brethren and friends, I have
been a great part of the last two weeks, addressing a people
that I believe are truly awakened to a sense of their lost,
helpless and ruined state, and are crying out in their af^onv,
' What shall we do to be saved?' Amongst them, my tongue
seemed to be loosed, and I could point them with great freedom
to the way of salvation through a crucified Saviour. On my
way hither, I have felt the deepest concern in contrasting your
lifeless situation with them, until I even bedewed the pommel
of my saddle with tears ;" and here, lifting up his hands, he
exclaimed, " O, my congregation, I fear you are too good to
be saved!" and again burst into an irrepressible flood of tears.
Descending from the pulpit, and recovering himself a little, he
poured forth a most solemn and impassioned exhortation,
during which many came forward and asked that prayer
might be made in their behalf; and thus commenced one of
the most interesting revivals which has ever blessed that
favoured church.
This admirable preacher was once discoursing from He-
brews vi. 1. His main object was to impress on Christians
the importance of aiming at high attainments, and going on to
perfection. "Unless we aim at a high mark," said he, "we
shall never attain to eminence, as we shall not be likely to rise
higher than our aim. Some Christians are afraid to aim high.
Alas, they have not as much courage as a chicken. As I was
sitting in my piazza one pleasant evening, last summer, my
attention was drawn to the fowls as they were going to their
rest. One little chicken particularly attracted my notice. He
tix( d his eye upon a limb pretty high up a tree, and made an
REV. DR. MERCER. 127
ineffectual aim to gain it. He then took another position, and
repeated his effort to reach it, but was again unsuccessful.
Still, in no wise discouraged, he kept his eye upon the limb
first chosen, and tried, and tried, and tried again ; but to no
purpose. Six times he tried and failed, but the seventh time
he reached it. My brethren, aim high, — press on to perfec-
tion — try to have as much courage and perseverance as that
little chicken."
The Rev. President Manly, in describing Dr. Mercer, says: —
To feel his greatness it was necessary to have heard him
preach under happy circumstances. At other times he was
characterized by a solid judiciousness in all he did or said,
sanctified by a simple, fervent piety. But in his happy seasons
he would rouse and enchain the attention of reflecting minds
beyond any minister I have ever heard. \t such times, his
views were vast, profound, original, striking, absorbinji, in the
highest degree ; while his language, though simple, was so
terse and pithy, so pruned, consolidated, and suited to become
the vehicle of the dense mass of his thoughts, that it required
no ordinary effort of a well-trained mind to take in all that he
said. At a meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Slate Con-
vention, held at Edgefield C. H., he preached, preparatory to
communion, on Sunday, and Dr. Furman was one of his
hearers. His text was, " For if the blood of bulls and of goats,
and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanCtitieth
to the purifying of the flesh ; how much more shall the blood
\^^ Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself
without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works
to serve the living God." It was one of his happy times ; and
after a few of his honest shrugs, and workings of his neck and
shoulders, as if to push his huge frame into his armour, he got
fairly under way. Dr. Furman sat next to me in the congre
I-"^ TTIF AMKKK.VX ri.KRGY.
gation, and thoiigji iniir-li nhsoi'hcd myself, I rniild not Ibrbear
to notice that tho Doctor (whoso micoiis -ions and inordinate
use of snuff, when excited and engaged, was remarkable)
passed his hand to his pocket with singular celerity and fre-
quency. At length, as the subject advanced and the interest
deepened, the snuff-box returned no more to the pocket, but
remained open on his knee ; while the thumb and finger plied
incessantly and full-freighted between it and his nose. Father
Merr er was now reasoning out, by overpowering argument,
the position — that the divinity of Jesus Christ is necessary to
his atonement ; and when he announced the conclusion, proved
and clear, the venerable Dr. F. brought his hand down vio-
lently on his knee, exclaiming audibly, ^^WJtat an important
thought P'
The biographer of Dr. M. has given us another illustration
of his power in the pulpit, while preaching at the Savannah
River Association, in 1824. His text was, "The weakness of
God is stronger than men." It was a passage admirably suited
to the genius of the preacher; his mind was at the time re-
markably free and unclouded, and his heart in a very tender
and devout frame. He first illustrated what he supposed might
be understood by the weakness of God : this he considered as
referring mainly to the precious Gospel of a crucified Re-
deemer. He next considered in what the strength of men
might be said to consist ; for, said he, " the text seems to im-
plv that men have som.e kind of strength with which the weak-
ness of God is brought into conflict." He here enlarged in a
manner most powerful and convincing, upon the pride, igno-
rance, and deep-seated corruption of the human heart. He
then proceeded to show how, by weak and insignificant means,
the Lord thwarted the vain and proud designs of man, and
how, especially by the application of Gospel truth by the Spirit
REV. DR. MERCER. 129
ol God, the stubborn and rebellious heart was effectually and
savingly subdued. His track was as clear as the noon. His
simple and energetic language, his apt illustrations, and his
invincible reasoning, rendered every thing visible. The audi-
ence felt that they were in the hands of a master-spirit, or
rather in the hands of a glorious and Almighty Sovereign,
whose power was portrayed with such pungent and heart-
searching strokes ; and whilst their minds were led captive by
the matchless argument, their feelings were evidently much
affected by the holy fervour, the tender and heavenly pathos of
the venerable nreacher.
A somewhat amusing incident may here be given, illustrative
of the power Dr. Mercer had over his hearers. An excellent
Methodist brother, who attended his preaching and was very
fond of him, used frequently to express his approbation by a
hcarf.ij amen^ when any sentiment or expression pleased him,
and these were very frequent. Dr. M., in private, kindly ob-
served that he did not disapprove such expressions, if they were
appropriate and well-timed ; "but you sometimes manifest your
assent when the denunciations of God are made against the
wicked," &c. This, for a season, cooled his ardour, and he
was silent, though restless. At last, when some rich doctrine
of truth dropped from the preacher's lips, he exclaimed at the
top of his voice, '-'■Ayiien I rough at a venture /" The effect
on the audience and on the speaker may be well conceived.
130 TjYE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A NEW ENGLAND CLERGYMAN.
An excellent, but somewhat eccentric clergyman, whose
field of labour was in the interior of New England, one Sun-
day, at tlie close of the services, gave notice to his congrega-
tion, that in the course of the week he expected to go on a mis-
sion to the heathen. The members of his church were struck
with alarm and sorrow, at the sudden and unexpected loss of
their beloved pastor, and one of the deacons, in great agita-
tion, exclaimed, — "What s/za^Z we do?" "Oh, brother C ,"
said the minister, with great apparent ease, '•'•I dorCt expect to
go out of tmtm /"
REV. T. PORTER.
Ministerial usefulness, under God, depends much on Chris-
tian activity. A few years ago, three sailors just from sea
were walking up Water Street, just above Arch, in the city of
Philadelphia, where they discovered the Bethel Flag of the
Mariner's church, and one said to the other, " What is that —
a rendezvous?" At that moment a member of the Female
Bethel Flag Society passed, and hearing their conversation, in-
vited them to go in. In the usual carelessness of impenitent
seamen, they made some trifling reply ; but finally went into
the place. The pastor of the church, the Rev. T. Porter,
preached that evening from Gen. xxxvii. 16: — "I seek my
brethren," In the course of his sermon he described hinisrlf
as a shipping master, and, having his papers, was desirous of
shipping a crew for the good ship Zion. " Come, seamen,"
said he, " let me register your names ;" to which one of the
men alluded to, said, with a smile, "You won't ship me." How-
REV. DR. WELCH. loi
over, before the meeting closed he was weeping for his sins.
The impressions made on his mind were such as he had never
fel' beJbre, and he left the place blessing God that he had been
thus led into his house.
REV. MR. RAWSON.
MoELE than one hundred years ago, there graduated at Har-
vard University, a clergyman named Rawson, who subse-
quently settled in the ministry at Yarmouth, and Cape Cod.
He used to preach very pointed sermons. Having heard that
some of his parishioners were in the habit of making him the
subject of their mirth at a grog-shop, he one Sabbath preached
a discourse from the text — "And I was the song of the drunk-
ard." His remarks were of a very moving character ; so
much so, that many of his hearers rose and left the house in
the midst of the sermon.
A short time afterwards, the preacher delivered a discourse
still more pointed than the first, from the text, " And they,
being convicted out of their own consciences, went out one by
one." On this occasion, no one ventured to retire from the
assembly ; but the guilty ones resigned themselves, with as
good grace as possible, to the lash of their pastor.
REV. DR. V^ELCH.
We copy the following interesting narrative from the Albany
Express, October, 1847. It beautifully shows the advantages
oi self- possession in the preacher: —
On Sunday evening last, a very large audience attended the
132 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
North Pearl Street Baptist Church, attracted in part by the
fame and eloquence of the pastor, Dr. Welch, and partly, we
doubt not, in consequence of the announcement made from the
pulpit in the mornings that the rite of marriage would be
solemnized at the close of the service.
The theme of the Rev. Doctor, was the power and good-
ness of God, chosen as the basis for an appeal to the Chris-
tian charities aad warm sympathies of his people, in behalf of
the needy widow and children of the late sexton of the chuirh,
C. S. Morton, who, though a colored man, was distinguished
for his estimable Christian character, habits of industry, strict
integrity, and intelligence beyond the great majority of his
class and complexion. The discourse was characterized by
all the high and admired qualities which have placed Dr.
Welch in the front rank of pulpit orators and extemporaneous
preachers, and the appeal was not made in vain. In the midst
of one of his happiest illustrations, and with voice and gesture
admirably suited to the sentiment, he looked out upon the au-
dience and exclaimed—" The Spirit and the Bride say,
Come !"
The wedding party, having been notified of the time fixed
upon for the performance of the nuptial ceremony, had sta-
tioned themselves at the foot of the stairway, in readiness for
the signal, which was to be communicated by the sexton. The
latter, when he heard the exclamation, "The Spirit and the
Bride say. Come !" and saw the gesture, verily believed the
time for the marriage had arrived, and immediately beckoned
the party to approach. They promptly obeyed the summons,
and bride and bridegroom, bride's-maid and groom's-man,
marched solemnly up the broad aisle to the pulpit ! The doc-
tor was in the midst of his discourse. The whole audience
saw the awkwardness of the occurrence, many understood the
true cause of the mistake, and all looked to see the confusion
of the clergyman, thus placed in a painful predicament. But
(
AN AGED CLERGYMAN. 133
in this they were disappointed. Closing the sentence thus cu-
riously interrupted, Dr. Welch calmly stepped down from the
pulpit, and almost before the echo of his voice in the utterance
of his discourse had died away, he was heard addressing the
candidates for marriage in a manner most appropriate to the
occasion, and in the beautiful style and fervid eloquence for
which he is so celebrated. The ceremony over, the wedding
party retired, and the preacher, as little disconcerted as if no-
thing unusual had occurred, re-ascended into the desk, and
taking up his subject at the precise point where he had left it,
(though he uses no written notes,) proceeded to finish his ser-
mon. So admirably was the awkward incident managed, that
we doubt whether the party occasioning it ever suspected any
thing wrong.
AN AGED CLERGYMAN.
An aged clergyman, when preaching in New England, some
few years since, raising his voice with each succeeding word,
and bringing down his clenched hand with amazing force upon
the Bible at the last word of the sentence, exclaimed — " A de-
ceitful wicked man is not fit to serve either God, man, or the
devil !" Then, after a pause, he added, "And I'll tell you whv.
He is not fit to serve God, because he's unholy; he's not fit to
serve man, because he's deceitful ; and he's not fit to serve the
devil, because he's not content with his wages. No," said the
old man, with a shrewd look, " he's not content with his
wages. Why," added he, " my children, I once saw a rogue
of a soldier, for some crime that he'd done, tied up, and flogued
with forty lashes ; and while he was taking his wages, he made
all sorts of noises, but he never once said that he liked it. No,
12
134 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
no, <ny (Viends, the sinner is not satisfied with the wages which
the devil gives, and he never will be — ' for the wages of sin
IS death.'' Sinners ! sinners I strike for higher wages."
REV. JOHN SUNDAY.
The Rev. Dr. Alder, in his admirable volume on the Wes-
leyan Missions, relates the following pleasing anecdote :
" I understand," said John Sunday, the converted Indian
chief, to a congregation which he was called to address at Ply-
mouth, in the year 1837, "that many of you are disappointed,
because I have not brought my Indian dress with me. Per-
haps, if I had it on, you would be afraid of me. Do you wish
to know how I dressed when 1 was a pagan Indian? I will
tell you. My face was covered with red paint. I stuck fea-
thers in my hair. I wore a blanket and leggins. I had silver
ornaments on my breast, a rifle on my shoulder, a tomahawk
and scalping-knife in my belt. That was my dress then.
Now, do you wish to know why I wear it no longer ? You
will find the cause in second Corinthians, fifth chapter and
seventeenth verse : ' Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature ; old things are passed away ; behold, all things
are become new.' When I became a Christian, feathers and
paint 'passed away.' I gave my silver ornaments to the mis-
sion cause. Scalping-knife * done away ;' tomahawk ' done
away.' That my tomahawk now," said he, holding up, at the
same time, a copy of the Ten Commandments, in the Ojibwa
language. " Blanket ' done away.' Behold," he exclaimed,
in a manner in which simplicity and dignity of character were
combined, " Behold, all things are become new !"
REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 1 *
REV, GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
The following facts relatino; to tho distinmushed George
Whitefield were published a Cew years since ia Boston : —
There was nothing in the appearance of this extraordinary
man which would lead you to suppose that a Felix would trem-
ble before him. He was something above the middle stature,
well proportioned, and remarkable for a native gracefulness of
manner. His complexion was very fair, his features regular,
and his dark blue eyes small and lively ; — in recovering from
the measles he had contracted a squint with one of them ; but
this peculiarity rather rendered the expression of his counte-
nance more remarkable, than in any degree lessened the effect
of its uncommon sweetness. His voice excelled both in melo-
dy and compass ; and its fine modulations were happily accom-
panied by that grace of action which he possessed in an emi-
nent degree, and which has been said to be the chief requisite
in an orator. To have seen him when he first commenced,
one would have thought him any thing but enthusiastic and
glowing; but as he proceeded, his heart warmed with his sub-
ject, and his manner became impetuous and animated, till, for-
oetful of every thino; around him, he seemed to kneel at the
throne of Jehovah, and to beseech in agony for his fellow-
beings.
After he had finished his prayer, he knelt for a long time in
profound silence, and so powerful was the effect on the most
heartless of his audience, that a stillness like that of the tomb
pervaded the whole house.
Before he commenced his sermon, lon^ darkening columns
clouded the bright sunny sky of the morning, and swept their
dull shadows over the buildinnf in fearful augury of the storm
His text was — " Strive to enter in at the strait gate ; for
136 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
many, I say unto you, shall strive to enter in, and shall n(M
be able."
"See that emblem of human life," said he, pointing to a
shadow that was flitting across the floor. " It passed for a
moment, and concealed the brightness of heaven from our
view ; but it is gone. And where will you be, my hearers,
when your lives are passed away like that dark cloud 1 Oh,
my dear friends, I see thousands sitting attentive, with their
eyes fixed on the poor, unworthy preacher. In a few days
we shall all meet at the judgment-seat of Christ. We shall
form a part of that vast assembly which will gather before
his throne, and every eye will behold the Judge. With a
voice whose call you must abide and answer, he will inquire
whether on earth ye strove to enter in at the strait gate — whe-
ther you were supremely devoted to God — whether your hearts
were absorbed in him. My blood runs cold when I think how
many of you will then strive to enter in and shall not be able.
Oh, what plea can you make before the Judge of the whole
earth ? Can you sa}' it has been your whole endeavour to
mortify the flesh with its affections and lusts? That your life
has been one long eflbrt to do the will of God ? No ! you
must answer, ' I made myself easy in the world, by flattering
myself that all would end well, but I have deceived my own
soul ; I am lost.'
"You, O false and hollow Christians! of what avail will it
be that you have done many things ; that you have read much
in the sacred word ; that you have made long prayers ; that
you have attended religious duties ; and appeared holy in the
eyes of man ? What will all this be, if, instead of loving him
supremely, you have been supposing you should exalt your-
selves in heaven, by acts really polluted and unholy ?"
KEV. GEORGK WHITEFIELD. 137
On anotner occusion, Mr. Whitefield was preaching in Bos-
ton, on tho wonders of creation, providence, and redemption,
when a violent tempest of thunder and lightning came on. In
the midst of the sermon it attained to so alarming a height that
the congregation sat in almost breathless awe. The preacher
closed his note-book, and, stepping into one of the wings of the
desk, fell on his knees, and with much feeling and fine taste
repeated —
Hark ! The E terxal rends the sky !
A mighty voice before him goes —
A voice of music to his friends,
But threatening thunder to his foes.
'* Come, children, to your Father's arms ;
Hide in the chambers of my grace,
Till the fierce storm be overblown,
And my revenging fury cease."
" Let us devoutly sing, to the praise and glory of God, this
hymn. Old Hundred."
The whole congregation instantly rose, and poured forth the
sacred song, in which they were nobly accompanied by the
organ, in a style of pious grandeur and heartfelt devotion that
was probably never surpassed. By the time the hymn was
finished, the storm was hushed ; and the sun, bursting fi^rth,
showed through the windows, to the enraptured assembly, a
magnificent and brilliant arch of peace. The preacher resumed
the desk and his discourse, with this apposite quotation :
" Look upon the rainbow; praise him that made it. Very
beautiful it is in the brightness thereof! It compasseth the hea-
ven about with a glorious circle ; and the hands of the Most
High have bended it."
The remainder of the services were well calculated to sus-
tain that elevated feeling which had been produced ; and the
benediction with which the good man dismissed the flock was
12*
138 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
universally received with st -earning eyes, and hearts overfloM-^
ing with tenderness and grr titude.
When Mr. Whitefield once preached before the seamen of
New York, he introduced the following bold apostrophe into
his sermon : — "Well, my boys, we have a clear sky, and are
making fine head-way over a smooth sea, before a light breeze,
and we shall soon lose sight of land. But what means this
sudden lowering of the heavens, and that dark cloud arising
from beneath the western horizon ? Hark ! 'Don't you hear
distant thunder ? Don't you see those flashes of lightning?
There is a storm gathering 1 Every man to his duty ! How
the waves rise, and dash against the ship ! The air is dark !
The tempest rages! Our masts are gone! The ship is on
her beam-ends ? What next ?" The unsuspecting tars, re-
minded of former perils on the deep, as if struck by the power
of magic, arose, and with united voices exclaimed, " Take to
the long-boat." It need scarcely to be added that the preacher
readily caught at the reply, and beautifully applied it to the
importance of fleeing to the Rock of Ages as the great Refuge.
As Whitefield was once preaching to a vast multitude on the
Links of one of the noble rivers of Virginia, he spoke of the
strength of depravity, and the insufficiency of the means of
grace to convert the sinner without the influence of the Holy
Spirit. " Sinners," said he, " think not that I expect to con-
vert a single soul of you by any thing that I can say, without
the assistance of Him that is ' mighty to save.' Go and
stand by that river, as it moves on its strong and deep current
to the ocean, and bid it stop, and see if it will obey you. lust
as soon should I expect to stop that river by a word, as, by my
REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 139
preaching, to stop that current of sin that is carrying you to
perdition. Father in heaven, see ! they are hurried on towards
hell ; save them, or they perish !" The impression which this
address produced upon his hearers was so strong, that they
were ready to respond with trembling, " Save, Lord, or we
perish."
Whitefield was once preaching to a vast crowd of people in
Southern Pennsylvania, at that time ignorant «nd uncivilized.
He was incessantly disturbed by their noise, and twice rebuked
I hem with great severity. At length, he was so overcome by
their noisy and irreverent conduct, that he stopped short,
dropped his head into his hands, burst into a flood of tears, and
exclaimed, " Oh ! Lord God ! I am ashamed that these people
are provoking thy wrath, and I dare not reprove them a third
time !" Such was the effect of this, that his audience were
perfectly quiet till the end of his discourse.
A young man, who was a member of the college at Prince-
ton, hearing that Whitefield was to preach in the neighbour-
hood, attended, anxious to satisfy himself whether the preacher
really deserved all the celebrity he had acquired. The day
was rainy, and the audience was small ; and the preacher,
accustomed to address thousands at once, did not feel his
powers called forth as at other times. After hearing about
one-third of the sermon, the young man said to himself, "The
\ man is not so great a wonder after all — quite common-place
and superficial — nothing but show, and not a great deal of
that ;" and, looking round upon the audience, he saw that they
also appeared uninterested, and that old father , who sat
directly in- iVont of the pulpit, and who always went to sleep
140 THE AMERIOAIN CLERGY.
after lioarinui: tlio loxt find plan of the sermon, was enjoying a
n;i|), ;i.s usual. About this time, Whitefield stopped. His face
wcul rapidly through many changes, till it looked more like a
risinij thunder-cloud than any thing else ; and beiiinnini'' very
deliberately, he said, " If I had come to speak to you in my
own name, you might rest your elbows on your knees, and
your heads upon your hands, and sleep; and, once in a while,
look up and say, ' What does the babbler talk of?' But I have
not come to you in my own name. No; I have come to you
in the name of the Lord God of Hosts, and" — here he brought
down his hand and foot at once, so as to make the whole house
ring again — "and I must and will be heard." Every one in
the house started, and old father among the rest. "Ay,
ay," continued the preacher, looking at him, " I have waked
you up, have I? I meant to do it. I have not come here to
preach to stocks and stones ; I have come to you in the name
of the Lord God of Hosts, and I must and 1 will have an
audience." The congregation was fully aroused, and the re-
maining part of the sermon produced considerable effect.
When visiting America, Mr. Whitefield often stood on the
outside steps of the court-house, in Market street, at the corner
of Second, in Philadelphia, and preached to thousands who
crowded the streets below. On one of these occasions, a
youth pressed as near to his favourite preacher as possible;
and, to testify his respect, held a lantern for his accommoda-
lion. Soon after the sermon began, he became so absorbed in
the subject, that the lantern fell from his hand, and was
dashed to pieces ; and that part of the audience in the imme-
diate vicinity of the speaker's station, were not a little discom-
posed by the occurrence.
Some years after, Mr. Whitefield, in the course of his fifth
REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 141
visit to Americn, about the year 1754, on a journey from tiie
southward, called at St. George's, in Delaware, wliere Mr.
(afterwards Dr.) Rodgers was then settled in the ministry, and
spent some time with him. In the course of this visit, Mr.
Rodgers, riding one day with his visitor in a close carriage,
asked him whether he recollected the occurrence of the little
hoy who was so much affected with his preaching as to let the
lantern fall. Mr. Whitefield answered, " Oh, yes ! I remember
it well ; and have often thought I would give almost any thing
in my power to know who that little boy was, and what had
become of him." Mr. Rodgers replied, with a smile, " I am
that little boy." Mr. Whitefield, with tears of joy, started
from his seat, clasped him in his arms, and with strong emo-
tions remarked, that he was the fourteenth person then in the
ministry, whom he had discovered in the course of that visit
to America, of whose hopeful conversion he had been the
instrument.
Mr. Whitefield, in his diary, under date of November 9,
1740, gives the following account of the conversion of Mr.
Brockden, recorder of deeds; a man eminent in his profession,
but for many years a notorious deist : — " In his younger days,
he told me, he had some religious impressions, but going into
business, the cares of the world so choked the good seed, that
he not only forgot his God in some degree, but at length began
to doubt of and dispute his very being. In this state he con-
tinued many years, and had been very zealous to propagate
his deistical (I could almost say atheistical) principles, among
moral men ; but he told me he never endeavoured to make
proselvtos of vicious, debauched people. When I came to
Philadelphia this time twelvemonth, he told me he had not
so much as a curiosity to hear me. But a brother deisl, hir
choicest friend, pressed him to come and hear me. To satisfy
1 4'^ THE AMERICAN CLERGY. ,
his curiosity, he at length complied with the request, I
preached at the court-house stairs, upon the conference which
the Lord had with Nicodemus. I had not spoken much, before
the Lord touched his heart. 'For,' sfiid he, 'I saw your doc-
trine tended to make people good.' His family knew not that
he had been to hear me. After he came home, his wife, who
had been at sermon, came in also, and wished heartily thai he
had heard me. He said nothing. After this, another of his
IJimilv came in, repeating the same wish; and, if I mistake
not, after that another; till, at last, being unable to refrain any
longer, with tears in his eyes, ' Why,' said he, ' I have been
hearing him ;' and then expressed his approbation. Ever
since, he has followed on to know the Lord ; and I verily be-
lieve Jesus Christ has made himself manifest to his soul. Though
upwards of three-score years old, he is now, I believe, born
again of God. He is as a little child, and often, as he told
me, receives such communications from God, when he retires
into the woods, that he thinks he could die a martyr for the
truth."
Mr. Whitefield once visited Chestertown, Kent cou uty, on
The Eastern Shore of Maryland. The minister of the parish
did not like Whitefield's new mode of preaching; and so, to
stop him, so far as his own congregation was concerned,
preached a sermon directly opposed to him, Whitefield being
present, from the text, "Paul, thou art beside thyself; much
learning doth make thee mad." The sermon was, of course,
very pointed.
At the close of the service, Whitefield took his stand at the
door of the church, and announced to the retiring congrega-
flon that ho would preach that afternoon, under a fine, large
oak, that stood in sight. It is not necessary to say that all
who had heard the minister, and many hundreds besides, went
REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 143
;o hear him. His text was, " I am not mad, most noble Festus,
but sjDcak forth the words of truth and soberness," Tradition
says that the minister was quite outdone, and literally " used
up." It was further said that Whitefield's voice was distinctly
heard on the Queeu Anne's side of the river; which must be
a distance, from where the oak stood, of a mile and a quarter.
On one occasion, during Whitefield's residence in this coun-
try, a black trumpeter, belonging to an English regiment,
resolved to interrupt him, during a discourse which he was
expected to deliver in the open air. At the hour appointed for
the sermon, he repaired to the field where it was to be preached,
carrying his trumpet with him, on purpose to blow it with all
his might, about the middle of the sermon. He took his stand
in front of the minister, and at no great distance. The con-
course that attended became very great ; and those who were
towards the extremity of the crowd pressed forward, in order
to hear more distinctly, which caused such a pressure at the
place where the trumpeter stood, that he found it impossible to
raise up the arm which held the trumpet, at the time he
intended to blow it. He attempted to extricate himself from
the crowd, but found this equally impossible, so that he was
kept within hearing of the gospel as securely as if he had been
chained to the spot. In a short time, his attention was arrested,
and he became so powerfully affected by what the preacher
presented to his mind, that he was seized with an agony of
despair, and was carried to a house in the neighbourhood.
When the service was over, he was visited by Mr. Whitefield,
who tendered some seasonable counsels ; and the poor trum
jjeter from that time became an altered man.
I
144 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
The following anecdote, related by Dr. Franklin, which is
equally characteristic of the preacher and himself, further
illustrates the power of Mr. Whitefield's eloquence: "I hap-
pened," says the doctor, " to attend one of his sermons, in
the course of which I perceived he intended to finish with a
collection, and I silently resolved he should get nothing from
me. I had in my pocket a handful of copper money, three or
four silver dollars, and five pistoles in gold. As he proceeded,
I began to soften, and concluded to give the copper. Another
stroke of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and deter-
mined me to give the silver ; and he finished so admirably,
that I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish —
gold and all. At this sermon, there was also one of our club;
who, being of my sentiments respecting the building in Georgia,
and suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by precau-
tion, emptied his pockets before he came from home. Towards
the conclusion of the discourse, however, he felt a strong incli-
nation, to give, and applied to a neighbour, who stood near
him, to lend him some money for the purpose. The request
was made to, perhaps, the only man in the company who had
the coldness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer
was, "At any other time, friend Hodgkinson, I would lend to
thee freely ; but not now, for thee seems to be out of thy right
senses."
The late Rev. Dr. Lathrop, of West Springfield, Massachu-
setts, related to Mr. Whitefield a fact which the Doctor had
personally witnessed ; and he related it without much feeling.
The same day, Mr. Whitefield introduced the story into his
sermon, and Dr. Lathrop, as he heard it, found himself drowned
in tears.
KEV. I)K. HITCIIUOCK. 145
REV. MK. BENNETT.
A VENERABLE clergyiiiaii, ii.sually called Father Bennett, in
an excellent sermon, preached in the city of Boston, stated that
a pious minister, vvhile speaking of the love of Christ for a
lost world, alluded to his peculiar attachment to the third chap-
ter of John, Said the minister, " It makes no difference as to
what part of the Bible 1 begin ; whether I commence at Gene-
sis, and proceed forward to Revelation, or whether I commence
at Revelation, and proceed backward to Genesis — I can't kelp
stojyping at the Sd chapte?- of John.'''' " But now-a-days,'*
added Father Bennett, " a great many persons, wherever they
commence in the Bible, prefer to make their stopping-place
among the prophecies of Daniel, instead of stopping where the
good minister did, at the third chapter of John, where their hearts
would be warmed by the declaration that ' God so loved the
world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' '*
REV. DR. HITCHCOCK.
The following incident was related by President Hitchcock,
in a sermon preached in the College Chapel, Amherst, Massa-
chusetts, on " The Moral Dignity of the Christian Character,"
and is a beautiful illustration of the subject : —
Allow me here to refer to a case that lately fell under my
observation, which illustrates more forcibly than I had over
conceived, the priceless value of the Christian hope to the
most unfortunate and degraded. I had descended a thousand
feet beneath the earth's surface, in the coal-pits of the Mid
Lothian Mines, in Virginia, and was wanderinir throuorh their
dark subterranean passages, when the voice of music at a little
13
1 16 THE AJMEKICAN CLERGY.
distance broke upon my ear. It ceased upon our approach,
and [ caught only the concluding sentiment of the hymn,
"I shall be in heaven in the morning."
On advancing with our lamps, we found the passage closed
by a door, in order to give a different direction to the currents
of air, for the purpose of ventilation; yet this door must be
opened occasionally to let the rail-cars pass, loaded with coal.
And to accomplish this, we found sitting by that door an aged
blind slave, whose eyes had been entirely destroyed by a blast
of gunpowder, many years before, in that mine. There he
sat, on a seat cut in the coal, from sunrise to sunset, day after
day ; his sole business being to open and shut the door, when
he heard the rail-cars approaching. We requested him to sing
again the hymn whose last line we had heard. It was, indeed,
lame in expression, and in the poetic measure very defective ;
being, in fact, one of those productions which we found the
pious slaves were in the habit of singing, in part at least, im-
promptu. But each stanza closes with the sentiment,
"I shall be in heaven in the morning."
It was sung with a clear and pleasant voice, and I could see
the shrivelled, sightless eyeballs of the old man rolling in (heir
sockets, as if his soul felt the inspiring sentiments; and really
the exhibition was one of the most affecting that I have ever
witnessed. There he stood — an old man, whose earthly hopes,
even at the best, must be very faint; and he was a slave — and
he was blind — what could he hope for on earth ? He was
binicd, too, a thousand feet beneath the solid rocks. In the
expressive language of Jonah, " He had gone down to the bot-
tom of the mountains ; the earth, with her bars, was about him
for over." There, from month to month, he sat in total dark-
ness. Oh, how utterly cheerless his condition ! And yet that
one blessed hope of a resurrection morning, was enough to
REV. DR. HITCHCOCK. 147
infuse peace and joy into his soul. I had often listened tr,
touching music ; I had heard gigantic intellects pour fortj-
enchanting eloquence ; but never did music or eloquence exer'
such an overpowering influence upon my feelings, as did this
scene. Never belbre did I feel the mighty power of Christian
hope. Never before did I witness so grand an exhibition of
sublimity. Oh, how comparatively insignificant did earth's
mightiest warriors and statesmen, her princes and emperors,
and even her philosophers, without piety, appear ! How pow-
erless would all their pomp and pageantry and wisdom be to
sustain them, if called to change places with this poor slave!
He had a principle within him superior to them all ; and when
the morning which he longs for shall come, how infinitely
better than theirs will his lot appear to an admiring universe !
A.nd that morning shall ere long break in upon thy darkness,
benighted old man ! The light of the natural sun, and the
face of this fair world will never, indeed, revisit you; and the
remnant of your days must be spent in your monotonous task,
by the side of the wicket-gate, deep in the caverns of the
earth ; but that bright and blessed hope of a resurrection
morning shall not deceive you. The Saviour, in whom you
trust, shall manifest himself to you, even in your deep dark-
ness ; and at the appointed hour, the chains of slavery shall
drop off*, and the double night which envelops you shall vanish
into the light and the liberty and glory of heaven. And just
in proportion to the depths of your darkness and degradation
now, shall be the brightness and the joy of that everlasting
day.
I would add, that on inquiry of the pious slaves engaged in
these mines, 1 found that the blind old man had a fair re[)uta-
tion for piety, and that it was not till the loss of his eyes thai
he was led to accept of a Saviour. It mav he that the destruc-
tion of his natural vision was the appointed means of opt ning
the eye of faith within his soul.
REV. MR. S.
A DEVOTED servant of God, on one occasion, some years ago,
,)reached upon the Diotrephesian spirit. In his usual faithful
inanner, he pointed out its sad effects upon a church, until, in
1 18 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A MINISTER IN NEW ENGLAND.
Some years since, a distinguished minister in New England
thought within himself, what would be the effect at the present
day of the preaching of the great divines of the seventeenth
century? The more he pondered the thought, the more it in-
terested hi mind, until at last he resolved to test the problem,
by copying, and preaching to his own people, a sermon from
one of their number. Mentioning to a few individuals his plan
and the reasons of it, that he might not be charged with pla-
giarism, he made the experiment. The Sabbath came; the
sermon was preached, and it told with mighty power. His
large and intelligent congregation were riveted in breathless
attention, and were solemn as the grave. They went from the
house, a few speaking, in under-tones, of the deep impressive-
ness and power of the sermon, but most of them giving still
higher tribute to its excellence by the thoughtful stillness in
which they walked, searching their own hearts, and thinking
oi' eternal things.
The sermon was from Richard Baxter, and its influence m
that congregation, and through it, will never die ; its power
may go down from generation to generation, to be known in
its fulness only at the judgment. By it, " he, being dead," is
yet speaking, and the power of his voice may be felt for ever
RKV, I>K, STILLMAN. 149
Its api)lication, he c-ame so close, that some persons were sur-
prised, knowing how deliglitful the harmony had always been
in that church. One of them soon began to persuade himseli,
however, that there was a Diotrephes there, Imt could not sa-
tisfy himself who it was. He ventured to seek information,
and turning to a good brother, an elder in the church, he said,
" Mr. L , who DOES Mr. S. mean?" " Fow and we," was
his quick reply. That hearer has never asked since, who Ids
mmister Tiieant^ when he was delivering the message of his
Master.
REV. DR. STILLMAN.
Ix the course of two weeks, the late Dr. Stillman was called
to bear the loss of two children, who had attained adult age.
The stroke was heavy, and the wound grievous, like the pierc-
ing of a sword to the heart; the support of religion, however,
not onlv sustained him, but also caused him to triumph ov'\''
the trial. For his first sermon after this bereavement, he took
for his text, Romans viii. 18: "For I reckon that the suffer-
ings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with
the glory that shall be revealed in us." The congregation had
expK'cted to hear an account of the mournful state of his mind,
but were delighted with the cheerful picture he presented of
liis own feelings in the prospect of that eternal glory, which
faith presented to his animated vision and certain hope. Ow
one occasion, in his study, a few who were candidates for ad-
mission into his church, had expressed their faith and hope in
Christ with freedom and cheerfulness. Their views evidently
affecting the pastor's heart, he looked round most affectionately
upon the little group, and with a smile of delight thus made
known his feelings: "VVhat a wonderfully strange thing rcli-
gion is! How happy it makes us!" Flis cheerful countenance
l.S*
I r)0 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY
indicated his entire willingness to leave all earthly soeiety for
the presence of Christ in glory. A person said, " Sir, I was
recently walking in the street in happy meditation, and my
mind was so delightfully elevated that heaven appeared to be
but a little way off." "Ah!" replied he, "heaven is not far
off when we feel right."
The Rev. Dr. Pierce, in his discourse delivered on the fiftieth
anniversary of his settlement at Brookline, Mass., in alluding
to Dr. Stillman, says :
" The bare allusion to this godly man recals delightful asso-
ciations, of which I must ask leave to take a passing notice.
When a boy, no greater boon could I ask of my father, than
permission to walk live miles, on the Lord's-day morning, to
hear this good man preach ; and to remain, through the day,
to be sure of a seat in his crowded house, for the afternoon.
It has been my privilege, in my time, to hear eloquent preach-
ers of great notoriety ; but, for pulpit eloquence, I have been
m the invariable habit of assigning him the very first rank.
Indeed, every sermon he delivered was with an earnestness,
as if he had received one more important message from his
Master, and the present might be his only opportunity for
delivering it."
AN EMINENT CLERGYMAN.
It is related of a clergyman, distinguished alike for his elo-
quence and exemplary piety, that having an appointment to
nreach in a certain village, he stopped on Saturday evening,
at the house of one of his early acquaintances, a resident of
the village. To his surprise, he found his old friend a distiller
and vender of ardent spirits, and exceedingly bitter against the
REV. MK. GILLESPIE. 151
fo'iiperance cause. He could not refrain, all the evening, from
givi;iL» vent to his feelings against all the temperance men and
every temperance movement. The next day the preacher took
Ills text from Jonah: "Dost thou well to be angry?" He
showed what good was doing in the days in which we live, and
esjeciaily in the temperance cause; how that cause was dry-
mg up the fountains of pauperism, and crime, and brutality ;
saving thousands on thousands from the drunkard's path, and
restoring many a lost man to society and his family ; trans-
forming the most degraded and abject beings in the community
into useful, respectable, and wealthy citizens. And as he enu-
merated one blessing after another, he would look down upon
his friend and ask, "Dost thou well to be angry?" It was
more than the poor man could bear : shame and confusion were
his. He hid his face from all the congregation, and as soon
as possible made the best of his way home from church ; and
from that day, no man became a stronger advocate of tempe-
rance reform, or made greater pecuniary sacrifices in its
behalf.
REV. MR. GILLESPIE.
This energetic minister, ii) iiis '' Lectures to Young Men on
the Formation of Characttfi,'' says, very fcicibly, '•''I emit do
iV never did any thing— Plo try" hao worked wonders —
and '■'■ I ivill do iC has pLf''^rr'.ecl piudigies
k.
Ib'-i THE AMKKICAN t'LERGV.
REV. MR. MOODY.
Father Moody was born at Newbury, in 1675, graduated
at Harvard College in 1697, was settled at York, Me., in 1700,
and died, at 72 years of a<j;e, in 1747. He refused to receive
from his people a stipulated salary, and lived with them half a
century ^n their voluntary donations. The following anec-
Jote is related of him :
Colonel Ingraham, a wealthy parishioner, had retained his
large stock of corn in a time of great scarcity, in hopes of raising
the |)rice. Father Moody heard of it, and resolved upon a public
attack upon the transgressor. So he arose in the pulpit one
Sabbath, and named as his text, Prov. xi. 26, — ' He that vvith-
holdeth corn, the people shall curse him ; but blessings shall
be iii)on the head of him that selleth it.' Colonel Ingraham could
not but know to whom the reference was made, but he held up
his head, and faced his pastor with a look of stolid unconscious-
ness. Father Moody went on with some very applicable re-
marks, but Colonel Ingraham still pretended not to understand
the allusion. Father Moody grew very warm, and became still
more direct in his remarks upon matters and things ; but Colonel
Ingraham still held up his head as high, perhaps a little higher,
ihan ever, and would not put on the coat prepared for him.
Father Moody at length lost all patience. " Colonel Ingra-
ham !" said he, " you know that I mean you; why don't you
hanif- down your head?"
Mr. Moody was once on a journey, in the western part ol
Massachusetts, and called on a brother in the ministry, on Sa-
turday, thinking to spend the Sabbath with him, if agreeable.
The good man appeared very glad to see him, and said, "I
should be very glad to have you stop and preach for me to-mor
row ; but I feel almost ashamed to ask vou." " VVhv, wha<
REV. MR. MOODY. 153
IS the iTiMtt^T ?" asked .Afr. Moody. '• '^:'',-, our people have
got into such a hnhit of going out bef ue worship closes, that
it seems to be an iin > sition upon a stranger." " If that is all,
I niust and will stop and preach for you," was Mr. Moody's
reply. When the Sabbath-day came, and Mr. Moody had
opened the service and named his text, he looked round on the
assembly, and said, " My hearers, I am going to speak to two
sorts of folks to-day, saints and sinners. Sinners, I am going
to give you your portion first, and I would have you give good
attention." When he had preached to them as long as he
thought well, he paused and said, " There, sinners, 1 have
done with you now ; you may take your hats and go out of
the meefing-house as soon as you please !" But all tarried and
heard him through.
A young clergyman was once visiting him, and on the morn-
ing of the Sabbath, he asked him if he would not preach.
" Oh, no, Father Moody," was the young gentleman's replv,
" I'm travelling for my health, and wish to be entirely relieved
from clerical duties. Besides, you, sir, are a distinguished
father in Israel, and one whom I have long wished to have an
opportunity of hearing, and I hope to-day for that gratifica-
tion."
" Well," said the old man, as they wended their way to the
meeting-house, " you will sit with me in the pulpit ?"
It was immaterial, the young mmister replied ; he could sit
in the pulpit or in the pew, as Father Moody preferred. So,
when they entered the meeting-house, Father Moody stalked
on, turned his companion up the pulpit stairs, and went him-
self into the parsonage pew.
Tlie young man looked rather blank when he found himself
aione, and waited a long while for his host to " come to the res-
cue." But there Father Moody sat before him, as straight and
154 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Stiff as a statue, and, finding there was to be no reprieve for
him, he opened the Bible, and went through with the exercise.
Perhaps the excitement caused by this strange treatment might
have enlivened h s braiji ; at all events, he preached remarka-
bly well. Alter the conclusion of the services, Father Moody
arose in his pew and said to the congregation, — " My friends,
we have had an excellent discourse this morning, from our
young brother; but you are all indebted to me for it."
REV. MR. WILLARD.
Mr. Treat, a minister of Eastham, married a daughter of
Mr. Willard, one of the pastors of the Old South Church, Bos-
ton, in the seventeenth century. The matter of his sermons,
it is stated, was excellent, but it was greatly injured by the
badness of his manner. After his marriage with the daughter
of Mr. Willard he was sometimes invited by the latter to
preach in his pulpit. Mr. Willard possessed an agreeable de-
livery and harmonious voice, and as a natural consequence, he
was generally admired. Mr. Treat having preached one of his
best discourses to the congregation of his father-in-law, in his
usual unhappy manner, excited much dissatisfaction. Several
persons waited on Mr. Willard, and begged that Mr. Treat
might not be invited into the pulpit again. To this request
Mr. Willard made no reply ; but he desired his son-in-law to
lend him the discourse, which being left with him, he delivered
it, without alteration, to his people, a few weeks after. The
hearers were delighted, and requested a copy for the press.
" See the difference," said they, " between yourself and your
son-in-law. You have preached a sermon on the same text a^
Mr. Treat's ; but while his was intolerable, yours was excel
lent."
liKV. DK. WADDELL. I5b
REV. MR. TRUAIR.
When we do a little good, who can tell us where the hai)p}
efTecrs of it will end ? In the year 1822, soon after the elibii.b
for the benefit of seamen were commenced in New York, the
Rev. Mr. Triiair was on a tour, preaching and making collec-
tions for that cause. In the course of his journey he preached
one evening at a school-house in a little town in Veniioiit,
containing only a few scattered inhabitants. The next morn-
ing he met a poor woman in the neighbourhood who had heard
his sermon, and felt desirous of doing something for the sailor's
cause. Having no money, she brought a bag of mustard seed,
whiv-h she begged him to accept, hoping it might turn to some
good account. Mr. T. conveyed the mustard seed to New
York, and on his stating the facts, some of the members of the
board of directors purchased it for three dollars, proposing to
present it to some missionaries then about to sail to Palestine,
that they might sow it there. The next day, the circumstances
were mentioned to a few friends, and several dollars more were
added to the purchase. The following Sabbath evening it was
mentioned at the Mariners' church, and twelve dollars more
were added. And on the following Tuesday evening, the in-
cident was told at a prnyer-meeting, and the sum of nine
dollars more was taken. The amount thus received for the
poor woman's " two mites" was thirty dollars. Surely " she
of her penury cast in more than they all !"
FEV. DR. WADDELL.
'I'hi: followinii narrative, written bv the Inte distinguished
\ttornry General, Wiiiiau) ^\"il•t, is too good either to he
"iiilif>d or abridged: —
lod THIi AMEKICAN CLEKGY.
It was ono Sunday, ns 1 travelled through the county of
Orange, inal my eye was caught hy a cluster of horses lied
near a ruinous old wooden house in the forest, not far from the
road-side. Having frccjuently seen such objects before, in
travelling through these States, I had no difficulty in under-
sianding that this was a place of religious worship.
Devotion alone should have stopped me to join in the duties
of the congregation ; but I must confess, that curiosity to hear
lli;i preacher of such a wilderness was not the least of mv
in.>tiv('s. On entering, I was struck with his preternatural
appearance. He wa« a tall and very spare old man; his head,
which was covered with a white linen cap, his shrivelled
hands, and his voice, were all shaking under the influence of
a palsy, and a few moments proved to me that he was per-
fectly blind. The first emotions that touched my heart were
those of mingled piety and veneration. But how soon were
all my feelings changed ! The lips of Plato were never more
worthy of a prognostic swarm of bees, than were the lips of
this holy man. h was a day of the administration of the
sacrament: and his subject was, of course, the passion of our
Saviour. I had heard the subject handled a thousand times :
I had thought it exhausted long ago. Little did I suppose that
in the wild woods of America, I was to meet with a man whose
eloquence would give to this topic a new and more sublime
pathos than T had ever before witnessed.
As he descended from the pulpit to distribute the mystic
symbols, there was a peculiar, a more than human solemnity
in his air and manner, which made my blood run cold, and my
whole frame shiver.
He then drew a picture of the sufl^ermgs of our Saviour; his
trial before Pilate; his ascent up Calvary ; his crucifixion and
death. \ knew the whole history; but never until then had I
heard the circumstances so selected, so arranged, so coloured !
[f was all new ; and 1 seemed to have heard it 'or the first
KEV. DK. WADDELL. l-'i/
tiMio in mil e. ilis enu iciiiion was so deliberate, that his
voice trembled on every syllable, and every heart in the assem-
bly trembled in unison. His peculiar phrases had that force
of description, that the original scene appeared to be at that
lime actiniji: boi'ore our eyes. We saw the very faces of the
.lows; the staring, frightful distortions of malice and rage.
W' saw the buffet: mv soul kindled with a flame of indisj;-
nati 'U, and my hands were involuntarily and convulsively
clcnclied.
But when he came to touch on the patience, the forgiving
meokness of our Saviour; when he drew, to the life, his
blessed eyes streaming in tears to heaven; his voice breathing
to God a soft and gentle prayer of pardon on his enemies,
^' Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do !" the
voice of the preacher, which had all along faltered, grow
fainter and fainter, until his utterance being entirely obstruct( I
by the force of his feelings, he raised his handkerchief to his
eves, and burst into a loud and irrepressible flood of grief.
The effect was inconceivable. The whole house resounded
with the mingled groans and shrieks of the congregation-
It was some time before the tumult had subsided so far as to
permit him to proceed. Indeed, judging by the usual but
fallacious standard of my own weakness, I began to be very
uneasy for the situation of the preacher ; for I could n if
conceive how he would be able to let his audience down from
the height to which he had wound them, without impairing th-
solemnity and dignity of his subject, or perhaps shocking thetn
by the abruptness of his fall. But — no; the descent was as
beautiful and sublime as the elevation had been rapid and
enthusiastic.
The first sentence with which he broke the awful silence was
a fjuotation from Rousseau: — "Socrates died like a philosopher,
but .lesus Christ like a Ood !"
1 despair of giving you any idea of the effect produced bv
14
108 THE AJIEEICAJN CLLKGV
this short sentence, unless you could perfectly conceive th(
whole manner of the man, as well as the peculiar crisis in the
discourse. Never before did I completely understand what
Demosthenes meant by laying such stress on delivery. You
are to bring before you the venerable figure of the preacher;
his blindness constantly recalling to your recollection old
Homer, Ossian, and Milton, and associating with his perform-
ance the melancholy grandeur of their geniuses ; you are to
imagine that you hear his slow, solemn, well-accented enun-
ciation, and his voice of affecting, trembling melody ; you are
to remember the pitch of passion and enthusiasm to which the
congregation were raised; and then the few moments of por-
tentous, death-like silence which reigned throughout the house;
the preacher, removing his white handkerchief from his aged
face, (even yet wet from the recent torrent of his tears,) and
slowly stretching forth the palsied hand which holds it, begins
the sentence, " Socrates died like a philosopher," — then paus-
ing, raising his other hand, pressing them both, clasped toge-
ther, with warmth and energy to his breast, lifting his " sight-
less holes" to heaven, and pouring his whole soul into his tre-
mulous voice — " but Jesus Christ— like a God !" If he had
been indeed and in truth an angel of light, the effect could
could scarcely have been more divine. Whatever I had been
able to conceive of the sublimity of Massillon, or the force of
Rourdalone, had fallen far short of the power which I felt
from the delivery of this simple sentence
If this description gives you the impression that this incom-
parable minister had any thing of shallow, theatrical trick in
his manner, it does him great injustice. I have never seen in
any other orator, such a union of simplicity and majesty, fie
has not a gesture, an attitude, or an accent, to which he does
not seem forced by the sentiment he is expressing. His mind
is too serious, too earnest, too solicitous, and at the same tijne
too dignified, to stoop to artifice. Although as far removed from
PETER, THE INDIAN PRKACHBR. 159
ostentation as a man can be, yet it is clear, from the train, the
style, and substance of his thoughts, that he is not only a very
polite scholar, but a man of extensive and profound erudition.
I was forcibly struck with a short, yet beautiful character which
he drew of Sir Robert Boyle; he spoke of him as if " his
noble mind had, even before death, divested herself of all in-
fluence from his frail tabernacle of flesh ;" and called him,
in his peculiarly emphatic and impressive manner, " a pure
intelligence ; the link between men and angels."
PETER, THE INDIAN PREACHER.
The following anecdote equally illustrates the genius and
falent of the speaker to whom it relates, and the usefulness of
Mr. Kirkland, the honoured missionary under whose labours
he had received his Christian instruction.
While Mr. Kirkland was a missionary to the Oneidas, being
unwell, he was unable one Sabbath afternoon to preach, and
told Good Peter, one of the head-men, that he must address
the congregatiou. Peter modestly and reluctantly consented.
After a few words of introduction, he began a discourse on the
character of the Saviour. "What, my brethren," said he,
"are the views which you form of the character of Jesus ?
You will answer, perhaps, that he was a man of singular bene-
volence. You will tell me, that he proved this to be his cha-
racter by the nature of the miracles which he wrought. All
these, von will say, were kind in the extreme. He created
bread »o feed thousands vvho were ready to perish. He raised
lo life the son of a poor woman who was a widow, and to
whom his labours were necessary for her support in old age.
Are these, then, vour only views of the Saviour'.' I tell .you
160 THE AMERICAN CLER-'^V.
they are lame. When Jesus came into our world, he threw
his blanket around him, but the God was within !"
This anecdote was related to the late Dr. Dwight, by Mr.
Kirkland himself.
tREV. Z. ADAMS.
The Rev. Z. Adams was well acquainted with a neighbour-
ing minister, a very mild, inoffensive man, and the exchange
of labours for a Sabbath was proposed. Knowing Mr. Adams's
peculiar bluntness of character, the minister said, " You will
find some panes of glass broken in the pulpit window, and pos«
sibly you may suffer from the cold. The cushion, too, is in a
bad condition ; but I beg of you not to say any thing to my
people on the subject ; they are poor." " O no ! O no !" said
Mr. Adams. But before he left home he filled a bag with rags,
and took it with him. When he had been in the pulpit a short
time, feeling somewhat incommoded by the too free circulation
of air, he deliberately took from the bag a handful or two of
rags, and stuffed them into the window. Towards the close
of his discourse, which was upon the duties of a people to-
wards their clergyman, he became very animated, and pur-
posely brought down both fists with a tremendous force upon
the pulpit cushion. The feathers flew in all directions, and the
cushion was pretty much used up. He instantly checked the
current of his thoughts, and simply exclaiming, "Why, how
these feathers fly !" proceeded. He had fulfilled his pro-
mise of not addressing the society on the subject, but had
taught them a lesson not to be misunderstood. On the next
Sabbath the window and the cushion were found in excellent
repair.
A GOOD PREACHER. lUl
A ChEIJGYMAN IN MASSACHUSETTS.
AuouT one hundred years ago, a clergyman in Massachu
setls had a respectable neighbour belonging to his parish, who
was notoriously addicted to lying: not from any malicious or
pecuniary motives, but from a perverse habit. The minister
was every day grieved by the evil example of his neighbour
This person was Captain Clark, a friend of the clergyman in
all tf^mporal matters, and a man useful in the parish. But his
example was a source of much inquietude to the divine. He
was determined to preach a sermon for the occasion. Accord-
ingly he took for his text, " Lie not one to another." He ex-
patiated on the folly, the wickedness, and evil example of lying
in such a pointed manner, that nearly every person present
thought that the clergyman was aiming at the Captain. The
service being ended, some one said to the captain, "What do
you think of the sermon ?" " Excellent, excellent," he re-
plied ; " but I could not for my life keep my eyes oft' old mo-
ther Symington, thinking how she must feel, for he certainly
meant her." Tiiis srory was told by a daughter of the cler-
gyman, who heard the sermon; to which she added, "When
you hear any folly or vice exhibited from the pulpit, before you
look out for a mother Symington, look within yourself, and see
if Captain Clark is not there." Her advice had some eft*ect, and
mav have again.
A GOOD PREACHEK.
It has been well remarked that u > individual is benefited by
preaching, till he supposes that it means JiinK It sometimes
appears so personal to wicked men, that they leei as (hough
thev were just about to be called out by name beforr the ron-
14*
10*J THE iV.HERlCAN »JLERGY.
grpgati'on. A minister was once preachins^, and when de-
scribing certain characters, said, " If I were omniscient, I could
call out by name the very persons that answer to this picture."
A man called out, "Name me !" and he looked as though he
were going to sink into the earth. He afterwards said that he
had no idea of speaking out, but the minister described him so
perfectly that he really thought he was going to call him by
name. The minister did not know that there was such a man
in the world.
REV. MR. S.
The Cincinnati Advertiser, some time since, gave an account
of an eccentric clergyman, who, not being a very animated and
interesting preacher, was often deserted by his flock, at least
by parts of them, on the Sabbath. The old gentleman finally
adopted some rather novel methods of keeping the delinquents
up to the point of duty.
When any family was absent two or three Sabbaths in suc-
cession, Mr. S. would publicly state to the congregation that as
Mr. 's family had been for some time absent from public
worship, he presumed there was sickness or trouble in their
household, and would appoint a prayer-meeting at their house
on the next Tuesday afternoon.
The old gentleman on one occasion also caught the wander-
ers by the following piece of harmless guile : — On one Sab-
l)alh afternoon, he told his people that he should take a journey
the next day, and be absent for a short time ; but he would
take care that some person should come from Boston, and sup
j>ly his desk the next Sabbath. On the next Sabbath morning
the meeting-house was filled. The whole town turned out to
hear the Boston minister. They waited a while in ea^rer ex-
ppctation of his entrance, when in marched the Rev. Mr. S..
REV. PKESIDLNT EDWARDS. JfiS
am] vvalked up the broad aisle, as he had been accustomed to
do tor many years gone by. On ascending his pulpit, lie
smiled graciously upon his large audience, and said ; " I am
glad, my dear hearers, that I have got you out — you're all
here as you ought to be — and I hope your minds are prepared
to receive instruction — I came from Boston yesterday myself."
REV. PRESIDENT EDWARDS.
This distinguished man was an eminent proof that power-
ful preaching consists in somewhat more than manner, and
that true eloquence is truth spoken with feeling. It is believed
that no preacher, who has appeared in this country, ever
engrossed the attention of his audience so often, so long, and
to so great a degree, except Mr. Whitefield. Yet his voice
was low, his style slovenly and uncouth, and he was without
gesture. During the first third part of his ministry, he read
his sermons; the remaining part of his life, he preached either
from sliort notes or extemporaneously. The propriety of his
pronunciation, his earnestness, his gravity, and his singular
solemnity, controlled, in the most absolute manner, the minds
of those who heard him. 'Mr. Hooker, who succeeded him —
who was distinguished for his learning, good sense, and ele-
gance of mind and manners, as well as for his moral worth —
well said to Dr. Dwight, that eloquence is so variously under-
stood and defined, that it is difficult to determine what is
intended by it ; but that, if it consisted in making strong im-
pressions of the subjfict of a discourse on the minds of an
audience, Mr. Edwards was the most eloquent man he ever
knew. Mr. Strong, afterwards Professor of Mathematics and
Natural Philosophy in Vale (JoUege, in early youth heard Mr.
Rdwards deliver tlu' sonnms which now constitute his " His-
104 THF, AMKRfCAIV CLERGY
torv of R('(](M)ii)li()ii."' lie says tliat his mind was iVom tlie
begiiininir deeply interested in the subject ; as it advanced, his
feehngs were more and more engaged, till, when the preacher
came to a consideration of the final judgment, his mind was
wrought up to such a pitch that he fully expected the awful
scene to be unfolded on that day, and in that place. He waited
with the deepest and most solemn solicitude, to hear the trum-
^ei sound and the archangel call ; to see the graves open, the
dead arise, and the Judge descend in the glory of his Father,
with all his holy angels; and was deeply disappointed wlien
the day terminated, and left the world in its usual state of
tranquillity.
The following narrative of this extraordinary man cannot
but prove interesting : —
While the people in the neighbouring towns were in great
distress for their souls, the inhabitants of Enfield were very
secure, loose, and vain. A lecture had been appointed there;
and the neighbouring people were so affected at the thought-
lessness of the inhabitants, and in such fears that God would,
in his righteous judgment, pass them by, while the Divine
showers were falling all around them, as to be prostrate before
Him a considerable part of the evening previous, supplicating
mercy for their souls. When the appointed time for the lecture
came, a number of the neighbouring ministers attended, and
some from a distance. When they went into the meeting-
house, the appearance of the assembly was thoughtless and
vain The people hardly conducted themselves with common
decency. Edwards preached. His plain, unpretending manner,
!)()th in language and delivery, and his established rcpuiatjon
fir holiness and knowledge of the truth, forbade the suspicion
that any trick of oratory would be used to mislead his hearers.
He began in the clear, careful, demonstrative style of a Teacher,
\ A METHODIST CTLERGYMAN. 105
solicitous for tho result of his effort, and anxious that ever)'
step of his argument should be clearly and fully understood.
His fe t was Deut. xxxii. 35 : " Thejr foot shall slide in due
time." As he advanced in unfolding the meaning of the text,
the most caroful logic brought him and his hearers to con-
clusions, which the most tremendous imagery could but inade-
quately express. His most terrific descriptions of the doom
and danger of the impenitent, only enabled them to apprehend
more clearly the truths which he had compelled them to
believe. They seemed to be, not the product of the imagina-
tion, but what they really were, a part of the argument. Tho
effect was ajs might be expected. Trumbull informs us that \
" before the assembly was ended, the congregation appeared
deeply impressed and bowed with an awful conviction of their
sin and danger. There was such a breathing of distress and
weeping, that the preacher was obliged to speak to the people
and desire silence, that he might be heard. This was the
beginning of the same great and prevailing concern in that
place, with which the colony in general was visited.
A METHODIST CLERGYMAJN.
A Methodist preacher, at a camp-meeting held in Massa-
chusetts, at the conclusion of his sermon, took occasion tc
impress upon his hearers the propriety of contributing freely
of their substance for the benefit of the church ; and urged
them to make the " collection, which was then abeut to be
taken up, a good one." After the collection had been made,
he arose with great solemnity, and looking into the contribution
bo.xes, which although they contained a great nunilxM- of
<»l.» ntt: ,\Mi^ttliJA.H VLtAtaV.
merits, showed a lamentable deailh ol" silver, exclaimed, with
much gravity, " 1 perceive that Alexander the copjwrsiniUi
katlh done i/s much hcinn.''''
AN ECCENTRIC CLERGYMAN.
A .SHREWD, eccentric, but withal talented preacher, of ui.
./ounded influence among his people, once administered reproof
n a very effectual manner. One warm summer afternoon, his
20 ng relation, like some other conojregations, got drowsy, and
:iot a few went off into a regular doze. The orator went on,
apparently undisturbed by the apathy, and finished his dis-
course. He paused ; the silence, as is often the case after the
hum-drum of a not very animated preacher, roused up the
congregation : some rubbed their eyes, and all stared ; for there
stood the minister, sermon in hand. He waited till he snw
:hem all -fairly awake, and then very calmly said, " My good
t'riends, this sermon cost me a good deal of labour, rather more
than .usual ; vou do not seem to have paid to it quite as much
alttMition as it deserves. I think I will go over It again ;" and
he was as good as his word, from text to exhortation.
REV. PRESIDENT DAVIES.
\\'hen Mr. Davies was yet under thirty years of age, hv.
was induced to accompany the Rev. Gilbert Tennant to Eng-
land, to solicit donations for the college of New Jersey, of
which he afterwards became the president.
His fame, as a pulpit orator, was so great in London, that i'
REV. BENJAMIN HARVEY. 167
reached the ears of King George II., who expressed a strong
desire to hear him. This was brought about; and iMr. D.
preached before a splendid -uidience, com[)osed of the royal
family and many of the nobility. It is further said, that while
JMr. D. was preaching, the king was, at different times, seen
speaking to those around him, who were seen also to smiJe.
Mr. Davies observed it, and was shocked at what he thoughl
was irreverence in the house of God, utterly inexcusable in
one, the influence of whose example was so great. After
pausing, and looking sternly in that direction several times,
the preacher proceeded in his discourse; but the same conduct
was still observed. The American preacher then exclaimed :
" When the lion roars, the beasts of the forest tremble; and
when King Jesus speaks, the princes of the earth should keep
silence !" The kinjr is said to have given a significant but
courteous bow to the preacher, and to have sat very com-
posedlv and reverentlv during the rest of the service.
The king is said to have been enraptured with the preacher's
manner and eloquence, and to have been expressing his d(;light
to those around him. He sent for the preacher, who renentej
his visit, and received from the king a handsome donation for
the c llese.
REV. BENJAMIN HARVEY
The following anecdote, of proba])ly the oldest clerg man
of his day, is copied from the New York Baptist Register, pub-
lished at Utica, in 1845. The venerable man dird in 1847.
Elder Benjamin Harvey, who is to open the reliijious ser-
vices at the meeting-house, on the fourth, is now in the one hun
dred and elevpnlh vear of his age, and still retains his facul-
ties to an astonishini; degree. His health is excellent. He
Iti8 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
walks about with great ease, and to all human appearance
mav last several years longer. On Lord's-day of last week
wo had the privilege of conversing with him in regard to his
employment during the winter. He informed us that since
December last, he had preached every Sabbath, and several
times during the week likewise.
In the afternoon, at the request of the pastor of Broad Sreet
Baptist chtirch, he made the first prayer, which he prefaced
substantially with these remarks: "We are now about to pray
— but we shall not change the mind of God by our prayer, if
we were to pray until we drop into our graves. God will not
be altered by it. He is perfectly right, and needs no alteration.
If there is any alteration, it must be in us; and our prayer
mui^t be that we may be penitent and conformed to his will,
and find mercy through Jesus Christ." He said he had two
objects to pray to ; one was the congregation, and the other the
great Father in heaven — and the prayer to the congregation is,
" 'We pray you in Christ's stead, bo ye reconciled to God.'
And now, let us unite in prayer to Him, that he would grant
us poor sinners the mercy we need."
In the evening he preached a sermon of fifty-five minutes,
from the passao;e in Revelations, " I saw an angel flying
through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach," and was listened to with interest and astonishment.
Thoui^h it was somewhat scattering, to use a common phrase,
yet there was manifestly method peculiar to himself, and many
thoughts truly valuable. His strength of lungs, and accuracy
of Scripture quotation, were indeed wonderful ; and his vigour
of action, and his great animation, are not often surpassed by
ministers in the meridian of life. The Bible must have been
closely studied by him in former years. His animation was
•^uch frequently, in speaking of the blessedness of the Re.
deemer, that he would clap his hands under the exercise. Ho
referred to the two previous sermons in his opening, that he
A NEW ENGLAJNI) CLERGYMAN. 169
iiiia preached in the same pulpit, and gave the main division
u'itl) astonishins accuracy; showing his memory as well as his
other faculiies lemarKably sound, and that he is indeed the
greatest wonder of the age.
A NEW ENGLAND CLERGYMAN.
An eminent minister gave, in one of his sermons, tne fol-
lowing illustration of the Divine dealings with sinners.
A clergyman sitting in his study, saw some boys in his gar-
den stealing melons. He quietly arose, and walking into his
garden, called them ; " Boys, boys." They immediately fled
with the utmost precipitation, tearing through the shrubbery,
and tumbling over the fences. " Boys," cried out the gentle-
man, " stop, do not be afraid. You may have as many me-
lons as you want. I have more than 1 know what to do with."
The boys, urged by the consciousness of guilt, fled with in-
creasing speed. They did not like to trust themselves in the
gentleman's hands ; neither did they exactly relish the idea of
receiving favors from one whose garden they were robbino-.
The clergyman continued to entreat them to stop, assurintr
them that they should not be hurt, and that they might have
as many melons as they wished for. But the very sound of
his voice added wings to their speed. They scampered on in
rvery direction, with as determined an avoidance as though the
gentleman was pursuing them with a horsewhip. Ho ilcf.r-
mlned, however, that they should be convinced that he was sin-
cere in his oflers, and therefore pursued them. Two little lll-
lows who could not climb over the fence were taken. He (cd
them back, Telling them they were welcome to melons when-
ever they wanted any, and giving to each of them a cou|)le,
15
I
170 THE A3IERICAN CLERGY.
allowed them to go home. He sent by them a message to the
other boys, that whenever they wanted any melons, they were
welcome to them if they would but come to him.
The other bovs, when they heard of the favors with which
the two had been laden, were loud in the expression of their
indignation. They accused the clergyman of partiality, in
givmg to some without giving to all; and when reminded that
they would not accept of his offers, but ran away from him as
fast as they could, they replied, "What of that? He caught
these two boys, and why should he have selected them instead
of the rest of us? If he had only run a little faster, he might
have caught us. It was mean in him to show such partiality."
Again they were reminded that the clergyman was ready to
serve them as he did the other two he caught, and give them
as many melons as they wanted, if they would only go and
ask him for them.
Still the boys would not go near him, but accused the gene-
rous man of mjustice and partiality in doing for two, that
which he did not do for all.
So it is with the sinner. God finds all guilty, and invites
them to come to him and be formven, and receive the richest
blessings heaven can afford. They all run from him, and the
louder he calls, the more furious do they rush in their endea-
vours to escape. By his grace he pursues, and some he over-
takes. He loads them with favours, and sends them back to
invite their fellow-sinners to return and receive the same.
They all with one accord refuse to come, and vet never cease
to abuse his mercy and insult his goodness. They say, "Why
does God select some and not others ? Why does he overtake
others who are just as bad as we, and allow us to escape? This
election of some and not others, is unjust and partial."
And when the minister of God replies, " The invilation is
extended to you : whosoever will, let him come and take of the
COLOURED PREACHERS. 171
water of life freely," the sinner heeds it not, but goes on in
his sins, still complaining of the injustice and partiality of
God, in savinfT some and not savins all.
COLOURED PREA.CHERS.
A COLOURED preacher in Philadelphia, a few years since,
showed his correct theology and his ingenuity, in telling his
auditory, in language and style they could well comprehend,
an important truth. — " My dear breddren, de liberal man, what
gibs away his property, ain't gwine to heaben for dat, no mor..^
dan some of you wicked sinners. Charity ain't no good wid-
out righteousness. It is like beef-steak widout gravy ; — dat is
to say, no good, no how."
An agent of one of our Missionary Societies, not long
since, visited and addressed a coloured church in Kentucky.
VVhen the collection was about to be taken, the pastor, himself
a coloured man, arose and said, " My dear brethren, when we
have our meetings for prayer, you are generally present, and
I am pleased to see this house filled. Whenever, at such times,
any thing is said about the wants of the heathen, and the duty
of praying and giving for the conversion of the world, you
give me groans of approbation. Now I wish you to come for-
ward with your money, or I shall conclude that you did no'
» groan honestly."
An African preacher, speaking from the wofds, *'What is a
man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own
soul?" mentioned, among other things, that many lost thoir
172 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
souls by being too charitable! Seeing the congregation as-
tonished beyond measure at his saying it. he very emphatically
repeated it, and then proceeded to explain his meaning. "Many
people," said he, " attend meeting, and hear the sermon ; and
when it is over they proceed to divide it out among the congre-
gation ; this part was for that man, that part for that woman ;
and such denunciations were for such persons; these threats for
you sinners — and so," continued the shrewd African, ^^ they
gii'e away the whole sermon^ and keep none for themselves P
REV. DR. J. M. MASON.
Many facts are related of the power of Dr. Mason's pulpit
eloquence. His mind was of the highest order, his theology
Calvinistic, and his style of eloquence irresistible as a torrent.
When the distinguished Robert Hall heard him deliver his
celebrated discourse on Messiah's Throne, at a missionary
meeting in London, in 1802, it is said he exclaimed, "I can
never preach again !"
REV. DR. F.
An intelligent writer says : —
In one of my college years, a fellow-pupil suddenly died.
On the Sabbath following, the venerated Dr. F. connected his
discourse with this event, which was itself preaching very
solemnly to some of us. This was a sentence: "Yoting mnn,
thou art now strong and full of health ; but I will tell thee, the
spade which shall dig thy grave may be already forged — thy
winding-sheet be lying in yonder store — and that clock (point-
REV. MR. STEVENS. 173
ing, to the one on the gallery) be counting out the moments m
ihc last Sabbath-day of thy life.'*'' He jmused. It was the
stillness of the grave, for a nninute : but, oh ! tlie tick of'-'-tJiat
clock /" It entered my sotd ; it seemed like the sound of the
keys in the doors of the eternal world. No voice, no speech,
could have searched the audience as did that awful voice of
our departing moments. Since that day, I have ever looked
seriously upon the face, and listened solemnly to the voice, of
the sanctuary clock.
REV. MR. STEVENS,
A FEW years since, the Rev. Mr. Stevens, of Boston, deli-
vered a sermon at Newburyport, before the " Society for the
Relief of Aged Females ;" which he concluded, by relating a
part of the history of a family in Philadelphia, with which he
was intimately acquainted.
It consisted of the parents and four children. The husband
was in an employment which enabled him to maintain his
family comfortably, and lay by something as a provision for
old age. In the midst of his joys, he was seized with con-
sumption, nearly spent his all, and died. After his death, the
mother laboured with constancy at her needle, to support her
children, till almost incessant efforts brought on the same dis-
ease, and she also descended to the grave. Before this, how-
ever, the eldest boy, then about seven years of age, went from
door to door, seeking employment, to keep the family from
starvation. Those upon whom he thus called, were generally
too busy to listen to the story of a child. He at length
obtained a situation in the Globe cotton mill, in Philadelphia^
receiving for his services seventy-five cents a week, and sue-
ceeded in getting a younger brother into the same establish*
15*
I 7 1 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
iiK nr, who was paid fifty cents a week. This .lollar and a
quarter per week served for some time to sustain the sick
mother and family. None interested themselves in their fate ;
for their neighbours were generally vicious and degraded, and
as poor as themselves. For a long period, roasted potatoes
were their only food, and the small pieces of wood which they
collected in the streets, their only fuel.
Finally, a female, who had been bridesmaid to the mother,
heard of her distress, and sought her out. Her assistance and
personal services were freely given ; but, alas ! it was now too
late — she could but smooth the pillow of death ! The mother
was laid in the grave, by the side of her husband, and the
children were left orphans. Situations, however, were obtained
for them, and at their meeting, at the end of every year, they
could speak of increasing prosperity. Finally, the eldest boy
was introduced into the ministry, and, added the preacher, "w
the individual who now addresses you /"
" We have rarely," say the editors of the paper from which
we transcribe this account, "witnessed a more powerful effect
than the announcement of this fact produced. It was as
though an electric shock had been sent through the whole
audience. So entirely unprepared were the assembly for such
a termination ; so completely had their sympathies been given
to sufferers whom they supposed were at that time many miles
distant,. that the declaration that one who had passed through
the scene in which their feelings had been so strongly enlisted
stood before them, was unexpected, and in the highest degree
startling !"
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN. 175
REV. B. STANDFORD.
A FEW years since, a very interesting religious exercise was
held at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, on the occasion of Deacon
John Whitman's arriving at the age of one hundred years.
The deacon, a rather tall, stout man, in good health, with
mental faculties scarcely affected, excepting his hearing and
sight failing, occupied an arm-chair in front of the pulpit. The
assemhly was the largest ever witnessed in that house, and
intense interest was generally visible.
The Rev. B. Standford preached the sermon, from 2 Tim. iv.
: '' For [ am now ready to be offered, and the time of my
departure is at hand," and addressed, both to the venerable
deacon and to the congregation, a variety of important re-
marks and counsels. He stated that Mr. Whitman was blessed
with pious parents, and was from a child the subject of serious
impressions. His mind was led fully to embrace the gospel
of Christ, under the ministry of the distinguished George
Whitefield ; and that for seventy years he had adorned the
religion of Jesus, during thirty of which he had sustained the
office of deacon.
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN.
A CLERGYMAN, in a recent discourse, was speaking of the
practice of pointing to the sins and follies of the members of
the churches, as an excuse for others, when he thus illustrated
the evil of such an argument : " Ah !" said he, " it is the com-
mon device of the devil, to blind the eyes of his disciples with
the dust shaken from the soiled garments of Christians."
1 70 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A celebrated divine, who was remarKable in the first period
of his ministry, for a boisterous mode of preaching, suddenly
changed his whole manner in the pulpit, and adopted a mild
and dispassionate mode of delivery. One of his brethren
observing it, inquired of him what had induced him to make
the change. He answered, " When I was young, I thought
It was the thunder that killed the people ; but when I grew
wiser, I discovered that it was the lightning — so I determined
in future to thunder less and lighten more."
A reverend clergyman from Ohio, preaching in the city of
Brooklyn, New York, observed two young ladies talking to-
gether. Stopping suddenly in his discourse, and looking
seriously at them, he said, " I observe two young ladies in the
congregation, earnestly engaged in conversation ; and as it is
not a mark of true politeness for more than one to speak at a
time, in church, I will remain silent for a short time, to give
them an opportunity to finish their discourse, when I will re-
sume tnine.^'' The worthy minister, allter standing in silence a
moment or two, resumed his subject.
Several years ago, a town in New England was blessed with
■A revival of religion. One evening, a lady and her little
daughter attended a meeting; and while the minister was
speaking of the neglect of family duties, of reading the Scrip-
lures, and of family prayer, the little daughter, who listened
attentively, and perceived that the preacher was describing a
neglect that she had noticed herself, whispered to her mother,
REV. 1>R. STANFORD.
" M;i, is Mr. talking to you?" This was powerful
preaching to the mother ; she was immediately brought under
deep convictions of sin, which resulted in her hopeful con
version to God.
REV PROFESSOR SHEPPARD.
The Rev. Professor Sheppard, of Bangor, was engaged to
preach in the First Baptist Church, at the period of the occur-
rence of a great flood. He arrived at the church with some
difficulty, and finding but few there, in the general consterna-
tion, he offered prayer, and then addressed them, in a manner
which must, though short, be regarded as truly subhme : —
" God himself has the audience of the people to-day ; and
while He speaks, his ministers may well keep silence."
REV. DR. STANFORD.
The late Rev. Dr. Stanford, of New Yonc, on a particular
occasion preached a sermon from a passage in the Canticles :
" Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant
fruits." After he had, in a very interesting manner, described
a beautiful garden, and spoke of the variety and fragrance of its
shrubs, flowers, trees and fruits, and then applied the subject
to the state of the Christian church ; as he descended from the
pulpit, one of the deacons said to him, " Well, brother Stan-
ford, you have laid out the garden in due form, and you have
described the varieties and excellences of its productions ; but
where is your fence ?" With his usual promptness he replied,
" Oh ! I left Vhat for you deacons to put up ; and see that vou
keep it in good order."
1 78 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A UNIVERSALIST MINISTER.
It is not often we recommend the neglect of the pulpit ; but
in one instance, at least, we should unite with one of the par-
ties in the following narrative, in thinkins; it desirable.
A Uiiiversalist minister was travelling to the West, and had
sent on an appointment to preach in a certain place. On his
arrival, he found a congregation, to whom he proclaimed the
doctrine of unconditional salvation. After the sermon, he in-
formed his hearers that he should be that way on his return,
at such a time ; and if they desired it, he would then preach
again. No one replied till he had twice repeated his statement.
At last an old Friend, in the back part of the congregation,
rose, and said, " If thee hast told the truth this time, we do
not need thee any more ; and if thee hast told us a lie, we do
not want thee any more."
REV. JOHN ELIOT.
This eminent man was very justly styled The Apostle to
tlie Indians.
On the 28th of October, 1646, he set out from his home, in
company with three friends, to the nearest Indian settlement.
He had previously sent to give this tribe notice of his coming,
and a very large number was collected from all quarters, [f
the savages expected the coming of their guest, of whose name
th(>y had often heard, to be like that of a warrior or sachem,
they were greatly deceived. They saw Eliot on foot, drawing
near, with his companions ; his translation of the Scriptures,
ike a calumet of peace and love, in his hand. He was met
REV. JOHN ELIOT. 179
by tluir chief, Waubon, who conducted him to a large wig-
warn. After a short rest, Eliot went into the open air, and,
standing on a grassy mound, while the people formed around
him in all the stillness of strong surprise and curiosity, he
prayed in the English tongue, as if he could not address Hea-
ven in a language both strange and new. And then he preached
for an hour in their own tongue, and gave a clear and simple
account of the religion of Christ, of his character and life, of
the blessed state of those who believed in him. Of what avail
would it have been to set before this listening people the terrors
of the Almighty, and the doom of the guilty? This wise man
knew, by long experience as a minister, that the heart loves
better to be persuaded than terrified — to be melted than
alarmed. The whole career of the Indian's life tended to
freeze up the finer and softer feelings, and make the more dark
and painful passions familiar to him. He resolved to strike a
new chord ; and when he saw the tears stream down their
siern faces, and the haughty head sink low on the breast, as
he painted the ineffable love of Christ, he said it was a "glori-
ous and affecting spectacle to see a company of perishing, for-
lorn outcasts, so drinking in the word of salvation." The
impressions this discourse produced, were of a verv favourable
nature : as far as the chief, Waubon, was concerned, thev were
never effaced. Afterwards, the guest passed several hours
conversing with the Indians, and answering their questions.
When night came, he returned to the tent with the chief, and
the people entered their wigwams, or lay around, and s\o\)i on
the grass. What were Eliot's feelings on this night? At last,
the longing of years was accomplished ; the fruit of his pray-
ers was given him.
Such was the perseverance of this holy man in his great
«\ork, that on the day of his death in his eightieth year, the
1':'0 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
' Apostle of ihe Indians" was found teaching the alphabe. to an
Indian child at his bedside. "Why not rest from your labours
now?" said a friend, "Because," said the venerable man, "I
have pra>ed to God to render me useful in my sphere; and
now that I can no longer preach, he leaves me strength enough
to teach this poor child his alphabet."
REV. JOHN GANG.
The Rev. Dr. Cone, pastor of the first Baptist church in
New York, in 1845 preached a centennial sermon, in which he
gave a sketch of his predecessors in office. In speaking of
the Rev. John Gano, who was pastor from 1760 to 1788, he
said that it might be interesting to state a reminiscence of the
revolutionary war. Mr. Gano was a chaplain to the militia,
and fleeing up the island before the British, the regiment to
which he belonged turned to resist the pursuers, and the man-
ci3uvre bringing him in front of the line, he fought there in the
place of the lieutenant-colonel, who was absent. He fought
bravely, which gave courage to the men, who said, " Surely
God IS on our side, when our chaplain is our leader." At the
close of the war he returned to the city, and found his house
destroyed, and his place of worship a stable of British cavalry.
He gathered what he could of his flock, and preached to them
from these words in Haggai; " Who is left among you that saw
this house in her first glory ? Is it not now in comparison of
it as nothing ''"
A PRAt'TICAL I'REACHEK. I'*'!
A clergyman, some time since, imparted instruction to his
congregation by relating the following facts :
Two travellers put up for the night at a tavern. Early in
the morning they absconded without reckoning witli their liost,
also stealing from him a bag of beans. A few years after the>
passed that road in company again ; and again they asked for
lodging at the same inn. The identical landlord was yet at
his post ; and in the evening was overheard by them, talking
in one corner of the bar-room, in a suppressed voice, with one
of his neighbours, about a swarm of bees. One of his disho-
nest guests said to the other, " Did not he say beans ?" " I
think he did," was the reply, and quickly they were missing.
I often think, added the clergyman, about the beans. When
the church member complains that the minister means him,
this anecdote about the beans will pop into my mind. On a
thousand other occasions, I notice people whose consciences
are not easv, saving to each other, bv various modes of com-
munication, "Did not he say beans?" though perhaps the
preacher was no nearer the subject about which they were ex-
cited than the bees were to the beans.
A PRACTICAL PREACHER.
A New England clergyman enforcing on his congregation
the necessity of practical godliness; and contrasting the (\arly
Christians with those of the present generation, very properly
remarked, " We have too many resolutions, and too little
action. ' The Acts of the Apostles,' is the title of one of the
books of the New Testament ; their Resolutioris have not
reached us."
16
IS2 TJIE AMERICAN Cl.EKGY.
REV. LUTHER RICE.
When Mr. Rice was travelling as an agent in the cause of
foreign missions, he was once in attendance at a public meet-
ing of the Shiloh Association, held in Culpepper county, — that
part of it now forming Rappahannock county. He had been
urging the claims of the heathen on the sympathies and efforts
of Christians with his accustomed eloquence and effect ; but
among his hearers was a brother of the name of Jonathan
Waters, an excellent man, but somewhat eccentric, a great
stickler for sound doctrine, and perhaps not altogether uninfect-
ed with the anti-ism somewhat rife at that day in his neigh-
bourhood. When asked what he thought of the cause, he re-
plied he could tell better if he knew what sort of gospel was
to be sent to the heathen. Brother Rice had not preached to
them ; he had only spoken to them on the subject of missions.
" Well," said Mr. Rice, " suppose I preach to-night." Arrange-
ments were accordingly made for holding the service at a pri-
vate house. A goodly number was present, and among fhem
Brother Waters, seated at some distance from the speaker.
The text was announced, — John x. 27, 28,—" My sheep hoar
my voice, and 1 know them, and they follow me: and I give
unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand." The preaclier
had proceeded a little way, when FJrother W. became bent in
the posture of deep thought. By and by, he raised his head,
and fixed his eyes on the speaker ; soon his mouth was agape ;
a little after, he hitched forward his chair, and gradually a].-
proached the table, until, at length, lie was under the very lips
of the charmer. In due time — Luther Rice seldom preached
long sermons — the discourse was concluded ; but no soonei
was the "Amen" out, than the good brother, inflicting a "right
REV. LUTHER RICE. 183
smart" slap on the shoulders of Mr. R., exclaimed, " Well,
brother Rice, you can preach !"
Brother Waters, from that evening to the day of his death,
was known as one of the warmest friends of Christian enter-
prise in all his region. He continued as firm a believer as
ever in the Lord doing his own work ; but insisted no less
strongly that it was the part of a true friend of Christ to obey
his Master's commands.
Mr. Rice was eminently a practical man. He once attended
a meeting in Virginia, where the people had gathered frcnn
alar, and a large number of 'ministers were present. Sermons
on Election, Perseverance of the Saints, Justifying Faith, and
the various doctrines of grace, had been preached. One of the
ministers alluded to this fact, and said that there had been
much strong meat given, but thought it necessary in order that
young preachers and young converts should be established in
the truth. It was proper to go over, at such times, the round
of doctrines.
Beside him, on that occasion, sat Luther Rice. He at
length arose to speak. He remarked that he could not ao-ree
with all that his predecessor had said. "Strong meat! Call
the doctrines of electing love, preserving grace, justifying faith,
strong meat ! No, no, this is the very milk of the word, fit
food for babes. It is for mc to preach the strong meat. Give
as the Lord has prospered you. There is strong meat for
youy His eye flashed, and the full tone of his voice, as he
enunciated this, could never be forgotten. He had visited Vir-
ginia, to arouse to the work of missions. His labors were not
in vain.
ist
THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. JOHN SUMMERFIELD.
Seldom, if ever, has tliis or any other country produced a
more zealous or eloquent preacher than this truly rennarkable
young man. Among many other illustrations of his power in
the pulpit, we learn that in 1822, he preached in New York,
m behalf of the institution for the instruction of the Deaf and
Dumb, and the following were his concluding sentences ; but
although they are the very words of the preacher, those only
who heard them in that great congregation, can conceive of
the fervour with which they were uttered : —
" But I transfer these children now to you. Behold them.'*'
Here dropping his handkerchief on the platform, the objects
of the charity stood up in the presence of the congregation,
while he proceeded, — " They now stand before you, as you must
stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Turn away from
these children of affliction, and when the Lord says, ' Inas-
much as ye did it not to the least of these, ye did it not unto
me,' you too may be diunb, speechless in shame. Dare you
on this occasion say : —
The mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me 1
Do you realize that day ? You must stand stripped of every
earthly treasure — naked before God ! While you plead for mer-
cy, — cast all earthly treasure from you now, — these now plead
with you, as you will plead with God : — hear them ! I do not
mock you ! — Silence like theirs is eloquence. The hand of God
has smitten them, but the stroke which blasted, consecrated
them ! Heaven has cast them on you : — if you withhold, 'tis
sacrilege! Will a man rob God? Are you still passing by
on the other side? Still griping, with a miser's fist, the pelf
of earth ? — Father of Mercies ! palsy not that hand ! wither
A YOITNG TLERGYMAN. 185
noL that eye which can ^aze on these objects, and not rt?el
affJ'cted ! On me be the wrong ! I have failed to affect them
— these children have failed. Thou canst move them ; — Oh,
descend as with cloven tongues of fire! and find thou an en-
trance into every heart. — But — I can no more!"
The sermon being concluded, the collection was taken up,
which amounted to more than one thousand dollars, a gold
necklace, and several rings.
Preaching once in Allen Street Church, New York, this
eloquent young clergyman wished to define and illustrate
Christian confidence; and he did it in this way . — "You remem-
ber Peter, when he was imprisoned, chained between two sol-
diers. The church was praying in tears, wondering what
would become of them if their strong champion was taken
from them. The enemies of God on earth, and the devils in
hell, were rejoicing that they had Peter in their power. The
angels in heaven, ever intent on the mysteries of Providence
in redemption, were sending down to see what the Lord would
do with Peter. When heaven, and earth, and hell, were think-
ing of Peter, what were Peter's thoughts? What was Peter
doing 1 Peter was asleep y
A YOUNG CLERGYMAN.
The following lines, descriptive of a beautiful incident, are
from the pen of Mrs. A. L. Angier, and are said to describe
an actual occurrence.
The rosy light of Sabbath eve
On hill and valley lay ;
And lingered long, as if to leave
A blessing on the day.
If)*
*^6 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Tlie village bell had sweetly tolled
Its chime upon the air,
To summon to their hallowed fold
The worshippers for prayer.
The organ's deep and solemn peals
Fell on the listening ear,
As o'er the senses gently stole
The feeling — God is near !
The youthful preacher rose, and took
His theme — 'twas Jesus' love !
When lo ! beside the sacred book
There stood a snow-white dove !
With timid gaze and folded wing,
It paused — then soared away ;
In vain we sought to track its course.
In vain we bade it stay.
Onward and upward still it flew,
Till not a speck was seen,
To tell that in the vaults of blue
Its graceful form had been.
I know not if the thought be wrong,
But it hath seemed to me,
That some mute herald from the skies
That gentle bird might be,
To teach us, if to innocence
Our days on earth are given,
We too may plume our spirits' wings,
And take our flight for heaven.
The memory of that Sabbath eve.
That quiet sunset scene,
Did on my heart an impress leave,
From which this truth I glean :
That nature's simplest lessons tend
To show some moral plain ;
For, on the page that God hath penned,
No line is writ in vain.
DEVOTEDNESS OF CLERGYMEN TO THFIR
LABOURS.
atrry
REV. JOHN BROCK.
This eminent minister, who died at Reading, Mass., in 1668,
was truly remarkable for devotedness to his work, and for a
spirit of fervent prayer, of which several remarkable facts are
related. When he lived at the Isle of Shoals, he persuaded
the people to enter into an agreement to spend one day in
every month, besides the Sabbaths, in religious worship. On
one of these days, the fishermen, who composed his society,
desired him to put off the meeting, as the roughness of the
weather had for a number of days prevented them from attend-
ing to their usual employment. Ke endeavoured in vain to
convmce them of the impropriety of their request. As most
of them were determined on seizing the opportunity for mak-
ing up their lost time, and were more intent on their worldly
than on their spiritual concerns, he addressed them thus : " If
you are resolved to neglect your duty to God, and will go
away, I say to you, catch fish if you can ; but as for you,
who vyill tarry and worship the Lord Jesus Christ, I will pray
unto him for you, that you may catch iisii until you are
weary." Of thirty-five men, only five remained with the mi-
nister. The thirty who went from the meeting, with all their
skill, caught through the whole day but four fishes; while the
five who attended divine service, afterwards went out and
cau"-ht five hundred. From this time the fishermen readily
attended all the meetings he appointed. A poor man, who had
been very useful with his boat, in carrying persons who at-
tended public worship over a river, lost his bout in a storm,
and lamented his loss to his minister. Mr. Brock said to him,
" Go home, honest man ; I will mention the matter io the
Lord ; you will have your boat again to-morrow." The next
day, in earnest prayer, the poor man recovered his boat, which
(189)
190 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
was brought up from the bottom, by the anchor of a vessel,
cast upon it without design. A number of such remarkable
correspondences between the events of providence and the
prayers of this holy man, caused Mr. John Allen, ofDedham,
to say of him, " I scarce ever knew any man so familiar with
the great God, as his dear servant Brock."
REV. PRESIDENT DAVIES.
Such was the devotedness of this excellent minister, that
even in very early life, when only entering on his labours, and
when he was judged to be in an irrecoverable consumption,
entertaining no hope of restored health, he determined to spend
the remains of an exhausted life, as he apprehended, in endea-
vouring to advance his Master's glory in the good of souls.
Accordingly he removed from the place where he was, to an-
other, about a hundred miles distant, then in want of a minis-
ter. Here he laboured in season and out of season ; an i
preached in the day, and had his hectic fever by night, and
sometimes to such a degree as to be delirious, and to be in net^d
of persons to sit up with him.
It .is said of this extraordinary man, that he never preached
" a sermon which was not instrumental in at least one con-
version. Some of his sermons brought many to the foot of
the cross. For the explanation of this, it need only be said
that his soul was made of heavenly fires. He delighted to be
in his closet.
BISHOP GRISWOLD. I'Jj
BISHOP GRISWOLD.
Dr. Stone relates that this eminent Christian minister hav-
ing once reached Newport, it became necessary to cross Nar-
ragansett Bay, in order to keep an appointment which he had
made at Wickford, in the old St. Paul's or Narragsnsett
Church. But a violent gale, which had prevented an outward-
bound vessel from sailing for Cuba, was still raging, and had
kept the regular ferry-packet from coming over, on that day,
from Wickford to Newport. Here, indeed, was a difficulty,
which would have kept most men housed. The swelling Nar-
raijansett, b iwing its thousand waves before the stronij blast
of a still powerful wind and tempest, lay, eight miles broad,
between him and his place of destination. Yet he could not
give up, without an effort, his purpose of being punctual to his
engagement. By the offer of an extra reward, he induced a
strong boatman, in an open sea-craft, to attempt the passage.
Thev set forth too;ether on the dangerous essav. But bv the
time they were midway on the water, the boatman felt the
peril to be too great for farther progress. Addressing his pas-
senger, therefore, he said : " Bishop, I dare go no further
against such a wind as this !'' The announcement was full of
import. Still, the bishop was undismayed. He did not, in-
d'jed, emulate the moral sublime of the ancient conqueror, in
the inquiry, "Quid times? Cresarem vehis?" "Why fearest
thou ? Thou carriest Ccesar.'' But, rising above, into the
higher sublime of a calm trust in him who holdeth the waters
in the hollow of his hand, he simply asked, " Why, what is
the matter?" "The craft has not ballast enough," was the
quick reply ; if she carried more of that, she might perhaps
live through the bay." " Would it help her," asked the bishop,
" if I were to lie down in the boat?" " No better ballast than
that could she have " said the boatman. The suseestion was
1^^ THE AMERK AN CLERGY.
no sooner made than adopted. Casting himself at full length
upon his face, into the bottom of the boat, with the weight of a
strong frarn-^j much heavier th; n that of common men, the
little vessel braced herself more strongly to the blast ; and
though in peril of going down, }et, after long toiling, she
reached Wickford harbour, and the bishop stepped thankfully
upon the firm land. Yet, so wet and encrusted had his hat
and garments become, under the gray brine which had been
splashed over him, that the inhabitants of the village were
scarcely able to recognise in him their old and well-known
visitoj.
But, upon reaching the house of the rector of the parish, in
season for the service which he had appointed, he found thai
he had not been expected, and that therefore the church had
not been opened. The violence of the storm kept every one
jjt home. The rector himself was in utter amazement at his
arrival, and exclaimed, " Why, bishop, I would not have
crossed the Narragansett, such a day as this, for a wairanty
deed of the whole Narragansett country!" Nor would the
bishop, for such an inducement as that. But, under a sense
of duty, he was ready to dare what no pecuniary considera-
tion could have bribed him to attempt. " I had made my
appointments," said he, calmly, " and was not willing that the
people should be disappointed through my fault."
A MISSIONARY IN NEW TORK.
Some time m the latter part of the last century, a missionary
from one of the New England societies was labouring in the
nterior of the state of New York, where the settlements were
v'ery few and far between. This missionary was much devoted
to -his worV, meek and affable, and possessed a remarkable
A MISSIONARY IN NEW YORK. 193
talent for introducing the subject of religion to- every indivi-
dual with whom he came in contact. On a hot summer's day,
while his horse was drinking; from a small brook throuo;h
which he rode, there came along a poorly dressed, bare-headed,
bare-footed boy, about seven years old, and stood looking at
the missionary from the bridge just above him.
" My son," said the missionary, " have you any parents?"
" Yes, sir ; they live in that house," pointing to a cabin
near by.
" Do your parents pray ?"
" No, sir."
" Why do they not pray V'
" I do not know, sir."
" Do you pray ?"
" No, sir."
" Why do you not pray ?"
" I do not know how to pray."
" Can you read ?"
" Yes, sir; my mother hus taught me to read the New Tes-
tament."
" If 1 give you this sixpence, will you go home and read
the third chapter of John, and read the third verse over three
times?" The little boy said he would; and the missionary
gave him the sixpence, and rode on.
Some twenty years had elapsed ; and the same missionary,
advanced in years, was labouring in a sparsely-peopled region,
in another part of the same state. While on his way to a
little village, one day, late in the afternoon, he called at a
small house, and inquired the distance. " Six miles," was the
reply. He then stated that himself and horse were very
weary, and inquired if he could not stay all night. The
woman of the house objected, on account of their poverty; but
the husband said, " Sir you shall be welcome to such as we
have."
17
194 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
The missionary dismounted and went in. The wife began
to prepare his supper, while her husband proceeded to take
care of the horse. As he came in, the missionary addressed
him : " Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?"
" That," said the man, " is a great question."
" True," said the missionary ; " but I cannot eat till you
tell me."
"•Sir," said the man, " about twenty years ago, I lived in the
interior of this state, and was then about seven years old. While
playing in the road, one day, a gentleman in black rode into the
brook, near by me, to water his horse. As I stood on the bridge
above, looking at him, ho began to converse with me about pray-
ing, and reading the Bible; and told me he would give me a six-
pence if I would read the third chapter of John, and the third
verse three times: 'And Jesus answered and said unto him.
Verily, 1 say unto thee, except a man be born again, he can-
not see the kingdom of God.' I gave him my promise, took
the money, and felt wealthy indeed. I went home, and read
as I had promised. That verse produced an uneasiness in my
mind, which followed me for days and years ; and finally I
was led by its influence, as I trust, to love Jesus as my
•Saviour !"
"Glory to God!" said the missionary, rising from his seat;
" here is one of my spiritual children ; the bread cast on the
waters is found after many days !"
They took their supper, and talked and sang, and prayed
and rejoiced together all night long, neither of them having
any disposition to sleep. The missionary found him to be poor
in this world's goods, but rich in faith, and an heir of the
kingdom. Early in the morning they parted, and the mission
ary went his way, inspired with fresh zeal for the prosecution
of his holv labours.
KEV SAMUEL H. STEAKNS. 1U5
REV. S. STODDARD.
This eiiiinent preaclier and writer was the predecessor, at
Northampton, of President Edwards. He probably possessed
more influence than any other clergyman in the province, dur-
ing a period of thirty years. The very savages are said to
have felt towards him a peculiar awe. Once, when he was
riding from Northampton to Hatfield, and passing a place
called Dewey's Hole, an ambush of savages lined the road. It
is said that a Frenchman, directing his gun towards him, was
warned by one of the Indians, who some time before had been
among the English, not to fire, " because that man was the
Englishman's God." A similar adventure was reported to
have befallen him, while meditating, in an orchard immediately
behind the church in Deerfield, a sermon which he was about
to preach.
REV. SAMUEL H. STEARNS.
This young minister, who was cut off in the commence-
ment of a highly promising course of usefulness, while yet a
student at Andover, formed high and correct views of the mm-
istry, and prepared and adopted the following resolutions, which
cannot be too strongly commended as a model for others : —
I wholly renounce ambition, and self-indulgence, as motives
of action.
I must be absolutely and entirely devoted to God, in heart
and life ; and live not unto myself, but unto him who loved me
and died for me.
I must glorify God, in the improvement of my own charac-
ter, and in doing good to mankind.
I will follow my own taste and genius, so far as circumstances
allow; and trust in God that his providence will guide mo.
1^' THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
I will never intrude myself on the public, or take a conspi-
cuous part, without good and important reasons ; nor will I
shrink from the exposure when duty calls, but generously go
forward, and endeavour to acquit myself with Christian pro-
priety.
My intercourse with the world, so far as it extends, shall be
perfectly honourable, christian, frank, kind, and magnani-
mous; — any good attained or done at the expense of this, costs
too much.
It shall be my pleasure to exert a happy influence on all
within the little circle in which I move.
I will never be disturbed or diverted from my purpose, by the
remarks, conduct and opinions of those who do not know my
character or understand my motives ; but will ever maintain
that self-possession, freedom, independence, and liberality of
feeling which constitute true dignity.
Why should we be for ever undoing the work of life? Why
should we wish to be just like everybody else ? I will be my-
self, and make the best of it. God grant that I may grovv
better!
REV. G. WHITEFIELD.
Every thing about Whitefield commanded attention. His
voice, accompanied by his look from crossed eyes, and pro-
ceeding from a man of his robust frame, must have produced
wonderful effects. It is said that when once preaching in a
grave-yard, two young men conducted themselves improperly,
when he fixed his eyes upon them, and with a voice resembling
thunder said, "Come down, you rebels!" They fell, neither
of them being inclined to come into contact with such a look,
or to hmr such a voice a^ain.
A CITY MIMSTEK. I J>7
A CITY MINISTER.
A minister of the Gospel, in one of our Northern cities,
some years ago, became deeply impressed with a desire for in-
creased usefulness. He thought much upon the most probable
means for the accomplishment of this object. The ordinary
opportunities of access to his people, by pulpit ministration and
customary pastoral visilings, did not satisfy his soul. He
longed to lead his flock directly to Christ — to witness a j^reater
degree of spirituality among them. At length, he resolved to
visit every family, and, as far as practicable, to ascertain the
spiritu il condition of each of its members, by personal con-
versation upon religious experience. At an appointed time, he
entered upon his labours of love. He called on one and an-
other of the families of his people — had every household ga-
thered — and with much affectionate concern, spoke to them of
the necessity of living each day for God and for eternity. His
own soul was comforted, and he felt that his labours were not
in vain in the Lord.
A day or two after he had commenced this heavenly em-
ployment, he called at the house of one of his most pious and
influential members — a man of wealth. The father was absent
at his place of business ; but the mother, an amiable and
pious woman, was at home. On making known to the latter
liis desire that she should summon her family to the parlour,
and acquainting her with his design to speak personally to
them — to exhort, admonish, or encourage, as they might need
— the mother thanked him with tears of gratitude ; but said : —
" I have one request to make of you, sir."
What is that?" said the minister.
" It is, that you will say nothing to my eldest daughter,
Mary, on the subject of religion. I have prayed for that child
f<)r years. I have talked to her again and again ; but her
17*
IDS THE AMERICATV CLKRGY.
heart is set upon vanity. Fashion and the world are predomi*
nant in her affections. She has become, of late, exceedingly
sensitive to reproof or admonition. Respectful in every other
relation, she will not permit me to speak to her on religious
subjects, without returning a violence of language entirely
unbecoming a daughter. I have determined, therefore, to re-
frain from any direct appeal to her, until she shall give evi-
dence of greater docility. You will please, therefore, say
nothing to Mary, whatever you may say to the others. I
should be very sorry to have your feelings injured, as well as
my own, by the manner in which I am but too confident she
would respond. May God bless your admonition to the rest."
In a few moments, the family were gathered in the presence
of the minister. Mary sat among them. She had entered
with a respectful courtesy, and taken her position at a window
upon the street, apparently more interested in what was going
on without, than attentive to the conversation within. The
minister spoke first to the mother, of her responsibilities and
duties; then to a son, a youth of intellect and promise; then
to a younger daughter, and so on, until he had administered
his kind and fatherly instruction to all — I mean all except
Mary. To her he said nothing ; he seemed to be unconscious
of her presence.
As the tears of tenderness flowed freely from all who parti-
cipated in the delightful interview, Mary sat at the window,
playing idly with the tasseling of the silk curtains ; her proud
spirit refusing the first intimations of sympathetic feeling. The
brightness of her eye was undimmed by any gathering tear;
the loftiness of her carriage was not for a moment relaxed by
the affecting scene before her; and when the minister said,
" Let us pray !" she arose not from her seat to bow with the
rest, but remained still in her position of scornful unconcern :
her delicate fingers toying with the silken fringes of the drapery
before her. The ministe** poured out his soul in a fervent
A CITY MINISTER. 199
prayer to the throne of grace. Oh ! how earnestly committed
he that family to the guardianship of Heaven; referring to
them in his supplications individually, and appropriately pre-
senting them to the mercy of the Father through the merit of
the Son. But he oOered no prayer for Mary. Unconcernedly
and proudly, she still played with the silken toys. The prayer
ceas(>d — the good man arose. Taking each by the hand, he
affectionately gave a parting admonition and invocation ; and
bowing coldly to Mary, who as coldly returned his civility, he
left the room, and made his way to the entrance of the
building.
He had scarcely passed the threshold, when the words of
the Redeemer, " I am not come to call the righteous, but sin-
ners, to repentance," flashed upon his mind. Suddenly paus-
ing, he said to himself, " Shall I refuse exertion for any soul,
to save which my Master came down from Heaven] Nay;
God being my helper, I will return !"
Again he stood in the parlour. The family sat just as he
had left them, musing upon the things he had spoken. Mary
was, to all appearance, still cold and unmoved.
With a courage imparted by the Holy Spirit, he walked up
to where she sat, and taking her hand in his, said, " It is a
faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus
Christ came into the world to save sinners. Shall he save
you ?"
The rock was smitten ! The waters gushed forth freely and
fully ! Mary, proud and scornful as she seemed to be, needed
only the word of invitation to bow and weep and pray. Then
was heard the bitter cry of "God, be merciful to me, a sinner I"
Angels hovered over that little assembly, and ere the descend-
innr sun jjave place to the sratherinsr twiljcrht, the shout of con-
version ascended to the throne, and there was joy in heaven
over the sinner that had repented.
•JOO THK AMERICAN CLERGY.
The moral of tin's narrative is twofold, and is borne upon its
very face. Motliers may learn from it never to despair, and
ministers never to falter !
REV. SOLOMON ALLEN.
This excellent minister, who laboured in the beginning of
this century, first in Hampshire county, and then in the west-
ern part of the state of New York, did not commence his
ministry till he was fifty years of age. His zeal was irre-
pressible, and his disinterestedness exceedingly striking. He
endured great hardships, making every possible sacrifice in
the pursuit of his great object. And such was the happy
effect, that many felt as did one avowed enemy of the gospel :
" This is a thing I cannot get along with ; this old gentleman,
who can be as rich as he pleases, comes here and does all
these things for nothing ; there must be something in his reli-
gion."
REV. DR. J. M. MASON.
Being asked by a physician why he did not give to the
world the result of his observations in his frequent travels in
different parts of the world. Dr. M. replied, "Alas! what sort
of travels can I write? I neither understand the nature of the
air I breathe, nor the water I drink, nor the earlh I tread
upon ; my life has been appropriated to Divinity.'''' The
frankness of this answer was characteristic of this great and
nonest man, who long bore the name of the American Paul
REV. PRESIDENT EDWARDS. 20 i
and may be considered as a rebuke of a class of the clergy
not small, who know every thing but the o?ie to which they
have professedly devoted their lives.
REV. PRESIDENT EDWARDS.
The most eminently useful men have been those of the
deepest piety. President Edwards's success may be attributed,
in a very eminent degree, to this fact. He writes: "Once, as
I rode out into the woods, having alighted from my horse, in a
•retired place, for divine contemplation and prayer, I had a
view, that for me was extraordinary, of the glory of the Son
of God, as Mediator between God and man. The person of
the Son of God appeared ineffably excellent, with an excel-
lency great enough to swallow up all thought and conception.
This view continued, as near as I can judge, about an hour,
and kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears,
and weeping aloud. I felt an ardency of soul to be, what I
know not otherwise how to express, emptied of self, to lie in
the dust, and to be full of Christ alone; to love him with a
holy and pure love; to trust in him; to live upon him; to
serve and follow him ; and to be perfectly sanctified and made
pure, with a divine and heavenly purity." Such passages as
these constantly occur in his moral history.
Who can wonder that such a man was eminently useful as
a preacher? VVhen he preached, it was with a heavenly unc-
tion and power that subdued a whole assembly. Many aim to
be very intellectual, and avoid the manifestation of deep emo-
tion, as if it were allied to weakness; than which nothing can
be more untrue. There is in their discourses an affectation of
argumentative power. Every thing is viewed by them in the
mere light of reason, rafhor fh;in in the soft and mellow ''ghl
202 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
of forvid and holy feeling. We care not how rigid the preach-
er's logic; but it must be a logic warmed and vivified by a
spirit of deep and earnest piety. The preacher must not be
■professionally pious. He must study the Bible with a constant
reference to his own personal wants, and to the sanctification
of his own heart.
REV. JOHN ELTOT.
Some of the Indian chiefs having become the open enemies
of the gospel, Mr. Eliot, sometimes called the "Apostle of the
American Indians," when in the wilderness, without the com-
pany of any other Englishman, was, at various times, treated
in a threatening and barbarous manner by some of those men;
yet his Almighty Protector inspired him with such resolution,
that he said, " I am about the work of the Great God, and
my God is with me; so that I fear neither you, nor all the
sachems (or chiefs) in the country. I will go on, and do you
touch me if you dare." They heard him, and shrunk away.
KEV. DR. RODGERS.
The wisdom of Dr. John Rodgers, of New York, was in
nothing more evident than in his way of opposing error, and
in his dislike of persecution. When he was once strongly
urged by some of the officers of his church to preach against
the errors of a particular sect, and to warn his people against
them by name, he firmly refused; saying, "Brethren, you
must excuse me ; I cannot reconcile it with my sense either of
policy or duty to oppose these people from the pulpit, other
REV. DR. MANNING. 20.M
wise than by preaching the truth plainly and faithfully. I
believe them to be in error ,* but let us out-preach them, out-
pray them, and out-live them, and we need not fear."
REV. DR. MANNING.
In the Rev W. Hague's excellent " Historical Discourse,"
we meet with the followinor anecdote of Dr. Manning : —
It was the delight of Dr. Manning to aid the needy, and to
throw the sunshine of Christian sympathy around the path of
the afflicted. His knowledge of the world, his courtly man-
ners, his christian meekness, combined with great energy of
character, enabled him to move at ease with every class of
society, and to promote the pood of all. In a recent memoir
which forms an elegant tribute to his memory, it is stated, that
he enjoyed the confidence of the general commanding in his
department, and in one instance in particular, had all the be-
nevolent feelings of his heart gratified, even at the last mo-
ment, after earnest entreaty, by obtaining from General Sulli-
van an order of reprieve for three men of the army, who were
sentenced to death by that inexorable tribunal, a Court Mar-
tial. The moment he obtained the order revoking the sentence,
he mounted his horse at the general's door, and bv pushing
him to his utmost speed, arrived at the place of execution at
the instant the last act had begun, which was to precipitate
them into eternity. With a voice which none could disobey, he
commanded the execution to stay, and delivered the <'-eneral's
order to the officer of the guard. The joy of the attending
crowd seemed greater than that of the subjects of mercy :
ihey were called so suddenly to life, from the last verge of
death, they did not, for a moment, feel that it was a reality
20A TIIK AMERICAN CLEKGI.
REV. D. TINSLEY.
Time was, when, under other government, persecution was
rile in our h\nd. The Rev, David Tinsley was born in Vir-
ginia, about i749. He preached with Samuel Harris, the
Virginia apostle, and Jeremiah Walker, and as the result, was
imprisoned four months and sixteen days, in the winter season,
in Chesterfield jail. Through the grates of his prison he pro-
claimed the Saviour to hundreds who came to listen. Hit.
enemies burned red pepper and tobacco in order to suffocate
him, but he continued to preach.
REV. DR. COKE.
This eminent minister, who to a very great extent obeyed
the Divine command, " Go ye, and preach the gospel to every
creature," extended his labours to the most distant parts of the
earth, and preached in the greatest variety of situations, and
under the most varied circumstances. At Raleigh, the seat of
government for North Carolina, he obtained the use of the
House of Assembly ; the members of both houses attended,
and the speaker's scat served for a pulpit. At Annapolis, he
occupied the theatre. " Pit, boxes, and gallery," says he,
"were filled with people, according to their ranks in life; and
I stood upon the stage, ?nd preached to them, though at first,
I confess, I felt a little awkward."
But preaching in I he Tores's delighted Coke the mc^st. " It
is," said he, " one of my most delightful entertainments, to
embrace every opportunity of engulfing myself, if I may so
express it, in the woods : I seem then to be detached from
every thing but tli' quiet vegetable creation,, and my God.
REV. DR. CHAPLIX. 205
Sometimes a most noble vista, of half a mile or a mile m
length, would open between the lofty pines ; sometimes the
lender fawns and hinds would suddenly appear, and on seeing
or hearing us, would glance through the woods, or vanish
away. The deep green of the pines, the bright transparent
green of the vales, and the fine white of the dogwood flowers,
with other trees and shrubs, form such a complication of beau-
ties, and is indescribable to those who have lived in countries
that are almost entirely cultivated."
The manner of tracing the preacher was curious ; when a
new circuit in the woods was formed, at every turning of the
road or path, the preacher split two or three bushes, as a di-
rection for those that came after him, and notice was sent
round to the neighbourhood at what place he was going to
preach.
REV. DR. CHAPLIN.
It is related of the late Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Chaplin, as an
illustration of his unwearied industry, that while he was yet a
student at Brown University, a neighbouring clergyman made
some inquiries into the peculiarities and merits of Dr. Hop-
kins' Body of Divinity, then just published, and was answerer!,
*' Ask Chaplin, he can tell you." Dr. Pattison, in his funeral
oration, says that he acted to the fullest extent on the maxim,
" Never to ask another to do that for him which he could do
for himself."
18
206 THE A3IEKICAN CI.KKliV.
REV. DR. RICE.
The Rev. Dr. John PI. Rice was an eminently distinguisheH
Presbyterian minister in Virginia, and for some years editor
of the Evangelical and Literary Magazine. After his death,
which occurred in 1831, a series of resolutions intended to
govern his conduct was found, among which were the following:
— "Never spare person, property or reputation, if I can do good ;
necessary that I should die poor. Endeavour to feel kindly to
every one ; never indulge anger, envy, or jealousy towards any
human being. Endeavour to act so as to advance the present
comfort, the intellectual improvement, and the purity and moral
good of my fellow-men."
REV. DR. PAYSON.
Never has the ruling passion been more strongly exempli-
fied in the hour of death than in the case of this excellent mi-
nister. His love for preaching was as invincible as that of the
miser for gold, who dies grasping his treasure. He directed a
label to be attached to his breast when dead, with the admo-
nition, " Remember the words which I spake unto you while
I was yet present with you ;" that they might be read by ail
who came to look at his corpse, and by which he, being dead,
still spoke. The same words were, at the request of his peo-
ple, engraved on the plate of the cofhn, and read by thousands
on the day of his interment.
REV. DR. BYLES. 207
REV. JOHN SHEPHERD.
Of one of the eminent men bearing this name, it is recorded
that he was greatly distinguished for his success in the pulpit.
When on his death-bed he said to some young ministers who
were present, " The secret of my success is in these three
things : —
" 1. The studying of my sermons very frequently costs me
tears.
" 2. Before I preached a sermon to others I derived good
from it myself
" 3. I have always gone into the pulpit as if I were immedi-
ately after to render an account to my Master."
All who knew that devoted man would have united in express-
ing his secret in three words — " In the closet."
REV. DR. BYLES.
Dr. Mather Byles, of Boston, in a period of great politi-
cal excitement, was asked why he did not preach politics. He
replied, " I have thrown up four breast-works, behind which I
have entrenched myself; neither of which can be forced. In
the first place, I do not understand politics ; in the second
place, you all do, every one of you ; in the third place, you
have politics all the week — pray, let one day in seven be de-
voted to religion ; in the fourth place, I am engaged in a work
of infinitely greater importance. Give me anv subject to
preach on, of more consequence than the truths I brinor to you.
and 1 will preach on it the next Sabbath."
208 THE AMERICAN CLERGY,
REV. DR. DWIGHT.
Every year's experience, in the ministry of this country,
shows the vast importance of scriptural exposition. Let min-
isters be encouraged to discharge this duty, from the advan-
tages derived from it, as stated by Dr. Dwight. He says, " I
took up the practice of expounding the Scriptures, when I was
a minister of a parish. I never was thanked so much for any
other sermons as for those. For this reason, I think it is
necessary to explain the plainer truths of the Scripture, as well
as the more intricate."
REV. DR. NOTT.
The following extract, from the Norwich (Conn.) Courier,
February, 1848, while it shows the deserved respect due to a
venerable Christian minister, will be read with interest, " for a
good while to come :" —
On Monday, of last week, the people of Franklin, Conn., to
the number of nearly one hundred and fifty, made their aiinual
visit to their venerable pastor, the Rev. Dr. Nott. They have,
for a number of years, celebrated his birthday in a similar
manner. The doctor having reached the very advanced age
of ninety. four years on Sunday, the 23d of January, his
parishioners fixed upon the Monday following for their anni-
versary occasion.
The day being propitious, at an early hour the old time-
honoured mansion was filled with happy, warm-hearted friends,
of every age, from the octogenarian to the child of a year,
embracing whole families as well as solitary individuals, and
including not only those who were upon the stage sixty-six
A POPULAR MFNISTEK. 209
years ago, but the contemporaries also to the sixth generation ,
all commingling in happy groups, each anxious to salute and
honour their devoted pastor, whose birthday had brought them
together.
For all this long period he has officiated statedly, without
the aid of a colleague, and has been kept from the pulpit bur,
eleven Sundays, through indisposition. We think a like case
can hardly be found, in which so great an amount of ministe-
rial labour has been performed, by 'the same individual, for so
long a period.
A POPULAR MINISTER.
An eminent and deservedly popular preacher contmued,
after his introduction to the pastoral office, to live in the free
and generous manner to which he had been previously accus-
tomed, and in which his pecuniary circumstances allowed him
to indulge. His table contained every thing to stimulate and
to gratify the appetite. He had soon to complain of headache,
giddiness, and other like symptoms. After suffering in mind
and body for a length of time, he was led to the philosophical
examination of his own case ; and the conclusion to which he
came was, that he must entirely change his mode of living, or
pay a heavy penalty in the loss of health, or perhaps life itself.
On this conviction he acted; and he says: "I soon lost all
relish for wine or porter, or any thing of the kind ; and I now
regard them with dislike, if not with positive loathing; and for
tea or cofflee, I have no lontjer the least appetite. I now relish
plain food with a greater zest than I ever did highly seasoned
dishes, when my taste was perverted by unnatural stimulants,
and yet I eat as great or a greater variety than I then did, I
now enjoy that perfect health, buoyancy of spirits, and corpo-
18*" "
210 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
real and mental energy to which I was ever before a stranger;
and no inducement on earth can have sufficient influence to
cause me to return to my former mode of living, for I regard
It almost with horror."
REV. DR. PORTER.
It was one of the excellent resolutions of the late Dr. Porter,
of Andover, that he would never identify^ nor by his example,
tempt others to identify religion with 7nela?icholy ; " for,"
says he, " if I were to paint a Pharisee, I should give him a
sad countenance ; but if an angel or my Saviour, a cheerful
one. The fact that painters, who are strangers to vital godli-
ness, so generally, in representing Christ, give him the aspect
of sadness, I will endeavour to make instructive to myself."
A MISSIONARY TO THE INDIANS.
Sir William Phips, a governor of New England, in the
latter part of the seventeenth century, was a man of great
Christian excellence. He maintained a missionary to the In-
dians, and that missionary was of the right kind. When the
<rovernor first proposed the mission to him, he replied, "I shall
probably endanger my life by going to preach the gospel to the
Frenchified Indians ; but I know that it will be in the service
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore I will venture to go."
REV. DR. BEECHER. 211
REV. DR. BEECHER.
The venerable Dr. Lyman Beecher says, " we need simpiC
and effective preaching, clear, discriminating and doctrinal.
Fine polished style, painted rainbows, are of no use. Give me
the close preaching which reaches the conscience, and makes
the sinner say — that means me." You may as well throw
a wJwle apothecan/s shop at a patient^ to cure iiim of his
sickness, as to preach without having your sermons close and
practical in their application.
The following narrative was given by the worthy Doctor, at
the social fire-side, after his return from Fort Wayne — a town
north of Indiana — where he was called to attend a protracted
meeting, and also to assist in the ordination of one of his sons.
Well, our b landed at St. Mary's about seven o'cljck,
Friday afternoon, and there were over sixty-two miles of hard
road between me and Fort Wayne, and I knew if I didn't
make a bold push I could not get there before Sunday. -
A gentleman who knew me came to the boat, as we landed,
and took me to his house. Understanding I was bound for
Fort Wayne, he said,
"You will remain with me to-night — for of course you can't
think of going on."
" Yes, sir, I must get over fifteen or twenty miles to-night."
" Oh ! impossible ! the road is horrid, and it will be very
dark."
" Can't help that, I must go."
"Why, but, doctor, you don't know any thing about it. I
would not risk my own neck on that road."
"Very likely you wouldn't— but I think I must try it."
"Well," said my friend, "if you are so bent upon it, and
will rest till ten o'clock, the moon will rise then, and I will
212 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
take my horse, and go with you, and pilot you through the
first fifteen n)il(^s."
Well, I thanked him, and after supper went and lay down
to rest, and at ten o'clock he called me, and the moon was up
and our horses ready, and we took to our saddles — and well
it was that he went with me, for sure enough I never could
have found the horrible way — deep in woods — Jialf the time
midleg deep in mud, amid stumps and logs, and sometimes
black sloughs, and places where we had to turn off the track
and make a circuit of a mile through the woods on the right,
and then come back and just strike the path, and diverge off
for a mile on the left. We must have made as much as eiiiht
miles additional in these crossings. At last, between two and
three o'clock at night, we came out of the worst of it, on to a
tolerable Western road, and as there was a little village there,
I thanked my guide, and told him I would not trouble him to
go farther; so he stopped to lodge in the village. As for me,
I felt lively and brisk, and the moon shone clear, and I thought
[ would just hold on the rest of the night. About day-break
I got into the town of Wiltshire, where I slept two hours, took
breakfast, and then went on. At three o'clock I came within
eleven miles of Fort Wayne, and really, I can tell you, I did
feel tired — almost worn out. J didii't know but I had ^one
beyond the work. I stopped an hour for dinner, and jogged
on. Soon a young man overtook me, and company and talk
revived me, and seemed to revive my horse too, for he pricked
up, and the first I knew we came right into Fort W^ayne. It
was five o'clock, and I had travelled, as I reckon, with all the
windings and turnings, seventy-two miles since ten o'clock the
night before. I bathed all over in cold water, and then in
spirits, went to -bed at nine o'clock, and slept soundly and
sweetly, and rose the next morning fresh and bright, without
soreness or fatigue. Preached twice that day with great de-
light and freedom, visited all day Monday and part of Tues-
A DEVOTED PASTOR. 213
duy, and preached Tuesday, Wednesday, a«d Thursday, be-
sides studying and writing.
How many ministers in the prime of life would be vvillin<'
to make equal effort, rather than encroach on the Sabbath in
travelling to their place of preaching? How many youno-
candidates at the East, are willing to go West and do Dr. B.'s
labour, for Dr. B.'s salary^ which is simply tru&iiiig in God.
A DEVOTED PASTOR.
In a time of revival in a certain church and conoregation,
the pastor urged one of his brethren, an able and skilful law-
yer, to converse with a scoffing infidel of their acquaintance.
" You know," said he, " that Mr. R. comprehends an able ar-
gument as well as any of us ; and you and I have often seen
how his eye will kindle under a compact and well-drawn argu-
ment. Now, can you not go over, with him, the proofs on
which the Christian system rests?"
"I have done that already," said the lawyer, "and he
heard me through patiently, and then pounced upon my argu-
ments like a tiger on his prey. Then he wound up with bitter
reproaches, which made me dread to encountor him again."
One of the elders of the same church had been also to visit
the infidel, and met with a like reception, and he had made
similar objections to his pastor to visiting thn infii.el again.
But on a subsequent evening he was led, by th " Sf)irit of (lod,
to wrestle before the throne with most agonizing pravor in th.it
infidel's behalf. At intervals he continued all night prosentiii.r
his case before God, and praying for his conversion and sal-
vation, as a man would pray for a friend's life on the eve of
his execution.
LM4 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Prnyer was followed by corresponding effort, and not long
after, in the crowded church, Mr. R. stood up, a changed man,
to relate his Christian experience!
" 1 am as a brand," said he, " plucked out of the burning.
The change in my views and feelings is astonishing to myself;
and all brought about by the grace of God and that unanswer-
able argument.
" It was a cold morning in January, and I had just begun
my labor at the anvil in my shop, when I looked out and saw
Elder B approaching. As he drew near, I saw he was
agitated — his look was full of earnestness. His eyes were
bedimmed with tears. He took me by the hand. His breast
heaved with emotion, and with indescribable tenderness, he
said, ' Mr. R , I am greatly concerned for your salvation!'
and he burst into tears. He often essayed to speak, but not a
word could he utter ; and finding that he could say no more,
he turned, went out of the shop, mounted his horse, and rode
slowly away.
" ' Greatly co?icerned for my salvation^ said I audibly, and
1 stood and forgot to bring my hammer down ! ' Greatly con-
cerned for my salvation^ Here is a new argument, thought
I, for religion, which I never heard before, and I know not how
to answer it. Had the elder reasoned with me, I could have
confounded him ; but here is no threadbare argument for the
truth of reliofion. Religion must move the soul with benevo-
lent, holy, mighty impulses, or this man would not feel as he
does., ' Greatly concerned for my salvation' — it rung
through my ears like a thunder-clap in a clear sky. 'Greatly
concerned ought / to be for my own salvation,' said I ; * what
shall I do to be saved?'"
" I went into my house. My poor pious wife, whom I had
so ofien ridiculed for her religion, exclaimed, 'Why, Mr. R ,
what is the matter with you?' ' Matter enough,' said I, filled
with agony — ' Matter enough. Elder B. has ridden two miles
DR. COTTON 3IATHER. 215
tliis cold morning to tell me he was greatly concerned for mv
salvation. What shall I do?' She advised me to go and see
him. No sooner said than done. I mounted my horse and
pursued after him. 1 found him alone in that same little room
where he had spent the whole night in prayer for my poor
soul. ' I am come,' said 1 to him, ' to tell you I am greatly
concerned for mv own salvation.'
" ' Praised be God,' said the elder. ' It is a faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the
world to save sinners, even the very chief;' and he began at
that same Scripture, and preached unto me Jesus. On that
same floor we knelt, and together we prayed, and we did not
separate that day till God spoke peace to my soul. And here
permit me to say, if you would reach the heart of such a
poor sinner as I, you must get your qualification where the
good elder did his, in your closet and on your knees.' " That
converted infidel long outlived the elder, and was the means
of the conversion of many.
DR. COTTON MATHER.
Doctor Cotton Mather, who was born at Boston, in the
seventeenth century, commenced a life of the most active bene-
ficence when very young ; and at the age of sixteen, adopted
as a maxim, that a power and an opportunity to do good, not
only give the right of doing it, but make it a positive duty.
On this maxim he determined to act ; and continued to do so
during the remainder of his days. Accordingly he began in
his father's family, by doing all the good in his power to h s
brothers and sisters, and to the servants. After he had attained
to man's estate, he imposed on himself a rule, " never Jo enter
any company where it was proper for him to speak, without
216 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
endeavouring to be useful in it ; dropping, as opportunities might
offer, some instructive hint or admonition." By way of im-
proving every moment of his time, he avoided paying and re-
ceiving unnecessary visits ; and, to prevent intrusion, he caused
to be written, in large characters, over the door of his study,
these admonitory words, "Be short." Not a day passed with-
out some contrivance, on his part, "To do good;" nor with-
out his being able to say, at the close of it, that some part of
his income had been distributed for pious purposes. This is
an example highly worthy of imitation.
Many men have accomplished wonders by a constant regard
to method. Every business should be done in its proper place,
and at the proper time. Dr. C. Mather was remarkable in his
conduct, and for what he did. Besides the discharge of pas-
toral duties in a large church, the care of a family, an extended
correspondence, an attention to the interests of numerous pub-
lic societies, he wrote not less than three hundred and eighty-
two distinct pieces, large and small, for the press. That all
his pursuits might have their proper places, he used to propose
to himself a certain question in the morning of every day, as
follows ; —
Lord' s-day 'morning. — What shall I do, as the pastor of a
church, for the good of the flock under my charge?
Monday. — What shall I do for my family, and for the good
of it?
Tuesday. — What shall I do for my relations abroad ?
Wednesday. — What shall 1 do for the churches of the Lord,
ind the more general interests of religion in the world ?
Thursday. — What good may I do in the several societies to
which I belong ?
Friday, — What special subjects of affliction and of com-
REV. MK. HAUKUS. 217
passi(Hi may I lake under my particular care, and what shall
I do for them 1
Saturday. — What more have I to do for the interests of
God, in my own heart and life?
REV. MR. BAILEY.
Good old Mr. Bailey, one of the first divines of New Eng-
land, says that his earnest desire was to get up his soul to
three things: — Patience under the calamities of life; impa-
tience under the sinful infirmities of life; and earnest lonsings
after a better life.
REV. MR. BACKUS.
The following anecdote is sometimes related by aged Chris-
tians in New England : — An unpleasant rupture took place
between the Rev. Mr. Alden, late of Bellingham, and a Mr.
Mann, a member of his church. All attempts for a reconcilia-
tion were in vain. At length, a number of ministers were
called together for consultation and advice ; among whom
were the Rev. Messrs. Stillman, of Boston; Manning, of Pro-
vidence ; and Backus, of Middleborough. The conference was
holden at the house of the Rev. W. Williams, in Wrentham,
and they spent the afternoon, and almost all the following
night, in their pious efforts ; but the parties were unyielding,
and there was not the least prospect of a settlement. For a long
time, the Rev. Mr. Backus, author of "The Church History
of New England," and other excellent works, had sat with his
head bowed down, and appeared to be sleeping. A little before
2 IS THE A31KKICAN CLERGY.
break of day, Mr. R. rose up, saying, "Let us look to the
Throne of Grace once more;" and then knelt down and
prayed. The spirit and tone of his prayer were such as to
make every one feel that the heart-searching God had come
down among them. The result was, the contending parties
began immediately to melt ; and the rising sun saw the ruj)-
ture healed and closed up for ever.
I have often heard that good man pray. The efficacy of
his prayers did not consist in length, nor in their gaudy dress ;
but it seemed that he and his God loved each other, and that
he was at home before the Throne of Grace. I heard the last
sermon which he ever preached. It was delivered in his own
dwelling-house, from 1 Peter ii. 9. I remember well the piety,
pathos, and unusual earnestness, which characterized that dis-
course. His religion made him willing to die.
REV. DR MERCER.
Few ministers were ever more remarkable for punctuality
in fulfilling his engagements, than Dr. Mercer. He never
found a difficulty in surmounting comparatively small impedi-
ments. For instance, if he came to a creek swollen to a dan-
gerous torrent, he could strip his horse, drive him across the
stream, and with his saddle and saddle-bags on his back,
search out for himself a crossing-place on some log or fallen
tree. This he once did on his way to a Saturday meeting.
At the next monthly meeting, some of the brethren, in making
their excuses for absence at the previous Conference, observed
that they started for the meeting, but, upon finding the creek
impassable, they returned. His reply was very characteristic •
*' If you had waited a little longer, I would have shown you
the way."
BISHOP ASBURY. 219
On another occasion, while travelling, he was compelled, bv
high waters, to turn aside and spend the Sabbath with a pious
family. He wallved the room in great disquietude of spiiit;
and, on being asked the cause of his uneasiness, he replied,
"Ah ! I feel like a fish out of water; this is the very first time,
since the commencement of my ministry, that I have been
absent from public worship on the Sabbuth, when my health
would allow my attendance.
BISHOP ASBURY.
This worthy bishop, in 1798, on a journey to Charleston,
S. C, passed a creek in the parish of St. , on the bank
of which sat a slave, fishing, and humming a tune. He was
called Punch, and was notorious for his vicious character.
The pious bishop rode towards him, deliberately proceeded to
alight, fastened the horse to a tree, and seated himself by the
side of the slave.
As the slave seemed willing, the bishop commenced a mi-
nute and close conversation with him on religion. Punch
began to feel ; tears ran down his sable cheeks ; he appea rod
alarmed at his danger as a sinner, and intently listened to the
counsels of the singular stranger. After a long conversation,
the bishop sung the hymn,
"Plunged in a gulf of dark despair;"
prayed with him, and pursued his journey. More than twenty
years elapsed before he agam saw or heard of Punch.
While on another visit to Charleston, he was called upon by
an aged and Christian negro, who had travelled seventy miles
on foot to visit him. It was the slave he had warned an I
prayed over, on the bank of the creek, who had ever since
220 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
been journeying on the way to heaven. When the bishop lefl
him, on the bank of the stream, he immediately took up his
fishing-tackle, and hastened home in the deepest agitation, pon-
dering over the words of the venerable man. After some days
of anguish and prayer, he found peace in believing, and be-
came a new man. The change was too manifest not to be
discovered by his fellow-servants — it was the topic of his con-
versation with them incessantly. In his simple way, he
pointed them to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins
of the world, and many of them became thoroughly penitent
for their sins. Throngs of the neglected Africans resorted to
liis humble cabin, to receive his exhortations and prayers. A
perverse overseer, who had charge of the plantation, perceiv-
ing the increasing interest of the slaves for their souls, and
their constant attendance in the evenings, at Punch's cabin,
determined to put a stop to the spreading leaven. But, on
coming one night to break up a meeting, he was struck under
conviction, fell down under a tree near by, and began to cry
for mercy. The negroes gathered around him, and prayed
with him till God in his mercy pardoned and comforted him.
The overseer now became a co-worker with Punch among
them : he joined the Methodist church, and in time became an
exhorter, and finally a preacher ! Punch had now full liberty
to do good among his associates. He exhorted, prayed, and
led them on, as a shepherd his flock, and extended his useful-
ness around the whole neighbourhood. After many years, he
was removed, by the decease of his master and the distribution
of the estate, to the parish of A., where he continued to labour
for the souls of his fellow-bondmen with still greater success.
Scores, and even hundreds, were converted through his instru-
mentality ; and he sustained a kind of pastoral charge over
them for years.
INTERCOURSE OF THE CLERGY WITH EACH
OTHER.
''"21)
REV. DR. KODCERS. 2*^3
REV. DR. RODGERS.
The Rev. Mr. Forrest, a minister of the Associate Reform
ed Church, in speaking of the late Dr. John Rodgers, of New
York, says ; —
A few years ago, I related to Dr. Rodgers an anecdote of a
Scottish clergyman, who, while preaching from Hebrews xi.
32, "And what shall I more say 1 for the time would fail me
to tell of Gideon," &c., observed, "My brethren, here an;
some very rough-spun saints; really, if the Spirit of God h.-id
not decided this matter, it would have been hard work to li;:ve
admitted them among the number. But, my brethren, iliis
teaches us that if we get to heaven, we shall see many f()l!;s
there that we did not expect.' Dr. Rodgers observed, yes, rny
friend, I expect to see in heaven, among other wonders, three
very great ones : some there whom I did not expect to have
seen there ; others not there, whom I had great expectations
of seeing there ; but the greatest wonder of all, will be to see
myself there, the chief of sinners, pardoned and sanctified by
the grace of God.
Dr. Rodgers, beautifully exemplified " the meekness and
gentleness of Christ, "and so greatly added to his usefulness.
A. young clergyman who had paid a short visit to the city, and
who had enjoyed two or three pleasant interviews with the
Dr., a few years before his death, at the close of the last in-
terview, rose and offered him his hand for the purpose of bid-
ding him farewell. The Doctor took it, and squeezing it af-
fectionately, with a very few simple words, expressive of pious
hope, and tender benediction, dismissed him. The clergyman
on retiring, inquired, whether what he had witnessed was the
224 THE AMERICAN CLET^OY.
Doctor's common manner of taking leave of his friends? add-
ing that he had seldom seen anything so much like the primi-
tive style of an apostle before. There have been better days
of the church, when such things were not rare. Would to
God they were less so now.
Few men ever determined more fully to live while he lived,
and to persevere in the discharge of all the duties of life than
Dr. Rodgers. He had long maintained a correspondence with
several eminent ministers of Great Britain, when the last of
them, Dr. Erskine, of Edinburgh, died. Mr. Rodgers at that
time was not less than seventy-six, but he said he believed he
must open a correspondence with Dr. Balfour of Glasgow, as
he did not wish to be without a friend on that side of the At-
lantic, with whom he could occasionaily exchange letters. Dr.
Miller very wisely remarks that the premature dotage of many
distinguished men has arisen from their ceasing- in advanced
life, to exert their faculties, under the impression that th^-y
were too old to engage in any new enterprise.
THOUGHTLESS MINISTERS.
Few things can be more important than that Christian Min-
isters should be careful of the manner in which they speak of
each other. The influence for good or for evil, on themselves
and on all who hear them is very great. A respectable pastor,
some time since, was speaking of a brother in the same com-
munion, and concluded his remarks with the exclamation, "Ah,
he IS a snake in the grass !" A venerable minister at the same
time remarked of another, " He is as full of venom as a ser
REV. DR. HARRIS. '225
l«ent." Can any of our readers tell the results of this kind of
remark on young j)eopIe standing by] Would it not have
been far better for the brother to have gone to each olTender,
and in " the meekness and gentleness of Christ" to have point-
ed out his fault, and thus to have "gained his brother?"
REV. DR, STANFORD
In one of tlie lectures addressed to his students, on the com-
position of sermons, this excellent man says: — "I cannot
deny myself the pleasure of stating, that many years ago, I
met with a plain, yet good old minister, who, in conversation
with me, on the subject of the composition of a sermon, very
pleasantly said, " I know of no better rule than the propor-
tions observable in the structure of the human body. Let
your introduction be short, like the head of the man, round,
and full of expression. Make up the body of your sermon of
the solids of divine truth ; but be sure that Christ be the heart,
and the Spirit of God like the lungs, to produce respiration.
The legs to run after every class of your hearers ; and a pair
of arms tenderly to embrace them. This may appear to you
a little fanciful, but I must confess, however singular the de-
scription, yet to my mind, it seemed worthy of being remem-
bered."
REV. DR. HARRIS.
NoTHixXG seems more awful than preaching what we do not
ourselves fully believe ; and few things (Jan be more poignant
than the reflection of having in this way preached error. A
2'36 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Universalist minister once spent a Sabbath with Dr. Harris of
Dunbarton. The conversation between them concluded as fol-
lows : — The doctor fastened his eye on the young man, saying.
" Do you know for certainty that your doctrine is true '!" "No,
sir," the youth replied, " I don't pretend to a certain know-
ledge of the truth of it." The doctor added, " Then, sir,
don't ever preach it again till you know it is true." A year or
two after this conversation the young minister renounced his
Universalism, and indulged a hope that he had experienced a
chano;e of heart.
A MINISTER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
A ministers' meeting was held, a few years since, in New
Hampshire, at which was present an excellent clergyman,
since removed to heaven. It was just after a time of general
revival throughout the country, and his brethren generally
were telling what Iheij had done, how many persons had been
converted under their preaching, &c. Our excellent friend,
who was eminent for his humble piety, and who was the suc-
c(^ssor of an aged and long successful minister of Christ, sat
and listened for some time to their conversation, till at length
they turned to him and inquired the secret of the revival in
his church. After some hesitation he arose, and, with a man-
ner and tone which made a great impression, said, " My pre-
decessor was a very godly man, and, in answer to his prayers,
I trust about one hundred and thirty souls have been con-
verted to God !" He then sat down. Every one felt the
reproof, and the effect on those who had been telling what 1
had done, can be better imagined than described.
REV. GIDEON HAWLEY. 227
REV. GIDEON HAWLEY.
Dr i3wiGHT's "Travels" contain a deeply interesting
account of the Rev. G. Hawley, a missionary to the Indians at
Massapee, and who remained their pastor for fifty-six years,
dying in 1807, in his eighty-fust year.
At the time of the visit paid to him hy Dr. Dwight, he had
a favourite son, possessed of superior talents and learning, of
distinguished piety and high reputation. He had lately come
from his tutorship at Cambridge, and had just been ordained
to the ministry. This lovely young man now lay in a dying
state ; for which, however, he was eminently prepared, looking
forward to scenes suited to the elevated taste of an enlightened
Christian, with the utmost serenity and confidence.
The venerable father was fully alive to the circumstances in
which he was placed. He saw the setting of his fond liuni-
nous hopes in the nio;ht of the grave; and the lustre whicli
played and trembled over this melancholy scene from the mind
of his son, brilliant with hopes of immortal glory, exhibited, in
their union and their alternations, a picture equally beautiful,
solemn, and sublime. Into all these subjects, the father entered
familiarly, and appeared equally willing to go with his son, or to
stay behind. He felt deeply, but with a serene submission. He
found high and sufficient consolation in the character of Flim
from whom the stroke came. He showed, in such a manner
as to put suspicion out of countenance, the afTection of a father;
and Christian emotions, which a worldling or an infidel, if they
could understand them, would deeply envy.
Nor was this manifestation of affection and piety, on the
part of this venerable minister, without a happy effect. A
young gentleman, who accompanied Dr. Dwight on this visit,
who was educated in the gay world, and, as he himself de
clared, sufficiently addicted to its enjoyments, was entirely
228 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
overcome by the scenes of this interview. Afler they had
left the house, he burst into a flood of tears, which he had
with great difficulty suppressed till that time, and was unable
to utter a word till the}^ reached the inn. In broken accents
he then declared, that he had never been so deeply affected
in his life ; that although he had not before been accustomed to
think lightly of Christianity, he had now acquired new ideas
of its excellence, and that, should he ever lose them again, he
should consider himself guilty as well as unhappy. Yet the
whole conversation had been rather cheerful, and every thing
which it involved, of a melancholy nature, had been gilded by
the serenity of hope.
A MINISTER.
A CLERGYMAN relates, that he was told by another Christian
minister, that he one day gave to a poor man in his congrega-
tion a tract; and, seeing him afterwards, asked him what he
thought of it. " Oh, massa !" said he, " it do me soul good.
I never knew before whv da call 'em tracks ; but when I read
that little book, it track me dis way, and it track me dat way ;
it track me all day, and it track me all night : when I go out
in de barn, it track me dare; when I go out in de woods, it
track me dare; it track me ebery where I go; then I know
why da call 'cm tracks." This poor man became a sincere
and devoted Christian.
A UNIVERSALTST PREACHER. 229
REV. JOSEPH CRAIG.
Amongst the Baptist pioneers to Kentucky, was the eccen
trie Joseph Craig. His brothers, Lewis and Elijah, were dis-
tinguished Baptist preachers in Virginia, and afterwards in the
wilds of Kentucky. Joe, as he was familiarly called, obtained
a license to preach also; for, though eccentric, and by no
means gifted as an expounder of Scripture, he could exhort
feelingly, and his moral character was good. His brothers
were so dissatisfied with his pulpit efforts, after twenty years'
experience, that, on a church-meeting day, Lewis gravely pro-
posed to recall his license ; and gave as a reason, that he
never heard of but a single instance of the preaching of Joe
profiting any one, and that was an old negro woman, who, in
relating her experience, mentioned his rambling exhortation as
the means of her conversion. By this time, .Toe was on his
feet, the tears running down his cheeks, and, clapping his
hands repeatedly, he exclaimed, " Bless the Lord — thank God
for that ! I will preach twenty years more, to be the instrument
of converting another poor African." Of course Joe retained
his license.
A UNIVERSALIST PREACHER.
Dr. Baird has well observed, in his excellent volume on
•' Religion in America," that it is a remarkable fact, established
by the testimony of Universalists, on becoming converted to
the Truth, that few can, however desirous, ever bring them-
sL'lves to believe the doctrine of universal salvation. Most of
them are like the New England farmer, who, at the close of
a Universalist service, thanked the |)reacher for his sermon,
saying that he vastly liked his doctrine, and would give him
five dollars if he would only prove it to be true.
20
230 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. DR. LIVINGSTON.
The eminent, pious, and learned theologian, Dr. Livingston,
related to me, says Dr. Alexander, not many years before liis
decease, a pleasing anecdote, which I communicate to the pub-
lic more willingly, because I do not know that he has left any
record of it behind him. While a student at the University of
Utrecht, a number of pious persons, from the town and among
the students, were accustomed to meet for free conversation on
experimental religion, and for prayer and praise, in a social
capacity. On one of these occasions, when the similarity of
the exercises of the pious, in all countries and ages, was the
subject of conversation, it was remarked by one of the com-
pany, that there was then present a representative from each
of the four quarters of the world. These were, Dr. Livingston,
from America ; a young man, from the Cape of Good Hope,
in Africa ; another student, from one of the Dutch possessions
in the East Indies, and many natives of Europe, of course. It
was therefore proposed, that, at the next meeting, the throe
young gentlemen first referred to, together with an eminent! v
pious young nobleman of Holland, should each give a particu-
lar narrative of the rise and progress of the work of grace in
his soul. The proposal was universally acceptable ; and
accordingly, a narrative was heard from a native of each of
the four quarters of the globe ; of their views and feelings, of
their trials and temptations, &c. The result was highly grati-
fying to all present ; and I think Dr. Livingston said, that it
was generally admitted by those present, that they had never
before witnessed so interesting a scene.
A BAPTIST CLEROYMAX. 231
TWO CLERGYMEN.
A MINISTER was once speaking to a brother clergyman, of
his gratitude for a merciful deliverance he had just experienced.
" As I was riding here to-day," said he, " my horse stum-
Ijled, and came very near throwing me from a bridge, where
the fall would have killed me ; but I escaped unhurt."'
" I can tell you something more than that," said the other ;
" as I rode here to-day, my horse did not stumble at all."
We are too apt to forget common mercies.
A BAPTIST CLERGYMAN.
The following incident, says the editor of the Christian
Secretary, was related to us by a gentleman who was present;
and, as we happen to be acquainted with the persons alluded
to, we take the liberty to publish it. Several years since, a
young man who had just entered the ministry as a Baptist
preacher, took passage in the stage from this city for Albany.
Among the passengers was the then pastor of the Universalist
soci<^ty in this city. In the course of the day, a Congregational
clergyman entered the stage. The parties were all apparently
strangers to each other. The conversation turned upon reli-
gious subjects, when the Universalist gave the company to
understand that he was a minister of the gospel, by relating
the following circumstance; without, however, stating the par-
ticular denomination to which he belonged.
" I preached, last Sabbath," said he, " from these words :
' Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and
perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they
232 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.' The
reason of my preaching from this text," continued he, " was
as follows : — My custom is, to write one sermon at least every
week, and I went into my study for the purpose of writing
one ; but, after looking over the Bible, from Genesis to Reve-
lation, I was unable to find a text to suit me. I then threw
myself upon the bed, and, in my sleep, dreamed of reading
the passage in Acts, just quoted. My mind then ran on, in a
train of reflections upon the text, which, on awaking, I wrote
down, as near as I could possibly recollect, and, on reading it
over, I found it to be as good a sermon as I had ever written."
The preacher here paused, apparently for the purpose of
seeing what effect his remarkable story had produced upon the
minds of the company ; when the young Baptist minister very
solemnly replied, " I fear, Mr. R., it will be found, in the day
of judgment, that your sermons have been nothing but dreams^
after all." On hearing his name mentioned, Mr. R. looked
somewhat confused, and manifested no disposition to discourse
upon religious subjects the rest of the journey.
REV. DR. EMMONS.
It was the advice of the late Rev. Dr. Emmons, to young
ministers : " Be short, in all religious exercises. Better leave
the people longing than loathing. No conversions after the
hour is out."
This eminent man once said to a candidate for settlement :
" You have struck twelve first ; fools will complain of you if
you do not strike thirteen next." How many young ministers
vinwisely make an effort to put themselves off for more than
REV. DR. EMMONS. 233
thoy are woitl), from a foolisli desire to be popular! Such a
beginning is likely to have a bad ending; for, as the same dis-
criminating man remarked on another occasion, " Every thing
that captivates will at length disgust ; therefore, popularity
cannot live."
A young minister having preached for the Doctor, one day,
was anxious to get a word of applause for his labour of love.
The grave Doctor, however, did not introduce the subject, and
the young brother was obliged to bait the hook for him.
" I hope, sir, I did not weary your people by the length of
my sermon, to-day ?"
" No, sir, not at all ; nor by the de'pth either."
The following sketch was furnished to the Newark Sentinel,
by one who evidently understood his subject : —
It was once my good fortune to see the great Dr. Emmons,
the father of Emmonite theology, and the man who boasted
that he once " dandled Timothy Dwight on his knee." When
I saw him, he was ninety-three, and he wore the old-fashioned
cocked hat and small clothes, with huge knee-buckles. He
had a broad, intellectual countenance, with long white hair
falling over his shoulders. The boys followed him in the
streets, to stare at him ; and when he ascended the platform,
in the Chatham Street Chapel, during the anniversaries, the
whole body of clergy rose up to do him reverence. Very few
of them had ever seen him before, as he seldom left the little
town of Franklin, in Massachusetts, where he preached for
more than fifty years 1 At the age of eighty, he gave up
preaching, as he said, " before he fell into his dotage ;" and,
during the last fifteen years of his life, he took part m no
20*
234 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
public exorcises. The late Dr. Breckenridge was in the same
pulpit with him, during that visit to New York, and called on
him to pray. This he declined ; he even declined pronouncing
the benediction. He said " he had quit work for ever here."
But while he was at work, no one laboured harder. He stu-
died twelve or fourteen hours a day, and seldom quitted his
study from morning till night. Once his hired man came into
his study to ask his assistance in gathering some hay, telling
him that it would soon spoil. "Let it spoil," the old doctor
replied ; " I cannot leave my work to do yoursP
At another time, an intemperate grandson of one of Dr.
Emmons's friends accosted him in the presence of several by-
standers, and tried to make them believe that he was familiarly
acquainted with the doctor. But he was not recognised.
"What!" said he, "do you not know me, doctor? I have
held the stirrup for you to mount your horse, at my grand
father's, many a time." " You look as if you had never been
in so good business since," replied the doctor, looking at his
red face very archly. A pompous young preacher once asked
him how he liked his sermon. The doctor, then ninety years
old, rose from his chair, protruded his cheeks, inflated his
chest, raised his eyebrows, and after a significant puff-, sat
down without saying a word. To another young man, he said,
" Your sermon was too much like Seekonk Plain, long and
level." He used to say of Dr. Dwight, "When I was at Yale,
I used to take him up in my arms. He was a pretty boy."
Dr. Emmons, was a Connecticut man, and died in Massachu-
setts, in 1840. He was a man of most powerful intellect, and
eminent, but full of the " heresies of New England divinity."
Perhaps he was the clearest writer on metaphysical subjects
our country has ever produced.
REV. THOMAS BROWN. 235
REV. DR. DWIGHT.
A YOUNG clergyman once called upon Dr. Dwight, and in-
quired respecting tlie best method of treating a very difficult
and abstruse point in mental philosophy, upon which he was
preparing a sermon. " I cannot give you any information
upon the subject," the doctor replied " I am not familiar with
such topics. I leave them for young men."
REV. DR. SCUDDER.
A FOREIGN correspondent of the Congregational Journal
relates the following incident of an interview between two
Christian missionaries in Asia : —
The late Rev. E. Daniel, English Baptist Missionary at
Colombo, was remarkable for his zeal and piety, but very
plain and homely in his appearance. Dr. Scudder once fell in
with him, and not imagining that he was a minister of the
gospel, instantly began to talk with him about the salvation of
his soul, which was taken by Mr. D. with great satisfaction
and thankfulness. A gentleman hearing of it, remarked, " If
Dr. S. had been one minute later, Mr. Daniel would have
bciiun with him."
REV. THOMAS BROWN.
While this gentleman was pastor of the Baptist church at
►Scotch Plains, New Jersey, a stranger, of respectable appear-
ance, was announced at the parsonage door. Mr. B. went, and.
^30 TifF, AMERICAIN CLERGV.
with his characteristic blandness, invited the stranger in ; and,
on learning that he was a minister of his own denomination,
assured him of a welcome to the well-known hospitality of the
old stone mansion. It was Saturday afternoon ; and as the
stranger had no engagement for the morrow, Mr. B. requested
him to make himself at home for the Lord's-day. The invi-
tation was readily and gratefully accepted ; and matters being
thus far settled, the pastor sat down to have a brotherly collo-
quy with his stranger guest. Mr. B. was remarkably commu-
nicative, where propriety allowed it, and he delighted to have
his friends so too. He never wished to be " all tongue and no
ear." But he found his visitor to be remarkably taciturn. He
broached a number of different topics, doctrinal, ethical, sta-
tistical, domestic, and foreign. But, on each and all, the guest
was provokingly uninformed and silent. He could not, or he
would not, be brought out. He was all ear, and no tongue.
The conclusion finally was, that he might be a very good
brother, but he did not know much. That was certain ; and
so he was pretty much left to his own reflections. Thus, Mr.
B. judged from appearances.
The arrangements for the morrow's services were now
quietly settled in the pastor's own mind. It would not do for
the stranger to preach in the morning, any how. The congre-
gation was usually large and very intelligent — and strangers
might be there. He might occupy the pulpit in the afternoon,
for the second service, after the half-hour's intermission. All
ihis was settled ; and in due time the arrangements were
kindly revealed to the stranger, who modestly consented to
help his brother as best he could, if his help was desired.
The next morning came ; and Mr. B. preached, no doubt, as
usual, to the great satisfaction of his people. He had to
preach ajrain at a station about four miles distant, at five
o'clock, which he intended to do ; and the stranger was an-
nounced for the pulpit in the afternoon, after the usual inter-
REV. DR. TAYLOR. 237
mission. There he was, accordingly ; and the paster behind
him, with no little anxiety respecting the issue. The man
prayed. Mr. B. was struck — was somehow affected. Cer-
tainly, thought he, the man can pray^ if he cannot 'preach.
And he did preach. The most precious truths of the gospel
were brought out with a rich unction, and clothed with lan-
guage clear and polished, and in a manner which chained the
attention and told on the hearts of the people. The pastor
was astonished, confounded, mortified, delighted. He himself,
he thouiJjht, could do nothinor like it. The stranger was now
earnestly pressed to preach the five o'clock sermon also, to
which he modestly consented. "And then," said B., with his
ioud, hearty laugh of irrepressible delight, " he went far ahead
of his first sermon ! I never was more astonished in all my
li ;•('."
He was taught not to '■'■judge according to Vie outward
appearance.^''
REV. DR. TAYLOR
A BEAUTIFUL anccdote is told, illustrative of the Christian
spirit of the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel W. Taylor. He had long
been engaged in a very sharp controversy with Dr. Tyler, of
East Windsor, and the late excellent Dr. Nettleton. He was
one day told that Dr. Nettleton was very ill, and likely to die.
He set off immediately for Dr. Tyler's house, went directly up
to the room of Dr. N., without announcing his name, and as
soon as he entered the sick-room, he threw his arms about the
neck of his dying brother, and wept for a long time without
saying a word. A most admirable exemplification of Christian
feelins !
239 THE AMERICAN CLERGY
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
It is related in the biography of Rev. Lemuel Haynes, the
coloured preacher, that some of his students having been slan-
dered for their religious activity and zeal, went to him with
their complaints, expecting his sympathy and protection.
After a pause, Mr. Haynes observed, " I knew all this before.""
*' VVhy, then," said one, " did you not inform us ?" " Be-
cause," said he, " it was not worth communicating ; and I now
tell you plainly, once for all, my young friends, it is best to
let the devil carry his own mail, and bear his own expenses,"
There is much wisdom in this remark, and it is capable of a
variety of applications. When assaults are made upon any
one, in points where he is sustained by a consciousness of
right, in a vast majority of cases silence is the most effective
defence. For, to formally refute slander, he must first extend
the publication of it ; that is, must sustain the expense of car-
rying the devil's mail, and convey to many the information
which they would not otherwise have had, that he has been
subjected to imputations of wrong. And as " a lie will travel
from Maine to Georgia, while truth is putting on its boots,"
there is little encouragement to run down a falsehood by an
earnest refutation. And yet, with rare exceptions, it is not
needful ; a little faith and patience will serve one quite as well
as laboured vindications. Habitual integrity is the best de-
fence. Let a foul breath be breathed upon a diamond, and it
will soon regain its wonted lustre.
Mr. Haynes once practised on this principle as follows : —
An unprincipled man overtook him in the road, and said, "Mr.
Haynes, have you heard the scandalous reports that are abroad
about you?" He calmly replied, "I have heard nothing,"
The man proceeded, in profane and abusive language, to give
the details, and allege that they were true ; and that thev
REV. LEMLEL HAYNES. 239
would ruin his character. Mr. Haynes walked on in silence
fill he reached hiis own house, when he turned to the slanderer
ruid said, "Well, IMr. , you see what disgrace my conduct
has brought upon me, according to your own account. I want
you to take warning from me, to forsake your evil course, and
save your character from disgrace." They parted. But the
next day, the man came with an humble acknowledgment,
asking forgiveness. Thus did assaults give new lustre to his
character.
*' Assailed by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life ;
And he that forged, and he that threw the dart,
Had each a brother's interest in his heart."
This excellent man, happening one day to pass by the open
door of a room where his daughters and some young friends
were assembled, thought, from what he overheard, that they
were were making; too free with the character of their nei<)^h-
hours ; and after their visitors had departed, he gave his child-
ren a lecture on the sinfulness of scandal. They answered,
"But, father, what shall we talk about? We must talk of
something !" " If you can do nothing else," replied he, " get
a pumpkin and roll it about ; that will at least be innocent
diversion."
A short time afterwards, an association of ministers mot at
his house, and during the evening some discussions, on points
of doctrine, were earnest, and their voices were so loud as to
indicate the danger of losing the Christian temper; when his
eldest daughter, overhearing them, procured a pumpkin, and
entering the room, gave it to her father, and said, " There,
father, roll it about, roll it about." Mr. Haynes was obli2;ea
to explain to his brethren ; and good humour was instantly
restored.
'•^40 THE A3IERICAN CLERGY.
The following characteristic anecdote of this shrewd d -
^endcr of the truth, is related by a correspondent of the New
York Observer : —
Mr. Haynes was employed about two years, as a stated
supply to the Congregational church in Manchester. In this
town was a Universalist society, and, as in most other cases,
its adherents were fond of discussing their sentiments with
other denominations. One of these took frequent occasion to
dispute with Mr. Haynes, and though he generally came off
isecond best, he seemed determined to renew the controversy
on every convenient occasion.
At the close of one of these interviews, apparently under
the full conviction of his own inferiority, he said, " Mr. Haynes,
you are a learned man, and I cannot argue with you ; but I
expect one of our ministers here before long, and I intend to
bring him to see you ; he will be able to defend our doctrine."
Mr. Havnes replied in his usual good-natured way, " Oh, well,
bring him along; I shall be pleased to talk with him."
Some weeks afterwards, the Universalist minister arrived ;
and the parishioner embraced the first leisure hour to take him
up to the village to see Mr. Haynes. On their way, they were
met by one of the brethren of their own faith, who, after
learning whither they were bound, advised them to turn back ;
"for," said he, '■'■he is an old fox ^ and you can't get to the
windward of him." They, however, persisted in their purpose,
and soon arrived at the parsonage.
Mr. Haynes was called from his study to receive the visitors,
without knowing or receiving the least intimation who they
were. As he entered the room, the parishioner, after ex-
changing compliments, said, " Mr. Haynes, this is Mr. X ,
my minister, whom I promised to bring to see you." " How
d' do, how d' do?" said Mr. Haynes, taking the minister fami-
liarly by the hand. " Well, you are the man, then, who
KEV. DR. NETTLCTON. 241
preaches that men may swear, and lie, and get drunk, and
commit adultery, and all other abominations, and yet go to
heaven, after all ; ain't you?" " No, no," said the Universal-
ist minister; " I don't preach any such thing." " Well," said
Father Haynes, *' you believe so ; don't you ?"
This was a blow that completely annihilated all desire for
theological discussion, and well nigh took away the power of
uiterance from both minister and layman. After a few re-
marks on the state of the weather, and the pleasant situation
of the village, the minister said to his attendant, " Is it not
time for us to be going?" and both withdrew, apparently satis-
fied to dispense with all further intercourse.
REV. DR. NETTLETON.
Dr. N. had great skill in the management of difficulties
which connected themselves with his engagements. He was
led to visit a town where the Consreo-ational church was
nearly extinct, through the prevalence of contention. The
meeting-house was in the south-east part of the town. In the
centre was a large brick school-house, around which were
several wealthy families, and a few professors of religion.
There was a meeting-house connected with another denomina-
tion, in the north-west corner. The revival commenced in the
centre. Erroneous views of religion prevailed. Soon several
ministers appeared in his meetings, seeming to claim the field
as thoir own. They made appointments for themselves. The
doctor kept the minds of the people to the great subject. He
])iiblicly told the ministers that he was thankful for help, and
woidd return their kindness, and give tjjem as many sermons
as they preached for him. This they did not expect. He
made no reference to them in his preaching. There was a
21 "
242 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY. .
lareje public-houso, directly opposite their meeting-house, occu-
pied by an excellent family. This was opened to him, and he
preached there regularly for many weeks. The consequence
was, that he occupied the whole ground. More than a hun-
dred persons were brought into the church he supplied, which
has enjoyed a stated ministry ever since.
The wisdom displayed by this excellent Revivalist, in the
midst of persecution, was very great. He was once labouring
in a village in Connecticut, where were stronsf indications of
the beginning of a good state of things. Christians were
engaged in powerful labour, and a spirit of violent opposition
manifested itself among the ungodly. The pastor of the
church was called to a distant part of the parish to officiate at
a wedding, and Dr. N. accompanied him. They rode together,
and when they arrived at the house, the pastor left his surtout-
coat hanging over the back of his chaise. Nothing particular
occurred during the ceremony, but when they were preparing
to return home, it was discovered that the harness Mas cut in
several places. This, after a time, was repaired, and they
arrived'-at the pastor's house without accident. When he took
out his horse to put him into the stable, he found that the hair
from the mane and tail of the animal had been shaved closelv
off. He brought his surtout into the study, which was then
seen to have been torn from top to bottom info ribands. The
good pastor was greatly excited, and declared that he would
find out the perpetrators of the outrage, and prosecute them to
the utmost extremity of the law. When he had time to cool,
Dr. Nettleton said to him, " Brother, try on the surtout ; it
may not be injured so much as you supj)ose." He did so ,
and so grotesque was his appearance, that both burst into a
hearty laugh. Dr. N. saw that the time was now come to
DR. NETTLF.TOX. 243
make an impression upon him ; and said, "Brother , it is
evident that the Spirit of God is at work with this people, and
this is a device of the adversary of souls to turn off their
attention from the subject of rehgion. You may, I doubt not,
find out the authors of this mischief, and punish them ; but, in
doing it, you will raise a hubbub — there will be an end of the
revival, and souls will be lost for ever. Now, my advice to
you is this: keep your horse in the stable; feed him yourself;
do not take him out, even to water. Lay by your surtout in
the bottom of your trunk, and do not mention these circum-
stances, even to your wife. The wrong-doers will not dare to
mention their mischief; and if we are silent, it will not be
known, and they w^ill lose their labour. The parish will con-
tinue in quietness, and we shall go on in our work without
molestation. We shall thus defeat the adversary of souls, and
gain a blessed victory for the Redeemer." The pastor took
his advice ; no one ever heard of the occurrence from that
time; and God blessed the church with a glorious outpouring
of his Spirit. Such was the good doctor's method of dealing
with persecutors.
Dr. Nettleton was most sensitively careful to sustain the in-
fluence of his brethren. He would not, when he knew there
was an evident deficiency, do any thing that might tend, in the
least degree, to disparage them in the estimation of their peo-
ple. There was one instance in which he showed his delicacy
of feeling and address in a most Christian manner. A cler-
frvman who lived not far from the place where Dr. N. resided,
bore the reputation of an , indolent and inefficient pastor, and
!iad in consequence caused considerable uneasiness amongst
his people. Some of the more faithful part of the church, who
deplored the low state of religion and growing laxity of morals
•imong the youth of the congregation, went to Dr. N. and
244 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
dei>ired him to come and preach to them. To this he would
by no means consent, without an express invitation I'rom the
pastor, and of that he had little hope. But there happened to
be a desert spot on the borders of the town, where religious
meetings were seldom held, and where the influence of the
pastor did not particularly extendi When he was made
acquainted with the fact, he said that he had no objection to
go there and hold a few evening meetings with them. He
went, and, without exciting observation, held several religious
meetings. In a short time, a number of the youth were under
deep conviction for sin. As soon as he perceived the joyful
appearance, he requested all who were under serious impres-
sions to meet with him the next day, informing them that he
had something of an important nature, which he wished to
communicate. When they had all met, he advised the young
ladies to go that same evening to their pastor, and ask his
counsel respecting the present state of their minds ; and the
voung men he advised to go the evening following, for the
same purpose. They all did as he had prudently directed
them ; and the effect was so powerfully electric, that the sloth-
ful pastor rose up at once, went to work with all his might,
j)reached and laboured with assiduous energy, and was the
favoured agent in reaping a glorious harvest of souls. As
soon as the pastor got thus fairly to work, Dr. N. retired. The
pastor ever remained a faithful and useful man.
AGED CLERGYMEN.
A YOUNG " divine" said to an old preacher : — " How does it
liappen that you write but one sermon a week ? I preach
three new sermons every Sabbath. I could write a sermon
every day in the week, and make nothing of it."
TWO CLERGYMKN. 245
" No doubt ; precisoly nothing^^ was the reply : " but that
is exactly what I wish to avoid. I labour to make som£thing
of my sermons."
The following advice was once given from an aged minister
to a young one : —
With respect to your conduct in the house of worship, I have
a word or two to say to you. If you happen to make a blun-
der in prayer or preaching, don't stop to rectify it, but go
boldly on ; for, 'tis ten to one, if a single person in the whole
church be listening to a word you say : but, if you stop and
go back to the word, and begin to hum and haw, the hearers
will immediately prick up their ears, and whisper to one
another, "Ah! the minister's out, the minister's out;" and
thus you'll be exposed to ridicule.
TWO CLERGYMEN.
VVhile we must lament the existence of difTerences of
opinion tending to destroy intercourse and fellowship among
brethren, it becomes us to respect the rights of conscience,
wherever they exist. There is a lesson conveyed in the fol-
lowing fact, although it is adapted to create a smile : —
An Episcopal clergyman resided in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of a reverend pastor of a Baptist church. Their
intercourse was kind, and they occasionally occupied each
other's desk. The Baptist asked his Episcopal brother to
address his people, one Lord's-day morning, to which he
acceded. As they sat at dinner, after the sermon, the Baptist
minister was evidently unhappy ; and the Episcopalian at
2\*
246 THE AMERICAN CLERGV.
length elicited the fact, that this Sabbath was the time when
the Baptists celebrated the Lord's Supper, and that his brother
was grieving that he could not invite him to commune with
them. "Oh," said his visitor, "don't let that distress you ;
perhaps you are not aware that, bemg an Episcopalian, I do
not consider you ordained, and therefore could not receive the
Lord's Supper at your hands." Each was amused, and each
respected the conscience of his friend.
REV. DR. FURMAN.
The late Rev. Dr. Furman, of Charleston, S. C, was once
present in a small company of brethren who had assembled to
dine with a common friend, when the usual style by which
they addressed each other was the affectionate appellation of
" brother." Those present were very exact in using this mode
of address. While their convei^sation was progressing, and
they were freely " brothering" each other, there came in an
aged coloured woman, well known for her piety and good
character. The brethren present saluted her, one in this man-
ner and another in that ; as, " Well, old woman ;" " How do,
Clarinda?" and so on. When she came to Dr. F., he leaned
forward, extended to her his hand, and said, "How do you do,
sister Clarinda?" He probably designed this as a gentle reproof
to those present, who did not seem to recognize the true equa-
lity in which all stand who belong to the family of Christ.
REV. DR. POND. 247
REV. DR. POND.
There is something so truly noble in the following hand-
some apology, from the pen of the Rev. Dr. Pond, that we
rannot forbear to record it on our pages. Would that all of
us were found to breathe the same spirit !
" I am happy in the opportunity thus afforded me, of paying
what I conceive to be a merited tribute to the high missionary
character of Dr. Judson. It will be recollected by many who
read this article, that' soon after his change of sentiments, and
the publication of his sermon on the subject of baptism, I pub-
lished a reply to the sermon ; in the introduction to which,
some things were said, impeaching the motives of Dr. J., and
implicating to some extent his Christian character. In the
statements there made, I had the concurrence of the then mem-
bers of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, and of most of the Congregational ministers and
Christians of that day. But, in view of the course since pur-
sued by Dr. J., his labours and sufferings, his zeal, his con-
stancy, his well-directed and successful efforts in the best of
causes, and especially after the explanations he has made of
some things which, at the time of his change, were regarded
by many as mysterious, I think no one can question the purify
of his motives, or the distinguished excellence and devotedness
of his Christian character. From the later editions of my
work on Baptism, I have expunged every thing which could
be interpreted as disreputable to Dr. J. I have long followed
him, in what I have known of his studies and labours, with
deep interest, and regard him as entitled to stand among the
foremost of living missionaries."
249 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. DRS. COOPER AND CHAUNCEY.
Dr. CoorER, who was a man of accomplished manners, and
fond of society, was able, by the aid of his fine talents, to dis-
pense with some of the severe study that others engaged in.
This, however, did not escape the envy and malice of the
world ; and it was said, with a kind of petulant and absurd
exaggeration, that he used to walk to the South End on Satur-
day, and, if he saw a man riding into town in a black coat,
would stop and ask him to preach the next day.
Dr. Chauncey was a close student, very absent and irrita-
ble. On these traits in the character of the clergyman, a ser-
vant of Dr. Chauncey laid a scheme to obtain a particular
object from his master. Scipio went into his master's study,
one morning, to receive some directions, which the doctor hav-
ing given, resumed his writing; but the servant still remained.
The master, looking up a few minutes afterward, and suppos-
ing he had just come in, said, "Scipio, what do you want?"
" I want a new coat, massa." " Well, go to Mrs. C, and tell
her to give you one of my old coats ;" and was again absorbed
in study. The servant remained fixed. After a while, the
doctor, turning his eyes that way, saw him again, as if
for the first time, and said, "What do you want, Scipio?"
" I want a new coat, massa." " Well, go to my wife, and
ask her to give you one of my old coats;" and fell to writing
once more. Scipio remained in the same posture. After a
few minutes, the doctor looked toward him and repeated the
former question, "Scipio, what do you want?" "I want a
new coat, massa." It now flashed over the doctor's mind, that
there was something of repetition in this dialogue. " Why,
have I not told you before to ask Mrs. Chauncey to give you
a coat? Get away." "Yes, massa ; but I no want a black
coat." "Not want a black coat! And why not?" "Why,
TWO 3IINISTERS. '249
massa, 1 Traid to tell you ; but I don't wnni a black coat."
"What's the reason you don't want a black coat? Tell me,
directly." " Oh, nnassa ! I don't want a black coat ; but I
Traid to tell the reason, you so passionate." " You rascal, will
you tell me the reason?" "Oh, massa ! I'm sure you be angry."
" If r had my cane, you villain, I'd break your bones. Will
you tell me what you mean ?" " I Traid to tell you, massa ; I
know you be angry." The doctor's impatience was now
highly irritated. Scipio perceiving, by his glance at the tongs,
that he might find a substitute for the cane, and that he was
sufficiently excited, said, "Well, massa, you make me tell, but
I know you be angry ; / y'raidj massa, if I ivear another
black coat. Dr. Cooper ask me to go preach for him /" This
unexpected termination realized the negro's calculation. His
irritated master burst into a laugh. " Go, you rascal, get my
hat and cane, and tell Mrs. Chauncey she may give you a coat
of any colour ; a red one, if you choose." Away went the
negro to his mistress, and the doctor to tell the story to his
friend, Dr. Cooper.
TWO MINISTERS.
The following fact, from the pen of a writer in the New-
buryport Herald, contains an important truth, which our edu-
cated ministers should well understand : —
I recollect listening, when a boy, to a conversation between
two Baptist clergymen ; the one an uneducated, but valuable
extemporaneous speaker ; the other an educated man, and a
writer of beautiful, clear, and logical sermons, but notorious
for the hesitancy which he manifested whenever he attempted
to preach " without notes." " How is it, brother L.," said the
latter, • that you, without education, a-e able to fret up, af -i
250 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
moment's warning, and speak so well, while I just as certainly
fail as I attempt it?" " Well, brother S., I'll tell you. You're
just like a rich farmer, who goes into his tool-house to get a
hoe, and tinds so many there that it takes him half an hour to
pick out the best ; and, as likely as not, after all, goes off in
a hurry with a poor one ; while I'm just like one of his men
who hires out by the day, and comes in the morning to the
corn-field, all ready for work, uitli his old hoe on his shoulder. ''"'
The thoroughly educated man very often fails as an extempo-
raneous speaker, from the mere excess of thought and good
taste ; while a man without education, and sometimes with
scarcely brains enough to furnish the head of a clever parrot,
" goes off" in a steady stream of words, as if he were a rain-
spout in a thunder-storm. " Many a full barrel of cider,"
once said a witty friend of mine, " runs slower than a nearly
empty one, which runs all the faster when so nearly out that
it has to be propped up behind."
REV. DR. STAUGHTON.
One Saturday afternoon, as Dr. Staughton was preparing
for the pulpit services of the following day, a stranger called
at his study, and introduced himself as " the Rev. Mr. John-
son." He had no credentials, except a copy of the Minutes
of an Association, in which his name was given in such a con-
nection as to satisfy the Doctor, that in "his own country" he
was " not without honor." In the course of conversation it
became apparent that Mr. J. would be tvilling^ if invited, to
preach at least a part of the day, even in Sansom street. The
Doctor did not feel very well, and was desirous to preserve his
strength, as far as possible, for his evening lectuie, which, as
many remember, was uniformly attended by admiring crowds.
REV. DR. STAUGHTON. 251
Me the>>efore rec^uested the " strange brother" to take the morn-
ing service, and received the prompt assurance that his wish
should be gratified. Tradition has j)i'eserved no account of
that "morning service," except the fact that the preacher was
heard. His voice filled not only that spacious house, but a
circle of much larger radius. As the Doctor was passing out,
one of the deacons asked him what he thought of the stranger.
" Oh, he is sounds he is very soand^'' was the significant reply.
On Monday morning, Mr. J. requested the Doctor to give
him a letter of introduction to the Rev. Mr. Healy, of Balti-
more. The good man was too kind to refuse altogether, and
too conscientious to recommend a person of whom he knew
so little. He therefore gave the applicant the following letter:
Philadelphia, , ,
Dear Brother Healy. — The bearer, who says his name is
JcJhnson, and says also that he is a Baptist preacher, desires
me to introduce him to your acquaintance. He cried aloud
and spared not in my pulpit yesterday, and if you should find
it convenient to let him preach for you, he will lift up his voice
among you. Ever affectionately,
W. Staughton.
Dr. Staughton cultivated a due regard to ministerial etiquette
and yet it was always so exhibited as to show that it was a
spontaneous effusion of religious affection. Rather than wound
the feelings, or disregard the official dignity of the plainest
minister of the gospel, he would violate the fastidious taste of
a whole church and congregation. Men of the most ordinary
talents and acquirements, but honoured by their respective
churches, he admitted to his pulpit as fully equal to himself,
and worthy of all fellowship and esteem.
In a position like that of Sansom Street, there would almosl
ntxcssarily be a number of supernumerary ministers. By this
252 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
we mean ministers wlio have no pastorships. One is a teacli-
er — another an edit )r — a third something else. All preach-
ing as often as opportunity afforded, hut none supported by, and
therefore not devoted to the ministry. Among those at the
time of which we now speak, there was one in Sansom Street
church, known as Father Strawbridge. This was a vcrv
worthy old gentleman, and a very acceptable preacher; but he
was never willing to occupy the Doctor's pulpit, even in the
greatest emergency, for fear he might not meet the expecta-
tions of the audience, and thus, contrary to his best wishes, in-
jure the cause he designed to promote.
Here is the way in which the Doctor managed Father Straw-
bridge : One Sunday, when the Doctor had to preach four ser-
mons, he determined to apply to the old gentleman to sup))ly his
pulpit in the afternoon, when the audience was smallest, and
composed chiefly of religious persons. So he went to him, and
said: "Brother Strawbridge, can you do me the favour to
preach this afternoon to some coloured people for me? If you
can, you will very much oblige me, as my duties are very hard
to-day, and T am quite indisposed." "With a great deal of
pleasure. Doctor," replied the venerable old man ; " you know I
am always willing to render you any service in my power."
" Very well," rejoined the Doctor ; " I shall then rely on you ;
and you will find the place and the hearers in the following man-
ner : Just pass through the vestry of Sansom Street church,
ascend the flight of stairs to the right — go into the pulpit — and
you will see some coloured people in the gallery on your right
hand. I wish you to preach to them one of your plain, affec-
tionate, gospel sermons, telling them of Jesus Christ and his
izreat salvation."
The old gentleman complied with the request. It is not ne-
cessary to state that the white people who sal below all heard
It, and were probably as much edified as if the sermon had been
preached exclusive ly to themselves.
REV. DR. I'AYSON. 253
REV. DR. PAYSON.
The Ruv. Dr. Payson being once asked what message tie
would send to the young men who were studying for the min-
istry, in one of the colleges, thus addressed them: — "What if
God should place in your hand a diamond, and tell you to
inscribe on it a sentence which should be read at the last day,
and shown there as an index of your thoughts and feelings !
What care, what caution, would you exercise in the selection !
Now, this is what God has done : he has placed before you
immortal minds, more imperishable than the diamond, on
which you are about to inscribe, every day, and every hour,
by your instructions, by your spirit, or by your example,
something which will remain, and be exhibited for or against
you, at the judgment-day."
Dr. Payson seems to have touched the right string, when,
writing to a young clergyman, he says : — " Some time since,
I took up a little work, purporting to be the lives of sundry
characters, as related by themselves. Two of those charac-
ters agreed in saying that they were never happy until they
had ceased striving to be great men. This remark struck me,
as you know the most simple remarks will strike us, when
heaven pleases. It occurred to me at once, that most of mv
sorrows and sufferings were occasioned by an unwillingness to
be the nothing which I am, and by consequent struggles to be
something. I saw if I would hut cease struggling, and con-
sent to be any thing, or nothing, just as God pleases, I might
be happy. You will think it strange that I mention this as a
new discovery^ In one sense, it was not new; I have known
^t for years. But I now saw it in a new light. My heart
■'i">4 TfIL AMERICAN CLERGY.
saw it, and consented to it; and I am comparatively happy.
My dear brother, if you can give up all desire to be great, and
feel heartily willing to be nothing, you will be happy too."
REV. JOHN ELIOT.
The attachment of the Rev. John Eliot, usually called the
"Apostle to the Indians," to peace and union among Christians,
was exceedingly great. When he heard ministers complain
that some in their congregations were too difficult for them,
the substance of his advice would be, " Brother, compass
them !" " Brother, learn the meaning of those three little
words — bear, forbear, forgive." His love of peace, indeed,
almost led him to sacrifice right itself. When a bundle of
papers was laid before an assembly of ministers, which con-
tained the particulars of a contention between parties who he
thought ought at once to be agreed, he hastily threw them into
the fire, and said, " Brethren, wonder not at what I have done;
I did it on my knees, this morning, before I came among you."
The piety, personal and relative, of this holy man, was very
distinguished, and he was always zealous in promoting the
same spirit among others. When he was informed of any
public news, he would say, " Brethren, let us turn all this into
prayer." When he paid a visit to his friends, he used to say,
"Come, let us not have a visit without prayer; let us pray
down the blessing of heaven before we go." And whenever
he was in the company of ministers, he said, " Brethren, the
Lord Jesus takes notice of what is said and done among min-
isters ; come, let us pray before we part." And at the end of
REV. DR. LATHROP. 255
his Indian Grammar, he records this memorable sentence;
" Prayer and pains, through faith in Christ Jesus, can do any
thing."
REV. DR. LATHROP.
The hite Rev. Dr. Lathrop was a man of genuine piety, f)ut
was greatly opposed to the noisy zeal which seeks commenda-
tion by constantly talking about it. A young divine, who was
much given to religious cant, one day said to him, " Do vou
suppose, sir, you have any real religion ?" The good doctor
admirably replied, "None to speak of."
'J'his eminent man seems to have possessed considerable
talent for administering reproof, as the following facts will
show : —
He once engaged a young man to preach for him, who un-
Ibrtunately delivered a sermon which had very little connection
with his text. The day after its delivery, the author of it
called on the doctor to ascertain its merits. " Well," said he,
m answer to the anxious inquiry of his young friend, " your
sermon was well enough ; but if your text had had the small-
pox, your sermon would not have caught it."
On another occasion, a neighbouring minister, not much
distinguished for eloquence, had engaged to deliver a .ecture
for him. The hour for the service came, but not the lecturer,
fhe doctor went through the preliminary services, and then sat
down to await the arrival of his tardy brother. After an in-
terval of a few minutes, he made his appearance, and walked
'256 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
to the place where the doctor was sitting. It happened to be
a rainy day ; and the minister of whom we are speaking, hav-
ing got somewhat of a drenching, began to shake his coat, and
express his sorrow for the condition he was m. ". Oh," said
the doctor, " never mind ; go up into the pulpit ; you'll be dry
enough there."
A PERSECUTING CLERGYMAN.
It has not unfrequenlly happened that the laity have been
wiser than their clergy, and have been qualified to administer
reproof to them. Here is an illustration. Soon after the late
Dr. Rodgers reached Williamsburg, in Virginia, then a British
colony, one of the established clergymen of Hanover appeared
with him before Sir William Gooch, the lieutenant-governor^
and complained that this young gentleman, before going (o
Williamsburg, had preached one sermon in Hanover, contrary
to law, urging Sir William to proceed against him with rigour.
Sir William's reply did equal honour to his religious senti-
ments and his official liberality : — " Mr. , I am surprised
at you ! You profess to be a minister of Jesus Christ, and
yet come to complain of a man, and wish me to punish him,
for preaching the gospel! For shame, sir! Go home, and
mind your own duty ! For such a piece of conduct, you
deserve to have your gown stripped over your shoulders."
BISHOP GEORGE. 257
BISHOP GEORGE.
An ii^red traveller, worn and weary, vvas gently urging on
iUS tired beast, just as the sun was dropping behind the range
ot" hills that bounds the horizon of Springfield, Ohio. It was
a sultry August evening, and he had journeyed a distance of
twenty-five miles since morning, his pulse throbbing under the
influence of a burning sun. At Fairfield, he had been hospi-
tably entertained by one who had recognised the veteran sol-
dier of the cross, and who had ministered to him for his Mas-
ter's sake, of the benefits he himself had receivisd from the
hand " which feedeth the young lions when they lack ;" and
he travelled on, refreshed in spirit. But many a weary mile
had he journeyed over since then ; and now, as the evening
shades darkened around, he felt the burden of age and toil
heavy upon him, and he desired the pleasant retreat he had
pictured to himself when that day's pilgrimage should be
accomplished.
It was not long before the old man checked his tired animal
at the door of the anxiously looked-for haven of rest. A mid-
dle-aged woman was at hand, to whom he mildly applied for
accommodations for himself and horse.
" I don't know," said she, coldly, after scrutinizing for
some time the appearance of the traveller, vvhich was not the
most promising, "that we can take you in, old man. You
seem tired, however, and I'll see if the minister of the circuit,
who is here to-night, will let you lodge with him."
The young circuit preacher soon made his appearance,
and, swaggering up to the old man with great consequence, ex-
amined him for some moments inquisitively ; then asked a few
impertinent questions; and, finally, after adjusting his hair
half a dozen times, feeling his smoothly-shaven chin as often
consented that the stranger should share his bed for the niijht^
und, turning upon his heel, entered the house.
2oS THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
The traveller, aged and weary as he was, dismounted, and
led his faithful animal to the stable, where, with his own hands,
he rubbed him down, watered him, and gave him food, and
then entered the mansion where he had expected so much kind-
ness. A Methodist family resided in the house, and as the
circuit preacher was to be there that day, great preparations
were made to entertain him ; and a number of the Methodist
young ladies of the neighbourhood had been invited, so that
quite a party met the eyes of the stranger as he entered, not
one of whom took the slightest notice of him, and he wearily
sought a vacant chair in the corner, out of direct observation,
but where he could observe all that was going on ; and his
anxious eyes showed that he was no careless observer of what
was transpiring around him.
The young minister played his part with all the frivolity
and foolishness of a city beau, and nothing like religion came
from his lips. Now he was chattering and bandying senseless
compliments with this young lady, and then engaged in trifling
repartee with another, who was anxious to seem interesting in
his eyes.
The stranger, after an hour, during which no refreshments
had been prepared for him, asked to be shown to his room, to
which he retired unnoticed, grieved and shocked at the conduct
of the family and minister. Taking from his saddle-bags a
well-worn Bible, he seated himself in a chair, and was soon
buried in thought, holy and elevating, and had food to eat
which those who passed by him in pity and scorn dreamed not
of. Hour after hour passed away, and no one came to invite
the old worn-down traveller to partake of the luxurious supper
which was served below.
Towards eleven o'clock the minister came up stairs, and,
without pause or prayer, hastily threw off his clothes, and got
into the middle of a small bed, which was to be the resting-
place of the old man as well as himself. A Her a while the
BISHOP GEORGE. 2o9
aged stranger rose up, and after partially disrobing himself,
knelt down, and remained many minutes in fervent prayer.
The earnest breathing out of his soul soon arrested fhe atten-
tion of the young preacher, who began to feel some few re
proofs of conscience for his own neglect of duty. The old
man now rose from his knees, and after slowly undressing
himself, got into bed, or rather upon the edge of the bed, for
the young preacher had taken possession of the centre, and
would not, voluntarily, move an inch.
In this uncomfortable position the stranger lay for some
time in silence. At length the youngest of the two made a
remark, to which the elder replied in a style and manner that
arrested his attention. On this he removed over an inch or
two, and made more room.
" How far have you come to-day, old man?"
" Thirty-five miles."
" From where ?"
" From Springfield."
" Ah, indeed 1 You must be tired after so long a journey for
one of your age."
" Yes, this poor old body is much worn down by long and
constant travel, and I feel that the journey of to-day has
exhausted me much." j
The young minisier moved over a little. I
"You do not belong to Springfield, then?" 1
" No ; I have no abiding place."
" How ?"
" I have no continuing city. My home is beyond this vale
of tears."
Another move of the minister. " How far have you tra-
velled on your present journey ?"
" From Philadelphia."
"From Philadelphia! (In evident surprise.) The Methodisl
260 TH-E AMERICAN CLEKGY.
(-eiioral Conference was in session there a short time since
had it broken up when you left?"
" It adjourned the day before I started."
" Ah, indeed !" moving still farther towards the front side
of the bed, and allowing the stranger more accommodation.
" Had Bishop George left when you came out?"
" Yes, he started at the same time I did ; we left in com-
pany."
" Indeed !"
Here the circuit preacher relinquished a full half of the bed,
and politely requested the stranger to occupy a larger space.
" How did the bishop look ? He is getting old and feeble, is
he not ?"
" He carries his age tolerably well ; but his labour is a hard
one, and he begins to show signs of failing strength."
" He is expected this way in a week or two ; how glad shall
I be to shake hands with the old veteran of the cross ! But
you say you left in company with the old man ; how far did
yon come together?"
"We travelled alone for a long distance."
"You travelled alone with the bishop ?"
"Yes, we have been intimate for years."
"You intimate with Bishop George?"
"Yes, why not?"
" Bless me ! Why did I not know that ! But may I be so
bold as to inquire your name?"
After a moment's hesitation, the stranger replied, "George."
" George ! Not Bishop George ?"
" They call me Bishop George," meekly replied the old
man.
"Why — bless me, Bishop George!" exclaimed the now
abashed preacher, springing from the bed, '■'•You have had 710
-iiqyper! I will instantly call up the family. Why did you not
tell us who you were?'
BISHOP GEORGE. 261
" Stop, stop, my friend," said the bishop gravely. " I want
no sup})er here, and should not have eaten any had it been got
for me. If an old man, toil-worn and weary, fainting with
travelling through all the long summer day, was not considered
worthy of a iueal by this family, who profess to have set up
the altar of God in their house, Bishop George surely is not.
He is at best but a man, and has no claims beyond those of"
common humanity."
A night of severer mortification the young minister had
never experienced. The bishop kindly admonished him, and
warned him of the great necessity there was of his adorning
the doctrines of Christ, by tbilowing him sincerely and hum-
bly. Gently, but earnestly, he endeavoured to win him back
from his wanderincrs of heart, and direct him to trust more in
God, and less in his own strength.
In the morning the bishop prayed with him long and fer-
vently before he left the chamber ; and was glad to see his
heart melted into contrition. Soon after the bishop descended,
and was met by the heads of the family with a thousand sin-
cere apologies. He mildly silenced them, and asked to have
his horse brought out. The horse was accordingly soon in
readiness, and the bishop, taking up his saddle-bags, was pre-
paring to depart.
" But surely, bishop," urged the distressed matron, " you
will not thus leave us? Wait a few minutes; breakfast is on
the table."
"No, sister L , I cannot take breakfast here; you did
not consider a poor toil-worn traveller worthy of a meal ; and
your bishop has no claim but such as humanity urges."
And thus he departed, leaving the family and minister in
confusion and sor''ow. He did not act thus from resentment,
for no such emotion rose in his heart ; but he desired to teach
them a lesson, such as they would not easily forge^
Six months from this time the Ohio Annual Conference met
26 i THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
lit Cincinnati, and the young minister was to present himself
for ordination as a deacon ; and Bishop George was to be the
presiding bishop.
On the first day of the assembling of Conference, our young
minister's heart sunk within him, as he saw the venerable bi
shop take his seat. So great was his grief and agitation, tha.
he was soon obliged to leave the room. That evening, as the
bishop was seated alone in his chamber, the Rev. Mr.- was
announced, and he requested him to be shown up.
7^he bishop grasped the young man by the hand with a cor-
diality which he did not expect, for he had made careful in-
quiries, and found that since they had met before, a great
change had been wrought in him. He was now as humble as
he was before self-sufficient and worldly-minded. As a father
would have received a disobedient and repentant child, so did
this good man receive his erring but contrite brother. They
mingled their tears together, while the young preacher wept as*,
a child, even upon the bosom of his spiritual father. At tlia'
session he was ordained, and became one of the most pioui
and useful ministers in the Ohio Conference.
TWO YOUNG MINISTERS.
Two young men entered the ministry at the same time. One
of them had great success in the conversion of sinners, the
other had none. Meeting one day, the one inquired of the
other how this fact was to be accounted for. " Why," replied
the other, " the reason is, that I aim at a different end in
preaching from you. My object is to convert sinners, but you
aim at no such thing. And then you go and lay it to sove-
reiontv in God, that you do not produce the same ef!ect, when
you never aim '\\. it. Here, ^1ke one of mv sermons, and
REV. DR. BELLAMY. 263
preach it to your people, and see what the effect will be." The
other minister did so, and preached the sermon, and it pro-
duced effect. He was frightened when sinners began to weep ;
and when one came to him after the meeting to ask what ho
should do, the minister apologized to him, and said, " 1 did not
aim toward you ; 1 am sorry if 1 have hurt your feelings."
REV. DR. BELLAMY.
Holy activity in the cause of God, and caring for the souls
of men, has ever been found by ministers, as well as by more
private Christians, the best remedy against mental dejection.
The Rev. Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlehem, Conn., whose eminence
for piety and talents must long live, was often subject to great
anxiety of mind, when he was filled with the impression that
he was certainly going to hell. At such times, his ministerial
brethren visited him, and endeavoured to relieve his mind ;
but all experiments having failed, one of them said to him,
' Well, doctor, it may be that, after all, your convictions con-
cerning yourself are true, and that you will certainly go to
hell ; but have you thought what you will do when you get
there? how you will spend your time?" The doctor instantly
caught up the inquiry, " What will I do when I get there I
Why, I will set up prayer-meetings, and vindicate the law of
God !" " But," replied his friend, " the devil will not have
you there, if you engage in such employments." This had
the happy effect of showing him that he had no sympathies
for the employment of hcH. and that his heart was united to
the cause of God.
204 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A young clergyman once visited the good old doctor, to
propose the inquiry, "What shall I do to supply myself with
matter for my sermons?" The doctor quaintly replied, "Fill
up the cask, Jill zip the cask, fill up the cask ; and then, if
you tap it anywhere, you will get a good stream. But if you
put in but little, it will dribble, dribble, dribble, and you must
tip^ tip, tip, and then you get but little, after all."
TWO CLERGYMEN.
A FEW years since, two New England divines were con-
versing together respecting the various theories concerning the
origin of sin, when a lady who was present interrupted them,
saying, "It seems to me that it would be far better for minis-
ters, instead of puzzling themselves to know how sin entered
into the ivorld, to unite their efforts and try how much of it,
with God's blessing, they can drive out." " You remind mo,
madam," said one of the clergymen, " of my aged deacon,
who, after listening to a sermon in which I had endeavoured to
explain why God suffered sin to enter the world, being asked
what he thought of my theory, shook his head, and said, ' Ah,
sir! all J know about it is, I am a sinner, and I wish I
wasn't 1' "
REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
We transcribe the following anecdote from a recent English
publication, in which it is said to have been related to a gen-
tleman in New Y^ork, by an individual still living, v/ho was
then a hoarder in Dr. Finley's family. It will be remembered
REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 265
by our readers how exactly Whitefield's death llilfillcd his pre-
diction : —
In the last visit but one which Mr. Whitefield paid to Ame-
rica, he spent a day or two at Princeton, under the roof of the
Rev. Dr. Finley, then president of the college at that place.
At dinner, the doctor said, " Mr. Whitefield, I hope it will he
very long before you will be called home; but when that event
shall arrive, I should be glad to hear the noble testimony you
will bear for God." Whitefield replied, " You would be dis-
appointed, Doctor; I shall die silent. It has pleased God to
enable me to bear so many testimonies for him during my life,
that he will require none from me when I die. No, no I It is
your dumb Christians, that have walked in fear and darkness,
and therebv been unable to bear a testimony for God durinir
their lives, that he compels to speak out for him on their death-
beds."
A short time before the death of Mr. Whitefield, the Rev. W.
Tennent paid him a visit, as he was passing through New Jer-
sey; and one day dined with him and several other minist(M'.-5,
at a gentleman's house. Arter dinner, Mr. W. adverted to the
difficulties attending the Christian ministry ; lamented that all
ihoir zeal availed but little; said that he was weary with the;
burden of the day; and declared the great consolation, that in
a short time his work would be done, when he should dtM^art
and be with Christ. He then appealed to the ministers, if it
was not their great comfort that they should soon go to rest.
They generally assented, except Mr. T., who sat next to Mi
W., in silence, and by his countenance discovered but little
pleasure in the conversation. On which Mr. W., tapping him
on the knee, said, " Well, brother Tennent, you are the oldest
man among us; do you not rejoice to think that your time i.s
so near at hand, when you will be called home?" Mr. T.
2'S
260 THE AMERICAN CLERGY
bluntly answered, " I have no wish about it, Mr. W. pressed
hiin again. Mr. T. again answered, " No, sir, it is no
pleasure to me at all ; and if you knew your duty, it would be
none to you. I have nothing to do with death ; my business
is to live as long as I can, as well as I can, and to serve my
Master as faithfully as I can, until he shall think proper
call me home." Mr. W. still urged for an explicit answer to
his question, in case the time of death were left to his own
choice. Mr. T. replied, "1 have no choice about it; I am
God's servant, and have engaged to do his business as long as
he pleases to continue me therein. But now, brother, let me
ask you a question : what do you think I should say, if I were
to send my man into the field to plough ; and if at noon I
should go to the field, and find him lounging under a tree, and
complaining, ' Master, the sun is very hot, and the ploughing
hard ; I am weary of the work you have appointed me, and
am overdone with the heat and burden of the day. Do,
master, let me return home and be discharged from this hard
service.' What should I say ? Why, that he was a lazy fel-
low, and that it was his business to do the work that • I had
appointed him, until I should think fit to call him home.''
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN.
A CORRESPONDENT of a New York paper says : —
Not many months since, I was standing in a certain store,
in a city in which there were several ministers and other
Christian brethren, conversing about a clergyman then just
leaving the said city for another field of labour. Among other
remarks, an expression was dropped, about ministers not being
respected; when one of the company, a worthy deacon, spoke
up with considerable apparent warmth, " Well, ministers need
REV. JOHN lELAND. 267
not expect to be respected much by the people till they respect
each other a little more."
" How so .'" said one.
" How so !" replied the deacon, " why, many ministers come
into this store, and I often hear them talkinii about one an-
other, and seldom hear them speak well. They criticise their
brethren severely, and speak meanly of their talents."
A distinguished divine was not lono- since conversincr with a
Methodist clergyman of devout piety and zeal. In all their
religious feelings, they perfectly harmonized, till at last the
Methodist gently suggested his astonishment, that his compa-
nion should believe in the doctrine of election. " Why, my
dear sir," was the reply, " if you are a Christian, did not God
always intend that you should be one? There is the doctrine
of election?"
What can be said upon the subject, more clear, or more
convincing, by the longest dissertation that was ever penned?
REV. JOHN LELAND.
At one period of the ministry of this good man, he was
considerably annoyed by a Universalist minister, who endea-
voured in every possible way to draw him into controversy,
but entirely without effect. At length, as the worthy pastor
was riding along, finding a crowd around the shop of the vil-
lage blacksmith, he turned his horse in that direction, and saw
the Universalist minister addressing his ncishbours, boastino"
of the inability of Mr. Leiand to hold an argument with him
Not a few questions were proposed to Mr. L. on the subject, to
which he returned mild and ready answers. At length, the
268 THE A3IERICAN CLERGY.
preacher of error asked, in a tone of triumph, why he had
neglected to answer several notes addressed to him, challenging
him to a discussion on their differences. The worthy old cler-
gyman, who had hitherto never touched the subject, now felt
that he must "answer a fool according to his folly," and said,
with great mildness, " Sir, when I was a lad, my father used
to say to me, ' John, never kill a skunk ; for, even when dead,
it will be but a skunk still.' " The result was decisive ; the
Universalist was silent ; and such was the tone thus given to
public opinion, that the said preacher was soon compelled to
leave the neighbourliood.
REV. DR. MERCER.
The Rev. President Manly gives the following illustration
of the intense feeling of this venerable minister : —
1 saw him at Eatonton, in 1824, in an aspect which I must
relate, as it illustrates the simple piety and tenderness of his
heart. It was on a Sunday of the meeting of the Georgia
convention. Brother S and I were present. Brother Mer-
cer sat in the pulpit with us. S got up, and, in his quaint
way, surveyed the very large assembly, with several glances,
and opened his address thus : " Where shall we obtain bread
to feed so great a multitude? For my part, I am unprovided
and penniless ; but there is a lad here," turning round and
putting his hand on my head as I leaned forward in the pulpit,
" who has five barley-loaves and two little fishes, which, with
the presence and blessing of Jesus, shall constitute a feast."
This well nigh upset me. But it drove me to prayer. The
Lord loosed my mind, and unlocked the fountain of tears, so
that it was computed that, through a great part of the discourse,
there was an average of at least five hundred persons continu-
REV. CALEB BLOOD. 269
ally bathed in tears. There was nothing in all this Bochirn
that to me was so affecting, as when I turned round and saw
the sympathetic streams coursing swiftly down the furrowed
cheeks of Father Mercer."
This shrewd observer, once conversing about a preacher who
had a little learning and a great deal of conceit, made this re-
mark : " He reminds me of a ^oolish dog I once heard of, that
was in pursuit of a deer, but coming to a place where a fox
iad crossed the track, he left the deer and ran after the fox.
He had not followed the fox far, before he arrived at a spot
where a rabbit had crossed. Forthwith he leaves the fox, and
pursues the rabbit; and when the hunter came up, he had left
the rabbit and was barking at a mouse-hole. Brother
sometimes sets out after something valuable, but before he stops,
his folly drives him to the mouse-hole.
When this wise counsellor would at any time dissuade his
brethren from projects which required pecuniary means beyond
what they had in hand, he would often say, " Let us get the
fodder before we buy the horse.''
REV. CALEB BLOOD.
The late Rev. Caleb Blood, of Boston, was once walking to
his church, in company with the Rev. Lewis Leonard, of New
York, then a very young man. On his way to worship the
young mmister, who felt the dignity of his friend, and who was
270 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
well aware of the high respectability of the Charles Sfrert
Church, said, with much modesty, " How can I preach before
youV* The reply of the aged minister of the cross was,
"Preach before me! how can you preach before God?" and
then went on to make to him the most soothing and comforta-
ble remarks, which at that time inspired him with moral cou-
rage, and became eminently useful in his future hfe.
/
VTERCOURSE OF THE CLERGY WITH
SOCIETY.
I
BISHOP CHASE. 273
B16HOP CHASE.
There lived in Poughkeepsie a venerable lady and her
talented son-in-law. The former was exceedingly anxious about
the latter, because of his loose and infidel opinions on religious
subjects ; and yet few men were more amiable in manners, or
more sprightly in conversation. " Oh, sir !" said the lady to
Bishop Chase, the writer of this account, " I wish you to have
a serious conversation with my son-in-law, on the subject of
Christianity. Perhaps he may hearken to you, though to all
of us he turns a deaf ear, whenever we speak of the Holy
Scriptures."
A proposal of this kind seemed to be identified with the
writer's profession. Accordingly, a day was appointed when
the lady would spend a social afternoon with the writer and
his family, there being no doubt that the interestin<i vounff
lawyer would join the party at tea. The interview took place
as was expected, and, in the full flow of talk, something was
designedly introduced, touching the Christian religion. Con-
trary to the expectation of his relatives and friends, this inte-
resting gentleman neither evaded nor opposed what was said,
but candidly confessed he was differently impressed on that
subject from what he had been. " Till a few days ago," said
he, " I should have brought forward my preliminaries ; and
bffore the thresholds of Christianity were passed, I would have
insisted that they should all be satisfactorily answered ; but, at
present, I feel differently disposed."
"And what hns wrought the change?" asked the writer.
" Oh, sir !" said he, " I must tell the whole story ; it relates
chiefly to General Hamilton.
" You know," said he, " that pre-eminent character ; that he
is not only the greatest in the field, in the senate, and at the
bar, but also *Jie most agreeable man in social intercourse. In
274 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
pursuit of his professional duties, he passes from New York
i.o Albany, to attend the higher courts, and Poughkeepsie is his
stopping-place for rest and social chat. We young lawyers
delight to meet him at Hendrickson's tavern, and there breathe
together the atmosphere of wit and satire. Not long since, he
passed by : we gathered round him, and he greeted us with his
usual cordiality. But there was something altered in his wit ;
it was solemn, yet more affectionate. At length, to break the
spell, / ventured, as erst, a story, the edge of which was ridi-
cule against Christians and their creed. As I finished the
anecdote, instead of the loud laugh, and responsive tale, the
general gravely asked me if I knew what I had been talking
of? Confusion is the best name I can give my feelings and
behaviour before the great man, at such a question from his
lips. Seeing my embarrassment, he said he did not design to
give me pain, but by his question to call my attention to his
own case.
" Not many months ago," said he, " I was, as you are, doubt-
ful of the truths of Christianity ; but some circumstances turned
my thoughts to the investigation of the subject, and I now
think differently. I had been in company with some friends
of a similar sentiment in New York. I had indulged in re-
marks much to the disadvantage of Christians and in disparage-
ment of their religion. I had gone further than ever before I
had done in this way. Coming home, I stood, late at night,
on the door-steps, waiting for my servant. In this moment of
stillness, my thoughts returned to what had just passed at my
friend's, and on what I had said there. And what if the Chris-
tian religion be true I The thought certainly was natural, and
it produced in my bosom the most alarming feelings. I was
conscious that I had never examined it — not even with that
attention which a small retaining fee requires in civil cases.
In that, 1 hold myself bound to make up my mind according
to the aws of evidence ; and shall nothing be done of this
BISHOP CHASE. '2 , O
sort, in a question that involves the fate of man's immortal
being? Where every tiling is at stake, shall 1 risk all
without inquiry? Wilfully blinding my own eyes, shall I
laugh at that which, if true, will laugh me to scorn in the day
of judgment ? These questions did not allow me to sleep
quietly. In the morning, I se^nt to my friends, the clergy, for
such books as treated on the evidences of Christianity. I
read them ; and the result is, that 1 believe the religion of
Christians to be the truth — that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God ; that he made an atonement for our sins by his death,
and that he rose for our justification.
" This is the substance of General Hamilton's declaration to
me at Hendrickson's, and you may judge how I feel since.
As I have followed the general in many other respects, so
would I imitate him here.
" Will you lend me books, that I may read as he did, before
I give my opinion ?"
The books were accordingly taken to his house, but he
never read them. A press of business intervened. He put
off his duty till a more convenient season ; that season never
came till it was too late. A sudden disease deprived him of
reason and of life. This talented and interesting young lawyer
passed from a temporal to an eternal state — and let the word
of God tell the rest.
The story of General Hamilton, which this talented person
was the means of communicating to the writer, ought not to
be forgotten. It was, from the time the writer heard it, of the
deepest interest ; and when the tidings came of the general's
death, it formed the basis of a sermon preached in Poughkeep-
sie, on the second day of July, 1804. This story is recorded
here because it forms a part of the writer's reminiscences.
276 THE A3IEKICAN CLERGY.
The Rev. Dr. Bedell relates, that while Bishop Chase was?
at the house of a Mr. Beck, in Philadelphia, he received a
package from Dr. Ward, the Bishop of Sodor and Man, making
inquiries relating to certain property in this country, of which
some old person in his diocese was the heir. The letter had
gone to Ohio, followed him to \¥ashini^ton, then to Philadel-
phia, and found him at Mr. Beck's. When he read it to Mr.
B., the latter was in amazement, and said, " Bishop Chase, 1
am the only man in the world who can give you information.
I have the deeds in my possession, and have had them forty -
three years, not knowing what to do with them, or where any
heirs were to be found." How wonderful that the application
should have been made to Bishop Chase, and he not in Ohio,
but a guest in the house of the only man who possessed any
mformation on the subject !
A FAITHFUL MINISTER.
A MINISTER was called to conduct a conference meeting, in
an extreme part of a parish where he was an entire stranger,
the minister for whom he officiated being out of town. Two
rough-looking men came in, as the effect of persuasion, but
evidently with reluctance. In the midst of the exercises, one
of them interrupted the speaker by a rude question. He was
requested to be silent for a little time, when an answer should
be given to him. " He uttered some abusive language, and
retired to another room. After a while, the minister discussed
the various objections on the part of men to embrace religion,
and remarked that the false religion of many professors was
no more an argument for rejecting true religion, than that we
should refuse genuine money because some men were wicked
TRAVELLING CLERGYMEN. 277
enough to pass counterfeits. At this remark, the other of tho
two men also left the room. It afterwards became known to
the speaker that these men, the preceding week, had been tried
for this very crime, and that, in public opinion, they were
both guilty. How admirably adapted is the word of God for
the conviction of sinners !
TRAVELLING CLERGYMEN.
There is something so interesting, so instructive, so home-
like^ in the following narrative, communicated by a plain coun-
Ir} clergyman to one of our periodicals, that we transfer its
facts and remarks to our pages ; —
Once we entertained an angel. It happened in this wise
My father was a country minister, and his parish lay in a
lovely region of country west of the Green Mountains, on the
high road from the Eastern States to the Springs. Often would
ministers drive up to the door in their Yankee gigs, having
previously ascertained by inquiry where the parish pastor
lived, and calling to us boys at the door, would say, " Does
Mr. live here?" On being answered in the affirmative,
they would ask again, " Does he keep ministers' tavern ?" —
that is, does he entertain ministers ^or 7iothing? And being
answered in the same way, they would add, " Well, take my
horse and give him four quarts of oats to-night, and don't
water him till he gets cool." With these laconic intimations
that they felt quite at home, they would walk in to enjoy the
entertainment kept for the " man," while we took care of tho
" beast."
Now, all this seemed sufficiently cool, not to say presuming,
on the part of entire strangers; but it was the custom, and I
24
273 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
guess no one ever went away without an invitation, and a
strong resolution ^ to call ai^ain, if he ever passed that way.
But about the angel. He was not travelling to the Springs,
but was an angel of the churches — a messenger sent by some
one of the benevolent institutions of the day to receive the
alms of God's people. Some called him a beggar ; others, an
agent : I have called him an angel, which title he deserved, as
the sequel will show. It was in winter, and about the middle
of the week, when he arrived : we had sickness in the family,
and he came to stay through the week, and over the Sabbath ;
and would it have been strange if we had felt that his room
was more desirable than his company, under such circustances?
Would it have been uncivil or unkind to have told him that it
was very inconvenient for us to have him staying at our house,
and we would prefer to quarter him among the people? How-
ever that may be, we preferred to keep him, and make him as
comfortable as we could.
He stayed. One after another of the family was taken sick:
the parents were confined to bed ; the children were down ;
the help gave out and went to bed, and the travelling minister,
the stranger who had turned in to tarry with us, was the only
well person in the house. And what did he do? Did he call
in some of the neighbours, and then look out for more conve-
nient quarters? Not at all. He nursed the sick, as if nursing;
was his business ; he went to the barn and took care of the
" cattle," as if he had been brought up at (he stable. He split
and brought in the fuel, as if he had lived in the woods. He
was at hand when he was wanted, and out of the way when
he was not. He was active, clever, cheerful, as much a<
home as if he were among his own children, and not with
strangers whom he had never seen before, and whom he might
never see again.
He stayed over the Sabbath ; preached for my father, who
was still not able to be out ; and having seen us in a good
TRAVELLING (-'LEUCYMEN. 279
(]rirree convalescent, he went on his way rejoicing. FTis name
is remembered with delight by the members of that household
to this day, though many years have since fled, and that tamily
has been scattered widely ; some are as far apart as earth and
heaven.
Our folks always kept open door for the Lord's ministers,
and they never had reason to regret it. Some of us have
been thrown far from home and among strangers, and some of
our number have sickened and died among strangers, and the
Lord has always surrounded them with kind friends, whose
sympathy has proved that our Father in Heaven is faithful and
true, when he says, " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the
least of these, ye have done it unto me." He has provided
friends for us anion <j stranj^ers, and we love to befriend
strangers at our gate.
It was an injunction of divine wisdom that we should not
be forgetful to entertain strangers, for some had thereby en-
tertained anijels unawares. x\nd those who are most " mven
to hospitality," find real enjoymentln obeying this precept.
There is a vast difference among people on the subject of
entertaining strangers. Asa plain country minister, I have
had frequent opportunities of making comparisons, and the
result is this :—
When we go to Presbytery or Synod, or to a religious con-
vention of any sort in some places, the good people seem to
vie with each other in seeing who will most freely and hand-
somely entertain the strangers. Every house is open ; every
heart is warm ; every face is pleasant ; and while we stay we
are treated as welcome guests; and when we go, it is with
r-^pcated and pressing invitations to come again, and never to
inss throuorh the place without favourmg the family with a call.
On the other hand, I have sometimes gone to other places on
sM-h errands, and it has been with extreme diffii!ulty that we
could find lodgings, though the ability of Christians to enter-
280 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
tain strangers far exceeded that of the people before described.
And it is no unusual thing for ministers who have been invited
by public notices to attend religious meetings in certain places,
vvitli the assurance that entertainment would be provided for
them, to find on their arrival that they must seek their enter-
tainment at a public house, and pay for it at the rate of one or
two dollars a day. Now, if ministers render themselves so
disagreeable by the use of tobacco, or any other vile practice,
that their company is not desired, I have not one word to say.
I once heard a minister apologize for his people's reluctance to
accommodate guests, by saying that " angels do not chew to-
bacco, and therefore they were sure of not entertaining angels
when they asked the brethren to their houses." I know such
men are a great annoyance to neat housekeepers. And minis-
ters who desire hospitality, ought to abandon those habits that
render their society unpleasant.
But this objection is often merely an excuse. Hospitality is
a Christian duty, and those who would, in the last great day,
hear the Saviour saying unto them, " I was a stranger and ye
took me in," must love to entertain Christ's friends, whether
they come with the homely garb of the country, or the polished
exterior of city life.
REV. DR. ARMSTRONG.
We were favoured a few evenings since, say the editors of
one of our periodicals, with the presence of a valued friend,
when he gave us the following story of the late lamented Dr.
Armstrong. We tell it in our friend's words : —
I was, some twenty years since, travelling in Virginia by
sta'^e. We were not far from the James River, and the occu-
pants of the stage were Dr. Armstrong, two Virginia gentle-
RF,V. DR. ARxVISTRONG. 281
(lien of the regular " young blood" breed, myself and sister.
At that time the Doctor was pastor of a church in Richmond,
whither the stage was bound. After some^ conversation, I asked
him who was the owner of the lands upon James River. He
said that " it was one Wykoff^ a lawyer, who, having com-
mitted some misdemeanor in New York, had gone to the
^Soulh to save his reputation." At this, one of the southern
young men very coolly spit in his face. He turned to me, look-
ing as much as to say, " IsnH hecrazyV* In a moment the fel-
low spit again in his face, but the good man was not in the least
agitated. " He who will not resent an injury should be kicked
out of the stage," said the ruffian. Dr. Armstrong asked him,
if he had in any way ever injured him. "Yes," said he, "you
have slandered my father !" The mystery was at once solved
— WykofF, of whom he had been speaking, was his father. Mr.
A rmstrong told him he was very sorry, indeed, he had offended
him, and made all the reparation in his power, but the fellow
insisted that he should get out and Jight it out. He told him
No — he never fought — it was against his principles to fight.
M}^ sister was frightened extremely, as he had a bowie-knife
with him, and we feared the consequences. At every tavern
he would get out and drink, and then commence his vile lan-
guage towards Dr. Armstrong. A single word of retort from
him would undoubtedly have ended his life. But he was very
calm and mild. At length the scoundrel's companion told him
he ought to be satisfied, and when we were near Richmond he
foncluded to be so. Dr. Armstrong saved his life that time
by being a peace-maker."
94*
282 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A YOUNG MINISTER IN THE WEST.
Solomon recommends us sometimes to " answer a fool ac-
cording to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." The
principles laid down by infidels are often, when properly ap-
plied, made to appear supremely ridiculous. Let us illustrate
this sentiment : —
Near the Alleghany mountains, an infidel judge was siltuig
with a circle of his friends, ridiculing the account of the cre-
ation of man as given in the Bible, and asserting that we came
into existence by chance. " Perhaps," said he, " some of us
existed a while in less perfect organizations, and at length, as
nature is always tending towards perfection, we became men,
and others sprang into life in other ways ; and if we could
find a rich country now, which had not been injured by the
hand of man, I have no doubt that we should see them pro-
duced from the trees." Being fluent, self-confident, and, in
most respects, superior to his audience, he made his doctrines
appear very plausible, and asked this and that person of the
company of their thoughts upon his statements. All answered
favourable to his views, till he proposed his inquiry to a
youthful stranger, who sat silent in a quiet corner. He replied,
" Sir, I have no doubt at all upon the subject, for J have tra-
velled in the richest part of Texas, where I saw the forest in
its native perfection, unsullied by the hand of man, and there
I have seen large hogs growing upon the trees. The nose is
the end of the stem, as you see by its form ; and, when ripe,
I have seen them fall and proceed directly to eating the acoms
that grew upon the same tree." This simple illustration of his
principles, turned the laugh upon the judge, and was sufficient
to counteract the evils he intcLued.
A COLOURED PREACHER. 283
A COLOURED PREACHER.
Jack is a Methodist local preacher. In one of his sermons
he told this story : When I was a lad, there were no religious
people where I lived. But I had a young master about my
age, who was going to school ; and he was very fond of me.
At night, he would come into the kitchen to teach me the les-
son he had learned himself during the day at school. In this
way I learned to read.
When I was well nigh grown up, said Jack, we took up the
New Testament, and agreed to read it verse by verse. When
one would make a mistake, the other was to correct him, so
that we could learn to read well.
In a short time, we both felt that we were sinners before
God, and we both agreed to seek the salvation of our souls.
The Lord heard our prayer, and gave us both a hope in Christ.
Then I began to hold meetings for prayer and exhortation
among the coloured people.
My old master soon found out what was going on. He was
very angry, especially because his son had become pious. He
forbade my holding any more meetings, saying, that if I did,
he would whip me severely for it.
From that time, I continued to preach or exhort on Sabbath
nights ; and on Monday morning my old master would tie me
up, and cut my back to pieces with a cowhide, so that it had
never time to get well. I was obliged to do my work in a
great deal of pain from day to day.
Thus I lived near a year and a half. — One Monday morn-
ing my master, as usual, had made my fellow-slaves tie me to
a shade tree in the yard, after stripping my back naked to re-
ceive the cowhide. It was a beautiful morning in the summer
lime, and the sun shone very bright. Every thing around
ooked very pleasant. He came up to me with cool delibera-
284 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
tion, took his stand, and looked at me closely, but the cow-
hide hung still at his side. His conscience was at work, and
it was a great moment in his life.
"Well, Jack," said he, "your back is covered all over with
scars and sores, and I see no place to begin to whip. You
obstinate wretch, how long do you intend to go on in this way?"
"Why, master, just as long as the Lord will let me live,"
was my reply."
" Well, what is your design in it?"
" Why, master, in the morning of the resurrection, when my
poor body shall rise from the grave, I intend to show these
scars to my heavenly Father, as so many witnesses of my
faithfulness in his cause." He ordered them to untie me, and
sent me to hoe corn in the field. Late in the evening he came
along, pulling a weed here, and a weed there, till he got to me,
and then told me to sit down.
"Jack," said he, "I want you to tell me the truth. You know
that for a long time your back has been sore from the cow-
hide ; you have had to work very hard, and are a poor slave.
Now, tell me, are you happy or not, under such troubles as
these?"
* Yes, master, I believe I am as happy a man as there is
on earth."
"Well, Jack," said he, " I am not happy. — Religion, you
say, teaches you to pray for those that injure you. Now, will
you pray for your old master. Jack?"
" Yes, with all my heart," said I.
We kneeled down, and I prayed for him. He came again
and again to me. I prayed for him in the field, till he found
peace in the blood of the Lamb. After this, we lived together
like brothers, in the same church. On his death-bed he gave
me my liberty, and told me to go on preaching as long as I
lived, and meet him at last in heaven.
1 have seen, said Jack, many Christians whom I loved, but
REV. MR. MOODY. 285
I have never seen any I loved so well as my old master. 1
hope I shall meet him in heaven.
REV. MR. MOODY.
" Come, Charles, my son," said Deacon Allsworthy, " take
one of these turkeys, and carry it up to Minister Moody, for
Thanksgiving."
" No, father, 1 don't do that again, I tell you."
"What do I hear now, Charles 7 These five-and-twenty
years I have sent the minister a turkey, and Joe has carried
them, and Tom, and Jerry, and you — without ever refusing
before. What's the matter now?"
"Why, father, he never thanks me for bringing it to him ;
besides, he took me to task a while ago, because I started out
of meeting too soon."
"Well, son, you know it is the custom for the minister to go
out before any of the congregation starts ; this is done as a
mark of respect."
" Respect or rot, he's nothing but a man, and as for creep-
ing for him, I won't do it."
"Well, let it all pass, and carry him the turkey ; and if he
don't thank you for it, I will."
Charles shouldered the fowl, and in a short time was at the
house of the minister, who was seated in the parlour, sur-
rounded by a number of friends who had come to pass Thanks-
giving with him. The lad entered without knocking, and
bringing the turkey from his shoulders heavily upon the table,
said, " Mr. Moody, there's a turkey for you ; if you want it,
you may have it; if you don't, I'll carry it back again.'*
"I shall be very glad of it," said the minister, " but I think
290 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
you might learn a little manners, Charles. Can't you do an
errand better ?"
" How would you have me do it V said Charles.
"Sit down in my chair," said the clergyman, "and I will
show you."
Charles took the chair, while the divine took the turkey and
left the room. He soon returned — took off his hat — made a
very low bow, and said, " Mr. Moody, here is a turkey which
my father sen s you, and wishes you to accept as a present."
Charles rose from his seat and took the fowl, and said to
the minister, " It is a very fine one, and I feel very grateful
to your father for it. In this and numerous and other instances
he has contributed to my happiness. If you will just carry
it into the kitchen, and return again, I will send for Mrs. Moo-
dy to give you half a dollar."
The good old clera;vman walked out of the room — his friends
laughed at the joke, and made up a purse for the lad, who ever
afterwards received a reward for his services.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL MINISTER.
A WORTHY minister of the gospel was the pastor of a flou-
rishing church. He had been a popular preacher, but gradu-
ally became less acceptable to his hearers, and his congrega-
tion very much decreased. This was solely attributed to the
minister ; and matters continuing to get worse and worse, some
of his hearers resolved to speak with him on the subject. A
deputation was accordingly appointed to wait upon him for
that purpose. They did so; and when the good man had
heard their complaints, he replied, " I am quite sensible of all
vou say, for I feel it to be true ; and the reason of it is, that ]
REV. THOMAS BROWN. 287
have lost my prayer book." They looked quite astonished at
hearing this, but he proceeded: "Once my preaching was ac-
ceptable, and many were edified by it, and numbers were added
to the church, whicii was then in a prosperous state. But wo
were then a praying people. There were many who joined
together in fervent prayer that my preaching might be blest
tor the conversion of sinners, and for building up the saints in
their most holy faith. It was this, by the blessing of God,
that made us prosper. But as prayer began to be restrained,
my preaching became less acceptable, the church declined, and
things became as they now are. But let us have recourse to
the same means, and the same effects may be expected to fol-
low." They took the hint. Social prayer was again punc-
tually attended to, and exertions made to induce those who
were without to attend the preaching of the word. The result
was, that the minister became as popular, and the church as
flourishing as ever.
REV. THOMAS BROWN.
While the late Rev. Thomas Brown was minister at the
Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and while he was yet a young
man, he went from Perth Amboy to fulfil a preaching appoint-
ment somewhere in the neighbourhood of South Amboy, on
the other side of the Raritan river. Me had crossed it in a
small ferry-boat, worked by oars. The mouth of that river,
in the channel, was sometimes very dangerous, and, for such
craft, unnavigable ; especially so, when the wind set down the
river, or the reverse, and met the tide.
On the occasion referred to, the wind was boisterous and
the waves were high. In the little boat was a number oi'
young persons ; and one, in whom the voyager felt a special
288 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
interest, and who may yet remember the day. There was
also another, then a child, and who, some years subsequently,
related the fact. Tiie wind blew, and the waves tossed about
at pleasure the tiny vessel. The danger seemed great, and
the alarm and terror of the passengers were great also. All
must be lost ! In the midst of the cry of distress, Mr. B.
broke out, with his strong musical voice, to the good old tune
of Shirland : —
"The God that rules on high,
And thunders when he please;
That rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas ;
This awful God is ours,
Our Father and our love ;
He shall send down his heavenly powers,
To carry us above."
All were hushed, and " there was a great calm"' in their
feelings. And with the vigorous strokes of the oarsmen, the
boat was safely brought to the welcome beach, and all gladly
stepped on terra jlr ma.
*' What," once inquired this shrewd and venerable man, of
a Scotch acquaintance with whom he sometimes reasoned —
" what would satisfy you, sir, of the proper divinity of Jesus
Christ ?"
" Why," replied the gentleman, " if the Bible expressly de-
clared that Jesus Christ is God — "
" Then," said my friend B., '• the Bible says expressly that
Jesus Christ is the true God, and eternal life." 1 John v. 20,
No more was said.
AN AFRICAN PREACHER. 289
AN AFRICAN PREACHER.
A RESPECTABLE man, who had become interested on the
subject of reUgion, and who had begun with some earnestness
to search the Scriptures, had read but a tew chapters, when he
became greatly perplexed with some of those passages which
an inspired apostle has declared to be " hard to be understood "
In this Stat ■ (f mind, he repaired to a coloured preacher for
mstruction and help, and found him, at noon, on a sultry day
in summer, laboriously engaged hoeing his corn. As the man
approached, the preacher, with patriarchal simplicity, leaned
upon his hoe, and listened to his story. " Uncle Jack," said
he, " I have discovered lately that I am a great sinner; and I
commenced reading the Bible, that I may learn what I must
do to be saved. But 1 have met with a passage here," holding
up his Bible, " which I know not what to do with. It is this:
' God will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy, and
whom he will he hardeneth.' What does this mean?" A short
pause intervened, and the old African replied as follows :
*' Master, if I have been rightly informed, it has been but a
day or two since you began to read tlio Bible, and, if I re-
member rightly, that passage you have mentioned is awav
yonder in Romans. Lonor before you get to that, at the very
beginning of the gospel, it is said, ' Repent, for ihe kingdom
cf heaven is at hand.' Now, have you done that? The truth
is, you have read entirely too fast. You must begin again,
and take things as God has been pleased to place them. When
you have done all that you are told to do in Matthew, cftme
and talk about Romans."
Having thus answered, the old preacher resumed liis work,
and left the man to his own reflections. Who docs not admire
the simplicity and good sense which characterized this reply ?
Could the most learned polemic more effcctualiy have met and
290 THE A31ER1CAA CLEliGV.
disposed of such a difficulty ? The gentleman particularly in-
terested in this incident, gave an account of it with his own
lips; and said, "ft convinced me most fully of the mistake
into which I had fallen. I took the old man's advice ; I soon
saw its propriety and wisdom, and hope to bless God for ever
for sendino; me to him."
REV. DR. STAUGHTON.
When the late Rev. Dr. Staughton resided at Bordentown,
he was one day sitting at his door, when the infidel Thomas
Paine, who also resided there, addressed him and said, " Mr.
Staughton, what a pity it is that man has not some comprehen-
sive and perfect rule for the government of his life." Mr. S.
replied, " Mr. Paine, there is such a rule." " What is that?"
asked Paine. Mr. Staughton repeated the passage, "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy
mind, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength ; and ihy
neighbour as thyself." "Oh," said Paine, "that's in your
Bible," and immediately walked away.
A PRESBYTERIAN CLERGYMAN.
Some time ago, a well-known minister of the Presbyterian
church delivered a series of discourses against infidelity, in a
town on the Red river, in Louisiana ; many of the citizens of
which were known to be skeptical. A few days afterwards, he
took pass!:ge in a steamer ascending the Mississippi river, and
Toinid (jn board several of his neighbours, among whom was a
A PRErjKYTKKIAN CLERGYMAN. 'xiyi
disciple of Paine, distinguished as a ringleader of a band of
infidels. He soon commenced the utterance of horrid blas-
phemies ; and, seeing the clergyman reading at a table, he
asked his companions to go with him to the other side of the
table, to listen to tales which should annoy the preacher.
Many, influenced by curiosity, gathered round him and heard
his vulgar anecdotes, pointed against the Bible and its minis-
ters. The preacher did not raise his eyes from the book he
was reading, nor appear at all disconcerted by the presence of
the rabble. At length, the infidel walked up to him, and
rudely slapping him on the shoulder, said, " Old fellow, what
do you think of these things?" He calmly pointed out of the
door and said, " Do you see that beautiful landscape spread
out in such quiet loveliness before you ?" " Yes." " It has a
rich variety of flowers, plants, and shrubs, that are adapted to
fill the beholder with delight." " Yes." " Well, if you were
to send out a dove, he would pass over that scene, and see in
it all that was beautiful and lovely, and delight himsc^lf in
gazing at and admiring it ; but if you were to send out a buz-
zard over precisely the same scene, he would see in it nothing
to fix his attention, unless he could find some rotten carcase
that would be loathsome to all other animals. He would de-
light and gloat upon that with exquisite pleasure." " Do you
mean to compare me to a buzzard, sir?" asked the infidel,
colouring very deeply. " I made no allusion to you, sir," said
the minister, very quietly. The infidel walked away in con
fusion, and was called " the Buzzard" during the remaining
part of the passage.
292 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A DELIGHTED MINISTER.
In a certciin place, ihey engaged a professed infidel to in-
struct a reading-school. The scholars, when they came toge-
ther one afternoon, were not able to read. The teacher, after
several vain attempts to make them proceed as usual, sent one
of his scholars to the neiyhbourin<j; house of a Christian pro
fessor, to request him to come into the school. It so came to
pass, that the minister of the place was also at this house, and
also went with the other to the school. As an awakening had
begun in the town, the minister had little doubt what was the
matter. When he came in, and saw the solemn appearance, he
first said to the teacher, " Sir, what is the matter with your
scholars'/" He replied, " 1 do not know." Said the minister.
" Have you not been correcting them ?" The master answered,
" No, we have had no disturbance." " Well," said the minis-
ter, " what then can be the matter?" " I cannot tell," replied
the master. " But you must have some opinion about it ; teL
me what you think it is." Not able to endure any longer^
the poor deist burst into tears, and said, " I believe it is the
Spirit of God ;" and, in a short time, the teacher and fifteen
of the scholars became apparent believers.
A WISE IJASTOR.
A MEMBER of a Christian church, feeling himself much
ygirrieved in a transaction with a Christian brother, determined
upon having revenue. Conscience remonstrated; reminded
liim of his vows, his relation to the offender ; that they were
in(>m!)ers of ('hrist, and that it was displeasing to God. Rut
,10 — the evil rankled in his breast; revenge he would have.
A ( LERr.YMAN T\ VrRGIMA. 203
How ti) neeoniplisli his purpo.sp he know not. With tliese
feelings, he went to his jmstor to obtain Ids assistance. His
pastor reasoned with and tried to dissuade him. Failing in
this, he finally said, " I know of but one kind of revenge
allowed by the Scriptures, viz.; ' If thine enemy hunger, feed
him ; if he thirst, give him drink : by so doing, thou shalt
heap coals of fire upon his head." " With joy beaming in his
countenance, the good man, clapping his hands, exclaimed,
-'^r II burn him! Fll burn him!'''' W^ould it not be well if
there were more such burning in the world ? How easy would
it be to melt down the hearts of thousands into love and ten-
derness !
A CLERGYMAN IN VIRGINIA.
A HIGHLY respectable clergyman in Virginia, some tim(»
fcifice, gave a very interesting account of a soul-thrilling scone
in which he was one of the parties concerned. Ho was preacli-
ing to a large and attentive audience, when his attention \\ i^
arrested by seeing a man enter, having every mark and \\\\<^'\\-
ment of a Jew. He was well dressed, his counteu.ince was
noble, and he thought it was evident that his heart had lately
been the habitation of sorrow. He took his seat, and was .-ill
attention, while an unconscious tear was often seen to wcH lii^
manly cheek. After service, the clergyman fixed h.is vw
steadily upon him, and the stranger reciprocated the look. 'I'll*
minister went to him, and said, " Sir, am I correct, am I not ad-
dressing one of the children of Abraham?" "You are." " I^ur
how is it that T meet a Jew in a Christian assembly ?" The sub-
stance of his narrative was as follows: — He was a very respecta-
ble man, of a superior education, who had lately come from Lon-
don ; and with his books, his wealth, and a lovely daughter of
294 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
sov(Miteen, had found n charming retreat on the lovely b;Hik.s
( r the Ohio. He had buried the wife of his bosom before bo
left Europe, and he now knew no pleasure but the company cf
his endeared daughter. She was indeed worthy of a |)ar( iiTs
love. She was surrounded by beauty as a mantle; but }■< r
cultivated mind, and her amiable disposition, threw around li; i
a charm superior to any one or all of the decorations of !;< r
body. No pains had been spared on her education, '-lu;
coidd read and speak with fluency several languages; and ber
manners charmed all who saw her. No wonder then that a
doating father, whose head had now become sprinkled with
gray, should place his whole affections on this only child of his
love, especially as he knew no source of happiness beyond this
world. Being a strict Jew, he educated her in the principles
of that religion ; and he thought that he had presented it with
an ornament.
It was not lonij asjo that his dausfhler was taken sick. The
rose faded from her cheek, her eye lost its fire, and it was
soon apparent that the worm of disease was rioting in the core
ol' her vitals. The father hung over the bed of his daughtei
with a heart ready to burst with anguish. He often attempted
to converse with her, but seldom spoke except in the language
of tears. He spared no trouble or expense in obtaining medi
cal assistance, but no human skill could extract the arrow of
death now fixed in her heart. The father was walking in ?
small grove near his house, in great distress of mind, when he
was sent for by his dying daughter. With a heavy heart he
entered the door of the chamber, which he feared would soon
be the entrance of death. He was now to take a last farewell
of his child, and his religion gave him but a feeble hope of
meeting her hereafter.
The daughter grasped the hand of her father with a death-
cold hand : " My father, do you love me?" " My child, you
know I love you — that you are more dear to me than the whole
A CLERGYMAN IN VIRGINIA. 295
world besides!" "But, father, do you love me?" "Why my
child, will you give me pain so exquisite? Have 1 never
given you any proofs of my love?" " But, my dearest father,
DO you love me ?" Tlie father could not answer ; the
daughter added, " I know, my dear father, you have ever
loved me — you have been the kindest of parents, and I tenderly
love you. Will you grant me one request ? — O, my father, it
is the difing requt^st of your daughter — will you grant it ?"
" My dearest child, ask what you will, though it take every
cent of my property, it shall be granted. I ivill grant it,"
" My dear father, / heg you never again to speak against
Jesus of Nazareth P'' The father was dumb with astonish-
ment. " I know," continued the dying girl, " I know but little
about this Jesus, for I was never taught. But I know that he
is a Saviour, for he has manifested himself to me since I have
been sick, even for the salvation of my soul. I believe that
he will save me, even though I have never before loved him.
I feel that I am ""oinff to him — and that I shall be ever with
him. And now, my dear father, do not deny me ; I beg that
you will never again speak against this Jesus of Nazareth !
[ entreat you to obtain a Testament that tells of him ; and
when I am no more, you may bestow on him the love which
was formerly mine !"
The exertion here overcame the weakness of her feeble
body. She stopped ; and her father's heart was too full even
for tears. He left the room in great horror of mind : and ere
he could again summon sufficient fortitude to return to her,
the spirit of his beloved daughter had taken its flight, as we trust,
to the Saviour whom she loved and honoured, though she had
not seen him. The first thing her father did, after committing
to the earth his last worldly joy, was to procure a New Testa-
ment. This he read, and, taught by the Spirit from above, ho
became numbered with the meek and humble followers o! thr
Lamb.
--'9') TUr. AMKUICAX TLKRC'V
REV. DR. NETTLETON.
A Christian minister can possess no talent more enviable
than that of skill in stopping the mouths of gainsayers, and
in speaking a word in season to all with whom he may meet.
This talent Dr. N. possessed in a very high degree.
Being accosted by a Universalist, who wished to engage in
a discussion on the doctrine of eternal punishment, he replied,
" I will not enter into any dispute with you at present; but 1
should be pleased to have you state to me your views, that I
may have them to think of," The man accordingly informed
him, that in his opinion mankind received all their punishment
in this life, and that all would be happy after death. Dr. Net-
tleton then asked him to explain certain passages of Sci'ipture,
such as the account of the judgment in the twenty-fifth of
Matthew, and some others; merely suggesting difficulties for
him to solve, without calling in question any of his positions.
After taxing his ingenuity for some time in this way, and thus
giving him opportunity to perceive the difficulty of reconciling
his doctrine with the language of inspiration ; he said to him,
"You believe, I presume, the account given by Moses of the
deluge, and of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?"
" Certainly," he replied. " It seems, then," said Dr. N., " that
the world became exceedingly corrupt, and God determined to
destroy it by a deluge of water. He revealed his purpose to
Noah, and directed him to prepare an ark in which he and his
family might be saved. Noah believed God, and prepared the
ark. Meanwhile he was a preacher of righteousness. He
warned the wicked around him of their danger, and exhorted
them to prepare to meet their God. But his warnings were
disregarded. They, doubtless, flattered themselves that God
was too good a being thus to destroy his creatures. But not-
withstanding their unbelief, the flood came, and, if your doc-
REV. DR. NETTLETON. 297
trine is true, swept them all up to heaven. And what became
of Noah, that faithful servant of God ? He was tossed to and
fro on the waters, and was doomed to trials and sufferini^s for
three hundred and fifty years longer in this evil world ;
whereas, if he had been wicked enough, he might have gone
to heaven with the rest.
" And there were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which
had b(^come so corrupt, that God determined to destroy them
by a tempest of fire. He revealed his purpose to Lot, and
directed him and his family to make their escape. 'And L<>t
went out, and spake to his sons-in-law, saying. Up, get ye out
of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city. Hut he
seemed as one that mocked to his sons-in-law.' They did not
believe that any such doom was impending. They doul)ll(\ss
flattered themselves that God was too good a being to burn up
his creatures. But no sooner had Lot made his escape, than
it rained fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven, and
they all, it seems, ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire;
while pious Lot was left to wander in the mountains, and to
suffer many grievous afllictions in this vale of tears ; whereas,
if he had been wicked enough, he might have gone to heaven
with the rest." After making this statement, he requested the
man to reflect on these things, and bade him an aflectionate
tarewell.
Dr. Nettleton was once attacked by a restorationist, who
quoted, in support of his doctrine, the words of the apostle
Peter: "By which also he went and preached to the spirits in
prison." Dr. N. observed to him that the time was specified
in the next verse, when Christ preached to these spirits in
prison. Tt was, " when once the long-suflering of God waited
in the days of Noah." It was by his Spirit which dwelt m
iVoah, that he preached to those who are now spirits in prison.
298 THE AMKRICA.X CLERGY.
" N(.," said the man, " that cannot be tlie meaning of the pas-
sage. The meaning is, that Christ, after his crucifixion, went
down to hell, and preached to the spirits in prison." "Be it
so," said Dr. N., "and what did he preach?" "I do not
know," he replied, " but I suppose he preached the gospel."
" Do you think," asked the doctor, " that he preached to them
any tiling different from what he preached on earth?" "Cer-
tainly not," replied the man. " Well," said Dr. Nettleton,
" when Christ was on earth, he told sinners that, if they should
be cast into prison, they should not come out thence till they
had paid the uttermost farthing. If he went down to hell, to
preach to the lost spirits there, he doubtless told them, ' You
must remain here till you have suffered all that your sins
deserve.' What influence, then, would his preaching have
towards releasing them from the place of torment ?"
A man once said to him, " I sincerely desire to be a Chris-
tian. I have often gone to the house of God, hoping that some-
thing which should be said might be sent home to my mind by
the Spirit of God, and be blessed to my salvation." "You
are willing, then, are you not," said Dr. N., "that I should
converse with you, hoping that my conversation may be the
means of your conversion?" "I am," he replied. "If you
are willing to be a Christian," said Dr. N., " you are willing
to perform the duties of religion ; for this is what is implied
in being a Christian. Are you willing to perform these duties ?"
" I do not know but I am." "You are the head of a family.
One of the duties of religion is family prayer. Are you will-
ing to pray in your family?" " I should be," he replied, "if
I were a Christian. But it cannot be the duty of such a man
as I am to i)ray. 'The prayers of the wicked are an abomi
nation unto the Lord.'" "And is it not," said Dr. N., " p'«
REV. DR. NETTLETON. 29fl
abomination unto the Lord to live without prayer? But just
let me show you how you deceive yourself. You think you
really desire to be converted. But you are not willing even to
be convicted. Just as soon as I mention a duty which you are
neglecting, you begin to excuse and justify yourself, on pur-
pose to keep your sin out of sight. You are not willing to
see that it is a heinous sin to live in the neglect of family
|)rayer. How can you expect to be brought to repentance
until you are willing to see your sinfulness? And how can
you flatter yourself that you really desire to be a Christian,
while you thus close your eyes against the truth?"
A voung lady, who was under concern of mind, said to
him, " I certainly do desire to be a Christian, I desire to be
holy. I would give all the world to have an interest in Christ."
He replied, " What you say will not bear examination. IC
you really desire religion for what it is, there is nothing to
hinder you from possessing it. I can make a representation
which will show you your heart, if you are willing to see it."
" I am," said she. " It will look very bad," said he, " but if
you are willing to see it, I will make the representation. Sup-
pose you were a young lady of fortune ; and suppose a certain
vounsc man should desire to obtain vour fortune, and should
r<jr that reason, conclude to pay his addresses to you. But he
does not happen to be pleased with your person. He does not
love you, but hates you. And suppose he should come to you
and say, ' I really wish I could love you, but I do not. 1
would give all the world if I could love you, but I cannot.
^\'hat would you think of that young man?"
«3U0 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A person once said in his presence, that to inculcate upon
sinners their dependence on God for a new heart, is suited to
discourage effort, and to lead thenn to sit down in despair. Ho
replied, "The very reverse of this is true. Suppose a number
of men are locked up in a room, playing cards. Some person
informs them that the roof of the building is on fire, and that
they must make their escape, or they will perish in the flames.
Says one of them. ' We need not be in haste, we shall have
time to finish the game.' ' But,' says the person who gave
the alarm, ' your door is locked.' ' No matter for that,' he
replies ; ' I have the key in my pocket, and can open it at any
moment.' ' But I tell you that the key will not open the door.'
'Won't it?' he exclaims ; and, rising from the table, flies to
the door, and exerts himself to the utmost to open it. So sin-
ners, while they believe there is no difficulty in securing their
salvation at any moment, quiet their consciences and silence
their fears. But when they are taught that such is the wick-
edness of their hearts, that they will never repent unless God
interposes by his regenerating grace, they are alarmed, and
begin to inquire, in deep distress, what they shall do to be
saved."
A caviller once asked this excellent minister, " How came I
by my wicked heart?" "That," he replied, "is a question
which does not concern you so much as another, namely, how
you shall get rid of it? You have a wicked heart, which ren-
ders you entirely unfit for the kingdom of God ; and you must
have a new heart, or you cannot be saved ; and the question
which now most deeply concerns you is, how you shall obtain
it." " But," said the man, "I wish you to tell me how I came
by my wicked heart." " I shall not," replied Dr. N., " do
that at present ; for if I could do it to your entire satisfactior
REV. DR. NETTLETON. 801
It would not in the least help you towards obtaining a new
heart. The great thing for which I am solicitous is, that you
should become a new creature, and be prepared for heaven."
As the man manifested no wish to hear any thing on that subject,
but still pressed the question how he came by his wicked heart,
Dr. N. told him that his condition resembled that of a man
who is drowning, while his friends are attempting to save his
life. As he rises to the surface of the water, he exclaims,
"How came I here?" "That question," says one of his
friends, "does not concern you now. Take hold of this ropf\"
' But how came I here?" he asks again. " I shall not stop to
answer that question now," replies his friend. "Then I'll
drown," says the infatuated man, and, spurning all p-oflered
aid, sinks to the bottom
A young female, who had been for some time in a < tate of
religious anxiety, said to him, " What do you think of the doc-
trine of election? Some say it is true, and some say il is not
true ; and I do not know what to think of it." "And what do
you wish to think of it?" " I wish," said he, "to think that it
is not true." " Suppose, then," said Dr. Nettleton, " that it is
not true. The doctrine of repentance is true. You must
repent or perish. Now, if the doctrine of election is not true,
what reason have you to believe you ever shall repent?"
After a moment's reflection, she replied, "If the doctrine of
election is not true, I never shall repent." Her eyes were then
opened upon her true condition. Every refuge failed her. She
saw that she was entirely dependent on the sovereign grace of
God ; and there is reason to believe that she was soon broufrh'
out of darkness into God's marvellous light.
26
302 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A certain individual said to him, " 1 cannot get along with
the doctrine of election." " Then," said he, " get along with-
out it; you are at liberty to get to heaven the easiest way you
can. VVhelher the doctrine of election is true or not, it is
true that you must repent, and believe, and love God. Now,
what we tell you is, that such is the wickedness of your heart,
that you never will do these things unless God has determined
to renew your heart. If you do not believe that your heart is
so wicked, make it manifest by complying with the terms of
salvation. Why do you stand cavilling with the doctrine of
election ? Suppose you should prove it false ; what have you
gained 1 You must repent and believe in Christ, after all.
Why do you not immediately comply with these terms of the
gospel 1 When you have done this, without the aid of Divine
grace, it will be soon enough to oppose the doctrine of election.
Until you shall have done this, we shall still believe that the
doctrine of election lies at the foundation of all hope in yonr
case."
A woman, who was known to be a great opposer of the doc
trine of election, said to him, one day, " You talked to rnr
yesterday, as if you thought I could repent." "And can you
not?" said he." "No, I cannot, unless God shall change my
heart." "Do you really believe," said he, "that you cannot
repent unless God has determined to change your heart?" "I
do, said she. " Why, madam," said he, " you hold to the
doctrine of election in a stricter sense than I do. I should
prefer to say, not that you cannot, but that you never uUl
repent, unless God has determined to change your heart."
REV. DR. NETTLETON. 303
To a young woman, who had long been thoughtful, but not
deeply inn pressed, and who seemed to continue from week to
week in the same state of mind, he said, one day, " There are
some who never will become true believers. Christ said unto
the Jews, ' Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.'
Perhaps this is your case; and I tell you now, that if you are
not one of Christ's sheep, you will never believe on hin^i ; and
I hope it will ring in your ears." And it did ring in her ears.
From that moment she found no peace till, as she hoped, her
peace was made with God.
To a man who manifested ^reat opposition to the doctrine of
election, he once said, "If I should go to heaven, I feel as if 1
should wish to say, in the language of the apostle, 'who hath
saved us, and called us with an holy calling; not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was criven to us in Jesus Christ before the world began.' Now,
if we should meet in heaven, and I should make use of this
language, would you quarrel with me there?"
" Do you believe," said an Arminian to him, one day, "that
(rod influences the will?" "I do," he replied. " How do you
prove it ?" " I prove it by this passage of Scripture : * For it
is God that worketh in you both to will and to do.' " " But that
does not mean," said the Arminian. " that God influences the
will. And now^ how do you prove it?" "I prove it," said
Dr. N., by this passage: 'For it is God that worketli in you
I) ifh to will and to do.'" "But that, I say, does not mean
thit God influences the will." "And what does it mean?"
said Dr. N. " It means," said the Arminian " that God gives
Wi THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
US a gracious power to will and to do." " Then it does not
mean," said Dr. N., " that God ivorks in us both to will and
to dor
He once fell in company with two men who were disputing
on the doctrine of the saints' perseverance. As he came into
tlicMr presence, one of them said, "I believe this doctrine has
been the means of filling hell with Christians." "Sir," said
\)\\ N., " do you believe that God knows all things?" " Cer-
tainly I do," said he. "• How, then, do you interpret this text,
M never knew you?'" said Dr. N. After reflecting a mo-
moment, he replied, " The meaning must be, I never knew you
as Christians." "Is that the meaning?" said Dr. N. "Yes,
it must be," he replied ; " for certainly God knows all things."
" Well," said Dr. N., " I presume you are right. Now, this
is what our Saviour will say to those who, at the last day, shall
say to him. Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drunken in
thy presence? &c. Now, when Saul, and Judas, and Hyme-
neus, and Philetus, and Demas, and all whom you suppose
have fallen from grace, shall say to Christ, Lord, Lord — he
will say to them, ' I never knew you' — I never knew you as
Christians. Where, then, are the Christians that are going
to hell ?"
A person who objected to some of the doctrinal views of
Dr. Nettleton, said to him, " Doctor, you believe in the doc-
trine of the saints' perseverance?" "It is my opinion," re-
plied he, " that that doctrine is taught in the Bible." " I should
like, then," said this friend, "to hear you explain Ezck. xviii.
24. ' When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness
and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abomi-
nations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All the
REV. DR. NETTLETON. 305
righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned ; in liis
trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he liath
sinned, in them shall he die !' "
Dr. N. replied, "You have imposed upon me a hard task.
That is a difficult text to explain ; and what renders it the
more difficult is, that the commentators are not airreed as to
its meaning. Some have supposed, that by a righteous man
in this passage, is meant a self-righteous man." "I do not
believe that," said the individual. " Neither do I," replied
the Doctor, " for, in that case, it would seem to teach that if a
self-righteous man should persevere in his self-righteousness,
he would be saved. Some have supposed that by a righteous
man is meant one who is apparently righteous." " I do not
believe that," said his friend. " Neither do I," said Dr. N.,
" for in that case the text would seem to teach, that if a hypo-
crite should persevere in his hypocrisy, he would be saved.
You suppose, do you not, that by a righteous man in thi? oas-
sage, is meant a true saint ?" " Certainly I do." " And you
suppose that by a righteous man's turning away from his
righteousness, is meant falling away, as David did, and as
Peter did ?" " Certainly." " And you believe that David and
Peter are now in hell ?" " No, by no means. David and Pe-
ter repented and were restored to the favor of God." " But,"
said Dr. N., " when the righteous turneth from his righteous-
ness — in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin
that he hath sinned, in them shall he die — in them shall he
die. Now, if David and Peter did turn from their righteous-
ness in the sense of this passage, how can we possibly believe
that they were saved ?" The gentleman now found the labour-
ing oar in his own hands; and after attempting fn- some time
unsuccessfully to explain the difficulty in which he found his
own doctrine involved. Dr. N. said to him, " If there is any
difficulty in explaining this text of Scripture, I do not see but
you are quite as much troubled with it as I am."
26*
306 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Dr. Nettleton was once labouring in an interesting revival,
when a gentleman of considerable influence, a member of the
church, but whose principles and conduct were a reproach to
religion, told him that he opposed all religious meetings exc(^pt
those held on the Sabbath. At the same time, he made no
objections to balls and parties of pleasure, but encouraged his
children to attend them. Two oP his daughters, one evening,
without his knowledge, went to hear Dr. Nettleton preach.
Finding that they had gone, he went to the place, and inter-
rupted the meeting by ordering his daughters immediately to
return home. Then, addressing the preacher, he said, " Mr.
Nettleton, will you call and see me to-morrow morning at nine
o'clock?" "I will, sir," he replied. Accordingly, at the lime
proposed he was at the house. " Mr. Nettleton," said the gen-
tleman, " I do not approve of night meetings." " Neither do
I approve of balls," said Dr. Nettleton : " I think that their
influence upon young people is bad." " I do not approve of
such meetings as yours," said the gentleman. "Oh!" re-
plied Dr. N., " it is to religious meetings that you object,
when people meet together to worship God. If I understand
you, you feel no opposition to meetings of young people for
amusement, if they are held in the night, and continue all
night. Did you ever take your children from the ball-room?"
"The command," said he, "is. Six days shalt thou labour."
"Did you ever quote that command," asked Dr. N., " to prove
that it is wrong to attend balls and parties of pleasure ?" Then,
assuming a solemn and afl^ectionate mode of address, he said
to him, " My dear sir, you are a member of the church, but
you must not wonder if you are regarded by your acquaint-
ance as in heart the enemy of religion, unless you pursue a
more consistent course of conduct. While you encourage
balls, and oppose meetings for religious worship, you will find
•1. difficult to make anvbody believe that vou have anv retJard
REV. DR. XETTLKTO>. 307
for the religion you profess." The gentleman wept, and a
decided change took place in his future deportment.
In his visits from house to house, Dr. Nettleton was pecu-
liarly careful to leave a deep impression; he therefore con-
versed but little on general topics, and soon left the house. He
knew not only what to say, but when to be silent. Many have
been thrown into distress by his apparent neglect. He had a
significant way of addressing individuals. While preaching
in Malta, where his efforts were signally blessed, he found a
young lady, the daughter of a deacon, who was very stubborn ;
she was masculine in appearance, and apparently in the way
of the conversion of many young persons; he dreaded her in
fluence. He had a serious, direct conversation with her, ap-
parently without any good effect. When about to leave her,
he approached her with a resolute step and look, and said, call-
ing her by name — " Do not think of shutting your eyes to-
night without prayer ; before you retire to rest, go down on
your knees and call upon God ; remember, I tell you to do it."
This he said with great emphasis. He left her abruptly. She
was more offended than ever, and said many hard things
against him. When she went to her room at the close of the
evening, as he predicted, the struggle commenced. Slu
thought of his words ; she was alone ; her proud heart resisted,
and she exclaimed aloud, "What right or authority has he fo
dictate to me my duty ?" It rung in her ears, " I tell you to
do it." "You tell me! old Nettleton, I will not do it." " Per-
haps he spoke by the Spirit ; what will become of me if I re-
fuse?" The struggle was long; she trembled in every nerve.
She finally fell upon her knees and cried for mercy. She be-
came an humble Christian, and was instrumental in turninii
many to riiJ^hieousness, How many such instances, where ho
.'{')^ THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
(list I;iv((] womiciTul tact! Truly the Lord was with him. He
n.is tlicrclore a host. He had but one object, that was — to do
<40()d. [Je knew the importance of keeping the mind intent
ui)on the great subject ; he therefore requested his friends who
l,ii)()ur(Hl with him to avoid ail levity, and, as much as possible,
worldly conversation. He watched every cause which might
divert the attention.
The following facts we copy from " The Christian Index."
We liave heard an anecdote of Dr. Nettleton, a Presbyte-
rian revivalist, which is apropos here. A parcel of gay young
persons got up a ball in a neighbourhood in which Dr. N. had
been preaching with great success, and for the amusement of
themselves and others, inserted the reverend gentleman's name
at the head of the list of managers. The company assembled
at the time appointed. About the hour for commencing the
dance. Dr. N. made his appearance, and observed to the com-
pany that he perceived, from the tickets that had been issued,
that he had hern appointed a manager, and therefore, he pro-
posed to open the services with prayer. He then offered up a
very affecting prayer for the thoughtless group ; which was
blessed of God, to the conviction of a number of those pre-
sent, several of whom afterwards professed conversion, united
with the church, and were never afterwards found within the
walls of a ba-U-room. This anecdote we believe to be true.
The circumstances were narrated to us in Virginia, while Dr.
M. was labouring in the county in which we then resided.
A young man just completing his professional studies, wat-
induced to accompany some female friends to the pastor'?
REV. DR. NETTLETON. 309
Study. He there gave a promise that before he retired that
night, he would, on his knees, offer prayer for himself. Pos-
sessing strict integrity, when he went to his room, he thought
of his promise ; he was embarrassed — he walked the room,
in a cold winter's night, till late, before his proud heart would
yield ; and when he fell on his knees, such was the strugi^lo
in his mind, he said, " He would not, if he could be President
of the United States, that any should know he was on his
knees in prayer." There he was awakened, and after more
than a week's struggle, he was made willing in the day ol
God's power. He became, not only distinguished as a physi,
cian, but as a Christian and an officer — in the church.
I
A writer in the American Messenger says : —
More than twenty years ago, I had the pleasure of spending
some time in two places in the stale of New York, in which
powerful revivals of religion were in progress, by the blessing
of God, upon the labours of the Rev. Dr. Nettleton.
In the course of the first revival, in the town of , a
gentleman of my acquaintance became deeply anxious for his
soul. He wept, he mourned, he sighed, and no doubt prayed
for days and days together. But he was proud and obstinate ;
he would not submit to God.
One day, his amiable wife, whose anxieties about her hus-
band were almost beyond control, came into his room, and,
finding him still lingering in his wretched condition, and
solemnly fearing that he would grieve away the Holy Spirit, and
turn back to the world, she fell upon her knees, in his presence,
and fervently prayed for him. The husband's state of mind,
aOer that praver, may be conjectured, but not easily described.
He literally wrilhed in mental anguish.
Dr. Nettleton was the wisest man that I ever saw, in fracin*'
.'UO THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
out the operations of the human mind, when under the influ-
ences of the Divine Spirit. He seemed to possess almost in-
tuitive knowledge of this subject. When he saw a sinner long
lingering under conviction, he judged that there was a special
cause, and he was pretty sure to detect that cause.
One day, after my friend Lambert (for so I will call him)
had been struggling with and stifling his convictions for some
time, Dr. Nettleton called to see him once more. He talked
with him, pointed him to the Saviour, and perhaps prayed
with him. But there Lambert lingered still — a miserable, dis-
consolate, lost sinner. No light, no hope. What could be the
matter ? Dr. Nettleton smelt ardent spirits. That was enough.
He immediately intimated to Lambert that he was drinking
with a view to drive away his convictions; and, I believe, the
latter did not deny the charge. Dr. Nettleton solemnly warned
the wretched man, and left him. What was the result ? The
Spirit of God left my friend, and the unclean spirit, who had
gone out, returned to his old habitation, accompanied by seven
other spirits, more wicked than himself; and the last state of
that man was worse than the first.
Perhaps ten months pass away, when a blast and a mildew
rest upon all that pertains to this miserable man. Nothing
prospers in his hands. His business, though formerly flourish-
ing, is in ruins; and he is com[)elled to leave the beautiful
house in which he lived. This is not the worst ; he is given
up of God ; he is undone, to all appearance, for time and
eternity. His lovely wife and his interesting children are dis-
consolate and broken-hearted.
Go with me now through yonder street of the town, at
night, and what do we see? There lies poor, wretched, ruined
Lambert, a drunkard in the ditch I Oh, God ! what is man,
when left of thy Spirit? Let a veil, for the present, cover the
sequel.
Reader, if the Spirit of God strive with you, as you value
'^alvation, grieve him not away.
A BAPTIST 3IINl!>rER. 31 *
A BAPTIST MINISTER.
The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is often
abused. Common sense, however, will sometimes sweep away
the sophisms of Antinomianism, and I leave it without any dis-
guise for its ugly absurdity. A recent instance of this occurred
in the city of Philadelphia. A man, who had been a professor
of religion, was in a very backslidden state, to say the least
of it. He was approached by a minister, who endeavoured to
awaken him to a sense of danger, and arouse him to efforts
such as his case demanded.
" I cannot believe," the man replied, " that I never have
known the grace of God. It is impossible that I can have
been deceived in my former feehngs ; and 1 am very well
assured that the work which God has begun, he will carry on
till the day of the Lord Jesus."
Here he rested, and seemed perfectly contented to abide in
his backslidden condition, supporting himself by his misquota-
tion of Scripture.
The minister listened to him patiently, until he had finished,
and then replied,
" Yes, I know very well, that where God commences a
work of grace in the heart, he will carry it on. This is what
makes me fear for you. In your case, the work has stopped.
I cannot believe, then, that God ever began it. You must
certainly be deceived."
The man was silent, and appeared moved. At length, he
frankly confessed that this was a death-blow to the false hope
on which he had been depending.
S[2 THE AMERICAN CLERGY,
A POOR MINISTER.
1 HEARD a story, the other day, says a writer in one of our
periodicals, .\i)ich seems too good to be lost. A church in
the country had just engaged a good minister, who had not
attended long, when, after preaching on a Sunday, the deacon
gave him a pull, and said,
" I want to speak with you."
After going aside, the deacon said,
" Brother, I saw something about you, to-day, that hurt my
feelings."
" What was it, my dear brother?" said the minister, in sur-
prise ; " do tell me,^''
" It was about your arm, while you were preaching, I saw it."
The poor minister became still more alarmed, and anxious
to know in what way he had hurt the dear old father's feel-
ings.
The deacon pointed to his elbow. " There it is yet," said he
The minister began to brush his sleeve.
" Stop," said the deacon ; " you can't mend it now ; there
is a hole in vour coat, right on the elbow. I am hurt to see
our minister have to wear such a coat. Now, I want you to
go to and choose a coat pattern, and I'll pay for it."
The minister thanked him kindly, and was entirely relieved
of his fright.
A COURTEOUS CLERGYMAN.
Some years ago, a young man, a bricklayer by trade, re-
moved from IVew Hampshire to work in the city of Lowell.
He cherishrd at heart a strong prejudice against professed
Christians, considering them as proud and supercilious, and
REV. J. EASTliUirN 313
ever ready to say to him, "Stand by thyself ; we are holier than
thou !" His feeling of repugnance was so deep-sealed, and
had such a controlling influence over his intellectual nature, as
to generate skeptical thoughts, and lead him to question the
truth of the Bible. One day, as he was going to his work, he
saw a gentleman approaching, who had been pointed out to
him as the Rev. Mr. , and represented as one of the most
affable and courteous of his profession. " Now," said he, " I
will put this matter to the test. Here I am in my work-day
clothes. If this man notices me, I will think there is, after all,
something o-ood in relifrion."
They met. The clergyman raised his hat, bowed, smiled,
and looked as if he would say, " I should be happy to become
acquainted with you." The young bricklayer passed on to his
labour, but could not forget his promise. The next Sabbath,
he went to hear that " gentlemanly minister," and an acquaint-
ance of the most agreeable and salutary kind ensued. His
skeptical notions melted away before kind treatment, like snow
in an April shower; and he soon became an honest inquirer
after truth and mercy. Now, he is the beloved pastor of a
flourishing church.
How clearly does this fact prove that a kind and courteous
attention to young men, is a very cheap and effective mode of
usefulness. No men ought practically to study the apostolic
injunction, " Be courteous," more than the ministers of Christ.
REV. JOSEPH EASTBURN.
Manv of our readers entertain an alH^ctionate remembrance
of the late Joseph Eastburn, the preacher to the mariners, and
for many years esteemed for his patriarchal piety and unwea
27
314 THE AMERICAN CLKKGY.
ried zeal. In his doi-trinal views, Mr. Eastburn was Calvinis-
tic ; and, among other points, he believed fiilly in the sove-
reignty of God in election. An Arminian acquaintance, who
highly esteemed Mr. Eastburn, frequently expressed his regrel
thai he should believe in so horrible a doctrine, and took occa-
sion oftentimes to endeavour to argue him out of his belief.
Mr. Eastburn, who was unobtrusive in his manners, and disin-
clined to controversy, endeavoured to appease him, but without
effect. At a religious conference meeting, at which they were
both present, the subject was again in some way introduced ;
when Mr. Eastburn arose, and, in his peculiarly striking man-
ner, addressed this gentleman before the persons assembled, in
the following manner: — "Brother , have you not told
me that, in your earlier life, you were an avowed and malig-
nant infidel, and that you were the leader of an infidel club,
and that you and your companions treated every sacred subject
with impious ridicule? And have you not told me that, out of
that profane company, you were the only one who was brought,
by the grace of God, to a sense of your sins, and to embrace
the Saviour?"
" Yes, yes," said the gentleman, with emphasis — " glory be
to God !"
"Then," said Mr. Eastburn, quietly, "I have often been
disposed to te'l you, that that was election y There was no
reply.
Thus it is. The opponents of this doctrine hesitate not to
say that it would be unjust and cruel in God to determine from
eternity who should be saved, and who should be left in their
sins ; but they make no such charge on the Almighty, when,
in fact, by his sovereign grace, he calls one into his kingdom,
and leaves others to perish. The determination is mysterious,
but the execution of that determination is all right. This
gentleman was ready to ascribe glory to God for selecting him
as a trophy of grace from the midst of his ungodly compa
REV. JOHX WESLEY. 315
nions, but, according to his profession, he would have been
struck with horror at the thought that God should have loved
and have chosen him from eternity.
REV. JOHN WESLEY.
The first time I had the pleasure of being in the company
of the Rev. John Wesley, says a correspondent of the New
York Evangelist, was in the year 1783. I asked him what
must be done to keep Methodism alive when he was dead ^ To
which he immediately answered, "The Methodists must take
lie(>d to their doctrine, their experience, their practice, and their
discipline. If they attend to their doctrines only^ they will
make the people Antinomians ; if to the experimental part of
religion only, they will make them enthusiasts; if to the
practical part onlij^ they will make them pharisees ; and if
they do not attend to their discipline, they will be like persons
who bestow much pains in cultivating their garden, and put no
fence round it, to save it from the wild boar of the forest."
Mr. Wesley, in the course of his voyage to America, hear-
ing an unusual noise in the cabin of General Oglethorpe, the
governor of Georgia, with whom he sailed, stepped in to in-
quire the cause of it. The general addressed him : " Mr, W.,
vou must excuse me ; I have met with a provocation too great
for a man to bear. You know the only wine I drink is Cyprus
wine ; I therefore provided myself with several dozens ol if,
and this villain Grimaldi" (his foreign servant, who was pre-
sent, and almost dead with fear) " has drunk up the whoh' of
it. But I will be revenged on him. I have orderH him to he
;U6 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
tied hand and foot, and to be carried to the man-of-war which
sails with us. The rascal should have taken care how he
used me so, for I never forgive." " Then I hope, sir," said
Mr. W., looking calmly at him, " you never s'n." The gene-
ral was quite confounded at the reproof; and, putting his hands
into his pocket, took out a bunch of keys, which he threw at
Grimaldi. "There, villain," said he, "take my keys, and
behave better for the future."
REV. DR. SPRING.
Dr. Spring, of New York, related, some time ago, that
during the period of a revival of religion in that city, a young
lady, the object of high hope, the centre of wide influence,
capable of noble things, yet careering on the giddy steep of
fashion and of folly, created in him no small solicitude, as he
would have to give an account for her soul, every avenue to
which seemed most sedulously guarded. He delayed the visit
of counsel and exhortation; and delayed till, rebuked by con-
science, he could do so no longer. As soon as he called, and
was ushered into the saloon, the first and only person whom
l»e saw was this young lady, bathed in tears, who immediately
exclaimed, " My dear pastor, I rejoice to see you. I was fear-
ful I was the only one who had escaped your friendly notice."
What a rebuke to fear! What an encouragement to hope and
to action !
REV. UR. WADDELL. 31 *«
REV. MR. CLAP.
The lute Rev. Mr. Clap, of Rhode Island, was asked by a
member of his church, whether he thought it right to engage
in dancing? His reply was, "I should think that those who
are out of Christ should have no heart to dance, and thos •
who are in Christ will have enough else to do."
REV. DR. WADDELL.
Those who have read Mr. Wirt's fine work, the " British
Spy," will remember the graphic and touching description of
the preaching of the blind Presbyterian preacher, as already
narrated in this volume. It is no fancy sketch; the scene
actually occurred as it is described. A descendant of his has
lately published a letter which was originally addressed to Mr,
Wirt, but not printed by him. It will be read with great
interest.
To the Author of the British Spy:
The distinguished notice you have taken of the Rev. James
Wadd;"Il, of Virginia, in the character of the " Blind Preacher,"
has induced me to give you some account of an event un-
noticed by you, and which forms an era in his life. I refer to
the restoration of his sight. I do this with less reserve, since
it is generally understood that the " British Spy" had been
long a warm friend of the subject of this notice; and that nis
removal from the vicinity of the " Blind Preacher," in whose
hospitable mansion he had received many and warm greetings,
had left him uninformed of the event to whith I have alluded,
;il8 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
and of the circumstances which I propose to detail. You have
described him as blind, and, while occupying the rude enclo-
sure of a forest pulpit, addressing an unseen multitude in
strains of eloquence which might captivate cities and win the
admiration of grave senates. The incidents to which 1 refer
were more private ; in his own house, and in the midst of his
liimily. For eight years he had been blind — a stranger equally
to the cheerful light of day and the cheering faces of kindred
and friends. It will readily be supposed, that in this lapse of
time great changes had taken place. The infant had left the
knee to rove amidst the fields ; the youth had started into man-
hood, and, bidding adieu to the haunts of his childhood, had
gone forth to act for himself upon the theatre of life; with the
hope, indeed, of again and again looking upon his venerable
father, but without hope of that father's ever looking upon
him. A calm and patient resignation had settled over the
mind of this man of God, as a summer's cloud settles over
the horizon of evening. Peaceful, hopeful, and reclining upon
the bosom of heaven, every painful solicitude about himself
had fled away. This personal peace and Christian submission
were calculated, however, to concentrate his reflections and
solicitudes upon the destinies of his family, here and hereafter.
His eye could not now see for them; but he had a heart to
invoke the watchfulness of an eye that neither slumbers nor
sleeps; that neither grows dim with age nor infirmity. His
palsied hand could guide them no longer, but patriarchal coun-
sel was freely given, and enforced by the tremendous realities
of a future existence. The thread to be followed through the
labyrinth of life, it was taught, had its fastenings in eternity ;
time and all sublunary things should be viewed in the light of
eternity. But, although the mental vision was acute and
wisely circumspect, the dark curtain still hung over the organs
of sight, and seemed to rise no more.
And what if it siiould be otherwise; that hope of sioht
REV. DR. WADDELL. 319
should take the place of resignation to blindness ; and, more
than this, that hope should be turned into fruition ; that, after
the darkness of eight years, he should be presented with a
broad daylight view of every thing around him ! And this, I
assure you, was almost a fact; for, after an operation for
cataract, which, in the progress of years, had rendered light
sensible, and then objects faintly visible, a strong and well
constructed convex lens, procured by the kindness of a distant
friend, enabled him to see with considerable distinctness. At
this juncture, I happened to be at his residence — called by
himself, long before, " Hopewell," and now fulfilling, in ha|)[>v
reality, the import of a soft and cheerful name. The scene,
without dispute, was the most moving that I ever witnessed.
The father could again see his children, who riveted his atten-
tion and absorbed his soul. Among these, emotions of intense
interest and varied suggestions were visible in the eye, the
countenance, and the hurried movements. The bursts of
laughter — the running to and fro — the clapping of hands — the
sendino; for absent friends — and then the silent tear bedewins:
the cheek in touching interlude — the eager gazes of old serv-
ants, and the uirmeaning wonder of young ones — in short, the
happy confusion from the agitation of joy — all taken together,
was a scene better adapted to the pencil than the pen, and
which a master's hand might have been proud to sketch. How
1 regretted that the mantle of some Raphael or Michael An^elo
had !iot fallen upon me; then had my fame and mv feelings
each been identified with the scene, and others should have
been permitted to view upon the canvas what I must fail to
describe upon paper.
The paroxysm produced by the arrival of the glasses having
passed away, and a partial experiment having satisfied all of
their adaptation to the diseased eye, behold the patriarch seated
m his large arm-chair, with his children around him, scanning
with affectionate curiosity the bashful group. There was a
0*20 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
visible shyness among the lesser members of tlie family com
munity, while undergoing this fatherly scrutiny, not unlike that
produced by a long absence. The fondness of a father in con-
templating those most dear to him, was never more raiionallv
exemplified, or exquisitely enjoyed, than on this occasion.
And now, the venerable man, arising from his seat and
grasping a long staff which lay convenient to him, had pro-
ceeded but a short distance, when the staff itself seemed pow-
erfully, but momentarily, to engage his attention : it had been
the companion of his darkest days, the pioneer of his domestic
travels, and the supporter of a weak and tottering frame.
He next proceeded to the front door, to take a view of the
mountains ; the beautiful south-west range stretching out in
lovely prospect, at the distance of about three miles. All fol-
lowed, myself among the rest ; and the mountain scene, though
viewed a thousand times before, was now gazed upon with
deeper interest, and presented a greater variety of beauties
than ever. Indeed, this mountain scenery ever after continued
to delight my unsatisfied vision ; whether my attention had not
before this been carefully drawn to its beauties, or that the
suggestive faculty, linking the prospect with the sympathetic
pleasures previously enjoyed, had thrown around me a pleasing
delusion, I am unable to decide. Delusion apart, however, this
sunny base of the south-west mountains is a delightful region,
distinguished not only by the natural advantages of a fertile
soil, salubrious climate, and beautiful scenery, but by a race
noted for the social virtues and for a higher order of intellect.
But to return to the individual whom I had left exercising a
new-born vision upon the external world. The book-case in-
terviews I had looked for with solicitude, and presently had
the pleasure of witnessing. Watts, and Doddridge, and Locke,
and Reid, with a host of worthies, had been the companions
of his best days: there had been a long night of separation.
Th^ meeting and communion was that of kindred souls, and
REV. MR. SPENCER. 321
complimentary alike to his piety, scholarship," and taste. The
sight of his own handwriting, upon the blank leaves of his
books, was in itself a small circumstance, but seemed to aftect
him not a little, associated no doubt with varied circumstances
of past days.
1 left the house, full of reflections. I had been always awed
by the solemn sanctity and personal dignity of the " Blind
Preacher." The yearning solicitude which I had just wit-
nessed, of such a father over his children, seen now for the
(irst time after the dreary blindness of years, had melted my
leelings. My imagination took flight, and, passing rapidly
through time, was conducted by the incidents of this day to
the resurrection morning ; when the saint of God, throwing ofl*
the trammels of the tomb, with quickened vision and more than
mortal solicitude, looks around for the children of his pilgrim-
ase.
REV. MR. SPENCER.
The Rev. Mr. Spencer, of New York, has furnished the
fallowing statement : — .
A poor minister once called upon me, saying that his horse
and carriage were under a mortgage, which was soon to be
foreclosed, and he had no money to pay it. During the night
on which he stayed at my house, I was much disturbed in
thinking over his case. I felt that I must help him, though
my circumstances, at first view, seemed to forbid even the idea.
On parting with the good man, in the morning, I presented
him with live dollars, which was all the money I had. He
hesitated when he saw the amount, and said that so large a
donation might embarrass me. " No," said I ; "it is, indeed,
all I have, but you should have more if I had it. I fonsidcr
'•^'22 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
that I am lending lo the Lord, and have no doubt that it will
soon be returned again." The same day, making a call
upon one of my parishioners, who paid regularly towards my
support, three dollars were unexpectedly put into my hand.
And not long after, as I was dining with another family of my
congregation, who likewise helped to make up my salary, we
were conversing on the reflex benefits of beneficence ; and 1
remarked, that all I had ever lent to the Lord, had been paid
back in some unexpected way, with the exception of two dol-
lars. The lady of the house immediately arose and stepped
towards the mantel-piece, while the husband smilingly observed
that his wife, a short time ago, had laid up two dollars in the
clock for me, and that they were now happy to have thi'
opi)ortunity of completing my recent loan to the Lord.
REV. BELA JACOBS.
The late Rev. B. Jacobs, of Cambridgeport, Mass., could,
when necessary, administer reproof very forcibly, though the
gentleness of his character was always seen in the manner in"
which it was done. Some young ladies at his house were one
day talking about one of their female friends. As he entered
the room, he heard the epithets "odd," "singular," &c.,
applied. He asked, and was told the name of the young lady
m question, and then said, very gravely, "Yes, she is an odd
young lady ; she is a very odd young lady ; I consider her
extremely singular." He then added, very impressively, "She
was never heard to speak ill of an absent friend." The re-
buke was not forgotten by those who heard it.
REV. MU. ESTAliKOOK. 3*23
This excellent minister rarely punishcMj his children; his
own evidently sincere grief at any wrong committed, was
usually sufficient to deter from what was so sure to grieve one
so tenderly loved. On one occasion, however, one of his
children had committed a serious act of disobedience. They
were all called into his study ; and when he had, with tears,
expressed his sorrow at his child's misconduct, he knelt, and,
putting his arm around the offending one, he implored the
Father of all to forgive a child who had broken His commands
by refusing to obey her mother. That child never forgot that
prayer ; nor would the most stubborn heart have refused to
repent of a sin, punished, not in anger, but in such sorrowful
affection. Penitence was expressed before leaving him, and
his kiss seemed to seal her forgiveness on earth and in heaven.
REV. MR. ESTABROOK.
Mr. Estabrook, formerly a clergyman of Athol, was well
known for his pleasant turn of mind, no less than for fervent,
unaffected piety, and genuine benevolence. He died at a very
advanced age. Towards the close of his life, a proposition
was made in parish — or, as it then was, in town meeting, to
increase his salary, to an amount corresponding with the in-
creased expenses of living and the growing wealth of the so-
ciety. The motion was in a fair way of passing, when, to the
surprise of every one, the old gentleman rose and begged \u^
friends not to vote a larger sum lor him. He asked it as a
favour of the parish. Some one inquired if it was not the fact,
as had been stated, that the present salary was insutlicient for
his support. Mr. Estabrook admitted this, but begged that
;324 THK AMERICAN CLERGY.
they would not vote him a larger sum. His friends pressed
around him to inquire the reason, which he declared peculiar,
and of rather a private nature. On being pressed, however,
he stated his inducement to the course "he had taken. He de-
clared that he was opposed to voting any more money, because
it was difficult to get what had formerly been voted ! The
hint was taken — the increase was voted, and, what was better,
promptly paid
AN ANXIOUS PASTOR.
During the closing service, one Sabbath, says a pastor, my
eyes rested on a lovely youth. I approached- him, and ex-
horted him to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
He replied, " I am not ready now, but in two weeks I am re-
solved to seek the salvation of my soul." A few days after,
his minister was summoned to visit him upon a bed of sick-
ness. He said to the minister, " I was invited to the Saviour
at the meeting of the Sabbath. I replied that I was not ready
then, and now I am not ready to die." On a subsequent visit
the dying youth exclaimed, " I was not ready to seek God at
the meeting, I was not ready to die when the message came,
and now I am not ready to lie down in hell ! My two weeks
have not yet elapsed, when I hoped to have made my peace
with God, and sickness, death, and hell have overtaken me.
and I am for ever lost."
REV. DR. JUDSON. 325
A CLERGYMAN.
A GENTLEMAN who had formerly been very skeptical, vvas
one day met by a clergyman who had frequently been accus-
tomed to converse with him, but who had not seen him lor
some time. The clergyman asked him, " Well, my dear sir,
what do you think now of the doctrine of the resurrection?"
The former skeptic replied, "Oh, sir, two words from the
apostle Paul conquered me, 'Thou fool,' Do you see this
Bible, taking up a copy of the Scriptures, fastened with a clasp,
" and will you read the words upon the clasp which shuts it ?"
The clergyman read what was deeply engraven, "Thou
fool." "There," said his friend, "are the words that con-
quered me ; it was no argument, no reasoning, no satisfying
my objections ; but God convinced me that I was a fool ; and
henceforward I was determined I would have my Bible clasped
with those words, and would never again come to the considera-
tion of its sacred mysteries but through their medium. I will
always remember that I am a fool, and that God only is wise."
The words, " Thou fool !" were used, both by the apostle
and bv this convert to his doctrine, to express the unspeakable
follv of man, in setting up his own pretended wisdom in oppo-
sition to the pure and perfect wisdom of God.
REV. DR. JUDSON.
I'his veteran missionary of the cross of Christ, on his re-
cent visit to Boston, when asked, by "an old disciple," "Do
yon think the prospect bright for the speedy conversion of the
heathen?" nobly replied, "As bright as the promises of God!"
28
326 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A GOOD PASTOR.
It is evident that some persons do not understand the senti-
ment which is sometimes advocated, that the more the Chris-
tian advances in holiness, the more he will see of his own
sinfulness. The following conversation occurred more than
fifteen years since, between a pastor and a lamb of his flock.
The young inquirer said to his experienced teacher, " I do not
tully understand what you preached to-day. You observed,
that the more a child of God increases in holiness, the greater
his own sinfulness appears in his view. Is the man really
growing ^c•o?^se while advancing in holiness?" The watchful
pastor, " apt to teach," smiled, and thus replied : " I will
illustrate the idea. Suppose a dark room, which for a long
time has not been cleansed. You enter it, and view it by
moonlight ; you say that it is filthy. More light is intro-
duced, and more, and more. During this process of in-
troducing more light, a cleansing process is going forward.
But, though much filth has been removed since you began to
examine the room, yet it now appears tenfold more filthy than
when you first surveyed it by mere moonlight." The youth
saw and felt the force of the illustration ; and while writing
this, he distinctly recollects the appearance of the affectionate
pastor as he gave it.
A MINISTER IN NEW YORK.
Some few years since a person called on a minister in New
York, requesting him to go without delay to a certain house,
to visit a person who was sick. The mmister went, and, on
■entering the room where he expected to find the sick person,
BISHOP GRISWOLD. 327
he found it occupied by a company of gamblers, who arose
from their seats, and, in a very peremptory manner, detnanded
why he came there 1 At the same time, two or three of them
went to the door and bolted it, while the others surrounded the
minister, demanding the reason of his presence. He first
offered each one a tract, which was received ; then took out
his Bible, and began to read; and, not knowing what would
follow, fell on his knees and raised his voice in prayer to Him
who delivered Daniel from the mouth of the lions. VVhile thus
pouring out his heart to God, the door was thrown open, and
one after another of the company went out, till he was left
alone, " and Jesus standing in the midst," by his Spirit, to
sustain and protect him.
BISHOP GRISWOLD.
During the residence of this excellent clergyman in Bristol,
d minister, with more zeal than discretion, became impressed
with the conviction that the bishop was a mere formalist in
religion, and that it was his duty to go and warn him of his
danger, and exhort him to "/^ee fro?n the wrath to conie.'^'*
Accordingly, he called upon the bishop, very solemnly made
known his errand, and forthwith entered on his harangue.
The bishop listened in silence till his self-constituted instructor
had closed a severely denunciatory exhortation, and then in
substance replied as follows: "My dear friend, I do not won-
der that they who witness the inconsistency of my daily walk,
and see how poorly I adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour,
should think that I have no religion. I often fear for myself
that such is the case, and feel very grateful to you for giving
me this warning." The reply was made with such an evi-
dently unaffected humility, and such a depth of feeling and
3*28 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
sincerity, that if an audible voice from heaven had attested the
genuineness of his Christian character, it could not more ef-
fectually have silenced his kindly intendini?, but misjudging
censor, or more completely have disabused him of his false
impression. He immediately acknowledged his error, begged
the bishop's pardon, and ever afterwards looked upon him as
one of the distinguished lights of the Christian world.
A NEW ENGLAND CLERGYMAN.
A FARMER of good substance, possessing much influence in
his neighbourhood, not far from Boston, had not for a long
time been seen at church. His minister was deeply grieved,
and called to remonstrate with the farmer, both on his own
account and on account of the pernicious influence of his ex-
ample. The farmer heard him with attention, and seemed
penitent. " I hope, friend," said the good pastor, as he was
leaving him, " 1 hope I shall see you at church next Sabbath ?''
The farmer looked down to the ground in an attitude of deep
thought ; then suddenly raising his head, with a cheerful look,
as if conscience had conquered, replied quickly, " Well, Til
go ; but," pausing a moment, he added, " yes, I'll go — or I'll
send a handy Alas ! how many, in different ways, evade the
duty of personal religion !
REV. DR. MERCER. 329
REV. DR MERCER.
The late Dr. Mercer seems to have had a very happy talent
of so conversing with disconsolate Christians as to lead them
to rich sources of consolation. On one occasion, a good man
rode twenty-five miles to converse with him. He had been for
more that] twenty years a member of a Christian church, but was
exercised with great darkness and sorrow of mind. After he
had told his sad tale of woe to Dr. M., he wound up ail by
saying, " I would not for a thousand worlds say that I am a
Christian." " Would you," asked Dr. M., " for as many
worlds say that you are not a Christian?" "No, I would
not." " Do you believe that the devil suggests to one de-
ceived, that he is deceived, and that he strives to convince him
of it?" "Certainly not." "Do you not believe that he often
worries the Christian by such suggestions, persuading him that
he is deceived, and, in proof of it, calls to his mind his daily
departure from the paths of rectitude and purity ?" " No doubt
of it." By this short category, and by narrating some of his
own trials, the brother was greatly relieved, and went home
with a lisht heart.
Another brother, who had not been long in the church,
while reading the Scriptures regularly through, was greatly
sliocked at many of the heinous sins of the saints of old, par-
ticularly some of the actions of Lot and of David. He in-
([iiired within himself, how could holy men commit such deeds,
and could the vilest sinners do worse? He became ahnost
convinced that religion was a farce, and the Scriptures an im-
position. Under these circumstances, he obtained an interview
with Dr. Mercer, and told him his difficulties. " Whv," said
he doctor, " if the Scriptures had recorded none but virtuous
28*
330 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
and holy actions of the ancient saints, they would not have
met my case ; but they give an honest and impartial history,
iheir bad and their good acts, and from their weakness I
gather strength." The brother went away consoled, and was
no more troubled in that way.
It is said of this valued minister, that he presided at his
church conference meetings with great gravity and dignity,
seldom allowing any irregularity to pass unreproved. The
clerk of one of his churches was calling over the names of
the male members, preparatory to the adjournment of the con
ference. It was a cold day and a cold church. The members
answered to their names in such a li/eless tone of voice, that
they could scarcely be heard ; and, in some instances, the lan-
guid answer would not come until the name had been two or
three times repeated. The clerk, however, patiently perse-
vered in his task, attentively listening for answers till he had
finished the list. The worthy pastor, whose head all the while
had been hanging very low, arose from his seat with much
concern on his countenance, and gravely said, " Well, brethren,
if your religion is as weak as your voices, it is weak indeed :
If't us pray." The reproof was deeply felt, and during the
prayer, which was the concluding service, many indications
of deep feeling were manifested. Its good effects were seen
for a long time afterwards.
A CLEKGYMA.N IN PHILADELPHIA. 331
A CLERGYMAN IN PHILADELPHIA.
I ONCE heard a little incident, said to have occurred to a
venerable clergyman of Philadelphia city, now no more, but
who, if named, would be instantly recognised as familiar to
many.
It occurred some thirty years since, at which time our reve-
rend friend was called upon to officiate at the nuptials of the
only child and daughter of a wealthy retired merchant, then
residing a few miles in the country.
The time which had been appointed for the wedding, proved
to be a chilly, rainy day, toward the latter end of the month
of September. The rain having commenced falling on the
night previous, continued throughout the day. The roads
were in a miserable condition; the rain fallen upon them,
still heavy with dust, rendered them almost impassable in mud.
This was any thing but a pleasant prospect for the doctor ; but
weddings must not be delayed, nor do clergymen generally in
the least desire it ; they entertain a peculiar partiality for them;
they find pleasure in uniting " two fond hearts," and profit in
it. So, barring the weather, the doctor had no cause to com-
plain, and, rain or shine, he was bound to go. Accordingly,
a horse and chaise were procured, and the doctor, fully
equipped for the journey, was soon on his way to the scene of
bridal festivity. At the country mansion, all was in readiness
for his coming; and when he reached there, some time after
nightfall, he found the bride and her lover already waiting for
him. It was not necessary to lose any lime, and the doctor
u'MS not long in entering upon his appropriate duties. The
necessary preliminaries being speedily arranged, within a spa-
cious hall, richly ornamented, and in the presence of a ga\
and numerous company, the doctor pronounced the nuptial
reremony.
832 THK AMERICAN CLERGY.
Tlie sceno was unusually affecting, even to the doctor him-
self. The bride, as we have said, was an only child, and,
aside from her education and accomplishments, upon which
every care and attention had been bestowed, she possessed
qualities of the heart which endeared her to all. She was
amiable and affectionate; and these traits, combined with sin-
cere and early piety, had won the reverend old gentleman's
highest friendship and esteem. To one thus interested in the
happiness of a bride, the joy attendant upon her nuptials is
never unmingled with tender emotions ; and tears of parental
sympathy trickled down the pious countenance of the old gen-
tleman, as, at the conclusion of the ceremony, he invoked the
smiles of Heaven for the future happiness of the newly wedded.
Nor was he alone in these feelings : a solemn stillness for a
while pervaded the whole company, yet, like a transient cloud
in the morning, it was soon dispelled, leaving all bright and
cheerful as before.
Shortly after the ceremony was over, the doctor prepared
himself for home. So, taking an affectionate leave of the
bride and her happy partner, he ordered his vehicle. Not a
word had yet been hinted to him concerning a marriage fee :
as for himself, he was too much absorbed in reflection to have
given a thought upon the matter. The " fee," however, such
as it was, had not been forgotten ; but Mr. E., the bride's
father, after accompanying and assisting him into his chaise,
placed in his hands a little package, containing, as he said, a
" present" for himself, and a " little notion" for his wife. The
doctor, presuming, of course, that it was his fee, and no doubt
a rich one, which was thus modestly tendered, accompanied
with some small token for his wife, thanked Mr. E. accord-
ingly; and the courtesies of the night being exchanged, the
doctor lost no time in regaining his home.
Imagine, now, the old gentleman, after two hours' hard ride,
♦hrough mud and rain, well drenched and bespattered, sitting
A CLERGYMAN IN PHILADELPHIA. 333
by his fireside, opening, with the eager assistance of his wife,
the above described package. Imagine, also, if possible, the
surprise and disappointment of both, as, contrary to the lowest
expectations of either, in lieu of a fifty dollar note, and a rich
laced cap, the package was delivered of a plain neckcloth and
an unpretending pair of gloves.
Now, fortunately for our friend the doctor, of all things he
knew best how to brook disappointment ; it is characteristic
of the profession in general. Hence his share of the disap-
pointment was soon smothered, and he contented himself with
the reflection that his services had been well repaid already, in
having been rendered to one whom he felt most happy in
serving.
Not so with his wife; like the most of her sex, ay, and of
her kind, disappointments were not in the least agreeable to
her. Besides, on this occasion, as she was personally inte-
rested, hers was by no means small. The marriage of Miss
E. had long been in contemplation ; and as long had the doc-
tor's wife been anticipating a rich fee for her husband, which,
according to a good-natured agreement existing betwt^en them,
in relation to the above marriage, they were to divide equally ;
and no marvel is it that she had magnified her share into
" something very handsome."
For some time she was speechless with vexation and disap-
pointment. She knew not how to vent her feelings; she felt
hurt as well as vexed and disappointed.
"Certainly, I am greatly at a loss to account for this," at
length she exclaimed, recovering herself; "surely, I would
never have expected such conduct from Mr. E."
"Tut ! tut! mv dear," returned the doctor, "I am sure it's
not worth while grieving about it."
" Indeed, I think it is," rejoined his wife, somewhat vexed,
and tossinor, at the same time, the gloves from her ; " Pm sure
'334 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
your ride through mud and rain was itself well worth ten times
as much."
" Well, well," said the doctor, " I'm very well satisfied, and
I see no reason why you should be otherwise." So saying, he
was in the act of spreading out the neckcloth, to examine its
dimensions, when lo ! a hundred dollar note dropped upon the
floor.
If, by the touch of a magic wand, the doctor had converted
the cambric mto a silken sash, the surprise of his wife could
not have exceeded what she now felt. She knew not what
first to say. No time, however, was lost in re-obtaining the
gloves ; and if her surprise was great before, it was in no
degree diminished, when a ten dollar note was discovered
snugly stuffed away in each thumb and finger.
" My patience ! did you ever !" shouted the old lady, in
ecstacy.
" Ha ! ha !" laughed the doctor.
But let us drop the curtain upon the happy doctor and his
wife.
REV. MR. F.
While the Rev. Mr. F. was pastor of a Presbyterian
church in the state of New York, he enjoyed the happiness
of witnessing several very delightful revivals among his peo-
ple. One old man, however, withstood all, and, by the per-
version of truth, seemed to seal the doom of his eternal misery.
He had used to say, that as he could not convert himself, it
was no<^ his fault if he perished. During the last revival Mr.
F. enjoyed, he called at the house of this old man, to converse
and to pray with his family, and was going away without
speaking to the old man himself. Perceiving, however, that
A FAITHFUL MINISTER. 335
he had something to say, Mr. F. listened to him, and found it
was pretty much the same tale as usual. Mr. F. at length
turned to him, and, with somewhat of a severe tone, said,
" Jesus Christ demands to be received by you, and proposes
himself as your Mediator with the eternal God ; but you con-
tinue to reject him, and so you must perish for ever. Good
bye." The old man's heart was broken — he wept over his
sins — sought for mercy, and found it through Christ Jesus. In
old age, he became the humble, child-like follower of the Son
of God.
A FAITHFUL MINISTER.
Professors of religion have never yet felt, as they should
do, that their property is the Lord's, given to them to sustain
his cause. Hence they talk about giving their property for
the support of the gospel ; as though the cause of the Lord
Jesus were to be supported as an act of alms-giving. A mer-
chant, in the state of New York, was in the habit of paying a
large part of his pastor's salary. One of the members of the
church was relating the fact to a minister from a distance, and
speaking of the sacrifice which this merchant was making.
At this moment, the merchant came in. " Brother," said the
minister, " you are a merchant ; suppose you employ a clerk
to sell soods, and a schoolmaster to teach your children, and
you order your clerk to pay your schoolmaster out of the
store, such an amount for his services in teaching. Now,
suppose your clerk gave out that he had to pay this school-
master his salary, and should speak of the sacrifices thai lie
was making to do it; what would you say to this?" "Why,"
said the merchant, "I should say it was ridiculous." "Well,"
said the minister, " God employs you to sell goods as his clerk,
33G THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
and your minister he employs to teach his children, and re-
quires you to pay the salary out of the income of that store.
Now, do you call this your sacrifice, and say that you are
making a great sacrifice to pay this minister's salary? No;
you are just as much bound to sell goods for God, as he is to
preach for Him."
A MINISTER IN BOSTON
A MINISTER in Boston paid a visit to a lady of his acquaint
ance, who was newly married, and who was attired in the
modern fashion, with bare arms. After the usual compliments,
he familiarly said,
" I hope you have got a good husband, madam ?"
" Yes, sir," replied she, " and a good man, too."
" I don't know what to say about his goodness," added tlie
minister, rather bluntly, " for my Bible teaches me that a good
man should clothe his wife, but he allows you to go half
naked."
TWO CLERGYMEN.
Two very gayly dressed ladies, being in company with a
clergyman, on his being informed that they were professed
Christians, were kindly, but very solemnly reproved by him
for their extravagance in dress. He reminded them that God
had commanded that "women adorn themselves in modest ap-
parel, with shamefacedness and sobriety ; not with broidered
hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, but (which becomefh
women professing godliness) with good works ; whose adorn-
REV. JOHN GANG. 3*37
jng, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair,
and the wearing of gold, or oi putting on of apparel \ but let
it be the hidden nian of the heart, in that which is not cor-
ruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which
in the sight of God is of great price." They were somewhat
offended, and, with the hope of quieting their consciences, went
To another clergyman, and asked him if he thought there was
any harm in their wearing feathers in their hats, with artificial
flowers, &c. He gravely replied, "There is no harm in fea-
thers 3.u^ flowers. If you have in your hearts the ridiculoy.s
vanity to wish to be thoughi pretty^ you may as well hangout
the sign^ and let every one know what is your ruling passion."
REV. JOHN GANO.
This gentleman warmly espoused the cause of his country
in the contest with Great Britain, and at the commencement of
the war joined the standard of freedom in the capacity of chap-
lain. His preaching, in which he was inferior only to White-
field, greatly contributed to impart a determined spirit to the
soldiers; nor was his private intercourse less adapted tn use-
fulness. When a lieutenant, after uttering some profane ex-
pressions, accosted him, saying, "Good morning, Dr. Good
Man ;" he replied, " You pray early this morning." The man
thus reproved answered, "I beg your pardon." "Oh!" re-
torted Mr. G., "I cannot pardon you; carry your case to
God." Of such a man we do not wonder to read the testi-
mony, " The careless and irreverent stood arrested and aw("\
before him, and the most insensible were made *o 'eel."
29
338 THE AMERICAN CLERGY
REV. T. P, BENEDICT.
A MAN having heard the late Rev. Thomas P. Benedict preach
a sermon, the object of which was to show that salvation is en-
tirely of grace, said to him, "If what you have preached is
true, what is it my duty to do?"
" It is your duty to believe it."
" What else is it my duty to do ?"
" It is your duty to love it. You ought surely to love the
truth."
"What else is it my duty to do?"
" I fear I have told you now more than you will ever do.
[C you will do these things, you will find no difficulty in regard
to any other part of your duty. It will b' very plain."
AN UNKNOWN PREACHER.
The spontaneous preference which all persons, free from
prejudice, are ready to yield, other things being equal, to a
preacher who has had the advantages of education, may be
illustrated by the following incident: —
In the vicinity of one of our literary institutions, where
several young Baptist ministers were pursuing their studies, a
church, whose members were violently prejudiced against col-
lege-learned ministers, had passed a vote that they would ad-
mit no one from the neighbouring institution into their pulpit.
iShorfly after this they sent to a minister then residing near the
institution, whom they did not know, but with whose preach-
ing they supposed from information they should be plosed.
I'he minister agreed to attend and preach for them, on the day
named in their request. Circumstances, however, prevented
REV. SAMUEL HARRIS. 339
his going in person ; he therefore engaged a young ministering
brother, who had nearly completed his studies at the institu-
tion of which he was a member, to go in his stead. This
young brother was unknown to any of the church. He came
to the place at the hour appointed ; and, with a fluent and rea-
dy utterance, with a warm heart and fervent spirit, and with a
well-furnished mind, he delivered his Master's message. The
members of the church, who supposed all this while that the
preacher was the individual for whom they had sent, and who
had never been in a literary institution, were delighted. Their
hearts were opened. They pressed him to visit them again,
to which he consented. In the mean time, they ascertained
who their preacher was, that he was a member of the neigh-
bouring institution. But they had committed themselves; he
had gained their hearts, and the approbation of their judgment.
It was the end of their prejudice against learning in a minister.
Atler this they were ready to admit and act on the principle,
that learning cannot make a minister, but that it can greatly
increase his power of being useful.
REV. SAMUEL HARRIS.
This excellent minister, who laboured in the last century,
was called the Apostle of Virginia. In his power over the
affections of his hearers, he was thought to be equal to White-
field. The Virginians say that he seemed to pour forth streams
of lightning from his eyes. The following anecdotes may
illustrate his character. Meeting a pardoned criminal, who
showed him his pardon received at the gallows, he asked,
" Have you shown it to Jesus Christ ?" The reply was, " No,
Mr. Harris, I want you to do it for me." Accordin£;lv, the
good man dismounted and kneeled, and with tin- pardon in one
340 THE AMERICAN CLEEGY.
hand, and the other on the offender's head, rendered thanks
and prayed for pardon from God. He once requested a debtor
to pay him in wheat, as he had a good crop ; but the man re-
plied that he did not intend to pay until he was sued. Unvvill-
ing to leave preaching to attend a vexatious suit, he wrote a
receipt in full and presented it to the man, saying he had sued
him . in the court of heaven ; and that he should leave the
atfair with the Great Head of the Church, with whom he might
settle another day. The man soon loaded his wagon and sent
him the wheat.
REV. DR. LAIDLIE.
Shortly after the arrival of the Rev. Dr. Laidlie, one of
the early emigrants from Europe to New York, he was thus
accosted by some excellent old Dutch people, at the close of a
prayer-meeting: "Ah, Domine!" (the title which the Dutch,
in their affection, give to their pastors,) "we offered up many
an earnest prayer in Dutch for your coming among us; and
truly the Lord has heard us in English^ and sent you to us!"
AN AGED MINISTER.
A VENERABLE minister at H — preached a sermon on the
subject of eternal punishment. On the next day, it was agreed
among some thoughtless young men, that one of them should
go to him, and endeavour to draw him into a dispute, with the
design of making a jest of him and of his doctrine. The wag
accordingly went, was introduced info the minister's study, and
REV. 1)K. riTA.XFOKl). ^41
commenced the fiinvers.ition by saying, " I believe there is a
small dispute between you and me, sir, and I thought I would
call this morning and try to settle it." " Ha !" said the clergy-
man, "what is it?" "Why," replied the wag, "you say that
the wicked will go into everlasting punishment, and I do not
think that they will." "Oh, if that is all," answered the mi-
nistor, " there is no dispute between you and me. If you turn
to Matt. XXV. 46, you will find that the dispute is between you
and the Lord Jesus Christ, and I advise you to go immediately
and settle it with him."
REV. DR. STANFORD.
It is every way important that Christian ministers should
secure the love of young persons. The late Rev. Dr. Stan-
ford, of New York, always did this in a very eminent degree.
Though the peculiar gravity and dignity of his appearance
was such as to preclude rather than to invite juvenile Himi-
liarity, yet scarcely any other man was so universally a favour-
ite among children as "Father Stanford." One little boy,
the son of a clery;vman, was asked whom he liked best as a
preacher. " Oh," said he, " I like old Father Stanford best,
because he is a very good man, and he speaks out, so that 1
can understand him."
In their intercourse with their friends, the ministers of Christ
often gain instruction as well as give it. So it occurred to Dr.
S. After having once preached to the inmates of the state
prison of New York, he was passing through the middle hall,
to visit the sick piisoners in the hospital, when Mr. Hauman,
u Ibreigner by birth, and one of the keepers, stood at the back-
29^
?t42 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
door with the key in his hand, and pleasantly offered him a
pinch of snuff. After the usual salutation, the following dia-
logue ensued ; —
" Sir, wot use you come here to visit dis vicked people ?"
" My heavenly Master has made it my duty to visit the sick,
ynd especially those who are in prison."
" Den, let me ask you, vot use it be for de rain to come
down upon de ocean .' — de sea be full enough of vater vidout it."
" I am somewhat surprised at the intention of your question."
" Sir, I vill tell you ; dere be von ship go along 'pon de sea,
vich be vant of vater, and de sailors dey be ready to die ob
dirst; dey no drink de vater out de ocean. By and bye dey
see cloud, and de rain begin to come down ; den de sailors
spread deir sails on de deck ; dey catch de rain vater ; dey
d(j drink, and den go on lifely. So you come to dese poor
wretches — you spread de sail — de rains ob Got's blessing come
down, and den dey drink and be glad. So, sir, I vill now
open de door, an you may spread your sail." Dr. S. says in
his diary, " Thanking Mr. H. for his remarks, I passed through
to the hospital, with a design to spread my sails of instruction
anjd prayer, in the pleasing hope that some mercy-drops from
above might descend to refresh the souls of the poor prisoners.
I have often indulged pleasing reflections on this little incident,
as conveying to me valuable instruction. For, as the mariner
can only spread the sail, it is the Lord alone that can raise the
wind, or give the gentle rain ; so I can only spread the gospel
sail of instruction, and wait for drops of mercy from heaven."
This eminent clergyman, in the discharge of his official
duties, had once closed his sermon to the prisoners, in Nc \v
York, when one of them, familiarly called "Ned Craig," for-
formerly a lawyer, was, at his own particul-ir request, per-
RI'V. DR. STANFORD. 343
rn ?' d to propound a doctrinal question to the - preacher.
Among the individuals present, were several prisoners who
formerly ranked high in the learned professions, and one who
had occupied the chair of professor of languages in a uni-
versity.
" Pray," asked Ned, " how can you reconcile the general
invitations of the gospel with the doctrine of a particular
election ?"
Dr. Stanford, turning to th' se present, replied, "These gen-
tlemen know, that it is not customary to teach children ;ih-
struse doctrines in any science, until they have first learned
their grammar. I am no polemic, but preach to you the plain
gospel ; but you must learn the A. B. C. of divinity before I
shall attempt to explain the subject of your inquiry."
This pungent reply to an impertinent question, propounded
not with a view to improvement, but for the purpose of embar-
rassing the preacher, afforded ^reat satisfaction to the oth(^r
prisoners.
How awful are the scenes which the Christian minister js
sometimes called to witness ; at once reminding him of the
dreadful consequences of sin, and rousing all his energies to
action ! Dr. Stanford was once travtOling through New Jersey
in the stage. When they stopped at Plainfield, the driver in-
formed the company that, a short distance further on the road,
an intoxicated man had, on the preceding night, murdered his
two sons, his wife, and himself As the stage had to pass by
the door, the passengers insisted on stopping at the house, and
requested Dr. S. to accompany them. It was one of those
neat little cottages which now and then attract the admiring
ij'jze of the traveller, and seemed, from the silence that pre-
vailed, to be an abode of blessedness and of peace. But, alas !
it was the silrnre of death that rein-ried within its blood-sloined
SA4 THE AMEKIUAN CLFEGY.
walls. On enteniig the front room on the lower floor, they
Ibund a table plentifully spread on the preceding evening for
the family repast. Here was every thing to secure, content-
ment and domestic comfort; but the demon of intemperance
had entered the enclosure. As they ascended to the room im-
mediately above, they beheld one of those awful spectacles,
from which, with instinctive horror, the heart unsteelcd by
crime involuntarily rec;oils. In the cradle lay a lovely lillle
boy, about eight years old, murdered in a shocking manner ;
and on the floor, at a short distance from him, and covered
with wounds and blood, lay his brother, about ten years of
age. The unhappy mother of these victims of a father's rage,
was found in the back parlour, to which, it is probable, she
had fled for safety, but was there stabbed to the heart, by the
hand of him who had vowed at the altar to love and protect
her. Near the gory bosom of the martyred woman was seen
the ghastly corpse of the sanguinary monster. After perpe-
trating the diabolical crime of murdering his unofi^ending
family, it was supposed that he loaded his rifle, and receiving
the muzzle into his mouth, deliberately discharged its contents,
by which one half of his head was entirely blown away, and
the barrel of the gun severed from the stock. The apartments
were literally a human slaughter-house, where death reii^ned
in undisturbed dominion. This tragic scene closed the lifts of
the beholders in silence, and astonishment seemed to have pa-
ralyzed then). No one was able to give utterance to the deep-
and oppressive feelings of the heart, and the company retired,
increasingly convinced that great indeed is the depravity of
man.
The biographer of Dr. Stanford records his interviews with
many dying persons. The following is very instructive: —
This morning I was requested to visit a man, supposed to
REV. DR. STANFORD. iMo
l)C near death. After tenderly inquiring about the state of his
mind, he replied, "It is very easy — I know that there is one
God — I believe that there is a future state — I believe God,
when I die, will take my poor soul — I believe all these." I
nsked, " Do you know that you are a sinner, and that you
need mercy ?" " Oh, we are all sinners." I answered him,
that God could not save him at the expense of divine justice;
that we both stood in need of a Saviour; that God had in
mercy given his dear Son, whose blood cleanseth from all sin;
and that there was none other name given under heaven,
whereby we may be saved, but the name of the Lord Jesus;
who is, therefore, the only Saviour. To my great astonish-
iiKMit, this man replied, " I don't know any thing about him."
" Then," I replied, "it is high time that you should know him.
If is, indeed, our encouragement that this Jesus is able and
willing to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by
liiin ; and it becomes you, under your circumstances, to pray
to him for mercy." I was equally surprised at his answer:
" 1 never prayed in my life." I thought it my duty solemnly
U) warn him of his danger. After which, I prayed.
At four o'clock, I ordered the coachman to put me down at
the hospital-gate, and I went into the sick man's room ; but,
what was my astonishment, as I looked around, to find both
t-lie man and the bed removed. " Nurse, what have you done
with the patient?" "He is in the dead-house; he died at
Mvelve o'clock." " How did he die?" Instead of giving me
a direct reply, she told me, that soon after I left him, in the
morning, two of his friends came to visit him, who informed
her that he was a deist, and had lived a very irregular life.
" But, nurse," I said, " you do not answer my question ; how
did he die?" She replied, "Sir, when he knew he was going,
he cried loudly enough to Jesus Christ to save him : he died a
poward, and, with his last breath, renounced his former infi-
flplity." " Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die.'*
346 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
A VILLAGE CLERGYMAN.
An active and skilful young minister, while engaged undei
circumstances of the most promising kind in the village of
J , was told of a miller who, with more than usual pro-
fa neness, had repelled every attempt to approach him on the
subject of religion, and had discouraged the hopes and efforts
of the few serious persons in his vicinity. Among other prac-
tices of sinful daring, he uniformly kept his windmill, the most
striking object in the hamlet, going on the Sabbath. In a
little time, the minister determined to make an eflxjrt for the
benefit of the hopeless man. He undertook the office of going
for his flour, the next time, himself. "A fine mill," said he,
as the miller adjusted his sack to receive the flour; "a fine
mill, indeed ; one of the most complete I have ever seen."
This was nothing more than just — the miller had heard it a
thousand times before ; and would firmly have thought it,
though he had never heard it once: but his skill and judgment
were still gratified by this new testimony, and his feelings con-
ciliated, even towards the minister. " But, oh !" continued his
customer, after a little pause, "there is one defect in it!"
"What is that?" carelessly asked the miller. "A very seri-
ous defect, too." " Eh !" replied the miller, turning up his
face. "A defect that is likely to counterbalance all its advan-
tages." "Well, what is it?" said the miller, standing straight
up, and looking the minister in the face. He went on: "A
defect which is likely to ruin the mill." "What is it?" re-
joined the miller. '^And will one day no doubt destroy the
owner." " And can't you say it out?" exclaimed the impa-
tient miller. " It goes on the Sabbath !" pronounced the mi-
nister, in a firm, solemn, and monitory tone. The astonished
man stood blank and thunderstruck ; and remained meek and
submissive under a remonstance and exhortation of a quarto
A TRAVELLING MINISTER. 347
of an hour's length, in which the danger of his state and
practices, and the call to repentance towards God, and faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ, were fully proposed to him.
A TRAVELLING MINISTER.
A MINISTER who was urged by his people to go out on a
begging excursion, to solicit money to liquidate a debt on their
meeting-house, put up on Saturday night with the deacoQ of a
church to which he was to present the subject on the ensuing
Sabbath. He seemed to be quite wealthy ; and, as he treated
his guest with great cordiality and kindness, the preacher
cherished glowing expectations of a very generous contribu-
tion from his purse. On the Sabbath, after setting forth the
claims of his object in as forcible and eloquent a manner as
possible, the plates were passed around for money. As the
deacon sat near the pulpit, the preacher could not resist the
temptation of rising up a little and peeping over the pulpit, to
witness the expression of the good man's liberality. As the
plate approached the deacon, he leisurely put his hand into his
pocket. The preacher's heart palpitated with anxiety. Rut,
alas ! the deacon just dropped from his thumb and fingers two
rod cents upon the plate, and allowed it to pass ! The preacher
suddenly sank back into his seat, and hope and faith died,
within him. The collection was small, and the preacher, mor-
fifiod and indignant, went straight back to his people, told them
(h(^ story of the two cents, and assured thorn they must raise
thf^ funds needed themselves, or send some one else forth to
hi'!r, rather than him. The people caught his spirit — they de-
tf-rminf^d to solicit no fin-thor — increased their subscriptions,
and paid their debts themselves.
348 THE A3IER1GAN CLERGY.
REV. MR. GRAFTON
Father Grafton, as he was called, was for nearly half a
century a Baptist pastor at Newton, in the vicinity of Boston.
He was highly esteemed, and often invited to the corporate and
other public dinners of that city. On one of these occasions,
he was greatly annoyed by the profane swearing of a young
man who sat opposite to him ; whom he sometimes reproved,
but without effect. At length, the old gentleman determined
to settle the affair, and rising, with a sharp voice, he called
out, " Mr. President !" That gentleman immediately com-
manded silence, and called on the company to hear " the Rev.
Mr. Grafton." " Mr. President," said he, " I beg leave to
move that there be no swearing done here" — looking at the
young man, and attracting the general attention towards him —
*' except by my friend, the Rev. Dr. Homer," a well-known,
estimable clergyman then present. The resolution was carried
by acclamation, and the good old minister enjoyed himself for
the remaining part of the afternoon.
REV. CALVIN COLTON.
AVhfn this gentleman was in England, a tew years ago, he
published an interesting little book, under the title of " The
American Cottager." In it he gave an account of a female
cottager on a missionary station, in one of the Western States,
who had recently been received as a member of a Christian
church, but who had not yet had the privilege of obeying the
Saviour's command : " This do in remembrance of me." She
was suddenly laid on a sick-hed, which indeed proved the bed
RE\. CALVIN COLTON. »^49
of death. She sent for Mr. C, and expressed a most ardent
desire that he should administer to her the holy ordinance of
the Supper. Her ardor on the subject was so groat, that he
began to fear she was attaching to it too much importance, and
was regarding obedience to it as a passport to heaven, and de-
licately expressed his fear on the subject. Her reply, however,
was more than satisfactory. " No, sir, I do not think that the
reception of the Lord's Supper is essential to the salvation of
my soul ; but I do feel that if I die without it, I can never be
happy, because I shall never forget that there was a command
of my Saviour, who loved me, that I never obeyed."
On the voyage of Mr. Collon to England, a few years sinre,
he had, one Sabbath, complied with the request of the captain
and passengers in preaching to them ; and, towards evening,
was hanging over the stern of the ship, engaged in meditation,
when the current of his thoughts was interrupted by the ap-
pearance of a young man, one of the cabin passengers, before
him. Fie begged pardon for the intrusion, and observed that
he owed an apology, on his own behalf, for he was unjustly
suffering in the estimation of the preacher.
"Pray, sir," said the preacher, "explain yourself." He
went on, regardless of this request; adding, much to the sur-
prise of the minister, " 1 bought those books at an auction-
room ; thev were struck off to me in one parcel, the night
before I left New York. I was ignorant of what they were.
"'What books?" interrupted the minister.
" I intend to destroy them," continued the young man ; " and
I should suffer injustice if I allowed you to suppose that I had
not been better educated, or that I can relish such vile trash."
It turned out, after the parties in this colloquy had come to
a better understanding, that the said books were of an infidel
'SO
350 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
rtnd otherwise vile character. Soon after the commencerr)ent
of the voyage, the young man had politely oflcred the minister
the use of any o(' his books that might interest him. Oi' this
privilege lie had availed himself, but had not happened to have
seen any of the bad ones. It had also happened that, in his
sermon of that day, the preacher had taken occasion to make
some remarks on the absurdity of infidelity, and the vicious
state of the moral affections that could relish it. The young
man felt mortified and ashamed, supposing himself to be
directly aimed at in the preacher's remarks, and took this
opportunity to vindicate himself. The interview proved that
" conscience needs no accuser."
REV. DR. BEECHER.
When the venerable Dr. Lyman Beecher was a young man,
he was once returning to his native town in Connecticut, and
fell into conversation by the roadside with an old neighbour,
an Episcopalian, who had been mowing. " Mr. Beecher," said
the farmer, " I should like to ask you a question. Our clergy
say that you are not ordained, and have no right to preach. I
should be glad to know what you think about it." " Sup-
pose," replied Dr. Beecher, "you had in the neighbourhood a
blacksmith, ' '• > said he could prove that he belonged to a re-
gular line of icksmiths which had come down all the way
from St. Peter, but he made scythes that would not cut ; and
you had another blacksmith, who said he could not see what
descent from Peter li.ul to do with making scythes that would
cut, \\ here w, uld you go to get your scythes ?" •' Why, to
the man who made scythes to cut, certainly," replied the far-
mer. " Well," said Dr. Beecher, '■'■that rainister which cuts,
is the minister ivhich Christ has authorized to preach.'*'' In a
REV. DR. C. 351
more recent conversation on the same subject, Dr. Beecher
gave liis opinion by relating this story.
In my early ministry, says Dr. Beecher, I was called to
attend a neighbour at East Hampton, Long Island. He was
skeptical and intemperate. " Pray for me !" he exclaimed,
" pray lor me ! — pray for me !" " You must pfay for your-
self,' I replied. " Pray — I cannot pray ! 1 am going straight
to perdition !" He lived three days, almost without food, and
then died — so far as we know — without any disease. It was
the power of conscience.
RflV. DR. C.
A YOUNG gentleman fresh from college, who had more
knowledge of books than of men, was wending his way to the
residence of the Rev. Dr. C. — The Doctor was extensively
known and respected for his energy of character, his learninsr,
piety, and moral worth. But, like the great apostle, he did
not disdain to " labour with his own hands."
With a letter of introduction to the aged divine, whom he
had known only by reputation, our gent9el young friend was
seeking the privilege of an acquaintance with him.
" Old daddy," said he to an aged labourer in the field by
the way -side, whose flapped hat and coarse-looking over-coat
— it was a lowering day — and dark complexion and features,
contrasted strongly with his own broadcloth and kid gloves and
liiir person : — " Old daddy, tell me where the Rev. Dr. C
lives." " In the house you see yonder " the old man modestly
replied.
OOZ THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Witiioui condescending to thank him for the information, the
young man rode on, and soon found himself sealed in'^the par-
lour of Dr. C.'s hospitable residence, at the invitation of the
lady of the house, awaiting the expected arrival of the Doctor.
in due time the host appeared, having returned from the
field, laid aside his wet garments, and adjusted his person.
But, to the surprise and confusion of the younii; guest, whom
should he meet in the Reverend Dr., but the same old daddy
he had so uifteremoniously accosted on his way !
" It was very respectful in you," said the venerable divine,
with an arch look, and in a pleasant tone — for the aged man
was not wanting in wit and humor — " it was very respectful
in you to call me old daddy ; I always love to see young men
show respect to old age."
The confusion and mortification of the young man were in-
describable. He could have sunk through the floor, and buried
himself in the darkness of the cellar beneath him. With a
countenance crimsoned with blushes, he began to stammer out
an apology for his incivility.
" No apology," said the doctor, very pleasantly, " no apo-
logy, — I always love to see respect shown to old age." But
the kindness and assiduity of the family could not relieve the
unpleasantness of his situation; a sense of the mortifying
blunder which he had committed, marred all his anticipated
pleasure from the interview, and he was glad to take his leave
as soon as he could do it with decency.
REV. MR. COLEY
Several years ago, a man, decently clothed, of good ap-
pearance and address, with some degree of intelligence, called
REV. MR. (;OLEY. 353
on the Rev. Mr. Coley, of Albany, whose benevolent feelings
readily sympathized with the distressed, exhibiting testimonials
of being a good Christian, and professing, in rather an Irish
accent, to be a Scotch Baptist, but possessing no formal letter
from a Baptist church. Mr. C. told him that to receive him
as a good Baptist brother, a letter was indispensable. Still, he
protested solemnly, loudly, and with tears, that he was a
Baptist.
In about two months afterwards, he returned, with a letter,
but an exceedingly doubtful one, and professing that all he
wanted was, to raise money enough to get back to Halifax.
Mr. C. having been often imposed upon, and suspicions run-
ning high on this occasion, invited him to dinner, determining
to try, by a very proper test, whether he was really a Baptist
or not. Sitting around the dinner-table, he asked him to pray
for God's blessing upon the food of which they were about to
partake.
" O, yes, sir, yes, sir." — A few minutes' silence.
" Pray out loud, brother," said Mr. C. — A mutter. — " I can
have no such sacrifice as that at my table," said Mr. C. ;
" pray out loud, brother."
'' O," said the man, " I can't pray before a minister."
Mr. C. then excused him. Dinner being over, Mr. Coley
observed, if he were a good Baptist brother, he loved prayer;
as for himself, like Daniel, he had prayers three times a day,
and now he wanted the privilege of hearing him pray. The
familv being called in, they knelt down. — Silence. — "1 want
you to pray, brother," said Mr. C. — A mutter. — " 1 want you
to pray out loud, brother," said Mr. C. " O," said the man,
who by this time was wrought up to a dreadful state of |)er-
turbation, " I could not pray before a minister." " If you are
a Baptist brother," said Mr. C, "you can pray." Upon this,
the man muttered over some parts of the Lord's prayer
" Now," said the minister, '* I have all the evidence I need tlia!
30*
.'^54 THE AMKRTCAN CLKKGY.
vou are an impostor. You are not a Baptist, sir." " I have
called jn ministers all over the United States," said the man,
" ; nd you are the sharpest man I ever met with." — With this,
lie made towards the door, which Mr. C. locked, and, in the
tones of a second Stentor, said, ^^You shall not go, sir. James,
fetch a police officer." By this time the man trembled like an
Hspcn leaf, and cried, "Don't send for a police officer." "Conf(>ss,
then, who and what you are," said Mr. C. He then confessed
that he was not a Baptist, and lived by getting money in such
a manner, and added that his honour was the sharpest man he
ever met with. After some conversation and much entreaty,
Mr. Coley allowed him to go, satisfied that he had found out a
tolerably sure method of detecting impostors.
Were every minister to adopt some such expedient, such
cliaracters would become exceedingly scarce, and their acts
of benevolence centre on needy and deserving objects. When
ministers help such persons, they are a party to an extensive
robbery among the most benevolent members of the church,
thounh unconscious of it.
A CLERGYMAN IN NEW YORK.
A CLERGYMAN of Ncw Y'ork related from the pulpit the
ff)llowing facts : — A clergyman in a neighbouring town, some
lime since, as he was riding, passed some young females, near
a school-house, and dropped from his carriage two tracts,
u liich he had previously marked. Some time after, he was
conversing with a young woman with reference to her spirit-
ual state, and found her rejoicing in the hope of pardoned sin.
He inquired the history of her religious feelings, and she traced
them to a tract dropped by a traveller, which was manifestly
KEV. E. BYNE. 35l
one of the two above referred to. He was afterwards called
to visit another young woman on a sick-bed, whose mind was
c dm and composed in view of death, which the event proved
was near at hand. She traced her first serious impressions to
tlie circumstance of two tracts being dropj)ed by a tr.ivcller;
one of which, she said, was taken up by her cousin, and the
other by herself; " and now," said she, " we are both hoping
in Christ." She had retained the tract as a precious treasure,
and putting her hand under her pillow, showed it to the cler-
gyman, who immediately recognised the marks he had written
on it.
REV. E. BYNE.
The late Rev. Edmund Byne, though somewhat eccentric
in his manners, was an eminently faithful and fearless servant
of the Lord Jesus. When a young man, soon after he had
joined the church, he was invited, with his wife, by some of
his old companions in sin, to attend a dancing-party, which he
agreed to do on the express condition that he should entirely
direct the whole proceedings of the evening. VVhen the com-
pany had collected, a young lady stepped forward and invited
the preacher to dance. He so far accepted her invitation as to
walk out on the floor with her, when the violin struck up a
lively air. Mr. Byne claimed his right to give direction to the
exercises of the evening, and immediately sang a hymn, in
which he was joined by several of the party, and then knelt
down and offered up a fervent prayer. By the time he had
completed his second hymn many were in tears. The dance
was converted into a prayer-meeting, and no other frolic was
ever attempted in that house.
'^5(\ THK A3IERICAN CLERGY.
REV. MR. BAKER.
Rev. Mr. Baker, a Free-will Baptist evangelist, was visiting
from house to house, in a certain neighbourhood, in New Eng-
land ; and met on his walk three young men with axes on their
shoulders. He stopped and conversed with them. Two ap-
peared somewhat serious: the third, a gay, frank young inan,
replied, "You see, sir, that splendid white house on that farm
yonder?" " Yes." "Well, sir, that estate has been willed to
me by my uncle ; and we are now going to do chopjiing in the
woodland that belongs to it. There are some incumbrances
on the estate which I must settle, before the farm can be fully
mine; and as soon as I have cleared it of these incumbrances,
1 mean to become a Christian." " Ah ! young man," said the
minister, " beware ; you may never see that day ; while you
are gaining the world, you may lose your soul." " I'll run
the risk," said he, and they parted. The three young men
went into the woods ; and this daring procrastinator, and ano-
ther, engaged in felling a tree. A dry, heavy limb, hung
loosely in the top; and as the tree was jarred by the success-
ive strokes of the axe, it quitted its hold, and as it fell crashing
through the branches to the earth, it struck the head of the
young heir, in its way, and stretched him on the ground, a
lifeless corpse. Thus were his hopes cut otT; and, hazarding
the delay of months, he lost his soul in an hour. His fellow-
labourer was converted; for conviction struck his mind when
he saw the young heir quivering in death ! " T felt then such
a horror at the danjrer of delavius relioion, when I thouo;ht of
what he had just said, and 3aw his end, that I determined to
neglect my soul no longer." His example was followed by
others ; and a great revival ensn( d
REV. DR. TODD. 357
REV. DR. TODD.
The following account of a Sabbath in the solitudes was
given by the Rev. Dr. Todd, at one of the benevolent cele-
brations at Boston : —
In the northern part of the state of New York, between the
St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain, and between the Mohawk
and the Hudson, there is a wilderness one hundred and tifty
miles long and one hundred miles wide. I had no conception
that there was such a wilderness this side of the Mississippi.
This wilderness is filled with lofty mountains, little inferior to
the White Mountains of Now Hampshire. On the tops of
these mountains, clouds gather and pour down their rains and
scatter their snows, so that large reservoirs are needed lo hold
the superabundant waters. The hand of God has hollowed
out a number of beautiful lakes, in the bosom of these moun-
tains, Ibr this purpose — and here arise the rivers which flow
in various directions to the sea.
In the course of the last summer, in company with a learned
friend, I entered that wilderness, and penetrated to the centre,
where is a beautiful lake of twenty or thirty miles in length,
and several miles wide, interspersed with little islands. Here
we found seven families that lived al ne. They had a little
foot-path through the wilderness, so that when they wanted to
step into a store to buy any necessaries, they could do so by
following this foot-path only forty-three miles ; or if a man
wanted bread for his family, he had only to take his grain on
his back and go the same distance and get it ground, and then
bring it back in the same way. These people were keen nt
hunting and fishing, but children at every thing else. But
(loath had entered even there, and taken a beautiful girl of
seventeen, who had just died, with no one to administer the
3o8 THK AMERICAN CLERGY.
coiisoi:iti'-.ns of religion, or to perform relij^ious services at her
funeral.
It was Saturday night. The sun was an hour high. When
it was known that we were ministers of the Gospel, two young
ladies jumped into a little boat and rowed four or five miles,
to tell the neighbours. The next morning was still. ''I'here
was no hunting or fishing. The 'coons screamed unmolested
after their prey. It was the first Sabbath that was ever kept
there, and I was to preach. We met in a little hut covered
with bark. All were there. W^e could not sing, for no one
knew how to raise a tune. In the afternoon, to accommodate
a mother that had a young child, the meeting was appointed
seven miles up the lake. We found them all there. One of
our boats was rowed by the father, and the other by the two
sisters. One old hunter came down from forty miles farther
up ; and he was able to raise a tune — a half-hunter's and half-
psalm tune.
What a meeting was that ! There were only thirty-three
souls ; but they came round me, and said, if I would come and
live among them, they would give me fish enough to cat, and
stop hunting on the Sabbath. When we separated, as we got
out a little way from them, there was a pause — they raised the
tune and began to sing the hymn,
" People of the living God," &c.
Was I weak because I wept? These are the sheep which have
strayed from our fold — the poor ones of the family, whom we
are to send after
A Cl.ERGYMAN IN TENNESSEE.
A coiNVENTioN being held in Tennessee, a clergyman, with
a friend, made their home at the house of Dr. D., an emin<3nt
A CLERGYMAN IN TENXEaSEK. .S50
physician^ .v^ho, it was said, was greatly addicted to profanity
in ordinary conversation. No evidence of this fact presented
itself for the several days of their visit.
At length, on the evening before their departure, the clergy-
man determined to draw a bow at a venture, and contrived
incidentally to refer to profane swearing. He then said,
" Doctor, we leave you to-morrow ; and be assured we are
very grateful to iMrs. D. and yourself; but, may I add, my
dear sir, that we have been disappointed here?"
" Disappointed !"
" Yes, sir, but most agreeably."
"In what, Mr. C?"
'* Will you pardon me, if I say we were misinformed, and
may I name it ''"
" Uertamly, sir, say what you wish."
" Well, my dear sir, we were told that Dr. D. was not
guarded in his language ; but, surely, you are misrepre-
sented."
"Sir," interrupted he, "I do honour you for candor; yet,
sir, I regret to say, you have not been misinformed. I do,
and perhaps habitually, use profane language ; but, sir, can
you think I would swear before religious people, and one of
them a clergyman ?"
Tears stood in the eyes of the clergyman as he took him by
the hand, and said, " My dear sir, you amaze me ! Can it be
that Dr. D., so courteous and intelligent a man, has greater
reverence for us than for the injinite God?'''*
" Gentlemen," replied the doctor, with a tremulous voice, " I
never did before see the utter folly of profane swearing. I
will abandon it for ever."
360 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. W. TENNENT.
The eminent minister of this name was settled as a pastor,
several vcars before he married. Totally ignorant of the way
in which he ought to manage his temporal concerns, he was
frequently embarrassed. In this emergency, a friend from
New York told him the only remedy against the recurrence
of the evil, was to get a wife. " I do not know how to go
about it," was the answer. *' Then I will undertake the busi-
ness," said his friend ; " I have a sister-in-law, a pious and
prudent widow." The next evening found Mr. Tennent in
New York, and the following day he was introduced to Mrs.
N . Pleased with her appearance, he abruptly told her
that he supposed she knew his errand ; that neither his time
nor inclination would allow him to use much ceremony ; and
that, if she pleased, he would return from his charge on the
following Monday, and be married. With some little hesita-
tion, the lady consented ; and she proved a most excellent wife.
Mr. Tennent and the Rev. S. Blair were sent, by the synod
to which they belonged, on a mission to Virginia. They
stopped, one evening, at a tavern for the night, where they
found a number of persons, with whom they supped, in a
common room. After supper, cards were introduced ; when
one of the gentlemen politely asked them if they would not
take a cut with them ; not knowing that they were clergymen.
Mr. Tennent pleasantly answered, "With all my heart, gen-
tiemen, if you can convince us that we can serve our Master's
cause, or contribute anv thins towards the success of our mis-
sion." This drew some smart reply from the gentleman ; when
Mr. T., with solemnity, added, "We are ministers of the Lord
REV. W. TENAENT. 361
Jesus Christ; we profess ourselves his servants; we are sent
on his business, which is to persuade mankind to repent of
ihr'ir sins, to turn Xrorn them, and to accept of that happiness
and salvation which are offered in the gospel." This ver}'
un'\[)eclod reply, delivered in a tender, though solemn man-
ner, and with great apparent sincerity, so engaged the atten-
tion of the gentlemen, that the cards were laid aside, and an
opportunity was offered for explaining, in a social conversation
during the rest of the evening, some of the leading doctrines
of the gospel, to the entire satisfaction and apparent edification
of the hearers.
When Mr. Tennent was once travelling in Virginia, he
lodged one night at the house of a planter, who informed him
that one of his slaves, a man of more than seventy years of
age, and who could neither read nor write, was eminent for his
piety and knowledge of the Scriptures. Having some curiosity
to learn what evidence such a man could have of their divine
origin, he went out in the morning, alone, and without making
himself known as a clergyman, entered into conversation with
him on the subject. After starting some of the common
obj(^rttions of infidels against the authenticity of the Scriptures,
in a way adapted to confound an ignorant man, he said to him,
" U'hen you cannot even read the Bible, nor examine the evi-
dence for or against its truth, how can you know that it is the
word of God?" After reflecting a moment, the African re-
plied, " You ask me, sir, how I know that the Bible is the
word of God ? I know it by its eff'ect ujjon yny own hearty
:n
362 THE AMERICAN CLEKGV.
AN AGED CLERGYMAN.
The following fact may show Christian ministers the im-
portance of the greatest possible simplicity in the language
they use : —
A young clergyman, who had delivered a discourse in the
place of an aged brother minister, requested the opinion of the
latter respecting it.
" Oh," said he, plainly, " many of the words you used were
beyond the comprehension of your hearers. Thus, for in-
stance, the word 'inference,' perhaps not half of my parish-
ioners understand its meaning." " Inference, inference !'" ex-
claimed the other, "why, every one must understand that." " I
think you will find it not so. There's my clerk, now ; he
prides himself upon his learning, and in truth is very intelli-
gent : we will try him. Zechariah, come hither, Zechariah ;
my brother here wishes you to draw an inference ; can you do
it?" " Why, I'm pretty strong, but Johanadab the coachman
is stronger than I; I'll ask him." Zechariah went out a few
moments, to look after the coachman, and returned, "Joha-
nadab says he has never tried to draw an inference, sir; but
he reckons his horses can draw any thing that the traces will
hold 1"
REV. DR. HARRIS.
The late Rev. Dr. Harris, of Dunbarton, walking out one
day, in one of the large villages of a neighbouring stato, mot
one of the champions of Universalism. It was General P ,
the leader and main supporter of the large Universalist society
which hud for many years existed in that place. He was a
REV. DR. HARRIS. 363
high-minded man, quite wealthy, and very influential ; having
:i good deal of general information, and considerable skill in
argument, which last he did not hesitate to use whenever
opportunities were presented. He and Dr. H. were personally
strangers ; but, knowing something of each other by rcputa-
ri<in, they readily introduced themselves to each other. The
general very soon lifted up his standard, and began his war ol
words ; not doubting that, though he might fail to convince his
opponent, he should at least show him that he was no ordinary
combatant, but knew well on what ground he stood, and how
to wield the sword of sectarian warfare to good advantage.
The doctor heard him through; then calmly turned to him
and said, " General P , it is of no use for us to contend.
We shall not convince each other by arguments ever so pro-
tracted. But there is one thing, in relation to this matter, which
deserves consideration. It is this : 1 can treat your religion
just as I please; 1 can turn from it, as an utter abomination.
I can despise it ; I can spit on it, and trample it under my feet;
and yet, after all, I shall be saved ; shanH I, General
P r' The general, of course, was obliged to assent, or
give up the doctrine. There was no room for evasion. "But,"
added the doctor, while the general was writhing at the con-
tempt thus thrown upon his gods, " it will not do for you to
\reat my religion so. If you do, you are a lost man I" This
was enough — nothing more was said.
Dr. Harris was settled in Dunbarton, in August, 1789, over
a church gathered one month previously, consisting of twelve
members, all males. His ministry with that church continued
more than forty years, during which time the place was visited
with repeated and extensive revivals, by which the churcli was
greatly enlarged and strengthened.
'Si\\ THE AMEKICAN CLERGY.
A short time before his death he penned the following retro-
spect of his method of preaching, and of his feelings in view
of it. We copy it from the Congregational Journal :
" in my late sickness, though very distressing for eight or
ten weeks, yet I had no choice between life and death : this I
chose to leave with God to decide ; and I could rejoice and did
rejoice, that infinite wisdom and goodness would do all for the
bf>st ; and my greatest desire is, that 1 may spend my future
nniiaining days to the glory of God, and in doing good to man.
••'And now, standing on the borders of eternity, I find that I
have arrived at old age, and gray hairs, and many infirmities,
much sooner than I had expected. Truly, few and evil have
the days of my life been. Though I am sensible that God has
s('(;n much heart-wickedness and coming short of duty in me,
yvX 1 am not aware that since I professed religion, men have
accused me of any immoralities, or charged me with delin-
quencies in ministerial or Christian duties ; yet I do not by
any means extend charity so far towards myself; 1 know thiit
I have a great account to settle with God, which nothing can
cancel but the blood of Christ.
"There is no part of my life and conduct upon which I can
look back with greater approbation and peace of mind, than
my manner of preaching the word, and the pains I have taken
to support the discipline of Christ's church, though it has cost
me jnuch labour and toil, and I have passed through evil re-
port as well as good report in defending the truth. For a long
time I had to bear the reproach of bringing in new and strange
doctrines ; of being a hard, severe, and unfeeling preacher,
whose doctrines and manner of preaching were calculated to
divide the people, to set the father against the son and the son
against the father, to break up the church and throw society
into disorder. And why? Because T preached that God is
unchangeably the same for ever ; that he is a holy sovereign,
nnd works all things according to his own most holy, just, and
REV. DR. HARRIS, 8(1.")
good will, anil that it is man's duty to submit to that will u)
all things — instead of doing which, man has resisted that will,
and violated God's law, and thus become the enemy of his
Maker. For this God pronounced his curse upon him, binding
him over to everlasting punishment ; under this curse, all the
human race must have suffered the vengeance of eternal fire,
had not God in his own sovereign grace provided a way ol
escape. He so Icjved the world that he gave his own Son to die
that sinners might live ; still, none can be saved, but those who
repent and forsake their sins ; who believe in Christ, and be-
come holy. Faith, repentance, a new heart and true love, are
all the sovereign gifts of God ; he hath mercy on whom he will
have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. I preached all
the doctrines of strict Calvinism; and truly this was new doc-
trine and strange preaching in these parts at that day ; for
when I began to preach in this town, the whole region was
given over to Arminianism, both ministers and churches em-
bracing that system, with but few exceptions ; of course, in
whatever direction I went, I met with opposition. The new
minister brought new and strange things to their cars, which
thcv were not willing to endure. But I found it necessary, and
believed it to be my indispensable duty, to dwell much on the
(lo(^trines of grace, wherever I went; and it was often thrown
out against me, that I always preached on doctrines, and the
hardest doctrines too; such as would raise the opposition of
tiie human heart, and turn the feelings of unreconciled men
against the preacher. I very well knew then, as ministers do
now, that I was not taking the way to be popular; but I believed
it to be the right way to do good, to gain the approbation of
God and save the souls of men. I believed it the only way to
make men acquainted with the true character of (jod, with the
nature and requirements of God's holy law, the condition of
man before and after the fall, and the way in which sinners
?an be saved through the atonement of Christ.
31^
306 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
"I am now entirely satisfied that the course I pursued wns
correct ; the course which God will approve ; the course which
promoted sound doctrine in this and neighbouring churches,
and led to the conversion of many souls; linally, it has fixed
the churches in this region firmly on the doctrines of Christ
and his apostles. Instead of regretting that I have preached
these doctrines so much, I am glad, and rejoice with exceeding
joy. There is no part of my life in respect to which I can
look forward to the Judgment with greater composure, than
that which was spent in preaching plainly and pungently, to
the best of my ability, the great and glorious doctrines of
sovereign grace, as understood by the fathers of New England.
And I think if the ministers of the present day would preach
more like the ministers of a hundred years ago, they would be
much more likely to do good, and save the souls of men. The
historical, biographical, geographical, astronomical, rhetorical,
and egotistical preaching, which we frequently hear in these
latter days, will do but little to feed the hungry souls of the
saints, and much less to convict the hard hearts of poor, dyinc
sinners ; and therefore I leave my dyirig testimony againsi-
Slick an unprojitabh and unscriptitral mode of preaching^
REV. MR. HYDE.
The memoir of the Rev. Mr. Hyde, of Lee, Mass., \\\\c^
died in December, 1833, presents him in a very lovely view
as the head of a family. One of his sons writes : —
He never came to the family altar as if to perform an un-
meaning and irksome ceremony ; but it ever seemed to him a
delightful spot — a spot where he loved to linger. And I i e-
licve we were all happy in the hour of family devotion. T! ev
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN. 367
are delightful spots in the retrospect; and nothing, iiollnnL^
makes such a chasm at home; nothing makes the paternal
mansion appear so gloomy, as not to hear the well-known
accents of our much-lamented father ascending in afTection.itc
supplication at the hours of morning and evening devotion,
and invoking a blessing upon the bounties of Providence at the
social repast. And he was not content with supplicating the
best of Heaven's blessings upon his children at family prayers
only. Often has he taken me with him in solitude, particu-
larly when I was about to leave home, and there, upon our
bended knees, has he committed me to the special care and
keeping of our heavenly Father. What he has done for me
in this respect, I presume he has done for the others.
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN.
Ax old Connecticut pastor, whose peculiarities of preaching
were proverbial, and who was blest with a temper of great
value, was one day told by a parishioner that he did not like
his sermons. "Well," said the old man, "I don't wonder at
it ; I don't like 'em myself."
A deacon went to his minister, and professing to speak iiie
sentiments of the congregation, began to complain of his stvie
of preaching. " I do not say these things for myself," s^'d
the deacon; "I am not at all dissatisfied; but the people et
vrrv uneasy, and I am afraid we shall have trouble." "ITc-v
is it," in(]uircd the pn'-tor, " that you hear all these complaints'
No other member of the church seems to be so familiar with
them as yoa are?" "Oh," said the deacon, "they all know
:}(i8 nil', AMERK^AN CLERGY.
lii.ii 1 ;ini on tfnns of intimacy with you, and they make me
i!ic ninncl into which they pour every thing which they wish
vou to hear." "Yes," replied the pastor, "and it is because
you are a tunnel that they use you as such."
A lady of suspected chastity, and who was tinctured with
infidel principles, conversing with a minister of the Gospel,
objected to the Scriptures on account of their obscurity and
the great difficulty of understanding them. The minister wisely
and smartly replied, ''^ Why, madam, what can be easier to
2(7i(lerstand than the seventh commandment, ' Thou shalt not
commit adultery V "
An elder of a church in the state of New York, a few yea^s
ago, owned a distillery, and manufactured ardent spirits. The
elder was an active Christian, and seemed quite awake to the
benevolent efforts of the day. His pastor was grieved that so
worthy a man should be engaged in a business which brought
temporal and eternal ruin upon his fellow-men, and resolved to
giv(^ him faithful warning. While visiting the elder, at his
house, the elder looked toward the grave-yard, and said, " I
love to look there ; it seems to be the way to heaven." " Yes,"
said the ftastor, "and that," pointing to the distillery, " is the
wav to hell." It was a word in season ; and, in a few weeks,
the distillery was levelled to the ground.
The North American Review gives us the followmg dialogue
between a clergvman and a female parishioner:--
SEVERAL CLERGYIViEN. 309
Parishioner. — It amazes me that ministers don't write better
sermons. I'm sick of their dull, prosy affairs.
Minister. — But it is no easy matter, my good woman, to
write good sermons
Parishioner. — Yes, but then you are so long about it. J.
could write one myself, in half the time, if I only had the text
Minister. — Oh, if a text is what you want, I will furnish
ihnt. Take this one, from Solomon: "It is better to dwell
in a corner of the house-top, than in a wide house with a
brawl iui?- woman."
Parishioner. — Do you mean me, sir?
Minister. — Oh, my good woman, you will never make a
ir')od serninnizer ; you are too soon in your application.
" It is true I have but little to give," said Dr. Finley to an
agent ; " but I consider it a privilege and an honour, so far as
the Lord allows, to have something, if it be but a single nail,
in every edifice that is going up for Christ."
A lady, in genteel but very moderate circumstances, when
presenting the clergyman of with a small sum for a
fharitable object, said, "You may put it down as the Widov:''s
Mite., sir.^^ " Not so, my friend," replied the worthy pastor.
'' [ beg you may," the lady earnestly added ; " it is but a
tiiOo," "I am aware of that, madam, but it is not all your
living.'''' How very few have in truth presented the " widow's
inito," although many apply the passage to themselves.
;37U THE AMETRICAN CLERGY.
A minister, not favourable to the doctrine of the eternal
'.ilecUon oC the people of Christ, intending once to puzzle an
awed woman, who was regarded as "a mother in Israel,"
said to her, " Do you really believe that God chose you to
salvation before you were born 'f" Her answer was remarka
ble lor its promptness. " Oh, most certainly ; for I know
He never could have seen any thing in me for which to choose
me since I was born."
A skeptic, meeting a clergyman of one of our large cities,
with a view, probably, of showing his wit, asked, " If we are
to live after death, why have we not some certain knowledge
of it ?" The clergyman, feeling it important sometimes to
answer a fool according to his folly, asked in return, "Why
didn't you get some knowledge of this world before you came
into it?"
" If we go to war, father," said a bright-eyed boy to his
clerical parent, " from what part of the Bible shall you get a
text for a new sermon?" The good minister, being taken by
surprise at the question, thought a moment, and then, sniooth-
ing the locks of the child with a sort of paternal pri(lf\ an-
swered that he believed it would be from Lmnentat'tons.
Some years since, as the venerable Father Patterson of Pni-
ladelphia, of excellent memory, was riding in a public convey-
ance, through one of the most fertile counties of Ponnsylvania-
his attention was attracted by the many large farms in \\v.\'
part of the country. He admired the beauty of the laiids. ; j, •,
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN. 371
the richness of the soil, the luxuriance of vegetation, the ex-
tensive meadows and ample fields waving with the yellow har-
vest, and ripening for the sickle. As he looked abroad, over
the highly cultivated fields, on the right hand and on the left,
he said to a friend, " Indeed, indeed, the Lord has many fine
(arms in this region; but 1 fear He receives very little rent
from them all." VVe fear this passing remark is applicable to
(arms in many other parts of this as well as other countries.
That was a noble answer which was given by a clergyman
to one of his acquaintances, when urged to drink wine at a
wedding.
" What ! Mr. M.," said one of the guests, " don't you drink
wine at a weddinsj?'
" No, sir," was the reply ; " I will take a glass ot water."
" But, sir," said the officious guest, " you recollect the ad-
vice of Paul to Timothy, to take a little wine for his infirmity."
" I have no infirmity," was the reverend gentleman's reply.
As the Rev. Mr. Field, formerly of Westminster, Vermont,
went to give his vote at an election, a man of opposite politics
expressed his surprise at seeing him there; and, to confirm his
objection, quoted the remark of the Saviour, that his " king-
dom was not of this world." " Has no man a right to vote,"
rejoined the witty clergyman, " unless he belongs to the king-
dom of Satan ?"
A minister writes : — In obtaining subscriptions for a Hbne-
volent purpose, I called upon a gentleman, in one of our larijcii
oTli THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
c'tios, w lu) (Tonerously contributed to the object. Before leav
ing, 1 said to him, " How much, think you, will such an in-
dividual subscribe?" "I don't know," said he, "but could
you hear that man pray, you would think that he would give
you all ho is worth." So 1 called upon him ; but, to my sur
prise, he would not contribute. As 1 was about to take my leave,
1 said to him, "As J came to your house, I asked an individual
what you would probably give? 'I don't know,' said he, 'but
could you hear that man pray, you would think he would give
you all he is worth.' " The man's head dropped, tears gushed
from his eyes, he took out his pocket-book, and gave mc
seventy-five dollars.
Bishop Elliot, of Georgia, has published a sermon, in which
he says : —
It will be a happy day for the church when her clergy and
laity shall plant themselves firmly upon the four principles of
this sermon : That wealth can be lawfully and innocently got-
ten only by labour. That, in the choice of rulers, virtue and
wisdom are to be preferred to party. That education is not
the mere acquisition of knowledge, but includes moral and re-
ligious training. That the religion of Christ is not the fruit
of excitement, but of scriptural instruction, united with prayer
and watchfulness. Such principles would, in these days, make
her members what Scripture says all Christians ought to be, a
" prculiar people !"
'JMic Ivcv. John Elliot was once asked by a pious woman,
who was vexed with ^ wicked husband, and bad company fre-
( u^itly infesting her house on his account, what she should
do? " Take," said he, "the Holy Bible into your nand, when
SEVERAL CLERGYMEN. 373
bad company comes in, and that will soon drive them out of
the house."
A clergyman, in New York, not long since, remarked from
the pulpit, while preaching on faith, that Faith was " God's
Magnetic Telegraph." One of his hearers, who was perhaps
more inquisitive than thoughtful, was desirous of knowing
" where the office is?" To which the admirable answer was
given, '-'■In every lowly heart of prayer. ''''
An aged clergyman, in Baltimore, states, "that during the
time he was chaplain to the Maryland Penitentiary, he took
great pains to ascertain from the convicts, what was the com-
mencement of their downward career ; and that the testimony
of about ninety-nine out of a hundred was, that their career of
wickedness commenced with Sabbath-breaking.'''*
A clergyman in New England, eminent for talents, was one
day accosted by a parishioner, who highly commended some
of his performances, of which he himself had a very low
opinion. After patiently hearing him a few minutes, the cler-
gyman replied, " My friend, all that you say gives me no better
opinion of myself than I had before, but it gives me a much
worse opinion of you."
A venerable minister, who has preached some sixty-five
years in the same place, being asked what was the secret of
long life, replied, " Rise early, live temperately, work hard,
and keep cheerful I"
32
374 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
An English publication gives an anecdote of a clergyman
of this country worth transcribing. He was desirous of com-
municating the idea of faith to a little boy, and taking a chair,
he placed it at a distance from him, and setting the boy upon
it, told him to fall forward, and he would catch him. The boy
had readily mounted the chair, but declined to fall forward as
requested. He wished to obey, but was afraid the clergyman
would fail to catch him. He, however, put one hand on the
mantelpiece, thinking to save himself if not caught ; but the
minister told him that would not do — he must trust to him
alone ; adding that he would surely catch him, provided he
would fall forward. The boy summoned all his courage, placed
confidence in what had been said to him, he fell, and was im-
mediately caught. The clergyman then told him that was
faith, and that -he wished him to go with the same confidence
to Jesus Christ. Any child may comprehend this illustration;
but alas, the disposition is too often manifested to lay hold of
some '* mantelpiece," — something in which self is interested,
rather than go direct to the arms of the Saviour !
A Christian pastor, in America, was in the frequent habit,
during the tours he made in his extensive parish, of stopping
for a night at a village inn, and of continuing his journey the
next day. On one occasion he found the principal apartment
converted into a ball-room. The host apologized for his not
being able to accommodate him as comfortably as usual ; but
the pastor, without being disconcerted, asked to have his sup-
per served to him in a corner of the room. When it was
ready, he begged the assembly to grant him a few moments'
silence, that he might, according to his practice, make an au-
dible prayer ])efore partaking of the meal. He accordingly
commenced praying, but before he had finished, the' dancers
had disappeared.
A NEW ENGLAND MINISTER. 375
A Universalist, clergyman was once robbed on the road by
a man who had formerly lived with him as a servant. After
his arrest, the preacher asked the man how he could be so base
as to rob his old employer. The robber's answer speaks vo-
lumes against the soul-destroying heresy: — "You yourself
tempted me to commit this offence against the law ; for I have
often heard you say, both in public and private, that all men
will enjoy everlasting bliss after death, and that there i& no such
tiling as eternal punishment in the next world. You thus
"emovcd my greatest fear: why should I dread the less?''''
A NEW ENGLAND MINISTER.
A WORTHY minister of the gospel, in one of the New Eng-
land States, was in the habit of inviting any of his lay bre-
thren, who mijjht feel impelled by a sense of solemn duty, to
exhort, or pray, or to perform any other religious acts which
might to them seem proper, at the close of the preaching. It
accordingly became a common practice, for some one or other
of the members of the church to engage in exhortation or
prayer, at the conclusion of the service. Among those who
seemed anxious to take a part on such occasions, was a rough,
uncouth sort of a lad, who would seldom permit an opportu-
nity t ) pass, without ministering some word of admonition to
the people. At ordinary times the forwardness of tiie lad
j)r iduced no particular inconvenience. He was, therefore, ge-
nerally permitted to go through his regular harangues. On one
occasion, when the minister rose to preach, he saw in the meet-
ing several very genteel-looking strangers, who had come in to
hear his sermon, and appeared to be prepared to give very
earnest heed. He thouj^ht at the moment that it would be a
M70 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
fine opportunity for him to make a powerful impression upon
the hearts of these strangers ; and prepared his mind for one
of his hest efforts. Still he was apprehensive that if the boy
got a chance to exhort at the end of the service, he might
frustrate all the benefit of his sermon ; and he was therefore
exceedingly anxious to close, and dismiss before the young
man had time for his speech. But this could not be done; Inr
ihe boy was watching his opportunity, and as soon as the
preacher had finished, he commenced, and continued his speech
for some time, to the no small mortification of the minister.
After some time, this same preacher was travelling at a dis-
tance from home, when he met a very interesting stranger,
who appeared instantly to recognise him, and approached and
cordially saluted him, after which the following conversation
took place :
Stranger. — Did I not have the pleasure of hearing you
preach at , on a certain day, when there were several
strangers of us present?
Minister. — I was preaching there at that time.
Stranger. — I shall have reason to re^member that day, not
only in time, but in eternity ; for it pleased the Ljprd there to
fasten an arrow in my heart, which left me uneasy ana
wretched, until I found peace in Christ.
Minister, — I desire to be very thankful to God, that he
was pleased to make my public ministry on that occasion, the
means of doing good to you, and I shall ever desire to be hum-
ble before him, for such honour put upon me.
Stranger. — My friend, it is true that the Lord has made mo,
'as I trust, one of his jewels ; but I shall not sparkle in your
crown, in that day, but in the crown of that boy, who exhorted
when you had done. The Lord made use of that boy to convert
1 mv soul.
A PENITENT MINISTER. 377
REV. DR. GRIFFIN.
Un. E. D. Griffin was often extremely felicitous in his allu-
sions to Scripture, especially on public occasions. In his
Memoir, ^v•e have an atleciing account of the dangerous illness
of his eldest daughter, and of his trials connected with it.
Some years afterwards, when by marvellous grace that daughter
had been brought into the kingdom of heaven, and had become
the mother of children, she came forward, with her husband,
according to the practice of the Christian denomination to which
they belonged, to "offer them to the Lord;" Dr. G. stood for
a moment before he uttered a word, and then, with deep emo-
tion, said, in a way that affected every person present to tears,
" I had not thought to see thv face: and lo, God hath showed
me also thy seed!"
A PENITENT MINISTER.
A Christian minister, writing from Boston to England in
1705, remarks that the religion of the gospel is the grand
restorative of the disturbed soul. In illustration of the remark,
he states that he was once told a story by one of his hearers in
reference to another, which he improperly believed, and made
some strong remarks on the conduct of the offender. These
were soon carried to him, losing nothing of their asperity on
the road, and in his turn the offender was offended; both were
verv anp-ry, the one stayed from church, and the minister
was rathf-r pleased than otherwise that he did so.
After a short time the rupture was public, and each had a
party to commend and another to censure him. The con-
science of the minister convicted hmi of wrong-doing, but it
32*
HTS TIIK AMERICAN CLERGY.
was verv long before he could persuade himself to do what
was right. At length he went to his brother, whom he found
(juite indisposed to receive him. At last the minister said,
•■' You are justified, sir, in your conduct on this occasion ; I
deserve it all, yea, and more than this; and I can bear all
with more ease than 1 can the reproaches of my own heart. I
am come, sir, to acknowledge my error; I have done wrong
in taking up a report of you, or saying any thing about you
but to yourself; 1 beseech you to forgive me." He was going
un — but his friend rose, his face being suffused with tears, and
would have spoken, but could not. He extended his hand, and
It was received with as warm a heart as ever beat in a friend's
bosom. Their hearts never cooled towards each other, till
they were made cold by death, and doubtless their friendship
shall extend throughout eternity.
A UNITARIAN MINISTER.
An o\dfrie?id, or Quaker, a few years since, happening one
Lord's-day morning to meet a Universalist minister in front
of a meeting-house in Providence, R. I., fell into conversation
vviih him upon his favourite doctrine of universal salvation.
The minister endeavoured to support his system with consider-
able warmth ; but the Quaker professed to doubt its correctness,
which served to increase the zeal of his opponent. At length,
finding it in vain to reason, he remarked, "Well, friend, I think
thee must be very happy when walking round the market, and
seeing men w-omen, and children of every description, to think
that they are all safely bound to heaven." The Universalist
could only re[)ly, " I don't know — I think we shall do very
well, if we can make out faith enough for ourselves."
A METHODIST CLERGYMAN. 379
A METHODIST CLERGYMAN.
Not many years ago, the Rev. Mr. , a native of Balti-
more, was stationed by the Conference at Augusta, Georgia,
where, by his exalted piety, zealous devotion to the Christian
cause, And uniform cheerfulness and kindness of disposition,
he made many friends, who will long continue to remember
him with se.'ntiments of veneration and esteem. His eloquence,
and espectally his logical mode of reasoning, never failed to
interest and impress the minds of his hearers ; but the old
gentleman was of that old-fiishioned school of preachers who
entertain a higher reverence for the sanctuary in which they
worship, than for the feelings of any who dared to profane it
by indecorous conduct, and quaint and harsh as it seemed to
the thoughtless offenders, he permitted none to interrupt the
services, or deport themselves unbecomingly in his church,
with impunity.
It was his custom from time to time, whenever a travelling
preacher chanced to be present to fill his place, to extend the
sphere of his usefulness, by preaching in the neighbourhood
wherever he could obtain a congregation. On one of these
occasions he had gone to fulfil an afternoon appointment in
Hamburg, on the opposite side of the river from Augusta, where,
at that time, there was no regular preaching. He had ascended
' the pulpit, and was earnestly addressing a very respectful and
attentive audience, when a man entered and seated himself in
a conspicuous part of the room. After looking listlessly about
him for a few minutes, vain'ly endeavouring to adjust himself in
a comfortable position, he extended his person at full length
upon the bench. The preacher paused in the midst of his dis-
lourse, and fixed his eyes upon the reclining auditor.
" My friend," said he, in the blandest tone, " gGt up. Sit up
in your seat as you should. You would not deport yourself
J^^;' THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
thus In the house of a neighbor for whom you had any
respect."
The eyes of all were directed upon the delinqnent, who
read, in every countenance, an approval of the minister's
rebuke.
He rose from his position — sat erect with a crimsoned face
for a few minutes, and then left the house.
The minister went on with his discourse. When the services
were over, he received the thanks and congratulations of his
Christian friends, who pressed around him at the*door, and
promising to meet them again on the following Sunday, took
his leave. He had not proceeded far from the house before he
was overtaken by the man whom he had rebuked for his im-
proper conduct.
" Stop, Mr. ," said he, " I want to have a talk with
you."
The preacher turned smiling to hear what he had to say.
" You have insulted me, sir," said the man, with extreme
agitation; "and I did promise to whip you on sight; but as
you have given out that you will preach here next Sunday, and
in consideration that you are an old man, I have concluded to
give you a chance to apologize."
"For what.'" inquired Mr. .
"Why, for insulting me in the manner you did before
everybody."
" My dear sir, I can do no such thing. I cannot apologize
for doing what 1 conceived my duty."
" Hut you must, sir; and I now give you notice, that if you
rion't apologize for insulting me to Ihe congregation next Sun-
day — if you don't make the apology as public as the insult
was — preacher as you are, I'll give you a thrashing."
" Tut, tut, — you would not do any thing so rash. You "
" 1 will! — so help me "
" Stop, my friend — make no rash promises," said the
A METHODIST CLERGYMAN. 381
j)reucher; "I did not desire to insult you, or to wound your
tt;elings unnecessarily; but you must not expect me to apolo-
gize lor doing my duty as a faithful steward of the house
ol" God."
" Well, you come here next Sunday and preach without
making an apology, and you know what to depend upon,"
replied the man as he turned away.
The following Sunday, true to Jiis appointment, the preacher
was there. The insulted auditor was there also, and kept his
eyes steadfastly fixed on the preacher during the whole of his
discourse. But not the slightest allusion was made to the
u'currence of the previous Sunday.
After the cousrejiation were dismissed, the man followed
Mr. , as beiore.
" Well, sir," said he, " you did not make the apology which
[ required of you?"
" No, my friend ; I told you that I could not. I feel that I
hcivi-i done no wrong. If I were to make a public apology to
appease vour feelings, I would acknowledge that I had done
wrong, which would be falsifying myself. I would do any
proper thing to serve you, but, as I said before, 1 can make no
such apology."
" Well, sir, you need not think to put me off in this way. 1
will permit no man to insult me; and I now tell you, once
more, that if you don't apologize for the insult to me last Sun-
day, the next time you preach in Hamburg, I will whip you,
as sure as I live."
" I hope you may live to form better resolutions, my friend,"
said the smiling clergyman; "but you require of me what I
cannot do, even to avoid a whipping."
They parted; Mr. with a polite bow, and tfu; nvaU
w th fierce threats and violent gestures.
On the following Sunday, the preacher was pimctual to his
appointment. As on the former occasion, the holliuerent indi-
:\8'2 THE A3rERICAN CLERGY.
vidiial WMS in his place, an attentive listener to the sermon.
The meeting was an extremely interesting one, and did not
break up until later than usual.
This time the man did not accost him, nor did the worthy
clergyman see him again for several days. But, about a week
after the last meeting, as he was going down Broad street, he
saw the man who had so solemnly promised him a whipping,
approaching him on the sarne side of the street. He easily
guessed the object of his visit to Augusta, and determined to
meet his fate as gracefully as possible. The man approached
within a foot or two of the minister, and, with apparent timidity,
drew a letter from his pocket, placed it in the clergyman's
hands, and passed on, without uttering a single word.
The first thought the worthy minister had was, that possibly
the unhappy man had sent him a challenge ; but, on opening
the letter, what was his surprise to read,
Hamburcx, S. C, April 10, 18SS.
" Respected Sir : — Enclosed you will find fifty dollars, a part
of which I have collected from your Hamburg friends. It is
tendered to you in acknowledgment of your praiseworthy
efforts in the cause of religion. Hoping that you will continue
to visit us, whenever your pastoral engagements will permit, I
remain, Gratefully yours.
Such was the haiipy result of faithful preaching. The good
minister pleasantly remarked, that he would have no objection,
every now and then, to receive such a flogging; and continued
to visit Hamburg whenever opportunities presented.
REV. DR. WITHERSPOON. 3b3
A NEW ENGLAND CLERGYMAN.
As a minister was walking upon one of our eastern wharves,
he heard a man in a fishing boat just pulled up, swearing very
profanely, and resolved on reproving him. For this purpose
he stepped up to the boat, and began to enquire concerning the
manner of taking fish. The fisherman answered this enquiry
by saying, that for one kind of fish he baited his hook with
such a material, and for such other kind of fish, baited his
hook with such an article. The clergyman asked, " Do you
not take any without bait?" " No," said the fisherm.-in, " I
never did but one ; one fool bit the naked hook." " Well,"
said the clergyman," the devil is a great fisherman, and to
take the ambitious he baits with the honor of the world, and
to take the avaricious he baits with silver and gold, and for the
pleasure-seekers he baits with sensual gratifications, but the
profane swearer is like your foolish fish, he bites at the naked
hook.
REV. DR. WITHERSPOON.
The Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, formerly president of Princeton
College, was once on board a packet ship, where, among other
passengers, was a professed atheist. This unhnppy mrin \va.>
very fond of troubling every one with his pernliar bclir-f, and
of broaching the subject as often as he could get any one to
listen to him. He did not believe in a God and a future state,
not he ! By-and-bye there came on a terrible storm, and the
prospect was that all would be drowned. T'hcre was much
consternation on board, but no one was so greatly frighlencd
as the professed atheist. In this extremity, he sought out ihe
clergyman, and found him in the cnbin, calm and collrcled, in
,'^84 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
the midst of danger, and thus addressed him ; " Oh, Dr.
VN'ithorsnoon ! Dr. Witherspoon ! we're all going ; we have hut
a short time to stay. Oh, how the vessel rocks; we're all
going; don't you think we are, doctor?" The doctor turned
to him with a solemn look, and replied in broad Scotch, " Nae
doubt, nae doubt, man; we're a' ganging; but you and 1
dinna gang the same way."
A GOOD PREACHER.
How beautiful is simplicity ! Who can read the following
illustrations of faith without emotion?
A beloved minister of the gospel was one day speaking of
that active living faith, which should at all times cheer the
heart of the sincere follower of Jesus ; and related a beautiful
illustration that had just occurred in his own family.
He had gone into a cellar, which, in winter, was quite dark,
and entered by a trap-door. A little daughter, only three
years old, was trying to find him, and came to the trap-door,-
but, on looking down, all was dark^ dark — and she called,
"Are you down cellar, papa?"
" Yes ; would you like to come, Mary?"
" It is dark ; I cafi't come, papa."
" Well, my 'daughter, I am right below you ; and I can see
you, though you cannot see me, and if you will drop yourself,
I will catch you."
" Oh ! I should fall ; I can't see you, papa."
" I know it," he answered ; " but I am really here, and you
shall not fall or hurt yourself. If you will jump, I will catch
you safely."
Little Mary strained her eyes to the utmost, but she could
catch no glimpse of her father. She hesitated, then advanced
KEV. DR. BALDWIN.
a little farther, then, summoning all her resolution, she threw
herself forward, and was received safely in her father's arms.
A few days after, she again discovered the cellar door open;
and, supposing her father to be there, she called, " Shall I
come again, papa?"
" Yes, my dear, in a minute," he replied ; and had just time j
to reach his arms towards her, when, in her childish glee, she :
fell shouting into his arms, and, clasping his neck, said, " I
knetVj dear papa, I should not fall."
REV. DR. BALDWIN.
The Rev Dr. Baldwin, when living in New Hampshire, was
under an engagement to preach at some distance from home ;
but, having set out too late to reach the place of his appoint-
ment on the same day, he found himself at night on a rough
and dreary road, which lay, for the most part, through the
woods. Being very much fatigued with his ride on horseback
he resolved to tarry, for the night, at the first house he might
find. He came to a sort of cabin, at the door of which he
knocked. A woman presented herself, of whom he begged
the favour of a night's entertainment for himself and his
horse. She eyed him suspiciously, for the doctor, (when in
his old hat and threadbare clothes, was not particularly pre-
possessin£f in his appearance,) but finally told him that he
might stay. The doctor put up his horse in the old, rickety
barn, and then relnnuil lo the house. Here, upon a pine-wood
table, he found a boul of milk, a loaf of bread, and a small
quantity of butter — the materials for his supper. The good
woman, after giving him an invitation to be seated and partake,
added, as she looked earnestly in his face, " There, such as
33
Ofi6 rflE AMERICAN CLERGY.
the house affords, I give you — if you are a good man^ it is
good enough; and if you are not a good man, it is altogether
too ffoody
REV. MR BUSHNEL.
Mr. Bushnel, of Utica, New York, a Wesleyan Methodist
preacher, having business at a neighbouring town, was obliged,
HI consequence, to see the landlord of the village inn ; so he
stopped at his house. When he entered the bar-room, he saw
about twenty men, most of whom were intoxicated — several of
them quite dmnk. After a little time, one of them said some-
thing to Mr. Bushnel, who replied in a courteous manner, and
spoke of the subject of temperance. Immediately the attention
of the assembly was arrested, and the cause was denounced
as the work of prie«ts and politicians.
Mr. Bushnel, finding it impossible to stem the current of
abuse by an appeal to their reason, proposed to sing a temper-
ance song ; to which they all agreed, and he accordingly com-
menced the " Staunch Teetotaller." On glancing around the
room, after he had concluded, he observed the tear trickling
down the cheek of almost evcrv man. The sentiment of the
song, and the melodious, touching manner in which it was
sung, had awakened their purest sensibilities — had carried
their ihoughts back to their families and firesides, surrounded,
as they once were, with plenty, happiness, and afl^ection ; and
then the contrast of a drunkard's home — its dark wretchedness
and misery, were wisely presented to their minds ; and those
hardened men could not resist the appeal, but acknowledged
its truth by tears ! The song was unanimously called for
again, and their wishes were gratified by its repetition. Soon
after, the landlord came in ; and Mr. B. was requested to re-
peat it for his especial benefit. It produced the same efl^ct
REV. 3rR. WALKER 387
upon him; and, after lie had concluded, he grasped him bv
tlie hand, and exclaimed, " I will never sell another glass of
liquor as long as I live!" He acted immediately on his reso-
lution, cut dovvn his sign-post, and closed his bar; the others
promising to go to the temperance meeting that evening, and
sign the pledge. And they all did so, except one.
REV. MR. WALKER.
A DIFFICULTY having arisen in the Presbyterian church of
Rome, New York, between the pastor and the people, a coun-
cil was called. Mr. W. made out charges of slander against
five or six of his brethren, and procured his witnesses. They
also made out charges against Mr. W. for his improper expres-
sions concerning them. But the council, soon after its organi-
zation, decided, for certain reasons, that it was imj)roper for
them to act as a council in the case, and so dissolved. Thus
the way to adjust the difficulties of the church seemed hedged
up. Rev. Mr. L., of Auburn, now rose and delivered a solemn
address to the church ; and his address was followed by a
moving scene. One of the brethren who was complained of
by Mr. W. had been to Sherburne, to engage Rev. Mr. Truair,
of that place, as an advocate. In that town God was pouring
out his Spirit ; and Mr. D. returned convicted of his errors.
At this interesting moment he came forward, took his pastor
by the hand, and made the most humble and melting confession
of his faults. Mr. W. as frankly forgave him, and cordially
embraced him as a friend and brother. No sooner had he
done this than Mr. D. kneeled down and poured out his soul
in .-in appropriate, humble, penitential prayer. Before he con-
cluded, two-thirds of the audience were bathed in tears. Ho
38S THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
was followed by addresses and prayers from some ol the coun-
cil ; and then another was ready to confess his faults, and then
another, to the last of the accused; each one taking Mr. Walk-
er by the hand, and receiving forgiveness. He in turn asked
their forgiveness wherein he had expressed himself improperly
towards them. Pardon was also asked of the church, and
cheerfully granted. This opened the door forMr. W.'s friends,
who, one after another, confessed whatever they had said, in
an unchristian manner, against the opposite party. Thus two
whole days, with the exception of time occupied in hearing
two sermons, was spent in mutual confession and forgiveness.
Before the council separated, they took the papers which con-
tained the charges on both sides, held them up to the view of
the audience, declared they were about to make a burnt-sacri-
fice of them, and committed them to the flames. On the even-
ing of the second day, a conference meeting was held, in which
several were so deeply impressed as to ask for prayers. From
tnat time a revival of religion commenced. The above facts
occurred in Rome in 1819-20.
A CLERGYMAN IN VIRGINIA.
A CLERGYMAN in Virginia, speaking very highly in com-
mendation of Legh Richmond's excellent tract " The Negro
Servant," describes a very interesting scene in connection with
it. He says that he was riding one day, and saw a group of
coloured persons sitting under a tree, and eating their homely
dinner. He asked them if they would like to hear an account
of one of their own colour who became religious. They con-
sented; and says he, "I leaned against the tree, which spread
:>ut its branches far beyond us, and I began to read. Ther^
REV. DR. COKE. 389
%vas soon breathless attention. It was sultry noon-tide, and
the leaves of the tree made no rustling. Sighs and groans
were audible, though evidently suppressed ; and tears coursing
one after another down their sable cheeks, showed that the
story of poor William had reached their hearts."
REV. JOHN COTTON.
The Rev. John Cotton, of Boston, was distinguished for his
tbrbearance and meekness, which greatly contributed to his
happiness and usefulness. When he was once told that his
preaching was very dark and comfortless, he replied, " Let me
have your prayers, brother, that it may be otherwise." Having
once observed to a person, who boasted of his knowledge ot
the book of Revelation, that he wanted light in those myste-
ries, the man went home, and sent him a pound of candies ;
which insolence only excited a smile. " Mr. Cotton," says
Dr. Mather, "would not set the beacon of his great soul on
tire at the landing of such a little cock-boat." A drunken fel-
low, to make merriment for his companions, approached him
in the street, and whispered in his ear, " Thou art an old fool."
Mr. Cotton replied, "I confess I am so; the Lord make both
me and thee wiser than we are, even wise unto salvation."
REV. DR. COKE.
The following anecdote was related by Dr. Coke himself, to
his brother in-law.
In attempting to cross a river in the United StaUs, Dr. Coko
390 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
missed the ford, and got into deep water, and was carried, with
his horse, down the stream. Feeling himself in dangei, he
caught hold of a bough, and with some difRcuUy got upon dry
land, but his horse was lost. After drying his clothes in the
sun, he commenced to finish his journey on foot; and at length
met a man wha directed him to the nearest village, telling him
to inquire for a Mrs. , from whom, he had no doubt, he
would receive very kind treatment. Dr. C. found the good
lady's house, and received all the kindness and attention she
could show him. The next morning he proceeded on his
iourney. After a lapse of five years, the Doctor happened to
be in America again. As he was on his way to one of the
provincial conferences, in company with about thirty other per-
sons, a young man requested to be allowed the favour of con-
versing with him ; to which he assented with Christian polite-
ness. The young man asked him if he recollected being in
such a part of the States about five years before, to which ho
replied in the affirmative. " And do you recollect, sir, in at-
tempting to cross the river, being nearly drowned ?" " I re-
member it quite well." "And do you recollect going to the
house of a widow lady in such a village?" "1 remember it
well," said the doctor, " and never shall I forget the kindness
she showed me." " And do you remember, when you departed,
leaving a tract at that lady's house?" "I do not recollect
that," said he, ' but it is very possible that I might do so."
*' Yes, sir," said the young man, " you did leave there a tract,
which that lady read, and the Lord blessed the reading of it
to the conversion of her soul; it was also the means of the
conversion of several of her children and neighbours; and
there is now in that village a flourishing Christian society."
The tears shed by Dr. Coke showed something of the feelings
of his heart. The young man resumed, "I have not, sir, quite
told you all. I am one of that lady's children, and owe my
conversion to God, to the gracioii? influence with which he ac-
REV. MR. CROSS. 391
companied the reading of that tract to my mind ; and I am,
Dr. Coke, on my way to conference, to be proposed as a
preacher."
REV. MR. CROSS.
This gentleman is one of the colporteurs of the American
Tract Society, and the following interesting anecdote of the
success of his labours was related by the Rev. S. T. Wells.
While visiting from house to house, with an elder of Rev.
Mr. J.'s church, they came to the hut of a coal-digger. "We will
not go into that house," said the elder, "the man is so wicked,
it would be of no use." Mr. Cross maintained that such were
the very men he was sent to. They entered the hut, which
indicated great poverty both within and without, and found sit-
ting on a broken bench in the corner, a large athletic man,
nearly naked. He had remained unwashed so long that the
coal-dust lay like scales all over his body. The face of his
wife was black and swollen with bruises which he had given
her, and his own countenance was very fierce. "We have
come," said Mr. Cross, "to sell you some good religious hooks,
and to have some conversation with you on the subject of re-
ligion." "I have no money, »sir," he said, "and don't wnnt
any of your books." " If you have no money," said Mr.
Cross, " you shall have the books and welcome. You have a
soul, and you must die; you are not prepared to die now, are
vou, friend?" His eye, which had been fixed with a savage
glare upon him till this question, lowered a little, and began to
soften, and he replied that he was not ready to die. Before
Mr. Cross left him, he wept like a child, and told him that he
was the first man who had ever come there to talk with hin
about his soul.
392 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. DR. COTTON MATHER.
The following anecdote is full of instruction, both as illus-
trative of Dr. Mather's ingenuity in ihe comnaunication of di-
vine truth, and as suggesting a valuable hint to ministers of
the present day.
In the year 169(5, Bommaseen, a chief of the American
Indians, was a prisoner in Boston, with some others of his
countrymen. He desired a conference with one of the Boston
ministers; Dr. Mather waited upon him, and was told that he
wished to be instructed in the Christian religion, for he was
afraid that the French had imposed upon them in what they
had taught them respecting Christianity. The doctor inquired
of him what appeared to them most suspicious in the instruc-
tions of the French, and Bommaseen said that they had told
him that the Lord Jesus Christ was of the French nation ; that
his mother, the Virgin Mary, was a French lady ; that English-
men murdered him ; and that as he rose from the dead, and
had ascended to heaven, all who would recommend themselves
to his favour must avenge his quarrel on the English, as far as
they could. The doctor, knowing that the_ best medium of
communicating religious knowledge to the Indians was to deal
much in similitudes, began t > think of some suitable imagery,
and as a cup of drink stood U[>on the table, he employed thai
as his medium of instruction.
He told them that the Lord Jesus had given to men a good
religion, which might be compared to the good drink in the cup
on the table. That if we take this good religion, like the good
drink, into our hearts, it will do us good, and preserve us from
death. That the Bible, God's book, is the cup wherein that
good drink of religion is offered unto us. That the French,
having the cup of good drink in their hands, had put poi-
S071 into it, and then made the Indians drink, and that this
REV. DR. COTTON MATHER. 393
made them mad, leading them to kill the English, though
they knew it would end in their own destruction. That it
was plain the English had put no poison into the drink,
for they set the cup wide open, and invited all men, even
the Tndians, into whose language Mr. Elliot had translated
the Bible, to come and see before they tasted ; but that
they might fairly infer the French had put poison into the
good drink, because they kept the cup closely shut, (not
having given them the Bible,) and kept their hands to the eyes
of the Indians when they put it to their mouths.
The poor Indians, having expressed their satisfaction with
what he had said, entreated him farther to explain about the cup
of good drink and the poison. He then, in the most simple
manner, placed before them the chief points of Christianity ; and
showed them how the Catholics had poisoned and corrupted
most of its truths, and that it was important for them to dis-
tinguish between truth and error. He then said — " To obtain
the pardon of your sins, you must confess them to God, and
pray that he would pardon them for the sake of Jesus Christ,
who died for poor sinners ; and if you place your eye on Jesus
Christ only, when you beg the pardon of your sins, God will
forgive them. You need confess your sins to none but God,
except in cases where men have known your sins, or have
been hurt by them ; but even then, none but God can pardon
them." He then showed them how the French had corrupted
the truth, by enjoining them to confess their sins to a priest, to
carry skins to him, and to do penance at his bidding.
The poor creatures were much delighted with this discourse
of the doctor, fell at his feet, kissed his hands, and showed
every mark of affection. Bommaseen, lifting his eyes and
hands to heaven, said, " Sir, I thank you for these things ; I
r( solve to spit up all the French poison ; you shall be my fa-
ther, I will be your son ; I beseech you continue to instruct ir^
oy4 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
ill tliat religion, whicii may bring me to the salvation of my
soul."
Dr. Franklin once received a very useful lesson from the
excellent Doctor, which he thus relates in a letter to his son : —
The last time I saw your father, was in 1724. On taking
my leave, he showed me a shorter way out of the house, by a
narrow passage, which was crossed by a beam over head. We
were still talking us I withdrew, he accompanying me behind,
and I turning towards him, when he said hastily, " Stoop,
stoop !" I did not understand him till I felt my head hit against
the beam. He was a man who never missed an opportunity
of giving instruction ; and upon this he said to me, " You are
young, and have the world before you ; learn to stoop as you
go through it, and you will avoid many hard thumps." This
advice, thus beat into my head, has frequently been of use to
me ; and 1 often think of it, when I see pride mortified, and
misfortune brought upon people by their carrying their heads
too high.
Dr. Mather was remarkable for the sweetness of his temper.
He took some interest in the political concerns of his country,
and, on this account, as well as because he faithfully reproved
iniquity, he had many enemies. Many abusive letters were
sent him, all of which he tied up in a packet, and wrote upon
the cover, " Libels ; — Father, forgive them."
I happened once, says Dr. Mather, to be present in the room
,vhore a dying man could not leave the world until he lamented
to a minister whom he had sent for, the unjust calumnies and
\niurios which he had often cast upon him. The minister asked
AN AGED CLERGYMAN. iVJo
the poor penitent what was the occasion of this abusive con-
duct ; whether he had been imposed upon by any false report.
The man made this answer: "No, sir, it was merely this; I
thought you were a good man, and that you did much good in
the world, and therefore I hated you. Is it possible, is it possi-
ble," he added, " for such a wretch to find pardon?"
What a contrast did the character of the doctor himself pre-
sent to all this ! It was his laudable ambition to say, that " He
did not know of any person in the world who had done him any
ill office but he had done him a trood one for it."
AN AGED CLERGYMAN
An aged clergyman, in the State of New York, not long
since gave a very interesting narrative of scenes in which he
was personally concerned.
Two young men from Birmingham, in England, emigrated
to the United States in 1793. On the vessel arrivins: in si<:ht
of her destined port, a storm suddenly arose, the ship was
wrecked, and the two brothers, always affectionately attached
to each other, died locked in each other's arms. Their bodies
being washed ashore, they were decently buried, and our re-
verend friend preached a funeral sermon from the counsel of
Solomon, " Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest
not what a day may bring forth." It was ascertained front
their papers from whence they came, and how their friends
could be addressed : the minister wrote to their widowed mother,
now most aflfectingly bereaved of her sons, and deeply sym-
pathized with her under her accumulated sorrows. A corro-
spondence ensued, and our friend ultimately received a piece of
plate with a suitable inscription on it, recording his kindness
This he carefully placed in his study.
Many years afterwards, a gentleman from England, over-
336 THE OrERlCAN CLEKGY,
taken in a violent storm, sought for shelter at the house of the
minister, where he was invited to stay for the night. As, on
the next morning, he was looking over the worthy pastor's
study, his eye caught the plate, the inscription on which he
read with deep interest, for these young men were his cousins.
The character of the subsequent intercourse between the minis-
ter and his new friend need not be described.
REV. MR. BENNETT.
The following is an extract from an anniversary sermon,
delivered by the Rev. Mr. Bennett, of Woburn, Mass. The
introductory remarks are so judicious in their charac'ter, and
are so very naturally connected with the anecdote which fol-
lows, that no apology will be needed for their appearance : —
I am sorry to say it, the first open complaint is made against
the pastor, in three cases out of four, by a deacon of the church.
Deacons, the world over, are like Jeremiah's figs — that is, very
sweet or very sour. They either aid their pastor, and, like
Aaron and Hur, stay up his hands, or decidedly the reverse.
It is a sober fact, and it ought to make the ears of such dea-
cons tino-le, that at least three out of four of all the ministers
in New England, who have been driven away from their peo-
ple, have been driven awny by deacons; by men who, in one
respect, have with a vengeance " magnified their oflice." I
might point you to numerous examples all over the land. But
1 forbear. I thank God, however, that I have never been
plagued by such deacons. I have never had the slightest diffi-
culty with any of my deacons, except in a single instance, and
mat lasted but five minutes. It was with good deacon Wyman,
at the commencement of the Temperance Reformation in 1826.
Some one had told him that I said at a church meeting that 1
KEV. DR. L. 397
would never drink another drop of ardent spirit, (unless or-
dered by a physician,) or give it to a workman or a visitor,
while I lived. The deacon called upon me the ;iext day, and
asked me if I said so. I told him I did^ and should stick to it^
at all hazards. " Well," said he, " then you will not be a mi-
nister of this parish three months." "Very well," said I, "I
have taken my stand, and if I knew I should be drawn in
quarters within three months, if I did not recant, I would not
do it." Said the deacon, " You are a crazy man, and I will
not talk with you ;" and arose to go out of my house, when I
thus accosted him : "Deacon Wyman, the next time you enter
your closet, will you ask God to teach you by his Spirit, who
is right on this subject, you or 11" " I tell you," said he, "I
will not talk with you," and marched out of doors. The next
m.orning, long before sunrise, some one knocked — I went to
the door, and behold, there stood deacon Wyman. He instantly
grasped my hand, and, with tears rolling down his cheeks, ex-
claimed, "My dear pastor, I went home from your house yes-
terday, and in accordance with your advice, retired to my
closet, and asked God to teach me by his Spirit, who was right
in regard to the use of ardent spirits, you or I. In five minutes
a flood of light broke in upon my mind, and I was fully con-
vinced that you were right, and I was wrong. And now," said
he, "go aliead with your temperance reformation — to the day
of my death I will do all in my power to sustain you." He
was as good as his word. He did sustain me as long as he
lived."
KEV. DR. L.
It has been well said that weighty solemn sentences, dropped
into the ear of the sinner in private, are often far more useful
than even the most eh^pucnt sermons. Some years since,
34
31/8 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Mr.. B., a worldly man, who dealt in lottery tickets, was one
of the committee of supply for a rich evangelical congregation,
and the Rev. Dr. L. was invited to supply the pulpit for a
Sabbath or two. On their way from the meeting-house to the
residence of Mr. B., Dr. L., who had discovered that several
persons had been opposed to his being invited to preach, re-
marked, "If I had known that so many had been opposed to
me, I do not know that I should have preached ; but I have
one consolation — I preached the titUh to them." " Yes," re-
plied Mr. B., somewhat hesitatingly. The faithful minister
then looked him full in the face, and said to him, with great
solemnity and emphasis, "-TF/iy/ <^o you not believe it then V
The inquiry seemed to strike him dumb; he retired to reflect,
to weep over his misspent life, to repent and pray. The
solemn inquiry, of which conscience told him the justice, was
like "a nail fastened in a sure place." He was soon brought
to " the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind," and be-
came one of the most active and useful Christians in the city
of his residence.
A WISE CLERGYMAN,
" An Atheist !" exclaimed a devout clergyman, when Mr. B.
was introduced to him to advocate the cause of infidelity ; ' it
is impossible."
"Yes, sir," said Mr. B., "I am an Atheist; and I should
be glad of an argument, as I hold it impossible for any man to
prove that there is a God ; and, sir,"
" But hold," said the minister; " T must first be satisfied that
you are an Atheist."
" Well, sir," said Mr. B., " do I not tell you that I am so ?"
" But, my Bible." said the minister, " declares that every
A WISE CLERGYMAN. 399
human heart, wliich of course includes yours, is not only des*
perutely wicked, but deceitful above all things; and the Holy
Ghost, therefore, asks, Who can know it? Peradventure, you
may be deceived in this matter."
"But, sir," said Mr. B., ^'-do I not know what I believe?—
am I not a rational creature?"
"Well," said the minister, " let us try the point. I will pro-
pose a test to which you can submit without difficulty or
trouble; if you will pledge yourself to pursue the course which
I shall direct, I will then proceed to the argument which you
seem so much to desire."
"I do not wish," said Mr. B., "to pledge myself thus blindly
to do any thing. What would you have me to do?"
"It shall be," said the minister, "such a thing as shall be
perfectly consistent with your professed belief, and reasonable,
and easy. If (yourself being the judge) it shall not be so,
according to your oiL-n scheme, you shall be under no obliga-
tion to perform it."
"Very well," said Mr. B. promptly, "I will. W^hat do you
propose, sir?"
"This night," said the minister, "when deep sleep shall fall
upon man, and thick darkness shall cover the world, you shall,
taking solemn thought, and after deep meditation, walk delibe-
rately and alone to yonder hill, and in the thick darkness of the
forest which covers its summit, you shall stand and raise your
eyes and your clenched hands to the firmament above you, and
then shall declare: — 'There is no God who created me — There
is no God who preserves me — There is no God whom I fear.'
Will you do this?"
The Atheist was confounded with the proposition.
"Oh," said the minister, you arc no Atheist; I was sjure
vou were mistaken. We agree on this point. There is no
ground for an argument."
4(10 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. MR. HULL.
Father Hull was a preacher of the old school, connected
with the South Carolina conference. Passing along the high-
way one evening, in a strange and wicked part of the country,
weary and faint, he called at a respectable-looking house to
ask for a lodging. After a while, as he sat by the fireside, a
number of well-dressed ladies and gentlemen entered his room,
and very shortly they began to dance to the music of a violin.
It was a ball, at which the stranger looked silently on. At
length a partner was wanted, and the old gentleman was in-
vited to take the floor. "Certainly, madam," he replied, walk-
ing out on the floor as he spoke; "but I have long made it a
rule never to commence any business till I have asked the
direction of the Lord, and his blessing upon it. Will you all
join in the prayer with me?" He instantly fell on his knees,
and began to pray. Some kneeled, others stood still, all were
petrified with astonishment. In prayer he was intensely earn-
est and powerful, and the heavens and the earth seemed drawn
together. Some groaned, others shrieked aloud, and many fell
prostrate like dead men on the floor. The dance was turned
into a religious meeting, from which many dated their conver-
sion to God, and was the commencement of an extensive
revival
REV. JOHN SUMMERFIELD.
On a journey in the stage from Brunswick to Trenton, this
worthy young clergyman, with two others, occupied the mid-
dle seat. His pale, youthful countenance, with his general
appearance, led an elderly respectable gentleman, who occu-
REV. JOHN SUMMERFIELD. 401
pied the front seat, to suppose him to have been a student from
Princeton college. Under this impression, he requested hnn,
■ — lather peremptorily^ however, — to change seats. Though
struck with surprise, rather perhaps at the mmifier in which
the request was made, than at the request itself, after a mo-
mentary hesitation — during which his pale cheek was tinged
with a momentary flush — he changed seats without uttering a
word. Of all in the stage, not one, on the ground of health,
(which was the reason assigned afterwards for making the re-
quest,) required accommodation so much as Mr. S. As it was,
the change of seat affected him considerably. It is pleasant to
add, however, that the gentleman having arrived in Trenton,
and discovered his mistake, took the earliest opportunity to
apologize to him, and by the greatest kindness endeavoured to
remove any unpleasant feeling which he might inadvertently
have occasioned. The meek spirit of his Master, with which
Mr. S. was imbued, led him at once to forget the occurrence,
and to cherish the most sincere gratitude for all the after kind-
ness of this gentleman, with whom an interesting correspond-
ence was kept up.
It has been well remarked that that clergyman cannot have
the feelings of a pastor, who does not cherish special love for
the young of his flock. The following is one of many instances
of attention to the lambs of the Christian fold in the life of this
highly popular minister: —
A boy, about eleven years of age, after one of his sermons
to children, remained till the congregation had nearly dispersed,
when he attracted Mr. Summerfield's notice; who, stepping
forward, said, " My little boy, do you want any thing with
me?" — The little fellow appeared overcome with his feelings,
and could only say, " Mr. Summerfield." "Well, my Kn-e,
uhat df) vou want with Mr. Summerfield?" The bov, b«Mn^>
34*
402 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
now encouraged, said that he wished Mr. Summerfield would
call at his mother's house: on inquiring where his mother
-ived, the name of the street and the number of the house were
given. "What is your name?" — "John Brown," replied the
boy. " Well, .Fohn Brown, to-morrow at eleven o'clock, [ shall
pay you a visit." Accordingly, at the time appointed, Mr.
Summerfield waited upon him; he found John busily employed
sweeping and fixing the fire, and preparing for his visitor.
'• Well, John, here I am, according to my appointment." — John
requested him to take a seat, until he had found his mother.
She was a pious woman, and said that her son had heard him
preach, whenever he had addressed the children, and that his
mind in consequence had been much impressed. Mr. S. knelt
down and prayed with them; and before he went away,
encouraged John, and gave him some good advice; entered
his nanie on the list of those for whom he felt a peculiar inte-
rest, and told him that he should keep his eyes upon him; re-
questing him to come and speak to him whenever he had an
opportunity, that he might ascertain what progress his little
(Viend John Brown was making. Carping criticism, or cold
philosophy may despise these little traits of character, but mi-
nisterial wisdom will admire them.
REV. DR. J. M. MASON.
tiVERY one, says the late Rev. Dr. J. M. Mason, of New
York, has remarked the mixed and often ill-assorted company,
which meet in a public packet or stage-coach. The conversa-
tion, with all its variety, is commonly insipid, frequently dis-
gusting, and sometimes insufferable. There are exceptions.
All opportunity now and then occurs of spending an hour in a
REV. I)K. J. M. MASON. 40.3
manner not unwortliy of rational beings ; and the incidents of a
stage-coach may produce or promote salutary impressions.
A few years ago, one of the stages which ply between the
two principal cities of the United States of America, was filled
with a group which could never have been drawn together by
mutual choice. In ihe company was a young man of social
temper, affable manners, and considerable information. His
accent was barely sufficient to show that the English was not
his native tongue ; and a very slight peculiarity in the pro-
nunciation of the th^ showed him to be a Hollander. He had
early entered into military life, had borne both a Dutch and a
French commission, had seen real service, had travelled, was
master of the English language, and evinced, by his deport-
ment, that he was no strano;er to the society of o-cntlemen. He
had, however, a fault, too common among military men, and
too absurd to find an advocate among men of sense — he swore
very profanely and frequently.
While the horses were changing, a gentleman who sat on
the same seat with him took him by the arm, and requested
the favour of his company in a short walk. When they were
so far retired as not to be overheard, the former observed,
"Although I have not the honour of your acquaintance, I per-
ceive, sir, that your habits and feelings are those of a gentle-
man, and that nothing can be more repugnant to your wishes
than giving unnecessary pain to any of your company." [le
started, and replied, "Most certainly, sir! I hope I have com-
mitted no offence of that sort ?"
"You will pardon me," replied the other, "for pointing out
an instance in which you have not altogether avoided it."
." Sir," said he, "I shall be much your debtor for so friendly
an act; for, upon my honour, I cannot conjecture in what 1
have transgressed."
"IF you, sir," continued the former, "had a very dear
friend, to whom you were under unspeakable obligations,
404 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
should you not be deeply wounded by any disrespect to him,
or even by hearing his name introduced, and used vvilh a fre-
quency of repetition and a levity of air, incompatible with the
regard due to his character?"
" Undoubtedly, and I should not permit it ; but I know not
that I am chargeable with such indecorum to any of your
friends."
" Sir, my God is my best friend, to whom I am under infi-
nite obligations. I think you must recollect that you have
very frequently, since we commenced our journey, taken his
name in vain. This has given to me, and others of the com-
pany, severe pain."
" Sir," answered he, with very ingenuous emphasis, " I have
done wrong; I confess the impropriety. I am ashamed of a
practice which I am aware has no excuse ; but I have imper-
ceptibly fallen into it, and I really swear without being con-
scious that I do so. 1 will endeavour to abstain from it in
future; and, as you are next to me on the seat, I shall thank
vou to touch my elbow as often as I trespa,ss." This was
agreed upon ; the horn sounded, and the travellers resumed
their places.
For the space of four or five miles, the officer's elbow was
jogged every few seconds. He always coloured, but bowed,
and received the hint without the least symptom of displea-
sure ; and, in a few miles more, so mastered his propensity to
swearing, that not an oath was heard from his lips for the rest
of his journey, which was the greater part of it.
After this, he was more grave; and, having ruminated some
time, after surveying first one and then another of the com-
pany, turned to his admonisher, and addressed him thus :
"You ^re a clergyman, I presume, sir?"
" I am considered as such."
He paused ; and then, with a smile, indicated his disbelief
REV. DR. J. M. MASON. 405
in Divine revelation in a way which called for further conver-
sation on this subject.
He avowed himself an infidel, and an animated conversation
followed. At length he exclaimed, " I own I am beaten, com-
pletely beaten ; I have nothing more to say."
A silence of some minutes succeeded ; when the young
military traveller said to his theological friend, "1 have studied
all religions, and have not been able to satisfy myself."
"No, sir," answered he; "there is one religion which you
have not yet studied."
" Pray, sir," cried the officer, roused and eager, "what is
that?" "
" The religion," replied the other, " of salvation through
the redemption of the Son of God ; the religion which will
sweeten your pleasures, and soften your sorrows; which will
give peace to your conscience, and joy to your heart ; which
will bear you up under the pressure of evils here, and shed the
light of immortality on the gloom of the grave. This relifi-ion,
[ believe, sir, you have yet to study."
The officer put his hands upon his face; then, languidly
clasping them, allowed them to fall down, forced a -smile, and
said, with a sigh, " We must all follow what we tbmk best."
His behaviour afterwards was perfectly decorous, b"^ nothing
further is known of him.
To a young infidel, who was scoffing at Chnsli-^nity, on
account of the misconduct of some of its professors, D" Mason
once said, " Did vou ever know an uproar to be made Hocau>e
an infidel went astray from the paths of morality?" The in-
fidel admitted that he had not. " Then, don't you see," .i«U(>d
Dr. M., " that by expecting the professors of Christianit''- t(-
406 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
be holy, you admit it to be a holy religion, and thus pay it the
iiighest compliment in your power?" The young man was
silent.
The Doctor was once requested to visit a lady in dying circum-
stances, who, together with her husband, openly avowed infidel
principles, though they attended on his ministry. On ap-
proaching her bedside, he asked her if she felt herself a sinner,
and perceived the need of a Saviour. She frankly told him,
she did not; and that she wholly disbelieved the doctrine of a
Mediator. "Then," said the doctor, "I have no consolation
for you; not one word of comfort. There is not a single pas-
sage in the Bible that warrants me to speak peace to any one
who rejects the Mediator provided for lost sinners. You must
abide the consequences of your infidelity." Saying that, he
was on the point of leaving the room, when some one said,
" Well, but. Doctor, if you cannot speak consolation to her, you
can pray for her." To this he assented, and kneeling down
by the bedside, prayed for her as a guilty sinner, just sinking
mto hell; and then, arising from his knees, he left the house.
A day or two after, he received a letter from the lady herself,
earnestly desiring that he would come and see her without
delay. He immediately obeyed the summons; but what was
his amazement, when, on entering the room, she held out her
hand to him, and said, with a benignant smile, "It is all true;
all that you said on Sunday is true. I have seen myself the
wretched sinner which you described me to be in prayer. I
have seen Christ that all-sufficient Saviour you said he was;
and God has mercifully snatched me from the abyss of infi-
delity in which I was sunk, and placed me on the Rock of ages.
There I am secure; there I shall remain. I know in whom I
have believed'" All this was like a dream to him; but she
proceeded, and displayed as accurate a knowledge of the way
REV. DR. J. M. MASON. 4(17
of salvation revealed in the gospel, and as firm a reliance on
it, as if she had been a disciple of Christ for many years. Yet
there was nothing like boasting or presumption — all was hu-
mility, resignation, and confidence. She charged her husbana
to educate their daughter in the fear of God; and, above all, to
keep from her those novels and books of infidel sentimentality,
by which she had nearly been brought to ruin. On the even-
ing of the same day, she expired, in fulness of joy and peace
in believing.
The account which the Doctor received from her attendants
was, that his prayer at his first visit was fastened on her
mind, — that soon after he left her, she became alarmed re-
specting the state of her soul, — that at one period, though her
voice had previously been so feeble that she could scarcely be
heard, yet her cries were distinctly audible from the second
floor to the cellar of the house, and that at length she found
peace in believing in Christ as he is exhibited in the gospel.
Dr. Mason was accustomed to visit some small congresa-
tions in the country, and was returning from one of these ex-
cursions, when he stopped at a house for some refreshment.
Some bread and milk were handed to him, which he ate with
an iron spoon. On his return, he smilingly mentioned the cir-
cumstance among his friends; and his remark about the iron
spoon soon reached the ears of his kind hostess. She replied,
with grief, that she was sorry Dr. Mason had made himself
merry at her expense : for if she had possessed a silver spoon,
he should certainly have used it: as it was, she furnished him
with the best she had. This being related to him, he mounted
his horse, and rode more than filty miles, to apologize for his
thoughtless speech, and to ask trie old lady's pardon.
408 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. MR. WORCESTER.
The Rev. Mr. Worcester, of Salem, at a Convention, saiJ,
that as he was once putting on his over-coat to go out on a
visit to his parishioners, he heard a loud and unusual knock at
the door. He opened it, and there stood a miserable-looking
man in a state of intoxication. He was kindly invited to come
in, and he did so. "You don't know me," said the stranger,
" but I know you. My mother is a member of your church,
and I used to go to your father's meeting."- A long conversa-
tion ensued, in which the minister caught the substance of his
story. He had known him when they were boys, but not
since. The unfortunate being had become an infidel, and a
degraded drunkard, and actually debated on his way, whether
to eat opium and die, or go and see the minister, and let him
know his case. Finally he determined on the latter course.
He had then been drinking, but after serious, solemn conversa-
tion, he determined to drink no more. A day or two after, Mr.
Worcester called to see him, and found him in the depths of de-
spair on account of his sins. " I had never seen," said Mr. Wor-
cester, "such misery; but I pointed him to 'the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sins of the world.' At length he found
peace and forgiveness at the cross oi" Christ, and finally, with
his wife, united with my church; and, as I see the individual
in this house, I will only say he has since sustained an honour-
able and consistent profession."
Mr. Worcester sat down, when an individual, of a gentle-
manly bearing, rose and said, "I am the individual to whom
the pastor has referred ; and it is all true." He spoke for some
time, with much force, and related the trials he had gone
through by imbibing infidel principles, and following the paths
of intemperance ; and his remarks were laid up in many a
REV. J. ARMSTROiSG. 409
heart, who felt then, as they never felt before, the stupendous
change that may be produced by total abstinence, and the influ-
ence of the faithful ministerjr of true religion.
REV. J. ARMSTRONG.
Several years ago, the Rev. James Armstrong preached at
Harmony, near the Wabash ; when a physician of that place,
a professed deist or infidel, called on his associates to accom-
pany him while he " attacked the Methodists," as he said. At
tirst, he asked Mr. Armstrong if he followed preaching to save
souls. He answered in the nfiirmative. He then inquired,
"Did you ever see a soul?"" "No." "Did you ever hear a
soul?" "No." "Did you ever taste a soul'.'" "No." "Did
you ever smell a soul ?" " No." " Did you ever feel a soul ?"
" Yes, thank God," said Mr. Armstrong. " Well," said the
Doctor, " there are four of the five senses against one, that
there is a soul." Mr. Armstrong then asked the gentleman if
he was a doctor of medicine, and he was also answered in the
affirmative. He then asked the doctor, " Did you ever see a
pain?" "No." "Did you ever hear a pain?" "No." Did
you ever taste a pain?" "No." "Did you ever smell a pain?"
"No." "Did you ever feel a pain?" "Yes." Mr. Armstrong
then said, "There are also four senses against one, to prove
tl at there is no such thing as a pain; and yet, sir, you know
that there is a pain, and I know there is a soul." The doctor
appeared confounded, and walked off.
35
410 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A CLERGYMAN AT NEW ORLEANS.
A Presbyterian minister, American by birth, but of Scot-
tish parentage, happening to be in New Orleans some time ago,
was asked to visit an old Scottish soldier who had wandered to
that city, sickened, and was conveyed to the hospital. On his
entrance, and on announcing his errand, the Scotchman told
him, in a surly tone, that he desired none of his visits, — that
he knew how to die without the aid of a priest. In vain he
mformed him that he was no priest, but a Presbyterian minis-
ter, come to read to him a portion of the word of God, and to
speak to him of eternity. The Scotchman doggedly refused to
hold any conversation with him, and he was obliged to take
his leave. Next day, however, he called again, thinking that
the reflection of the man on his own rudeness would prepare
the way for a better reception. But his tone and manner were
equally rude and repulsive; and at length he turned himself in
bed, with his face to the wall, as if determined to hear nothing
and relent nothing. The minister bethought himself, as a last
resource, of the hymn well known in Scotland, the composition
of David Dickson, minister of Irvine, beginning, " mother
dea?', Jerusalem, ivhen shall I come to thee,'''' which his Scot-
tish mother had taught him to sing to the tune of "Dundee."
He began to sing his mother's hymn. The soldier listened for
a ^ew moments in silence, but gradually turned himself round,
with a relaxed countenance, and the tear in his eye, to inquire,
'' VVha learned you that?" "My mother," replied the minister;
"And so did mine," rejoined the now softened soldier, whose
heart was opened by the recollections of infancy and of country,
and now gave a willing ear to the man that had found the Scot,
tish key to his heart.
REV. MR. CASE. 411
REV. MR. CASE.
This valued minister relates a very interesting and striking
conversion, which may show us the possibility of a work of
Divine mercy in the heart of a sinner, after he has ceased to
iiold communication witli the outward world, though assuredly
it can furnish no rational ground for indolence and presump-
tion : —
A. Mrs. D., whom he baptized in Charleston, Maine, in 1811,
when but a young lady, was one of a party who rode out on a
sleigh, drawn by two horses, on the river from Hampden to
Bangor ; the ice gave way, and she, with her companions, was
plunged beneath the watery element. Happily, however, the
lives of the whole party were saved. During this immersion,
her soul, by the instantaneous and powerful work of the Holy
Spirit, was converted to God. The rapid progress of thought
and feeling in this short moment, as she distinctly recollected,
was, as she was falling, a most vivid and impressive thought
of death filled her mind. This was instantly succeeded by an
overwhelming consciousness of her sins, her guilt, and her just
condemnation, and this was combined with a view of the cha-
racter and law of God, shining in incomprehensible brightness,
reflecting his love and justice; and then, in a moment, every
energy of her soul seemed concentrated in one unyielding desire
for mercy. At this instant, those who escaped from the water
drew her upon the unbroken ice, when her soul was filled with
love to God and Christ, and her tongue unloosed to praise his
name. She said that she hardly thought of her temporal sal-
vation, but with unutterable astonishment and gratitude she
beheld that glorious grace which gave her heavenly delight.
This was no delusion. Her subsequent life of piety gave evi-
dence of its reality.
412 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. DR. LATHROP.
I WAS once requested, says Dr. Lathrop, to preach against
prevailing fashions. A remote inhabitant of the parish, appa-
rently in a serious frame, called upon me one day, and pressed
the necessity of bearing my testimony against this dangerous
evil. I observed to him, that as my people were generally
farmers, in middling circumstances, I did not think they took
a lead in fashions. If they followed them, it was at an humble
distance, and rather to avoid singularity than to encourage
extravagance ; that as long as people were in the habit of
wearing clothes, they must have some fashion or other ; and
a fashion that answered the ends of dress, and exceeded not
the ability of the wearer, I considered as innocent, and not
deserving reproof. To this he agreed ; but said, what grieved
him was, to see people set their hearts so much on fashions.
I conceded that as modes of dress were trifles compared with
eternal concerns, to set our hearts upon them must be a great
sin. But I advised him to consider, that to set our hearts
against such trifles, was the same sin as to set our hearts
upon them; and as his fashion was different from those of his
neighbours, jus* in proportion as he set his heart against
theirs^ he set his heart upon his own. He was therefore
doubly guilty of the very sin he imputed to others.
REV. T. HOOKER.
The Rev. Dr. Dwight, in his excellent travels, describes this
eminent colonist of New England, as one of their wisest and
most influential men. He was universally respected for his
excellent qualities. He was remarkable, among other things
REV. MR. C. 413
for his mildness. A story, illustniling this trait in his charac-
ter, is still preserved.
It is said that he was once suddenly awakened, in the night
time, by an unusual noise in the cellar of his house. He sus-
pected that some person had crept in without leave, and imme-
diately arose, dressed himself, and went silently to the foot of
the cellar stairs. There he saw a man, with a candle in his
hand, taking pork out of a barrel. Mr. Hooker stood still and
looked on till he had taken the last piece. He then stepped
towards him, and accosted him in perfectly good humour: —
" Neighbour, you act unfairly ; you ought to leave a proper
share for me." Thunderstruck at being detected, and espe-
cially by a man of Mr. Hooker's character, the culprit fell at
his feet, condemned himself for his crime, and implored his
pardon. Mr. Hooker cheerfully forgave him, and concealed
his crime, but seriously admonished him, and then made him
carry half the pork to his own house.
REV. MR. C.
During the progress of a protracted meeting, held in Johns-
town, Ohio, by the Rev. Mr. C, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, it happened that most of the persons who desired the
prayers of the church, were females. This led some objectors
to say that weak-minded persons were generally the first to
seek relifrion. This came to the knowledge of the worthy
clergyman ; and the next evening, he took occasion, at the
meeting, to notice the objection.
" Well, friends," said he, " we have had a very profitable
meetincr to-night ; but I wish to notice a fact which I have
heard to-day. Some persons have said that this is n«>t the
work of the Lord, because nearly all who profess to seek him
.S5*
414 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
are females. They, moreover, challenge us to tell them why
there is so large a proportion of the weaker sex thus engaged.
Now, sirs, I will not answer you directly ; but see here : — Two
years ago, I hnd occasion to preach to the prisoners in the
Ohio Penitentiary. Now, how did it happen that there were
more than four hundred males, and but about half a dozen
of the weaker sex? When you answer this, I will be prepared
to speak to your question."
A PASTOR.
Dr. Goodrich has beautifully said that it was the reflection
that there was bread enough and to spare in his father's house,
which compelled the prodigal to exclaim, " I will arise, and go
unto my father." Some years ago, two young ladies, under
deep conviction of sin, went, after an evening meeting, to the
house of a pastor for further instruction. As he conversed
with them much at large, and was urging them, by motive?
drawn from the love of Christ, instantly to accept the offeree^
salvation, one of them was observed to rest her head upon hei
hand, as if in deep abstraction, till her face at last sunk upon
the table, in solemn and overpowering emotion. After a few
moments of entire silence, she looked up with a countenance
of serene joy, dropped upon one knee before her companion,
and said, with the simplicity of a child, " Julia, do love Christ.
He is so beautiful ! Do come with me, and love him !" This
led Julia to the reflection, " She has entered in, while I remain
out. One shall be taken, and another left." This, under God,
H^as the means of bringing her also to Christ, before she laid
her head that night upon her pillow.
REV. DR. JOHN H. RICE. 415
REV. DR. LIVINGSTON.
The late Rev. Dr. Livingston, of this country, and Louis
Bonaparte, ex-king of Holland, happened once to be fellow-
passengers, with many others, on board of one of the North
River steamboats. As the doctor was walking the deck in the
morning, and gazing at the refulgence of the rising sun, which
appeared to him unusually attractive, he passed near the dis-
tinguished stranger, and, stopping for a moment, accosted him
thus : " How glorious, sir, is that object !" pointing gracefully
with his hand towards the sun. The ex-king assenting. Dr.
Livingston immediately added, "And how much more glorious,
sir, must be its Maker, the Sun of Righteousness!" A gentle-
man who overheard this short incidental conversation, being
acquainted with both personages, now introduced them to each
other, and a few more remarks were interchanged. Shortly
after, the doctor again turned to the ex-king, and with that aii
of polished complaisance for which he was so remarkable,
invited him first, and then the rest of the company, to attend
morning prayer. It is scarcely necessary to add, that the in-
vitation was promptly complied with.
REV. DR. JOHN H. RICE.
A LATE eminent judge, of Virginia, once remarked, that the
most cutting reproof he had ever received for profaneness, was
without words. He happened to be crossing a ferry with the
late Dr. John H. Rice. On account of shallows, the boat
could not be brought to land, and they wfre carried to the
shore by the coloured ferrymen. One of these was so care-
416 THE a:>ierica.n clergy.
less as to suffer the judge's clothes to become wetted, and he
expressed his anger by an innprecation. Dr. Rice, without
saying a word, turned to him his large, speaking eye, with
sorrowful expression. " I never so felt a reproof," said the
judge, "in my life; and instantly asked his pardon. 'Ask
pardon of God,' said Dr. Rice. I shall never forget it." At
this time, the judge was entirely ignorant who his reprover was.
A fine instance of the disinterestedness of this excellent
clergyman, has been recorded by his biographer. A Mrs.
Randolph, a lady of his congregation, and who died in his
house, some time betore her death made her will, and felt ex-
ceedingly desirous to leave him a handsome legacy, as a token
of Christian regard for him. Apprehending, however, that
such an act might possibly expose him to some unworthy im-
putations of mercenary views, and prizing his honour above
every other consideration, she resolved to suppress her inclina-
tion, and leave him nothing. Still, she could not feel satisfied
to do so, without having the reason of her conclusion commu-
nicated to him. This was accordingly done ; and she was
much gratified to find that her conduct was entirely approved
by him. After all, however, when her will came to be opened,
it was found that she had so far altered her mind as to have
left him one thousand dollars. But on hearing of the fact. Dr.
Rice at once resolved not to touch a cent of it. He instantly
gave it all to public Christian charities, which he knew she
had favoured while living.
REV. DR. PAYSOX 417
REV. DR. PAYSON.
Dr. Payson was very eminently devoted to his work as a
minister of Christ, and never at a loss, in the pulpit or out of
it, fo; plans to accomph'sh the great object to which he had de-
voted his life. The following rencontre with a lawyer of Port-
land, who ranked among the first in the place for weaUh and
fluency of speech, will show the doctor's insight into character,
and also that his conquests were not confined to " weak wo-
men and children."
A lady, who was the common friend of Mrs. Payson and the
lawyer's wife, was sojourning in the family of the latter. After
the females of the respective families had interchanged several
" calls," Mrs. was desirous of receiving a foraml visit
from Mrs. Payson ; but to effect this. Doctor P. must also be
invited ; and how to prevail on her husband to tender an invi-
tation was the great difficulty. He had been accustomed to
associate experimental religion with meanness, and of course
felt or affected great contempt for the divine, as if it were im-
possible for a man of his religion to be also a man of talents.
He knew, by report, something of Dr. Payson's practice on
these occasions, and dreading to have his house a place for
what appeared to him gloomy conversation, resisted his wife's
proposal as long as he could do so and retain the character of
a gentleman. When he gave his consent, it was with the po-
sitive determination that Dr. Payson should not converse on
religion, nor ask a blessing over his food, nor offer a prayer in
his house. He collected his forces, and made his preparations
in conformity with this purpose. When the appointed day
arrived, he received his guests very pleasantly, and entered at
once into animated conversation ; determined, by obtruding his
own favourite topics, to forestal the divine. It was not long be-
fore the latter discovered his object, and summoned together
418 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
his powers to defeat it. He plied them with that skill and ad-
dress for which he was remarkable ; still, for some time, vic-
tory was inclined to neither side or to both alternately. The
lawyer, not long before, had returned from Washington city,
where he spent several weeks on business at the supreme court
of the United States. Dr. Payson made some inquiries re-
specting sundry personages there, and among others, the chap-
lain of the house of representatives. The counsellor had heard
him in the devotional services of that assembly. " How did
you like him?" "Not at all; he appeared to have more re-
gard to those around him than he had to his Maker." Dr.
Payson was very happy to hear him recognise the distinction
between praying to God, and praying to be heard of men ; and
dropped a series of observations on prayer, passing into a
strain of remark, which, without taking the form, had all the
effect on the lawj^er's conscience, of a personal application.
From a topic so unwelcome, he strove to divert the conversa-
tion ; and every few minutes would start something as wide
from it as the east is from the west. But as often as he
wandered, his guest would dexterously, and without violence,
bring him back ; and as often as he was brought back, he
would wander again. At length the trying moment, which was
to turn the scale, arrived. The time for the evening repast
had come ; the servant had entered the parlour with the pro-
visions ; the master of the feast became unusually eloquent,
resolved to engross the conversation, to hear no question or
reply, to allow no interval for " grace," and to givfv no indica-
tion, by the eye, the hand, or the lips, that he expected or
wished for such a service. Just as the distribution was on the
point of commencing. Dr. P. interposed the question, "What
writer has said, ' The devil invented the fishion of carrying
round tea, to prevent a blessing being asked?'" Our host felt
himself " cornered ;" but, making a virtue of necessity, re-
plied, " I don't know what writer it is ; but if you please, we
REV. DR. rAVSO.X. 119
will foil the devil this time. Will you ask a hiessing, sir?" A
blessing, of course, was asked ; and he brooked, as well as he
could, this first certain defeat, still resolved not to sustain ano-
ther by the offering of thanks on closing the repast. But in
this, too, he was disappointed. By some well-timed sentiment
of his reverend guest, he was brought into such a dilemma,
that he could not, without absolute rudeness, decline asking
him to return thanks. And thus he contended every inch of
his ground, till the visit terminated. But, at every stage, the
minister proved too much for the lawyer. He sustained his
character as a minister of religion, and gained his point ir
every thing ; and that, too, with so admirable a tact, in a wa^
so natural and unrestrained, and with such respectful deference
to his host, that the latter cc<uld not be displeased, except with
himself. Dr. Payson not only acknowledged God on the recep-
tion of food, but before separating from the family, read the
Scriptures and prayed ; and that, too, at the request of the
master, though this request was made, as in every other in-
stance, in violation of a determined purpose. The chagrin of
this disappointment, however, eventually became the occasion
of his greatest joy. His mind was never afterwards entirely
at ease, till he found peace in believing. Often did he revert,
with devout thankfulness to God, to the visit which had occa-
sioned his mortification ; and ever after regarded, with more
than common veneration and respect, the servant of God whom
he had despised ; and was glad to receive his ministrations, in
exchange for those on which he had formerly attended.
Once, in the progress of a revival of religion among his
people in Portland, Dr. Payson, after having repeatedly invited
meetings at his hou?e, one day gave an invitation to all those
young persons who tlid nut intend to seek religion. Anv one
420 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
u'lio did not know the Doctor, would be surprised to hear tha
thirty or forty came. He had a very pleasant social interview
with them, saying nothing about religion, until, just as they
were about to leave, he closed a very few plain and simple
remarks, in the following manner : —
" Suppose you should see coming down from heaven, a very
fine thread, so fine as to be almost invisible, and it should come
and attach itself to you. You knew, we will suppose, that it came
from God. Should you dare to put out your hand and brush
it away ?"
He dwelt a few minutes on this idea, until every one had a
clear and fixed conception of it, and of the hardihood which
any one would manifest who should openly break even such a
tie. " Now," continued he, "just such a slender delicate thread
has come from God to you this afternoon. You do not feel,
you say, any interest in religion; but by coming here this
afternoon, God has fastened one little thread upon you all : it
is very weak and frail, and you can, in a moment, brush it
away. But you certainly will not do so. Welcome it, and it
will enlarge and strengthen itself, until it becomes a golden
chain to bind you for ever to God."
A few years before his death, he visited, at their most crowd-
ed season, the Springs of Saratoga. He sojourned at the prin-
cipal hotel, where he was surrounded by the very elite of the
United States. From day to day he mingled in general inter-
course, and took his fiill share in conversations on philosophi-
cal, literary, and general topics, to the delight of every one.
At length he proposed that, on a coming day, which he named,
the hour after dinner should be devoted to religious conversa-
tion. Some of his most intimate friends were fearful lest the
mighty talent by which he was surrounded, which, alas, wa-
REV. DR. PAYSON. 421
lamentably stained with infidelity, should prove more than
equal to his pious zeal, or that he might be left alone to regret
that he had made the proposal. At length the hour arrived,
and after the cloth was removed, he found himself surrounded
by a very large assembly. He sat for some time in deep and
solemn silence, and then made some remarks, simply to elicit
observations and inquiries in return. A leading statesman, among
others, rose, determined to try the Doctor's strength to the ut-
utmost, and boldly, and with great energy, attacked Christianity
in some of its strongest holds. Interest was excited to its highest
intensity, as the worthy minister rose to reply. With candour,
clearness, and power he re-stated the strongest arguments
which his opponents had brought forward, and with simplicity
and eloquence which absolutely electrified his audience, he de-
molished every objection they had urged, and triumphantly
won the unbounded admiration of all who heard him, every
one of whom declared they had never before listened to such
strains of wisdom of benevolence, and of piety.
A gentleman, who conversed with Dr. Payson in Boston,
when he visited that city toward the latter part of his life, was
led by' his preaching and conversation to a considerable degree
of serious concern for his soul. His wife was still in a great
measure indifferent to the subject. One day, meeting her in
company, he said to her, " Madam, I think your husband is
looking upwards; making some effort to rise above the world,
towards God and heaven. You must not let him try alone.
Whenever I see the husband struggling alone in such efforts,
it makes me think of a drone endeavouring to fly upwards,
while it has one broken wing. It leaps, and flutters, and per-
haps raises itself up a little way, and tl.cn it becomes wearied,
36
422 THE AMERICAN tLERGY.
and drops back again to the ground. If both wings co-ope-
rate, then it mounts easily."
One day he went to visit a mother, who was disconsolate
from the loss of a child. He said to her: — " Suppose, now,
some one was making a beautiful crown for you to wear; and
you knew it was for you, and that you were to receive it and
wear it as soon as it should be done. Now, if the maker of
it were to c®me, and, in order to make the crown more beau-
tiful and splendid, were to take away some of your jewels, to
put into it, — should you be sorrowful and unhappy, because
they were taken away for a little while, when you knew they
were gone to make up your crown?"
The mother said, that no one could conceive of the relief,
the soothing, quieting influence which this comparison had on
her mind.
Dr. Payson was once going to one of the towns in Maine,
for the purpose of attending a ministers' meeting, accompanied
by a friend ; when they had occasion to call at a house, on the
journey, where Dr. Payson was unknown. The family had
just sat down to tea; and the lady of the house, in the spirit
of genuine hosj)itality, invited the strangers to partake of the
social repast. Dr. Payson at first declined; but, being stre-
nuously urged, he consented. As he took his seat, he inquired
if a blessing had been asked; and, being answered in the
negative, requested the privilege, which was readily 2,ranted,
of invokinf{ the benediction of Heaven. This was done with
so much fervour, solemnity, and simplicity, that it had the
happiest effect. The old lady treated the company with the
utmost attention ; and, as Dr. Payson was about to leave, he
KEV. DK. PAYSON. 423
Baid to her, " Madam, you have treated me with much hospi-
tality and kindness, for which I thank you sincerely ; but,
allow me to ask, how do you treat my Master? Tliat is of
inlinitely greater consequence than how you treat me." He
continued, in a strain of appropriate exhortation; and, having
done his duty in the circumstances, proceeded on his journey.
This visit was sanctified to the conversion of the lady and her
household. The revival continued in the neighbourhood ; and,
in a short time, a church was built, and the regular ordinances
of religion established.
On another occasion, he went to see a sick person, who was
very much troubled because she could not keep her mind all
the time fixed upon Christ, on account of the distracting influ-
ences of her sufferings, and the various objects and occur-
rences of the sick-room, which constantly called off her
attention. She was afraid that she did not love her Saviour
as she found it so difficult to fix her mind upon him. Dr
Payson said, " Suppose you were to see a sick little child,
lying in its mother's lap, with its faculties impaired by its suf-
ferings, so that it was generally in a troubled sleep ; but now
and then, it just opens its eyes a little, and gets a glimpse of
its mother's face, so as to be recalled to the recollection that
it is in its mother's arms ; and suppose that always, at such a
time, it should smile faintly with evident pleasure to find where
it was; should you doubt whether that child loved its mother
jr not ?" The poor sufferer's doubt and despondency were
ijone in a moment.
42.1
THE AJVIERICAN CLERGY.
^ MINISTER IN NEW YORK.
A MINISTER, in the city of New York, was, a few years
since, called in to visit a dying young lady, about twenty years
of age, who was heiress to a large estate, whose parents were
doatingly fond of her, and whose education was of the highest
and most fashionable character. The minister talked of death,
judgment, and eternity ; but the young lady had never before
heard such language addressed to her, and she trembled. In
the dying hour, she called for some of her fine clothes; and,
when they were brought, she looked at her mother, and said,
" These have ruined me. You never told me I must die. You
taught me that my errand into this world was to be gay and
dressy, and to enjoy the vanities of life. What could ^you
mean ? You knew I must die and go to judgment. You never
told me to read the Bible, or to go to church, unless to make a
display of some new finery. Mother, you have ruined me."
She died in a few moments after.
A CLERGYMAN AT ST. LOUIS.
A WORTHY minister from England brought over a habit,
common, we believe, even in the religious families of that
country, of playing at drafts, sometimes even for a small
stake. He was once brought very strongly to feel its impro-
priety. Some ladies, who were members of his church, had
acquired somewhat of a love for dancing, which their pastor
found out and reproved. A cousin of one of these ladies de-
termined to have somewhat of harmless revenge on the cler-
gyman. By some management, the pastor was drawn to the
chess-board, and a few segars were staked on the game.
REV. DR. HENRV. 4*25
They played ; and, in the end, the clergyman lost, but insisted
on his friend playing again. His eyes were fully opened, ^hen
the gentleman replied " that his principles forbade him to play
at games of hazard ;" and he wisely resolved henceforth to
" avoid the appearance of evil."
REV. DR. HENRY.
I
The excellent Dr. T. C. Henry records the following inte*
resting dialogue : —
" You believe yourself guilty of the unpardonable sin?*"'
" I am sure of it."
" In what did the crime consist ?"
" I opposed the work of God."
" So did Saul."
" 1 denied Jesus Christ."
" So did a disciple, afterwards honoured by his Master."
" I doubted the power of Jesus Christ, after strong evidence
in its favour."
" So did Thomas."
" What ! are you attempting to prove by such examples that
I am a Christian ?"
" Not at all. I am only inquiring into the nature of your
guilt; and, thus far, I can see no reason for despair."
" I have hated God," rejoined the self-condemned, " and
openly avowed my enmity in sight of his divine operations."
" Thus far your case is lamentable, indeed ; but not hopeless,
etill. Our hearts are naturally at enmity with God ; and I do
not see why the open avowal of this, drawn out by the sight
of the law into visible form, must necessarily and always con-
Btltute the guilt of which you accuse yourself."
" r feel that I am rut off from salvation."
30*
42G THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
"It is very difficult to reason against your feelings; but
they are no proof on the present subject. Let me inquire
whether you desire the pardon of your sins?"
"Assuredly, if it were possible."
" Do you regret the conduct of which you accuse yourself?"
"Certainly."
" Do you sincerely desire repentance?"
" I would give the world, if it were mine, to be able to
do so."
" Then it is not possible that you have been guilty to an
unpardonable extent ; for these are characteristics of a state
of mind faithless, but far from being desperate ; and they come
within the design of the gospel invitations."
There was something simple and touching in this mode of
ministering to a mind diseased ; and it produced an effect which
probably no other process could have accomplished. Mr. L.
did not long survive this interview. But his living and dying
hours were those of a favoured Christian.
REV. MR. TREFIT.
I WAS called upon, says the Rev. Mr. Trefit, some years
ago, to visit an individual, a part of whose face had been eaten
away by a most loathsome cancer. Fixing my eyes on this
man, in his agony, I said, "Supposing that Almighty God
were to give you your choice : which would you prefer, your
cancer, your pain, and your sufferings, with a certainty of
death before you, but of immortality hereafter ; or health,
prosperity, long life in the world, and the risk of losing your
immortal soul?" "Ah, sir!" said the man, "give me the
cancer, the pain, the Bible, the hope of heaven ; and others
may take the world, long life, and prosperity!"
A TKAVELLING CLEKGYMAN. 427
A SHREWD MINISTER.
A MINISTER had travelled far to preach to a congregation.
After the sermon, lie waited very patiently, expecting some of
the brethren to invite him home to dinner. In this, he was
disappointed. One and another departed, until the house was
almost empty. Summoning resolution, however, he walked
up to an elderly-looking gentleman, and gravely said,
"Will you go home with me to dinner, to-day, brother'/"
" Where do you live?" "About twenty miles from this, sir."
" No," said the man, colouring, " but you must go with ^ne^
" Thank you ; I will, cheerfully."
After that time, the minister was no more troubled about his
dinner.
A TRAVELLING CLERGYMAN.
An excellent clergyman, " whose praise is in all the
churches," was once spending the night at a large inn. " It is
my custom," said he to the mistress of the inn, " wherever I
am, to have family v/orship. I am now going to have it with
my wife ; and I shall be glad if you and as many of your
servants as can come in, will join us." " I shall be very
happy," was the reply, " and all the servants shall come in."
Accordingly, she gave her directions to this effect ; and all the
servants, waiters, chambermaids, hostlers, and postilions at-
tended. The worthy clergyman, before he prayed, expounded
a portion of Scripture ; and, at the close of his exposition,
with much affectionate earnestness and solemnity, exhorted his
hearers to pray for the Holy Spirit. About a year after, lie
wns travellmc the same road. As he drew near the inn, he
428 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
was accosted by a post-boy. " Sir, do you remember me V
*' No, my friend, I cannot say that 1 do." "Well, sir, I recol-
lect you. You were here some time ago, and had us all into
your room, in the house, and explained a chapter in the Bible,
and prayed for us. And when you were explaining the chap-
ter, you told us, if we had not been accustomed to pray, to
begin at once, and pray, ' Lord, give me thy Holy Spirit.
Lord, convert my soul.' I thought much of those words, and
was determined to follow your advice. But then I was at a
loss for a place in which I could be alone, to pray for the
Lord to give me his Spirit. At last I thought of the stable ;
and I used to take the key and lock myself in, and kneel
down and pray that the Lord would convert my soul. And I
bless God, I have reason to believe that he has heard and an-
swered my prayers ; that he has given me his Spirit, and con-
verted my soul." This should encourage ministers to " sow
beside all waters," and also shows the truth of the old saying,
that " where there is a will, there is a way."
SUCCESS AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE
CLEHGY.
(429)
REV. MR. S. 431
REV. PRESIDENT EDWARDS.
When President Edwards had preached one of his first ser-
mons, after the remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit on
his labours, he observed two families, when the congregation
had withdrawn, remaining, as if by joint consent. Upon ap-
proaching them, he found they had, till that day, been in a
state of variance; but, owing to the influence they were now
under, they could not depart from the house of God till they
were reconciled.
REV. MR. S.
Mr S., a faithful and devoted minister in Georgia, some
time since was in company with Mr. H., who was passing to
one of his regular appointments for preaching. The residence
of Mr. W., an unconverted and careless sinner, lay in the way ,•
and, at the suggestion of Mr. S., it was agreed that they should
stop, and try to pray with the ungodly old man. A few months
after, the church to which they were going, was visited by a
season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord ; and Mr.
VV. was among the first who united with it. He stated that, on
a certain day in the Spring, he was in his field, and that his
mind was suddenly arrested by serious thoughts. He retired
to the woods to pray ; after which he went home, in a dreadful
state of mind, to his dinner. His pious wife accosted him with,
"Mr. S. has been here this morning." "Ah, indeed! and
what does he say?" "Why," said the wife, " he prayed mos'
devoutly for you." "At what hour," asked Mr. W., "was he
here?" She told him; and it was found that, in that sam<
432 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
hour, the Holy Spirit began to work upon his heart. He was
joyfully received into the church, and walked worthy of the
vocation with which he was called.
REV. DR. RODGERS.
When the late Rev. Dr. Rodgers, afterwards of New York,
resided in New Castle county, on the Delaware, he offended a
part of his congregation, by voting, at a disputed election, for
a sheriff*; in consequence of which, h»^< never voted at a gene-
ral election afterwards. In this act of self-denial, he showed
a practical knowledge of the scale of duties ; for how feeble is
the obligation, in a minister of the gospel, to promote the sup-
posed prosperity of his country by a solitary vote, compared
with his obligation to preserve a commanding and undivided
influence over his whole congregation, in order more effectually
to direct their attention to subjects of an imperishable nature.
A UNIVERSALIST MINISTER.
The following fact is one among many, which show )iow
even erroneous ministers may extend the truth, when they do
not mean it : —
There lived in England, many years since, a man who pro-
fessed to believe in the final salvation of all men. To sus-
tain this dcjctriuc, whenever he came to a passage vvluL-h
seemed favourable to his creed, he turned down a leaf. Tn
this way, he converted his Bible into a kind of Universal ist
Text-Book, for the indoctrination of his family. He had a
REV. JOHN BAILEY. 433
son, who imbibed the sentimonts of his sire. At the death of
the father, the son inherited the Bible referred to ; and, in
accordance with paternal example, he used to read where the
leaves were turned down, and comfort himself in the belief that
the way of sin is not death.
After a ihw years, the young man removed to the western
part of this country. He went to hear a Universalist minister
preach. The sermon being rather a lame performance, the
man, so far from being confirmed by it, was rather shaken in
his confidence. He thought, however, that he could make a
stronger argument himself. He went home, and sat down to
the task. But the Bible, with the leaves turned down, was
away in England ; and he had forgotten where to look for the
detached portions upon which he had rested his faith, and thus
was forced to read his Bible in its legitimate connections and
dependencies. So he read on, chapter after chapter, looking
all the while for his' favourite doctrine. But he did not find it.
Nay, he was soon convinced, that in order to salvation, he
must be born again. He sought, and soon found peace in be-
lieving. For a few years, he lived the life of a consistent
Christian ; and, when called to die, he left the world in the
full enjoyment of those consolations which it is the province of
evangelical faith alone to give.
REV. JOHN BAILEY.
The usefulness of this eminent minister, who died in New
England in 1697, did indeed begin in early life. His father,
then in England, was a very licentious man. John was a little
boy, but very pious, and used to pray with his mother and the
whole family. This coming to the knowledge of his father,
37
434 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
his mind became deeply impressed. The fact led him to the
cross of Christ for pardon ; and he would afterwards some-
times retire, with his beloved child, to confess his past sins,
and to present thanksgivings for the grace he enjoyed.
AN AGED MINISTER.
An aged clergyman, who died a few years ago, not unfre-
quently heard of the usefulness of some of his sermons twenty
or thirty years after they had been delivered. He once rode
thirty miles, on a stormy Saturday, and had but very few
hearers on the following day. He frequently thought after-
wards, how foolish he had been to take such a journey to
preach to a few persons, when he might have staid at home
and addressed many more. Nearly twenty years afterwards,
he fell into the company of a very pious gentleman, who, after
a Ions conversation, asked him if he remembered to have
preached at , at such a time? The aged pastor replied,
" Yes ; and I have often thought how foolish J. was to leave
my own congregation, and ride thirty miles, in a storm, to
preach to a dozen people." The gentleman rejoined, " But
your sermons that day were the means of my conversion."
Never afterwards did the good clergyman think any journey
loo long, or any audience too small, to accomplish his object.
SEVERAL PASTORS. 435
SEVERAL PAS'I'ORS.
When a certain pastor, whose ministry had been very
Ijighly blessed in the conversion of sinners, was asked the
secret of his great usefulness, he replied, "We have a praving
church." This is an eminently powerful auxiliary to success.
A fact is recorded of another minister, who enjoyed revivals
in his church for fourteen successive winters. Many did not
know how to account for this, till one of his members once
rose at a prayer-meeting and made a confession. "Brethren,"
said he, " I have been long in the habit of praying, everv
Saturday night, till after midnight, for the descent of the Holv
Ghost among us. And now, brethren," and he began to weep,
" [ confess that I have neglected it for two or three w^eeks."
The secret was out ; that minister had a praying church.
A worthy minister m ill health became greatly depressed in
his mind, and began to think that he could preach no more. A
member of his church became deeply interested in his situa-
tion, and was led to pray, with great fervour, for the dcscenc
of the Holy Spirit on his ministry. One Sabbath mornin<T,
this member's mind was greatly exercised ; and he beo-an to
pray as soon as it was light, and prayed again and again for a
blessing tJiat ddhj. In some way, the minister was directed
M'ithin hearing of his prayer, the light broke in upon his mind,
Iio went into the pulpit and preached with unwonted power, and
a revival of religion commenced in his church that very dav.
436 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
A minister was preaching in one of our large cities, and
after retiring into the vestry, a respectable woman came in, and
offering her hand to the man of God, said, " Sir, I am thank-
ful to see your face once more ; this is indeed a joyful day to
me."
" I have not the pleasure of knowing you, ma'am," answered
the minister, shaking hands with the stranger.
" Oh no, sir, you do not know me, but I have reason to re-
member you ; and four words I once heard you read, I shall
remember for ever."
" Indeed, what were they?"
" Fifteen years ago, sir, you were preaching in this city, and
I was then in a dreadful state of mind, living far from God
and happiness, and at length became so miserable, I resolved
to jump into the river just below, and there end, as I foolishly
.magined, my life and my sorrow tooetho)-. I passed this
place of worship in my way, just as you, sir, gave out your
text, which was in the sixteenth chapter of the Acts, and a
part of the twenty-eighth verse, "Do thyself no harm." My
ntlention was arrested, and T hope my heart changed by the
Spirit of God that evening ; and I have now for many years
been happy, sitting at the feet of Jesus, and I hope trying to
learn of him. He is to me all and in all."
The minister was deeply affected, and kneeling down, gave
thanks to God for restoring this wandering sheep to the fold
of Jesus. And now they live together in the land afar off,
where they behold the King in his glory, and rejoice evermore,
suiging the new song of Moses and the Lamb.
THE PURITAX MlMST-ER 437
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES.
Five young men ennbarked from this country, seven years
ago, on their own responsibility, as missionaries to the coloured
population of Jamaica. The second day after their arrival,
they heard in the streets of Kingston an inquiry for missionaries.
They found that a deputation of four coloured men had come
from the interior to seek an instructor who would go and re-
side among them. When first emancipated, they had agreed
among themselves that they must have a missionary, and had,
for his accommodation, erected a chapel where they habitually
assembled to pray that Heaven would send them a teacher.
Becoming weary of waiting for an answer, they said, " How
do we know but our prayers have been answered ? Let us go
to Kingston and see."
One of the five young men who had just arrived from Ame-
rica, returned with these simple-hearted Africans, and found a
field waiting for the reaper.
These missionaries, says the Recorder, have established five
churches, which contain more than three hundred members,
and have seven schools, numbering five hundred pupils, besides
a high school to prepare teachers for other schools. They
hope ultimately to prepare teachers and preachers for Africa
also. No sooner do the coloured people become interested in
religion themselves, than they begin to think and pray for
their " father-land."
THE PURITAN MINISTERS.
It is a delightful testimony which Prince bears in nis " Chris-
tian History," in reference to the usefulness of the first minis-
37*
438 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
.ers from the old country in New England. Such was the
piety of their people, that one of their ministers, in preaching
before a very large assembly, affirmed that he had lived among
his people seven years, and during the whole time had not
neard a profane oath, nor seen a drunken man.
REV. DR. L. BEECHER.
The doctor once engaged to preach, by way of exchange,
for a country minister, and the Sabbath proved to be exces-
sively cold, stormy, and uncomfortable. It was mid-winter,
and the snow was piled in heaps all along the roads, so as to
make the passage very difficult. Still the doctor urged his
horse through the drifts, till he reached the church, put his
horse into a shed, and went in. As yet, there was no person
in the house, and after looking about, he took his seat in the
pulpit. Soon the door opened, and a single individual walked
up the aisle, looked about, and took a seat.
The hour came for commencing service, but there were no
more hearers. Whether to preach to such an audience or not,
was only a momentary question with Lyman Beecher. He
felt that he had a duty to perform, and that he had no right to
refuse to do it, because one man only could reap benefit ; and
accordingly he went through all the services, praying, singing,
preaching, and the benediction, with his one hearer. And when
fill was over, he hastened down from the desk to speak to his
" congregation," but he had departed.
vSo rare a circumstance was, of course, occasionally referred
to, but twenty years after a very delightful discovery came to
licht in connection with this service. The <2;ood doctor was
travellina: somewhere in Ohio, and aliiijhtino; from the sta<2;e in
a pleasant village, a gentleman stepped up to him and fami
REV. DR. HOPKINS. 439
lij;fly called him by his name. " I do not remember you,"
said J)r. B. " I suppose not," said the stranger, but we spent
two hours together in a house, alone, once, in a storm." " 1
do not recall it, sir," added the old minister; " pray where was
it ]" " Do you remember preaching twenty years ago, in
such a place, to a single person?" "Yes, yes," said the doc-
tor, grasping his hand, " I do, indeed ; and if you are the man,
1 have been wishing to see you ever since." ' I am the man,
sir; and that sermon saved my soul, made a minister of me,
and yonder is my church ! The converts of that sermon, sir,
are all over Ohio !'
So striking a result made no little impression on the doc.
tor's mind. He learned that the man was at the time a law-
yer, who was in the town on business, and tired of a Sunday
morning at a country hotel, went in despite of the storm to
church, and heard that sermon. The doctor added, " I think
that was about as satisfactory an audience as 1 ever had."
REV. DR. HOPKINS.
Seldom has the pulpit been honoured with a great man who
composed and uttered his discourses in so clumsy and awkward
a style as Dr. Samuel Plopkins. It was the burden of his
daily complaint that he had so little success in the ministry,
and he is now often mentioned as a pious divine who added
but little to the stock of public virtue. But let us glance at the
effects produced by this " unsuccessful" labourer. Whatever
may have been the extent of his indebtedness to the manu-
scripts of President Edwards, which were left in his possession,
he has certainly done much towards moulding the theological
character of New Fingland. By his system of divinity, hi.s
44(> THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
four religious biographies, and his ten additional publications,
he nas given an impulse to many who have been esteemed
more useful than himself. Dr. Jonathan Edwards ascribed
his own speculative convictions of the truth to the reasoning
of H<j[)kins. A pastor of one of tlie largest churches in Mas-
sachusetts, who was extensively admired for his rich and va-
ried eloquence, who was honoured as an instrument of many
religious revivals, in one of which more than a hundred per-
sons were gathered into the fold of his church, who was withal
somewhat eminent as a theological instructor and controver-
sialist, and who has now several descendants in the ministry,
was converted to the truth by the blessing of Heaven upon the
labours of Hopkins. And there was another divine, who owed
his renovation to the same instrumentality ; — a divine whose
acquaintance was sought and prized by the most eminent the-
ologians in our own land, and by some in England ; — a polished
gentleman, who was said by his parishioner. Judge Sedgwick,
to be "sure of silencing with his urbanity of manner those who
were not convinced by his logic." For more than fifty-nine
years he retained the pastoral care of a people among whom
Edwards had written his treatise on the will, in whose cultiva-
ted village lived six judges of our courts, and from whose in-
tellectual circle there have come forth one president of Cam-
bridge University, one president, as well as the original founder
of Williams College. He wrote and preached more than three
thousand sermons, published nineteen books, some of standard
value. His reputation as a theological teacher is illustrated by
the fact, that on the list of his divinity students, are found the
names of President Kirkland, Dr. Hyde, Dr. Catlin, and Dr.
Samuel Spring. During his pastoral life he was active in six
different revivals of religion among his [)eople, and he admitted
to his church three hundred and eighty-four persons from the
world, and one hundred and twenty from other churches. He
died with the title of " patriarch of his neighbourhood," and
REV. 3IR. M. 441
the seeds which he scattered are still bearing fruit. In the ex-
tended usefulness, then, of these two divines, both of whom
were so largely indebted to Dr. Hopkins, we see a portion of
the results of his labours. In the churches where their influ-
ence will long remain, in the churches of which he himself was
the pastor, he has been and still is enlarging the intellect and
purifying, through grace, the affections of men. He saw, at
the last, a hundred of his own parishioners subscribe with their
own hands to be the Lord's, and he started more than a hun-
dred circles, which will widen and expand upon the lake, wave
following wave, silently pursuing in all future time, but never
overtaking each other, and never permitting the sheet of waters
to become stagnant.
REV. J. PATTERSON.
The New York Christian Magazine, for 1810, tells us that
the Rev. Joseph Patterson, of Washington county, in that State,
with a view to promote Christian zeal among his people, fixed
up a box in his church, with the inscription, " O give me a
Bible !" At the end of three months the box was opened, and
was found to contain thirty-two dollars and fifty cents, which
sum was forwarded to the Bible Society, in Philadelphia.
REV. MR. M.
The following incident may serve to show what can be doiu^
by a single individual, when animated with ardent love to Christ
and solicitude for the souls of men ; and the part horno in I his
L
442 THE AMERICAN CLERGV.
narrative by a poor simpleton, proves how God can make use
of the weakest and most despised instrument in bringing about
His purposes of mercy. When the Rev. Mr. M. was a student
at Princeton, N. J. in 1S41, he was equally distinguished for
his glowing and unwearied zeal as he is at present. There
were but few Baptists, the denomination to which he belonged,
in that region, but his zeal for the cause of the Lord won for
him the hearts of all Christians of whatever name. It was his
delight to go out and preach the gospel wherever he could col-
lect hearers. One evening during vacation, when he had been
thus preaching, a poor half-witted man came up to him and
asked him if he would not visit the part where he lived, and
preach for the neighbours there Mr. M., always ready to
accept such an invitation by whoever given, assented. The
intervening day was spent by the simpleton in going from
house to house, telling the neighbours, in allusion to the ex-
treme youth of the preacher, that " a boy was coming to preach
for them," adding, "and he will convert you all." Considera-
able interest and curiosity were excited, and when evening
came the place of meeting was crowded. A front seat was
occupied by a number of young ladies, who were talking and
laughing together; some of them afterwards owned that they
never felt more light and trifling than they did when the\^
came together that evening. The young preacher arrived, and
as he passed, he heard the derisive whisper run through this
front seat — "This, then, is he who is to convert us all." He
took his place and gave out a hymn. The earnestness of his
tones seemed at once to arrest the attention of the assembly;
and when he began to preach, he had not proceeded far before
many of his hearers were in tears. The young ladies, to
whom we have before alluded, were deeply affected, and the
blessed results of that meeting will be felt throughout otoriiiiy.
The careless were arrested in their thoughtless courso, and
though the words of the simpleton were not fulfilled to alL yet
A CLERGYMAN IN NEW YOKK, 443
they were to many, who can look back to tlint season as the
time when they were turned "from darkness to light, and from
the power ol^ Satan unto God." One of these young ladies
afterwards became the wife of the preacher. She was one of
fifty who gave hopeful evidence of conversion, and were added
to the church as the re^-^ult of the revival thus commenced.
A CLERGYMAN IN NEW YORK.
A SHORT time since, a minister of New York city, with a
view to encourage otiiers in attempts to do good, related the fol
lowing fact.
Some three or four years ago, we were building our house
Our money was all gone. We had done to the utmost of our
ability, and had resolved to stop when our funds were expended.
One day I was standing with rather a sad heart looking at the
workmen. I knew we had just enough money left to pay the
bricklayers for that day's work, and that, at night, unless God
should appear for us in some unexpected providential way, they
must all be dischari2;ed, for wo knew not where to get the next
dollar. What to do, I did not know, but silently sent up my
prayer to God, that he would appear for our help. While
standing there, a gentleman stopped to look at the building, and
presently addressed me. "Can you tell me," said he, "who is
erecting this building, and where I can see any of the mana-
gers or trustees?" "Yes, sir, I am the pastor — what did you
wish?" " Why 1 am one of a Committee to obtain a suitable
room for a public primary school in this neighbourhood; and,
if you can let us have the basement of this house, we will beat
the expense of finishing that room, and, if it will be any help.
we will furnish you with a thousand dollars or so, as the ad-
444 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
vance rent for three or four years." The engagement was
soon concluded, and our house was before long completed with
the money that God thus providentially sent us.
A NEW ENGLAND MINISTER.
A MINISTER in New England not very long since related the
following fact: —
One of the ministers in Essex county made an appointment
on the Sabbath for a meetina: of the friends of foreign missions,
on a designated evening of the same week. He was punctual
to his own appointment, but found only a single individual pre-
sent to participate in the duties of the evening. They determined,
however, that the object should not be defeated, and discussed
the question, "What ought to be done by that church and peo-
ple towards the conversion of the world?" and came to the
resolve, unanimously ^ that a hundred dollars could be raised,
ought to be raised, and should be raised for the object forth-
with. The meeting was then adjourned; and, before the ex-
piration of the week, they had secured more than ninety dollars.
This was a greater amount than they had ever raised in a sin-
gle year before. Who will not persevere in doing good, in spite
of all the difficulties which may encompass his path?
REV. MR. PRINCE.
The Rev. Dr. Wisner remarks that the destruction of the
French armament under the duke D'Anville, in the year 1746,
should be remembered with gratitude and admiration by every
REV. MR. PRIXCE. 445
inhabitant of America. This fleet, consisting of forty ships of
war, was destined for the destruction of New England. If
sailed from Chebucto, in Nova Scotia, for this purpose. In the
mean time, the pious people, apprized of their danger, had ap-
pointed a season of fasting and prayer, to be observed in all
their churches. While Mr. Prince was officiating in Old South
ctiurch, Boston, on this fast-day, and praying most fervently
that the dreaded calamity might be averted, a sudden gust o(*
wind arose, (the day had till then been perfectly calm,) so
violent as to cause a loud clattering of the windows. The
reverend pastor paused in his prayer; and looking round upon
the congregation with a countenance of hope, he again com-
menced, and with great devotional ardor, supplicated the Al-
mighty to cause that wind to frustrate the object of their
enemies. A tempest ensued, in which the greater part of the
French fleet was wrecked. The duke D'Anville, the principal
general, and the second in command, both committed suicide.
Many died w-ith disease, and thousands were consigned to a
watery grave. The small number who remained alive re-
turned to France, without health and without spirits, and the
enterprise was abandoned, and never again resumed.
With reference to this and other similar instances, the late
President Dwight remarks, in a discourse on answers to prayer;
" I am bound, as an inhabitant of New England, to declare,
that, were there no other instances to be found in any other
country, the blessings communicated to this would furnish
ample satisfaction concerning this subject, to every sober, mu(jh
more to every pious man."
38
446 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
BISHOP M'lLVAINE.
Bishop M'llvaine says: — I was called from my study, to see
. man who had come on business. I found in the parlour a
well-dressed person, of respectable appearance, good manners,
and sensible conversation — a stranger. Afler a little while he
looked at me earnestly, and said, "I think, sir, I have seen
your face before." "Probably," said I, supposing he had seen
me in the pulpit. "Did you not once preach in the receiving
ship at the navy-yard, on the prodigal son, sir?" " Yes." "Did
you not afterwards go to a sailor, silting on his chest, and take
his hand, and say, 'Friend, do you love to read your Bible?'"
"Yes." "I, sir, was that sailor; but then I knew nothing
about the Bible, or about God ; I was a poor, ignorant, de-
graded sinner." His history was, in substance, as follows;
He had been twenty-five years a sailor, and nearly all that
Jme m the service of the British navy, indulging in all the ex-
tremes of a sailor's vices. Drunkenness, debauchery, and pro-
faneness, made up his character. The fear of death, or hell,
Dr God, had not entered his mind. Such was he, a sink of de-
pravity, when a preacher one day assembled a little congrega-
tion of sailors in the ship to which he was attached, and spoke
on the text, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now
is the day of salvation." He listened, merely because the
oreacher was once a sailor. Soon it appeared to him that the
preacher saw and knew him, though he was sitting where he
supposed himself concealed. Every word seemed to be meant
for a description of him. To avoid being seen and marked, he
several times changed his place, carefully getting behind the
others. But, wherever he went, the preacher seemed to follow
him, and to describe his course of life, as if he knew it all. At
length the discourse was ended; and the poor sailor, assured
A MINISTER AMONG THE CHEROKEES. 447
that he had heeii the single object of the speaker's labours,
went up and seized his hand, and said, " Sir, I am the very
man: that is just the life I have led. I am a poor miserable
man; but I feel a desire to be good, and will thank you for
some of your advice on the subject." The preacher bade him
pray. He answered, " I have never prayed in my life, but that
I might be damned, as when I was swearing; and I don't
know how to pray." He was instructed. It was a day or two
after this, while his mind was anxious but unenlightened, that
Providence led me to him, while sitting on his chest. He said
I showed him a verse of the Bible as one that would guide him.
I asked if he remembered which it was. "Yes, it was, 'Him
that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' " Soon after
this, his mind was comforted with a hope of salvation through
Jesus Christ. His vices were all abandoned. He became
from that time a new creature in all his dispositions and habits;
took special care to be scrupulously attentive to every duty of
his station ; gained the confidence of his officers, and, having
left the service, continued an exemplary member of society and
of the church of Christ. He was so entirely renewed, that no
one could imagine, from his appearance or manners, that ho
had been for twenty-five years a drunken, abandoned sailor.
A MINISTER AMONG THE CHEROKEES.
Some years ago, three ministers went to preach to the Che-
rokee Indians. One preached very deliberately and coolly ;
and the chiefs held a council to know wliolhor the Great Spirit
spoke to them through that man; and thoy declared he did not,
because he was not so much engaged as their head men wove
in their national concerns. Another spoke to them in a ni(isl
448 THE AMERICAN CLEKGY.
vehement manner ; and tliey again determined in council that
the Great Spirit did not speak to them through that man, be-
cause he was mad. The third preached to them in an earnest
and fervent manner ; and they agreed that the Great Spirit
might speak to them through him, because he was both earnest
and affectionate. The last was ever after kindly received.
A PREACHER FROM ENGLAND.
Adout the year 1773, a great revival of religion took place
in the southern part of our country, by means of some preach-
ers from England. Many, both whites and blacks, were brought
to an acquaintance with God, by faith in Christ. Two of
these, a white man and an African, meeting together, began to
speak of the goodness of God to their souls. Among other
things, they were led to inquire how long each had known the
salvation of God, and how long it was, after they were con-
vinced of their sin and danger, before each got a satisfactory
evidence of their pardoning mercy. The white man said, " I
was three months in deep distress of soul before' God spoke
peace to my guilty conscience !" " But it was only a fortnight,"
said the black man, " from the time I first heard of Jesus, and
felt that I was a sinner, till I received the knowledge of salva-
tion by the remission of sins." " But what was the reason,"
asked the white man, "that you found salvation sooner than J
did?" " This is the reason," replied the other, "You white men
have much clothing upon you, and when Christ calls, you can-
not run to him ; but we poor negroes have only this," pomting
to the mat or cloth which was tied round his neck, " and when
we hear the call, we throw it off instantly, and run to him."
REV. a. WHITEFIELD 449
REV. G. WHITEFIELD.
Who can tell the results of a single sermon, or trace the
consequences of one conversion ? When Mr. Whitefield was
preaching in New England, a lady became the subject of Di-
vine grace, and of course devoted to prayer. But in her Chris-
tian exercises she was alone ; she could induce no one to pray
with her but her little daughter, about ten years of age. She
took this dear child into her closet from day to day as a wit-
ness of her cries and tears. After a time, it pleased God to
touch the heart of the child, and to give her the knowledge of
salvation by the remission of sin. In a transport of holy joy,
she then exclaimed to her mother, "O mother, if all the world
knew this! I wish I could tell every body I Pray, mother,
let me run to some of the neighbours, and tell them, that they
may be happy, and love my Saviour too I" "Ah, my dear
child," said the mother, " that would be useless, for I suppose
that were you to tell your experience, there is not one within
many miles but what would laugh at you, and say it was all
delusion." " O mother," replied the dear girl, " I think they
would believe me. I must go over to the shoemaker, and tell
him, he will believe me." She ran over, and found him at
work in his shop. She began by telling him that he must die,
and that he was a sinner, and that she was a sinner, but that
her blessed Saviour had heard her mother's prayers, and had
forgiven all her sins ; and that now she was so happy, that she
did not know how to tell it ! The shoemaker was struck with
surprise; his tears flowed down like rain; he threw aside his
work, and by prayer and suplication sought for mercy. The
nei'dibourhood became excited, and within a few months there
were more than fifty brought to the knowledge of Jesus, re
joicing in his power and grace.
3S*
450 THE AaiERICAN CLEKGV.
A MISTAKEN MINISTER.
The following anecdote bears strong testimony in favour of
labouring and praying for the immediate conversion of young
children in our Sabbath-schools. A minister in Massachusetts,
who felt a lively interest in the Sabbath-school, used to pray
that the seed there sown might spring up in due time and bear
fruit. He not only prayed in this manner himself, but by his
example, taught the teachers thus to pray. They never once
thought of praying for the immediate conversion of the scho-
lars. At length this minister heard that some two or three of
the scholars who had been in the school for some lime were
beginning to indulge the hope that they had passed from death
unto life. He called to see them, and on inquiring, found that
their feelings began to change at just about the age that he and
the teachers had supposed would be the due time, when the
seed might begin to spring and grow and bear fruit. This led
him to believe that if he had only fixed upon an earlier time,
and laboured accordingly, they might have given their hearts
to the Saviour long before. He was convinced of his error.
He met the teachers and said to them, we have been wrong
entirely wrong. We ought to have prayed for their immediate
conversion then exhorted them to direct all their efforts to this
point, and not to rest satisfied so long as one child in the school
was unreconciled to God. They began to pray, and God soon
poured out his spirit upon the school, and convinced minister
and teachers that it is right to pray for the immediate conver-
sion, of little children. Let all who have any thing to do with
the religious instruction of little children, take heed lest their
garments be stained with the blood of their souls.
REV. DAVID liRAlXERD. 451
REV. DAVID BRAINERD.
There are some interesting facts connected with the labours
of this extraordinary young man among the Indians, which
ought never to be forgotten. It is well known that in June
1745, he first began to labour among a small body of these
people in New Jersey. For the first six weeks they manifested
such entire indifference and stupid unconcern, that he was
about to leave them in despair, when he was somewhat encou-
raged by the conversion of his interpreter. The interest with
which this man now entered into the subject, and the warmth
and unction with which he translated Mr. Brainerd's discourses,
struck the Indians with surprise, and arrested their attention.
On the 8lh of August, he preached to about sixty-five of them,
;imong whom he discovered much anxious concern. In pri-
vate intercourse with them afterwards, the power of God seemed
to descend upon them like a mighty rushing wind. Almost all
persons, of all ages, were bowed down with concern together,
and were scarcely able to withstand the shock. Old men and
women, who had been drunken wretches for many years, and
some children, appeared in distress for their souls. One who
had been a murderer, a pow-uow^ or conjuror, and a noto-
rious drunkard, was brought to cry for mercy with many tears.
A young Indian woman, who never before knew that she had
a soul, had come to see what was the matter; she called on
Mr. Brainerd on her way, and when he told her that he was
about to preach to the Indians, she laughed, and seemed to
mock. He had not proceeded far in his sermon before she felt
effectually that she had a soul, and before it was ended, was so
distressed with concern for its salvation, that she seemed like
one pierced through with a dart. Such scenes were frequently
repeated during the following eight weeks. Mr. Brainerd says:
" This surprising concern was never excited by anv harangues
452 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
of terror, but always appeared most remarkable when 1 in-
sisted on the compassion of a dying Saviour, the plentiful pro-
visions of the Gospel, and the free offer of divine grace to
needv sinners. The effects have been very remarkable. I
doubt not but many of these people have gained more doctrinal
knowledge of divine truth since I visited them in June last,
than could have been instilled into their minds by the most di-
ligent use of proper and instructive means for whole years
together without such a divine influence. They seem gene-
rally divorced from their drunkenness, which is the sin that
easily besets them. A principle of honesty and justice appears
among them, and they seem concerned to discharge their old
debts, which they have neglected, and, perhaps, scarcely thought
of for years. Love seems to reign among them, especially
those who have given evidence of having passed through a
savinof chance. Their consolations do not incline them to
lio-hlness, but, on the contrary, are attended with solemnity,
and often with tears and apparent brokenness of heart." After
some months' probation, he baptized forty-seven out of less
than one hundred, who composed the settlement.
REV. PRESIDENT DAVIES.
The influence of the Pulpit in stimulating the heroes of the
Revolutionary war was unquestionably great. The eloquent
Samuel Davies, in an address to one of the Militia companies,
pronounced a celebrated encomium on Washington, in a single
sentence, which animated his hearers, and proved prophetic as
to its subject. After praising the zeal and courage which had
been shown by the Virginia troops, the preacher added: — "As
a remarkable instance of this, I may point out to the public
that heroic youth, Colonel Washington, whom I cannot but
REV. GILBERT TEXXENT. 453
hope Providence has hitherto preserved in so signal a manner
for some important service to his country." This was but the
echo of the general voice.
The fruits of this devoted minister of Christ were not ephe-
meral — they did not end in excitement. He went to his rest
long since. But the fruits of his ministry still remain, in the
consistent piety of those who were reared under the influence
of parents brought into the church by his labours. A gentle-
man in Tennessee says: — "The fruits of the great revival in
Hanover under the preaching of Samuel Davies, are now
spreading and growing in the valley of the Mississippi. There
are many of the children and children's children of those per-
sons who professed religion in Hanover, under the ministry of
that eminent man of God, now scattered in this great valley ;
and I know of no instance where they go, but an altar is reared
for the worship of God in their families and neighbourhoods."
REV. GILBERT TENNENT.
Dr. Franklin gives an interesting account of this excellent
man. It is well known that he was the friend and companion
of Mr. Whitefield, and that he became the minister of the
people whom that eminent minister collected together in Phila-
delphia.
Dr. F. says : — The Rev. Gilbert Tennent came to me with
a request that I would assist him in obtaining a subscription
for erecting a new meeting-house. It was to be for the use of
a concrregation he had gathered among the Presbyterians, wno
were originally the disciples of Mr. Whitefield. Unwilling to
454 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
make myself disagreeable to my fellow-citizens, by too fre-
quently soliciting their contributions, I absolutely refused. He
then desired I would furnish him with a list of the names of
persons I knew by experience to be generous and public-spi-
rited. I thought it would be unbecoming in me, after their
kind compliance with my solicitations, to mark them out to be
worried by other beggars, and therefore refused to give such a
list. He then desired I would at least give my advice. "That
I will readily do," said I ; " and, in the first place, I advise you
to apply to all those who you know will give something; next,
to those who you are uncertain whether they will give any
thing or not, and show them the list of those who have given;
and, lastly, do not neglect those who you are sure will give
nothing, for in some of them you may be mistaken." He
laughed, and thanked me, and said he would take my advice.
He did so, for he asked of everybody ; and he obtained a
much larger sum than he expected, with which he erected
the capacious and elegant meeting-house that stands in Arcii
street.
REV. DR. B.
So3iE years since, a merchant at Boston sent a variety of
useful articles as a present to the Rev. Dr. B., his pastor,
accompanied with a note, desiring his acceptance of it as a
comment on Gal. vi. 6 : " Let him that is taught in the word,
communicate to him that teacheth in all good things." The
i;ood doctor, who was then confined by sickness, returned his
compliments to Mr. W., thanked him for his excellent Family
Expositoi', and requested him to give him a practical exposi-
Mon of Matt. xxv. 36 : " I was sick, and ye visited me."
A HOME MISSIONARY. 455
REV. DR. BACKUS.
The Rev. Dr. Backus, of Somers, was more than once in-
vited to accept the professorship of Divinity, both in the college
of Dartmouth and in Yale. The reasons of his refusal he did
not communicate, but the principal one is not improbably found
in the following anecdote: — A gentleman, who was a repre-
sentative from Somers, in the legislature, sitting at New Haven,
while Dr. Backus was deliberating on this subject, was urged
by one of his friends to use his influence in persuadino- the
people of Somers to unite with their minister in calling an
ecclesiastical council, which should decide on the propriety or
impropriety of his acceptance. He replied, " You solicit me
in vain. If Dr. Backus resolves to leave us, we cannot help
it; but we will never consent to call a council for the purpose
of determining on our own destruction. If he leaves us, we
are undone ; and no people can be reasonably expected, or
desired, voluntarily to take measures to accomplish their own
A HOME MISSIONARY.
It was a fine day in , when a steamboat left St. Louis
for Cincinnati. More than two hundred passengers enjoyed
the beauty of the scene and scenery, and the excitement of the
passage. Among them were all classes and conditions, pro-
fessions and characters. There was seen the missionary, who
had spent many years in preaching the gospel nmong the
heathen of Eastern Asia. There was a Home Missionary,
too, who hnd spent his tour of labour in the Gront Vallev, in
proclaiming to destitute thousands the gospel of the grace of
God, and who was now returning to his home in one of the
456 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
Middle States. There was the reckless and profane, the Sab
bath-breaker and the infidel ; there, too, was the civilian of
firm and decisive Christian character, as well as many a nomi- v,
nal Christian. The Sabbath was at hand, as the boat ap-
proached a city on the noble river Ohio. Those who loved the
Sabbath, and made it a rule of life to honour God, in the ob-
servance of that day " made for man," had settled their
arrangements to leave the boat at this city, and, after the Sab-
bath, to pursue their journey. A goodly number thus honoured
the God of the sacred day. The Foreign Missionary led the
way; the Home Missionary hesitated, doubted, and finally said
that he had only the money to carry him home in the shortest
time, and that he could not stop on expense over the Sabbath,
and be able to pay his way homewards. "What shall I do,
and what ought I to do 1" was his inquiry, made with deep
interest in view of his condition. The reply of the civilian
was, " Obey the commands of God, and then trust Him ; hun-
dreds know you are a missionary and a minister of the gospel,
and will feel the influence of your pernicious example. The
cause of Christ will bleed, that a missionary should travel on
the Sabbath — that a clergyman should violate the Sabbath.
' Trust in God ;' no other course is safe or cheap " He was
convinced, moved, resolved, and went on shore with the others,
and passed the Sabbath, not without some apprehensions that
he might be troubled by the expense. On Monday, another
boat took them on their way. The Home Missionary came
with a cheerful countenance ; even the lines of solicitude on
his face had disappeared. His expenses had been paid by
some unknown friend ; and he felt constrained to declare with
gratitude, " I will obey, and hereafter trust the Lord."
A MINISTER IN NEW YORK. 457
A MINISTER IN NEW YORK.
How often is the pulpit introduced into a neiglibourhood by
very unexpected means! The Rev. Mr. Cook, of New York,
not long since related the following pleasing fact : —
In 1807, a gentleman, journeying in the interior of New
York, then regarded as the far West, took with him some
copies of Doddridge's " Rise and Progress of Religion in the
Soul," for distribution. As he stopped at a cabin tavern, he
noticed that the woman who waited on him at table, was busily
engaged in reading. He inquired what book she had, ana
learned that it was the " Rise and Progress," which a neigh
hour had lent to her, and from which she was copying pas-
sages which had peculiarly interested her mind. He gave her
a copy of the book, which she received with great delight. In
1839, he was again passing that way; and, on inquiring for this
woman by name, he was pointed to an elegant house as her
residence. He called on her, and asked her if she remembered
him. She did not. " But do you not remember the man who
gave you Doddridge's Rise and Progress, thirty years ago?''
" Oh, yes!" said she; "are you the same man? Why, that
book was the means of converting my soul ; and it was lent
around, and others read it, and we had meetings to read it
together. It was read at huskings and bees, and on the Sab-
bath day, and a revival followed ; and by and by, we sent for
a minister, and formed a church. The church at Wyoming is
the fruit of that seed."
i9
158 I HE AMERICAN CLERGY.
REV. MR. MASSE Y.
There are many ways of assisting ministers in the dis-
charge of their important duties, which seldom occur to com-
mon minds, but eminently conduce to the advancement of
religion. One of these may be told in connection with General
Washington, whose usefulness extended to every object within
the sphere of his influence. In the affairs of Truro parish, to
which Mount Vernon belonged, he took a lively concern, and
exercised a salutary control. He was a vestryman of that
parish. On one occasion, he gained a triumph of some mo-
ment, which Mr. Massey, the clergyman, who lived to an ad-
vanced age, used to mention as an instance of his address.
The (Id church was falling to ruin, and it was resolved that
another should be built. Several meetings were held, and a
warm discussion arose respecting its location ; the old one
being remote from the centre, and inconveniently situated for
many of the parishioners. A meeting for settling the question
was finally held. Mr. George Mason, who led the party for ad-
hering to the ancient site, made an eloquent harangue, in which
he appealed, with great effect, to the sensibilities of the people,
conjuring them not to desert the spot consecrated by the bones
of their ancestors and the most hallowed associations. Mr.
Massey said that every person present seemed moved by this
discourse, and, for the moment, he thought there would not be
a dissenting voice. Washington then rose, and drew from his
pocket a roll of paper, containing an exact survey of Truro
parish, on which was marked the site of the old church, the
proposed site of the new one, and the place where each pa-
rishioner resided. He spread this map before the audience,
explained it in a few words, and then added, that it was for
them to determine whether they would be carried away by an
imnulse of feeling, or act upon the obvious principles of reason
A DISCOURAGED YOUNG MINISTER. A'*':)
a.jd justice. The argument, thus confirmed by ocular demon-
stration, was conclusive, and the church was erected on the
new site.
A DISCOURAGED YOUNG MINISTER.
A YOUNG minister was settled in a large and popular congre-
gation, under very flattering circumstances. The church and
people had settled him in the belief that he was a young man
of more than ordinary talents, and with the expectation of his
becoming a distinguished man. After a year or two, when the
novelty of the thing had worn off, the current seemed to
change, and the feeling prevailed that Mr. B. was not, noi
likely to be, quite what they had expected. He did not grow
as they had thought he would ; he did not perform the amount
of labour which was needed to build up the church, and interest
the congregation. Things dragged heavily. The young man
felt the influence of the chill atmosphere which thus surrounded
him. His spirits sunk, his health failed, and it was soon whis-
pered around in the society and in the neighbouring towns, that
Mr. B. would probably have to leave — he was not the man for
the place. He was not the man of talents they had antici-
pated.
While things were In this state, at a meeting of the church,
when the pastor was absent, (perhaps one called to see what
should be done,) Mr. O , an uitelligent and influential mem-
ber, arose and said :
" Brethren, I think we have been in the fault respecting our
'ninister. I think that he is a young man of superior talents,
)i(] will one day be a distinguished man. But we have not
ii.'itnined him and encouraged him as we should. We have
I)' en standing and looking on, expecting him to raise both **im-
460 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
self and us to eminence. Now, let us adopt a different course.
Let us encourage our minister with our prayers, our sympa-
thies, and our efforts. Let us speak of him with esteem and
confidence to others, and say that we think him a man of
talent, and one who bids fair to be a distinguished -man."
The thing was agreed upon. The leading men set the ex-
ample. Very soon every one was speaking in favour of Mr,
B. His people visited him, sympathized with him ; and people
out of the society began to remark, how Mr. B. was rising in
the estimation of his people.
The young man felt the change. The cold, damp chill with
which he was surrounded, and which was benumbing the ener-
gies of his soul, was changed by the influence of such kindly
beams, and a warm atmosphere came over him. His spirits
rose ; his health returned ; his energies awoke, and he showed
to all that he had within him the elements of a man. Several
revivals attended his labours. In the affections of the church
and the people, he firmly established himself His name be-
came honourably enrolled among authors, and he was one
whom his own church and other churches delight to honour.
REV. DR. STANFORD.
Ministers of the gospel, though it does not become them to
talk of it, are often very poor, and kindness should be shown
fo them, both in act and in manner. The following may sug-
gest an important and useful hint: — The late Rev. Dr. Stan-
ford was once walking in Wall street, in New York, when he
met a gentleman, who, judging from the threadbare appearance
of his garments, that a new suit of clothes would not be unac-
(■(^ptable, invited him to step into a merchant tailor's shop,
opposite. After they had entered, Mr. W. remarked to the
A ^E\V ENGLAND MINISTER. -. ■. .
tailor that they had called for the purpose of requesting him to
decide a point upon which there was some doubt, namely, who
was the largest man, Dr. Stanford or himself. They were
accordingly measured, and nothing more was said on the sub-
ject. The following week, a new suit of clothes were broufht
to Dr. S., accompanied with an anonymous note, requesting
his acceptance of them. When relating this circumstance to
his biographer, Dr. S. remarked, with his usual pleasantry,
" Well, what could I do but pocket the affront]"
A NEW ENGLAND MINISTER.
At the first settlement of one of the New England towns,
ihe inhabitants, w^ith their characteristic piety, erected a house
of worship, and procured the services of an eminent minister.
Without a fixed salary, he was partially dependent upon gra-
tuity for support.
For the more effectual supply of his wants, as well as to
testify their attachment and respect, the members of his flock
appointed a day for general contribution. On that day, they
came to the residence of their minister, some in carriages and
some on foot, bringing with them their various gifts, all zealous
to testify their love, and some, perhaps, anxious to exhibit their
superior wealth. Be this as it may, they formed a happy
group ; cordial salutations were interchanged, love attuned
every heart, and joy sparkled in every eye.
Among the last to arrive, were two neighbours who resided
in a remote part of the parish ; and whom want and privation,
incident to a new settlement, had left nothing to give. Anxious
U) be the bearers of some token of their attachment and grati-
IikIp, they had, alas I nothing but honest liearts and kind
u ishes.
39*
462 THE AMERICAN (;LERG:V.
After much perplexity, they went into the woods, dug up
each a small elm-tree, and came with their humble offerings.
Silently and unobserved, they planted them in front of their
pastor's dwelling. Not venturing to mingle among the wealthier
givers, their work accomplished, they returned to their homes
Two hundred years have rolled over the events of that day.
The shepherd and his flock are sleeping side by side. They
that gave, and he that received, have passed away ; givers and
their gifts forgotten. Nay, they are not all forgotten. Near
by, and designating the site of the parsonage, stands an aged
elm. Until witliin a ft w years, there were two of them. In-
terlocking their giant branches, they had long battled with the
tempests, and drank together of the morning dews ; for their
shadows reached back through two centuries. " Others have
been planted beside them ; and long and densely shaded streets,
like arched passages, have given character, beauty, and a
name to the City of Elms,
Of these two trees, thus planted, one has fallen a victim to
time ; the other yet stands, in hale old age, rich in its memo-
ries and associations — not the least of which is, that it was the
'poor man''.; gift.
A SOUTHERN CLERGYMAN.
Two coloured men, in the South, had just been hearing a
sermon, and were conversing together about it. One of them
remarked that he could understand but little of it, but the other
said that he understood all but one word. "What is dat ?"
asked his companion. " De word perseverance;' was the an-
swer. To which the other rejoined, "Oh! me tell you what
dat is; it mean, take right hold; holdfast; hang on, ana
no let go.''
REV. JOSEPH SMITH. 463
REV. JOSEPH SMITH.
Our story will carry the reader back a little more than fitly
years; when all north of the Ohio river was an almost un-
broken wilderness — the mysterious red man's home. On the
other side, a bold and hardy band from beyond the mountains
had built their log cabins, and were trying to subdue the wil-
derness.
To them every hour was full of peril. The Indians would
often cross the river, steal their children and horses, and kill
and scalp any victim who came in their way. They worked
in the field with weapons at their side; and, pn the Sabbath,
met in the grove of the rude log church to hear the word of
God, with their rifles in their hands.
To preach to these settlers, Mr. Joseph Smith, a Presbyte-
rian minister, had left his parental home east of the mountains.
He, it was said, was the second minister who had crossed the
Monongahela river. He settled in Washington county, Penn-
sylvania, and became the pastor of the Cross Creek and Upper
Buffalo congregations, dividing his time between them. He
found them a willing and united people, but still unable to pay
him a salary which would support his family. He, in com-
mon with all the early ministers, must cultivate a farm. He
purchased one on credit, proposing to pay for it with the salary
pledged to him by his people.
Years passed away ; the pastor was unpaid ; little or no
money was in circulation ; wheat was abundant, but there was
no market; it could not be sold for more than twelve-and-a-
half cents, in cash. Even their salt had to be brought across
the mountains on pack-horses, and was worth eight dollars per
bushel : twenty-one bushels of wheat were often given for one
of salt.
The time came when the last payment must be made, and
404 THE AMERICAN (LERCY.
Mr. Smith was told he must pay or leave his farm. Three
years' salary was now due from his people.
For the want of this, his land, his improvements upon it,
and his hopes of remaining among a beloved people, must be
abandoned. The people were called together, and the ease
laid before them. They were greatly moved. Counsel from
on high was sought. Plan after plan was proposed and aban-
doned. The people were unable to pay the tithe of their
debts, and no money could be borrowed.
In despair they adjourned, to meet again the following week.
Ill the mean time it was ascertained that a Mr. Moore, who
owned the only mill in the country, would grind for them wheat
on moderate terms. At the next meeting, it was resolved to
carry their wheat to Mr. Moore's mill. Some gave fifty
b.ushels, some more. This was carried from fifteen to twenty-
six miles, on horses, to the mill.
In a month, word came that the flour was ready to go to
market. Again the people were called together. After an
earnest prayer, the question was asked. Who will run the flour
to New Orleans? This was a startling question. The work
was perilous in the extreme. Months must pass before the
adventurer could hope to return, even though his journey should
be fortunate. Nearly all the way was a wilderness ; and
gloomy tales had been told of the treacherous Indians. More
than one boat's crew had gone on that journey, and came back
'lo more.
Who, then, would endure the toil and brave the danger?
x\one volunteered. The young shrunk back, and the middle-
aged had their excuses. Their last scheme seemed likely to
fail. At length a hoary-headed man, an elder in the church,
sixty-four years of age, arose, and, to the astonishment of the
assembly, said, " Here am I ; send me." The deepest feeling
at once pervaded the whole assembly. To see their venerated
elder thus devote himself for their i^ood, melted thorn all to
REV. JOSEPH SMITH. 465
lears. They gathered around old Father Smiley, to learn that
his resolution was indeed taken ; that, rather than lose their
pastor, he would brave danger, toil, and even death. After
some delay and trouble, two young men were induced, by
hope of a large reward, to go as his assistants.
A day was appointed for starting. The young and old, from
far and near, from love to Father Smiley, and the deep inte-
rest in the object of his mission, gathered together, and, with
their pastor at their head, came down from the church, fifteen
miles away to the bank of the river, to bid the old man fare-
well. Then a prayer was offered by their pastor. A parting
hymn was sung. " There," said the old Scotchman, " untie
the cable, and let us see what the Lord will do for us." This
was done, and the boat floated slowly away.
More than nine months passed, and no word came back from
Father Smiley. Many a prayer had been breathed for him;
but what had been his fate, was unknown. Another Sabbath
came. The people came together for worship ; and there, on
his rude bench, before the preacher, composed and devout, sat
Father Smiley. After the services, the people were requested
to meet early in the week, to hear the report. All came again.
After thanks had been rendered to God for his safe return,
Father Smiley arose and told his story : — That the Lord had
prospered his mission ; that he had sold his flour for twenty-
seven dollars per barrel, and then got safely back. He then
drew a large purse, and poured upon the table a larger pile of
gold than most of the spectators had ever seen before. The
young men were paid each a hundred dollars. Father Smiley
was asked his charges. He meekly replied that bethought he
ouf^ht to have the same as one of the young men, though he
had not done quite as much work. It was immediately |)ro.
posed to pay him three hundred dollars. This he refused to
receive, till the pastor was paid. Upon counting the money,
there was found enough to pay what was due Mr. S.. to ad-
466 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
vance his salary for the year to come, to reward Father Smi-
ley with three hundred dollars, and then to leave a large
dividend for each contribution. Thus their debts were paid,
their pastor relieved ; and, while life lasted, he broke to them
the bread of life. The bones of both pastor and elder have
long reposed in the same church-yard ; but a grateful posterity
sfill tell this pleasing story of the past.
A MISSIONARY AMONG THE INDIANS.
Few anecdotes are more interesting, as connected with the
ministry, than some of those relating to the Indians. In 1803,
these persons at Slockbridge delivered a speech to a missionary
who laboured among them, which shows their affection to him,
while it also illustrates not a few passages of the sacred vo-
lume. The following is an extract: —
Father! when I look at you, I see the tears are falling down
your cheeks, on account of the many dismal objects you have
seen. Now, according to the ancient custom of my forefathers,
I stretch forth my hand and wipe the tears from your eyes,
that you may see clearly. And, likewise, I see that your ears
are stopped with the dust that flies about. I now clear your
ears., that you may hear distinctly. I also loosen your tongue,
that you may speak freely. Having done this, I see that your
legs and feet are muddy, by reason of the wet path by which
vou travel. I likewise wash your legs and feet. While I do
ttiis, I feel some briars stick in your feel. I pluck them out,
and take the healing oil, which our forefathers used to keep for
that purpose, and oil them, that they may feel comfortable
while you sit by the side of our fire-place.
MORAVIAN MISSIONARIES. 467
MORAVIAN MISSIONARIES.
A LARGE body of Indians had been converted by the Mora-
vian missionaries, and settled in the West, where their sim-
plicity and harmlessness seemed a renewal of the better days
3f Christianity. During the Revolutionary war, these settle-
ments, named Dichtenau and Guadenhutten, being located in
the seat of the former Indian contests, were exposed to outrage
from both parties. Being, however, under the tuition and in-
fluence of the whites, and having adopted their religion and
the virtuous portion of their habits^ they naturally apprehended
that the hostile Indians, sweeping down upon the American
frontier, would take advantage of their helplessness, and de-
stroy them as allies of the whites. Subsequent events enable
us to compare the red and white man, and determine which is
the savage. A party of two hundred Hurons fiercely ap-
proached the Moravian Indian town. The Christian Indians
conducted themselves, in this trying extremity, with meekness
and firmness. They sent a deputation with refreshments to
their approaching foes, and told them that, by the word of God,
they were taught to be at peace with all men, and entreated
for themselves and their white teachers, peace. and protection.
And what replied the savage, fresh from the wilds, and panting
for blood? Did he mock to scorn the meek and Christian
appeal? Did he answer with the war-whoop, and lead on his
men to the easy slaughter of his foes? What else could be
expected from an Indian ? Yet such was not the response of
the red warrior. He said he was on a war party, and his
heart had been evil, and his aim had been blood ; but the
words of his brethren had opened his eyes. He would do
ihem no harm, "Obey your teachers," said he, "worship
your God, and be not afraid. No creature shall harm you."
4G8 THE AMERICAN CLEKGV.
A DISCOURAGED PASTOK.
I ONCE heard of a minister who slated that he preached a
number of years in a certain place, without any visible benefit
to any one. Finally, he concluded it was not right for him to
preach, and *n consequence thought he would give it up. But,
while musing on the subject, he fell asleep and dreamed. " 1
dreamed," said he, " that I was to work for a certain man for
so much, and my business was sitting upon a very large rock,
with a very small hammer, pounding upon the middle of it, in
order to split it open. I worked a long time, to no effect; and
at length I became discouraged, and began to complain, when
my employer came. Said he, 'Why do you complain? Have
you not fared well while in my employ V
" ' Oh ! yes.'
" ' Have you not had enough to eat ?'
" ' Yes.'
*' ' Have you been neglected in any way?'
" ' No, sir.'
"'Then,' said he, 'keep to work, cease your complaints,
and I will take care of the result.'
" He then left me.
" I then thought that I applied my little hammer with more
energy, and soon the rock burst open v/ilh such force that it
awoke me. Then," says he, " I ceased to complain ; I seized
my little hammer with new vigor; I hammered upon that gre.u
rock, Sin, with renewed energy, nothing doubting, and soon
the rock burst. The Spirit of the Lord rushed in, and the
result was a reward of a glorious ingathering of souls."
A CLEKGYVIAN 409
RFV. SYLVESTER LARNED.
The communication of reproof, however painful it may b«?
is one of the most important and most useful duties of the
Christian ministry. A Spanish gentleman once called on the
late Rev. Sylvester Larned, of New Orleans, one of the must
eloquent pulpit orators of his day, to say that he wished to
join his church, and to receive the sacrament of the Lord's
Supper; " for," said he, with an oath, " you are the most elo-
quent man I have ever heard !" Mr. Larned spent an hour
with him in explaining what was required in order to becoming
a member of his church ; in other words, what it is to be a
true Christian ; and the Spaniard went away with a heavy
heart, to reflect on a subject which had never been presented
to his mind in the same light before.
A CLERGYMAN.
A CLERGYMAN, who was not very remarkable for his zeal in
the cause of his Divine Master, while travelling in New York
state, stopped for a night in a place where there was an exten-
sive revival of relicjion. AHer resting for a short time at the
inn, his curiosity to view the place led him to stroll through
the streets. He had not proceeded far on his evening ramble,
before his ear was arrested by the voice of prayer. He paused
and listened; and, finding that the voice issued from a retired
and humble dwelling by the roadside, stranger as he was, he
resolved to enter. On entering, he found himself unexpectedly
surrounded by a band of disciples, assembled for special
prayer. He cast his eye about, upon the little group, in a vain
endeavour to find some one whom he could recognise as an
40
470 THE AMERICAN CLERGY.
acquaintance ; but all were strangers in person, through bre-
thren in Christ. Collecting his wandering thoughts, he bowed
himself in the humble attitude of prayer, and, to his infinite
surprise, he soon discovered that himself, by name, and the
people of his charge, were the subjects of ardent and importu-
nate supplication. The person who was leading their devo-
tions, was an entire stranger to him ; and yet he seemed to
wrestle in spirit with God, that he might l»e aroused to greater
faithfulness and zeal in his ministerial duties and private devo-
tions, and that God would prepare him to become an agent
in reviving his work in the church and congregation over
whom he was placed as a spiritual watchman. After the
meeting had closed, being deeply impressed with the guilt of
his past negligence, and with the responsibility of the minis-
terial office, he silently withdrew and returned to his lodgings.
Not long after this event, he returned to his people, and re-
sumed, with renewed vigour, the duties of his office. Within
a short time, a revival commenced in his congregation, and
three hundred were early numbered as the hopeful subjects of
redeeming mercy.
INDEX
OF
PERSONS AND PLACES.
A ., Rev. Mr.
Adams, Rev. Z.
African
Albany, N. Y.
Alden, Rev. Mr.
Alder, Rev. Dr.
Alexander, Rev. Dr.
Alleghany mountains
, prophet of the
Allen, Rev. J.
, Rev. S.
Allison, Rev. Dr. F.
Allsworthy, Deacon
Amherst, college at
Andover, college at
Angier, Mrs. A. L.
Annapolis
Arminian, and Dr. Nettleton
Armstrong, Rev. Dr.
, Rev. J.
Asbury, Bishop
Atheist
Athol
Auburn, N. Y.
Augusta, Ga.
, Me.
B., Elder
— , Mr.
— , Rev. Dr.
— , Rev. Mr.
Backus, Rev. Dr.
, Rev. Mr
Paob
Paos
22
Bailey, Rev. Mr.
217, 433
160
Baird, Rev. Dr.
229
448
Baker. Rev. Mr.
356
131, 231, 353
Bangor, Me.
177
217
Bangs, Rev. Dr.
108
134
Baldwin, Rev. Dr.
385
230
Balfour, Rev. Dr.
224
282
Baltimore, Md.
111,379
the 98
Barbadoea
60
190
Baxter, Rev. R.
148
200
Beatty, Rev. C.
59
18
Beck, Mr.
276
285
Bedell, Rev. Dr.
10£
, 110,276
145
Beecher, family of
44
195 210
, Rev. Dr.
123,211
, 350, 438
185
, Rev. G.
45
204
Bellamy, Rev. Dr.
263
tleton 393
Bellingham, Mass.
217
280
Benedict, Rev. T. P
,
338
409
Bennett, Rev. Mr.
J 45, 396
219
Bethlehem, Conn.
263
398
Birmingham, Eng.
395
323
Bishop, a pious
40
387
Blair, Rev. S.
60, 360
379
Blood, Rev. Caleb
269
109
Blythe, Rev. S.
Bohemia, Del.
57
19
Bomniaseen, Indian
chief
sm
Bonaparte, Louis
415
213
Bordentown, N. J.
290
398
Borneo
68
454
Boston, Mass 21, 41
. 50,
6.?, 7
2, 73. 7^.
51, 459
101, 111, 135,
137.
145.
154.
16-2, 173,
455
207,215,217,
269.
325,
328,
336, 357,
817
377, 389, 392,
421,
454
(471)
472
INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES.
Boyle, Sir R.
Brainerd, Rev. D,
Breckenridge, Rev. Dr.
Bricklayer
Bridgewater, Mass.
Bristol, R. I.
Brock, Rev. J.
Brockden, Mr.
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Brown, John
, Rev. T.
Brunswick, N. J.
Buffalo, Upper
Bumstead, Mr.
Burr, President
Bushnell, Rev. Mr.
Byles, Rev. Dr. M.
Byne, Rev. E.
C , Mr.
, Rev. Dr.
, Rev. Mr.
Cadet
Cambridge, Mass. Ill, 131, 152,
Cambridgeport, Mass.
Cape Cod
Case, Rev. Mr.
Caviller, and Dr. Nettleton
Catlin. Rev. Dr.
Champlain, Lake
Chaplain, U. S. Military
Chaplin, Rev. Dr. J.
Charleston, Me.
, S. C.
Chase, Bishop
Chauncy, Rev. Dr.
Chebucto, N. S.
Cherokees, minister among
Chesterfield, Va.
Chestertown, Md.
Child
Chittenden, Vt.
Cmcinnati 162
Clap, Rev. Mr.
Clarinda, the African
Clark, Captain
Clergyman 23, 50, 68, 205,
354, 370, 371
at St. Louis
.. , a Baptist
, a courteous
. in Indiana
— in Maine
— — in Massachusetts
Paqk
159
451
234
312
175
327
189
141
176
402
235, 287
400
463
22
20
386
207
355
51, 13
351
47, 413
25
227, 440
322
131
411
300
440
357
25
205
411
219, 246
273
248
445
447
204
142
449
51
:, 261,455
317
246
161
228, 325,
, 374, 469
424
231
312
88
95
161
Clergyman in New York 373, 443
, a New England 35, 130, 169,
181, 328, 373, 375, 383
- at New Orleans
- in Philadelphia
- in Tennessee
- in Virginia
-, a Methodist
-, an eccentric
-, an effective
, an eminent
-, an Episcopal
-, an old
-, a persecuting
-, a Presbyterian
-, a southern
-, a travelling
-, a Universalist
-, a village
-, a wise
--, a young
410
331
358
293, 388
165, 267, 370
166
124
150
245
44, 133, 862, 395
256
290
462
427
375
346
398
34, 153, 185, 223,
245, 264
244
71, 74, 175, 266
, several young 49, 367
, travelling 277
, two 25, 109, 231, 245, 264, 336
330
204, 389
352
41
348
69
180
234«242, 350, 367
457
248
41
389
342
S29
391
463
191
181
Clergymen, aged
'■ , several
Clerk, a church
Coke, Rev. Dr.
Coley, Rev. Mr.
Coleman, Rev. Mr.
Cotton, Rev. C.
Columbian river
Cone, Rev. Dr.
Connecticut
Cook, Rev. C. S.
Cooper, Rev. Dr.
, Rev. W,
Cotton, Rev. John
Craig, Mr.
, Rev. Messrs.
Cross, Rev. Mr.
Cross Creek
Cuba
Culpepper, county of
D., Dr.
— , Mrs.
Daniel, Rev. E.
D'Anville, Duke
Dartmouth college
358
411
235
444
455
INDEX OP PERSONS AND rLACES.
47:3
Daviei, Rev. President 60
Deacon
Deerfield, N. E.
Delaware
Dickson, Rev. D.
Divine, a celebrated
, a New England
Drunkard
Dunbarton
Dwight, Rev. Dr. 48, 160,
233,
, mother of
Paos
—62, 166, 190,
452
312, 367
193
8, 19
410
176, 267
23
51
256, 362
163, 208, 227,
235, 412, 445
48
j Franklin, Mass.
P'riend
Furinan, Rev. Dr.
Gano, Rev, J.
<iardiner
Gentleman
. and Dr. Nettleton
, a young
Eastburn, Rev. J.
46, 31:?
Eastham
154
East Hampton, L. I.
351
East Indies
230
East Windsor
237
Eatonton
268
Edgartown
58
Edgefield C. H.
127
Edwards, Rev. President
4S,
163, 195,
201,
431, 439
Elder
368
Elizabeth, Queen
48
Eliot, Rev. J.
178,
202,
254. 372
Elliot, Bishop
372
Ely, Rev. Dr.
37
Emmons, Rev. Dr.
232
Enfield
164
England
zn.
424.
432, 458
Erskine, Rev. Dr.
224
Estabrook, Rev. Mr.
323
Europe
65
Paox
233
178
127,246
P., Rev. Dr.
172
— , Rev- Mr.
334
Fairfield
257
Family, a Methodist
258
Field, Rev. Mr.
371
Fiiiley, Rev. Dr.
264, 369
risk, Rev. Dr.
108, 109
roirg's Manor, Penna.
60
I'orrest, Rev. Mr
223
1 ort Wayne
211
1 ranklin. Dr.
144, 394, 4.53
George, Bishop
II., King
Georgia
Gillespie, Rev. Mr.
Gooch, Sir W.
Good Hope, cape of
Goodrich, Rev. Dr.
Grafton, Rev. Mr
Great Harbour
Great Valley
Green mountains
Green, Rev. Dr.
Gregory, Dr. O.
Griffin, Rev. Dr.
Grimaldi, an African
Grisvvold, Bishop
180, 337
109
326, 460
306
351
257
167
238, 315, 372, 379, 431
151
256
210
414
318
58
455
277
46
36
71—73, 90, 91, 377
315
191, 327
H., Rev. Mr. 431
Hague, Rev. W. 203
Hall, Rev. N. 63
, Rev. R. 172
Halifax, N. S. 76
Hallowell, Me. 109
Hamburg, Ga. 379
Hamilton, Genera! 273
Hampden Sidney, college at 74
Hampshire, county of 200
Hanover, N. C. 94, 453
Harmony 409
Harris, Rev. Dr. 63, 225, .?62
, Rev. S. 204, 339
Harvey, Rev. B. J67
Hatfield, N. E. 195
Hauman, Mr. 341
Hawley, Rev. G. 227
Haypps, Rev. L. 2.I8
Healy, Rov. Mr. 251
Ht-nry. R.;v. Dr. T. C. 425
474
INDEX OP PERSONS AND PLACES.
Faob
Hiacoomes S8
Hill, Rev, Dr. 74
Hitchcock, Rev. President 145
Hodgkinson, Mr. 144
Holland 230
Homer, Rev. B. 120
, Rev, Dr. 348
Hooker, Rev. T. 111,163,412
Hopkins, Rev. Dr. 205, 439
, Rev. Mr. 43
Hopkinton, Mass. 122
Howe, Rev. Mr. 122
Hull, Rev. Mr. 400
Humphrey, Rev. Dr. 115
Hyde, Rev. Mr. 366
, Rev. Dr. 440
Indiana 88,211
Indian woman 451
Indians, a missionary to the 210, 466
, Flat-headed 69
Infidel, a young 405
Ingraham, Colonel 152
Ireland 18, 59
J., Rev. Mr. 391
Jack, a colored preacher 283
Jacobs, Rev. B. 322
James, Rev. J. W. 33
James river 280
Japhet, Rev. Mr. 53
Jerusalem 66
Jew 293
Johnson, Rev. Mr. 250
Judson, Rev. Dr. 247, 325
Kennaday, Rev. J.
89
Kennebeck river
109
Kentucky
171, 229
King, Rev. Dr.
64,65
Kirkland, Rev. Mr.
159
, President
440
Knox, Rev. Hugh
18
Paob
L., Mr.
149
— , Rev. Dr.
397
— , Rev. Mr.
249
Lady
369, 449
, a dying
406, 424
, a gay
35, 368
, a young
299, 301, 307
Laidlie, Rev. Dr.
340
Lambert, Mr.
310
Lamed, Rev. S.
107, 469
Lathrop, Rev. Dr.
122, 144, 255, 412
Lawrence, river St.
357
Lawyer, a young
273
Leland, Rev. John
267
Leonard, Rev. L.
269
Litchfield
123
Livingston, Rev. Dr.
230, 415
London
17, 36, 166
Long Island
44
Louisiana
290
Lowell, Mass.
312
Lyman, Rev. H.
65
M., Rev. Mr.
78,
371, 441
M'Cartee, Rev. Dr.
38
M'llvaine, Bishop
25, 446
Maine
238, 422
Malta
307
Man, a white
448
Manchester
240
Manly, Rev. President
127, 268
Mann, Mr.
217
Manning, Rev. Dr
203, 217
Martha's Vineyard
53
Maryland
84
Mason, Rev. Dr. J. M.
172,
200, 402
, Mr. G.
458
Massachusetts 22
103,
152,
161, 165,
234, 450
Massey, Rev. Mr.
4.'S8
Mather, Rev. Dr. C.
53,95
,215
, 389, 392
Mayhow, Rev. T.
53, 58
Maynard, Mr.
64
Mercer, Rev. Dr.
125,
218,
268, 329
Methodist brother
129
Methodist preacher
87, 3S6
Middleborough, Maes.
217
Middleton, Del.
19
Mid Lothian, Virginia
145
Miller, a Sabbath-breaking
346
INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES.
475
Paoe
Miller, Rev. Dr 111,224
Minister 228, 370, 371, 435, 436, 447
, a Baptist 311
, a circuit 257
, a city 197
, a country 277
, a delightea 282
, a faithful 116,276,335
5 in New Hampshire 226
, in Boston
, in New York
, a mistaken
, an able
, an aged
, a New England
, an unsuccessful
, a penitent
, a poor
• , a popular
, a shrewd
, a travelling
, a Universalist
— . a young
-, a zealous
Ministers, Puritan
, several young
, six young
, thoughtless
, two
Missionaries, American
Missionary
, a home
, an Indian
, a Moravian
Mississippi river
Monmouth, N. J.
Monongahela river
Moody, Rev. Mr.
Moore, Mr.
Morton, Rev. C. S.
336
326, 424, 457
450
27
840, 373, 434
42, 148, 375
444, 460
286
377
312
209
427
347
158, 225, 240,
267, 375, 378, 432
71, 233, 282, 459
40
437
30
28
224
249, 262
437
50, 192
455
69, 96, 466
467
290, 453
120
463
152, 285
464
132
N , Mrs.
— , Rev. Mr.
Narragansett bay
Negro, an old
Neshaminy
Nettleton, Rev. Dr.
360
109
191
29
59
115,237,241.296
i'AOB
Newark, N. J.
20, 90, 120, 253
New Haven
455
New Brunswick
17, 60, 94, 400
Newbury
152
Newburyport
173, 249
Newcastle, Del.
432
New England 95, 122, 13.3, 148, 176, 210,
217, 356, 433, 438, 444, 445
New Hampshire 42, 44, 72, 226, 312,
357, 385
New Jersey 17, 60, 117, 166. 265, 287,
343, 451
New London, Penn. 18
New Orleans 107, 410, 464, 469
New Plymouth 95
Newport, R. I. 191
Newton, Mass. 348
New York 38, 54, 62, 83, 85, 108, 138,
155, 177, 184, 185, 192, 200, 202,
233, 240, 264, 269, 274, 315, 316,
321, 326, 334, 335, 341, 342, 349,
4, 357, 360, 368, 373, 366, 387,
395, 402, 424, 457, 460, 469
Nightingale, Rev. S. 37
North Carolina 60, 94, 204
Northampton. Mass. 38, 66, 195
Norwich, Conn. 208
Nott, Rev. Dr. 206
O., Mr. 459
Oglethorpe, Governor 315
Ohio 70, 176, 276, 414, 456, 463
Otsego 47
P., General
Paine, Thomas
Palestine
Panmiechannit
Paris
362
40, 290, 291
65
53
65
Party, a gay, and Dr. Nettleton 308
Pastor, a Baptist 245
, a Christian 374,414
, a devoted 213
, a discouraged 46r
, a good %
476
INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES.
Pastor, an anxious
• , a wise
Pastors, several
Patten, Rev. Dr.
Patterson, Rev. J.
Pattison, Rev. Dr.
Payson, Rev. Dr.
Pennsylvania
Perkins, Rev. J.
Persia
Perth Aniboy
Paos
324
292
435
54
370, 441
205
78, 104, 206, 253, 417
18, 24. 139
40
. 40
287
Peter, the Indian preacher 159
Philadelphia 23, 37, 38, 46, 50, 54, 109,
113, 123, 130, 140, 141, 171, 250,
259,276,311,331,441,453
Phips, Governor
Physician
Pierce, Rev. Dr.
Pittsfield
Plainfield, Mass.
, N. J.
Plato
Plymouth
Polk, Rev. Mr.
Pond, Rev. Dr.
Porter, Rev, Dr.
, Rev. T.
Portland, Me.
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Preacher
, a forcible
. , from England
, a good
. , an impressive
, an unknown
, a practical
, a Universalist
Preachers, coloured
Priestley, Rev. Dr.
Prince, Rev. Mr.
Princeton, college at
Providence, R. 1.
I'linch, 8 Christian nogro
210
409
150
115
64
343
156
134
36
247
210
130
104, 419
273
269
112
448
161, 384
103
338
181
229, 231
171, 283, 289
111
444
49, 111,139,265,
383, 442
50, 205, 378
219
R., Mr.
Raleigh, N. C.
Randolph, Mrs.
Rappahannock, county of
Rarilan river
Ravencross, Rev. Mr.
Rawson, Rev. Mr.
Reading, Mass.
Restorationist
Rhode Island
Rice, Rev. Dr. J. H.
, Rev. Luther
Richards, Rev. Dr.
Richmond, Rev. L.
,Va.
Paob
213, 232
204
Robinson, Rev. W.
Rodgers, Rev. Dr.
Rome, N. Y.
Rousseau
416
182
2S7
22
131
189
297
317
206, 415
182
90
388
281
17, 60, 94
18,61,83,84, 141,
202, 223. 256, 432
387
157
S., Rev. Mr. 87, 109, 148, 162, 249. 268,
431
Sailor, a profane 60, 44f
Salem 408
Saratoga, springs at 420
Savannah river 128
Scipio, an African 248
Scotch Plains. N. J. 235, 287
Scudder, Rev. Dr. 50, 235
Sedgwick, Judge 440
Seneca Lake 98
Shepherd, Rev. John 207
Sheppard, Rev. Professor 177
Sherburne 387
Shoals, Isle of 189
Skeptic ^ 370
Slave, a blind 146
Smiley, Elder 464
Smith, Rev. Dr. J. B. 75
, Rev. Joseph 463
INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES.
: 4 I
Socrates
Soldier, a Scottish
SoDiers
South Amboy
Soutti Carolina
Spencer, Rev. Mr.
Sprague, Rev. Dr.
Spring, Rev. Dr.
Springfield, Mass.
, Ohio
Standford, Rev. B.
^♦anfiDrd, Rev. Dr.
H'.aughton, Rev. Dr.
Stearns, Rev. S. H.
Stevens, Rev. Mr.
Still, Rev. C.
Stillman, Rev. Dr.
Stockbridge, Mass.
Stoddard, Rev. S.
Stone, Rev. Dr.
St. George's, Del.
St. Louis
St. Mary's
Strawbridge, Rev. Mr.
Strong, Rev. Dr.
, Rev. Mr.
Sullivan, General
Summerfield, Rev. John
Sunday, Rev. John
Symington, Mrs.
Pass
157
410
455
287
127, 400
321
73
316, 440
122, 124
257
175
177, 225, 341, 460
113, 114, 250, 290
195
173
76
149, 217
42
38, 195|
191
18, 19, 83, 141
424, 455
211
79. 123
163
203
184, 400
134
161
Treat. Rev. Mr.
Trefit, Rev. Mr.
Trenton, N. J.
Truair, Rev. Mr.
Truro, parish of
Tuscarora Indians
Tyler, Rev. Dr.
Paob
154
426
400
155, 367
458
50, 9fi
237
Taylor, Rev. Dr. N. W.
, Rev. E. T.
Teetotaller, a staunch
Tennent, Rev. G.
, Rev. W. 54,
Twinessee '
Texas
Tinsley, Rev. D.
Todd, Rev. Dr
Tom, poor
237
76, 106
366
166, 453
59, 117, 118,120,
265, 360
358, 453
262
204
357
54
United States, Military Academy of 25
Universalist 112, 296
Utica 167, 386
Utrecht 230
Vermont 81, 85, 371
Vernon, Mount A^s
Virginia 22, 28, 61, 74, 138, 204, 206,
280, 293, 308, 339. 361, 388. 415
W., Mr.
Wabash
Waddell, Rev. Dr.
Walker, Rev. J.
, Rev. Mr.
Ward, Bishop
Washington
, N. Y.
Waters, Mr.
Waubon, Indian chief
Welch, Rev. Dr.
Wells, Rev. S. T.
Wesley, Rev. J.
West, Rev. Dr.
Westminster, Vt.
Whitefield, Rev. G.
Whitman, Deacon J.
4:^1
409
155, 317
204
387
276
418, 451, 458, 463
441
182
179
131
391
315
42
Ti\
135, 163.
339, 440
75
83, 118,
196,264,337,
478
INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES.
Wickford
VVillard, Rev. Mr.
Willey, Rev. Mr.
Williams, Rev. W.
Williamsburg, Va.
Wiltshire, town of
Winder, Mr.
Winthrop, Governor
Wirt, Hon. Mr.
Wisner, Rev. Dr.
Witherspoon, Mr.
, Rev. Dr.
Woburn, Mass.
Paob
191
Worcester, Rev. Mr
154
Wrentham, Mass.
72
Wykoff, Mr.
217
Wyman, Deacon
256
Wyoming, N. Y.
212
84
111
155, 317
444
19
Yale College
383
Yarmouth
396
York, Me.
Faob
408
217
281
396
457
455
131
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