CHAPTER XIV.

THE preceding history furnishes abundant evidence that the subject of this biography possessed a heart that was under the dominion of an expansive and disinterested benevolence. His sympathies were not confined to his own church or nation-the world was the field he desired to cultivate. While others were contented with the assurance that they were adopted children of God; or with the fact that their own pastoral charges were flourishing under the smiles of Heaven; he acted on a grander scale. He embraced in his arms of Christian love and philanthropy, a world lying in wickedness, and ardently longed for the anticipated day when "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High." Hence, he entered, with all his energies, into every plan which promised to bring about this desirable period, and to. pour upon our benighted world its millennial glory. The following extract shows his feelings on this subject.

"January 4th, 1836.-This day, being the first Monday of the year, we observe, in concert with thousands of Christians, as a day of special prayer for the conversion of the world. Yesterday (Sabbath,) I endeavoured to stir the people up to the importance of observing this day. O, how guilty the Christian world is, in not doing more, and praying more, for the spread of the gospel. How little is the Saviour's command regarded, 'go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

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The same point is also illustrated by the interesting facts we are about to relate.

On one occasion Mr. Patterson was visited by an Indian youth, who manifested some thoughtfulness on the subject of religion, and expressed a wish to obtain an education. He was, therefore, invited by this hospitable man to make his house, for the present, his home; he remained here three months, during which he was instructed daily in the elements of education and religion. At length, having procured the requisite means, through the liberality of some pious friends, he sent the young man to the Mission School, in Connecticut, where he completed his studies. He was afterwards set apart to preach the gospel, in which calling he laboured among his brethren of the west.

At another time, when walking through the streets of Philadelphia, the attention of Mr. Patterson was attracted by a Chinese boy, who was engaged in selling tomtoms to a group of boys and others who had collected around him. Having made some inquiries, our friend learned that he was homeless and almost penniless; and that he had resorted to his present employment as a means of support until he found a vessel going to China, in which he might work his passage home. The story of the friendless boy enlisted the feelings of Mr. Patterson, and he invited him home to his house, where he remained for some time. Through this lad, our friend became acquainted with another Chinese youth; and ultimately, they were both induced to remain in this country for the purpose of obtaining an education. A society was soon organized, at his suggestion, for their support, while at the missionary school in Connecticut, to which they were sent to be educated, and where they remained two or three years. While in this institution, they cherished a lively gratitude toward their benefactor, and looked forward with pleasure to the period of vacation, when they would be per

mitted to visit the family of him whom they regarded as a father. And, subsequently, when they were about to embark for their native land they expressed, in the most affectionate manner, their thanks for his many acts of kindness; and declared, with every evidence of sincerity, that they had no confidence in the system of religion practised by their countrymen. The result of their visit to this Christian land, and the views of science and religion acquired while here, perhaps will not be known by us till the great disclosing day. We cherish the fond hope that our friend will be associated in heaven with some who shall refer to his interposition on this occasion, as the means of their conversion to the true and only living God.

Every faithful herald of salvation, no doubt, accomplishes an amount of good of which he must remain in ignorance till the day of judgment; and probably this remark applies with more force to Mr. Patterson, than to most ministers of this age. He travelled extensively, and laboured abundantly with great zeal and fidelity; and, under God, he was a rich blessing to many whom he had never seen. The following extract from a letter from a gentleman of wealth, with whom he had no acquaintance, confirms this remark. After referring to some benefit bestowed upon the church, of which he was at this time a member, he adds:

"I have to thank you for more than this instance of your care for us. The instance to which I am about to allude, shows that the future alone can reveal to us the good we may have done in this vain world. I do not know that you have ever seen me, to recognize me; certainly not as one on whom you have made an impression most deep and strong, by a lecture which you delivered in our church some eight or nine years ago. At that time I was only a visiter in this city, being then a resident of the far west, and an elder in a Presbyterian church in that region. The subject was the narrative of Dives and Lazarus.

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Deep was the impression on my heart of the truth, that

in the present life only can we warn sinners. Here we should cry aloud and spare not. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion.' You, sir, in the providence of God, was the means of leading me to see my duty to support a missionary of the cross, and thus, at least, to preach the gospel by proxy. I have reason to believe that the influence of your preaching on me, was worth your visit to — if no other good had been done; nay, it was worth a voyage to India. I doubt not, it will be followed with happy results for generations to come."

“August 20.—I have just returned from a three months' tour in the western states. Passed down the Ohio river to its mouth, about thirteen hundred miles, then went up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where I attended a protracted meeting, pursuant to a previous engagement. A wealthy brother, while attending the General Assembly, at Pittsburg, said if I would accompany him for this purpose, he would bear all my expenses. We had an interesting time. In this journey, I travelled over part of Missouri, visited Marion city and Marion college, then through Illinois, and came home by Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Hudson, and Pittsburg. That is a great country, and will soon rule the United States; it is the finest body of good land in the world, perhaps. The moment the people go there, they begin to think on a large scale ;-partaking of the nature of the country, for every thing there seeins to be on a large scale, rivers, quality of soil, &c. My visit was much blessed to the recruiting of my health, and my labours were blessed to some souls. I preached frequently during my tour.

"November 3.-I have been conducting a protracted meeting among the German Lutherans, about eight or ten miles from the city, on the Lancaster turnpike. It is an old German congregation, established about one hundred years ago, and having nearly become extinct, we made this effort with the hope of resuscitating it; Mr. B. is the minister. The meetings were solemn and well 'attended, and some fifteen or twenty were hopefully brought into the kingdom. One night in particular, there was great solemnity in the meeting, some of the good old Germans wept for joy to see the work of God revived among them. O what a blessed thing to see sinners coming home to God!"

In the fall of this year (1836,) he received the painful intelligence of the death of his eldest son who had just commenced the practice of medicine in Buenos Ayres, South America, with the most flattering prospects of success. But, although, his heart was oppressed with sorrow at the loss of his first born, his confidence in the wisdom and goodness of Him who sits upon the throne, remained undiminished. Never did the writer witness a more perfect and captivating example of Christian resignation than he exhibited on this. trying occasion. Then was seen the tender father and the eminent saint;-the silent tear that he occasionally wiped away pointed to the former,-the heavenly serenity that sat upon his countenance, bespoke the latter. Mr. Duffield, who saw him soon after the tidings of this distressing event had been received, remarks" the interview I had with him, when he opened his parental heart to me about his eldest son, is too tender and sacred for the gaze of the world." About a year before this, he bade farewell to his favourite child, commending him to the care and protection of a covenant-keeping God.

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January 3d, 1837.-Yesterday was the first Monday in the year, and the day appointed for prayer and fasting for the conversion of the world,-and recommended by almost all the Protestant denominations in this country and the world, I believe. Very few of the churches in this city observed it, notwithstanding the object is one of such infinite moment. We had in our church three services, morning, afternoon, and night. More men came out than ever did on a fast-day before-and God was with us,-some sinners among us were, on that day, brought home to Christ."

January_23d.-Have just returned from a protracted meeting in Jersey, several miles above Camden, on the Camden and Amboy rail-road. On Saturday and Sabbath there was the severest storm of rain and snow I have seen for a long time. It prevented us from accomplishing as much as we otherwise might have done. But the Lord was with us, and some eight or ten souls were, I trust,