ing, he observes, "O, Mr. Taft, I would not have been shackled with notes on any account. It seemed as if my mouth was filled with arguments suited to the tone of feeling then excited in the people. There was weeping throughout the house, and a solemn awe seemed to rest upon the people."* His manner had not, at this period, so far as I can learn, the polish it subsequently acquired. He was often too loud and violent. His style was sufficiently correct for an extemporaneous preacher to meet the demands of good taste, yet there was no such studied attention to the minor elegances as indicate an undue solicitude to please, and thus create a distrust of the preacher's sincerity or singleness of purpose. It was evident to all that Mr. Fisk's preaching was

"Warm from the heart, and faithful to its fires."

Of his reading at this time but little information has been received. Practical and devotional books, however, formed a suitable share of it. This, to a minister, is of absolute importance, since his preaching and conversation must be fashioned by his habitual reading and thinking. The prod ucts of the mind must be as the aliment it feeds on. Wesley and Fletcher he read a great deal, and never lost his relish for them.

In private life Mr. Fisk always possessed great power over the affections. His temper was singularly kind and sympathizing. His manners were easy, affable, and ingratiating. If he erred here, it was by a familiarity rather too unreserved and indiscriminate. He has himself acknowledged that he suffered some embarrassment from this cause, but in what particular way or to what extent I have not been informed. He was habitually grave; yet his gravity was softened by a gentle pleasantry, a peculiar vein of delicate humour, that rendered his company and conversation always attractive. Hence his deep piety wore an aspect of great loveliness. It was a frequent saying among the young people, "If I could be such a Christian as Mr. Fisk, I should like to be religious.”

* This passage was called forth by a previous conversation, in which Mr. Fisk endeavoured to convince Mr. Taft of the superior effect of extemporaneous over written sermons.

He was always very fond of children; he regarded them as the lambs of Christ's flock, and therefore paid them particular attention, talked much to them, prayed for them, and interested himself in their welfare. As a natural consequence, they in return were warmly attached to him. Some pleasing illustrations of this feature in his character have come to our knowledge. Take the following as a specimen : Mrs. Goodwin had two sons, one eight, the other ten years of age. Once, when Mr. Fisk visited them after he had left Charlestown, these little boys might have been seen seated on either side of him, each holding a hand, with their heads. reclining on his knee, or occasionally looking up into his face for a word or a smile: and thus they remained more than an hour. Must not the heart have possessed unusual qualities of endearment that could so attract the youthful affections?

Indisposition.-Letters.-Prosperity of Religion.-Resumes Preaching.

THE period at which we have now arrived was the most painful of Mr. Fisk's ministry. With his mental activity and urgency of feeling, nothing was more distressing than idleness. To see such fields of usefulness before him, making their demands upon human exertion, and not to be able to open his mouth for God, required great self-command. He was laid aside as a broken vessel unfit for use. "I never," he says, writing to a friend many years after, "I never experienced anything more trying than this. To be reconciled to be nothing; nay, worse, to be a useless burden to my friends and the world, was an extent of resignation which not only brought into requisition all the little grace I had, but forced me to pray earnestly for more." Thus the season was not entirely lost to him. Though excluded from active usefulness, he was gaining greater knowledge of his own heart, greater depth and maturity of character, and laying up wisdom for future emergencies.

He spent his time in riding on horseback, visiting his friends, reading, writing, and talking, as his strength would permit. Study he could not for some time, at least to any great amount; nor engage in vocal prayer, even at the family altar. Yet it was not possible for such a man to be useless. He preached by his example; he instructed by his conversation; he enlightened by the halo of piety that surrounded him. The atmosphere he breathed impregnated other spirits; while he was blessed, he was likewise blessing.

Meantime, he could instruct from the closet, if not from the pulpit; and he ascended the latter again in a few months, but very cautiously. The following letters are specimens of the instructions afforded by him at this season. The first was written to his aunt, Mrs. Palmer, soon after his arrival at home. She was in feeble health, and somewhat depressed in mind in reference to her spiritual state :

"Lyndon, June 30th, 1821.

"Had it not been for my poor health, I should have written to you before; but it injures me to write, and I do as little of it as I can. Hearing, however, of your declining health, I cannot delay to write, especially as Marcia mentions that you have some clouds and doubts upon your mind; and I would by no means be backward at such a time to comfort, as far as I am able, the desponding. I pray, indeed, for your health and life, if this may be for the best; but these, compared with the health and life of the soul, are trifles. Let me say to you, then, my dear aunt, make Christ your all. Satan never fails, in time of ill health, especially if that illness threatens death, to do his utmost to harass and torment the pious mind. The soul feels the force of these temptations, and it begins to look around for relief; and, strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless a truth, that persons of long Christian experience too frequently, at such times, begin to look upon wrong objects. And this, instead of relieving them, serves but to increase their distress. They look, perhaps, upon their past experience. 'Perhaps I am deceived.' 'Did I ever experience a change? They look, perhaps, upon their own unworthiness: Shall I ever get to Heaven?' But what are all

these things to the soul at such a time? What is it to the soul now, whether it has or has not, at some former period, tasted that the Lord was gracious? If it has, and has not the present witness, it will not satisfy. Not a past interview, but a present union, will satisfy the mind at this time. Neither will it give a person any right to claim blessings now, because they have been blessed once; but, while mercy may be found, the soul, in any state, may claim it for Christ's sake. Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, professor or non-professor; those who have been once renewed, and those who were never renewed; Jew or Gentile, barbarian or Scythian; worthy in their own estimation, or unworthy; rich or poor, sick or well, all must come to Christ in the same manner; and as it respects their rights, are on an equality, only with this exception: those who see them

selves the most wretched, their case the most difficult, themselves the most unworthy, their wants the most pressing, have the best claim, and are the fittest vessels for the Saviour to show his mercy in. Dear aunt, let me exhort you again to take Christ for your all. Take him for your worthiness; take him for your righteousness; take, O take him for your sanctification. Perhaps you have been looking within, and have said, All is not pure, therefore I cannot enter into the New Jerusalem. Indeed, you cannot if impure; but Christ will cleanse you, and now he waits to do the work. Only believe, and you shall by experience know what that meaneth: I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean.' O that God would be with you in every trial, and support you in sickness or health, living or dying. For this you shall have my prayers."

"Craftsbury, August 6th, 1821.

"TO MISS PECK.-MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,

"I should have answered your last before this, but I was absent from home when it arrived, and I did not receive it until a few days since. During this time I have been much engaged, and have not had a convenient opportunity to write till now. I have been for two weeks on this (Craftsbury) circuit, visiting those children that the Lord gave me as the first fruits of my ministry. I have found it profitable to body and soul: to my body-for the exercise of riding, together with change of scene and pleasant conversation with my friends, gives that tone to the body and mind which is very conducive to health; insomuch that my symptoms are more favourable, and my lungs much stronger than they were to my soul-for I am much encouraged, and my faith strengthened, to see that a goodly number of those who professed faith in Christ three years ago are not only steadfast, but growing Christians. O, how do I feel obliged to give myself anew to God! He has called me, as I believe, to the ministry; he has blessed my feeble labours; he has spared my life; he has raised me from a bed of sickness; he has permitted me once more to visit my friends and Christian brethren here, and rejoice with them in the hope of a

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