The Christian Disciple and Theological Review

PRENTISS. We trust that the impres- to embody the recollections, sions made upon the public which are now so vivid, of his mind by the death of Mr. Pren: amiable and excellent character, tiss were not of so transient a not only as a just tribute to his kind, as to render an apology memory, but as affording an exnecessary for introducing into ample most worthy of the inni. this miscellany the following tation of others. memoir of his life. His friends It was the happiness of Mr. take a melancholy pleasure in Prentiss, to spend the first years recalling the memory of one, of his life in a situation most who was associated with them favourable for the growth of in many interesting scenes. virtuous principles and good Some of them remember the habits. His father, the Rev. years of his childhood and Dr. P. of whom a brief notice youth, and had opportunity to was given in the second volume witness the gradual develop- of the Christian Disciple, page ment of those intellectual pow. 237, was universally esteemed ers and moral qualities, which a man of eminent piety and made him the object of so many worth. Under his instructions, affections and hopes. It was he acquired the elements of our privilege to be reckoned in learning, and the principles of the number of his earliest religion. friends. We saw him in every It was no common privilege stage of his progress, and had to spend the important and crithis sympathy in all our sorrows ical period of childhood and and joys. It is painful, alas ! early youth in such a school of to reflect that the friend, en- virtue, and he has often exdeared by so long an intimacy, pressed to me his deep sense of is removed from our side, and obligation to his beloved and that we are left to pursue our revered father. Indeed his file. journey alone.

iai piety was one of the distin. But we must not indulge onr guishing traits of his character : private sorrows. It is our wish to his parents he was every Vol. VI.-No. 1.

1 1

thing which could gladden a long entertained of the great parent's heart.

doctrines of Christianity. But Having finished his prepara- I would not have you embrace tory studies, he was entered as them on my authority. . It a student in Harvard Universi- would indeed afford me pleasure ty at the early age of fourteen to know that your views accordyears. Here he maintained the ed with mine, on a subject of character of a good scholar, a so vast concern ; but I do not pleasant companion and an a- wish you to be influenced in the miable and virtuous youth. He least by this consideration. received the honours of college Take the scriptures for your with the class, which graduated only guide, and endeavour, witin in 1811, being then in his 19th humility and prayer, to discover year.

From this period his their true meaning." friends saw in him a growing Nothing could have afforded seriousness and manliness, Dr. Prentiss sincerer pleasure, which procured him the respect than to see his son zealously as well as the love of the wise engaged in preparation for the and good, wherever he was Christian ministry. And he known. He spent the first year, saw him thus engaged ; and after the close of his collegiate the good man's heart was filled life, in the office of instructer with joy and hope.

But he was of youth in Brookline in this denied the privilege, with which state. Here it was that he first we have been indulged, of witdevoted himself to the ministry, nessing the auspicious comand commenced his theological mencement of his pastoral life: studies. In the autumn of the For God removed him, in the following year, he removed his ripeness of a good old age, residence to Cambridge, and ento while his son was still pursuing gaged with much zeal and hon- his studies with ardour and sucesty, and perseverance, in the

He died in February, various branches of study con. 1814. vected with the profession le There is a propriety in the had chosen,

mention of this event, as it unIt may be proper here to meno doubtedly had no inconsiderable tion a circunstance whicli re. influence in forming the characfects much credit on the mem- ter of our friend. He was witli mory of his excellent father. him during his whole sickness, No sooner was le nuade ac- ani saw with what composure quainted with the resolution of and hope a Christian could die. his son to enter a profession, The discipline of afflietion he which he himself loved so well, had scareely ever experieneed than he took an early opportu, till now; and the effect of it nity to impart to him his coun- was such as we could desire to sels and wishes. After other interesting remarks, to which In a letter written soon after the nature of the interview led, this event, he unbogomed his his father observed in words whole soul.

His heart was to this effcet : “ You know, my softened with grief, and he son, the views, which I have sought consolation in the sym

cess.

see.

pathies of friendship and the them bis willing and warm suphopes of religion. "Oh, my port. friend," he writes, “ you who We shall always look back well knew my almost adored with interest and pleasure on father, will not think my grief this part of the life of our excessive, but will bear with my friend. It was now that his inelancholy and dejected mind. character was more fully devel• But let us not be overcome oped, and his worth more genwith over-much sorrow, as he erally appreciated. Those, told us during his siekness, my who have not known him for children, you are not willing the three last years of his life, that the Lord's will should be can scarcely be said to bave done.'

known him at all. During this In September of that year, period, we remarked in him, at Mr. Prentiss was approbated to least in a higher degree than preach by the Boston Associa- before, an uncommon union of tion of Divipes, and immediate. seriousness and cheerfulness, Jy entered upon his public la- which endeared him to us as a bours. He was listened to, most agreeable companion at from the first, with great and all seasons and in all places. very general satisfaetion; and It was during this period was almost constantly employed also, that we saw and admired as a candidate till his final set- that prudence and practical tlement at Charlestown in good sense, which are so imporMareh last. During this in- tant to the success of the Christerval, he applied himself with tian minister, and of which he exemplary diligence to his the- possessed a more than common ological studies, and acquired share. distinction among his fellow In these, and in several other students by a general acquaint. traits of character, he bore a ance with the best writers in striking resemblance to his exdivinity.

cellent father, which, to those He was remarkably cool and who knew them both, was every deliberate in forming his opin- day becoming more and mode jops, and bever

was suspeeted evident. of taking them upon trust. Mr. Prentiss was accustomed Sometimes indeed he has been to look forward to his life as a thought to carry his caution to minister with deep and lively excess; but it should be remem- interest. He entertained cor. bered, that hasty judgements reet views of the holiness of are frequently erroneous ; while the pastoral office, and never those, which have been formed for a moment allowed himself slowly and calmly, in the love to view it merely as the means of truth, are likely to be cor- of obtaining temporal support. rect. But though he was slow While employed as a candidate and cautious in forming his in the several towns, where he opinions, he was open and hon- was called to preach, he bad est in declaring them; and, opportunities of cultivating an when he viewed them to be of acquaiutance with inankind, sufficient importance, he gave which he studiously improved.

casion.

Perhaps few men of his years nearly an unanimous invitation could have been consulted with from the third Congregational 80 great advantage, on any of Society in Dorchester, whieh he the prudential affairs of church felt it his duty to decline, he or people. Men of the first soon after had an unanimous respectability, who knew him call from the second Congregaduring the few last months of tional Society in Charlestown; his life, strongly testify, that and, on the 26th of the followthey have seen him in various ing March, was duly introduced trying and perplexing scenes, to the pastoral office in that and have never known him place. We well recollect the rash or unguarded, in word or interests and hopes excited by deed.

that solemn and impressive ocHe had formed and matured

He had now reached many plans for doing good, long the summit of his earthly ambibefore he entered the pastoral tion. Situated in the iminediate office. He joined with many vicinity of the capital and of other good men, in lamenting our university, favoured with the very general neglect of the friendship of learned and christian ordinances which is pious divines, with whom he observable especially among might hope long to associate on young people of our sex. the most intimate terms, sur* Cannot something be done,” rounded by a kind and affection, he observes in a letter written ate people, who testified their several months previous to his esteem by every mark of apsettlement, "to take away this probation, he felt, that his was reproach ? Or, rather let me a privileged lot. He also felt say, to convince young men that the obligation to evince his gratthey bave an equal interest in itude for these mercies, by zeal this salvation, and that they and engagedness in the work, to may "derive an equal benefit which he had devoted himself. from an attendance on the holy He was not satisfied with do. supper, with persons of the ing merely what was expected other sex ? It is a subject, which and required. The interests of often passes through my mind, his people lay near his heart, when I look forward to the min. and he was instant in season istry. It must be, to a minister, and out of season, that he might who is himself in earnest, a make full proof of his ministry. most painful sight, when at the He devoted much of his time close of the ordinary services, and thoughts to the younger he sees families separating, and part of his charge. He improvthe mother with her daughters ed every opportunity, by familgathering round the sacred ta- iar instructions on the Sabbath, ble, to receive the consecrated and on other days of the week, elements, while the father with to lead them to a knowledge of his sons turn their backs upon the doctrines and duries of relithis most interesting rite” gion, and to excite in them the

We come now to the last and love of God and of goodness. most interesting part of his life. He was instrumental in intro, Having, in Dec. 1816, received ducing to their acquaintanes

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The Christian Disciple and Theological Review, Volym 6