4th of November, 1814, within one week after he had attained the canonical age. His very uncommon powers as a public speaker immediately arrested much attention. In reference to his first sermon, which was preached in Christ Church, New-York, on the Sunday after his ordination, under circumstances of much bodily indisposition, it was remarked by a distinguished gentleman present, that "he seemed as much at home in the pulpit, as if he had been born there." Through the winter and spring after his ordination, he was engaged in a journey through some of the southern cities; and the recollections of those with whom he then associated, ex

hibit him as a general favourite in the circles

which he visited. His musical talents, added to his peculiar vivacity of spirit, and cheerful pleasantry in conversation, made him every where acceptable as a companion; while much admiration followed him in his public appearance in the pulpit. But there are no recollections which bring to light, at this period of his life, those useful and sanctified traits for which the Christian's eye searches the character of the youthful minister of Christ, and which, in connexion with his brilliant and attractive powers of mind and person, would have been esteemed so especially precious, and so adapted to influence others for their good. The impressions made upon the memory of his hearers, by his public addresses at this time, were very marked. But they were those of admiration for man, not of submission and love to

God. Though twenty years have now passed by, many who heard him then in public, are still found to speak of him as very wonderful for his talents as a public speaker. Poor indeed, however, will be a retrospect upon the mere admiration of men, before the judgment-seat of Christ, for the minister of Jesus. His only crown of rejoicing is the souls who have been brought, by his labours, home to God. If he have not this, he is far better without the other.

After his return from this tour, he received invitations from several different quarters, to engage in the duties of a parochial minister. For a little time he hesitated in regard to an opening which was presented to him in one of the southern states. But he subsequently determined to accept the charge of the Church at Hudson, on the North River, to which place he removed in the commencement of the summer. His first sermon in Hudson, as the minister of the Church, was delivered on the 4th of June, 1815, from the 41st and 42d verses of the 5th chapter of the Acts: "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name; and daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ." In this sermon, in which his particular subject was "Gospel preaching," we find just those partial and imperfect views of divine truth, which a knowledge of his previous course and character would have led us to

expect. But there is also a spirit of seriousness, in the contemplation of his own duties, which shows us, even then, the incipient guidance of that Spirit who was eventually to lead him into all truth.

An incident, which has been communicated by a highly respected brother in the ministry, the Rev. Dr. Henshaw, of Baltimore, will be interesting here, as giving, in some degree, an insight into the instrument of producing this manifest increased seriousness of spirit, as well as, perhaps, of much assisting the subsequent entire alteration of his religious views.

"On the Sunday after taking charge of St. Ann's Church, Brooklyn, I preached two sermons upon the nature and effects of evangelical ministrations.'

"Mr. B., then, I believe, a candidate for orders, or recently ordained, was an attentive hearer of the sermons; but I have reason to believe that there was little in their doctrines or spirit that was congenial with the views then entertained by him. About the time, however, when he was invited to take charge of the Church in Hudson, he borrowed those sermons and retained them several weeks. It struck me as a remarkable circumstance at the time, considering the difference in our views, and I could not but cherish the hope, and offer the prayer, that the Lord's hand might be in it, and that it might be overruled for good. Whether the hearing and subsequent perusal of those sermons produced any effect upon the views and feelings of my young brother in the ministry, in reference to the spirit, the responsibility, and the duties of the pastoral office, it is impossible for me to say; but I have always entertained a hope, that divine grace was then opening his mind and preparing his heart for the reception of those evangelical doctrines which were afterwards so precious to his own soul, and of which he was for many years a living witness and successful advocate."

The full opening of his mind to those great principles of doctrine which marked his later ministry, appears to have been very gradually attained, and yet it may be decidedly traced through the whole of his subsequent preaching. And though he had evidently undergone a radical change in his views of divine truth before he left Hudson, even so late in his life as through his whole ministry in Philadelphia, we have seen the enlargement of his mind still progressing, and his preaching growing every year more simple, apostolical, and evangelical in its character, as he approached the glorious termination of his course.

To gain a proper apprehension of this change in his views, as exhibited in the alteration in his style of preaching, it will not be uninteresting to compare some extracts from this first sermon, as it was preached in Hudson, and as it was again preached as the introduction of his labours at Fayetteville, a little more than three years after. Our first extract is in reference to the opposition of men to Gospel peraching. As the sermon was preached in Hudson, the following passage stands:

"Here then it is that our exertions are apt to be mistaken, and our well-meant endeavours attributed to motives of an uncharitable nature; and he who feels it his duty to preach the terrors of the Lord, is often stigmatized as unfriendly to the comfort and the social happiness of man. Did we, indeed, seek to make men pleased with themselves and with us, our task would be infinitely more easy, and then our continued, reiterated discourse should

be, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." But when we think of our obligations, when we remember that it is ours, through the blessing of God, to prepare the way by which men may attain the happiness of heaven, and that if any are dashed to pieces amidst the rocks and quicksands which it was our duty to point out, we are to be answerable, it is surely not only our duty, but our interest, by motives the most powerful, by exhortations the most urgent, not only to save the souls of those who hear us, but also to shield our own from the sentence of condemnation. Therefore it is, that our duty to God is to be regarded, rather than deference to man or man's judgment, and any imputation is far better than that of an unfaithful servant."

In preaching the same sermon at Fayetteville, beside some important corrections in the preceding passage, the following is introduced immediately to succeed it:

"I am aware, my brethren, that in those doctrines of grace which I shall feel it my duty to preach, there will be many particulars which ever have and ever will meet the opposition of the carnal heart for when we seek to hold up men to themselves as they are by nature, the picture cannot fail to be displeasing; and when we preach that godly sorrow which brings the sinner to the foot of the cross, and works repentance not to be repented of; when we speak and urge that change of heart by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is essential to salvation, every evil principle in the bosom is to be overcome, pride will raise the standard of its opposition, and fight boldly the battle of its master, and it is grace alone which can conquer it. I shall strive to preach the truth without offence in the manner; as it regards the matter, my friends, I have but little hope that it will fare better than it always has. It has never been cordially received till grace has prepared the way."