he possessed considerable property, and || and supporting a minister with whom he his prospects for increasing it were fair and promising, all which he had reason to suppose would be deranged by his devoting himself to the ministry, he therefore concluded it could not be his duty. But after experiencing various exercises upon the subject, he became convinced that it was his duty to devote himself to the work, at least, so far as to attend to preparatory studies. He spent about two years under the instruction of his pastor, the Rev. William Nelson, and as long under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Williams, of Wrentham, after which he entered Brown University; and though obliged, during his third collegiate year, to suspend his studies on account of weakness of eyes, he afterwards returned and was regularly graduated, as appears from the records of that institution. In September, 1784, he was married to Miss Hannah Sprague, who still survives him, and who has, in his life, showed him all that respect, and in his last illness, all that attention and affectionate care and sympathy which his character and circumstances, and her relation to him, seemed to require. In January, 1785, he accepted a unanimous invitation from the Baptist Church and Society in Randolph, (formerly Braintree) to settle with them, and entered upon his labours immediately, but was not ordained until December 5th, A. D. 1787. With this people he continued until his death. He lived to witness four or five special revivals among them, in one of which between seventy and eighty were added to the Church. Two churches originated from what was a feeble band at the commencement of his labours in this place, viz. the church in Canton, and the North Church in Randolph. About three years previous to his death he told his people, that they must no longer depend on him to supply the pulpit. This arose, not from indifference to their prosperity, but from a consciousness that his age and infirmities required it. Indeed, his attachment to the church and congregation seemed from this time rather to increase than diminish, for he most cordially united with them in settling || remained satisfied during his continuance. From this time he preached occasionally with destitute churches when his health permitted, until within a few weeks of his death. His health had been declining for some time; he, however, continued to preach until the fourth Sabbath in November, when he delivered his last sermon to the church in Hanover. Soon after, his recovery became hopeless. When convinced of this, he did not seem in the least disturbed-his mind was calm and unruffled. He made all necessary arrangements respecting his affairs, and his funeral-often spoke of the dear church and people with whom he had been so long connected, and offered many fervent prayers for them. Indeed, his last days seemed emphatically to be his brightest and best. The writer of this article was permitted to visit him repeatedly in his last sickness, and to prove from experience that, "The chamber where the good man meets his fate "Is privileg'd above the common walks of virtuous life." It was on one of these occasions, that the substance of the above was taken from his own lips. Many have spoken with more confidence respecting their own state on a dying bed, and manifested a greater degree of joy. Indeed, he said but little about himself directly, except when it became necessary in order to illustrate the grace of God. He, however, spoke much of his Saviour, and of all the way in which he had led him for many years, and of his wise, holy, and merciful providence towards him. His usual reply when questioned respecting his own exercises, was, "I feel calm-not my will but thine, O LORD, be done-I am truly resigned if not deceived." He spoke much of the promises of God, particularly of those in which he first felt interested, observing that they had ever been his support, were still, and he trusted they would continue to be. His strength gradually declined until the 18th of January last, when "The weary wheels of life stood stilt" and his immortal spirit took its flight, as we trust, to mansions of bliss. His funeral was attended on the 24th by a large concourse of people, when a sermon was delivered by the pastor of the North Church, founded on Luke ii. 29, 30. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace," &c. Eight clergymen, four Baptists and four Pedobaptists, attended as Pall Bearers, each of whom have since given one Sabbath's preaching to his bereaved and destitute flock.* never excelled. But he now rests from his labours, and his works will doubtless follow him. MR. STILLMAN EATON, SON OF THE LATE MR. LILLEY EATON, MR. EATON was a young man of respectable talents and fair moral character. His equanimity, maturity of judgment, and general correctness of demeanour, are rareAs a Preacher, Mr. Briggs was rather ly surpassed in persons of his age. But practical than doctrinal. His discourses nothing particularly interesting of a reliwere strikingly experimental, and usual-gious nature was discovered in him until ly delivered with much feeling. In within a short period of his death. doctrine he was Calvinistick, not materially different from the Orthodox divines of New-England in general. His views of the ordinances are well known. Although in principle and practice a conscientious Baptist, he loved all who bore the image of his Master. Although in consequence of the small compensation received for his services, he was obliged to labour with his hands, and economise for the support of his family, he nevertheless laboured much in the ministry, and was honoured of God as an instrument in turning many to righteousness. Although Mr. Briggs' christian and ministerial character was never tarnished, yet it shone conspicuously in the last three years of his life. When he saw that the good of his people required it, he urged them to obtain a minister, and when they made the attempt, no one was less difficult to please, or more liberal to contribute towards his support than himself. He bore, at least, his equal proportion of an annual salary which was four times as much as he had usually received himself. Besides this, he gave five hundred dollars towards a parsonage. It should be remembered that he did all this at that advanced stage of life in which some good men, under similar circumstances, discover different traits of character. Nothing in him appeared like jealousy. His conduct in this respect has rarely been equalled, and perhaps *The Rev. Oren Tracy asked and obtained his dismission from the pastoral charge of this church a few weeks previous. The disease which terminated his earthly existence, commenced its ravages early in the Spring. Mr. Eaton now became increasingly thoughtful. He complained of a hard heart; but evidently had a deep sense of his own sinfulness and unworthiness, and of the goodness of God. The goodness of God, it is hoped, led him to repentance. He died at South Reading, on Lord'sday, June 29, 1828, aged 21 years. The following are some of his last expressions as committed to writing at the time they were uttered : About half past 9 o'clock, he seemed for a short time in deep meditation; being interrogated what he would have, he made signs for the attendants to be silent, and stand back from his bed. He then whispered, "A new work, a great work." After a short silence, he spoke out with an audible voice, as follows: "I desire to bless God for taking my feet out of an horrible pit, and placing them on the rock of ages, a sure foundation, yes, a sure foundation. Praise the Lord for his goodness, for his goodness, his great goodness-his goodness is inconceivable by mortals. I have disregarded religion, spoken lightly of his saints, and, I fear, blasphemed his name, yet his goodness has spared me, a poor vile sinner. to praise the Lord and adore his goodness, who supports me in the dark valley and shadow of death." He spoke of the compassion of Christ, thus, "He was cruelly slain by wicked men; O that bloody day! the rocks rent, the earth clave, graves opened, and the sun hid his face." He mentioned the greatness of God, saying, "In six days God made heaven and earth, and rested on the seventh; I see him on the throne of his majesty." When asked if he felt as though he could join the happy society of heaven, he said, "I am at the feet of Christ. I have no strength-I am wholly unworthy-if I might have a low seat with them-but I am unworthy." "What sin there is in a sinful heart; but I hope the Lord in his goodness has pardoned my sin." His mind seemed absorbed with a view of the goodness of God, and his own unworthiness. The words good God," and "goodness of God," he repeated many times. 66 A short time before he expired, he said, "Jesus makes this dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are." He was then asked, have you any fears of dying? He answered, "none." These were his last words. His strength continued to fail till a little past one o'clock, when he ceased to breath, and his expiring breath was without a struggle. On the day following, his remains were committed to the grave. An address was delivered on the occasion in the Baptist meeting house, to a numerous and deep Seeing several of his associates standing in the room, he said, My mates, I mustly affected auditory; and on the ensuing leave you. Now, while it is a day of sal- Sabbath, a sermon was preached to the vation, flee to Christ-flee to him-his youth, from Psl. cxix. 9, "How shall a blood is sufficient for thousands-All may|| young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word." come, "There is no hard condition, But we must give ourselves up to him, give him our hearts; we are unworthy, altogether, but he is good and ready to forgive." To one of his young friends he addressed himself thus :-- "Bless the Lord with me, if you can, that he has had mercy upon me a sinner; when I had been sinning against him so long, yes, more than twenty years, he has spared me, and not cut me down as a cumberer of the ground; spared me from the pit, that dismal place of horror and despair. The rich man desired that his brothers might not come to that place of torment." He repeatedly mentioned his great weakness, and said, "God only can strengthen me in my affliction to speak of his goodness. "Friends and Physicians cannot save "Our mortal bodies from the grave." But I trust the great Physician has helped me-I hope I am not deceived." After making these remarks, he was for some time too much exhausted to converse. He once broke this silence, by saying, The young people by whom Mr. Eaton was deservedly respected and beloved, seemed much affected by the death of their friend, and it is devoutly to be desired, that, regarding his dying request, they will "flee to Christ." If youth, if flattering prospects in life, if kind friends and skilful physicians, if modest retiring worth, were any security against "the bold demands of death," this young man had not so soon been laid beneath the sods of the valley. If any one who shall read this notice, be disposed to put off to a sick bed. the things which belong to his peace, let him ask himself the following questions : Am I sure of a sick bed? May I not be hurried into eternity without a moment's premonition? If I have a sick-bed, may not my mind be bewildered? Will not the agony of body be sufficient for me to endure without distress of mind? Is it certain that I shall have a disposition to repent of my sins? Shall I not need the present consolations and supports of religion? Do not many die in a state of awful stupidity? If I obtain hope, can the evidence of it to myself or others be so satisfactory, as when the obedience of the life has borne testimony to the sincerity of the heart? or shall I be prepared, even if the hope be genuine, for so great a degree of felicity as I should be fitted to enjoy, had I been for years growing in grace? Is not God deserving of all my time? Is not his service calculated to make me happy and useful as well as safe while I am in health? Has not godliness the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come? It has been well remarked, that we have in Scripture one instance of repentance at the eleventh hour, that none may despair; but one, that none may presume. ANECDOTE. As Lord's day a weariness, and avoids the ORDINATION. Rev. Timothy P. Ropes was ordained an Evangelist, at Salisbury, Mass. Aug. 13, 1828. Introductory prayer, by Rev. Josiah Houghton of Newburyport; Sermon, by Rev. Baron Stow, of Portsmouth, N. H. from Heb. iv. 12; Consecrating Prayer, by Rev. C. O. Kimball, of Methuen; Charge by Rev. Ferdinand Ellis, of Exeter, N. H.; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. E. W. Freeman, Lowell, Mass. Concluding Prayer by Rev. Samuel Cook, of Brentwood, N. H. Account of Monies received by the Treas- J. M. Grinell, New Bedford, "What is the use," said the pupil of a medical friend of ours one morning to his master, when on their way to a place of worship; "what is the use of going so often to church, when you only hear the same things over again?"" "What is the use," replied his master," of breakfasting, dining, and supping, every day, when you only eat the same things over again?" "I do not see," said the youth, "that the cases at all resemble each other. I must east, to support my life and nourish my body, which otherwise would languish and die." "The cases are much more parallel than you are aware," rejoined the master. What food is to the body, the ordinances of religion are to the soul. the natural life in the one will languish and decay, unless we maintain it by the bounties of God's providence; so the divine life in the other will wither and pass away, unless we have recourse to the provisions of his grace." "How does it happen, then," inquired the young man of our friend, "that all have not the same relish for religious exercises, while all have the same appetite for their bodily food?" "There," answered his master, you again mistake the matter. very true, that, when our bodies are in health, we desire and relish our daily bread. But when we are sick, it is widely different; we have then not only no relish for our food, but even loathe it; and not unfrequently desire that which is unnatural and injurious. So it is with the soul. When that is at peace with God, through the redemption which is in Christ, it is in health; and not only desires, but relishes, the exercises of devotion, and cannot exist without them. But while the soul continues in sin, it is in a state of disease; and having no appetite for spiritual food, it dislikes both the seasons and the exercises of devotion, considers the Cambridge, Aug. 18, 1828. It is Charles L. Roberts, New-York, Josiah Bacon, Esq. Newton, do. 3,00 do. 2,00 John Coggswell, jr. do. 25,00 Rev. G. B. Perry, do. 10,00 do. 5,00 Joseph Dunham, Ann Freeman, M. P. Sturtevant, Newton, 2,00 Rev. J. Aldrich, Dedham, 5,00 5,00 5,00 Enoch Ellis, do. 5,00 5,00 Robert Thompson, do. 5,00 Ephraim Soule, Sumner Sessions, Jabez Boyden, Willard Draper, do. 2,00 100,00 30,00 10,00 Of all the idolatries which I have ever read or heard of, the religion || of the Hindoos, in which I had taken some pains to inform myself, really appears to me the worst, both in the degrading notions which it gives of the Deity; in the endless round of its burthensome ceremonies, which occupy the mind and distract the thoughts, without either instructing or interesting its votaries; in the filthy acts of uncleanness and cruelty, not only permitted, but enjoined, and inseparably interwoven with those ceremonies; in the system of castes, a system which tends, more than any thing else the Devil has yet invented, to destroy the feelings of general benevolence, and to make nine-tenths of mankind the hopeless slaves of the remainder; and in the total absence of any popular system of morals, or any single lesson which the people at large ever hear, to live virtuously and do good to each other. I do not say, indeed, that there are not some scattered lessons of this kind to be found in their ancient books; but those books are neither accessible to the people at large, nor are these last permitted to read them; and in general all the sins Ост. 1828. that a sudra is taught to fear are, killing a cow, offending a brahmin, or neglecting one of the many frivolous rites by which their deities are supposed to be couciliated. Accordingly, though the general sobriety of the Hindoos (a virtue which they possess in common with most inhabitants of warm climates,) affords a very great facility to the maintenance of public order and decorum, I really never have met with a race of men whose standard of morality is so low, who feel so little apparent shame on being detected in a falsehood, or so little interest in the sufferings of a neighbour, not being of their own caste or family; whose ordinary and familiar conversation is so licentious; or in the wilder and more lawless districts, who shed blood with so little repugnance. The good qualities which there are among them (and thank God there is a great deal of good among them still) are, in no instance that I am aware of, connected with, or arising out of, their religion, since it is in no instance to good deeds or virtuous habits of life that the future rewards in which they believe are promised. Their bravery, their fidelity to their 37 |