neglect to perform it. A flood of waters, or a deluge of fire, is comparatively a blessing. There are, doubtless, many such triflers here, who fully resolve, at some future time, to repent and believe the gospel. But on what are your hopes founded? Salvation is now more distant from you than ever. For years you have been hardening in sin. Every sermon you have heard has insensibly rendered you worse. You have already heard every motive, argument and consideration, which the Scriptures afford, and heard them in vain. The whole storehouse of spiritual medicines has been thrown open for your relief; but your moral diseases, instead of being healed, have become more inveterate. We can only present to you again the same remedies, which have already proved unsuccessful; for the art of man and the word of God afford no other. Humanly speaking, then, it is evident you must perish.-But though your recovery is thus impossible with man, it is not with God. Blessed be his name! there is yet balm in Gilead, and a Physician there, who can heal when mortal physicians fail. But, alas! you will not apply to him. You will not believe you are sick; you will not be persuaded to seek eternal life. You still go on to neglect the gospel; and perhaps this very warning will prove to some of you a savor of death unto death.My friends, how trying is the situation of the ministers of Christ, if they have any love for their people, or regard for their souls. They are like a man placed on the brink of a precipice, to warn travellers, that, if they proceed, they will inevitably be dashed in pieces. The travellers arrive, listen to the warning, and then, with a few exceptions, hold on their course, and perish before the eyes of him who labored in vain to save them.

"Such, but infinitely more distressing, is our situation. We stand at the entrance of the way of life, to warn our people, that they are in the broad road to destruction, and to urge and entreat them to turn aside and be happy. Many of them hear our entreaties with some degree of attention and regard. They engage our affections by kind offices; we labor with them, tell them they are deeply rooted in our hearts and affections; and then, in defiance of all our prayers and tears, they hurry away, and perish before our eyes, in a manner too dreadful to be conceived. If this be not agony, disappointment, and distress, what is? The agonies of a patriot, trembling for his country-of a wife, watching an expiring husband -or of a mother, trembling for a diseased child- -are nothing to those which he must feel, who knows the worth of an im

mortal soul, who considers what it is to be lost, and yet sees his people perishing before him.

"O, my friends, my dear friends! how do our spirits droop, and our hearts sicken with anguish and despair, when we consider, that, notwithstanding all we can do, many here present will finally find the gospel a savor of death unto death! and all our exertions will answer no other purpose than to increase, beyond conception, their misery and guilt! O, ye precious, immortal souls! ye spirits, that will never die! ye heirs of eternity, hear!—and obey, ere it is too late, the joyful sound of the gospel. O, if there be any avenue to conviction, tell us where it lies. Tell, O tell us, how we may draw, or drive, or lead you to Christ. Tell us how we may bribe you not to be miserable forever. Almost are we ready to say with the apostle-we could even wish ourselves accursed from Christ for our people, our friends according to the flesh."

CHAPTER X.

His dependence on God; its influence on himself and church -His uniform purpose to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified—Illustration—Letters-Resolutions— Increased success.

THE preparation of his first anniversary sermon, from which some extracts have been taken, was attended by long-continued and intense private devotion; and in preaching it, he "had much assistance, and many were in tears." He looked forward through the year to come with the same prayerful solemnity, which distinguished his retrospect of the past. In view of his amazing responsibilities, he went for aid "to the throne of grace; and," he exclaims-" O, the unspeakable goodness and condescension of God!-did not go in vain." His complaints still hung, like a clog, to him, so that his body could but partially serve the ever-active spirit by which it was animated. This calamity was at no time more trying than when it prevented him from preaching his usual Thursday evening lecture. On one such evening he makes this

record :

"Dec. 30. Had a sweet season in prayer this morning; and felt fervent love to my Saviour, and desires that he might be glorified. Was much assisted in writing upon a subject, which led me to insist upon the constraining power of Christ's love; and, blessed be God, I was enabled in some measure to feel my subject. Was prevented from preaching by the weather, and the state of my health; which was a great disappointment."

It was Mr. Payson's uniform, if not invariable practice, to use a written sermon on one part of every Sabbath; and yet it is worthy of particular observation, how much he sought and valued divine assistance in preaching. His dependence on the Spirit's aid was, apparently, as real and exclusive as if he had made no previous preparation. He was greatly distressed, when engaged in pronouncing a discourse, unaccompanied with a consciousness of such assistance; and propor

tionately grateful when favored with it. A single extract will exhibit his feelings on this subject:

"Sabbath. Preached without the least apparent assistance. Was so distressed, that I left the sermon unfinished, and felt as if the people would leave the house. Went home, feeling ashamed to look any body in the face. Was ready to give up in despair; . . . . and had scarcely any hope that I should ever again behold the light of God's countenance. Yet such is the inconceivable goodness of God to his perverse and froward children, that he was pleased, even then, to melt my stubborn heart with the displays of his love. Felt so overwhelmed with a sense of his goodness and my own ingratitude, that I could not look up, or hardly venture to throw myself at his feet. My heart was broken within me, to think that I should still ungratefully requite such infinite goodness.”

If this reliance on God for help in preaching was not peculiar to him, but common-as it probably is in a degree-to every evangelical minister, the knowledge of the fact may, perhaps, weaken, if it does not remove the prejudice, which exists in many minds against any use of "notes" by a preacher.

His diary, during this winter, bears the marks of a rapidly advancing maturity in the Christian life. Who would not emulate the state of mind which is thus described!

"Was favored with clear views of the matchless goodness of Christ, and my own vileness. Was so overwhelmed and astonished, that he should again look upon me with favor, that I could scarce believe it possible. Seemed to be drawn away from self, and to feel more desire that God should be glorified than that I should be happy. This is the only heaven I aspire to; and to have such a temper appeared more desirable than ten thousand worlds. Felt sweetly broken-hearted and grieved to think how I had sinned against such a Saviour, and thought I should be willing to undergo any sufferings, if I might never offend him again. Longed to see him glorified by others; for I almost despaired of ever glorifying him myself."

will

And who, that reads the following, and is informed that similar records continue to occur at short intervals, any longer wonder that success crowned his labors? The first, extract shows, that the duties which he urged on others were first practised by himself:

"Jan. 2, 1809. Rose very early, and enjoyed a sweet sea

son in secret prayer. Spent the day in visiting. In the evening, felt the worth of souls lie with peculiar weight upon my mind, and was enabled to wrestle fervently for divine influence.

"Jan. 3. Was favored this morning with such a view of the worth of souls, that I could not rest at home, but went out to visit my people, and stir up the members of the church to pray for divine influences. Never felt such love for the people of God, as this day. Seemed willing to wash their feet, or perform the lowest offices, because they belonged to Christ. Longed, all day, to do something for the glory of God and the conversion of sinners. Wished for health, that I might employ my time for God."

A heart so intent upon seeking the salvation of men, might well be supposed to dictate language like the following, when the tenement in which it was lodged was too feeble to be removed from its resting-place :

"Jan. 7. During the past week, the word of the Lord has been like a fire shut up in my bones. I long to preach, but cannot. O that I may be patient and resigned."

The minister, who furnishes appropriate employment for the members of his church, performs one of the most useful services connected with human agency, and is the least likely to labor in vain, and spend his strength for nought. A conviction of personal responsibility for the prosperity of religion, deeply fixed in the heart of every private Christian-a responsibility which all are but too ready to throw off upon their minister— will, if any thing can, render them circumspect, "instant in prayer," and "always abounding in the work of the Lord." It is one of the best preparations for hearing the word with profit : for with it they will listen, not to cavil, not to be amused, but for edification, and that they may learn " what the Lord would have them do." The pastor, who is sustained by the daily fervent prayers of his flock, and by their frequent united prayers, has a ground for encouragement and hope, that will not fail him. The Spirit will not leave that people unvisited, who so appreciate his influences, as to seek them daily with ardor of desire, and to whom their descent would be as welcome, and as refreshing, " as cold waters to a thirsty soul." It was, therefore, a well-advised step in Mr. Payson, to engage the prayers of the church for a blessing on the word dispensed by him, and for a general revival of religion. The great importance of the duty justified his special exertions to secure its per