fered in silence, he continually sought out, and sent them unsolicited relief. Those, whom the Providence of God had suddenly impoverished, never applied to him for help in vain. To religious charities, to the education of young men of piety, to the distribution of Bibles, to the support of missions, to the assistance of destitute churches, he loved peculiarly to contribute. The only privilege of the affluent, which he coveted, was the good which they might do with their wealth, and the pleasure which they might enjoy in doing it.

No man ever loved his friends with more sincerity or constancy, or with warmer affection. His house, his hand, and his heart, were always open to welcome them. He never deserted them in distress; or because they were the objects of reproach and calummy. Instead of this, he chose rather to withdraw from those who attacked them, however numerous, or wealthy, or powerful. To their failings he was kind; never, by even a remote allusion, giving others reason to suppose that he observed them. Their excellencies he loved to acknowledge. The characteristics in his view, which ought especially to govern in the choice of intimate friends, were not talents, nor learning, nor wealth, nor influence, nor polish, nor fashion they were sincere affection, tried personal worth, and refinement of the mind. In this respect, few have been more happy. In his intercourse with his friends, and with others, all his purposes were kind, and generous, and honourable. He would not condescend to wear disguise, nor to accociate with those before whom it was necessary.

Personal independence and decision of character were inwrought in the very texture of his mind. He was afraid of no man. The history of his life presented no vulnerable points; and he knew that re

proach and slander could not do him injury. While he received intelligence and advice from every quarter, and would change his purpose, if a sufficient reason was given; yet without such a reason, no influence nor intreaties, no flattery nor threats, could induce him to change it. His purpose was his duty. Motives of a higher nature than any which present objects can afford, led him to embrace it; and no other motives could prompt him to relinquish it. For this, he was ready at all times, if it became necessary, to sacrifice the objects which are usually most valued ; — the friendship of any friend, the civilities and courtesy of the rich, the fashionable, and the powerful, and the applause of the many. The formation of his opinions on religious subjects, he appeared ever to consider as a transaction exclusively between God and himself. Aiming to leave other things wholly out of view, he resorted to the Bible as the perfect standard of faith; and as absolutely obligatory on the concience; believing that his own mind was darkened by many errors, and needed the illumination of the Spirit of light. Various opinions, ardently embraced when a youth, he afterwards relinquished from a conviction that they were unfounded. His sentiments on all important religious subjects will be found in these volumes. What he believed to be true he would preach, in all the extent in which he received it, leaving the consequences with God. His views of Christian catholicism and of the importance of Truth, will be found in several of the following sermons. His feelings, and conversation, and conduct towards those who differed from him, were evangelically liberal. Virtue, he described, as "voluntary obedience to Truth;" and vice, as voluntary obedience to Error." He held the Scriptures to be a plain, intelligible Revelation of the Will of God;

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and every man, who has them, to be equally responsible for his faith as for his practice. No considerations would induce him to be civil to Error, as such; or to narrow the distinction between Error and Truth. While he treated those whom he believed to embrace errors, even fundamental ones, with kindness; on all proper occasions, he exposed their errors without hesitation and without fear. The value of their applause and their friendship was "less than nothing," in comparison with the value of Truth, and of a clear conscience before God.

All, who have attempted to draw his character, have mentioned him as eminently disinterested. Few men have originated more numerous, or more important institutions or measures. Yet it is believed, that in no instance whatever was he even suspected to connect a private selfish end; his own personal benefit, or the advancement of any member of his family; with that which was avowed and ostensible. The purposes which he professed were the only purposes he had in view. To accomplish them, he could not stoop to management and finesse. They were honourable purposes. He declared them with the sincerity of truth, and pursued them with the dignity of virtue. So perfectly known was his character in this respect, that the instance probably cannot be named, in which any man ventured to approach him for his assistance, in a manner which was not direct and honourable.

The love of money appears to have had no influence over his mind. He viewed wealth not as a blessing in itself, but in the good which it enabled its possessor to do to himself, his family, and others. He had a right “to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of his labour under the sun,” and to make adequate provisions for his family. But the

residue was vested in his hands to promote the wellbeing of his fellow-men. These were his principles. Were the amount of property that he relinquished for the benefit of the Institution over which he presided to be stated; those who know how limited were his resources, would view the degree in which they were reduced by his liberality as literally romantic.

His temper was ardent and natively impetuous: but under the discipline of kindness and of principle it had been chiefly subdued. If its impetuosity was ever manifested, it was against conduct which was base and dishonourable. If at any time, through misinformation, he had been led to form incorrect views of men or of conduct; when convinced of it, no man more cheerfully retracted his error. His ardour was daily conspicuous in his friendships, his love of rectitude, and his zeal for doing good. Though ardent, he was amiable and affectionate, and possessed an almost child-like simplicity and tenderness of heart. Never have we known the Individual, whose feelings were more uniformly or more powerfully excited by the recital of a tale of distress, of a kind and honourable action, or of an account of the triumphs of the Cross.

The interest which he took in the great and splendid Christian charities, which characterize the present era, was extinguished only with the lamp of life. While able to converse, the establishment, labours, and success of Bible Societies and Missionary Societies maintained their hold upon his heart. Such was the excitement which, from time to time, during the few last days of his life, the accounts of their success produced upon his mind, that it was sufficient for the moment to control the influence of his disease; to bring back his thoughts, occasionally bewildered by

the intenseness of his sufferings, to entire collectedness; and to enable him to give vent to his feelings in the lively and animated language of fervent and pious gratification.

In the nearest relations of private life, President Dwight was an example of almost all that is excellent and praiseworthy. As a son, he manifested towards his parents, on all occasions, the most dutiful and cheerful obedience, and the most reverential affection. So true is this remark, that his mother declared, a short time before her death, that she did not know the instance in which he ever disobeyed a parental command, or failed in the performance of a filial duty. As a husband and a father, his life was eminently lovely. It was an uniform display of conjugal affection and paternal tenderness: a daily exemplification of the great principle of benevolence. "It is more blessed to give than to receive." His highest earthly enjoyment was found at the fire-side, in the bosom of his family. Their happiness was his own; and to promote it, no exertions were too great.As a brother, it has been seen he was affectionate and generous; supplying to his numerous brothers and sisters, as far as the nature of things would admit, the severe loss they had sustained in the morning of their lives in the death of an excellent father. As a friend and neighbour, let the united testimony of the various communities, in which at different periods of his life he resided, give his character. Rarely indeed does an instance occur, in which the influence of individual example has been more beneficially experienced. It was not merely that he was kind to his neighbours, polite and hospitable to strangers, and charitable to the poor; and that, as far as in him lay, he followed peace with all men-there was a moral charm that uniformly sur