sermons, besides the Address, and another sermon which I did not preach."

"Dec. 26.

“If I do not feel thankful for any other favor which God gives me, I do feel some gratitude when he enables me to do any thing which gives pleasure to the heart of my mother. If you were dead, one half the gratification I feel, when I publish any thing which is well received, would be gone. I should also lose one half of my hopes, that any thing I publish will do good; for I build my hopes very much on your prayers for a blessing. I suppose you or H. sent me the Keene paper, which contains my Address. It has been published in two other papers, and in a Baptist Magazine at Boston; and I have just received a letter from Professor P.'s wife, at in

behalf of a number of ladies there, who wish to publish a large edition, in the form of a tract. I have requested our church to pray that a blessing may go with it, and I doubt not you will continue to pray. If it does any good, it will be owing to prayer."

His other publication was a sermon, preached before the "Marine Bible Society of Boston," entitled "The Oracles of God"-a much more labored production than either of his other published discourses, and yet, for some cause, it has been far less popular.-Besides these, he furnished one or two manuscript sermons for the National Preacher, which appeared soon after his decease.

CHAPTER XVI.

His exertions without the bounds of his parish-Influence on his ministerial associates; in resuscitating and edifying other churches-Visits "The Springs"-Effect of his example, conversation, and prayers on other visiters-Excursions in behalf of charitable societies-Translation of ministers— He is invited to Boston and New York.

It is not easy to estimate the usefulness of a man in public life, whose numerous relations bring him into contact with his fellow men, in a great variety of circumstances. A minister of the gospel, especially at this day, is not an insulated individual, whose influence is limited by parochial bounds. His presence, counsel, example, prayers, give shape, tone, direction, energy, to public institutions for enlightening the human species, alleviating its sufferings, and extending the empire of holiness. It is, indeed, no slight honor to be permitted to feed and build up a single branch of the church of God. To see the number of believers multiplied, and converted sinners joining themselves to the people of God, as the fruit of his labors, is an adequate reward for the pastor's most arduous toils, and for all the solicitude, with which his anxious bosom is afflicted. And yet the increase and edification of his own particular charge may be only a small part of the good which is to be traced, more or less directly, to his instrumentality. The many hundreds, to whom Mr. Payson's labors were blessed in the place of his residence, and whom it was his happiness to welcome to the church under his special supervision, are only a part, and may be found a small part, of the gems which will embellish his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord. To ascertain the whole amount of his usefulness, we must know the nature and degree of his influence upon his fellow laborers in the ministry, the effect of his occasional labors in different and distant parts of the country, his agency in raising the tone of piety in all the churches which could be reached by his influence, the results of his powerful pleadings in behalf of religious and charitable enterprises, of his counsel in ecclesiastical concerns, and as one of the guardians of the principal seminary of learning in Maine,-all, in short, that

flowed from his conscientious and ever watchful regard, wherever he was, and with whomsoever he met, to the apostolical precept" Consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works."

It is not intended here to give him a character at the expense of his brethren, or to introduce their names as a foil to his excellences. Such comparisons are always invidious; and, besides, where many are associated in the same cause, it is difficult, indeed impossible, to define the precise degree of influence which ought to be ascribed to each; though all, probably, will admit Mr. Payson's claim to a large share; and not a few, on reviewing the past, will see, in the exigencies of the churches in this region, and in the existing standard of ministerial disinterestedness and zeal, causes of thankfulness to that gracious Providence which raised up and sent such a man among them.

His presence in the ministerial association to which he belonged, though often prevented by the frequent recurrence of his agonizing "head-ache," and by duties at home, which he could not dispense with, was highly valued by a majority of his brethren. He was a strong advocate for devoting the first part of the time occupied by such meetings, to social prayer. Prayer was his own preparation for every duty; and he felt it to be equally important, that it should be a common preparation for a social duty. When on a council for the ordination of a minister, he was always on the watch for some interval of time, to be consecrated to united prayer, with particular reference to the occasion and its consequences. In ministers' meetings, whether the immediate object were mutual edification, or a solution were requested of cases of conscience, and other difficulties which often arise in the discharge of the sacred office, or trying cases of discipline were presented for advisement, he was always ready to speak in his turn, and always spoke to the purpose. A topic seldom passed him without fresh elucidation. Any proposition, which bore the least trace of a time-serving policy, or mere worldly wisdom, he would instantly discountenance. The writer has known him to do this, at once and effectually, by a very few words of his own, pointed with one of Witherspoon's "Characteristics."

He occasionally performed services for other parishes, of most auspicious bearing on the cause of religion; services which thousands have regretted that his health and engagements would not permit him to repeat. The nature of the services alluded to will be seen by an extract :—

"MY DEAR MOTHER,

"Portland, Jan. 7, 1814.

"Not long after your return, I went to a town about forty miles from this, on a week's missionary excursion. They are in a wretched state-have had no settled minister for seven years. The only minister they ever had proved an intemperate man. He is still living in the place, and does all he can to prejudice the people against the gospel and all who preach it. Before I proceed, I must take a little shame to myself, that God's goodness may appear more conspicuous. I commenced my ride by going to G., to obtain Mr. H. to preach for me during my absence. The next morning, it stormed violently; then I began to repent of my undertaking. However, I was ashamed to go back; so on I went in the storm. I was tolerably good-natured the first part of the day, but the storm and the road grew worse and worse. First it was all mire and clay, then nothing but hills and stones. I began to grow cross. Every bad jolt made me worse, till I felt as bad as Jonah did, and was ready to say, with him-'I do well to be angry.' Being in this frame, I concluded, of course, that I should do no good, wished myself at home a thousand times, and more than half resolved that I would never have any thing to do with a missionary tour again. However, I arrived safe, and began my labors, and soon found that I was not laboring alone. I cannot go into particulars. Suffice it to say, that in no place, not even in Portland, have I ever seen so much of God's power displayed, in the same space of time, as during the six days I spent in I preached six times, and made between forty and fifty family visits. Many were awakenedalmost all were solemn. One old man of seventy, among wealthiest in the place, who has always been against doing any thing towards the settlement of a minister, was very deeply impressed, and has promised to give three hundred dollars towards a fund. Two others will give three hundred more each. -I was obliged to return home, on account of church fast and communion; but they have sent for me to come up again, and next week, Providence permitting, I shall go. Thus was I shamed and confounded by God's goodness. But this is not all. I came home thoroughly drenched by the shower of divine influences, which began to fall at that the cloud had followed me, and was beginning to pour itself down upon my people. Instead of a fast, we appointed a season of thanksgiving. A blessing seemed to follow it. I then invited the young men of the parish to come to my house, on Sabbath evening, for religious purposes. The church

the

and soon found

thought none would come. I expected twenty at most. The first evening, forty came; the second, sixty; and the third, seventy. This was the last Sabbath. Six stopped, after the rest were dismissed, to converse more particularly respecting divine things. About thirty persons are known to be seriously inquiring, and there is every appearance that the work is spreading. Meanwhile, I am so ashamed, so rejoiced, and so astonished, to see what God is doing, that I can scarcely get an hour's sleep."

No account of his second visit has been preserved. The hopes, however, which had been excited by his first, were not disappointed. The change, which then commenced, prevailed, and was permanent. In the following spring, a candidate, who had completed his preparation for the ministry under Mr. Payson's instruction, visited the place, and, during his first week, found ten persons who entertained a hope, and heard of others; and, in sixteen families whom he had visited, more or less were inquiring, and, in some instances, whole families. Religion was almost exclusively the topic of conversation, and the whole society appeared solemn. The subscriptions to a fund, for the support of a Calvinistic minister of the gospel, had amounted to three or four thousand dollars.' This young preacher soon became the established minister of the place, where he still remains, a useful laborer in the vineyard of Christ. Such were the results of one short missionary excursion.

About three years later, by particular request, he spent a week in another town, where some religious attention had commenced. It was a season of great solemnity. At his suggestion, the church assembled and renewed their covenant, whose bonds, for a long time, had been but little felt. Their pastor led the way, by acknowledging his deficiencies, and then, imploring forgiveness, and strength for time to come, renewed his engagements to the Lord and to his people. His wife followed his example, and was succeeded by the members of the church. During this visit, Mr. Payson preached thirteen sermons, besides attending the less public meetings, and conversing with inquirers and the impenitent; and yet he was scarcely sensible of fatigue till he left the spot. He " was so happy, that he thought he might have exerted himself till he expired, without knowing that he needed rest." sons, the fruits of this revival, who were propounded to the church at one time, four were above seventy years of age.

Of five per