words seemed to come from his mouth encompassed by that glowing atmosphere in which they left the heart, and to brand their very impression in every heart on which they fell. Often did his clear exhibitions of truth, and his full and plain exposures of the obliquities of men, prove the occasion of bitter and outrageous feelings in the bosoms of many; but rarely, indeed, could the individual be found who ventured to express a doubt of his honesty and sincerity. He was always in earnest, and “commended himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

CHAPTER XIV.

The pastor in action-Methods of exciting, sustaining and extending a due interest in religious concerns-Preaching, administration of ordinances, church fast, conference, inquiry meetings.

ALTHOUGH most of the preceding chapter, if changed from the didactic form to that of narration, would, for the extent to which it reaches, present a true history of its author, yet there are other details from his own pen, interspersed throughout his familiar correspondence, which will be found scarcely less instructive, and at the same time exhibit a fuller developement of the nature, extent and variety of his pastoral labors. We shall commence our extracts with a letter written in 1812 to a young clergyman, then recently settled in the ministry, who had sought his instruction and

advice on the subject of pastoral duties. It has already been stated that Mr. Payson was now the sole pastor of the church; and it was in this year that thirty-one of its members were separated from it, and, by a distinct organization, constituted the "Chapel Congregational Church in Portland," over which Mr. Kellogg was placed as pastor. The vacancy hereby created was more than filled-forty-eight persons being added to the church within the same year. It was distinguished beyond former years for "the fruits of the Spirit."

"DEAR BROTHER,

"Your letter requesting 'information and advice' has just reached me. I rejoice in the circumstances that led to such a request. I rejoice still more that you feel 'ignorant, and inexperienced, and inadequate to the charge which has devolved upon you.' We must feel so, or we shall meet with little success.

"I can however assure you, for your, encouragement, that you cannot possibly be more ignorant and inexperienced than I was at the time of my settlement. I knew just nothing at all of my business; but I knew a little, O how little! of my own ignorance. This led me to pray almost incessantly; and, somehow or other, I have, as I trust, been preserved from fatal mistakes, and not suffered to ruin either myself or my people, as I sometimes feared that I should. He who has thus guided me, and thousands of others equally foolish, will, I trust, guide you. The best advice I can give you is, to look to Him. This I doubt not you do; but you cannot do it too much. If we would do much for God, we must ask much of God ·

we must be men of prayer; we must, almost literally pray without ceasing. You have doubtless met with Luther's remark-" Three things make a divine— prayer, meditation, and temptation." My dear brother, I cannot insist on this too much. Prayer is th first thing, the second thing, and the third thing neces sary for a minister, especially in seasons of reviva The longer you live in the ministry the more deeply I am persuaded, you will be convinced of this. Pray then, my dear brother, pray, pray, pray. Read the account of Solomon's choice, 1 Kings, 3:5-15. If, like him, you choose wisdom, and pray for it, it will be yours.

"The next thing in importance is, as I conceive, that your church should be excited to pray for the influences of the divine Spirit; and that they should frequently meet for this purpose. For, though private prayer may be as effectual, it does not so directly tend to honor God as that which is more public. God converts sinners for his own glory, and he will have all the glory of their conversion. Nothing tends more directly to give him the glory than social prayer. In that duty we explicitly acknowledge, not only to him, but to our fellow-creatures, that nothing but the influences of his Spirit can render any means effectual, and that we are entirely dependent for those influences on his sovereign will. In a word, we acknowledge that in the conversion of sinners he is all, and we are nothing.

"With respect to those who are awakened, I conceive it is our duty to act as fellow-workers with the divine Spirit; to insist principally on those truths of which he first convinces them; and to endeavor, both

by our preaching and conversation, to bring them to the same point to which he aims to bring them. This point is complete self-despair and hope in Christ. The former is a pre-requisite to the latter. I therefore aim, in the first place, to increase their convictions of sins, especially of the great, damning sin of unbelief. If they ask, What shall we do? I never dare give them any other answer than that given by Christ and his apostles: 'Repent, and believe the Gospel.' I insist much on the character of God; the strictness, extent, and spirituality of his law; the various artifices, deceptions, and excuses of the heart; the false hopes of sinners and hypocrites; the nature of true and false conversion; and the great danger of being deceived. I also frequently warn them of the dreadful consequences of delaying repentance, grieving the Spirit, losing their convictions, or resting on false hopes, like the stony-ground hearers. I labor especially to convince them that all the difficulties which oppose their salvation lie in their own hearts-that Christ is willing to save them—but they are unwilling to be saved in his way, and are therefore without excuse. This is a very important point. I have seen none go back who appeared to be truly convinced of this. In addition to this, I say much of the glory, beauty, and sufficiency of Christ, and of the perfect freeness of the blessings which he offers, and endeavor to show them the horrid pride, ingratitude, &c. of neglecting to accept of them. These are some of the principal subjects on which I preach to inquirers. You will easily determine what are the most proper texts from which to explain and enforce them.

"With respect to our inquiry meetings, I can only

tell you that we have them once a week; afternoons for females, evenings for males. It is difficult to persuade them to converse as freely as might be wished. You will find, however, as your experience increases, that it is not essential that they should say much. A single sentence will often give you a clue to their character and feelings. If you wish them to converse with you with freedom, you must visit them at home. Your greatest danger will be in comforting them too All comfort is dangerous till they surrender unconditionally to the sovereign grace of God. It is much safer to err on the other side."

soon.

The extract which follows describes the origin of a meeting that was long continued and signally blessed:

"Nov. 14, 1814.

"Three weeks since I preached to the young, from the words of Christ when twelve years old-'I must be about my Father's business.' At the close of the sermon I invited all the young men who were fully determined to engage immediately in their Father's work to meet me in the evening, and at the same time told them I was not confident that any of them would come. However, about forty attended. After stating to them the difficulties and temptations they would meet with, and the sacrifices they must make in a religious course, I advised them to consider of it a fortnight; and, if they still resolved to persevere, to meet me again. About thirty came the second evening; and, though I cannot calculate upon all, or even the major part of them, becoming Christians, yet I hope some of them will."