good. Why such a poor wanderer should once more be called after, is matter of wonder.

'Determined to save, he watched over my path,

When, Satan's blind slave, I sported with death.'

I became more sober, retired for reflection, broke off from vicious practices, and resolved on an amendment of life. My feelings at first I kept a secret; but on contemplating my sinful life, my condi. tion was opened to my view, and my soul was seized with anguish not to be concealed. In August, 1790, being borne down with guilt and distress, I stopped on my way to my school, in a little solitary grove, as I had been wont to do, to pray; when the light burst into my mind, and the glory of the Lord shone with such lustre as to pour into my soul a flood of inexpressible joy. This was a heaven below. I was, as it were, in a new world. From this time, I had many happy hours. Old things had passed away, and all things became new. My love of vanity was overcome; and my name, which I had thought would be reproached if I became a Christian, I felt willing to give up for Christ's sake. I had intervals of great darkness, but such seasons were generally succeeded by great peace; and my hours of retirement for meditation were very precious.

'Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.'

In a few months after this change in his mind, he was baptized by Elder J. Hibard, of Royalton, and connected with the church of which Mr. Hibard was the Pastor. On the sixth of December he was married to Miss Sally Field, with whom he lived one year and eleven months, and by whom he had one son. She departed this life on the 10th of November, 1794. The summer following, in compliance with the repeated solicitations of his brethren, he commenced preaching. From that time, he labored as a preacher of the Gospel, in the vicinity of Royalton, till the spring of 1797, when he commenced his labors in Braintree. On the 18th of June, 1800, he was ordained as an evangelist. Not long after, he was married to Miss Lydia Parmalee, by whom he had ten children, eight of whom are now living. Although he was set apart to the work of the ministry as an evangelist, he was statedly employed by the Baptist church composed of members belonging to Braintree and Randolph. From the time of his ordination till the day of his death, which occurred on the 24th of June, 1828, he had the particular charge of this church, and served them as a minister of God, "in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings."

In the vicinity where he spent the last thirty years of his life, and where he performed the most of his ministerial labors, his character is well known; and the writer is willing that men of virtue and candor should judge with relation to the correctness of the following statements.

To say that Mr Huntington was a perfect man, would be to contradict the voice of reason, and of revelation, and declarations

Both reason and

which have repeatedly fallen from his own lips. revelation testify that every man has his defects, and perhaps no man ever entertained a more deep sense of his imperfections than the subject of this sketch; and very few have been more ready to acknowledge them. But while his own assertions confirm us in the opinion that he was a fallible man, they react upon the mind, impressing it with the belief that but few men have maintained a more humble walk with God.

As a man, he was distinguished for honesty. In all his conduct pertaining to worldly concerns, he showed himself far more willing to suffer than to do wrong. His example on this point is worthy of the remembrance, and of the imitation of all; especially of the ministers of Christ. With the petty divisions of the town in which he resided, either with relation to men or measures, he gave himself no farther concern than to strive to hush contending passions, by directing the attention of opposing parties to the Prince of peace.

As a neighbor, he was kind and obliging, ever ready, as far as his circumstances would allow, to minister to the necessities of all around him. The servant of the Lord must not strive, was a direction to which he gave good heed. He strove not himself; nor did he wish to know more of the strife of others than would enable him to labor successfully in the adjustment of their difficulties.

As a father, he filled his station. He was not only obeyed by his children, but his government over them was such as effectually to secure their esteem. He was a tender and affectionate husband. Mrs Huntington's constitution has generally been feeble, particularly so for a few years past, which greatly increased his cares; but notwithstanding the peculiarities of her illness, he watched over her with untiring patience and assiduity.

Mr Huntington was a devout Christian. Few men of the present age have manifested a more deep sense of divine things. The law of God seemed to be engraven on his heart. Judging from his exercises as expressed in his diary, the thought of violating the divine commands, was to him more dreadful than death. He was a man of quick sensibility, particularly so in relation to the subject of religion. A deviation from what he supposed to be right, filled hist mind with extreme anguish. He was not only burdened with those errors of life which come to the knowledge of men, but especially with the inward corruptions of his heart. When afflicted with these, he gave himselfno rest till, by the grace of God, he had obtained a victory over them. Of nothing did he complain more than of what he called spiritual pride; for which there can be no doubt his soul was often deeply humbled. Ofcourse he was eminently a man of watchfulness and prayer. Notwithstanding his inward groanings, he had much enjoyment in religion. The ground of his joy, was the sufficiency of his God and Saviour. His religious exercises were not momentary, but abiding. He did not at one time exhibit a solemn aspect, or an extravagant zeal, and at another engage in the trifles of the world. Serious subjects uniformly pervaded his soul. The world was under his feet. The principles of the gospel regulated

him in all his temporal concerns, and he made the practice of religion the business of his life.

As a minister, Mr Huntington was sound in the faith. His principles were strictly evangelical. He well understood the system of doctrines contained in the Bible; and with untiring perseverance he labored to explain and enforce them upon the minds of his hearers. In consequence, as it would seem, of his love of truth, and a sense of its important bearing upon the eternal destiny of men, in illustrating some of the fundamental principles of the gospel, he occasionally rose above himself, and as though endued with extraordinary power, presented truth in a manner the most clear and impressive. He was a faithful preacher. He did not "daub with untempered mortar." It never seemed to be any part of his labor to accommodate his sermons to the feelings of the carnal heart. It was his custom to direct his discourses to the consciences of men, without consulting the consequences of plain dealing. It is well known that his preaching did not always meet the approbation of all his hearers; nor was he always free from the censures of his fellow-men; but he bore opposition like a Christian, and accounted it the highest honor to which he could arrive in this world, to suffer persecution for Christ's sake. He did not, however, seek persecution. He studiously avoided the giving of unnecessary offence; and it was but rarely that he displeased any, except in cases where he could not avoid it without sacrificing what he supposed to be the truth. Mr Huntington was decidedly a Baptist; and, no doubt, he was pleased to see that denomination prosper; but it is believed he allowed himself in no unwarrantable measures to increase the num

ber of Baptists. The writer of this article has resided in the same town with him for twenty years; and, during this long acquaintance, he has never suspected him of a disposition to disturb the tranquillity of the church with which he is connected, though of a different denomination. So far from this, he has evidently rejoiced in our prosperity, and sympathized with us in our trials. In his character as a minister, precept and example were happily united. It is believed that very few men have exemplified in private life what they taught in public more effectually than did the subject of this sketch.

He was also a man of benevolence. His desires to do good were not limited by the parish or town in which he resided. They were expansive. His benevolence led him to plead for a perishing world. He was a friend to a foreign missions. For missionaries in foreign lands he prayed; for their support he contributed of his worldly substance; and exerted an influence over others which led them to go and do likewise.

As might be expected, in his last sickness a scene was exhibited of deep interest. The following representation of it, however, will fall far short of the reality. Were it possible to notice every particular which interested his friends, our limits would not warrant the undertaking. A few general hints is all that must be attempted. The writer of this sketch made him repcated visits while upon his dying bed; in one of which he found him with his mental

faculties free from derangement. He then possessed a very peaceful frame of mind, conversed with composure upon the subject of his approaching dissolution, and manifested entire resignation to the divine will. On being asked if he thought himself near his end, he replied, "It may be that I am, and it may be that I am not; it is no matter which. I wish not to choose for myself. I think it is my greatest desire that God may be glorified by me in life and in death." During this visit he conversed with his family. He gave particular directions with regard to the conduct of the younger children, exhorting them to be in subjection to the elder members of the family. He counselled his eldest sons to regard their younger brothers and sisters as the objects of their particular care, directing them to maintain a proper government over them, endeavouring by precept and example to lead them into the paths of virtue. To assist them in the discharge of their duty to the rest of the family, as well as for their own benefit, he urged the importance of calling the household together, morning and evening, to read the Holy Scriptures. He requested them to do it with the utmost seriousness, remembering that what they read in that book is the word of the eternal God; and he pressed the necessity of mutual exertions to maintain love and peace in the family. He closed his remarks to his children at that time, with a moving exhortation to them all to choose the good part that can never be taken from them, often repeating one of the last texts from which he ever preached, "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" During the visit to which reference has been made, he expressed a very deep concern for the church and people with whom he had generally labored, and seemed desirous of commending them to the care of the great Shepherd. Nor was he anxious for their welfare alone. As there were some of other denominations present, he exhorted all to cherish a spirit of good will to men, "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." During During a few of his last days he was partially deranged. It was very obvious, however, that the subject of religion continued to occupy his mind, for prayer and exhortation was his employment, though insensible to the objects around him. At the last, he exhibited signs of a very tranquil mind, and, as is believed, fell asleep in the arms of his blessed Lord. By his death, his family have lost their head, the church a faithful minister, and the world a friend. Every one who knew his worth, will long remember him, and bewail his departure.

We feel a sincere pleasure in being able to insert the following note. It was added by a friend who communicated to us this memoir; and, while it discloses what is highly creditable to the individuals concerned, it presents a striking illustration of the consistency of our principles as Baptists with our ardently loving Christians of other denominations.

NOTE.

The writer of the preceding sketch has given the public to understand that he and Mr Huntington did not belong to the same religious denomination. . It may be proper for another to remark, that the writer of it is the Rev. Mr NICHOLS, Pastor of the Congregational Church in Braintree.

An occurrence has come to my knowledge which happily illustrates their feelings towards each other. Mr Huntington was at the house of a friend in a town adjoining Braintree, when conversation was casually introduced respecting Mr Nichols. In the course of the conversation, Mr Huntington remarked, "I do not know of a man I should be willing to exchange for Mr Nichols." Not long after, Mr Nichols was at the same place; and conversation was, in a similar manner, introduced concerning Mr Huntington. Mr Nichols observed, "I do not know of a man I should be willing to exchange for Mr Huntington." This I had from the gentleman at whose house the remarks were made. It shows that there was a friendship between them, as sincere and ardent as is often found between brethren of the same denomination. And it was a friendship which existed and was maintained till interrupted by death, without any sacrifice or compromise of principle on the part of either.

ON CERTAIN SUPERLATIVES IN THE BIBLE.

These

ALL persons who have made the New Testament a subject of critical examination have perceived it to contain internal evidence of having been written by persons whose modes of thinking and whose manner of expression are not naturally Grecian. Apart from our knowledge of their nation, derived from other sources, we should be led to suspect that they were Hebrews, by the Hebraisms scattered through that portion of the Sacred Volume. peculiarities it is necessary to know as such, before the precise import of the passages in which they occur can be perceived. One class of these, viz. Hebrew superlatives, I conceive to be employed in some passages in the New Testament, in which they are not generally recognised; and a knowledge of the fact that they are employed, renders these passages more lucid, and produces a clear, definite idea of the meaning, where, before, only a vague one could be entertained. With a view to elucidate this class of passages the following essay is written.

The Hebrews have several methods of expressing the superlative degree: By an adverb signifying greatly—by a preposition signifying among; as, "Blessed among women," i. e. Most blessed woman-by the repetition of a word; as, "Peace, peace," i. e. Perfect peace. Isa. xxvi. 3-by two synonymous words; as, "Poor and needy"-by the genitive case plural of the same word; as, "King of Kings"—and, lastly, by the use of a Divine name; as, "The men of Sodom were sinners before the Lord;" i. e. outrageous sinners-"The trees or mountains of God;" i e. the very largest trees or mountains. It is to those passages in which I conceive the last mode of expression to be employed, that I shall direct my attention.

Gen. xxiii. 6. “Thou art a Mighty Prince (Heb. Prince of God) among us."

Gen. xxx. 8. "With great wrestlings (Heb. Wrestlings of God) have I wrestled with my sister."

Gen. xxxv. 5. “And the terror of God (i e. the greatest terror) was upon the inhabitants of the cities," &c.