sublime and terrible objects, nothing affects the mind, unless it be clearly and distinctly perceived. If the most admired descriptive poems, and those which produce the greatest effect upon our feelings, be carefully examined, it will be found, that they derive their power to affect us, almost entirely from a minute and striking description of a few judiciously selected particulars. It is the same with our devotional performances. We praise God, or confess sin, or pray for mercy, or return thanks for divine favor, in a general way, without being ourselves affected, and without exciting the affections of our hearers. But when we descend to particulars, the effect is different. The mind receives, drop after drop, till it is full. We should, therefore, aim at as great a degree of particularity, as the time allotted us, and the variety of topics, on which we must touch, will allow. Especially is it important, that we enter deeply and particularly, into every part of christian experience, and lay open all the minute ramifications and almost imperceptible workings of the pious heart, in its various situations, and thus shew our hearers to themselves in every point of view. In a word, our public prayers should resemble, as nearly as propriety will allow, the breathings of a humble, judicious, and fervently pious christian, in his private devotions. The prayer of the pulpit differs too much-it should differ as little as possible-from the prayer of the closet. A neglect, in this particular often renders our performances uninteresting and unacceptable to those whom we should most desire to gratify. pp. 232-237.

Dr. Payson sustained the ministerial character more consistently than most ministers, and therefore was more successful. Some who seem to love the souls of their people, and to pray earnestly for their salvation, hinder the influence of their labors and their prayers, by leading lives inconsistent with their professions. For if a man, while he claims to be an ambassador from God, acts as though he were in the service of the world; if while he condemns, in the language of inspiration, those who love the praise of men more than the praise of God, he seeks for popularity by sinful compliances; if while he declaims against that covetousness which is idolatry, he shows by his conduct that mammon has a place in his heart; if while he exhorts the young to be sober-minded, he exhibits a disposition given to levity and mirth; if while he enjoins purity of heart and meekness upon others, he shows that he is governed by sinister motives, or revengeful feelings;-how can he expect but that some or all of these inconsistencies will be seen by others, and be a drawback greater or less upon his personal usefulness? But in the case of Dr. Payson, his daily conduct was in keeping with his preaching, and conspired with it to produce a good moral effect upon his people.

One of his most acceptable methods of communicating instruction, and exciting a religious interest, was by visits to the families of his parishioners; and though he speaks of himself, as living extempore, they will cheerfully give him credit for system in this branch of duty. It was a custom which he commenced almost simultaneously with his ministry, to give notice from the pulpit, that the families in a particular district, or street,

might expect him at a given time, in the course of the following week, and to request, that, if consistent with their engagements, they would all be at home; as he wished to see the family together. Accordingly, when he entered a house, he usually found all in readiness for his reception, and could proceed, without the loss of a moment, to deliver his message. The time he spent in a family did not usually exceed twenty or thirty minutes; but it was completely filled up with religious conversation and prayer. He could say much in a short time, and never failed to divide a portion to every member' capable of receiving it.

That it was a leading object with him to introduce and extend this habit among his people, appears from almost every act of his official life. It accounts, in part, for his remarkable circumspection, and unfailing care, to set an example, in his own person, of doing all things to the glory of God. It was not without reference to this, probably, that he dedicated his own private dwelling to God; or rather, that when he did this, he called in some of his neighbors, to participate in the solemnities; and it was not without its influence. He was called, in his turn, to officiate on similar occasions for them. A scene of this kind is still recollected with lively interest, by the members of a numerous family. In his prayer, he anticipated almost every possible circumstance in their future history with that reverent particularity, in which he was, perhaps unrivalled; and in such select, appropriate, and vivid expressions, as gave the very walls of the habitation a tongue that has not since ceased to speak. The thought, that it is a consecrated house, is suited to check all tendencies to sinful levity. One of the events anticipated in the prayer has already taken place; and the children of the family, who are now all members of the visible church, could tell with what comforting and sustaining power it was brought home to their hearts, while surrounding the triumphant death-bed of an invaluable mother. pp. 286-288.

Dr. Payson was more skilful than most ministers in devising plans of religious action, and in illustrating religious truths, and therefore was more successful. That all his plans for promoting the spiritual welfare of his people were judicious, is more perhaps than could be said of any man. Indeed, with respect to some of them, we thought (perhaps erroneously) that they were otherwise, because we thought they were not adapted to the character of those congregations with which we happened to be acquainted. We intended, in this place, to examine the comparative usefulness of various measures which have been used, to promote revivals of religion. But our limits permit us only to say, that a very large part certainly, of the plans which his inventive mind struck out, were eminently useful in promoting the spiritual improvement of his people. As to his skill in illustrating religious truth, in such a manner as to attract attention and produce a salutary impression, we have already said something on a former occasion; and shall now content ourselves with some quotations showing his manner of illustration.

The growth of grace in the heart may be compared to the process of polishing metals. First, you have a dark, opaque substance, neither pos

sessing nor reflecting light. Presently, as the polisher plies his work, you will see here and there a spark darting out; then a strong light, till, by and by, it sends back a perfect image of the sun which shines upon it. So the work of grace, if begun in our hearts, must be gradually, and continually going on; and it will not be completed, till the image of God can be seen perfectly reflected in us. p. 271.

Suppose, my young friends, that in traveling through a wilderness, a spacious garden should burst upon your view, in the midst of which is a splendid palace. Upon entering it, you perceive, in every apartment, proofs of the age cy of some living person, though you see no one. Complicated machinery is moving, and various operations are carried on; but still the agent, who produces these effects, is invisible. Would you be the less convinced that they were produced by some intelligent agent? And if you should be told, that the palace came there by chance, and that all the movements you witnessed were caused by no power whatever, you would regard him, who should tell you thus, cither as a fool or a liar. Now you have the same proof of the existence of God in his works, that you would have, in the case I have supposed, of the existence and presence of some invisible agent; and it is just as unreasonable to doubt of his existence, as it would be to doubt whether the palace had been built by any person, or was only the work of chance. Suppose you were informed, by a writing on the wall, that the palace was inhabited, or haunted by spirits, who were constantly watching your conduct, and who had power to punish you, if it displeased them; and that you were also informed, at the same time, of the course of conduct which it would be necessary to pursue, in order to obtain their approbation. How careful would you be to observe the rules, and how fearful of displeasing these powerful spirits. And if you were further informed, that these were the spirits of your deceased parents, and that they were able to hear, if you addressed them,-how delightful it would be to go and tell them of your wants and sorrows, and feel sure that they listened to you with sympathy and compassion! I tell you, my young friends, this world is haunted, if I may so express it,--haunted by the Eternal Spirit. He has given you rules, by which to regulate your conduct, and is able to punish every deviation from them. And can you recollect that such a being is constantly noticing your conduct, and still persist in disobeying his commands? God is also your Heavenly Father; and why can you not go to him, as such, with the same confidence, which you would exercise in an earthly parent?" p. 284,285.

Dr. Payson had suffered long from disease and was worn out by his labors, and the day of his departure which was to relieve him from his distresses, his exhaustion, and his labor, at length came. It remains for us to make a few extracts exhibiting the state of mind, with which he left the world. And it is delightful to observe how the God whom he served, and whose presence he had often supplicated, bestowed upon him, in his last days, some of the best tokens of his love in the brightest anticipations of heavenly blessedness. The last pages of the volume, are full of the highest interest, and made us feel more than ever, that "the chamber where the good man meets his fate-is quite in the verge of heaven."

In answer to the question, by a lady from B., are you better than you were? he replied, "not in body, but in mind. If my happiness continues to in

crease, I cannot support it much longer." On being asked, are your views of heaven clearer and brighter than ever before? he said, why, for a few moments, I may have had as bright, but formerly my joys were tumultuous; now all is calm and peaceful." He was asked, "in your anticipations of heaven do you think of meeting departed friends?" After a moment's reflection he said, with a most expressive countenance, " if I meet Christ, 'tis no matter whether I see others or not-though I shall want some to help me praise him." He doubtless had an opinion on this subject; but he remembered Christ's answer to the question, " are there few that be saved?" p. 406.

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I am more and more convinced that the happiness of heaven, is a benevolent happiness. In proportion as my joy has increased, I have been filled with intense love to all creatures, and a strong desire that they might par take of my happiness. p. 410.

It was the privileged lot of the young men of the Society to assemble, at his request, in his chamber, when he addressed them in substance, as follows:

And

"I lie here, and feel these convulsions extending higher and higher, without the least uneasiness; but my soul is filled with joy unspeakable. I seem to swim in a flood of glory which God pours down upon me. I know, I know that my happiness is but begun; I cannot doubt that it will last forever. And now is this all a delusion? Is it a delusion which can fill the soul to overflowing with joy in such circumstances? If so, it is surely a delusion better than any reality: but no, it is not a delusion; I feel that it is not. I do not merely know that I shall enjoy all this, I enjoy

it now.

"My young friends, were I master of the whole world, what could it do for me like this? Were all its wealth at my feet, and all its inhabitants striving to make me happy, what could they do for me? Nothing!--nothing. Now all this happiness I trace back to the religion which I have preached, and to the time when that great change took place in my heart, which I have often told you is necessary to salvation: and I now tell you again, that, without this change, you cannot, no you cannot see the kingdom of God.

"And now, standing as I do on the ridge which separates the two worlds, feeling what intense happiness or misery the soul is capable of sustaining; judging your capacities by my own, and believing that those capacities will be filled to the very brim with joy or wretchedness forever; can it be wondered at, that my heart yearns over you, my children, that you may choose life and not death! Is it to be wondered at, that I long to present every one of you with a full cup of happiness, and see you drink it; that I long to have you make the same choice which I made, and from which springs all my happiness?" pp. 418, 419.

Sabbath day, October 21st, his last agony commenced. This holy man, who had habitually said of his racking pains, "these are God's arrows, but they are all sharpened with love," and who, in the extremity of suffering, had been accustomed to repeat, as a favorite expression, “I will bless the Lord at all times,"—had yet the "dying strife" to encounter. It commenced with the same difficulty of respiration, though in an aggravated degree, which had caused him great distress, at intervals, during his sickness. His daughter who had gone to the sabbath school, without any apprehensions of so sudden a change, was called home. Though laboring for

breath, and with a rattling in the throat similar to that which immediately precedes dissolution, he smiled upon her, kissed her affectionately, and said "God bless you, my daughter!" Several of the church were soon collected at his bedside; he smiled on them all, but said little, as his power of utterance had nearly failed. Once he exclaimed, " peace! peace! Victory! victory!" He looked on his wife and children, and said, almost in the words of dying Joseph to his brethren-words, which he had before spoken of as having a peculiar sweetness, and which he now wished to recal to her mind-" I am going, but God will surely be with you."

On Monday morning his dying agonies returned in all their extremity. For three hours every breath was a groan. On being asked if his sufferings were greater, than on the preceding Friday night, he answered, “ Incomparably greater." He said that the greatest temporal blessing, of which he could conceive, would be one breath of air. Mrs. Payson fearing from the expression of suffering in his countenance, that he was in mental, as well as bodily anguish, questioned him on the subject. With extreme difficulty, he was enabled to articulate the words," Faith and patience hold out." About mid-day the pain of respiration abated, and a partial stupor succeeded. Still, however, he continued intelligent, and evidently able to recognise all who were present. His eyes spoke, after his tongue became motionless. He looked on Mrs. Payson, and then his eye, glancing over the others who surrounded his bed, rested on Edward, his eldest son, with an expression which said—and which was interpreted by all present, to say, as plainly as if he had uttered the words of the beloved disciple" Behold thy mother?" There was no visible indication of the return of his sufferings. He gradually sunk away, till about the going down of the sun, when his happy spirit was set at liberty. pp. 424, 425.

Such was Payson in life and in death. In his piety he belonged to the school of Pascal and Brainard, and we may add of Christ, for he too, was a man of sorrows.

"Such was the saint who shone with every grace,

Reflecting Moses-like his Maker's face,

God saw his image lively was express'd,

And his own work as in creation bless'd."

ART. II.-REVIEW OF CHRISTIAN ESSAYS.

Christian Essays; to which is added an additional essay on the Influence of a Moral Life on our judgment in matters of Faith. By the Rev. SAMUEL CHARLES WILKES, A. M.

THE author of the Christian Essays needs no introduction to the American public. His labors as Editor of one of the first religious journals of the age, together with the miscellaneous productions of his pen, have long since given him a deserved celebrity. It is, therefore, only necessary now, to lay a work of his before the reading community, in order to secure for it an attentive perusal, and a candid judgment.