CHAPTER V.

Second Year in College.

Mr. Taylor's fond affection for his parents and friends cannot for a moment be called in question; and yet, though he had not enjoyed their society for five or six months, and was on his way to spend the college vacation at home, when he arrived in NewYork, "and found," to use his own words, "things interesting under the labors of brother L, in the Rev. Mr. Patton's church, the pastor being absent and laborers needed, I, upon solicitation, joined brother L- for a season. At the resurrection of the just it will be known how many have been gathered in. On one evening thirteen expressed hope. The Lord bless the lambs of the flock."

At the commencement of the college session we find the following entry in his journal:

"Last night the Lord gave me I cannot express It-such an exercise as I never had before: a view of the demerit of sin that sunk me lower than the lowest. And yet my soul exulted in God.

"Thus have I begun. May I find my winter loca tion better than ever before-my health and my all are at God's disposal.

"Nov. 14.-Upon a review of the past week, I find it fraught with loving kindness from the Lord. 'Last evening had a delightful season in remembering the lambs of the flock in Mr. P.'s church, with whom I

used to meet on Saturday evenings. I love them for the love they bear to Jesus, the Lamb of God.

"At evening devotion had a singular exercise. While singing, my soul thirsted for a blessing. The/ thought suddenly entered my mind: 'If you neglect your tea you may obtain the blessing which you seek.' I inquired whence is this? Is it from God, or from the devil? But I concluded that the Lord's blessing came not by a purchase of mine, and therefore that he could as well bless me then as afterwards; and I determined to throw myself at his feet and seek his favor, and thus defeat the adversary who was ready to cheat me out of the blessing. My Father smiled upon me-the work of grace was deepened—and my soul fed on manna from above."

To pious students Mr. Taylor has left an illustrious example which should for ever banish the idea that the sad decline in the life and fervor of piety so often manifested in their college course, is necessary, or that it is impossible in such circumstances to live a devoted life, and make progress in religion. To a pious family, to whom he frequently poured out all his heart after giving a delightful narrative of what the Lord was doing for his soul from day to day, he wrote:

"Do not you rejoice that God has kept me hitherto? With your rejoicing connect a doubling of your prayers that I may so live as to testify that the world is mistaken in the opinion, that God cannot be enjoyed in a course of study. If I do not grow in grace now, when shall I ?"

It is both delightful and instructive to observe that, while he was striving continually to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, and so to let his light shine, that others, seeing his good works, might glorify his heavenly Father, he seemed almost as much engaged that others should walk worthy of God unto all pleasing. To a beloved friend he wrote, Nov. 30, 1824,

"Has your soul been in health and prospered? I could wish to be near you and hear the reply.

"Did you ever question whether I have been truly converted? Perhaps you may have seen many things in me which might lead to such a conclusion; but if not to this, to another, viz. that I could not love God much, or that I showed to the world an ungodly walk and conversation. Well, I am ready to acknowledge my errors; will you point them out to me? I will take it as the highest mark of your affection for me and love to the cause of Christ, if you will tell me plainly all that you may have seen amiss in me. And would you not wish your friends to do the same to you? But rather than offend you, I would get down at your feet and say what I purpose to write.

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My dear friend, for whom I have prayed, and groaned, and wept; as before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, I must warn you. Do you say of what? Pause and think. Do you find nothing out of the way? What meaneth that lightness in your walk and conversation? Does it fit you for prayer in secret? Does it adorn the Christian? Does it tell the world that you love religion-that your thoughts are much on God and heaven? Does it show that the soul is walking with God-that you maintain close and intimate

communion with God? This may be the last time I may be permitted to write to you. My hand may be in the grave: and I may now be too late-my friend may have died. If alive, bear with my faithfulness; for it is in love, as I expect to meet you at the bar of Jesus Christ. What meaneth these things? O, I urge you, I pray you—in Christ's stead, I beseech you to judge. But what saith the Scriptures? 'Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.' Is it not iniquity to disobey God? And it is by keeping his commandments we know that we are born of God and love him. The Savior says, 'If ye love me keep my coinmandments.' 'As he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Wo unto you that laugh now, for ye shall weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning. Let not jesting nor foolish talking be once named among you. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice.' Thus, my dear friend, you see the will of the Lord concerning us. May I, and may you be freed from every unhallowed thought, word, and action, and put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, but, above all things, put on charity-that the peace of God may rule in our hearts.

"My friend, if you are not satisfied with your hope, rest not till God shall speak your sins forgiven, and you shall know that you are the Lord's. Come, let us set out afresh, examine ourselves, and rectify all that is wrong. To do this, we must find out the wrong,

bring it before God, confess it, mourn over it, plead for Christ's sake, for pardon, and wait for salvation. Do you pray for me; I will pray for you; and let us strive to enter in, at the strait gate."

The reader has observed how pleasantly and instructively the genuineness of Mr. Taylor's christian character, and the elevation and enlargement of his christian love have been exhibited in the fact, that his soul paused not at all at those barriers which sectarianism has raised between the different denominations of Christ's disciples. Christ was the object of his affections; and wherever he saw the spirit and image of his blessed Master, thither his heart flowed out. In the saints, the excellent of the earth, was his delight; accordingly, we find much of his correspondence, in which glowed the purest flame of Christian love, was with those who bore names different from his own The following letter is of this description, and shows at the same time the regard he had to the word of God, as his infallible guide and instructor:

"Brethren beloved,

"Nassau Hall, Dec. 5, 1824.

"Does not the same affection actuate us toward one another, that filled the soul of the apostle towards his brethren at Rome, when he said, 'I would have you wise towards that which is good, and simple concerning evil? How like this is our Savior's precept, 'Be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.'

"While reading the other day the former passage in connection with the context, I thought of my brethren. 'Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which