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to him. Having put my hand to the plough, I trust that I shall never look back and I depend on him who raises up, qualifies, and thrusts laborers into his vineyard, for grace to strengthen me. In looking forward. I see that years will pass before I appear in public as. an ambassador for Christ. But this does not discoarage me. I am sometimes anxious, lest, while occupied with my studies, I should lose my enjoyment of religion. Do you tell me draw nigh to the Lord, and he will draw nigh to you? O for a closer walk with God; a continual hungering and thirsting for the water of life! Since my mind has been made up to devote myself to the service of Christ in the ministry, I feel more deeply my need of an interest in the prayers of my brethren and sisters in the Lord. I hope you will not think that I am placing dependence on man. The prayer of the righteous, you know, availeth much. As then you are acquainted with my situation, I earnestly beg to be remembered in your prayers. Make mention of me in all your supplications. Entreat our heavenly Father that I may be a pattern of piety; that I may manifest the reality and excellency of the religion which I profess, by walking worthy of my high calling in Christ Jesus; and that I may never bring reproach on that cause which I have espoused.

"The Lord being near and around me, and the Holy Spirit abiding in my heart, unworthy as I am, during the part of my life devoted to preparatory studies, may I grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Savior. It is my earnest desire that I may be prepared for my work, and in due time become a faithful minister of the New Testament."

In letters to his parents, written shortly after commencing his studies, he further exhibits the state of his mind in regard to the great work before him.

"February 4, 1820.

"My present situation is that which I have for many months been wishing to occupy. The Lord, I trust, has inclined my heart to engage in this work, and by a kind providence has placed me here, that I may prepare to preach his Gospel. In looking around for my former companions, I find that some are dead, others are living without any concern for their souls, while a precious few have fled to the ark of safety, and have found the Lord Jesus. O, what occasion for thankfulness have I! My dear parents, help me to praise the God of my salvation: for once your son was 'dead in trespasses and sins,' a despiser of that which is good, and a lover of evil. Bless the Lord for the hope which we have through the 'peace-speaking blood of the dear Redeemer.'

'He moves in a mysterious way,
'His wonders to perform.'

I, who am so unworthy, am now on the way, under his direction, as I believe; and should life and health be spared, I trust the time will come when I shall publicly declare the riches of his sovereign grace to my fellow-sinners. It is delightful to think of being made the instrument of bringing even one of the lost sheep of Christ into his fold. How sweet, in a dying hour, to know that one has done some good to the souls of his fellow-men. To be engaged in the service of him who came to seek and save the lost, is honorable; for he is 'King of kings and Lord of lords.' May my soul al

ways delight in this service, and my lot be cast with the followers of Jesus. Let it be our continual desire to live near to him, who gave himself for us, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life.

(6 I greatly admire the character of a minister of the gospel, as drawn by Cowper:

'Simple, grave, sincere;

"In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain,
'And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste
'And natural in gesture; much impressed
'Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
'And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
'May feel it too: affectionate in look,
'And tender in address, as well becomes
'A messenger of grace to guilty men.'"

In a letter to Mr. H., written about a month after he began his course of study, after expressing a number of sentiments similar to those contained in the foregoing extracts, he gives a brief account of the manner in which he employed his time. This account is closed with the following sentence: "The last thing before retiring, every night, my companion and I commit to memory a portion of Scripture. What may not this amount to in eight years?",

This little quotation is introduced chiefly for the purpose of earnestly recommending such a practice to the imitation of all theological students. During the long course of preparation for the ministry, while every term brings with it some new and difficult study, with which the mind is much occupied, and often much perplexed, the Bible is too frequently treated with comparative neglect. And not unfrequently young preach

ers manifest more intimate acquaintance with critical rules, and the arguments of polemics, than with the Holy Scriptures. But nothing can compensate the preacher for the want of a thorough knowledge of the Bible. It ought to be treasured up in the memory, and made the subject of daily meditation and prayer. Now, if a young man will, when he enters his preparatory course, adopt James B. Taylor's rule, and every night, before retiring to rest, commit to memory a short portion of the Bible, selecting those parts which may make suitable subjects for meditation and devotional exercise the next day, he may, by the time he enters the ministry, have half the Bible by heart. And he may be so familiar with its contents, as to be able, when performing missionary services, to prepare sermons which shall be full of pertinent scriptural illustration and proof, without the help of a concordance. The facilities which such preparation as this would afford are invaluable. But in addition to this, if the truth is the only instrument of sanctification, what better means for growth in grace can be adopted, than this daily increase of scriptural knowledge? Let students of theology read the Bible-let them study the Bible -let them pray over the Bible.*

* Note by a friend.-Mr. Taylor's familiarity with the contents of the Bible was observable by all with whom he associated. It was an interesting trait in his habits of intercourse with friends, that, when the conversation seemed at a stand, he would take out his little pocket Bible, saying, "I guess I can find something here to amuse us;" and then would give a familiar exposition of some passage, and connect with the illustration some anecdote; at the same time repeating, and turning to parallel passages; so that no one could listen to him without being deeply interested. So peculiarly happy was he

We have now seen with what views and feelings James B. Taylor began his preparations for the ministry. Let us next see how he preserved the spirit with which he set out; and what measures he adopted to prepare for the office which he so ardently desired.

Before he had been one month at Lawrenceville, he established, and with his pious fellow-students conducted a weekly prayer-meeting, about three miles from the village. It was among a people, the most of whom seldom or never attended church. But yet, won by the kind attentions of these young men, they came together weekly, in considerable numbers, to hear hymns sung, listen to instruction, and join in prayer to the Father of all. After giving to a friend an account of this place, and of the spiritual condition of the people, Mr. Taylor adds, in a tone of peculiar earnestness, "THERE I HOPE TO BE USEFUL. "This is the true spirit of the pulpit. A man who enters it with any other view, had better be any where else in the wide world.

There is need, therefore, that the candidate for the ministry, as well as the preacher of the Gospel, should watch the movements of his heart; and every hour that he should pray, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe."

This prayer-meeting, which had been established on

in these familiar illustrations, that it was not an unfrequent thing to see those around him smile with delight, and at the next moment weep with deep emotion. There are many, who were often in his society, who will recognize the truth of this remark in their own experience. He would often speak of his Bible, as "the dear little book." I was present at his examination, and never heard any man quote the Sacred Scriptures with such fluency, for confirmation of his doctrinal views, as the questions were successively proposed to him.