Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Friday evening, was changed to Sabbath afternoon; and was regularly attended by Mr. Taylor. The religious exercises thus held, soon produced a desire for further information; and a Bible class was formed, which he was requested to superintend. A short time afterwards, the young ladies of Lawrenceville voluntarily associated in a similar class, to meet before church time on Sabbath morning, and desired him to hear their recitations. To each of these requests he assented. And thus his Sabbaths were fully occupied in labors to do and to obtain good. At 10 o'clock he met the Bible class in Lawrenceville; at 11 he went to church; and after dinner walked three miles to hear his Bible class in the country, after which he attended the prayer-meeting, where he read a sermon, frequently addressed the people, sung thrice, offered two prayers, and sometimes held conversations on the subject of religion. This showed great earnestness of desire to be doing something for the cause of Christ and the good of men. His letters give some interesting accounts of the effects of this prayer-meeting. To one of his sisters he writes thus:

"Lawrenceville, June 19, 1820.

"To do good and communicate forget not,' is a maxim which we should keep in continual remembrance. The more we conform our lives to it, the greater will be our resemblance to our blessed Savior, as he lived among men. To do good, we must seek opportunities; and then opportunities will frequently find us. Since reading Cotton Mather's 'Essays to do Good,' I feel that I have been exceedingly defi cient. In looking back to the time when I first made

a public profession of religion-(you know that thongh distant from each other, and unapprised of our respective intentions, we both made the same solemn profession on the same day)-on looking back, I am constrained to say, O what a barren fig-tree I have been ! my leanness! my leanness! But blessed be the Lord, I have a desire to do good now.

"No doubt you wish to hear something of my prayermeeting. On Sabbath afternoon, at four, I meet about one hundred people, assembled in two rooms, most of whom are ignorant of God. I stand in the door between, and generally read to them a sermon; after which I sometimes speak a few words of exhortation. As yet I have seen no effect, except that they have become more attentive; and instead of profaning the Sabbath by laboring in the fields, &c. they are seen at the meeting. I trust that good seed is sowing, and that it will spring up in due time. Pray that it may ; and engage your Christian sisters to pray for me. The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Then for his distinguishing mercy, let us distinguish ourselves by our piety, our love to God and men."

To CH

"Lawrenceville, July 12, 1820. "That millions of souls are perishing, is a trutk that ought to have a place in all our thoughts. And we may profitably inquire, what can we do to meliorate their condition? This ruin is not confined to heathen lands-it is at our doors and our fire-sides. Numbers near us are dying for want of the bread of life. To these last, situated as we are, our attention is now

called. What Providence may do for the former, in the course of time, by our instrumentality, we know not. The Head of the church, who qualifies his servants to do his work, disposes of them as 'seemeth him good.' But what are we doing for those that are near to us? My brother, I presume that you are faith ful-I hope you are. For my part, I have to confess with shame my many omissions. My failings stare me in the face. A beam is in my own eye.'

"But now I will inform you what I have been endeavoring to do. The opportunity was afforded to me of attempting something, by a recess of three days in our school. On Sunday, the 2d instant, I went as usual to attend my prayer-meeting, and found the house filled to overflowing. At the close of the meeting, according to my previous plan, I told the people that I intended to spend two days in visiting, from house to house, as many of them as I could. Accordingly I commenced on Sunday evening my new employment. At the first house where I called, I found a young person greatly distressed on account of sin. This case of awakening had occurred at our prayermeeting. There was very great distress. I endeavored to offer such instruction as suited the case; and I have strong hope that there will soon be joy and peace in believing. I say no more of this case, but only ask you to pray.-At the next house where I stopped, I found no appearance of religion. You can form a pretty good idea of what I said in such cases.

"On Monday I made ten visits. In these I found four Christians and some persons well disposed towards religion, but the great majority caring only for the perishing things of this world. At the house where

I tarried that night, I found a young lady, in circumstances similar to those of the person first mentioned, bowed down under a sense of sin, and earnestly desiring the one thing needful. This greatly encouraged me; for I do believe that she is seeking the way of

6

truth, the good old way.' Here also I met with one who appeared to be a Christian indeed. O how pleasant! It is like a well of water in a thirsty land.

"On Tuesday I called at ten houses. At most of them I presented one or more Tracts, such as I thought most likely to be useful. This was the fourth of July. In the evening I had many reflections on the manner in which I had spent the day, so totally different from that in which I had heretofore spent that anniversary. O how much greater cause of triumph, to be instrumental in delivering one soul from the power of sin and Satan, than to be the conqueror of nations! The contrast will be fully seen only above.

[ocr errors]

"On the following day I attended the installment of the Rev. G. S. Wat Princeton, and a solemn time it was. O C, the awful responsibilities of the office to which we are looking forward! It is connected directly with the solemnities of the judgment-day. Should the Lord see fit to put us into that station, the souls of those to whom we preach will be profited or injured by us. But the duties of the pulpit are not all-that of visiting, we know, is expected. When I anticipate the time of my being a preacher, my mind dwells on this as a delightful task.

By visiting, the pastor knows all the wants of his flock, and performs indeed the kindest part of the shepherd's office. Since I wrote to you last, the young ladies of Lawrenceville bave formed a Bible class

and solicited me to hear their recitations. I was glad to comply with their request. To render this measure beneficial, I have determined to make it a kind of prayer-meeting. The recitation is always opened with prayer, and closed with singing. Thus, you see, my duties increase; and I hope that it will be so as long as I live. May I have that wisdom from above which is profitable to direct; may the word of truth dwell in me richly in all wisdom! This increase of duties convinces me that the grace afforded for yesterday will not supply my wants to-day. I trust that I have not been called to this place for nothing. That I may be useful, is my desire. If my heart does not deceive me, I long to spend and be spent for Christ."

These extracts will serve to show how this devoted young Christian endeavored, while pursuing his studies, to strengthen the desire of being useful. In the sequel we shall see more of his labors, and of their results both in regard to himself and to others.

While thus engaged in Lawrenceville, he felt the deepest solicitude respecting the spiritual interests of his near relations. He had natural affection in unusual strength, and it mingled in all its power with his religious feelings. Every letter to his parents, brothers and sisters, breathes the most earnest desires that those who were Christians might advance in holiness, and that the others might feel all the power of divine truth, and be brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

To his Parents.

"The other evening, as I was reflecting on the passage of Scripture contained in 2 Cor. 5: 10, 'For we J. B. Taylor.

4

« AnteriorContinuar »