stone erected to the memory of Henry Obookiah. Many pleasing and many painful ideas are associated with that place. It was there David Brown and I said farewell, and parted.

"It will be glad tidings to you to hear that my brother F. is expecting to study for the ministry. I have some hope that he will be with me soon. Is not this the Lord's doing? May it prove to be so !"

The following is from a letter to the Rev. Mr. H-, an aged clergyman, with whom he was in habits of friendly intercourse, and in whose family he was intimately acquainted:

"Is it well with your youngest daughter; I mean, is she now rejoicing in that 'hope which maketh not ashamed, because of the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart, through the Holy Spirit given unto her?' Such seemed to be her case when I had the pleasure of seeing her. And if it be really so, you are ready, no doubt, to bless the great Redeemer for his grace in thus visiting your house in the decline of life. May she grow daily in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! She has been the child of many prayers: may she love to pray, not only for herself, but also for others-may I not add, for me too, that the Lord would make me holy in heart and in life, to the praise of the glory of his grace!

"But when I was with you, your eldest daughter could not see that she had passed the line which separates Christians from the world. May I not hope that ere this she has submitted herself to Christ? It so, how blessed the change a change which has not

only imparted peace to her own soul, and gladness to her parents and christian friends, but joy to the angels in heaven. She has bad to record one of the hap piest events in the annals of her pilgrimage—it is an era in her existence, on which she will reflect with peculiar pleasure and gratitude, not only in time, but through eternity. O that I could know that it is thus well with her. But if, indeed, she has made no progress; if she has not yet 'apprehended Christ Jesus' as her Savior, and found him the 'chief among ten thousand,' I would ask her, why is it so? 'Is there no balm in Gilead ;' 'is there no physician there?' Has not the Father called you? does not Jesus invite you by his life of toil, by his agony in the garden and on the cross, by his death and burial, by his resurrection and glorious ascension? And now, being exalted as a prince and a Savior, is not his kind and winning language addressed to you, 'Come unto me?' All heaven appears to be engaged to secure the salvation of returning sinners. You have been alarmed by feeling that you were in the city of destruction; O stay not in all the plain, lest thou be consumed, but fly to the refuge provided for sinners by the sinner's Friend. Your best interests call for it-the prayers, anxieties, and tears of your parents call for it. As you love your soul; as you value your everlasting all; as you ever hope to meet God in peace, and dwell for ever in heaven, do it. O! do it !-May the Lord have you all it his holy keeping !"

To his Parents.

"L

December, 1821.

Beloved Parents,

"When I call to mind that you have not heard from me since I left New-York, I feel that I have not manifested that love for you that I ought. But you will excuse me, while I assure you that I find my affection for you increasing instead of diminishing. You know, my dear father and mother, that nearly two years have elapsed since I arrived at this place to begin my studies. How rapid has been their progress! I feel disposed to rejoice rather than to mourn that the time has sped its flight. I look upon them as two years of preparation for that office which I anticipate with pleasure. And the faster our years fly, the better, if God be our Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our Sanctifier; for the sooner shall we be wafted over life's tempestuous sea, and the sooner shall we reach the wished for haven. Glory to our heavenly Benefactor, for devising the plan of salvation! Glory to our Redeemer, who accomplished the mighty work! And glory to the Holy Spirit, who applies it to our hearts and consciences! Everlasting thanks to our God, if we have been made partakers of the grace of life; if we are his sons and daughters! Surely it has been a work of his own on our hearts, and we ought to praise him. He is worthy of our highest homage and best services. Then let us spend the remaining days of our pilgrimage to his honor; that so, when we are done with earthly things, an abundant entrance may be administered unto us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"What distinguishing mercy has been displayed to our family! But to me in particular-to me in particular; and you may well wonder at and admire that divine grace which 'sweetly forced me in.' Once I was a child of many anxieties, and the occasion of many sorrows. I feel that in my childhood I often caused you to suffer much pain on my account. But all was parental tenderness and affection on your part. O forgive me the follies of my youthful days, my obstinacy, self-will, disobedience, and rebellion. I know that you have forgiven me; but I cannot forgive myself. No! my ingratitude to you, the kindest and best of parents, is a reproach to me. May God forgive me—yea, I trust he has forgiven me, wherein I have been guilty in breaking this his command, 'Honor thy father and thy mother.'

"Once my home was under your roof-once I sat at your table-once I enjoyed the society of your family circle-and once I could call to you by the endearing appellation of father and mother. But now I am far away. My home, my table, my society, are among strangers. They, however, are my friends, this I am persuaded is of the Lord's kindness. And as he has been good to me in times past, I can trust him in time to come.

"Did not the Lord, when he gave me to you, say, Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will give thee thy wages.' For all your goodness to me, may heaven's best blessings rest upon you. And may I be an honor to my father, and to the mother who bore me!-may I glorify my heavenly Father, and be made a blessing to society! O may I not live a cipher

in this world, but be made extensively useful. For this, let me ask your continual, earnest, united prayers."

The above extracts from Mr. Taylor's letters show, it is thought, very distinctly an increase in his piety and in his religious enjoyments. He appears to be gradually raising higher his standard of ministerial holiness and usefulness, and making progress in real, decided, heart-felt religion.

CHAPTER III.

Completion of his course in the Academy.

On the 1st of January, 1822, we find, in a letter to a valued and confidential Christian friend, a brief statement of his religious views at that period.

"The last time I wrote, you recollect the state of my mind. Since then, the Lord has been better than my expectations. I have had some precious seasons. I have known what it is to hold communion with my heavenly Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, through the Eternal Spirit. My closet duties have afforded my highest enjoyments; not always, indeed, equally great, but generally delightful.

"During this year may I, and may you, be more than ever engaged in the Lord's service. I am desirous to spend and be spent for him-to live the life of