of his followers, who are addressed as the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, who, by showing forth their good works, are to save men, and thus to glorify their Father who is in heaven.

It is no less conceded, that the greatest hinderance to the progress of the gospel, is the inconsistent lives of the professed followers of Christ. There is so little difference, in spirit and conduct, between professed Christians and worldly men, so many occasions to say, "What do ye more than others?" that there is a constant tendency to skepticism induced by the very class of men appointed to convince mankind of the reality and excellence of Christianity. The grand desideratum is, some influences which shall elevate the standard of Christian character. In the present case, we have the experience of a man, who was placed in no peculiarly favorable circumstances for the development and exhibition of Christian character, but who, on the contrary, probably had to contend with much greater embarrassments than the majority of persons are called to meet. He experienced the difficulties which result from uncommonly strong and quick passions, the temptations incident to a disease, which peculiarly induces nervous irritability, and the embarrassments arising from the habits of years, induced by such influences, unchecked by religious principle. It is true that, as a minister, and in the alliances of the family, he had some peculiar advantages. But then,

a minister's position, if he be at all popular, is attended with as peculiar temptations. He is exceedingly exposed to the baleful influence of flattery and admiration. Looked up to, by most around him, as a guide, both in opinion and practice, and accustomed to little collision, or contradiction from equals in position, he is exposed to strong influences tending to engender pride, selfconfidence, and an overbearing spirit. In this case were added the temptations of outward prosperity. With the exceptions of the trials incident to disease, his life was prosperous, and his naturally cheerful and sanguine temperament found enjoyment, without alloying evil, more than is common; while to these were added, the temptations, that few ministers experience, from possessing pecuniary means which made him independent of his people.

It was in such circumstances, and with these embarrassments to oppose, that his nearest personal friends witnessed, in the few last years of his life, such a transformation of character, that he became exemplary in the very respects where he had been most deficient. This change was so marked, that, to his nearest and most thoughtful Christian friends, it became a matter of interesting inquiry, as to the peculiar views and influences that seemed so powerful. In the discussions respecting Christian perfection, as taught at the

Oberlin Institution, Ohio, the course he took, led many to charge him with holding the peculiar views inculcated there, and in reference to this, his personal friends have repeatedly remarked that if he held them, and such were their effects, that they were of God, and must prevail.

The articles from his pen on this subject, which follow, show that he did not regard himself as holding any views in this respect that differed from those held by Evangelical Christians generally. It is certain that his opinions were taken from the Bible alone, so that he neither received them of man, nor was taught them by man.

The following, it is believed, will exhibit the peculiar influences which secured the results in his Christian experience, that are worthy of consideration.

In the first place may be mentioned, such practical views of Jesus Christ, as an ever-present, sympathizing friend, and such habits of communion with him, as are presented both in the foregoing extracts and in the articles which follow.

It is believed, that the Christian world, to a wide extent, are suffering weakness, from the want of such influences. In many cases, Christians address their worship solely to the Father, and Jesus Christ is never the object of communion or contemplation, till at the close of their devotions, their petitions are urged in the name of Christ, and

sought for his sake. Now, that this last mode of worship is proper, and that it has repeated Scriptural sanctions, there can be no doubt.

But, on the other hand, the Apostles and early Christians gave a prominency to Jesus Christ distinctively from the Trinity, which has too much passed from the church. The Apostle John says of Jesus Christ, "This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." This, and several other passages show, that the Apostles were in the habit of directing their worship directly to Jesus Christ, and in obedience also to his directions. For in his last instructions, after telling them that he was the way, the truth, and the life, that no man could come to the Father but by him, that the Father was in him, so that whoever had seen him had seen the Father, he says, "whatsoever ye ask in my name, I will do it ;" "if ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it;" he clearly intimates the fact, that praying to him is praying to the Father, who dwells in him; and that when this is done, he, by his own power and authority, will fulfil these requests. And history records, that the early Christians were in the habit of meeting to pray and sing praises to Christ as God, while the most ancient specimen of human composition

in the form of prayer, which has descended from the Apostolic age, the Litany, consists of petitions, all of which, with but four or five exceptions, are directed, distinctively, to Jesus Christ, and not to the Father.

In this present instance, it will be noticed, that it was communion with Jesus Christ distinctively, a strong personal affection to him, an abiding sense of his presence, a realizing apprehension of his peculiar character as a sympathizing friend, who has been in all points tempted as we have, which were regarded by him as the grand source of strength, encouragement, and success. Many hold this truth in theory; with him, it was a practical truth, realized and adopted.

The second thing to be noticed, as among the chief influences that secured the results contemplated, is the view he cherished of the object which Christ came to secure, and of the mode by which it is to be attained. The experience of many Christians would lead one to suppose, that the grand aim of Christ's mission was to secure love to God as the chief and almost the sole thing, which distinctively constitutes piety. With this idea, their chief attention is directed to the state of their will and affections towards God, and if these, in a good degree, are such as they desire, they are satisfied. They consider that this is the root, and if it is but planted, the fruit will come by a natural