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and sacrifice our truest happiness, than by refusing to comply strictly with his requisitions. Even for the term of our seemingly unfettered and irresponsible agency, improvident negligence or churlish self-will can change the richest mercies of God to the heaviest calamities. Much more in that day when we shall be required to give an account of our stewardship. From that day of final reckoning there can be no escape. Every one of us must give account of himself to God. We must account for our improvement of the time allotted to us, for our investments of property, for our exercise of influence, for the use we have made, at all times, of all our bodily and mental powers. Our whole life will be subjected to a rigid scrutiny, and the nature and full extent of our unfaithfulness, in any respect, will be exposed. what a day of reckoning will it be! What shame and everlasting contempt must fall on those who shall then be found to have betrayed their trust! How changed the views of multitudes, who now live supremely devoted to themselves, who make what disposal they list of their time, their talents, or their wealth, as if accountable neither to God nor man; who flatter themselves that they answer the object of their existence, if they meet the ordinary claims of society, and do no manifest wrong; and are ready to think they do a generous deed, wherein they benefit the cause of God, and are entitled to peculiar privilege and honor, if ever for its sake they incur some petty loss or suffering. It will not be so in the day of account. They will then learn, that they had wholly mistaken their relation to God, and the tenure by which they held their lives and possessions. They will learn, that they had never been owners, but stewards of his bounty; that he had constantly retained his right of property therein; that he had uniformly exercised a strict supervision over it, and over them in its administration; that he had always held them responsible for their fidelity to his interests, and their obedience to his directions; and that it can be deemed no excuse nor extenuation of their unfaithfulness, that, hurried away by inordinate passions, or stupified with worldliness and sensuality, they had forgotten their Maker, his rights, his interests, and his laws.

For the Am. Bap. Magazine.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. OTIS ROBINSON, OF SALISBURY, N. H.

A very important and interesting part of the records of the church, is possessed in the history of her ministry. Every incident in the lives of such men cannot fail to awaken the interest of the friends of Zion. This is especially true of the ministers of our denomination who have borne the burden of planting our churches and been instruments in the hand of God of their enlargement and prosperity. They were men of God, and most of them have gone to receive the reward of faithful servants. But we would cherish their memory, and imitate their holy zeal for

the Lord of hosts. From such considerations, the author of the following sketch has been induced to collect and embody all that could be particularly interesting in the life of our departed father in the ministry.

Rev. Otis Robinson was born in Attleborough, Mass. June 7, 1764. At a very early age his mind was impressed on the subject of religion, at which time he thus describes his feelings: "I could not doubt but what Christians possessed something that I was a stranger to; and I often thought that at some future time I would make it a subject of my greatest attention; but I put it off for a more convenient season."

At the age of ten years, his mind was called to the subject in a very special manner; and although he did not give his heart to God at that time, yet he began to maintain secret prayer, and continued in the practice for a number of years.

At the age of fourteen he entered the continental army, and served his country four years in its struggle for independence. He speaks of his condition at this time, as being very unfavorable to religious impressions, "yet," says he, "I was kept by an invis

ible hand."

At the age of twenty-four, he married Miss Hannah Reed, of Attleborough, by whom he had eight children, four of whom with the bereaved widow still survive. Soon after his marriage, he moved into the State of Maine: in this new settlement he was almost entirely separated from religious privileges, but his mind was still exercised on the subject of religion.

About this time we find the following account of his feelings by his own hand. After a residence in Winthrop of about two years, he says, "I moved to Livermore, where there were no religious meetings, or even the form of religion in any family. These circumstances brought me into peculiar trials respecting my former resolutions on family prayer, until at length, I could not keep peace with my conscience any longer. I therefore took up the duty, and attended to it morning and evening, which was a great relief to my mind; and as I continued to perform my religious duties, I increased in comfort and satisfaction, and verily believed that I was making great progress toward happiness and heaven. About this time, I was principally instrumental in establishing religious meetings in our neighborhood on the Sabbath, which at first were conducted by singing and reading a sermon. Afterward, when it was proposed to me to engage in prayer at these meetings, having no real objection I consented, and this performance added much to my robe of self righteousness."

Soon after this, his mind was led to embrace several systems of man, until he was prepared to shake off all serious thoughts, and engross his mind entirely in the things of this world, in which state of mind he continued for many years.

But while he was thus fixed in his mind that he would put far away the evil day, it pleased the Lord to give him a true sense of his condition, and bring him to the knowledge of the truth.

limits will only allow us to make a short extract from his own narrative, relating to this time.

"In the month of March, 1793, one of my neighbors being absent, heard a Baptist minister by the name of Eliphalet Smith, and invited him to come into our neighborhood and spend a Sabbath. I was requested to open my house for the meeting: I consented to the proposal with reluctance, for I did not wish to have my mind disturbed on the subject of religion. A few days previous to the day of Mr. Smith's appointment, I went from home on some business, and being detained, did not reach home until late on Sabbath evening. I was much fatigued, and exceedingly unhappy in my mind. I was very anxious to know about the meeting, but felt unwilling to make inquiry. I ventured, however, to ask what was the minister's subject, and was told that his text was, Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?' These words were like a thunder-bolt to my heart. The first thought that I can recollect is, that God had sent one of his servants to warn that people, and had so ordered it that I should not be at home to receive it. It seemed to me that I had so often disregarded God's warning voice, that he had given me over to a reprobate mind, and that eternal misery must be my portion." After passing an almost sleepless night, he arose in the morning with "a heavy load of sin and guilt," upon him, and went in search of the minister, and spent the evening following in his company, but this interview only seemed to impress his soul still more deeply with a sense of his guilt and utter ruin.

After remaining for a number of weeks pressed down under a sense of sin, his soul was set at liberty, and he was permitted to rejoice in the love of Christ. He thus describes his feelings at the time:-"I was perfectly happy. Such were my feelings that I had no inclination to retire to rest. A view of the glorious bleeding Saviour on the cross, was presented to my mind, as groaning and dying for such a guilty sinful wretch as I had been. O the streams of love that flowed into my soul, no mortal tongue can describe: my cup was full, my joy was great, my peace like a river."

On the 27th of April of the same year, he was baptized by Mr. Smith, and united with others in forming the first Baptist church in Livermore.

Soon after his connection with the church, his mind was directed to the great work of preaching the Gospel. His feelings are thus described by himself." In June 1794, as I was riding alone, these words came to my mind, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.' I was led to ponder on these words, with peculiar attention, for some time. I had not the least idea that they applied to me, yet I felt something unusual flow into my mind in meditating on them. I discerned something in the subject that I never saw before. It opened an extensive field of meditation,— the glorious theme of the Gospel - the excellences of the author, -the greatness of the work, and the happy consequences-all fur

nished a most delightful theme of meditation. Thus his mind was led on, from step to step, sometimes examining the obstacles thrown in his way-sometimes feeling a holy desire to publish a Saviour's love to lost sinners, until the church approbated him to preach.

In 1797, he visited the town of Sanford, and, on invitation, preached a few Sabbaths to the church. From this people he soon received a call to settle, and moved his family the spring following. He was ordained over that people, June 7, 1798, being the day on which he was 34 years of age. Rev. William Batchelder preached on the occasion.

Soon after the I.ord revived his work, and many were brought to the knowledge of the truth. While laboring with the people in Sanford, he preached much in the destitute regions in the vicinity. In these itinerant labors he was made the instrument of great good, and at the same time the Lord blessed him among the people of his immediate charge. During his ministry with this people, he baptized and added to the church, about one hundred and sixty-five, beside what he baptized in other places.

He continued his labors in Sanford until the fall of 1809, when, in the providence of God, his attention was directed to Salisbury, N.H. He found the state of things in this place very unpromising, but there were some beloved disciples, and in the spring of 1810 a church was collected, and he was settled as pastor. From this time, the Lord, in special mercy to his people, revived his work through the instrumentality of his servant, and many were gathered to the fold of Christ. With this people he labored 16 years, and saw the little band become a large and respectable church, including a hundred and thirty members.

He was now becoming advanced in life, and hoped, no doubt, that in this quiet retreat he should be permitted to close his earthly career, amid a happy and prosperous people. But trials and afflictions still awaited him.

In 1826, after enjoying a pleasant revival of religion, a difficulty arose which finally resulted in his requesting a dismission from his pastoral charge. He still retained his standing in the church, and was "cordially recommended by them to all the churches as a beloved brother, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ." He continued to reside in the town, and preach occasionally in destitute places in the vicinity.

In December last he caught a violent cold, which gradually wasted away his mortal life. But he could say, "I am ready to be offered." He felt that the time of his departure had come, and that his work was done on earth. He appeared to be perfectly composed in view of eternity, and often expressed a great desire to depart to his everlasting home, and behold the glories of his Saviour. During his sickness, he set his house in order with the utmost composure, and then awaited the joyful hour of departure. He died without a groan, March 1st, 1835, in the seventy-first year of his age, and the thirty-seventh of his ministry.

Mr. Robinson was highly respected in the denomination. He

waɛ moderator of the Salisbury Association from the time of its organization till his resignation of the pastoral office, and was frequently called upon to preside in councils and other deliberative assemblies. He possessed strong powers of mind, and although he was called into the field at a time when few advantages were afforded our ministers to acquire an education, yet his native energies were developed, in the capacity and zeal with which he performed the duties of his calling.

In doctrine, Mr. Robinson's views harmonized with those of Dr. Gill. On the doctrines of grace he manifested great tenacity from the day of his espousals. When under trials in regard to preaching, he gives the following views of the Gospel: "I was highly tavored with satisfactory views of the doctrine of sovereign grave, particular and personal election, free justification by the righteousness of Christ, and effectual calling by the irresistible grace of God; so that I had no scruple respecting the certainty of the final and eternal salvation of all those who are given by God the Father to his Son Jesus Christ in the covenant of redemption, which I now viewed to be some of the constituent parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and have ever since thought to be the very life and marrow of the gospel, and ought to be held up to public view,-which is no small part of the minister's duty, and which I felt bound to do if I attempted to preach, although I knew the hearts of men would rise up and oppose it." These doctrines he held as fundamental, in all his public labors and private inter

course.

He strongly developed an unusual degree of decision of mind. When any question was presented, his mind was soon fixed, and then it rested with great firmness. He never remained for any length of tine in a state of uncertainty or indecision. In short, though he had his imperfections yet he was a good man." The Lord called him into the vineyard in a time of great importance to the cause of truth, and he greatly blessed him in his labors to the conversion of souls and the sanctification of his church. He has followed others of our fathers to the "home of redeemed spirits," to receive the everlasting reward.

PROFESSOR CHACE'S ADDRESS.

[On the occasion of instructing missionaries of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, Sept. 20, as stated in our number for October, after the instructions of the Board had been read by the Corresponding Secretary, the Right Hand of Fellowship in behalf of the Board was presented to their missionaries, to Mr. Sutton and his associates, and to Mr. Malcom, Agent of the Board, by Prof. Chace, of Newton Theological Institution, accompanied with the following Address.-Ed.]

The unity of the spirit in the bond of peace!—This is the unity which Christ has ordained for his churches. When they cherish this, they can move onward, with heavenly energy, in the work

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