space of three

years

I ceased not to warn every man,

day and night, with tears."

The following extracts from his correspondence will illustrate this part of his life, and will show him to have been an indefatigable preacher of the word after he had completed the term of "threescore years and ten."

LETTER I.

TO DEACON ATKINS

Granville, October 19th, 1822.

DEAR SIR,

*

I was surprised to hear of the death of your nephew E. B.-I hope he had forsaken the sin that had too easily beset him. You also tell of the death of S. B.-Mr. Eddy, a preacher, visited me a few days since, who confirmed the melancholy tidings.-Oh, why are we kept alive while so many younger are called away! May we be ready! You tell of good news from Blandford, Westfield, &c.-may we rejoice! Nothing special of a religious nature in these parts.-Deaths are frequent. I am just applied to to preach a funeral sermon to-morrow, at 4 o'clock, at Hebron, four miles distant. I have a large congregation that attend my ministry; I wish I was able to entertain them better; but God has deposited the treasure in poor earthen vessels, that the power may appear to be of him.

I thought of visiting Granville again before now, but I never was more taken up in ministerial services. Make my regards acceptable to Rev. Mr. Baker and family. I am glad to hear that he is engaged in the cause. I hoped to hear good news from G. after the visit from the Hartford brethren. The bearer to the office I expect every moment. I must close. LEMUEL HAYNES. Remember us at the footstool of mercy.

DEAR SIR,

*

LETTER II.

TO THE SAME.

Granville, N. York, Oct. 21st, 1823.

I intended to have visited you this fall, but by the multiplicity of business. I am prevented. Should the Lord keep me alive, I hope again to visit GBut I ought to say, "The will of the Lord be done."

We have a time of refreshing among us. Many seem to be inquiring, "What shall we do to be saved?" God has visited my family in a remarkable manner. We hope the greater part of them have become new creatures in Christ Jesus. May we give God all the glory.

We have a circular meeting appointed among us this week. A number of ministers are expected. I hope the Lord will bless their endeavours. My days are certainly nearly finished. I lament my unfaithfulness. I am enabled, commonly, to preach three times on the Sabbath-besides, we have conferences five times a

week.

Remember us at the throne of grace. The bearer Faithfully yours.

waits.

LETTER III.

TO THE SAME.

Granville, 15th July, 1824.

DEAR AND AFFECTIONATE FRIEND,

If you are still in the land of the living, I think I can tell you what at times passes through your mind. It is this: Why has my old friend Mr. Haynes ceased to write to me? Is he dead? Or has he forgotten me? This may inform that neither of these is the case. I feel in a degree to blame. The apologies that I might make, perhaps, would not excuse me. Should my life and yours be spared, I hope to do better. We are all, through the goodness of God, in the land of the living.

you

My health is good, considering my age. Have strength to preach twice or three times on the Sabbath. "Tis of the Lord's mercy I am not consumed. There seem to be some refreshings of a spiritual nature among us. At Pawlet, the town adjoining, the work is considerable. Bible societies flourish among us. I attended a meeting of the society of this county last week. It was very interesting. All party spirit was excluded. Baptists, Presbyterians, Seceders, &c., were united. All was harmonious.

THE LORD BE WITH US IN LIFE, COMFORT US IN DEATH, AND MAY WE MEET IN THE HEAVENLY WORLD, AND CELEBRATE THE PRAISES OF GOD AMONG THE BLESSED, Sincerely yours,

LEMUEL HAYNES.

Here closes the correspondence which he had maintained with Deacon Elihu Atkins, of Granville, for more than thirty years. There had been a cherished intimacy between them from early life. Mr. Haynes had been of special, if not of saving benefit to him, by his convincing instructions, so that he might perhaps have addressed the deacon in the language of "Paul the aged" to Philemon-"I do not say to thee how that thou owest thine own self unto me.' If he had known by the gift of prophecy that the preceding letter was to be the last in the series scattered through one third of a century, what could have been more appropriate than the closing sentence?

ELECTA,

LETTER IV.

LETTER TO HIS DAUGHTER.

Yours has come to hand. We are glad to hear from you, Wish you could have visited us before your school closes; but you think you cannot. Hope your

headache is better. I will (God directing) endeavour to attend a meeting with you the day your school ends. You may give notice accordingly; if any thing is like to prevent, I will try to send you word. I am glad that you strive against sin. I wish we may all do this more and more. Lois has been worse. We feared she was near her end a few days since; is now better. I propose to preach this afternoon from Job xiv., 10: "But man dieth," &c.

Watch and pray.

*

It is worthy of special notice, that wherever Mr. Haynes laboured for a considerable time, the reviving and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, to a greater or less extent, seemed to accompany and bless his ministrations. While connected with the church in Granville, New-York, though experiencing the gradual but perceptible decline of activity and strength, and the infirmities of age were thickening upon him, yet were "his last days" in some respects his "best days." From year to year he occasionally met with the anxious inquirer after salvation. In the year 1831, distinguished through the country for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Mr. Haynes enjoyed the privilege of a very precious spiritual harvest. During this season of God's visitation, his labours were abundant. He was prompt at the evening lecture, and at the sunrise prayer-meeting. Now, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, you might have seen him faithfully attending the prayermeeting with his Christian friends, and making it a point to be present as early as the rising of the sun. This was a season of great joy to his own soul, and he was rapidly ripening, by progressive sanctification, to join with holy beings in another world.

During his ministry of about eleven years in Gran

ville, nearly eighty, by relation of their experience and by a correspondent life, gave evidence of their piety, and were received into the church; about fifty of whom were the hopeful subjects of renewing grace in this season of revival.

In this period he preached about one hundred and twenty funeral sermons in Granville, and many in the adjoining towns, His attendance and sympathies on such occasions were never withheld when requested, unless in consequence of sickness or previous appointments. In one instance he preached two funeral sermons in one day, in addition to the fatigue of riding six or eight miles, and this at the age of nearly eighty years. The latter was at the burial of a youth of sixteen years, when he addressed a deeply-affected assembly from Zech. ii., 4:"Run, speak to that young man."

While administering to hundreds and thousands under the bereaving strokes of the Almighty, his own family were mercifully spared till the youngest of ten children had reached the age of adult years. There was, however, a cup of affliction mingled, which he must ere long drink, His second daughter had been afflicted with severe and wasting disease, which neither care nor medicine could relieve. For months all hopes of her recovery had been relinquished, and she was per ceptibly drawing near the close of life. But great mercy was mingled with the affliction. By her marked resignation and patience, she was giving evidence of being one of God's adopted children. One morning in particular, having called her father into her chamber, she spoke of wonderful joy and light which had broken in upon her mind, The Saviour appeared exceedingly precious and altogether lovely. It was a memorable