PREFACE. What holy resolutions! What a sweet fervor of mind! In the present instance, the exalted talents of the subject of this Memoir, give him a claim upon public attention, and the public voice demands that his valuable services in society, and especially in the Christian community, should not be suffered to live merely in the recollection of the passing generation. A large circle of friends, who mourn his departure, are anxiously desiring that some tribute of memorial should exist through succeeding days. His eloquence, his public labors, his zeal for every noble institution, which the philanthropy of the age has reared, and the powerful influence which he exerted, in elevating the moral dignity of his species, imperiously call for an illustration of his history. The thousands who have listened with rapture to the messages of salvation that flowed from his lips, the numbers still living, from whose eye he has often chased away the tear of affliction, those gentlemen, who have been trained up by his hand for usefulness in society, and especially those whose gifts in the church he aided and cherished by his instructions, will review his life with peculiar satisfaction, and recall to mind, with sal utary effect, the maxims of wisdom and piety which he was in the habit of imparting. The sources from which the materials of this work are supplied, will be found, partly in his own letters, and partly from official documents associated with his public duties; but much of the information designed to be communicated, is the result of personal observation, and familiar intercourse with him in the bosom of his family, for many years. Many of the facts, however, have been elicited from his particular friends, to whom the Editor tenders his unfeigned thanks. Solicited by friends of the deceased, and urged by a sense of duty, this work has been undertaken; and it is now presented to the public with the hope that it will meet with a favorable reception, and prove useful to all who may examine its pages. Cincinnati, Jan. 10, 1834. CONTENTS. Page. His ancestors-incidents of his youth-early developement of talent-education-conversion-prosecution of his studies at the Bristol Institution-his usefulness in neighboring churches-call to the pastorship of the Baptist church at Circumstances which led to his settlement in this country-the high sense which his brethren in England entertained of his character-arrival in Charleston, S. C. and marriage-preach- ing in Georgetown, S. C.-removal to New York, and his afflictions there-removal to Bordentown, N. J.-his ordina- tion-circular on infidelity-removal to Burlington, N. J.— Removal to Philadelphia-connexion with the first Baptist church-condition of the Baptists in that church, and their subsequent prosperity-Sabbath morning preaching near the Swedes' church-extensive labors, and great popularity- prayer-meeting in Lombard-street-his dependence on the righteousness of Christ-resignation of the pastoral charge of Constitution of the Sansom-street church-correspondence that led to his connexion with them-exercises of his mind-in- vitation to the pastorship, and acceptance-subsequent suc- His character as a public man-originator of the First Female Bible Society in the world-instruction of Theological stu- dents in Philadelphia-multiplicity of his labors in the be- nevolent institutions of the day—his hospitality—addresses to His missionary spirit-labors and usefulness as Corresponding Secretary of the General Convention-his sympathy with the missionaries of the cross-instructions to missionaries- confidence in God under difficulties-poetry on the sailing independence and decision of character-his piety-constant effort to promote piety among the young, and to be useful to An important change in the scene of his labors-proceedings of the General Convention in reference to it-chosen Presi- Part of his address at the opening of the Columbian college- his behavior towards the young men-prosperity of the col- lege-its subsequent pecuniary distress, and his difficulties |