with the devil and his angels, how will your heart endure to hear the cries of your children, forever lost, ‘O cruel father, O unfeeling mother, you never taught us the way to heaven; we lisped no prayers in our childhood; a holy hymn we never learned; you never offered a petition for us in the closet or in the family; the Bible you never read to us, nor caused us to read it; you never led us to the house of God, but made a mock alike at sin and at religion. We saw you enter the tabernacles of transgression; unsuspectingly we followed; you handed to us the poisonous portion, and our corruptions relished it. We saw you draw iniquity with cords of vanity; we applied our hands also to the rope, and as the fruit of those sins, to which you have been accessary, we are, by a righteous God, tormented in this flame!' * * * I will not enlarge. Permit me to appeal to you all, to-day, whether king David be not justifiable in asserting, he had rather be a door-keeper in the house of his God, than to dwell in the tents of wicked

ness.

I have heard the Doctor repeat the passage from Bunyan in the same connexion. To form any idea of its effect it was necessary to be present. The voice, the attitude, the expression of countenance, in the orator-the language of the condemned sinner, as if from the depths of the pit, sent through the whole frame a shuddering chill, felt by every hearer, but by none to be described.

14*

CHAPTER VI.

His character as a public man-originator of the First Female Bible Society in the world-instruction of Theological students in Philadelphia-multiplicity of his labors in the benevolent institutions of the day-his hospitality-addresses to Theological students.

DOCTOR Staughton was, in the strictest sense of the term, a public man. The effect which his addresses, at various anniversary meetings, produced, can never be erased from the minds of those who were favored to hear them. In all the benevolent institutions of the day he was an active, zealous and efficient laborer. To the Sunday School cause he contributed his influence in every form in which he supposed it might subserve the interests of this humble, but extensively useful instrumentality. His pen was frequently employed in recommending it to public attention. The following lines, entitled "The Sunday School Teacher," are worthy of insertion:

"Hail! day of the Lord, in thy brightness ascending!
The latter-day glory divinely portending;

The darkness and shadows have fled far away,
The bosoms of multitudes welcome thy sway.
I haste to the temple where thousands assemble,
Where saints are rejoicing, where enemies tremble;
Thrice happy the bands of young children to see,
And point the poor little ones, SAVIOUR, to thee.

"Hail! day of suspension, from 'toiling and spinning,'
A prize is displayed worth contesting and winning;
Let manhood with joy in the labor engage,
And mingle in classes with spectacled age:

The bible-the bible, à life giving treasure,
A fountain of wisdom, of virtue, of pleasure!
It offers a balm from life's loveliest tree,

And points the adult and the aged to thee.

"Talk of color no more, 'tis but skin-deep impression,
The blessings of grace are for human possession;
Comprehensive, the Gospel's beneficent plan
Contemplates the sablest complexion as man;
Ethiopia's sons, Ethiopia's daughters,

Are welcomed to drink evangelical waters!
Since the mandate divine bids the fettered be free,

I'll point the poor African, Saviour, to thee.

"See the red men diffused through our westernmost regions,
Now pining away-once existing in legions,
Inquiring the path to 'The Father of Life,'
All eager to terminate sorrow and strife:

Let the tomahawk sleep, and the bow and the quiver :
From the foot of Mount Zion effuses a river
Can bear all offence to oblivion's sea,
And waft the poor Indian, Saviour, to thee.

"How blessed the men who with heathen are toiling!
Though mortals may frown, the Redeemer is smiling;
O'er the glooms of Hindostan and shades of Rangoon
Salvation shall shine, all refulgent and soon.
Great Saviour! succeed the increasing translations,
Let the charter of grace be perused by all nations,
And with eyes beaming transport, thy messengers see
Converting idolators bending to Thee."

In the origination of the Philadelphia Bible Society, his efforts greatly contributed. He was, from its commencement, Recording Secretary, and afterwards one of the Vice-Presidents in that body; and by his counsel, his zeal, and his writings, proved a valuable auxiliary in its establishment and prosperity. He was the projector of several plans for its extended success. Essays were written by him, to recommend its claims to public attention, and sev

eral circulars and appeals were prepared by him. The last circular which he wrote was in reference to the great effort of that society to furnish every destitute family in the State of Pennsylvania with a copy of the sacred Scriptures. After stating the pecuniary embarrassments of the Society, the address concludes in the language—“The Society cannot yield to the idea, that large as the sum required may seem, it offers to Christian churches in the vicinity of their location, and to a generous public, any consideration really formidable. The demand has been created under a devout veneration for the authority which has said,

"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine."

Aggregates from individual contribution have often been obtained, where the design, as to its moral influence, would admit of no comparison with the present. Services performed for the honor of God will never lose their reward. If the pleasure of doing good is to be appreciated by the importance of that good, in what way can a servant of Christ be better occupied than by sending to the destitute the bread of life, and the water of life? How divine, how enviable that calm, which softens the dissolving hour of one who possesses an humble consciousness that, after the example of a holy prophet, he has served his generation.' The Society are indeed urgent in their request; but they believe their importunity will be found acceptable to every pious and benevolent bosom, that from the pulpit, or otherwise, shall receive the requisite information. They anticipate results of the most favorable description. The Society would address each church, in the words of Shecaniah to Ezra, Arise, for the matter belongeth unto thee; we will also be with thee; be of good courage, and do it.'"

The first Female Bible Society in the world Dr. Staughton proposed and assisted in forming. The ladies of Philadelphia enjoyed this honor, and long will they remember, with pleasure, the voice, the encouragements, and the influence of their friend, now resting in the peaceful slumber of the grave.

During the whole of his residence in that city, he was engaged in the instruction of youth. A considerable part of the time he had a school of young ladies under his entire direction. These are now scattered over a large extent of country, and are among the best educated females in our land. His mode of communicating instruction was as successful as his pulpit ministrations, and the moral impression which he gave to the opening mind will be felt through descending families. The affection of his pupils was almost unbounded, yet never degenerating into the bold and intrusive. While they loved him as a father, they venerated him as their preceptor. No man better understood the art of winning affection and confidence, and, at the same time, preserving the authority of dignity. His school was regularly opened with prayer.

For several years he taught the higher branches in the celebrated school of Mrs. Rivardi, which, at that time, stood one of the first in the United States. It was his aim to make science appear in its most attractive form. He was in the habit of delivering lectures on different subjects. His lectures on Sacred History were not the least imposing. The young ladies, instead of shrinking from attendance, used to welcome the day as one of the happiest in the week. When the bell announced that the hour had arrived, they would spring with the sprightliness of youth, each anxious to get first into the presence of her beloved instructer. Often, while hearing the artless, simple tale of the Old Testament saint, would the tear bedew the youth