He often spoke of his Episcopal brethren in terms of the most exemplary christian benevolence; and appeared cordially to rejoice, when he heard that the work of the Lord prospered among them, in any part of the world. He had many affectionate friends of the Episcopal church. He was in the constant habit of visiting a number of families belonging to that church. And when he met with an Episcopalian who appeared to love the truth as it is in Jesus, he seemed to forget all distinction of names, and to feel as if he had found a brother, with whom he took as sweet counsel as if he had belonged to his own communion.

In this, as well as in other graces, he evidently grew, as he advanced in life. And toward the close of it, he seemed to take unfeigned and ardent pleasure in the belief, that every person, with whom he fell in company, who spoke seriously, and with apparent emotion on the subject of religion, was a real christian. It was pleasing, even when there was reason to fear that he carried his favourable estimate too far, to see with what eager delight he recognized every thing which resembled piety, in the numerous individuals with whom he conversed; and how ready he was to embrace in the

arms of christian affection, all persons, of all sects, who manifested any thing like sincere love to the Lord Jesus.

IX. In tracing the remarkable features in the character of this man of God, it would be improper to pass without notice, his temper and habits WITH RESPECT TO WORLDLY PROPERTY. It was supposed by some, that an undue love of money, as well as an irascible temper, was among his natural infirmities. If this were so, it is certain that, by the grace of God, he had gained the victory over both, in a remarkable degree. Few men, in his circumstances, have contrived to give away so much in charity, especially to the sick poor, whom he constantly visited. He seldom went into the house of such a person, without closing the religious exercises which attended the interview, by a donation from his purse. Though he passed through a period, during his residence in New-York, in which speculation in stock, lands, &c. was carried on with a spirit, and to an extent, altogether unprecedented in this country, and scarcely equalled in any other: yet he was enabled wholly to resist the fascination of the day, and to keep himself free from an entanglement so unworthy of a

gospel minister. It is observable also, that, when in company, he scarcely ever allowed himself to converse on a subject so common in a commercial community. In the society of his most confidential friends, he appeared always to feel as if he had something infinitely more important to talk of, than the price of stocks, or the most eligible methods of investing money. And, in correspondence with these facts, it is certain, that, with all the regularity and vigilance of his economy, and without meeting with any particular loss sufficiently large to account for such a result, he left, at his decease, less property than, forty-six years before, he had brought to the city.

The writer feels the more ready to mention this trait in the character of Dr. Rodgers, because it has attracted the notice of others, as well as of himself. A distinguished Layman, at a distance, who intimately knew, and highly honoured him, in a private letter, addressed to the writer, remarks, "I hope you will not forget to dilate

freely upon his voluntary and meritorious com"parative poverty, at a time when even Clergy"men have been infected with the dollar-mania "of our country."

It is notorious that the sin of avarice, where it has been allowed to take a firm and governing hold of the mind, is one of those which are peculiarly apt to grow stronger with age, and to reign with a melancholy force in the decline of life. It was directly the reverse with the subject of these memoirs, Toward the close of life he was raised above a secular spirit more than ever. And during the two or three last years that he lived, it is a fact, that he seemed to have lost all sense of the value of money, excepting as a means of relieving the distress and promoting the happinens of those around him. During that period he distributed the contents of his purse, with a profusion altogether extravagant; insomuch that, if the members of his family had not prevented him, he would have given away every farthing that came into his possession.

X. Another feature deserving of notice, in the character of this excellent Minister, is, that HE It is true, that during

WAS NO POLITICIAN.

the revolutionary war, he did not attempt to stand on neutral ground; but took part openly and decisively in favour of his country. And there can be no doubt that, in a similar exigency, at any period, he would have thought himself perfectly

justifiable in acting a similar part.

Yet it is certain, that for a number of years prior to that contest, and from the establishment of the independence of his country, till the day of his death, he never allowed himself to appear as a party-politician, or to connect his name, or his influence, with either side, in the successive struggles which divided his friends and acquaintance. From the time of his settlement in New-York, he never voted at a political election; he never appeared at a poll; nor did he ever attempt, on any occasion, to interfere, for the accomplishment of any political object. He had his opinions, indeed, he could not but have them, of the men and the measures which, at different times, solicited the public patronage. But he seldom made these opinions the subject of conversation, even in private companies, especially in mixed companies; he never carried them into the pulpit; and, above all, he never attempted by his exertions to help forward any political scheme or party. Attempts were more than once made, by friends whom he greatly respected and loved, to seduce him from this course. But he steadfastly resisted their solicitations, and kept himself aloof from their collisions and animosities to the last. It was in vain they urged, that clergymen have the same civil