vented his preaching, I must be responsible for the disappointment of the people. This threw my mind into a state of much perplexity and agitation; its reasonings and fears were beyond any thing I can describe; a sense of, duty decided me to overcome my reluctance, and as some hours intervened, I prepared the skeleton of a sermon; selecting that easy and familiar text, from Luke xii. 32-" Fear not, little flock," &c.

"My distress of mind on riding to Mitcham was so great, that I thought I must have returned; on my arrival, anxious to find an apology to the manager of the chapel for my apparent intrusion, I said,—It is a week-night, and an emergency. My fear and trembling were great, but I looked to God for strength and assistance, and found them; yet such was my terror that the pulpit shook beneath me. I had made rather a long plan, and if ever I cried to the Lord for help, it was at this time. When I had read the text, my fear so far subsided that I was enabled to forget every thing but my subject, and I found tolerable ease of expression. After the lapse of an hour, finding I had not proceeded more than half through my subject, I left off abruptly. On entering the vestry, many individuals came forward to express approbation and pleasure. Among the number were a lady and gentleman, the sight of whom had increased my distress, as I knew they were accustomed to hear Mr. Romaine, and Mr. Foster. The lady, who on first seeing me had objected to my youth, said this young man would be acceptable for one Sabbath at Kingston. The gentleman, Mr. Whitver, of the Ordnance Office, now pressed my consent to this; but I refused, on which he replied, God has given you talents, and you must use them. I returned home with very different feelings. "The Lord, (as it were,) turned my captivity, and I was like them that dream." It was a night long to be remembered. To this hour, when I look back to it, and review all the circumstances of the case, my reluctance to engage, and my fear and agitation, I think it was obvious to the people that I was oppressed in spirit; and this, under the divine blessing, disarmed them of their prejudices, created their sympathy, and constrained them to pray for me; and their prayer seemed to return into their own bosoms; for they not only came to me and expressed kindness and good wishes, but they seemed to have sat under the shadow of the tree of life, and found its fruit sweet to their taste. Oh, how wonderful that the feeble efforts of an instrument so weak and insignificant should be effectual, in the hand of the Most High, of good to souls; but I recollect where it is said, We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of 2 Cor. iv. 7. Still I have often looked back with feelings of anxiety and regret, and feared lest I did wrong. I have not only felt, but mourned the want of those advantages which I might have had, if I had resolutely persevered in my first intention of going to some academical institution before I commenced preaching; for it will be seen that this first sermon led to the abandonment of the plan of going to college, and became the step to all that series of services which followed, and to that chain of connections into which I have been insensibly conducted. On the other hand, when I call to mind the goodness and mercy which have accompanied me in my progress, how much acceptance and success have attended my ministerial labors, I am overwhelmed with surprise, and hope I feel both humility and gratitude."

us.

With great difficulty he was prevailed upon, by a letter from Mr. Whitver and by the urgency of his friend Mr. Beck, to go to Kingston the next Sabbath; where he preached twice, and, "after the services of the day were concluded, many thanks were offered, with an expression of general approbation, and a request that the visit might be renewed. This was promised, and he preached a second Sabbath at Kingston. Arrangements were now made, with the consent of the managers of the Tabernacle, for his preaching at various places in the vicinity of Lon

don. Shortly after he was sent six weeks to Lewes." He continued there eight months, preaching twice on the Sabbath, and once in the week, and occasionally in the surrounding villages, attending as he had opportunity the preaching of Mr. Cecil, which, being expository, was very profitable to him, and pursuing with diligence theological studies. He was then summoned to London, and found himself appointed to the station at Kingston, where "many of the leading persons had been delighted with his plain and unadorned sermons. In 1781 he received a call to settle with that people, which he accepted, on the condition that the church and congregation should be re-organized on the Independent model, which was done. In the same month in which he was ordained, June 1781, he married Miss Cordelia Cahusac; concerning whom he thus writes in his diary several years after. "Her person, her piety, her prudence, her industry, her economy, have been all that a Christian could expect or desire. She has been a help-meet in reality. In our lives we have been pleasant to each other; and our parting will be painful. But, oh! the blessedness of a good hope through grace. Our friendship will be renewed and perfected, and will become unfading in the kingdom of glory."

Being thus settled in life, he gave himself wholly to his work. "Conscious" of his deficiency of preparation for the ministry, and "of the necessity of extraordinary diligence, he seized every opportunity of increasing his limited knowledge of scriptural and experimental theology, in the study of which he passed fourteen, and sometimes sixteen hours in a day." He took particular pains in preparing his sermons, which were not usually written, but preached from extended notes; "aiming, not to shine as a speaker, but to preach useful and instructive discourses." He was also diligent in the performance of pastoral duties. But "Kingston was a barren and unpromising soil: religion was much neglected. Like Gallio of old, the higher classes cared for none of these things, and the lower were so irreligious and brutal that they sometimes assaulted those who attended the meeting." And, worse than all, "the vile and detestable heresy of Antinomianism began now to spread through the whole vicinity of Kingston," at that time the residence of William Huntington, S. S., the too successful champion of Antinomianism, at that period, in London. "Every effort was made by the party that could be devised, to inoculate the whole church and congregation" of Mr. Townsend "with their unscriptural sentiments, and with their more mischievous temper." The result was, "the most uncandid and illiberal construction was put upon every sermon" Mr. T. preached; "the most eminent of his hearers

in seriousness of spirit and holiness of life were maligned as Arminians and enemies of the gospel," and church discipline became impracticable. Mr. T. now became convinced that it was his "duty to resign his charge, and communicated his intention to some of his friends in London," through whom it was made known to "the congregation in Jamaica Row, Bermondsey,' who extended to him an invitation to become their minister, which he accepted, and commenced his stated labors among them "on the Sabbath after Midsummer Day, 1784." In this congregation he labored, with exemplary fidelity and happy success, forty-two years, till his death.

In 1792 began his abundant labors, already described, in va rious departments of public charity. These were so multiplied and so diligently attended that, it may be supposed, his ministerial duties were henceforth in a considerable degree remitted. Far otherwise. He usually preached three times on the Sabbath, and once during the week, to his own congregation; often attended the prayer meetings of his church, visited much among his people, preached "four sermons in a month at Orange Street Chapel," and occasional lectures in various other places.-How, is it asked, did he perform such an immense amount of labor? He accomplished it by system, punctuality, and unceasing diligence. He was never idle, and every duty had its place and time, which were most scrupulously observed. Rarely has a man been found who more nearly conformed to the divine injunction, Diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And the results, in amount of labor and in the good effected, were great and blessed. In reference to his varied and pressing engagements, he thus writes in his journal in 1820.

"These delightful occupations, in which I have been for so many years engaged, will soon cease; my study has attractions so powerful, that I should spend my time there, did not a sense of duty render my personal attendance necessary, where I must assist in the extension of the Gospel, the dispersion of the Bible, and the education of children. How gladly would I renounce my connection with the committees, and devote my days to study; but the words of our Lord are imperative, This ought ye to have done, and not to have left the other undone. Lord Jesus, give me grace and wisdom to serve Thee more fully; may I aim at nothing but Thy glory, and the salvation of my fellow men. Time becomes every day more precious; two must be made out of one, and, to secure hours for more study and writing, I must rise earlier, sit up later, and improve every moment. Never let me forget my dear brother's motto, that this is the world for employment,-heaven for enjoyment.' But this is anticipation; I may not live till the summer, for my feebleness tells me that I am mortal."

"Mr. Townsend," says his biographer, "possessed a clear and vigorous understanding. His conceptions were neither striking nor imaginative, but he had great originality and accuracy of

thought. His intellectual endowments were not numerous; but he had a mind well informed on all subjects connected with the general interests of the world and of the church. Prudence was a prominent feature in his character; and to this valuable gift, with his extraordinary energy and perseverance, may be attributed much that he effected." "He had a singular power of abstracting himself from external objects, and could summon at will materials for the composition of a sermon, a tract, or an essay, not only in the crowded streets of a city, but in committee rooms, when, probably, his attention would be immediately called to discuss an intricate question. At such times he would rise, and, after apparent inattention to all that had passed, would make a luminous speech, aptly and immediately bearing on the subject under discussion. His power of embracing objects so multifarious arose, not merely from energy, and a determination to accomplish what he had undertaken, but he had that valuable. art, too commonly neglected, of securing every fragment of time; not a minute was lost, either at home, or in society; no useless conversation was allowed to intrude on hours sacred to usefulness. He knew no relaxation, but that which arose from the variety of his pursuits." "There was an universal confidence in his judgement. Churches and families submitted to him their most private affairs; and his character as a peace-maker was beautifully blended with his sense of justice, which never allowed him to condemn any man but upon clear evidence of guilt." "In his domestic character, Mr. Townsend was constitutionally amiable-he needed not that self-control which many Christians find necessary-gentleness and tenderness were his characteristics; there was nothing selfish, nothing contracted. As a husband, he was affectionate and considerate." "As a father, his great anxiety was, that he might see his children devoted to the service of God." "As a Christian, he was remarkable for heavenly-mindedness and humility. Prayer was his element; every distinct act of the day was consecrated by the blessing implored on it before he left his study. It was his weapon of defence to secure him from all that might injure him in his commerce with the world. Never would he enter on sacred duty without devoting a season to holding communion with his God. He rose frequently at six, sometimes earlier, to secure this privilege; esteeming it the only way to ensure tranquillity of mind, and purity in the affections. His humility was of an extraordinary character, and marked every action, every sermon, every conversation." "Neither envy nor jealousy entered his soul." "A strict adherence to truth marked his conversation: he dreaded giving an unintentional gloss which might mislead those who lis

tened." "Christian principles were the basis of his character. Nature had given him much that was bright and excellent, and she might have made him a philanthropist; but it was religion. that sanctified the high and noble purposes of his soul, giving, as a motive, the heavenly consideration, that he was not his own, but had been bought with a price, which no duty, no sacrifice could ever cancel. This was the operative principle of his benevolence-the centre, from which diverged every line of exertion. His list of duties was well arranged, and the arrangement acted on-all had a due proportion-nothing turned his well directed mind from its plans. Duty to God, duty to man, forbade any personal indulgence, any love of self-the will and the af fections were imbued with that spirit, which turns to gold all it touches. He gave diligence to add to his faith virtue; to virtue knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity; and can we doubt that the promised entrance was ministered to him abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ?".

Such was this truly excellent and devoted minister of Christ. Our notice of his Memoir is more extended than would ordinarily be expected from the method we have pursued. And possibly the reader may imagine that we have presented the substance of most that is interesting in the volume. But this is far, very far, from being the fact. We have given only a specimen. Much of equal, of superior interest has been passed over, especially numerous delightful extracts from Mr. Townsend's journals and letters. We know not when we have read a more interesting and profitable biography; and we are satisfied that all our readers, who will obtain and peruse it, will concur in this testimony.

THE CHRISTIAN PREACHER'S COMMISSION: A Sermon delivered before the General Association of Connecticut, at Saybrook, June 22, 1831. BY JEREMIAH DAY, D. D. President of Yale College. New Haven: Hezekiah Howe. Pp. 20.

The various names applied to ministers in the New Testament all exhibit them as holding subordinate stations, and as directly responsible to a superior power. The very name minister, or servant, implies that they have a master, in whose business they are occupied, and to whom they must give an account. Are