far greater riches than Indian treasures; and for the same reason; because, with Moses, he had respect to a future and eternal recompence of a reward. In a word, we find him in every place and on every occasion, conducting himself as one who had determined to know and to regard nothing but the interests of a crucified Saviour, and the propagation of his gospel."

May that Divine Spirit, who endued this servant of Christ with these graces and virtues, raise up many, beside those already labouring in India, to tread in his steps! While Christianity retains any footing there, the name of Swartz will be had in remembrance: and, as it has pleased God in his goodness to open to benevolent and pious men a more free access to the East, let us pray that such labourers may be sent forth, by the Lord of the harvest, into those fields which are white unto the harvest.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JASON WALKER.

JASON WALKER, a native of Ashby, Massachusetts; and son of Mr. Jason and Mrs. Sarah Walker, was born Feb. 17th, 1793. When about seven years of age his parents removed to Norwich, in Vermont, where he resided until he was called into the vineyard of his Lord. Being of religious parentage, he was early instructed in the principles of the christian religion; which had a powerful influence on his juvenile mind in keeping him from those follies and vices to which the youth are strongly inclined. When a little over sixteen years of age, he was solemnly awakened to a sense of his ruined condition, by the preaching of brother Eleazar Wells; and obtaining a lively hope in Christ a few months after, joined the society on trial, in February, 1810, the very month when he was seventeen years of age; and being admitted into membership in the church in August following, was the same day appointed leader of the class where he resided; which office he filled in the church till called to labour more extensively in the fields white already to harvest. On the 30th of August, 1811, he received license as an exhorter-June 6th, 1812, he was licensed a local preacher-In June, 1813, he was received on trial in the travelling connexion, and appointed to Wethersfield circuit, with brother Erastus Otis. In June, 1814, he was appointed to Barre circuit, with brother David Kilburn. On the 2nd of June, 1815, he was ordained deacon, and received a station with brother Benjamin R. Hoyt, at Bristol, Somerset, and RhodeIsland. In 1816 he took charge of Mansfield circuit, where he laid the foundation of that disease which terminated his earthly VOL. II.

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existence, and deprived thé church of one of its most faithful labourers. May 18, 1817, he was ordained elder, and appointed to Pomfret circuit. While on this circuit he was married to Miss Betsey Foster, of Orange, Vermont, (on the 19th of October, 1817,) with whom he had previously formed an agreeable acquaintance while on Barre circuit. But alas! how soon has death dissolved the sacred tie, and led the youthful widow to visit the silent tomb, and water with tears the faded turf that covers the dear remains of her departed husband. From the Conference in June, 1818, he was appointed to the charge of Warwick circuit, where he continued to travel till the 1st of October, when the infirmity of his body became such that he was obliged to resign his charge to brother Isaac Stoddard, a young preacher, who by the request of the presiding elder came to his assistance.

Brother Walker was graceful in his manners, easy in his address, pathetic in his discourses, and uniform in his life. He was greatly beloved wherever he was known, and deeply lamented when taken away. His zeal in the cause of God often carried him beyond his strength; and to this, in some respect, his early death may be imputed-The lowering storms, or chilling winds were alike steadily encountered, when he thought a listening congregation might wait for his instruction.

Of the commencement of that lingering consumption, which finally put an end to his labours, we have the following account. On the 25th of March, 1817, he rode from Burrillville to Cumberland, in a cold south-east storm; by means of which he was so chilled, and overcome with fatigue, that he was under the necessity of taking his bed when he arrived at the latter place. After the congregation had assembled, he arose and preached to the listening crowd which had collected to receive his godly instruction. After retiring again to his bed, he was seized with a violent cough, which was soon followed with raising of blood, attended with a painful soreness of lungs, which became very alarming, and threatened him with a speedy dissolution. But resting from labour awhile, by the help of medical assistance, he so far recovered his health as to be able to attend the Conference in May following. Here he was advised by some of his friends to desist from labour till he should regain his health; but he was not to be persuaded to retire from the field, when he saw such a harvest before him. He continued to travel through the year, though much afflicted in body.When he received his appointment to Warwick circuit, which is situated on the shores of the salt water, his physician advised him to continue in the country a season, and use some means for the recovery of his health, which was in a declining state.But for reasons which he assigned to the writer, no persona l'

considerations could dissuade him from his work at that time.But his infirmity increasing, compelled him at length to leave the field of labour; when he returned to his little family at Wickford, where he received every mark of kindness from the affectionate people of that place. Their great care and solicitude for his welfare, and the readiness with which they administered to his necessities, show how much he was beloved by them. As Wickford is a small village in North-Kingston, situated on the Narraganset bay, his friends at Smithfield, on Pomfret circuit, where he had been instrumental of raising up a respectable society, thinking it might possibly lengthen his days if he should retire into the country, requested that he might be removed to them; that if they could do no more, they might close his eyes, and shed the tear of affection at his grave, where they hoped his sleeping dust might remind them of his faithful discourses delivered when living. About the first of February he was accordingly removed, in compliance with their request; and took his residence in the house of Ziba Smith, Esq. where he lingered out the short remains of life, while surrounded with the kindest friends, who most cheerfully rendered him every possible assistance--But it was too late nature had sunk too low to be revived.

The welfare of the Church rested with great weight on his mind; and as occasion offered, and strength would permit, he used to give those exhortations which he judged most suitableparticularly entreating the Church to live in love. And such was his address, flowing from a heart that burnt with holy fire, that but few could hear him without being melted into tears.

A short time before his departure he wrote the following let ter to the New-England Conference.

SMITHFIELD, (R. I.) MARCH 29, 1819. To the Annual Conference to be holden at Lynn, June 2, 1819.

DEAR FATHERS AND BRETHREN.

HAVING laboured for nearly six years under your care and in your connexion, and been greatly favoured with your christian forbearance, and prudent counsel, I have esteemed it not only a privilege, but a binding duty, to express to you, while I yet live, the unfeigned gratitude of soul I feel towards you, for the fatherly care and brotherly kindness shown me, since my coming among you.

The Lord has been graciously pleased to give me much consolation of mind while I have thus laboured; and the joy and satisfaction of seeing the truth of our holy religion spreading, has made ample amends for all the sacrifices I have made to be myself an instrument of promulgating it. I know in whom I have

believed, whom I have preached, and to whom I have yielded myself servant to obey. His servant I still am, and when He therefore, the Lord of the Vineyard, says to me, "Come up hither," with a cheerful heart I make ready for my departure. And though I go to Death, I fear no evil; for the same blessed Redeemer whom my soul has delighted to honour as I honour the Father, is still sufficient to cast my whole soul upon. My treasure I feel is in Heaven, and rejoice at the prospect of so soon taking possession of the heavenly inheritance.

Though I could still wish (were it the will of God) to live, and longer labour in his work and I have sometimes feared, that by my own imprudence, in exposing my health, I have shortened my days, of which now evidently remain but few, yet am I conscious of purity of intention.

I die at a distance from the land of my friends; but I repine not: I only regret it, for the sake of the wife of my bosom, whom I leave, in a land of strangers, and under a complicated load of sorrows; and whom I earnestly commend to your fervent prayers.

Praying that you may ever continue under the direction and special guidance of Almighty God, I bid you a short farewell, trusting in the Lord that I shall shortly meet my fathers and brethren with their flocks, in an unchanging world of lasting joy, where death and pain shall come no more.

JASON WALKer.

Except a few hours on Thursday evening before his death, when he appeared to be a little wandering, he retained his senses bright and clear to his last moments. From his confinement in October to the hour of his departure, he appeared to enjoy uninterrupted communion with God, while scarce a cloud prevented the bright beams of the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS from shining into his soul; which caused him often to speak of death with great composure, and wait for it as for the messenger of rest, who should release him from all his sufferings. And after having settled his temporal affairs, he made every possible arrangement for his funeral, and even gave direction for the order of service and manner of the procession. On Friday morning before his death, while the people stood around his bed expecting soon to see him breathe his last, reviving a little from his agony, he took them all by the hand one after another and bade them farewell: and addressing Sister Walker, requested her "to give him up and let him go to heaven," adding that, "she should soon follow him thither." To which she replied "may the Lord back that promise"-Pausing a moment he added, "if faithful." Having suffered a severe turn of convulsion, while nature struggled

hard and refused to yield, as he revived a little he repeated these words,

"The world recedes and disappears,

Heaven opens on my eyes, my ears
With sounds seraphic ring."

Sister Walker then asked him if his sufferings were beyond his expectation? To which he replied, "In my body I have no ease" and added,

"Why won't fond nature cease her strife,
And let me languish into life."

He often expressed his longing desire for the hour to come; and once exclaimed, "O for some heavier weight to crush this feeble frame and let me go." On Saturday his sufferings were more severe than heretofore; and when Sister Walker told him she thought him to be dying, he replied, "I hope you are not deceived." About two o'clock in the afternoon he was seized with violent convulsions, and a cold sweat covered his whole body; after which he revived a little, when Sister Walker asked him if the prize kept still in view? to which he answered, "Yes-but the flesh will not yield-it is hard for death to get hold." A few moments after he added, "Let this be your comfort, that all do not have so hard a passage to heaven.". And while the weeping company stood around the bed of their dying shepherd, expecting every moment to see him yield up the spirit, addressing himself to Sister Walker, he said, "Tell them that I suffer, but Christ's sufferings were greater-I sweat, but Christ sweat great drops of blood-Let them think what Christ has done for them."

His last sufferings were extremely great, which he bore with exemplary patience and resignation, without the least complaint, or even a groan. And while every limb was distorted with painful convulsions, a heavenly smile rested on his countenance, which seemed to express the inward joy of his soul. And amidst smiles of love, and under a gleam of Heaven he breathed out his last, on Saturday, April 10, 1819, about five o'clock, P. M. His funeral was attended on the Tuesday following by a large concourse of people, when an appropriate discourse was delivered from Revelation xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours: and their works do follow them.

S. S.