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For it was then the

religious society. Discovering, nistry. in this their son, in very early fixed and general opinion that youth, an uncommon taste for none but the really pious, the books and knowledge, they de-regenerated in heart ought to termined to allow him to follow preach the gospel of the Son of his inclination in this respect, God, the divine Saviour. Hapand to give him a liberal and py is it that, in our churches, public education. They had and among our ministers of the the pleasure to find in him gospel, the same opinion contigenius which could acquire nues. And may it continue, in knowlege with great facility. our land, and obtain in all parts While at a grammar school, he of the Christian world, and sexcelled his school-fellows, in mong all communions of Chrisdiligence in his studies of the tians, till the end of the world, latin and greek languages, and the second coming of our Lord in the progress which he made. Jesus Christ to judge the quick Harvard College was the public and dead. It is essential to the seminary of learning, to which flourishing of the gospel, and its he was sent to complete his success, that its ministers be education. During his colle- pious, learned and orthedar. giate life, he much distinguish-The subject of these memoirs, ed himself, as a scholar, in the in early life, was brought to various branches of learning make choice of religion, as the taught in the college. He ap-chief concern of men. We are plied himself to the course of not informed of the peculiar studies pursued there with assi-exercises of his mind in a state duous attention; and the author of conviction of sin. or of his of nature had endowed him with views of divine things, when he talents to make uncommon pro- hoped his heart was changed by gress. In the year 1722 he re-divine grace. After the best ceived his first degree, according examination of his views and to the usage of the New-Eng-feelings, he judged that he had Jand universities. He had now finished his collegiate education. His next object was to choose a profession in life, in which he might best answer the ends of his existence. He soon made up his mind to devote his time and talents to the study of divinity, that he might be qualified, by a knowlege of natural and revealed religion, to serve God in the work of the Evangelical ministry.

grounds to hope that his natur was sanctified by the efficacious influence of the Holy Ghost, and his sins pardoned through the all atoning blood of the Redeemer of a perishing world. No long after his being admitted, as a licentiate. to preach the gospel, he received an invitation from the town of Windham, in the state of Connecticut, to come and preach among them, in or der to a settlement in the gosHe had a hope that his heart pel ministry with them. Their was savingly acquainted with church was now deprived of a pas the truth as it is in Jesus. O-tor to break the bread of fife to therwise he would not have re-them, by the decease of the Rev. solved to enter on the holy mi- Mr. Whiting, who had been

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The latter married the Rev. Timothy Pitkin of Farmington; she died in middle life, and left eight children. Her amiable and sweet natural temper

long a faithful, laborious, and af- | state, most happily. But a confectionate minister of Jesus sumptive complaint cut off her Christ. He died greatly belov- days, in the midst of life. She ed by his people. They were, was torn from her husband, and after hearing Mr. Clap, a suitable two beloved daughters by the length of time, happily united in cold hand of death. He was him; and accordingly he was greatly afflicted with, and deeply solemnly set apart to the work mourned her loss. In the diary of the gospel-ministry among which he kept, he speaks of his them by the only scripture rule, departed wife-his irreparable fasting, prayer and the laying on loss-and the sore affliction of the hands of the presbytery. in the most tender language. Here, in the first church and so- He was a sincere mourner. But ciety of Windham, he laboured in his afflictions he fervently many years. He soon shone in prays for patience, and Christhe churches, as a bright lumi-ian resignation. By his wife, nary. His own people were he had two daughters that lived affectionately attached to him.Mary and Temperance. The He was always judicious and edi- former of whom married the fying in his public ministeriai late general Wooster of Newperformances. His diligence, Haven, who was killed at Danzeal, and fidelity were remarka-bury, in the revolutionary war. ble. He delighted in teaching others. As a preacher he excelled in grave, solid, and useful discourses. His manner was solemn and impressive. His stlye was plain, not ornamented. pleasing manners, and unaffectHe appeared in earnest, and toed piety rendered her peculiarly feel what he said. He was heard with pleasure on account of the importance of the matter delivered, rather than on account of beauty of style, or charms of language, or powers of rhetoric. It may justly be said of him, that he was apt to teach, both in public and private. He was fourteen years a labourer in this part of the vineyard of our common Lord. He married a daughter of his worthy predecessor, the Rev. Mr. Whiting. She was a very amiable woman; was singularly pious; blessed by the God of nature with a happy temper of mind. She was very dear to her husband; and they lived together several years in the married

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dear to her husband. Both these women were respected and valued, by all their extensive acquaintance. Mrs. Wooster lived to advanced age and died in 1807. She lived much esteemed, and died greatly lamented.

The Rev. Mr. Clap's superior talents and science were generally acknowledged. And an all-wise providence designed him to move in a higher sphere. A vacancy in the presidency of Yale-College in New-Haven had now taken place. Its Trustees turned their eyes to him to fill it. They considered him as the proper and best qualified man to fill it. He was accordingly unanimously elected to that important office. To give up the

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His scientific acquirements or literary character, may be summed up in the following manner. He was well versed in the three following languages, latin, greek, and hebrew; understood extensively geography; was accurate in chronology; was well acquainted with history, especially ecclesiastical his tory; deeply studied in scrip ture-prophecy; excelled in lo gical and metaphysical enqui

pastoral care of a beloved peo-eminent-as a philosopher and ple, to remove to another part man of science he deservedly of the State, and to act in a dif- holds a high rank. ferent calling, as president and preceptor of an university were scenes deeply interesting. In his diary, he states the exercises of his mind on the occasion. He relates how he felt, when the news of his being elected, as president of the college, reached him, being officially communicated by one of the Board of Trustees. He tells us that he retired as soon as was practicable, and spread the case, in his private devotions, before a pray-ries; he had read the Christian er-hearing God:-and said, "O Father's with attention; well my God, infinite in wisdom, and understood the several forms of boundless in goodness, teach me church order and government; my duty, in this great crisis."- and most approved of the pres Being satisfied of duty, he at byterian and consociated metuod length accepted of the office; was of ecclesiastical government and dismissed from his church and discipline, as most agreeable to people, as their pastor-re- the scripture plan. He diligent. moved with his family to New-ly studied the holy scriptures, Haven-was inaugurated into of fice, in the usual form, and became the President of our College. In every station, he was faithful and laborious. Faith fulness and diligence indeed seem to be his characteristic virtues. He might always be safely trus-New-England; contained in

ted.

the fountain of heavenly wis dom. In them he was fully sa tisfied, that he found clearly taught, repeatedly taught, the glorious, sublime doctrines of grace; the docrines of the re formation; of our churches in

all the noted creeds of the Chris Nearly twenty-seven years he tian world. He was zealous in fulfilled the arduous duties of his attachment to the distinguishPresident of the College. He ing doctrines of the gospel; made it to be respected and to flou-was a fearless defender of them; rish. His heart was swallowed was an able advocate for them; up in its good. Ardently did he love human literature and sciThe whole strength of his great mind was employed to promote solid learning, and pure Besides his eminence as a primitive Apostolic Christian- Christian divine, he was allowed ity; and he performed such a to have a good acquaintance with multiplicity of services and la-law, the best writers on which he had consulted.

ence.

bors, as almost surpiss our belief. As a theologian he was

lived and died an unshaken friend to vital experimental religion, building all his hopes on the cross of a Redeemer.

But his genius was naturally

When he apprehended death to be near, he expressed an entire resignation to the will of God, and a firm unshaken hope of his good estate. He was perfectly calm and composed, and reconciled to dying. The king of terrors could not dismay him, or shake the foundation of his hope.-He trusted in the mercy of God, and merits of Christ. His eyes were closed in the slumbers of death; without a groan or struggle he fell asleep. When he died, our churches and the republic of letters sustained a great loss.-Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. With what composure may the man, who has devoted his life to the service of God and his fel

fitted for mathematical and phi-dency of the college at the comlosophical researches. He lo-mencement in Sept. 10, 1766, ved and delighted to study the and died the January following. sciences of astronomy, philosophy, and mathematics. And probably, few men, in his day, on this continent, had a better knowledge of them. He was a great astronomer, and delighted to survey the heavens, and travel among the stars. For almost twenty-seven years, he presided over. taught, and adorned the college. We subjoin-e was a rare example of industry, and lost no time. Though slow and heavy in his constitutional make, he would accomplish more of difficult, arduous, and different business, than almost any other man. He performed the part of an universal insructor of the college. By his care and unwearied industry, he was principally the means of erecting se-low-men, meet his destiny! veral new buildings. He contributed largely of his own estate to relieve the necessities, and advance the good of the college. He had the solicitude of a father for the welfare of the students, and that they might be established in the true doctrines of religion. He was most of all engaged to promote the knowledge of these. He used often to say, "the public would take care of Y character and principles the interest of literature, but he are so well known to you, was afraid they would not be it will be unnecessary to enter into equally attentive to the interest a lengthy detail of them. I shall of religion." In every trust he therefore proceed to inform you, was faithful in every relation that I live in a town, which, with of husband, parent, or friend, one or two towns adjoining, has conscientious and kind; steady experienced that fermentation in his temper, wise in planning, commonly styled an awakening resolute in executing, patient My business and connections under abuses, and remarkable have led me to be often converfor the command of his passions.sant with that class of people, He was a great and a good man. who, by way of distinction style He publicly resigned the presi- themselves Christians; though

Letter from The World, to the Editor of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, &c.

REV. SIR,

M

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Another reason why I was uneasy in this company, was, I found it impossible to introduce my favorite topics of discourse. As often as I attempted this, the current of conversation was artfully diverted into another channel. Many instances of this I could give you; I shall mention two of them. One evening I

I always supposed that in this ral accounts. When they spoke Christian land, all were Chris-on the subjects, I have mentiontians, except some few follow-ed, it was with such ardor and ers of Tom Payne, and a few engagedness, so much warmth other very bad men. In the and emotion, that I was highly year past, I have observed a ve- disgusted with it. I always ry visible change in the conduct thought religion a very good and appearance of these persons. thing, but never wished to see Last summer I was very uneasy people run crazy with it. in their company. Their conversation was wholly on those subjects, which they (in their peculiar dialect,) style evangelical; such, as the great love of God in sending his Son to die for sinners-the holiness, purity, and excellence of the character, law and government of God-the wonderful love and condescension of Christ in un-mentioned the hardness of the dertaking the work of redemp-times, the scarcity of money, tion-the sinfulness of man by nature, and the consequent necessity of being born again by the power of God's Spirit-the sublime pleasures of devotion, &c. These subjects were introduced not only into their visiting circles, but engrossed almost their whole attention, even in the pursuit of their common business; and rendered them in a great measure inattentive to those concerns which I consider the most important. Sometimes I attended the special meetings for prayer and devotion, where these people flocked in crouds. Their appearance here was altogether different from any thing I had ever seen. Their countenances were fixed in solemn attention; every thing was still and gloomy as the grave; in time of prayer they resembled a group of unanimated statues more than living bodies.

I told you these things were disagreeable to me; perhaps you will ask, Why? On seve

and the difficulty of getting along in business. Mentor, one of those characters I have mentioned, immediately spoke to this purpose: It is a great satisfaction to the Christian that his treasures are not laid up on earth. Whatever changes may take place, he can reflect with composure, that all he holds dear is perfectly safe. Since, continued he, the Christian views himself a pilgrim and stranger in the world, he can be little concerned about these changes; nay, he views them as the effects of parental love, the wise and holy appointment of his heavenly parent, designed to wean his affections from earthly objects, and to inspire him with earnest longings after his father's house-after the full enjoyment of those permanent delights, which are subject to no change but a continual increase. Many observations of this kind were made, in which they all took a part. After a moment's

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