REFORM IN PREACHING.

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On this subject, his views may be more clearly seen by the following letter to Rev. Dr. Mason of New York, written about the beginning of the year 1808.

"RESPECTED SIR,-I hope you will excuse a few lines from a stranger, upon one of the most important subjects that can engage the attention of a gospel minister. I have been a preacher nearly seven years; and about twothirds of the time, a settled minister in this place. But with shame I must acknowledge, that until within about six months, I never attempted, by reasoning and experiment, to ascertain the best method of preparing and delivering my public discourses. I adopted and continued the New England practice of writing and reading sermons, asking no questions for conscience sake." Though for want of health, I have rarely been able to write the whole of a discourse, yet, until lately, I have always read to my people all I had written.

"For about six months past, I have not read a single sentence of a sermon in public. I began with a resolution to preach one year without reading. From the experiment, thus far, and from the attention that I have been able to give to the subject, I am convinced that my present method of preaching is much better than my former. My present method is almost wholly extemporaneous, as it respects words and expressions. In preparing to preach, in the first place, I write a plan or scheme of my sermon. I then transcribe the plan, making as many improvements as possible. In the third place, I fill up my plan in my mind, noting down the leading sentiment and scriptures under each head. After this, I sometimes take off a little sketch of the whole upon one side of one-sixteenth of a sheet of paper, which I pin upon a leaf of my bible, and carry into the pulpit.

"By no means would I suggest these things, thinking to instruct you, but merely to give you opportunity to instruct one who feels himself to be a child in years, in knowledge, and in preaching. My present method, though certainly superior to my former, is undoubtedly susceptible of improvement. Is it not desirable, infinitely desirable, that the preachers of the everlasting gospel should be eloquent men, as well as mighty in the scriptures? Alas! sir, how low, how very low, is the general

tone of New England preaching. We have many pious, zealous ministers; many who write excellent sermons. But pulpit reading is the death of eloquence. I wish for instruction upon the best method of preaching; and I wish to instruct my brethren. I have not been able to persuade one of them to try my present experiment. If I suggest the expediency of leaving off the reading method, a lion is in the way. O for some Nimrod to attack the monster. I wish to be able to address their consciences in a more forcible manner. Perhaps, sir, you know of some book which I might find highly beneficial. If there be no good treatise upon the subject, surely there ought to be. I cannot expect you to take up the subject in a private letter to me. My object in writing, is, to request you to recommend some book, and to suggest to you the importance of adopting measures to enlighten the minds of young preachers in New-England upon this interesting subject. I have indeed had thoughts of addressing a circular letter to my brethren upon the subject. But my voice would not be heard. To write an effectual circular upon this subject, a person should himself be at once an eminent preacher and an excellent writer. Could not such a letter, of fifty or sixty pages, be furnished in your city? I have seen a letter, published in London and re-published in Boston about fifty years ago, entitled "Reading no preaching." But that could not be cir culated with any hope of advantage. The composition is poor; and many very forcible arguments are omitted. Besides, it would answer no good purpose to tell New England clergymen, that reading is not preaching. Even if this were true, they could not bear it now.

"We expect great things from our Theological Academy. I hope that Seminary will prove instrumental of reforming our mode of preaching and greatly promoting the cause of evangelical truth."

Connected as I now am with the sacred seminary in this place, I have omitted some things respecting it in the above letter. Delicacy, however, will not forbid me to illustrate an important trait in the character of my brother, by mentioning, a little more definitely, the high hopes he then cherished of the ultimate usefulness of this institution. Speaking to me, on this subject, soon after

HIGH ANTICIPATIONS.

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its foundation, he remarked to this effect: Ardent republican as I am, and enthusiastic as may be my hopes from the declaration of our national independence, yet I anticipate much greater good from the establishment of this theological seminary.' This strong declaration, of course, excited my astonishment at that time, when probably not one, except himself, among the most zealous friends and patrons of the seminary, had begun to anticipate results on so large a scale as what we already witness here and in other kindred seminaries that have risen from its example, and in public movements in the cause of Christ at home and abroad, that have grown out of this prolific measure. The trait of character thus exhibited, was that by which he always entered, with his whole soul, into the plans of other men, as well as his own, for the salvation of the world. His imagination, accompanied by a vivid faith, ran forward on such subjects beyond that of any other man I ever knew. One reason for this strong and delightful peculiarity, was his habit of looking at every moral cause, in its connexion with the millennium. Accordingly, he beheld every movement of this kind, surrounded with a glory which cannot be visible to one who has no such eye of faith. And as a consequence of this, while others, at successive periods, have expressed their astonishment, in view of what was effected, he often only expressed his admiration, adding, with devout gratitude, that he had expected as great things, and admonishing those about him, to expect still greater.

But to return to the matter of reform in preaching. He continued his mode, as above described, both in forming and delivering his discourses, till the close of his ministry. His wish to exclude all reading of notes from the pulpit, however, gradually subsided; and he was finally quite willing that others should use them, when found to be, not a trammel, but an aid; just as was the fact when note preaching was first introduced in this country by Mr. Warham, the first minister of Windsor, Ct. The good old puritans could not think of tolerating a practice so formal, till they saw how well Mr. W. succeeded in the attempt. A similar change has occurred in other denominations; but the tendency is doubtless always to a dull delivery, and therefore needs the frequent application of

a corrective. Extempore preaching has now, for some years, been very extensively mingled with note preaching in New England. How far my brother's influence was productive of the happy change, I will not take upon myself to decide. It is enough to remark, that he urged this reform every where, and on all suitable occasions, for many years; that he conversed much with officers and students of colleges and of other seminaries on the point; and that he persuaded many young men to aim, through their whole education, at acquiring the power of extempore speaking.*

*The word extempore, I have used here and elsewhere both as an adjective and as an adverb, as I suppose such use to be now sufficiently established.

CHAPTER VIII.

SICKNESS AND DEATH OF HIS SECOND WIFE, 1808.

Himself very feeble-Accompanies her to Leicester-Returns-She returns-They again go to L.-Letters to Mr. Ellingwood-To his people-Her death.

The following, to his wife, will be a fit introduction to the mournful theme of the present chapter. It was written while my brother was absent on a short journey, probably for his health.

Holles, April 21, 1808.

On Tuesday or Wednesday next, I hope, by the divine permission, to press the dear hand that was given me in marriage. I cannot dissemble to the inmate of my heart. I have been gloomy for several days. Never before did I so earnestly desire to embrace the wife of my bosom. How poorly have I improved a treasure, of which I was never worthy—a treasure which I can hardly realize to be my own. My friends at Franklin, Framingham, Holles, etc., have appeared sincerely rejoiced to see me. Their attentions are truly endearing. My health and strength seem a little improved; but my nerves are much out of order. Do not tell any, that I am nervous. They will only laugh at me or despise me for that, which is as real a calamity as a "broken tooth, or a foot out of joint." I write my thoughts just as they occur. I cannot summon resolution to attempt to maintain any connexion in my writing. Pity your husband, whose heart is constantly bleeding with pity for you; pray for him, who frequently attempts to raise a few broken petitions to heaven for you and our lovely babe.

Love to all who dwell under our roof.

The health of his wife, already feeble, continued to decline; so that, in May, she dismissed the little school