weather attendants, prepare and publish four or five little books, and pursue a course of studies to qualify myself, as far as possible, to take the charge or superintendence of a seminary for teachers, if ever I should have health for such an undertaking. I do not indulge the least hope of ever being able to take the pastoral charge of any people. It would only prepare the way for the pangs of dismission.

June 16.—I have just received a present from-Į know not whom—six very nice pairs of white cotton stockings, twelve neck cloths, and eight shirts. What shall we render to our divine benefactor!

To Miss N. Ingersoll, who has since followed her lamented brother before mentioned, he thus writes.

Charleston, S. C. June 16, 1817.

I am more affected, than surprised, to hear of your feeble health. Though it may be gain for you to depart, yet for the sake of your dear mother and friends, I should much prefer your tarrying a few years longer if the Lord will. But if your work is done, if your earthly course is finished, and the Savior is pleased to call you to occupy a more exalted station in a better world, I cannot wish you to stay.

Mr. B. can tell you particularly of the blessings, which I have here received from the hand of infinite mercy. They have been numerous and wonderful, and attended with peculiar endearments. One of the greatest of these endearments, is the full persuasion, that these mercies are sent in answer to the prayers of those, with whom I have so many hundreds of times delighted to pray, with whom I hope forever to sing and shout redeeming love and renovating grace, in those happy mansions, where the anguish of separation we shall remember no more. I still feel, and delight to feel, that my dear brethren and sisters, whom I once had the distinguished honor to regard as my flock, are still feeding me, clothing me, and supplying my every want, by means of their prayers, as really as when they ministered to me of their substance. I hope, however, I do not, on this account, feel the less grateful to the dear christians in this city, by whose liberality my every want is supplied; nor less thankful to him, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift.

LECTURES ON THE MILLENNIUM.

245

Give my love to all your connections, that you may see, and to all our dear brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, whom I exceedingly love in the Lord.

Yours most cordially,

JOSEPH EMERSON.

Charleston, S. C. June 25, 1817. MY DEAREST COMPANION,-I have engaged a passage on board the brig Mount Pleasant. Seven or eight have engaged passages, who, I hope, are all christians, among whom is the owner of the brig. There are accommodations for about as many more, so that I confidently hope that a majority of the passengers will be sincere friends to Christ and everlasting friends to each other. Will not this be delightful. If I am not wofully deceived, I do feel an ardent and increasing love for those, who appear to love my Savior, whatever be their condition, denomination, or color, with whom I confidently hope to spend an eternity of bliss and praise. The darkest sign that I now know of myself, is, that I have scarcely had a dark or gloomy hour since I left Beverly; a circumstance, which I believe is very uncommon for so long a time, except for eminent christians, the character of which I never dared to consider as belonging to me. Will it not be delightful to have a cabin become a Bethel, where a majority of the occupants will unitedly and daily worship the Father in spirit and in truth? I have been dreading my passage for fear that I should not only be sea-sick, but should be denied the precious sight of a christian smile, from Charleston to Boston. But now I anticipate the voyage with a degree of fondness, which I fear will be in some measure disappointed.

Since I have been supplying for Dr. Leland, I have been delivering to his people a course of lectures upon the millennium, almost every word of which I have written. I find the benefit of my short hand to be greater and greater. These lectures I think of publishing within a few months. My object in these lectures is not to gratify vain curiosity; but to comfort the people of God, and to rouse and encourage them to the greatest possible exertions for the advancement of that kingdom, which shall infinitely outshine and outlast every other. Never before,

246

SUMMARY OF LABORS IN CHARLESTON.

did I find half the satisfaction in studying this glorious and amazing subject.

June 26.-I preached last evening, probably for the last time in this city. If we should not sail on Saturday, however, I shall undoubtedly preach to Dr. Leland's people twice more, as Mr. Luther will not put to sea on the Sabbath.

I have been in this city and in this dear family, about fourteen weeks. In that time, I have formed a number of very endearing acquaintances and received favors in abundance. I have written sixteen long lectures, more than a dozen long letters, preached and lectured about forty-four times, read some, visited considerably, attended a few conference and prayer meetings, and conversed much at home, and abroad. And yet, considering that the recovery and establishment of my health, was the great object of my southern expedition, I have rather tried to see how little I could do, than how much. Considering how much I have done, and how warm the weather has been for several weeks, I am astonished to find how much strength and vigor I enjoy. My limbs are more than twice as strong as when I left you. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

After his return, his health and other circumstances were such, that he concluded to open a seminary for teachers at an earlier period than he had anticipated. Byfield, Mass. was the place upon which he fixed for this purpose, and to which he removed his family, sometime previous to the ensuing spring.

CHAPTER XIII.

FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS SEMINARY AT BYFIELD TO HIS REMOVAL TO SAUGUS.-1818-1821.

Publishes his lectures on the millennium-Objects of his seminary-Society for instruction-Astronomical lectures in Boston—An objection to the long millennium— Astronomical lectures published-Union catechism published.

THE following letter will afford information respecting his work on the millennium, and the arrangements for his seminary.

Byfield, March 31, 1818.

The

MY DEAR BROTHER R.-I have just returned from Boston, where I have been attending to the printing of my lectures. My health is considerably improved. We have more encouragement to go on with the proposed seminary and school, than we dared to anticipate, and perhaps as much as we ought to desire. My house is much more commodious than I expected to find. price was so low, that I thought best to purchase. It is very large, intended at first for a meeting house. After spending about five hundred dollars in repairs, alterations, and outfits, it will accommodate the seminary, and school, and family, with six or eight boarders. Finding ourselves so happily planted here, it is not probable that we shall ever remove, until we remove to the eternal world. Perhaps we can do as much good here as elsewhere.

The school of which my brother speaks, was à prepara tory school in connexion with the seminary, and was taught by his wife. The first year, 1 believe he had about

fifty scholars in the seminary; and the next year, about seventy or eighty.

He now set himself systematically to the great enterprise of reforming and elevating the system of female education. This was a favorite and long cherished object, and one for which he was peculiarly fitted, and to which Providence seemed now especially to call him. Little did he think, when disabled for the delightful duties of a pastor and enduring the pangs of separation from his people, how God was leading him forth, through a sea of trials, to a wider sphere of usefulness,—the very sphere for which his hand had made him and his providence had prepared him. He was born for the very work of teaching, and especially of teaching females. His specific object now was, to render their education more solid and much more extensive. While cheered in this object by the favor and co-operation of many, he had also to meet much prejudice and opposition. Some seemed hardly to think the female mind susceptible of the highest acquisitions of knowledge, or that it would be benefitted by such knowledge, if gained. His object was not merely to have a good seminary of his own, but also to benefit other teachers, and to raise up a multitude more, of the right stamp, and ultimately to fill the land with such seminaries and schools. Among other means for the promotion of this object, a society was formed in connexion with his seminary, under the following name and regulations.

SOCIETY FOR INSTRUCTION.

"It is not good that the soul be without knowledge. Without knowledge, the mind is but a blank, or a blot. It is principally by means of instruction, that men are raised above brutes, and one man exalted above another. The fields of science breathe forth a fragrance more delightful than spicy mountains. The pleasures of sense are poor, compared with the pleasures of intellection. The tree of liberty is planted by the hand of knowledge, watered by the dews of science, defended by the bulwark of understanding, cultivated and pruned by the fingers of intelligence and wisdom. All the delights and endearments of civilization and refinement, are fruits of knowledge.