guidance to practical effort. Surely, there is not on the sacred pages a more animating theme than that which fired the ancient prophets in view of Christ's universal reign. It will be folly and sin, to close our eyes to the cheering light God has given, because some now, as in all previous ages, have speculated erroneously on the subject. The grand error has been, in assuming data which God has not given, and I may here remark, that it is a demonstration that the prophecies are from him, that they have dealt so little in the minutiæ in which uninspired men are so fond of indulging. Pictures have been drawn of the millennium, by commentators and theorists, which mathematical demonstration proves to be false somewhere. The world cannot be the theatre of such a scene, for a single thousand of years. But this furnishes not even the presumption, that the real scene which God has depicted, may not last to an indefinite extent. We may just as well hope for a long as a short millennium. It becomes us, then, to be cheered with glorious hope of the brighter day foretold, and to labor and pray for the event with all faith and zeal. Had not the subject of this memoir, had faith here, and strong faith too, he had never begun to be the man we saw him. The millennium filled and fired his whole soul, and he gloried in the thought that every effort he made might be rendered conducive to this triumphant issue.

This year, 1819, he published his "Outline of a Course of Astronomical Lectures, with an Appendix, containing an explanation of the most important terms relating to Astronomy." This work of sixty-seven pages, is, as its title imports, only an outline, though a pretty full one. It was designed especially for the benefit of those who should attend the lectures; but is still by itself an intelligible, interesting, and instructive work, for such as have already some acquaintance with astronomy.

Byfield, July 19, 1821.

MY DEAR BROTHER R.-I will forward you a copy of my Union Catechism as soon as I have received one, hoping it will meet your approbation. Is it not important to study the bible in a manner that is best suited to show the connection and meaning? Has not infinite evil resulted from the study of detached portions of scripture without attending to the connection?

UNION CATECHISM.

255

Will you have the goodness to devote a few days to the examination of my catechism, and afford me all the aid in your power in rendering the second edition as good as possible.

We have some encouraging appearances in the sem. inary.

By" encouraging appearances," he doubtless means appearances of a revival of religion. Such revivals, to a greater or less extent, were frequently enjoyed in his school; perhaps nearly every season.

The nature and objects of the Catechism, will be shown in part by its title, and a few sentences from its preface. The title is as follows:-" A Union Catechism, founded upon Scripture History; consisting partly of Bible Questions, and partly of Questions with Answers; interspersed with Instructions, Doctrinal, Practical, and Explanatory, principally in the form of Notes; designed for the use of Individuals, Families, and Schools, especially Sabbath Schools."

"In the year 1807, the author published a Plan and Specimens of a Reference Catechism.' To complete and publish that work, he received all the encouragement that he could reasonably desire. This he intended to have done several years ago; but want of health and other unexpected interruptions rendered it impracticable. The Union Catechism retains the same plan; and the execution is the same, with such improvements as the author has been enabled to make. The name is changed, partly on account of its being a union of different catechetical methods; and partly on account of its combining historical, doctrinal, and practical instructions.

"According to the first plan of this Catechism, it was to consist wholly of bible questions, with references to scripture for answers. But after much deliberation and counsel, it was thought preferable, that some of the answers should be inserted. In this way, the historical connexion can be preserved without multiplying the questions to an inconvenient number, or extending them to a tedious degree of minuteness. The substance of considerable portions of scripture, therefore, is often given in few words."

Notwithstanding the high approbation of this work by many, it was found to possess some faults, and did not meet a very extensive sale. Accordingly my brother, instead of preparing a second edition, betook himself, with zeal and patience, to the task of remodeling and improving the work. The result was the work which was partly printed at the time of his decease, and which has since appeared, under the title of "Biblical Outline," and of which some further account will be given in its place.

Byfield, Oct, 26, 1821.

MY DEAR BROTHER W.-An unusual pressure of duties, for several days, has prevented my replying to your very interesting letter. And now I have merely time to write a very few words.

1 expect to remove to Saugus (lately part of Lynn) in a few days. My reasons for this measure, I have not time

to state.

CHAPTER XIV.

FROM HIS REMOVAL TO SAUGUS TO HIS SECOND VISIT AT THE SOUTH. 1821-1822.

Reasons for removal-Discourse on female education— Number of Pupils.

IN Nov. 1821, my brother removed to Saugus, a retired village about seven miles north-east from Boston. To this place he was led, in a great measure, "for the sake of preaching the gospel to a small society that would otherwise have been destitute." It deeply touched his heart to behold a waste place in our Zion. The laudable efforts of this people to accommodate him, and thus to supply themselves with sacred instruction, are alluded to in a passage that I am soon to quote from his discourse at the dedication of his Seminary Hall. That his remarks and his new situation may be more fully understood, it is needful to state, that the buildings, which they had erected for the school, and as a place of public worship for themselves, when the weather should be too inclement for my brother to attend at the meeting house, was contiguous to the ancient and venerable parsonage in which his family were accommodated. These buildings were so connected, that he could pass from the one to the other without the exposure of going out of doors. It was understood that he should preach for this people on the Sabbath, when able, but should be under no obligation to perform any other parochial labor, as his infirmities and the cares of his seminary, would not ordinarily admit of it. The relation was peculiar, and so, in some respects, were the mingled people to whom he was thus to minister, as they were composed of a small group of diverse denominations.-At the close of the discourse, he thus addresses them.

66 MY RESPECTED PATRONS,

"The occasion, which has called us together, cannot fail to be peculiarly interesting to you. Behold this beautiful house, which the Lord has enabled you to build. Next to our divine Benefactor, my first gratitude, on this occasion, is due to you to you, whose vigorous and persevering exertions have had the principal instrumentality to bring me to this place. This neat, this finished, this very commodious edifice bears witness to your exertions in a cause of inestimable importance. When I saw your forwardness in this matter, a year ago, I could scarcely believe you sincere in your proposal. You seemed to be stating what you desired, rather than what you expected. But God has enabled your hands to perform their enterprise. May your zeal provoke very many to noble deeds for female improvement.

"But this house is not designed for literary purposes alone. It is also dedicated to the holy service of Almighty God. And here the members of this Religious Society will accept my ardent thanks. Your willingness to receive for your minister, a poor “earthen vessel,” so very feeble and imperfect, excites feelings, which I cannot express. The very comfortable and convenient arrangement which you have made for attending public worship, during the inclement season, demands my liveliest gratitude to Him, who knows how to "temper the breeze to the shorn lamb." But for this arrangement, the talent of preaching the gospel, with which God has been pleased to entrust me, which, though so very imperfectly, exercised, I prize above any other, this talent, the most honorable, important, and delightful, that was ever committed to mortals, must have been buried beneath the storms and blasts of winter. To see myself again restored to the glorious work of the stated ministry, so much beyond my hopes; to see a kind and respectful people, that I can call my own, to see them eagerly attending upon my ministration from Sabbath to Sabbath, appears to me like life from the dead. May it indeed prove to be life from the dead to your immortal souls.

"If I may be an instrument to this Church of strengthening the things, which remain, that have sometimes seemed almost ready to die; if I may be instrumental of