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CONVERSION OF J. R.

the scriptures, that distant sinners may be made nigh by the blood of Christ,' and that it was the office of the Holy Spirit to give him precious faith in the promises of the gospel, and to lead him to Jesus Christ as a Saviour. During this conversation he looked upon me with great earnestness, while tears stood trembling in his eyes. I was about to leave him, when he earnestly requested me to remember him in my prayers. With this request I immediately complied, and prayer was offered at the side of his bed. I hope I shall have occasion to rejoice for ever in the Lord, concerning this poor young man.

July 29th. Impressed with a concern for his soul, I hired a carriage on purpose to visit him. He was much worse, and could speak but little. My mind, said he, is much relieved, and I am looking to the Lord Jesus for the manifestation of his mercy.' I handed him a tract, which I printed some time ago, on' The Way of Salvation,' and requested one of his fellow prisoners to read it to him.

'August 1st. Lord's day. After sermon this morning in the chapel, I again visited this sick young man. With a peculiarly cheerful smile, he assured me that his mind was much more established by reading the tract; than which he said nothing could better have suited his case, and that he could now pray in faith, and hoped God would give him assurance of salvation.

"Friday, 6th. About midnight JR died, "The following is the account of his last moments. related by the person who attended him :

"R- knew that his end was near-he desired that his thanks be made to Mr. Roome, the physician, and yourself, for the kindness he had received. He then spoke very seriously to all the prisoners in the room. I asked him how he felt himself? He replied, I am quite composed-I have no fear of deathGod has made me a happy man in Christ.' He then

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told me to take care of myself, and be prepared for death. Directly after this he expired, rejoicing in Christ. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

On a review of the past year, Mr. Stanford says:— "I have every reason to be thankful for the bountien of Providence to me and mine. Especially for the riches of the Lord's mercy, and the kind supports I have enjoyed in the performance of many new and unexpected services as a minister of the blessed gospel. Truly the Lord has been my God, my guide, and my support to this day. O that my gratitude and obedience were proportionate to my obligations. May my future life be more truly humble, and devoted to the cause of the Lord. Amen."

CHAPTER VII.

COMMENCES THE YEAR WITH A PIOUS RESOLUTION TO DEVOTE ALL HIS TIME TO THE SERVICE OF GOD-PUBLISHES TWO TRACTS-EXTENSIVE LABOURS.

His diary for 1808, commences with the following pious and solemn remarks:—“ January 1st, another year commenced! O how fast my time flies; how little has been done for the honour of my Lord, or for the benefit of my fellow-creatures. The prayer of the afflicted female, Lord help me,' well suits my case and my desires.

"What portion of this year I may live, is known only to God, may it all be devoted to his glory."

New-Year's morning he preached to the Moravian church, and in the evening at a chapel in Greenwichstreet. The reader may have perceived that it was the pious custom of Mr. Stanford, with the opening of each year, to pray to God to be directed to some passage of scripture, as a means of guiding and supporting his mind, if it should please the Lord to spare him until its close. On this occasion his mind seems to have been particularly directed to Hebrews xii. 2 -“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," &c. Upon which he remarks:-"Why should I look to myself, where all is dark and wild? Why should I not look to the exalted Saviour, who first gave me faith, and who alone can secure its completion? May this be my practice, as it is my privilege, until in glory I shall see him face to face."

In his diary for the last day of January, the following praise-worthy note is found :

"I sensibly feel the want of time, for the prayerful and deliberate discharge of my duty to the souls of

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men, owing to my daily labour in the academy, and repeated invitations to private family visits, which consume much time, with little or no advantage to myself or others. Therefore, in the strength of the Lord, I do this day resolve, to spend no more time in this manner, but as much as possible to devote the hours not employed in the academy, to private study, and in following after God and his truth. This resolution is not only proper in itself considered, but as I have found very great advantages resulting from it, I do the more earnestly recommend a similar course to other Christians, and especially to my brethren in the ministry."

The right improvement of time is a subject of immense importance to all mankind, but especially to the minister of the gospel. Never should he procrastinate, or leave till to-morrow what present duty requires him to execute. It is recorded of the Roman Titus, that he every evening called himself to account for the transactions of the day; and if it appeared that he had passed a day without doing some good, he was accustomed to exclaim-" Perdidi diem!" I have lost a day. If such was the declaration of a heathen, what shall that Christian say, whose time is more than wasted, in the eager pursuit of the pleasures and applause of this world! It was a wise as well as sacred rule among the Pythagoreans, that they should thrice every evening, recount and examine the events of the day; nor should the Christian, and especially the Christian minister, be less attentive to the responsibilities of life, since for every hour we must all render an account unto God.

Nor let soft slumber close your eyes
Before you've recollected thrice,
The train of actions through the day:
Where have my feet chose out their way?

What have I learn'd, where e'er I've been,

From all I've heard. from all I've seen?

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LETTER TO E. H. ESQ.

What know I more that's worth the knowing?
What have I done that's worth the doing?
What have I sought that I should shun?
What duty have I left undone?

Or into what new follies run?
These self-inquiries are the road,
That leads to virtue and to God.

Letter to E. H*****, Esq.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"New-York, January 27, 1808.

"Yesterday I was informed you were again visited with sickness, and to-day N**** gave me a call, and confirmed the report. Although unwell myself, old friendship demands a few lines.

"And now, what shall I say?—that all the dealings of God with you are in love, and intended to do you good? You have been so many years a subject of God's care-you have seen so many instances of his grace and faithfulness to others-and you have so often felt the virtue of Christ through his promises, that I think you must be tolerably grounded upon the doctrine of the unchangeableness of your everlasting Father. I do not, however, expect you are quite out of the reach of temptation, much less do I think your heart has lost all its hardness or its unbelief. Indeed, I know and feel all this for myself, and I expect it is the same with you. All we have to do is, to pray for the continued influence of the Holy Spirit to anoint, and give us power to look to Jesus make us feel the sweets of his dying love, and to seal us unto the heavenly inheritance. us remember that God has been kind in sparing our lives so long; having seen so many of our old acquaintances go before us. O for the power of his love to rest upon, and help us to make a good finish! That our sun may not set in a cloud, nor our lips forbear to leave a happy testimony for the encou

Let