VISITATION AMONGST THE POOR.

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the moderator. After the questions; every one reads either extracts from some author, or a sermon, or some other composition of his own. On the extracts, sermons, and other compositions, critical remarks are made, as on the sermon preached. These exercises commonly fill up our time to the length before mentioned. It is a fundamental rule of the meeting, to attend closely to business, and not to suffer ourselves to be diverted by compliments or company, or by common, vague conversation. No man is allowed to speak in the meeting, before rising and obtaining leave of the moderator. Our criticisms on the sermons and other performances of the members of the meeting, in which great brotherly freedom is used, are made before the members of the meeting only. The other exercises are not private.

"It is nine years since our meeting, called, a meeting for mutual improvement, was established; and I see no disposition in the members to discontinue it. The questions we have discussed, are some of the most important in the circle of theology. I most sincerely wish you and the other gentlemen success and pleasure in your proposed meeting.

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With my respectful compliments to Dr. Manning, and with most ardent wishes for your success in the ministry, I am,

"Your brother in the Gospel,

"JONATHAN EDWARDS."

During his residence in Providence, Mr. Stanford devoted a considerable part of his leisure, to promote the comfort and moral improvement of the poor, without regard to denominational distinctions. For the better discharge of this duty, he divided the town into three parts, which enabled him, in addition to his unavoidable parochial visitations, to see and converse with nearly all the poor in the town about once in each month. Such fidelity, and zeal in pastoral ser

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THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS.

vice, did not long escape observation, and he was accordingly elected as a trustee of Brown University, and at the following annual commencement, on the 3d of September, 1788, he was honoured with the degree of Master in the Arts. The following is an extract from the minutes of the corporation of the college.

"At the annual meeting of the corporation of the college in Providence, Sept. 3d, 1788.

"Voted and resolved, That the Rev. John Stanford be elected, and appointed to the place of a trustee in this college; and that he be requested to accept the

same.

"Voted, That the honorary degree of A. M. be conferred on the Rev. John Stanford.

"Attest.

"SOLOMON DROWN, Dept. Sec'ry."

As this institution has always been entirely literary in its character, and there being no theological department, Mr. Stanford, anxious to assist the rising ministry of his denomination, received into his study a small class of students in divinity, whom he gratuitously instructed.* This laid the foundation of a course of theological lectures, which have since been enriched with the fruits of nearly thirty years experience and study, and have, during the interval, been frequently read to divinity classes, many of whom survive their venerable instructor, and nearly all of them have occupied prominent stations in the Church

*This was probably among the earliest systematic efforts for the exclusively theological instruction of Baptist students in America. The first academy of this kind was that of Mr. Eaton, opened in 1756, and closed in 1767, and at which were educated, President Manning, Dr. Samuel Jones, and Dr. Isaac Skillman, and many others, whose names are now passing into oblivion, but into the fruit of whose labours the Baptists of this generation have entered, and whose "record,” lost though it be amongst men, " is on high."

of Christ, and are known, as successful labourers in the Lord's vineyard.

During his residence in Providence, the glory of God, the welfare of his Church, the interest of the college, and the good of the community generally, seem to have been objects very dear to his heart; of which the following document is ample testimony.

"To all, whom these presents may concern. The under written, inhabitants of the town of Providence, in the state of Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations-who are members of, or belonging to, the congregation usually worshipping in the Baptist church;

"This certifies, that the Rev. John Stanford, a native of Great-Britain, now a citizen of this state, in pursuance of a unanimous request from the Baptist church and congregation in this town, came and began to preach here, in the spring of the year 1788; and before he had resided here one full year, received a unanimous call from the said church and society to settle with them, as their pastor. That from his first coming among us, to the present time, his preaching has received the universal approbation of the said church and society, and manifestly tended to their edification and increase. His private character, so far as we have been witnesses, has well comported with the evangelical doctrines of his public ministry. Irreproachable in his morals-of polite manners, and easy of access-diligent in his studies, and laborious in his visits to rich and poor, without distinction—~ his life, while with us, has been an amiable pattern of the Gospel minister.

"Providence, Nov. 15, 1789."

This document is signed by ninety-five persons, but it is not thought necessary to print their names in this place.

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ORPHANS INSTRUCTED.

His residence in this town, owing to the affectionate solicitations of the church, and a numerous circle of friends, was protracted three months beyond the stipulated period; after which, at the particular invitation of his friends in New-York, he thought it his duty to return, and resume his former employment in the education of youth; and in preaching the Gospel of Christ, wherever God in his providence should appoint. "Here," he one day said to a friend, "I have lived many years, passed through scenes of sorrow and of joy, and I am now in a station of usefulness which seldom falls to the lot of any man; and here I expect and hope to continue to live, and to die in the Lord."

Among other evidences of his Christian philanthropy, the education of destitute youth, may be mentioned as a prominent trait. During the last twenty years of his life he was seldom without some poor orphan boy as an inmate of his family, to whose moral and religious education he was much devoted. Several of these have amply rewarded his generosity and toil, by exemplifying the spirit, and praiseworthy deportment of their tutor. Some of them have risen to great respectability, and continue to fill important stations in the community.-In his anxiety to promote the welfare of the rising generation, Mr. Stanford had few equals. He seems to have adopted, as a favourite maxim, the saying of a Christian of the sixteenth century: "Give them education, that their lives may be useful; teach them the fear of the Lord, that their death may be happy!"

What is called, a roving, versatile disposition, appears not to have been amongst the frailties of Mr. Stanford. The changes of his life seem, in a remarkable manner, always to have been appointed and regulated by the providence of God. By this arrangement in the divine economy, he was experimentally taught, that Jehovah “hath his way in the whirlwind,

MR. STANFORD RETURNS TO NEW-YORK.

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and in the storm, and that the clouds are the dust of his feet."

His afflictions, though often severe and protracted, were not only necessary, and designed for his personal benefit, but greatly contributed to his future usefulness in administering consolation to others.

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It is related of the good Mr. Whitefield, that during a visit in the north of England, he one day went into a glass-house, where he saw one of the workmen take a piece of glass and put it into one burning furnace, then he put it into a second, and then into a third. Why," said Mr. Whitefield, addressing the man, "why do you put it into so many fires?" "Because, Sir, the first and second fires were found not to be sufficiently hot to produce the degree of transparency which I wish, and therefore I put it into a third fire." Strikingly does this anecdote illustrate the dealings of the Almighty with his people, they must be purified, if necessary, even "so as by fire;" until freed from dross, they become prepared for their Master's service.

From this, let young Christians, and especially young Ministers, be encouraged, under their most distressing calamities, to trust in the Lord. The wisdom and the goodness of God may be discovered as truly amid, scenes of darkness and tribulation, as in the sunshine of prosperity. Nevertheless, if at the commencement of their journey the Lord were to discover to them the thorny path they have to tread, discouragement, if not despair, would generally be the consequence. But, by gradually unfolding his will, day by day, and step by step; he girds them with strength, keeps them dependent on his arm, and inspires them with a disposition to give him the honour due to his name; as their Redeemer, their guide, and never-failing friend.

Mr. Stanford's return and settlement in the city of New-York, was particularly marked by the smiles of the Almighty. Every desirable encouragement was