entered upon more extensive and arduous labors. He spent a part of his time with destitute churches, and the remainder he was employed as a missionary. At length, in the year 1816, he accepted a call from the Baptist church in Marcellus, and removed his family from Madison to that place. He remained, however, but about two years pastor of this church, when he entered again upon missionary labors.

He at length was instrumental of raising up a church at Skaneateles; to some of whom his preaching was made the power of God unto salvation; and some who were members in another connection, being more fully enlightened into the order of the gospel by his expositions of the word, following their solemn convictions of truth and duty, became members of this church. He continued his labors with this church for a time, and then labored as a missionary the most of a year, after which he returned to them, and divided his services between them and a destitute church in Tully. With these he finished his ministry. However, he did not remove his family from Marcellus; but as the places at which he preached were not far distant, he continued here till he died. He was clearly Calvinistic in his sentiments, bold and discriminating in his preaching. To his long and deep conviction of sin we are to attribute, in a great measure, the clearness and extent with which he would describe the depravity of the heart. In whatever subject he examined, his perceptions were clear, his reasoning powers were strong, and his feelings ardent. He dwelt much in preaching on the perfections of the Godhead, and His power and purpose to save. His experience of the grace of God was an effectual barrier against his preaching the doctrine of Arminius; nor did he treat the doctrine of election, the immutability of God's counsel, the ultimate destination of saints and sinners as comprehended in God's eternal purpose, as subjects of mere speculation. He would frequently dwell on the higher points of divinity, with a fervor of devotion evincive of great delight in what the more feeble in doctrine considered hard sayings.

His general preaching was more profitable to men of full age, for whom strong meat was intended, than for those who were unskillful in the word of righteousness, and had need of milk. On this account he was rather deficient in the qual ifications of a pastor, and not as profitable in this station as

in his itinerant labors. His mental powers were masterly, and the opposers of the electing grace of God seldom felt more pain than while sitting under his preaching. He would never make a surrender of truth, nor use enticing words of man's wisdom, to gain admirers, nor withhold the most prompt decisions upon any article of his faith, to save the feelings of those who differed from him.

He was deeply interested in the cause of missions, and was one of the founders of the Hamilton Baptist Missionary Society, and continued to support it, to the extent of his abilities, through life. He was truly a man of prayer; few seemed to be so perfectly absorbed, and abstracted from earth, when engaged in the exercise. He had great confi. dence therefore in the power of faith, and at times enjoyed much of the Divine presence.

His circumstances in life were depressing. Not receiv ing enough for his public services to supply the wants of a rising family, like Paul, he was compelled, with his own hands, to minister to his necessities. He was active and laborious, and seemed to possess a spirit akin to that of Luther. Whatever he undertook "he did with his might;" and shrunk neither from exposure or fatigue. But in January, 1821, he ventured too far on the strength of his constitution, and caught a violent cold, which settled upon his lungs, and laid the foundation for the disease which terminated his life. He soon began to decline, and was unable to preach. In August following he visited his aged parents and friends in Madison, and for the last time attempted to preach at Cazenovia on his return home. His text was in Acts xvii. 28: "Him declare I unto you." He had unusual assistance, and spoke with great freedom. He was solemn, and much enraptured with the views he had on the occasion of the perfections and glory of God. He returned home to his family, and from that time his decline was more rapid. He viewed his ap. proaching dissolution with much fortitude and resignation.

The doctrine he had preached to others was a source of great consolation to him under all his distresses. He realized its efficacy and glory, more than ever, as he drew near the grave. He suffered much pain in the last part of his sickness, and sometimes dissolving nature would express its agonies with a groan; yet he bore his sufferings with pa

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tience, and even with delight, when viewing them as coming from the hand of his heavenly Father. He said to a ministering brother who visited him, "He had often heard people say, when racked with pain, 'It is hard to bear, but it is just.' He could say more; it was not only just, but merciful." He regarded all his distresses as "light afflictions, which were but for a moment," and would in the end work out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." With all the tender sympathies of a husband and a father, he gave up his wife and children into the hands of God, not doubting but he would fulfil to them all the good pleasure of his will. Then he quietly fell asleep, as we believe, in Jesus. He departed this life on the morning of the 22d of January, 1822, in the 54th year of his age, and the twentieth of his public ministry.

In point of intellect and scriptural knowledge, he had few equals; in nobleness of spirit, few superiors; and his zeal in a day of persecution would have brought him speedily to the martyr's stake. Though valiant in soul, he was often tender and humble as a child. Seldom did he preach a sermon without tears flowing, under a sense of the condition of the impenitent, or infinite depth of Divine compassion. With all these excellencies, this wisdom of the serpent was not always blended with the harmlessness of the dove: his zeal would sometimes overstep the boundary of discretion. But, beyond all doubt, he now sweeps the heavenly lyre with a seraph's energy.

P. P. ROOTS.

Eld. Roors was born at Simsbury, Conn., March 27, 1765. His father, the Rev. Benajoh Roots, was a Congregational minister in that town. When his son was eight years old, Mr. Roots removed to Rutland, Vt., and became the first settled minister in that place. Here his son spent his youthful days. In his nineteenth year a revival of religion commenced, under the labors of his pious father. In this revival his attention was arrested, and he found himself an undone sinner. "I was brought," says he, "to feel my need of Christ, and I hope to believe in him as my Savior.

17*

i After this I united with the church, under the pastoral care of my father, and felt a great desire to be instrumental of some spiritual good to my fellow-men." In his twenty-fifth year he graduated at Dartmouth College. He was licensed to preach, and delivered his first sermon in March, 1790. He continued in this connection about two years, with good acceptance. While at college he had frequent doubts respecting the validity of infant baptism. Profs. Smith and Ripley endeavored to answer his objections, and dispel his doubts; but without effect. In 1791 he says: "I ventured to do as I never had done-to consider carefully what real weight there was in the arguments on each side of the question and now the old fabric began to crumble to dust." After a long and prayerful investigation, he found himself obliged, from a conscientious regard to truth, to dissolve his former church connections, and unite with the Baptists. He was baptized in Boston, by Dr. Stillman, and united with the first church in that town, May, 1793. In September following he was ordained as an evangelist. Immediately after his ordination, he traveled by land to Savannah, Georgia, and itinerated extensively in that region, visiting the churches and preaching the gospel.* For eighteen years he was generally employed as a missionary; but performed, besides, extensive journeys, and spent much time in traveling upon his own expenses. He itinerated and preached in seventeen of the United States, and Canada; and traveled quite round Lake Ontario. He usually rode about three thousand miles in a year, and preached three hundred sermons.

He ever considered enemies in the church worse than friends without. He therefore took more pains to induce people to examine themselves, and become Christians, than to make them believe they were so. His constant aim was to please God rather than man. Yet no man was more sensible to the ties of friendship, or valued more highly the fellowship of his brethren. He delighted in the duties of the closet, the family, and the house of God. He considered it indispensible to the character of a Christian, to show piety at home, and maintain the worship of God in his family.

* During more than thirty years he spent the greatest part of his time in traveling and preaching the gospel to the destitute.

The good he has been instrumental in effecting will never be known until that day shall arrive which shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. His preaching talents were above mediocrity. His sermons were evangelical, sensible, plain, and richly stored with scripture truth. His life was a good comment on his preaching. He labored to inculcate the sublime doctrines of the gospel, and took a deep interest in all the benevolent institutions of the day. To the friends of truth, his preaching was both instructive and edifying.

Like a good bishop, he ruled well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity. And here it is but justice to observe, that he found in his companion a judicious and faithful assistant in all his labors and duties. She was a help-meet indeed. She still lives, with five amiable children to mourn his departure. May that God who is the widow's God, and a father to the fatherless, be their portion and stay. The end of this good man was peace. His health had evidently declined for a year before his death. But he continued to travel and preach, until the meeting of the Ontario Association, 1828, when some of his brethren, observing his evident decline, and convinced that he was laboring above measure, advised him to relinquish his labors, and return to his family, in hopes that repose might improve his health. Here he preached but once, and ended his public course. He was sensible of his approaching end, and looked forward to his change with composure and serenity of mind. His work was done, and he had nothing to do but die. He admired the goodness of God, and the kindness and affection of his friends. Some little time before his death he took a formal leave of his family, and appropriately addressed each of them; gave directions concerning his funeral, and selected a brother to preach on the occasion. He observed to his friends that his work was done: the addition of days to his life he should consider an affliction; but if he could be useful he should be quite willing to live longer. During a great part of his life Br. Roots was the subject of severe nervous affections; which alternately elevated and depressed his spirits to such a degree, as sometimes to render him very uncomfortable to himself and his friends. But although he was tempted to relinquish his hope, he never relinquished his duty. In the last years of his life he was greatly relieved from this distressing