Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub

hired fifty acres of land in Lanesborough, Mass., mostly new; but he had the privilege of paying his rent by clearing more land. After thus contracting for his removal into the then new country, he took his little effects, with his wife and two small children, and ventured towards the place of his destination. But in crossing the Connecticut river his goods were precipitated into the stream, and a portion of them, together with all his spending money, (ten dollars in silver,) were never recovered; and he was dependent on the charity of the people for his expenses the rest of his journey. Here he learnt a lesson that was never forgotten by him in after days; for whenever the poor applied to him for aid, after God had blessed him with the wealth of this world, they were never turned empty away.

Not long after his settlement in Lanesborough, his attention was called up to the great concerns of religion. His Christian experience, with his views of the order of Christ's house, are related by himself as follows: "My mind was called up to the subject of religion in the winter and spring of 1784, then residing in Lanesborough. The subject of religion was the constant topic of conversation with my wife; and although her mind was not apparently so deeply interested as my own, yet the Lord gave her rest in Jesus, and left me behind, while I was still resting on my own works. This circumstance removed my reliance from every creature help, and my anguish of heart was extreme. I then looked for some extraordinary operation from God, as there had been upon my wife. I was brought to the straight to see that I was a very great sinner, and that God would be just in my eternal condemnation. It seemed as though my doom was fixed, until one day, when ploughing in the field, I had to quit work and give up all for lost. I turned out my oxen, went into the house, gazed at the Bible, and sat in solemn silence; when, all at once, the language of John to his disciples, Be hold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world,' came to my mind with the utmost strength and power. It sunk deep into my heart. I viewed, in the most clear manner, how God could be just, and the justifier of such a rebel worm, justly doomed to everlasting banishment from his peaceful presence! From that moment I saw all things were new, and old things had passed away.' I saw such a beau

ty and glory in a risen Savior, that I could but desire to serve him the rest of my days. My great anxiety then, was, to know what God would have me do. I accordingly commenced a thorough search of the scriptures, to know my duty. I conversed with many of the saints of God for infor mation; and, on examination, serious doubts arose respecting the practice of my parents, for I was educated a Presby. terian. I conversed with my Presbyterian pastor, Mr. Collins; and, instead of being confirmed in my former views, I found that they were completely changed. I could no longer support infant sprinkling from the Bible, but was confirm. ed in the sentiment that believers were the only subjects, and immersion the only scriptural mode. After being thus established, I was yet unwilling to submit to the performance of the duty that was so clearly pointed out in the gospel; till at length God visited me with a rod in taking away two of my children by death, in a very sudden manner. This providence entirely broke me down, and made me willing to say, Thy will be done, O Lord; I will submit with pleasure. I then presented myself to the Baptist church, and thus acknowledged my Lord and Master in his own appointed way. I united with the church under the care of Eld. Peter Worden, and was baptized by Eld. Joseph Cornell."

By his zeal for the cause of his Master, and his care for the church, it soon became evident that he possessed the necessary qualifications for an office in the church. He was accordingly chosen and set apart, by prayer and laying on of hands, to the office of a deacon. The duties of this office he continued to perform to good acceptance, and in great faithfulness, till God saw fit to call him from serving tables in his earthly court, to receive a crown of immortal honor in the upper and better world.

In the year 1799 he exchanged his property in Lanesborough for the farm on which he lived till his death, in Camillus, now Elbridge, Onon. Co., N. Y. The country was then new, and land very cheap; by which means his property became greatly increased in value. He kept a public house for some years, appropriating the proceeds to the purchase of new lands, the rise of which, with his industry and economy, soon rendered him a very wealthy farmer. Yet, in all his advancement, it never contributed to the fostering of pride

in his deportment towards his fellow-men or in the world. When it was thought advisable to build a meeting-house, he sustained a great share of the expense, and gave it to the church. Towards the latter part of his life he was much afflicted with the gravel and dropsy. About five years ago he was very severely attacked, from which it was feared he would never recover; yet he was so far restored as to be able to do business at home and abroad. He not only met with the church at home, but in the meetings of the several benevolent societies.

During his illness, whenever there was a meeting of the State Convention, or its Board, or any other public meeting to do good, from which he was detained by ill health, he would send his respects to them, and bid them persevere in the good cause. And when he could no longer meet with them, he would send his money, still assuring them that it was accompanied with his prayers to God that he would succeed the effort with his blessing. The last conventional meeting that he ever attended was at Mendon, in 1833, which even then was more than his broken constitution was able to endure. It was many months before he was recovered from the fatigue of that journey. He never attended public worship but little after that period.

Whenever I called on him in any period of his confinement, he was anxious to know the state of the church, that he might mourn with them that mourn, and rejoice with them that rejoice. During any period of his confinement from public worship, it was his constant practice, on the return of the family from meeting, to inquire after the text and subject the first thing, and then he would make comments that were both interesting and instructive.

At one time, when he was thought to be near his end, his physician entering his room, he said to him, "Oh, my dear doctor, do love that precious Jesus-I am almost gone-but I must tell you how good Jesus is to my poor soul. Oh, that precious, precious Jesus." He would often say that he was afraid he should be left to murmur-that he should be impatient under his pain. "O that I may wait till the Lord's time come-my heavenly Father knows best." A few days before his death a friend called on him, who was professedly a Universalist: he called him by name as he came to his

66

bedside, as though filled with the deepest concern for the welfare of his friend, and said, "Universalism is poor stuff; it won't do you any good. Love the precious Savior, or you must be lost forever." At another time he said to his pas

tor, "Oh, my dear elder, preach, preach Christ and him crucified. My time is short: I am living by the day—I expect every day to be my last. I am looking and hoping for it to come; then shall I be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness. When shall I get home? but I fear that I shall be impatient. Oh, how good God is!"

All the blessings he enjoyed he seemed to realize as coming from God, saying, "What reason I have to be thankful to God, that he has given me such kind children, to take such special care of me in my sickness. Well, well, God will reward them." The day before his death, he said, "My day is at hand, and the hour of my death will be the happiest hour of my life. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better." There was no particular change till his last moments. There were times when he would seem to be rather lost, and he would not apprehend questions clearly; but for the most part he had his reason perfectly.

On the morning of his death, which was on the 31st of March, he was helped into his chair. He was in great distress-said but little-wished to lie down. Some refreshment was brought him; as he was taking some tea, he coughed, and raised a little-said, "I am going," and sunk down into the arms of death, without a struggle or a groan. His wife, who was out of the room at breakfast, hastened in ; but it was only to see the last gasp; his spirit had fled, to dwell in his long-sought rest.

On the third day from his death the funeral services were attended at his dwelling, and a sermon on the occasion addressed to the mourning family and friends, from 2 Cor. v. 20: "We pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." The corpse was then deposited in his own family burying-ground, and on the following Sabbath a discourse was delivered to the church.

Thus, a great and good man has fallen in Israel. The writer can truly say, the more I reflect on his worth, the more I feel the loss of Dea. Manro. He was a man of unusual strength of mind. He would often sit silent, when in

council with his brethren, during many lengthy discussions on some intricate subject, till nearly at the close, when he would rise, and spread out the whole subject with perfect ease, and devise means for solving each point to the entire satisfaction of all. He usually weighed a subject well before giving his opinion, yet, when his mind was made up, he was sanguine in supporting his position, and, some have supposed, to a fault. When in the house of worship, he usually manifested his disapprobation by the countenance he wore. When the subject was especially interesting to him, his soul seemed so fully absorbed in it that he forgot everything else; a flood of tears would involuntarily burst from his eyes, and nodding his head he would say, "Yes, yes, that is true," or, "This is right," or, "Amen," or reach to a friend sitting near, that he might share with him in the blessing. He seemed to make all around him interested in the subject in which he himself was delighted.

He took a deep interest in all the benevolent objects of the day; ministerial education lay near his heart. He not only bestowed a scholarship on the Institution at Hamilton, but made liberal donations to it besides. When the monthly contribution was taken up for the foreign mission, he used to give five dollars a month for that; he was equally liberal towards the domestic and other objects of benevolence. He was a zealous advocate of the sentiment that the gospel minister should not only be well supported, but that it be done by equality, according to the gospel, as God had prospered him.

Although he strenuously maintained the doctrine of a limited atonement, yet he warmly approbated the duty and obligation of the sinner, and would often close his arguments on this subject with, "Well, well, I love to hear that blessed doctrine, Come, come, come.

His house was always known as the Christian's home; and it was made doubly so by his interesting conversation on the subject of religion-for this was ever his topic; no one could pay or receive a visit from him, without learning they were with a man of God.

He was not without his enemies, as persons of wealth seldom are; but his were few. The latter part of his life was more particularly occupied with the various objects of bene

« IndietroContinua »