for my God; yet when the rod was partially removed, I would feel disposed to rebel. But bless the Lord, O my soul! at last I cheerfully resigned what I believed was offensive in God's sight; and if the Lord intends that I shall do any thing for his glorious name's sake, I feel not the least disposition to lean on Assyria or Egypt for help. My affections are completely alienated from worldly objects."

Mr. Clopton entertained the most exalted views of ministerial character and responsibility. He considered the gospel ministry as the most solemn, the most important, and the most difficult work in which a man can engage. For this employment he felt himself entirely unworthy, and very imperfectly qualified. His embarrassment was increased by erroneous views respecting a call from God to this service. Not willing to enter the ministry because he possessed useful gifts, an earnest desire to promote the glory of God in the salvation of sinners, and was surrounded by an inviting field of labour, he waited for a call to the work little less than miraculous. This error was confined to his own case.

His opinions of a call to publish the gospel were clear and scriptural, and his counsel to those who, like himself, were exercised and perplexed on the subject was remarkably judicious. These temptations and buffetings, through which this servant of Christ passed, fitted him, in the end, for more extensive usefulness. He was eminently qualified by his own experience to "bind up the brokenhearted;" to be, as he truly was, 66 a son of

consolation."

Toward the close of 1815, after the affliction described in the preceding pages, Mr. Clopton's religious fervour was greatly and manifestly increased. His letters began to breathe an unearthly spirit, which indicated that God was fitting him for some holy and important enterprise. The following extract from a letter to his father, dated January 8, 1816, may be read as a proof, and as a specimen.

"Since I left you, I have had much pleasure in reading, praying, and conversing about the unsearchable riches of Christ. I have not got my new Bible, but I send yours. O, how great a treasure! How thankful, how sin

cerely grateful ought we to be to the God of mercies, that we have his revealed will in our native tongue, so that we, in spite of the pope and the devil, may read and know, if peradventure the Spirit accompany our reading, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; of whom' (I think I can sincerely say with Paul) 'I am chief!' — Yes, ever blessed be his name, that I have neither to fear the magnitude of my sins, nor to depend on any good works-good dispositions, natural or acquired, for salvation."

In the beginning of the year 1816, Mr. Clopton, mainly through the influence of his friend, Mr. Morrison, commenced his public labours for Christ, in the room appropriated to the preparatory school. "I was," says Mr. Morrison," present at his first meeting. He exhorted: we both prayed. His exhortation was an excellent one; and delivered with much feeling. His meetings were well attended, and I have no doubt good was done."

'Mr. Clopton was not destined to sail long on a smooth sea. A severe storm awaited him.

The following account of his failure

in an attempt at exhortation, taken from the letter to his father quoted above, will be read with interest by those who have experienced the anxieties and conflicts incident to the commencement of extemporaneous speaking in the cause of Christ.

"On Saturday night came on again our prayer-meeting, which had been suspended for some time; and at which I had spoken several times to the great satisfaction of some, and sore grinding of others. I had heard of the offence, and was inclined to believe that I should probably injure my Master's cause by attempting any thing of the kind at that place afterward. I, therefore, resolved to keep silence. I promised to do so. But finding there were some who insisted that I should stand forth, I, at length concluded to attempt. After a prayer had been made, and a short sermon read, I got up; but the fear of man had taken possession of me, or unbelief, or the devil-I became weak in body, and weaker in spirit. It appeared that I could neither feel nor see-I said but little and even that to little purpose-I came home not fallen more in the view of others than of myself

I could neither pray nor read-thinking or fearing that I had been rushing into a place too holy to be trodden by my feet. I fear too, I can assure you, that pride had too much to do in it. In viewing my whole course since I have confessed Jesus with my lips, it appeared that every single act, was, not only only stained with sin, but undertaken through vainglory. I concluded that the Lord had hitherto opened my lips in judgment, that my eyes might be darkened, and my soul deluded. I had a fever, and not much sleep that night. I hope I have since felt more humble."

Owing to his numerous and pressing engagements, Mr. Clopton did not frequently plead his Master's cause for some time after he commenced his ministry; but his active and enterprising spirit led him "to devise liberal things." In the spring of 1816, a convenient house of worship was erected, about two miles from Chapel Hill, through his liberality and influence. On the fourth Lord's day in June it was solemnly dedicated to the service of the 66 great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ." The services of the occasion are represented to have been highly interesting. Elders Ro