A service, not very dissimilar in kind, he once performed for several churches in his own neighborhood, as one of a committee of the Cumberland conference, much to their acceptance, and, it is hoped, to their spiritual advantage.

During his public life, Mr. Payson made several journeys to the springs at Ballston and Saratoga, for the recovery of his wasted health. The mixed characters, collected together at this place of fashionable resort, found him the judicious and earnest advocate of his Master's cause. Here he was no less bent on the ruling purpose of his heart, than when at home, among his own favorite flock. A visiter from another state, who took lodgings in the same house with himself, and preserved some of his remarks and topics of discourse, testifies that it was Mr. Payson's usual practice, in the evening, to read the Scriptures at a stated hour, and offer prayer, which was attended by most of the family and boarders, and to spend a half hour, after prayer, in religious conversation with all who were disposed to remain. He always found many willing to hear, and the number continually increased. He observed to the visiter above alluded to, that the time spent at the springs would not appear so much like a blank, if he should be permitted to do any thing for the cause of Christ. This privilege was granted him; for many left that boarding-house with deep religious impressions, produced through his instrumentality. One young man, who had resolved on finding new lodgings, because there was 66 so much praying" where he was, became the subject of deep conviction, the very evening he expressed such a determination. The gentleman, on whose authority these facts are stated, observes of his prayers-"They contain a great deal of instruction, as well as devotion. He has a happy faculty of making his prayers preach." Yet, while his conversation and prayers were so impressive, and so full of instruction to others, he mourns over his own dulness, as though "the waters had washed every idea out of his head, and every feeling out of his heart."

The events alluded to in the foregoing paragraph, transpired in 1815. Of the impression produced by a subsequent visit, some idea may be formed from the following letter, addressed to the compiler :

"East Windsor, Conn., Nov. 2, 1829. "On his way to Niagara, Dr. Payson called at my house, purposing to rest awhile, and try the benefit of the I had heard much of this excellent man, but never saw him till this time; and the impression he made on my

waters.

mind, at this first interview, will not soon be forgotten. I was struck with the perfect simplicity and great dignity of his manners. His countenance was 'care-worn,' and he had the appearance of one sinking under the load of human infirm.ities, and sighing for rest.

*

"Speaking of his trials on one occasion, he observed to me- -I have needed, all along, to be under the discipline of Heaven; for nothing else could have kept me humble, and saved me from perdition. I have ever been prone to depart from God, and have been kept only by a constant effort of his love. It seems to me, if God had not continually held the rod over me, and hedged up my way, I should have escaped from his hands, and been forever separated from his love.'-I expected, in answer to my inquiries, to hear of the victories of his faith; but he spoke only of the wonderful power of God, which had kept him, and of his love to one so unworthy and perverse. He spoke of his fierce temptations,' and how he had been delivered by the mere mercy of God, and wondered that God should concern himself about such a worm, and that he did not leave him to be torn and devoured by Satan. In all my conversations with this wonderful man, never heard him utter a word that bordered on boasting, or savored of pride; but he seemed to have a surprising sense of his own unworthiness, and of the amazing love of God in making himself known to him, and giving him a hope in his mercy.

Among the virtues of our friend's character, that of humility appeared eminently beautiful and lovely, and shone in his whole deportment. In prayer, his soul lay low before God. He frequently took part in family devotion, and here he excelled all the men I ever heard. He carried us up, and placed us all in the divine presence; and, when he spread forth his hands to God, heaven seemed to come down to earth, and the glory of the Lord shone around our tabernacle. He knew our wants, and he expressed them in language simple and affecting. He knew our miseries, and he told them all in such tones of tenderness and sympathy, as made us feel that a friend was pleading our cause. While this holy man has talked with God, and seemed to be overshadowed with the divine glory, I have sometimes thought I could imagine what must have been the ecstasy of Peter, when surrounded with the glories of the transfiguration scene. At these solemn seasons, when our brother has been pouring out his heart in deep complaints of sin, and in fervent petitions for mercy, it has seemed

as though the cloud of the divine presence covered the household, and the divine majesty was very near us.

"The only exercise Dr. Payson performed in public, while with us, was the baptism of my youngest child. Some, who heard his baptismal prayer, observed, afterwards, that the subject of infant baptism had never been exhibited to them in so convincing and solemn a light, and that they had never been so thoroughly impressed with the obligations of religious parents, and the covenant rights of their children.

"In the bosom of a private family, Dr. Payson hoped to escape notice, and find rest from the vexations of company. But he could not be long concealed; his retreat was soon discovered, and visiters thronged to see him.

"Our domestic circle was often enlivened by the presence and the conversation of Dr. Payson. The children were not unnoticed by him, but shared largely in his attentions; and he seemed to take delight in sharing the toils of the nursery. Often would he take the child from the arms of its mother, and carry it for hours together, and sing some little air to divert it. His conversations were, for the most part, of a religious cast. He seemed inclined to dwell on melancholy subjects, and the strains of the mourning prophet suited him best. Yet now and then would he dwell on the sublime and animating themes of religion; and, when he began on an exalted strain, he was surpassingly eloquent and instructive. He would seize hold of some thought, and pursue it until it expanded and glowed under the splendor of his imagery. On one occasion, he spoke of the probable condition of the soul of the believer when dying. At this awful period, when gasping in the agonies of death, and apparently insensible to every thing around him, he supposed the world to be wholly shut out; and in this condition, while friends stand around, and tremble to think of the unknown agonies he may be enduring, he supposes the light of God's countenance is pouring in upon the soul, rendering him insensible to all his pains, and the soul is struggling and panting to escape from the crumbling tenement, and be at rest in the bosom of God.-I can only give you the idea; it is impossible to reach his description. He seemed to dwell in a spiritual world, and to be most conversant with spiritual objects. This he manifested "by pureness, by knowledge, by love unfeigned." He talked about death as we would talk about going from one place to another; and, if any might adopt the language of Watts, much more might he :

"Receive my clay, thou treasurer of death;

I will no more demand my tongue

Till the gross organ, well refined,

Shall trace the boundless flights of an unfettered mind,
And raise an equal song."

"I add no more; only that the visit of Dr. Payson at my house left this impression upon our minds-not to be forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained ĂN

GELS unawares.

"Respectfully yours,

"SAMUEL W. WHELPLEY."

A short passage from a letter of condolence, addressed to Mrs. Payson by a friend in Connecticut, will probably express the common sentiment of the many thousands, who have listened to him whether for a few moments only or for hours

"I remember with most deep and interesting impression, my last interview with your beloved and ever-to-be-lamented husband. It was during a delightful ride of five or six miles, on the borders of Farmington river. Never had I heard such discourse from the lips of man-never had such an interview with a mortal. Even then he seemed like a pure spirit from another world. Such words of wisdom! and such heavenly affections! I cannot efface the impression from my mind."

The compiler has taken much pains to procure from companions of his journeys some of the striking observations, which were drawn from him by the natural scenery that he witnessed, by the various characters with whom he met, and the circumstances in which, at different times, he found himself. But his attempts, even with those from whom he had the greatest reason to expect full and satisfactory replies, have been utterly fruitless. The general impression produced by his occasional conversation, has been very strong and deep, and the effect powerful and abiding; but no one has ventured to report particulars. The words, and, of course, the precise sentiments, with numerous circumstances which rendered them peculiarly seasonable, "like apples of gold in pictures of silver," are lost beyond recovery, while their effect remains. The impulse which he gave to other minds still keeps them in action, and is still transmitted from mind to mind, while it is impossible for them to tell how this impulse was first imparted. The pleasure and the benefit remain, though the exciting cause has disappeared. So absorbed have persons been with the effect, as to lose all distinct recollection of the means employed in producing it.-This corresponds with the writer's experi

ence.

At the first visit which he ever received from Dr. Payson, some allusion was made to the opinion which prevails among Christians in common life, that ministers are in a situation peculiarly favorable to religious enjoyment, because their -profession leads them to be incessantly conversant with divine truth. "This," said Mr. Payson, " is just as if a hungry man, on entering the kitchen of a large victualling-house, and inhaling the savory odor of the various dishes of rich food, hot from the fire and the oven, with which the busy laborers were loading the tables, should exclaim-'What a blessed time these cooks have!'" During the interview, he uttered enough to make a valuable pamphlet; and yet this one comparison is all that can be related with even tolerable justice to him.

He had repeated applications from the directors of the principal charitable societies of the country to take journeys and collect funds for their respective operations. Of the first of these applications he says "I dislike begging, and therefore thought I must go; but the hopes of a revival pulled me back." He, however, soon after, " made a beginning by visiting a few towns, the result of which did not encourage him to proceed. He was brought into circumstances which rendered it necessary to preach ten times in eight days;" which, added to the fatigue of riding a great distance, proved too much for his strength, and compelled him to relinquish the undertaking.

In the early part of 1819, he made a tour, confined chiefly to Essex county, Mass., in behalf of the American Education Society.* His success in collecting money, though as great, probably, as his employers had any reason to anticipate, did not equal his own wishes. It was no slight trial,' after preaching till he was half dead, to find only a few dollars contributed, and then be obliged to retire, and lie awake, brooding over his ill success half the night.' His actual receipts, however, constituted but a small part of the advantage which the society

* A little manuscript volume has fallen into my hands, in which one of Mr. Payson's hearers entered his texts from time to time, together with some of the leading topics of his discourses. A short extract will show the appositeness of his subjects to the circumstances of himself and his congregation, and enable the reader to imagine the additional force and impressiveness which his instructions hence derived:

"Jan. 24, 1819. In the afternoon, Mr. Payson, preparatory to leaving town on a mission to the counties of Essex and Middlesex, in the service of the American Education Society, preached from these words:

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem, may be accepted of the saints; that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.'" Rom. xv. 30-32.