commenced its work in the north-east room of the basement story, and was first seen issuing from the outer door of the room, about midnight. Its progress was rapid, and before three o'clock in the morning nothing was left but the naked walls and a smouldering pile of ruins, within and without. It was a sad sight and a dark hour to the weeping congregation. In the language of the prophet they lamented and cried," Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire, and all our pleasant things are laid waste!"

CHAPTER XIII.

Measures to rebuild.-Fruits of the Revival.-Church rebuilt.Another Revival.-Cholera.-Proposals for a removal.-Origin of Wabash-College.-Consents to become its President. -Loss of a child.-Pastoral relation dissolved.-Retrospect.

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THE morning after the fire brought with it new duties and new purposes. Again he girded himself with the armor of self-denial, and commenced the arduous work of rebuilding a house for God." The same day, he called upon a number of his ministerial brethren and others, gathered them together and secured the appointment of a committee of intelligent laymen to confer with the trustees of his congregation, in reference to the kind and amount of aid which they would need. The trustees came together the same evening, and went about the work. The subject was laid before the congregation on Friday-evening. "And here," says Mrs.

B., "let a tribute be paid to the congregational spirit, and expansive benevolence with which that prostrate people rallied around their standard, and raised their watchword-Onward!' They acted a part so noble as greatly to endear them to their leader, and to stimulate anew that untiring zeal with which their former patrons had strengthened their hands by their liberal contributions. Thus was fulfilled the warm assertion of the Rev. Dr. S. some ten years previous, who said to Mr. B., as they arose from supplication,- Brother Baldwin! this wilderness shall bud and blossom as the rose.'"

At the meeting of the congregation, which was held in All-Saints' (Episcopal) church, in Henry-street, they resolved to rebuild the church-edifice, subscribed nearly 1200 dollars the same evening, and appointed a large committee to solicit further subscriptions. At the same meeting a communication was received from the vestry of All-Saints' church, offering to the houseless congregation the free use of the Henry-street church, for two services on the Sabbath,-at one and seven o'clock P. M., and also for the Lecture on Friday-evening. In like manner, the Reformed Dutch church, in Thirdstreet, near Avenue D., opened their doors on Sabbath morning, and on Tuesday-evening, at which latter time the church had always been accustomed to meet together for social worship. Thus a kind Providence furnished them with ample facilities for assembling themselves together for the worship of God and the continued promotion of the work of grace, which the Holy Spirit had so recently commenced among them.

On the last Sabbath in March, Mr. Baldwin was amply repaid for all the sacrifices that he had made and

anxieties that he had endured in this enterprise, by seeing more than half a hundred of his congregation coming out from the world, and for the first time publicly professing their faith in a crucified Redeemer. On no other occasion had he seen such an ingathering among his people. It was the largest that he was at any one time permitted to witness in his own congregation. The revival resulted in the addition subsequently of thirty other individuals, and in the conviction of many others who, in another season of grace, were brought to experience the joys of forgiveness.

Thus the year proved to be a year of distinguishing mercy, as well as of trial. It was one, too, that drew largely upon the exertions and time of the pastor. It was expected by the congregation that, in every thing pertaining to the temporal, as well as the spiritual concerns of the people, he would take the lead; for so it had been from the beginning. He was himself the life and soul of every good work in which the society engaged. Consequently every such work bore the impress of his own hand.

Encouraged by the liberality of their fellow-Christians in the city, and timely aided by the avails of the insurance, (which to the amount of $12,000 had been effected previous to the fire,) and of loans generously offered, the congregation were able to pay their former debt, and to prosecute the work of rebuilding with considerable rapidity.

As the time drew near for the re-occupancy of the new house of worship, Mr. B. endeavored to make it the occasion of a more solemn and entire consecration of himself to the service of his Master. On the tenth of November, he reviewed his former resolutions, and with

some alterations and additions bound himself anew to their observance.

The new church was finished, and dedicated to the service of the Savior on the 20th of November, 1831. The occasion was improved by the Rev. Drs. Cox and Woodbridge, and the Rev. Erskine Mason, each of whom preached appropriate discourses, the latter in the afternoon, and the two others in the morning and evening respectively. It was an occasion for which Mr. B. had peculiar reason to be gratified. Three houses of worship he had now erected for the use of his people, with great toil, anxiety, and self-denial. The first had been disposed of in a manner, which must have been a constant source of unpleasantness to one who so much deprecated the prevalence of any corrupt forms of religion. The second had fallen a prey to the flames. And, strange to say, by this providence, the congregation were relieved from many of their embarrassments. In no other way could so much have been raised, either among themselves or in the other churches of the city, towards the liquidation of their burdensome debt. They had entered their second house with a debt of nearly $17,000. This was now reduced to about $12,000, and the relief was sensibly felt and gratefully acknowledged.

Ever anxious most of all for the spiritual welfare of his people, Mr. B. had no sooner brought them into their new tabernacle than he sought for them the presence of the Holy One of Israel. Such blessings had resulted from the "protracted meetings" of the previous winter, that he was encouraged to make experiment of their propriety in his own congregation. Accordingly such a meeting, the first of many similar,

was commenced on Thanksgiving-day, December 8th, and continued four days. Thrice on each of these days, as the custom then was, the congregation assembled, and a sermon was preached on each occasion by some member of the Third Presbytery of New-York.

A revival followed. On the 20th of January, 1832, the pastor says of the protracted meeting,-"It was not full, but many attended, and the result was happy. A revival has, since that time, been in progress, and at this time probably fifty persons are indulging hopes of recent acceptance with Christ. To-day is kept by us as a season of special prayer. Never have I felt that we had more reason, as a congregation, for gratitude to God, or more encouragement to pray for an extensive blessing upon this neighborhood. Never have I felt my soul more lifted up in the service of God."

As usual in such a season, Mr. Baldwin entered into the work not only with characteristic ardor, but with an elevated experience of Christian joy. The firstfruits of the revival were received into the church on the fourth Sabbath of January. On this occasion (22d) he writes, "This Sabbath morning has been a precious season in the house of God. Thirty-four persons have professed their love to Christ and his gospel. The congregation has been large, attentive, and solemn. We expect to improve the afternoon in celebrating our Savior's love-and what can I say? - even as one of old said, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth ;" and with the apostle, too, I know in whom I have believed.' I think I do know and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

In prospect of another season of ingathering he says, March 16,-"This day, by request of the session, is set