He entered Williams College in 1810, being then in his fourteenth year, but the thoughtlessness and imprudence too natural in boys of his peculiar temperament at that age, led him into conduct which caused his removal, by order of the faculty, from the institu

economy; and the smallest deviations from the rigid rules of frugality incurred the severest censure. Trained up in manly exercise, which invigorated the body, and qualified them to endure, with patience, hunger and fatigue, - with fortitude to combat evils, to others insurmountable, they were taught to despise the effeminacy of surrounding nations. Ambitious of their country's glory, devoid of fear, magnanimous and persevering, they ever marched intrepidly onward to victory or death. Insulting monarchs, on their haughty thrones, were brought to tremble at their very name. While they preserved this peculiar and happy mode of education, so essential to the prosperity of every community-while they swerved not from the principles of their constitution-while the love of country continued to warm the breast of every citizen-while they were actuated by the desire of fame, and inspired with a laudable ambition, their national virtues were preserved in their original purity, and their glories remaining unsullied, formed the summit of the felicity and renown of republics.

"Having arrived at this degree of perfection, wealth, with its accursed train, introduced by conquest, and a more familiar intercourse with nations, absorbed in the pleasures of sensuality, transplanted the venality and corruption of those kingdoms into their bosoms. Their former honorable poverty was now deemed infamous-the source of virtue and honor contaminated-soon, too soon, was their meridian sun obscured with clouds-rapid their decline short the evening of their day ;their glory levelled with the dust. These melancholy truths every page of ancient history confirms; and even 'The mourning shade of Sparta's self whispers her assent to the sad reality.'

"Then, my friends, let us endeavor to imitate the example of our worthy predecessors, and strive to obtain such an education that we may be useful to our country, if our fathers are able to entail to their posterity the liberty of their country, unimpaired. And I trust the recollections of the toils and dangers which our fathers passed through in acquiring our independence, will cause our youthful hearts to glow with patriotism, and stimulate us to perform actions worthy of ourselves."

tion for a season. Indeed, at this time he appears to have wandered into dangerous paths, and to have thrown off in a great degree the restraints of conscience, authority, and good example. In 1811,* he was sent to Middlebury College, where he found himself in the midst of a community distinguished for the purity of its morals, and among young men of studious habits and religious principles. In the autumn of this year, (but it is believed before his connexion with the college,) a remarkable attention to religion prevailed among the students, and about forty became, it was hoped, practically obedient to the commands of Christ. When, after the winter vacation, in the spring of 1812, they assembled, the influence of their piety was evident, and their conversation and religious meetings attracted the attention, and made an impression on the mind of Larned. He was observed, (by one who was subsequently among his most intimate friends,) immediately after his union with the college, to attend constantly the Sunday morning prayer-meetings instituted by the religious students, and, at which, others were seldom seen. This excited some surprise, as his irregular conduct at Williams College was known; but he afterwards stated, that on coming to Middlebury he resolved to choose the religious for his companions, and to attend their devotional meetings. This purpose, formed, as he said, from regard to his own character, and in compliance with the advice of his pious and most excellent mother, was carried into effect, not only by his attendance at the meetings just mentioned, but by his selection, for a friend and room-mate, of an intel

* According to Dr. Davis: Dr. Post states in the spring of 1812

ligent and exemplary Christian,* subsequently elected to a professorship in the college, and whose sudden death deprived the institution of one of its brightest ornaments. His choice of virtuous associates was of great benefit. It proved a safeguard against temptation, and by thus walking with the wise, he became more and more disposed to receive those divine truths which are the power as well as the wisdom of God unto salvation.

For some time after his arrival at Middlebury, though evincing a decided respect to the institutions and duties of religion, Christianity appears to have exerted no vital influence on his heart. The peculiar warmth and vivacity of his feelings increased in him the ordinary tendencies of our nature at his age to excess in social pleasures and frivolous amusements. The elements of his character were powerful and easily excited. Without disguise, generous, and possessing an exhaustless fund of humor and the happiest talent for conversation, his company was much sought, and his confidence perhaps too easily obtained. But of the means and circumstances of that great change in his religious views and purposes, which occurred during his junior year in college, in the spring and summer of 1812, from which he dated the origin of his best hopes, and which directed his way to the Christian ministry as a profession, I shall here submit the statements of several of his friends, two of them fellow-students with him at the time, and the other intimately acquainted with the facts in this portion of his Life :

"About this time (says one*), several persons died suddenly in Middlebury. One of them, a young man, was ushered into eternity without leaving any evidence of his preparedness for heaven. His death solemnly impressed the mind of Larned. He was led to consider what would be his own situation if suddenly summoned into the presence of his Maker. I do not say that the exhortations and appeals which were occasioned by this dispensation of Providence had no influence on him. They doubtless had. But it is distinctly recollected that he himself said, they were his own, solitary, midnight reflections on it, that filled him with anxiety and alarm. In accordance with the Psalmist's declaration, he communed with his own heart upon his bed and was still. He said very little on the subject of religion to any one, though from a few expressions which fell from him, and from his serious air and deportment, it was hoped by his religious friends, that the Spirit of God had touched and softened his heart. His convictions were not sudden but gradual-the result, under God, of much consideration. He reflected upon the sins of his past life-he examined his heart-saw it destitute of holiness, and was convinced that for his transgressions of the Divine law he was justly condemned. His sense of guilt for having so long neglected the mercy of God in Christ was great, and he was ready to sink into despair.

"In this state of mind, as he was retiring from the chapel after prayers, one evening in the early part of June, he took the hand of a religious friend, and said with emotion, 'My

• Dr. Post.

dear friend, I am a lost sinner; will you pray for me?" They retired to a neighboring grove, and spent more than one hour in prayer and conversation. Larned returned to his room, and continued for a number of days in great anxiety of mind-spending most of his time in reading the scriptures-solitary reflection and prayer-having intercourse with but two or three pious friends. At one time he was told by an indiscreet though well-meaning individual, that it was a sin to pray before he had submitted to God. This added for a while to his perplexity and distress, until led by a friend to a view more just and accordant with the word of God.

"From the time of his first religious impressions until he found joy and peace in believing, was, it is thought, a period of from two to three months."

Says another,*

"If my recollection be correct, the providential means of his awakening was the death of a neighbor who was summoned into eternity on a very short warning. This was not a new event to him, but, by the agency of the Spirit, it was carried home to his conscience with irresistible power. Death appeared terrible. His sins arose in array before him. The law uttered its wrathful sentence against his guilty soul. What could he do? It was not until he bowed in humble subjection to the will of God, that he found peace, and when he began to feel the emotions of a heart renovated by the Spirit of God, he entered the service of his divine Master with characteristic ardor. He addressed a letter to his mother, informing her of the great change in his views and feelings, and telling her what delight it would give him, on his return home, to at. tend that despised prayer meeting, held in a certain hum

• Rev. J. N. Danforth.