ART. VI.-The Life of Wilbur Fisk, D. D., First President of the Wesleyan University. By JOSEPH HOLDICH. 8vo., pp. 455. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1842.

THE study of biography is one of the most engaging and instructive studies which can be pursued. The reason is obvious. It is the study of man. And what can more deeply interest man than the study of himself? We mean not those common-place biographies of every day's occurrence, in which we find nothing of a peculiar character to instruct us in the knowledge of human nature, containing, as they do, a mere dry detail of facts, which may be told of every human being, varying only in respect to the time and place of his birth, his age, and the circumstances of his death. These pall upon the mental appetite, and disgust us by their perpetual repetition. But when a person gives early indications of intellectual strength, grows up under the fostering care of divine Providence, gradually develops a mind of rare capabilities, exhibiting, on all occasions, an original genius in all his movements—and more especially if he give evidence that his heart has been sanctified by divine grace-and finally succeeds in accomplishing some grand design, we trace his life with increasing delight, are edified with the incidents of his onward course, and are made wiser and better by his instructive example. Hence the more general history abounds in the character and conduct of individuals eminent for their talents, who made an impression upon the age in which they lived, the more eagerly is it read, and the greater benefits does it produce. Nor can such biographies be too minute in their details. While studying the lives of such individuals, we love to enter into all their private and domestic affairs, to discover, as far as possible, their secret springs of action, and to become acquainted with all the means by which they rose to eminence, and accomplished their work.

These means of gratification are afforded, in some measure, at least, in the Life of Dr. Fisk. That he was eminent for the goodness of his heart and for many shining qualities of mind, will be evident to all who read the memoir before us. That he made an impression upon the age in which he lived, and that of the most hallowed and beneficial character, no one will dispute. And if we are not let into the secrets of his heart, on all occasions, it is not the fault of his biographer, but of the subject of the narrative, who left but few private memorials behind him, except such as are found in letters to individuals, and such as have been furnished by

his bereaved and disconsolate widow. These, however, are of the most sacred character, and exhibit the man in the privacy of domestic life, and unfold a character of loveliness and brilliancy of the most engaging and instructive sort. To the industry and fidelity of Professor Holdich are we indebted for collecting and grouping together many incidents in the life and labors of Dr. Fisk, not before known even to many of his friends, which will be read with delightful avidity by those who cherish in their memories a recollection of his many excellences, while the stranger will be struck with admiration at beholding imbodied in a human being those qualities of the understanding and heart which adorned and dignified the character of this man of God.

With these general remarks, we hasten to give the reader a synoptical view of the work before us, and the manner of its execution. It is an octavo volume of four hundred and fifty-five pages, divided into twenty chapters, to which is prefixed a table of contents, denoting the several topics introduced into the memoir. The style is plain and perspicuous, such as all biographical writings should be, and the typographical execution is such as we might expect from the press of Harper and Brothers, fair and elegant.

So much for the general character of the work. As might be expected, it begins with an account of his parentage, his birth, and education, and gives interesting incidents of his juvenile days. Into these particulars it cannot be expected that we should enter in this brief review. It will be sufficient for us to remark, that the parents of Dr. Fisk, in the language of his biographer, "were illustrious only for their virtues," occupying the middle rank of the people in the United States, living by the fruits of their industry, and maintaining an independence in the state of Vermont worthy of the yeomanry of a country where merit is measured, not by the standard of artificial rank, but by worth of character, by virtue, industry, and economy. It was, however, honor enough for them to have given birth to such a son as Wilbur Fisk, and been instrumental in rearing him up for God, for the good of the church, and the world.

He was born in Brattleborough, Vermont, August 31, 1792. At a proper age he was put to school, and gave early indications of an intellectual strength which would, if suitably cultivated and directed, exert a beneficial influence upon community. Happily for young Fisk, his mind was early bent in the right direction by the assiduous care of a pious mother, and the skill of a useful teacher. Under such influences he became early imbued with a love of study, and with the fear of God. He finally succeeded in

attaining the honors of a college in the Brown University, which he received as the reward of merit, and which were not disgraced by any future act of his life. On leaving college, his inquiry was, "What profession shall I take?" After balancing the claims and hazards of several, he finally decided on the law as preferable to all others. Upon this he accordingly entered with much ardor. Having, however, but a feeble constitution, he found the study of the law too laborious, and was compelled to relinquish this pursuit; and he returned to the bosom of his parents in the state of Vermont, where he slowly recovered his wonted health, which, at best, was but poor. It was during this interval that his conscience was awakened by the Spirit of God to a keen sense of his lost condition by nature, and of the necessity of regeneration to fit him for the service of God here, and for happiness hereafter. He sought and found redemption in the blood of Christ. This created a new era in his history. His mind became deeply impressed that it was his duty to preach the gospel of the Son of God. After due preparation he entered upon this work with great ardor, and soon gave evidence that he was sent of God-to "warn every man, to teach every man in all wisdom, that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."

It is not our intention to follow Dr. Fisk through all the walks of life in which he moved. Those who wish for particulars in this respect must consult the volume for themselves, and we think they will rise from its perusal, not only highly gratified with the manner in which the writer has executed his task, but also with a determination to devote themselves more exclusively to the service of that God who so abundantly blessed his servant. The following extract from the preface will show that the biographer did not enter heedlessly upon his work, but that he felt the difficulties of his position, and an examination of the volume will demonstrate that he has succeeded admirably in describing his "subject" in the various aspects in which his "diversified character and pursuits" presented him :

"Those who are at all skilled in authorship well know that historical and biographical composition is peculiarly perplexing and laborious; and it will be obvious to all, on very slight reflection, that the labor of writing a biography depends very much on the diversity in the character and relations of the subject, for in proportion to these will be the demand on the author's resources, judgment, and skill. Had Dr. Fisk's life been devoted entirely, or even chiefly, to one pursuit, had his character possessed interest in only a single aspect, or were his biography to have been adapted to any selected class of readers, the writer's task would have been comparatively easy. But the life of any VOL. II.-37

man should be in accordance with his entire character and pursuits. In this lay the difficulty of our present undertaking. To depict correctly the diversified character of our subject; to trace his connection with the many important enterprises in which he was concerned; to give to each of these its relative prominence and just proportion; to adapt the work to the various classes in the community who may be supposed to take an interest in our subject; to present a just account of his share in the controversies in which he was engaged, without giving needless offense to those who differed from him, were some of the duties which rendered the author's task one of more than ordinary delicacy, and required no little thought and labor.

"One topic suggested above deserves, perhaps, to be made a little more prominent. Dr. Fisk was a man of erudition and literature, and, as such, was connected with the republic of letters. On the other hand, he was not less the man of the people. To have written his book exclusively for the former would not have been satisfactory to the latter, and to have written it entirely for the latter would have displeased the former, while in neither case would he have been true to his subject's memory. Whether the writer have succeeded in harmonizing these conflicting claims must be left for the reader to determine; but he wishes that this view of the subject may be kept in mind in deciding on the nature and merits of the work."

Accordingly we find him described as an obedient son; as a diligent and successful student; as a penitent sinner; as a happy believer; as a minister of the sanctuary; as principal of an academy; and then as president of a university; and in the mean time moving in the various circles of society, as a friend, a companion, and fellow-laborer in the field of human improvement; while he is called upon, in the order of divine Providence, to wield his pen in defense of truths and measures which he considered of vital importance to the welfare of the church to which he belonged, as well as to the world at large; to take a prominent part in the various enterprises of the day, such as the Missionary, Bible, Sunday-school, Tract, and Colonization Societies, all of which engaged a share of his attention. Nor must we overlook the more endearing relation of a husband, in which the domestic virtues shone out with a peculiar lustre, more especially in the estimation of her who now mourns her irreparable loss.

Let us look at Dr. Fisk in some of these aspects. And first, let us view him as a minister of the Lord Jesus. He was fully convinced that no man was competent, whatever might be his talents, or literary advantages, for this holy work, unless anointed with the holy unction, unless called and set apart for this labor by the Head of the church himself. Under a conviction of this truth, he entered upon his work. And that he gave irrefutable evidence

that he was thus called, and that he was fully qualified for the task, all who had the happiness of hearing him preach will undoubtedly acknowledge. Though the field of theological truth had been amply surveyed and highly cultivated before Dr. Fisk "put his hand to the plough," yet it was manifest to all who heard. him that he thought, arranged, and digested for himself, and hence delivered his discourses fresh from the heart. He was indeed an original thinker. And he thought deeply and accurately. His sermons were not therefore made up of common-place observations; but were thoroughly digested, and so arranged and delivered as to enlighten the understanding and affect the heart. On some occasions, he entered upon a course of reasoning in support of his positions, which, though perfectly familiar to the man of science, seemed dull and uninteresting to the people at large, and they concluded that he "was not the preacher for them." But he generally made amends for these temporary deviations, by the warmth of his application of truth to the heart and conscience of his hearers, by which their feelings were aroused, and their affections enlisted on the side of truth. It was, however, evident to all, that truth was the object of his pursuit, and that he sought to apply it to the best interests of mankind. In doing this, on some happy occasions, he seemed to be carried beyond himself, and evinced an ardor of mind peculiarly befitting the subject, and every way becoming a devoted minister of the Lord Jesus; for he seemed absorbed in the sole concern for the salvation of those to whom he spake.

His talents as a preacher of righteousness were of a high order. He yielded his understanding to the dictates of the sacred Scriptures, and exemplified their holy precepts in his tempers and conduct. Wherever, therefore, he went, and whenever he preached, he was recognized as a chosen ambassador sent of God to negotiate a peace "twixt earth and heaven," to beseech sinners to be reconciled to God.

But Dr. Fisk was also a literary character. About seven years after his entrance upon the ministry, he was called by his brethren to preside over an academy which had been recently established in North Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Here he began to display those talents for the instruction and government of youth for which he afterward became so eminently distinguished. Under his judicious management the academy rose in the public estimation, and finally acquired such a character in the community as secured for it a large patronage. It was soon filled with students, and has, continued to prosper to the present day. In this office he labored.