naturally led to the selection of some of the most valuable works of sacred literature. But the Bible and the "The Pilgrim's Progress," were his favorite companions. The latter he had read through seven times before he reached his twelfth year. His mother used to tell him that "it was an excellent book if he could but understand it." "So foolish was I," he remarked at a maturer age, "that I thought I understood every word of it: but experience has since taught me, much more effectually, how difficult it is to travel through the world like a pilgrim, and like a good Christian, to fight the fight of faith." Of his early youth we have but a brief history. Against the baleful contamination of ungodly friends, not even the vigilant eye of most anxious parents could protect him. It was his misfortune to be thrown much in the company of associates, by whom religion was denounced as fanaticism and the Bible a forgery. The poison of infidelity was soon infused into his bosom, so that the early age of fifteen found him, to use his own expression, "a rank deist," disregarding, as a cunningly devised fable, all that pious parents had taught him. But the same word which arrests the flowing tide, with this interdict, "Thus far shalt thou go and no farther," arrested the progress of evil in that youthful heart. His outward life was invariably correct, manly and honorable. No mortal ear ever heard from his tongue. an oath, a lie, or an obscene word; and yet, as he afterwards remarked of himself, "I was ripe for any sin. But I was still preserved. I could not break through the restraints which were upon me. The eye of good and strict parents, and the eye of a better God were upon me." "In that state of youthful apostasy," he remarked upon another occasion, "my heavenly Father did not long leave me. Often did my conscience smart under the pangs of guilt. My scepticism could not bear the test of solitude, but it recoiled upon me with a terrible shock in the lonely walk and hour of darkness." A providential circumstance, for so we are compelled to regard it, just at this time threw in his way a copy of "Jenkins on the Truth and Certainty of the Christian Religion," and that book was the instrument for "dissipating his foolish cavils, and of establishing him in the faith of the Gospel." Deeper convictions of guilt now grappled with his conscience, and waters of a bitter cup were wrung out of him. His path for a time lay through clouds and thick darkness, but eventually the light of peace and joy broke upon his mind, and he felt himself called upon both by duty and inclination, publicly to arm himself on the Lord's side. Cloud and sunshine, joy and sadness, marked many of the subsequent years of his Christian life,-to which the alternations of hope and despondency, respecting his entering the ministry, largely contributed. His attention had first been seriously directed to this subject by the Rev. Legh Richmond, during a visit to his father's house ;—and soon it became the mark of his highest and holiest ambition.* * The circumstances which introduced Legh Richmond to the family of Mr. Jackson's father, are somewhat singular. About the year 1807, a celebrated impostor arose in England named Ann Moore, but most commonly known as “The Fasting Woman of Tutbury." Appealing to her capability of existing without food or drink, in attestation of her pretensions, this woman claimed to be an especial favorite of heaven, and a messenger of God. For several years, her story was widely credited throughout the kingdom, the deepest interest was every where excited in her case, and many men of intelligence and professional distinction, permitted themselves to be imposed upon by her pretensions. Her power of abstaining from food was too easily credited, and too easily believed to be miraculous. The evil to the cause of true religion became too manifest, not to excite the deepest solicitude in the minds of Christian people. Accordingly Legh Richmond came The very obstacles which appeared to lie in his path, only served to increase the strength of the desire, and to confirm the fixedness of his purpose, and yet there was manifest the most sincere desire to follow whither the leadings of God's providence should conduct him. Some unpretending lines, which were written about this time, sufficiently exhibit the state of his mind upon this subject. They are transcribed more for the sentiment than for the poetry; the last verse especially, as expressive of that sweet and humble acquiescence in the allotments of God's providence, which every laborer in His vineyard has need to feel. They are headed A DESIRE FOR THE MINISTRY. One thing have I desired, For that my soul shall seek, A mind adorn'd and meek. An understanding large, Experience, pure and deep, Then from my God a sacred charge, To feed his chosen sheep. I lie in Jesus' hand, Passive, I wait his will, Ready to run at his command, At his command-stand still. forward, with a strong arm, determined to avert the evil, by exposing the imposition. A committee, consisting of thirty-three clergy and gentry, of which Mr. Jackson's father was one, with Sir Oswald Moseley at their head, was appointed to investigate and bring to light the facts of the case. The woman consented to the watch, which it was determined to place upon her. All nourishment of every kind was excluded from the room which she occupied, but finally overcome by exhaustion, she was compelled to acknowledge the imposition. During the period of this investigation, Mr. Richmond tarried beneath the roof of Mr. Jackson's father, and there became acquainted with him in his early youth, and seriously urged upon his consideration, the question respecting his entering the ministry. For an account of this impostor, see Life of L. Richmond, chap. 10. Goode's Book of Nature, Lect. 12, and Dunglison's Physiology. To the bosom glowing with youthful zeal, and eager for work to do in the service of Christ, it is a bitter trial to be laid aside, uncalled for, or thrust back by opposing difficulties; and when in the ministry to be allotted to some narrow corner of the vineyard, with scarce scope enough for the full play of its energies :-but let that be his maxim, "Ready to run at his command, At his command stand still." confer Remembering always that station can never character; that labors are not to be measured by their results, so much as by the manner in which they have been performed; that they who "stand and wait," as effectually accomplish God's purposes, as those who are commissioned to the achievement of His glorious purposes; and that all His appointments are in wisdom and in love. The difficulties which, to Mr. Jackson's eye, obstructed his entrance into the ministry, were imaginary rather than real and yet they served to test his sincerity, to prove the steadfastness of his purpose, and, eventually, to prepare him for the sacred work. God may often determine to bestow blessing, but He chooses his own time. Delays are not denials; and if he bestows not the good which we desire, as soon as we could wish, it is because some greater good is to be accomplished by witholding than by giving. "Clouds of difficulties,"---says a fragment of his diary,"seemed to intervene between me and my desired object. I thought I was too young to judge rightly upon so important a subject, and that my desires arose from improper motives. Accordingly I made up my mind to relinquish my studies, and wrote to Mr. Hutchinson, informing him, for the first time, of the hopes I had cherished, stated the difficulties, and my determination to forbear the pursuit. He wrote to me encouraging me to persevere, and that he doubted not my way would be made plain. I opened my mind to several ministerial friends, who all gave me encouragement which I was willing to take. Many times I endeavored to stifle my desires, (God grant it may not be laid to my charge, by Him from whom all holy desires do proceed,) but they always returned with redoubled vigor." In this hour of perplexity he addressed the following letter to his mother, whom he venerated, in which he exhibts his present state of feeling, and his filial deference to her superior age and wisdom : "MY DEAR MOTHER, 66 Tutbury, July, 1812. "I scarce know how to open the subject upon which duty and necessity require that I should consult you. 'Oh! that I had the pen of a ready writer,' that I might give it its due weight. Were I addressing a parent who was a stranger to the inestimable value of the Gospel, who never frequented a throne of grace, who had no eye to Providence, and whose affections clave to the things of this world, despair rather than hope would have possession of my mind. But I hope better things of you, my dear mother, and doubt not you will make what I have to say a matter of earnest prayer, that we may neither of us act indiscreetly or contrary to the will of divine Providence. However my desires may at first meet with your disapprobation, or may be esteemed by you worse than madness, yet, I beseech you, consider attentively what I have to say, and after having laid it before God, I cannot but believe you will think differently of it. If it should meet your decided opposition, I shall feel it my duty to act conformably to your will, and shall regard it as an evidence that Providence frustrates my designs. But oh! my dear mother, beware lest you |