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is preparatory to preaching and defending the gospel of Christ; and persevered, till, under the smiles of Divine Providence, he reached the object of his devout wishes. That his desire to engage in the ministry was a matter of deep and serious concern to him, is manifest from a letter which lately came into our hands; and which, it appears, he had written to the friend above mentioned, during the first year of his residence at College. We make the following extract, as also illustrative of his Christian attainments at that period.
“Indeed, my brother, the more that I enjoy of my God, the less do I think of my books, for the latter, compared with the former, are tasteless and insipid; but yet my soul feels pleasure and delight in these words, “Go feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood;” and when my thoughts recur to them, I feel animated to proceed in the prosecution of my studies. O my soul! mayest thou never forget the day when thy God spoke these words unto thee, when in his own divine manner he delivered unto thee the solemn charge, commanding thee to go forth in his name, and proclaim this wonder in the ears of all the
