Such was the fact, also, with regard to the Theological Seminary, at Andover, in that state. From its commencement, he was one of the visiters of that school, and annually attended to the duties of his office with great engagedness and punctuality. For it, his labours, his counsels, and his prayers, were ever ready; and in its prosperity he was not less interested than in that of the College over which he presided.

From the time of the establishment of the most illustrious and sublime charity that has ever engaged the attention, or drawn forth the exertions and the wealth of the pious and benevolent-" THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY"-it was the ardent wish of President Dwight, to see a similar institution established in the United States. Although a friend and promoter of smaller and more circumscribed institutions, he viewed the subject on a large scale, and was strongly impressed with the idea, that a National Society would be much more efficient, and far more extensively useful. Although he was prevented by sickness from being present at the establishment of "THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY," during the last year of his life; yet it was an object which not only met with his cordial approbation, but had the benefit of his warmest encouragement, and his earnest prayers; and it was a consoling consideration to him that he lived to see it accomplished, and making rapid progress towards extensive usefulness and respectability.

In addition to the foregoing institutions, a long list of more confined, but active and operative societies, formed for the purposes of piety and charity, had the benefit of his exertions, and the weight of his influence and patronage. According to his resources, he contributed largely and cheerfully; his services he rendered to an extent rarely equalled in this country; and in his endeavours to promote their usefulness and success, he was never weary.

Throughout his whole ministerial life, and especially while head of the College, he was resorted to by clergymen, from various parts of the country, for his advice and counsel on the subject of their professional concerns. Vacant parishes applied to him for his assistance in procuring ministers. In all associations of the clergy, local and general, of which he was a member, he was active and influential; able in devising, and firm in accomplishing measures for the advancement of religion, and for the good of the community. His services were extensively sought as a peacemaker, in removing difficulties between ministers and their people, and in restoring harmony in churches. Applications for private teachers, and instructers of public schools, from almost all parts of the United States, were made to him in immense numbers. The infant seminaries of our country often requested his assistance in the selection of their presidents, professors, and tutors. These various applications, not only occupied much of his time, but subjected him to a laborious correspondence, and to no inconsiderable ex

pense. Yet his ardent desire to do good, by improving the educa tion of the young, by diffusing valuable knowledge, by advancing the literary character of the country, and by promoting the prosperity of the church of Christ, rendered these gratuitous services for others not irksome, but pleasant.

During the period of his presidency, he was often called to preach, at the ordination of ministers, at the funerals of distinguished individuals, and on other public and extraordinary occasions. Many of these sermons were printed. The following is a catalogue of these productions, and of various others of a different character published during that period.

In 1797, he published two Discourses on the nature and danger of Infidel Philosophy, addressed to the candidates for the Baccalaureate in Yale College.-And a sermon at the funeral of the Rev. Elizur Goodrich, D. D.

In 1798, a Sermon, entitled "The Duty of Americans at the present Crisis," delivered at New-Haven, on the 4th of July in that year.

In 1800, a Discourse on the character of Washington.

In 1801, a Discourse on some events of the last century.

In 1804, a Sermon on the death of Mr. Ebenezer G. Marsh. In 1805, a Sermon on Duelling.

In 1808, a Sermon on the opening of the Theological Institution in Andover, and the ordination of the Rev. Eliphalet Pearson, D. D.

In 1809, a Sermon occasioned by the death of Governor Trumbull.

In 1810, a Charity Sermon, preached at New-Haven.

In 1812, The Dignity and Excellence of the Gospel-a Discourse delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor.

A Discourse, in two parts, on the Public Fast, in the same year. A Discourse, in two parts, on the National Fast, in the same year.

In 1813, a Sermon, before the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

Observations on Language, published in the Memoirs of the Connecticut Academy of Sciences, in 1816.

An Essay on Light, also published by that Institution the same

year.

In the years 1810, 1811, 1812, and 1816, he published several important articles in two religious periodical publications in NewEngland.

In every situation in life, President Dwight was distinguished for hospitality. At New-Haven he was still more liable to company than at Greenfield; and very few men, in any profession, or employment, in that state, ever entertained more, and no one with more absolute kindness and liberality. A great proportion of re

spectable strangers, almost all clergymen and persons of a religious character, visiting or passing through that town, were desirous of being introduced to him. It is believed that very few, who enjoyed th opportunity, ever left him without being gratified with the interview. Notwithstanding the variety and importance of his avocations, he was never unprepared to entertain strangers, or to enjoy the conversation of his friends.

Twice, during his presidency, the Corporation thought it expedient to state the circumstances of the College to the legislature; and to show that body the extreme inconvenience under which it laboured, for the want of buildings to accommodate the students. They had multiplied to such a degree, that about one third of the whole number were obliged to take rooms in the town; and, of course, were placed out of the immediate inspection, and control, of its officers: a state of things almost necessarily productive of evil to the Institution. He was appointed one of the agents of the Board to present their statement. It will scarcely be believed that these applications were unsuccessful. On both these occasions, his address to that honourable body was universally admired as a distinguished specimen of forensic eloquence. It drew, from all who heard it, the strongest expression of applause.

But notwithstanding the failure of these applications, the reputation of the College was extended, and its numbers increased, beyond all former example. Though in want of the requisite buildings, though chiefly destitute of funds and of patronage, it still flourished; and was considered, throughout the country, as inferior to no seminary of learning in the United States. Students from every part of the Union were to be found in it; and from some of the southern states, a great proportion of the whole number who were educated at the north. The College thus derived, from the talents and exertions of its government, that reputation and advantage, for which it ought, in a far greater degree, to have been indebted to the liberality of the state.

By such long continued and unintermitted application to literary and scientifical pursuits, it would be natural to expect, that at the age of sixty-three, his constitution would have begun to experience some marks of decay and infirmity. Such, however, was not the fact. The regularity of his habits, his temperate manner of living, and the uniform course of exercise which he pursued; all united to invigorate his constitution, and render him, at that age, more active and energetic than most men of forty. No apparent declension was discernible in the powers either of his body or his mind. His understanding was as vigorous, his imagination as lively, and his industry and exertions as uniform and efficient, as they had been at any former period. In September, 1815, he undertook a journey into the western parts of the state of NewYork. When he reached Catskill, he made an excursion to the summit of the neighbouring mountains, with the same views, and

for the same purposes, as he had visited so many similar objects in New-England. After travelling westward as far as Hamilton College, he relinquished the idea of proceeding farther in his journey, in consequence of the state of the roads, which had been rendered extremely heavy and disagreeable by the extraordinary equinoctial storm of that year. As usual, he preached every Sabbath on that journey, and was thought by his friends never to have discovered more force of intellect, or higher powers of eloquence, than on these occasions. This was the last journey that he ever made. On the meeting of College in October, he resumed his customary labours in the chapel, and in the recitation-room, and performed them with his usual vigour, until the month of Febru ary; when he was seized with the first threatening attack of the disease to which he finally became a victim. That attack was severe and painful, to a degree of which those who did not witness it can have no conception. It made rapid and fearful ravages in a constitution which had increased in strength and firmness for more than sixty years, and which promised, to human expectation, to last to a "good old age." His patience, as well as his faith, were now brought to a most severe and heart-searching test. The pain which he endured, and endured with unyielding fortitude, was beyond the powers of description. For several weeks, during the month of April, scarcely any hopes were entertained, either by himself, his friends, or his physicians, of his recovery. Amidst all his sufferings, not a murmur, not a repining expression, escaped from his lips. His mind was perfectly clear, and his reason unclouded. Patience under suffering, and resignation to the will of God, were exhibited by him in the most striking and exemplary manner, from day to day. His conversation was the conversation of a Christian, not only free from complaint, but, at times, cheerful and animated; his prayers were fervent, but full of humility, submission, and hope.

At the end of twelve weeks his disease assumed a more favourable appearance. By surgical aid, he gained a partial relief from his distress; and his constitutional energy, still unbroken, raised the hopes of his friends that he might recover. He was unable to preach in the chapel until after the May vacation. On the 2d of June, he delivered to his pupils a sermon, composed for the occasion during his sickness, from Psalm xciv. 17, 18, 19: "Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul." After a pertinent and solemn introduction, and an allusion to his own sickness and sufferings, the dangerous situation in which he had recently been placed, and the little probability there was, for a time, that he should recover, he proceeded to make a practical use of the doctrine, and the subject. The scene was peculiarly impressive and affecting. In no instance, during his presidency, VOL. I.

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until then, had he been kept from his pulpit by sickness, or any other cause. The change in his countenance and general appearance, was great and alarming. The plan of the discourse was new, the thoughts were deeply interesting, the language plain, but forcible, the manner of delivery solemn and impressive. The mind can scarcely imagine a case in which an audience, comprised of youths, full of feeling, and ardent in the pursuit of reputation and happiness, would be more deeply affected than this must have been, when hearing from the lips of their revered pastor and teacher the following truths, on the true character of worldly good:

"To him who stands on the brink of the grave, and the verge of eternity, who retains the full possession of his reason, and who at the same time is disposed to serious contemplation, all these things become mightily changed in their appearance. To the eye of such a man, their former alluring aspect vanishes, and they are seen in a new and far different light.

"Like others of our race, I have relished several of these things, with at least the common attachment. Particularly, I have coveted reputation, and influence, to a degree which I am unable to justify. Nor have I been insensible to other earthly gratifications; either to such as, when enjoyed with moderation, are innocent; or, such as cannot be pursued without sin.

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But in the circumstances to which I have referred, all these things were vanishing from my sight. Had they been really valuable in any supposable degree, their value was gone. They could not relieve me from pain; they could not restore me to health; they could not prolong my life; they could promise me no good in the life to come. What then were these things to me?

“A person, circumstanced in the manner which has been specified, must necessarily regard these objects, however harmless, or even useful, they may be supposed in their nature, as having been hostile to his peace, and pernicious to his well-being. In all his attachment to them, in all his pursuit of them, it is impossible for him to fail of perceiving, that he forgot the interests of his soul, and the commands of his Maker; became regardless of his duty, and his salvation; and hazarded, for dross and dirt, the future enjoyment of a glorious immortality. It is impossible not to perceive, that in the most unlimited possession of them, the soul would have been beggared, and undone; that the gold of the world would not have made him rich; nor its esteem honourable; nor its favour happy. For this end he will discover, that nothing will suffice but treasure laid up in heaven; the loving-kindness of God; and the blessings of life eternal.

"Let me exhort you, my young friends, now engaged in the ardent pursuit of worldly enjoyments, to believe, that you will one day see them in the very light in which they have been seen by me. The attachment to them which you so strongly feel, is unfounded, vain, full of danger, and fraught with ruin. You will one day view