mercy; that his ministry had been only a hypocritical exercise of sinful or insincere experiments, and that he had ruined all with whom he had ever been connected.

The above-mentioned journal was soon after discontinued, and the writer has heard her father, later in life, remark, that he considered such records as delusive representations of the state of the religious affections, eminently calculated to produce self-deception, misleading the writer into exaggerated ideas of the evil in the heart; while, on the other hand, by recording transient emotions and elevated devotional feeling, a too exalted state is induced, in danger of leading to spiritual pride and to false security.

During the last illness and death of his wife, this diary contains scarcely a record, except of the alternate feeling of hope and of despair produced in his own mind as the slight variations of better and worse in the delusive malady of consumption took place. And when there was no more hope, all other records were wiped away, and she alone 'lived in the book, and in the volume of the brain, the tablets of the heart.'

In this season of his affliction, October 18th, 1790, he was chosen Professor of Theology of Phillips Exeter Academy, the trustees of this richly endowed institution having then the intention of making it more of a school of theology than appears to have been the object of the founder. Sympathizing friends urged his acceptance of this office, hoping that change of scene and occupation would heal the deep wounds of an afflictive Providence. But he was now firmly rooted in the affections of his people in Portsmouth,

and decided to remain among them; and, indeed, no other sphere of usefulness could have been half so appropriate. From the time of his affliction, his people observed in him, if it were possible, an increase of spirituality and fervor in the work of his ministry. He was in labors more abundant, anxious, 'to spend and be spent in his Master's service.' To quote the words of another, 'He loved the work of his Divine Lord and Master above every thing else, and nothing gave him so much joy as to be able to win souls to Christ. There was a wonderful pathos in his supplications to the throne of Divine grace, and a wonderful variety and pertinence in all his professional services. At the communion-table, in the chamber of sickness, in the house of mourning, and at the grave, his addresses were extremely appropriate, tender, and deeply impressive.'

It is said in the Life of Dr. Dwight,* that an eminent civilian, hearing Mr. Buckminster pray, after the death of General Washington, remarked, that Mr. Buckminster deserved no credit for that prayer, for it was the effect of immediate Divine inspiration. Such an impression was often left by his occasional services; but his prayers were only the fruit of a devout heart. They breathed a spirit of ardent piety. They were evidence that 'human wants and human sorrows, the dangers which encompass the Christian's course, and the conflicts to which goodness is exposed, were subjects of his habitual thought.' He considered devotion as the life of Christian goodness, and, to promote it in his parish, he appointed two

* Sparks's Biography, Life of President Dwight, by W. B. Sprague.

SALARY AND CHILDREN.

evenings in the week for private meetings with two different classes of his people; the sisters of the church, and the young people, who were prompted by an interest in religion to seek counsel of their pastor.

In the year 1793, Mr. Buckminster gave a mother to his bereaved children, by marrying Mary Lyman, the daughter of Rev. Isaac Lyman of York, and sister of the late Theodore Lyman, Esq., of Boston. With a disposition eminently cheerful, and a heart entirely devoted to domestic joys and interests, -as a fond mother, and a careful guardian of all that could constitute the charm of home,—she made him eminently happy in this connection. While she enjoyed health, and indeed while she lived, although cares pressed and children multiplied, his cheerfulness never failed. He had no attack of nervous disease, and but a momentary depression of spirits.

In the last century, the salaries of ministers were very small, at least in all places except that which has been called the paradise of their order, Boston. Mr. Buckminster's society at Portsmouth was as liberal as any other there, but his salary was not sufficient to spare the pastor from those anxieties and cares which are peculiarly wearing to generous and refined natures. He was extremely generous in his disposition, and hospitable in his habits, and would gladly have had all his brethren at his frugal table. His settlement was upon the value of wheat and Indian corn, and varied extremely in different years; but never did the amount, I think, exceed six or seven hundred dollars. With these rather limited means, it was a fixed principle with him never to owe any thing. He never allowed himself to purchase a thing for which he

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could not pay upon the spot, denying himself and family rather than incur a debt.

Providence richly endowed him with what has been called the minister's blessing, children. His quiver was full of them, and the olive-branches grew thick around his table, upon which, as may be supposed, the meal was simple and frugal, and the elastic cord of means needed to be stretched to the utmost to make both the ends meet around a year's expenses. He suffered much domestic grief in the loss of many lovely children, who were taken away at the most attractive period of life, at the ages of one and two years; and the tenderness of his nature was deeply touched at such losses. Five of his twelve children died in infancy.

EARLY

CHAPTER VI.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE

JOSEPH.

LETTERS BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON. EXETER ACADEMY.

JOSEPH STEVENS, the eldest son of Dr. Buckminster, was born May 26th, 1784. It has been mentioned in the last chapter, that his mother on her death-bed prayed that her son might be devoted to the church; for this purpose both parents took the greatest delight in cultivating his mind, -a mind, too, of such early promise, as almost from infancy gave indication of its excellence. I quote the letter of his eldest sister:

'I do not know how soon my brother was able to read; but at four years old be began to study the Latin Grammar, and had so great a desire to learn the Greek also, that my father, to please him, taught him to read a chapter in the Greek Testament by pronouncing to him the words. As early as this he evinced that love for books and ardent thirst for knowledge which he possessed through life. He was seldom willing, while a child, to leave his books for any amusement; my father was so much afraid that close application would injure his health, that he used to reward him for playing with boys of his own age, and would go with him to persuade him by example to take part in their

* Afterwards the wife of John Farrar, Hollis Professor of Mathematics in Harvard University.