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my expectations of being converted were delusive. This led me to more diligence and earnestness. began to think that what I had considered conviction, was not; and that something more was necessary to constitute a Christian, than anxious thoughts, or convictions of sin. I now realized, in some measure, the power of the doctrines of grace. I found myself to be 'dead in trespasses and sins'I had no heart to love God-I was vexed that a just God possessed all power, and would do his pleasure, without regard to the dictates of his creatures. During all this time, though wearisome days and nights were appointed me, I continued in rebellion against God, and refused to accept of mercy on the terms of the gospel. And I am fully persuaded that I should have continued in my sins, and rejected the Saviour, and grieved away the Spirit, had not God, of his own good pleasure, applied to my heart 'the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.'

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name,' who was pleased, as I humbly trust, to deliver me from the servitude of sin, in which I must otherwise have perished with the enemies of God. I had spent my living upon physicians, and when I'was nothing better, but rather grew worse,' then, as I hope, the Lord was pleased to speak the word, that I might be healed. And, O how sweet the joys of believing in Jesus! what pleasures didst thou my soul realize, when the light of God's countenance first shone upon thee? What can compare with the joy and peace of believing in Jesus? When compared with this, how mean are all the pleasures, which honor, wealth, power, and sensual gratification can afford!

'Could I command the spacious earth,

And the more boundless sea;

For one blest hour at thy right hand
I'd give them both away.'

"Give me 'affliction with the people of God,' rather than 'the pleasures of sin for a season.' Let the

Lord be my God, and may I never be unfaithful in his cause. I devote myself, O Lord, to thee. Wilt thou accept the offering? Cleanse me from my sins-save me from stupidity-keep me humbleprepare me for thy service, and make me an instrument of good in the world-may thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as in heaven; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

After a season of trial and self-examination young Fisk professed religion, and was received to the church in his native town, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Theophilus Packard, D. D. From this time. he manifested a deep solicitude for the salvation of sinners, and often exhorted, and affectionately urged them to immediate repentance. At an early period he was requested to assist in the services of private religious meetings, and his performances, though but a youth, were appropriate, judicious, and impressive. To religious meetings of this kind he was always partial; and such was his facility of communication, his earnestness, and faithfulness, that he rendered them in a high degree profitable. Many will long remember, how on such occasions he warned them with entreaties and tears to be reconciled to God.

His love for the service of his Divine Master was so strong, that he very soon determined on devoting himself to it, in the work of the ministry. His feelings were communicated to his parents; and though they had once tried to discourage him from pursuing a public education, they now acceded cheerfully to his wishes, promising him whatever assistance, it was in their power to render. He accordingly commenced his preparatory studies about a year after he had professed religion, and pursued them principally under the direction of Rev. Moses Hallock, of Plainfield, Mass. His application to study was vigorous and diligent; but he kept such

watch over his heart, that no apparent check was given to the ardor of his piety. A letter, which he wrote at this time, will show the state of his religious feelings.

"Plainfield, Sept. 8, 1810.

"Dear Brother-We have publicly renounced the world, and avouched the Lord to be our God. Do we feel the importance of living according to our holy profession? What will it avail us, that we have been with Christians here, that we have set down with them at the table of the Lord, unless our hearts are true to the Redeemer's cause? If we would be disciples of Christ, we must deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow him. We cannot serve Mammon, and at the same time render acceptable service to God. Our great business must be, to act for God;-we must pray without ceasing, watch and persevere, 'lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,' and run, wrestle, and fight with patience. O let us take heed that the curse, denounced against Meroz, fall not upon us-let us love Christ not in word only, but in deed and in truth-let us frequent the closet, attend to the Scriptures, meditate much on heavenly things, feel as if we were pilgrims and strangers here below, and seek 'a city, which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.'

"The friends of missions here met last week and paid over their subscription, amounting to between fifty and sixty dollars. The Rev. Mr. H. of C. who left us this morning, mentioned an individual in his church, who, in addition to an annual subscription of six dollars, paid at one time $100, and said, if the missionary chest were empty, he would give more. O my dear brother, while some give their money and others their time to God, let us not keep back from our duty.

Your brother, P. FISH."

The last paragraph in the above extract shows, that Mr. Fisk began at an early period to feel an interest in the missionary cause. It was about this time that a Foreign mission was first proposed to the American churches. The subject arrested his attention, engaged his feelings, and led him to determine, should he become qualified, to go 'far hence to the Gentiles.' His aged father has said, since the death of his son, that before he left the paternal roof to prepare himself for the service of the church, he had in view a Foreign mission-an object on which he steadily kept his eye, and with reference to which he carefully disciplined both mind and body. Possessed, as he was, of ardent piety, vigor of mind, unyielding fortitude, and a physical constitution naturally robust, and rendered more so by the healthful breezes of his native mountains, his early decision to become a missionary may be regarded, as the result of sound judgment and enlightened zeal. To this early fixedness of purpose respecting the object of pursuit he was indebted under God for no small share of the singular excellences which belonged to him as a missionary to the heathen. His great object lay constantly before him, and it was his unceasing prayer to God that he might be fitted for it.

Having completed his preparatory studies, he offered himself in 1811 for admission to Middlebury College, Vermont: he went unaccompanied by friend or acquaintance, and was admitted on examination to an advanced standing.

CHAPTER II.

FROM HIS ADMISSION TO COLLEGE, TILL HE JOINED THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, ANDOVER, MASS.

THE review of Mr. Fisk's collegiate course, furnishes few occurrences of very special interest.

It does not appear, that he was ambitious to be distinguished among his associates by literary honors. His ruling passion was rather to be good than great. His standing as a scholar will be learnt from a communication prepared by a gentleman then connected with the faculty of the college of which he was a member.

"His talents," this gentleman observes, "were highly respectable; though as a scholar he never greatly distinguished himself. He had an aversion to the study of the ancient languages. Owing to his reluctance to apply himself closely to the investigation of difficult passages, the knowledge he acquired of these languages, was somewhat imperfect. The branches of science which belonged to my department-the mathematics and natural philosophy-he pursued with more eagerness and greater success. But even here he was good, rather than excellent.”

His early taste for mathematical studies has been mentioned. He became more and more deeply interested in this department of science, the farther he pursued it. Had he applied himself to the extent of his powers, he would doubtless have excelled. But he feared the influence which intense application to the sciences might have on his piety: his primary object was to grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. The spirit with which he pursued his studies may be learned from his correspondence. In a letter to one of his brothers, after giving an abstract of a philosophical lecture which he had just heard, he thus concludes: "In contemplating the subject, I found many wonders connected with it, which I cannot comprehend. It gives me adoring views of God, and humbling views of the knowledge and power of man-especially of myself. Dear brother, let us remember, these material forms will soon decay. These spirits of ours will soon pass into eternity. Time is short, yet

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