Robert W. Woodruff
Library
Gift of
Randall K. Burkett
EMORY UNIVERSITY
Special Collections & Archives
SKETCHES
OF THE
LIFE AND CHARACTER
of thk
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES, A.M.
for many years pastor of a church in rutland, vt., and late in
granville, new-yokk.
BY TIMOTHY MATHER COOLEY, D.D.,
pastor ok the first church in gkanville, mass.
WITH SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY
WILLIAM 13. S PRAGUE, D. D„
fastcr of tiie second Presbyterian church in albany
Nil desperandum Christo duce.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY JOHN S. TAYLOR,
Publisher and Bookseller, Brick Church Chapel, corner of Park Raw
and Spruce Street.
1839
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1837 by
Harper & Brothers,
in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.
PREFACE.
The subject of the following Memoir having left
among his writings but very limited materials for his
biography, the principal facts have been collected by
correspondence and personal application. Some scores
of individuals have been thus consulted. For their
prompt attention to the inquiries of the author they will
accept his grateful acknowledgments. Materials have
been collected, and the book written, under the pressure
of professional labours, during the progress of a pre¬
cious work of God's Spirit in his own congregation and
n neighbouring churches. This is his apology for the
unexpected delay of the publication, and for inaccura¬
cies which time and leisure might have corrected. The
book goes forthwith but few of those attractions which
usually command attention. The style is without orna¬
ment. The subject of the Memoir was in humble life,
with no adventitious circumstances of rank, wealth, or
family to recommend him to special notice. There is,
however, one redeeming circumstance. The acute
Andrew Fuller remarks, " That in attending to written
lives, those narratives should be selected which repre¬
sent persons who were distinguished by unerring wis*
riii preface.
dom—for gifts, graces, and usefulness." In this im¬
portant respect, the following sketch may not be un¬
worthy of attention. At least, it is believed that the
friends and admirers of Mr. Haynes, who often listened
to the impassioned eloquence of the living preacher, will
welcome this attempt to rescue his name from oblivion.
This Memoir now goes from the author with a fervent
prayer that it may exert some influence to counteract
pleasing and fatal error, to encourage the pious efforts
of the young and the friendless, and to guide the pil¬
grim to his rest.
TIMOTHY M. COOLEY.
Granville, Mass., December, 1836.
AjP The extracts from the writings of Mr. Haynes
will appear in their original dress, with scarcely a ver¬
bal alteration.
CONTENTS.
Introduction, by the Rev. Dr. Sprague .... Page xiii
CHAPTER I.
early history of mr. iiaynes.
/iirth.—Abandoned by his parents.—At the age of five months placed in
the family of Deacon Rose.—Eminent piety of the deacon.—Character¬
istics of the people.—Alarm in a thunder-storm.—Narrow escape from
drowning.—Exposure to infidelity when a ploughboy.—Privilege at a
common schocL—Chimney-corner.—His rale.—Scarcity of books.—The
inlidel book.—Death of Mrs. Rose 27—40
CHAPTER II.
history continued till he commences studying for the ministry.
His conversion.—Baptized.—Character of his minister.—Successful re¬
proof of gross wickedness.—Enlists into the army.—Campaigns at Rox
bury and Ticonderoga.— Extract from a sermon.—Extract from a manu¬
script sermon.—Sickness.—Composes a sermon. — Reads it Saturday
evening.—The sermon 40—58
CHAPTER III.
preparatory studies, &c.
Studies with Rev. Mr. Farrand.—Character and anecdotes of his instructer
—Teaches school at Wintonbury, and studies Greek with Rev. Mr.
Bradford.—Receives license to preach.—His first sermon.—Preaches
at Granville.—Religious character of the age.—Success with a cavil-
1 c r - - - - - - - - - - - - 59—/Q
CHAPTER IV.
ministry at torrington.
Ordination.—Preaches at Torrington.—Success.—Anecdote.—Tour to Ver
mont 70—7"*
CHAPTER V.
ministry at rutland.
State of religion in Vermont.—Infidelity prevalent.—Anecdote.—Settles in
Rutland.—Happy illustrations.—Anecdote.—Letter I.—Letter II.—Let¬
ter III—Letter IV.—Letter V.—Letter VI. .... 77—88
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VL
on revivals.
General state of religion.—Church in Rutland.—Letters.—Anecdote
Page 88—95
CHAPTER VII.
controversy with hosea ballou.
Letter from Doctor Dana.—Sermon.—Letter from Mr. Haynes to Hosea
Ballou 96—121
CHAPTER VIII.
Original Anecdotes 122—129
CHAPTER IX
Ingenious remarks on select passages of Scripture 130—133
CHAPTER X.
afflictive scenes.
Letter to Deacon A. when in affliction.—Letter on the death of a young
female.—Mr. Haynes's sickness.—Extract from his manuscript sermoii.
preached after his recovery.—Funeral sermon - - - 134—146
CHAPTER XI.
his labours abroad.
Mission.—Anecdote.—Successful result of an ecclesiastical council
146—150
CHAPTER XII.
Letters 150—159
CHAPTER Xin.
attendance at the meeting of the general association of con¬
necticut. ^
Preaches at N,ew-Haven.—Extract of a letter from Professor Silliman.—
Letter from Mrs. Hazen.—Sketch of the sermon.—Extract of a letter
from D. Judson, Esq.—Extract of a letter from President Humphrey
1G0—168
CHAPTER XIV.
dismission from rutland.
Political excitement.—Extract from his sermon.—Anecdote.—Dismission.
—Letter I.—Letter II.—Letter III.—Letter IV - - 169—208
CHAPTER XV.
ministry of mr. haynes at manchester.
Letter I. from Mr. Haynes to Deacon Atkins.—Letter II.—Letter III.—
Letter IV.—Letter V.—Letter VI. from Mrs. Skinner.—Trial and con
CONTENTS.
xi
■fiction of the Booms for the murder of Colvin.—Condemned to suffer
death.—Appearance of Colvin some days previous to the time appointed
for their execution.— Release from prison.—Mr. Haynes's sermon on the
occasion.—Brief sketch of the evidence on the trial.—Confession of
Boom Page 209—252
CHAPTER XVI.
his removal to granville, new-york.
Letler I. to Deacon Atkins.—Letter If.—Letter III.—Letter IV.—Mr.
Haynes's labours and success in the ministry at Granville.—Death of hia
daughter.—Funeral.—The mourning lather - - - 253—260
CHAPTER XVII.
mr. Haynes's last visits abroad.
Visits Joseph Burr, Esq., on his death-bed.— Extract cf a letler giving an
account of his visit at New-York, and at Dr. Sprague's, Albany.—Visit
at Granville, Mass.—Sketch of Ins sermon.—Anecdote.—His visit to the
old mansion where he was brought up.—Visit to the burying-ground.—
Visit to the apple-tree where he first found the Saviour—Brief sketch of
his sermon on taking leave of the people where he was brought up
261—272
CHAPTER XVIir.
views of character.
As a man, m instrvcter in theology, and a Christian.—Personal comeliness.
—Tenderness and sympathy.— Quickness of perception. — Memory.—
Judgment.— Literature. —Industry. — Anecdote.— Domestic virtues.—
Honesty.—Affability.—Anecdote.—Talents as an instructer in theology.
—Eminent piety.
Ministerial gifts.—Ilnppy in the choice of his text.—Originality in his plans.
— Skeleton of a sermon as a specimen.—llis preaching discriminating.—
Knowledge of men.—Tse of the poets.—Abundant use of Scripture.—
Simplicity.—Animation.
His character in the. closing scene.—His disease a species of gangrene.—His
last sermon.—Disease increases.—His last letter.—Interviews with min¬
isterial brethren.—Solemn interview with his son.—Kindness to all
around him.—Triumphant views.—Happy death.—Extiact of letters.—
Funetal.—Minute of Rutland Consociation.—Epitaph - 272—312
Elegy.—" Love in death" ....... 313—31-1
Reminiscences of Rev. Lemuel Haynes .... 315—319
APPENDIX - 321
Funeral Sermon delivered at Rutland, on the death of the Rev. Abra¬
ham Carpenter - .... 321—333
Extracts from a Sermon delivered at Grnn'Ue, N. Y. beScre the Evan¬
gelical Society - - - - - 334—345
A 2
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
In consenting to write a few paragraphs introductory
to this memoir, I am quite aware that I may incur the
charge of indelicacy, in seeming to place myself be
tween the public and an individualjjso much my supe¬
rior in age, that his highly respectable standing in
the church is the subject of some of my earliest recol¬
lections. It is due to myself to say, that, in performing
this service, I yield my scruples, on the score of deli
cacy, to the wishes of a venerated friend and father, in
whose neighbourhood it has been my privilege to pass
several delightful years of my ministry; and, even if
the public should not acquit me of a disposition to be
obtrusive, it will be some satisfaction to me to have
complied with the wishes of one towards whom I
entertain so cordial and affectionate a regard.
In the few remarks which I purpose to make, it will
be my object to exhibit an outline of the process by
which the providence of God usually operates in rais
ing individuals from great obscurity to eminent useful¬
ness in the church ; and then to consider some of the
lessons which such events arc adapted to inculcate.
If I mistake not, it will be found in most cases m
B
xir introduction.
wliich an individual reaches considerable eminenct
from an unpromising beginning, that he is more or les:
distinguished by his native powers of mind. There i;
especially a strong thirst for knowledge, in connexior
with an unyielding spirit of perseverance. These
qualities seem necessary, in order to put the indi¬
vidual on the course of intellectual effort necessary to
ensure the contemplated result, as well as to enable
him to overcome the obstacles which lie in his way.
No man ever becomes truly great without a course of
severe application ; but such a course will never be
entered upon where there is not a strong native desire
for knowledge; or, being entered upon, it will be
abandoned, unless there is much native energy of reso¬
lution to sustain it. And, in addition to these qualities,
there is often found some striking intellectual peculi¬
arity, which marks the individual among the multi¬
tude ; and, by attracting public attention towards him,
goes far to neutralize the influence of whatever is un-
propitious in his external circumstances.
In the subject of this memoir we find a striking
illustration of these remarks. That his mind was cast
in a superior mould will not probably be questioned
by any individual who contemplates the history of its
operations. In his early childhood he evinced the
same inquisitiveness of mind—the same irrepressible
desire of knowledge, which constituted one of the lead¬
ing traits of his character through life. While other
INTRODUCTION. XV
children of his age were passing their evenings in the
usual sports of childhood, he was passing his in the
diligent culture of his intellectual faculties—in acqui¬
ring knowledge from every source to which his
straitened circumstances permitted him to have ac¬
cess. Had he possessed only a common degree of
perseverance, he would have yielded to the obstacles
which met him at the threshold of his career. No
only extreme poverty, but the worst kind of orphanage,
and circumstances still more trying, were mingled
together in his humble and pitiable lot; but the native
energy of his character rose superior to all these ob¬
stacles, and enabled him to go forward, notwithstand¬
ing all the embarrassing and retarding influences by
which he was surrounded. And then again he was
distinguished for the exuberance of his fancy, and the
keenness of his wit; and these qualities served not
only to make him known, but to render him a favour¬
ite, Had his mind been differently constituted from
what it was—had he been lacking in inquisitiveness,
or in energy, or in brilliancy, or had these qualities
been combined in different proportions, it is by no
means certain that he would have reached the degree
of usefulness which lie was permitted to attain. It is
not intended by these remarks to convey an impres¬
sion that an uncommon original genius is essential to
minent usefulness; or even that persons whose na¬
tive powers have not risen above an huirJ'o medi-
XVi INTRODUCTION.
ocrity have not, in many instances, emerged from an
obscure condition, and rendered important service to
their generation. What I would imply is, that where
God designs to render an individual® eminently useful,
whose condition in life would seem to oppose formida¬
ble obstacles to it, it will generally be found that he
has given him some peculiar original qualifications for
encountering these obstacles successfully.
But it is not merely in the native character of the
mind, but in the arrangements of Divine p?~ovidence}
that we are to look for the cause of eminent usefulness
in what would seem eminently unpropitious circum¬
stances. If we examine closely in such cases, we
shall generally find that God has set over one thing
against another, and that that condition Avhose general
features seem most uninviting, has in it, after all, some
element of improvement—something which may assist
to the formation of a useful character, and even be a
passport to future eminence. And a moment's reflec¬
tion may satisfy us that such an arrangement is admi¬
rably adapted to develope and strengthen the intellect¬
ual powers. On the one hand, there are difficulties
enough to require the most vigorous exertions to
overcome them ; and on the other, there are facilities
enough to encourage the hope of ultimate success ; so
that there is a double influence operating to a sustain¬
ed and diligent course of effort at mental improvement.
In many cases, indeed, there may appear to be such a
INTRODUCTION Xvii
preponderance of difficulties, and the path to eminence
so entirely hedged up, that, to a superficial observer, it
may seem impossible that the individual should ever
escape from his priginal obscurity; and yet, to the
more scrutinizing observation of the person who is
most of all interested, there may appear enough
that is favourable to awaken hope and stimulate to
exertion; and it will usually be found, in such cases,
that the degree of eminence attained, other things be¬
ing equal, is in proportion to the amount of difficulty
overcome.
In the case of the venerable man whose character is
exhibited in this volume, there was a combination of
unpropitious circumstances at his entrance upon life,
which, if the idea of his attaining to future eminence
in the Christian ministry had been suggested, would
doubtless, with almost every one, have stamped it as
a visionary project. But there were, after all, some cir¬
cumstances pertaining to his condition of a favourable
kind, and his instinctive sagacity led him to discover
them, while his eager desire of knowledge prompted
him to avail himself of them. Though his lot was cast
in a neighbourhood which, at that time, was favoured
with limited advantages for intellectual improvement,
yet a few books were actually within his reach, and
if his poverty forbade his reading them by the light
of a candle, he knew how to appreciate and improve
the light of a kitchen fire. And though he was cast
B 2
XVlii INTRODUCTION.
helpless upon the world, without a friend and without
a farthing, he was thrown into a family who evinced
towards him an uncommon degree of kindness, and
were disposed, according to their ability, to second his
humble efforts at improvement. It deserves especially
to be remarked that this family was distinguished by the
fear of God ; and it was no doubt the influence of an
exemplary Christian conversation which served chiefly
to mould the elements of his moral character, and ulti¬
mately to imbue him with a deep and pervading piety.
Had his lot been cast in a family of a different descrip¬
tion, where he had been treated with cold neglect in¬
stead of being fostered wrilh parental tenderness, or
where he had breathed the atmosphere of infidelity and
blasphemy rather than of piety and prayer, is it not rea¬
sonable to suppose that he might have proved a scourge
rather than a blessing to society?—a degraded wander¬
er over the world, instead of an eminently devoted and
honoured minister of Jesus Christ?
And the providence of Cod is often not less striking¬
ly or kindly manifested in indicating to the individual an
appropriate field of labour, than in combining circum¬
stances to rescue him from early degradation. Had
Mr. Hayncs, even after he became a preacher, attempt¬
ed to plant himself in the bosom of refined and culti¬
vated society, he might have found himself engaged in
an impracticable enterprise; and not improbably, if he
nad subsequently found his proper place, would have
INTRODUCTION. XIX
gone lo it with his energies depressed, and his spirit
broken by a bad beginning. But, instead of seeking
great tilings for himself, he chose a retired and compar¬
atively uncultivated field, where the peculiarity of his
history would be least likely to awaken prejudice
against his ministrations. And, more than that, the field
of his early labours was overrun to a great extent with
different forms of infidelity; and the unusual fertility and
quickness of his mind, in connexion with his previous
familiarity with the cavils and objections of unbelievers,
singularly qualified him for such a sphere. The result
has been, that the trophies which he gained in some of
his conflicts with the enemies of true Christianity, sur¬
vive to his honour on both sides of the Atlantic. Per¬
haps it had not been easy to have selected another field
in which both his original powers and early training
would have conspired to render him so much at home,
and in which such a mind as his wras so pre-eminently
needed.
It must appear on the slightest reflection, that there is
much in the history of such a life as that of the subject
of this memoir, to aid young men of promising disposi¬
tions and talents, but of an humble lot, to encounter the
obstacles which lie in their way to usefulness and dis¬
tinction. It must be acknowledged, indeed, that Mr.
Haynes had the advantage of possessing finer original
powers than fall to the lot of the mass of mankind; but,
on the other hand, it is equally certain that few have
XX INTRODUCTION.
ever risen under the pressure of such adverse circum
stances; so that, if he had more power than most oth¬
ers, he had proportionally greater difficulties to sur
mount. Is there a child at this moment in some one
of the haunts of wretchedness around me, in whose bo¬
som is kindled up the great and noble desire of becom¬
ing an enlightened and useful man ;—of moving in the
walks of respectability, or becoming a fountain of in
telligence and blessing to his neighbourhood, or devo¬
ting himself to the service of God in the ministry of
reconciliation;—shall I bid that child extinguisn this
Tising desire, and tell him that the degradation into
which he is cast is too deep to warrant the hope that he
shall ever escape from it, and exhort him to make the
best of his ignoble condition, because it admits of no
remedy ? No, I will do no such thing; but I will ap¬
proach him with looks and words of encouragement,
and I will tell him that there is no obstacle that will not
yield to perseverance ; and then I will go over with-the
story of Lemuel Haynes, to show him that I speak
words of truth and soberness. And it were easy to re¬
fer to many other instances of a similar character, in
which individuals have triumphed over the most appal¬
ling obstacles to eminence, and, from the humblest lot,
have actually risen to the highest places of influence
and honour. Yes, there are men now in our own couii
try whose influence is felt at the extremities of the na¬
tion—men in the various departments of literature, and
INTRODUCTION. XXI
science, and politics, and religion, who are among those
that take the lead in moulding the elements of our pub¬
lic prosperity—whose present elevated standing must be
referred to what seemed a most unpropitious beginning;
and if you go back with their history but a few years,
you will find them amid the toils of some humble vo¬
cation, engaged with the perplexing problem, " whether
the obstacles in the way of their acquiring an education
were too great to be overcome ?" Happily, they decided
in favour of making a vigorous effort to overcome
them; and in the successful result which has followed
may be read in golden letters the great truth, that noth¬
ing is too hard for an unyielding perseverance.
But while the history of eminent self-made men
holds out the strongest inducements to young men of
promise, in humble circumstances, to grapple fearlessly
with the difficulties which may lie in the way of their
being liberally educated, it suggests to the wise and
good, and especially to the guardians of our public in¬
terests, the great importance not only of seconding the
wishes and aiding the efforts of such young men, but of
keeping an eye out upon the humbler classes of society,
with a view to cherish, so far as possible, every open¬
ing bud of piety and genius. It is indeed an office
that requires much judgment and discrimination, to se¬
lect youth in indigent circumstances to be educated
solely, or in a great degree, upon the charities of the
church; but in a state of things which calls for so much
xxil introduction.
well-directed intellectual and moral influence as that in
which our lot is cast, it is manifest that every class
of society must be taxed for its legitimate share, and
even the humblest must not escape. There are young
men of considerable vigour and precocity of mind, whom
it may not be desirable to educate, on account of some
marked defects in their moral constitution; and there
are young men, on the other hand, of promising disposi¬
tions and exemplary piety, who have too little force of
intellect to warrant their being withdrawn from a voca¬
tion in which the hands rather than the head are put in
requisition; but where talent, piety, and prudence are
found in combination, and there is a disposition on
the part of the individual to consecrate himself to the
Christian ministry, no doubt it is the duty of the church
to train him for her own service ; and the individual by
whose benefactions he is sustained in his preparation for
the sacred office, or by whose watchful sagacity he has
been selected for such a destination, may have exerted
a benign influence which will reach to the ends of the
earth.
There is perhaps no public instrumentality which is
so important in its bearings upon this subject as the
Sabbath school. Into the sacred enclosure which this
institution provides are gathered children from the hum¬
blest walks of society; and the intercourse which the
teacher necessarily has with them gives him the best
opportunity of estimating aright their dispositions ana
INTRODUCTION. Xxifl
talents. It were well that every teacher and superin¬
tendent should consider it a part of his duty to watch
the characters of those under his care with reference to
this object; and whenever he finds a case of sufficient
promise to warrant such a step, let him report it to the
officers of the church, and let the individual be recom¬
mended to her charities.
If I may pass to a remark or two of a more general
kind, I would say that the formation of such a charac¬
ter as that of Mr. Haynes furnishes a striking illustra¬
tion of the wise and wonderful workings of Divine
providence. Who that beheld him in the deep degra¬
dation of his earliest years, could have dreamed that he
was destined to occupy an extensive sphere of useful¬
ness in the church; to stand for more than half a cen¬
tury a skilful and valiant defender of the faith, and to
leave behind him a name which multitudes would de¬
light to honour ? But God's ways are not as our ways.
The elements of his character, his faculties, and dis¬
positions, were given with reference to the work he had
to accomplish. And so, too, the ordering of his cir¬
cumstances was made to subserve the same end; and
even those events in his history which seemed to beto¬
ken nothing but degradation and disaster, were render¬
ed subservient to the development of his faculties and
the extension of his usefulness. If there was bitter¬
ness in his cup, it was qualified by softening ingredi¬
ents. If there was thick darkness hanging over the
commencement of his path, a faint light soon shone in
Xxiv INTRODUCTION.
the darkness, and that light grew brighter and brighter
unto the perfect day. And this is only a specimen of
God's dealings with his people. He leads them by a
path which they know not; and in the admirable com¬
bination of prosperity and calamity, of hopes fulfilled
and hopes blasted, which compose their lot, he gives
them sooner of later to see that his own kind hand has
been constantly at work for the promotion of their high¬
est interests. Let the Christian ponder this gracious
arrangement of Providence, and rejoice in his darkest
hours ! Let the church ponder it, and look fearlessly
at the boldest array of opposition !
And finally, the preceding train of thought naturally
leads us to consider how superior is the dignity which
is conferred by character to that which is the result of
mere circumstances. It will not be difficult to find in
some of the highest places of earthly distinction men
of feeble intellects, degraded morals, and perhaps ma¬
lignant dispositions : the moral element in which they
move is a withering selfishness or a black misanthropy,
and yet they move in splendour, and multitudes rendei
them a kind of homage, and they are well nigh lost in
the bright visions of their own glory. But here is an
individual coming up from the humblest walks of life,
with his heart beating in vigorous and holy pulsations
to be useful to his fellow-men; his character is formed
after a model of superior excellence ; he borrows no
importance from the pride and circumstance of life, but
moves about continually, as did the Master whom ho
INTRODUCTION. XXV
serves, on errands of benevolence; and wherever the
sound of nis footsteps is heard, it is welcomed as the
harbinger of heaven-born charity. Here is true dig-
nity—the other deserves not the name. If the man
who writes your epitaph can only say of you that you
bore the image of your Master, and served your gener
ation well, though your home on earth had been a hovel,
he confers infinitely higher honour upon your memory
than if he were simply to record that you had worn a
crown and occupied a throne.
I have extended these remarks beyond what I had
designed; and, in bringing them to a close, I have only
to congratulate the reader that he is about entering a
field in which, I am sure, he can hardly fail to be at
once interested and improved. The memoir is written
with the simplicity and perspicuity which characterize
all the productions of my respected friend; and, from
my knowledge of the venerable man who is the subject
of it, I have reason to believe that the character is pre¬
sented with great truth and fidelity. I shall feel much
disappointed if the labours of Doctor Cooley in pre¬
paring this memoir do not secure to him the gratitude
of every portion of the church in which it circulates,
and if the character which he has so happily exhibited
does not diffuse its savour of wisdom and piety beyond
the present generation.
W. B. SPRAGUE.
Albany, Oct. 28, 1836.
c
THE
LIFE AND CHARACTER
OF
THE REV. LEMUEL HAYNES, A. M.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY HISTORY OF MR. HAYNES.
It often occurs that useful men are found to havo
derived their origin from parents in an obscure condi¬
tion. Many individuals in whom native talents were
lodged, which by education might have blessed and
even astonished the world, have passed on unnoticed
to the grave, while others have been the ornaments of
science, of religion, and of civil liberty. It is delight¬
ful to behold such men overcoming all the obstacles
which encompass their path, and pressing their way
onward through every form of opposition. The life of
one who has risen to distinction by his own efforts, and
has thought, and laboured, and suffered for the welfare
of mankind, is worthy of being delineated for the enter¬
tainment and instruction of the world.
In various periods of time there have been Africans
whose intellectual powers and attainments would be an
ornament, to any age or country. Among warriors few
have held a higher rank than Hanno and Hannibal.
28
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
The poetic works of Terence were admired in the
Augustan age, and have survived the devastations of
two thousand years. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage,
whose memory is dear to all Christendom, and Au¬
gustine, bishop of Hippo, the successful defender of
the church from Pelagius and his heresies, were sons
of Africa.
It is believed that, could a fall and faithful biography
of the worthy subject of this memoir be furnished, it
would do much to exemplify what unaided vigour of
mind, even in unfavourable circumstances, can effect.
It would place before the community an instance of un¬
feigned piety and sanctified genius. This is the mani¬
fest tendency of all the records which can now be pro¬
cured respecting him, and of all the recollections of
those who knew him, in the most interesting and try¬
ing situations in which he was placed. If these shall
so exhibit the various parts of his life as to give the
prominent features of his character, they can hardly
fail to mitigate the unreasonable prejudices against the
Africans in our land, to encourage those who, though
beset by difficulties, are anxious to improve their minds
and their hearts, and, finally, to exemplify the power of
divine grace over the affections and lives of men.
Lemuel Haynes was born July 18th, 1753, at
West Hartford, Connecticut. He was a partially
coloured man, his father being of unmingled African
extraction, and his mother a white woman of respecta¬
ble ancestry in New-England. we bore up the name
of neither father nor mother, but probably of the man
under whose roof he received his birth. Tradition
says that his mother, in a fit of displeasure with her
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
host for some supposed neglect, called her child by his
name.
" Mothers love, and love for ever." The affection of
a mother to her new-born infant is one of the most pow¬
erful and active of the nalural instincts. But mothers
" may forget." This unhappy child was abandoned by
his parents in early infancy, and was never, to the end
of life, favoured with a single expression of a mother's
kindness. He was thus an orphan, not by the bereav¬
ing hand of God, but by the cold neglect of those who
ought to have been his most affectionate guardians.
The tincture of his skin he knew to be an obstacle to
his being identified in interest and in life with those
among whom he dwelt. Ilis susceptible mind soon
began to feel its forlorn condition. In the bitterness of
his grief, he must often have uttered his complaint in
language like the following :—" Let the day perish
wherein I was born; let darkness and the shadow of
death stain it." Ilis mother refused to visit him or to
see him. Tradition says, that when a lad, he providen¬
tially met his mother in an adjoining town, at the house
of a relative ; and then he fondly expected that he should
at least receive some kind attentions from her. But he
was sadly disappointed. She was determined to elude
the interview. At length he caught a glimpse of her
as she was attempting to escape from him. Vexed and
mortified at such an instance of unnatural contempt from
his mother, he accosted her in the language of severe
but merited rebuke.*
Though thus contending with troubles which would
O O
have destroyed the elasticity of common mmds, an un-
* " Mater ' tu non timebas semel; sitimueras,—me a g^avissimo
lolore, atque te ipsam. a maximo pudore, servavisses."
C 2
30
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
seen hand had been directing the destinies of the poof
boy. A remarkable providence had placed him, in early
infancy, in a kind and religious family, where all his
wants were well supplied. Now he realized the "or¬
phan's hope"—" When my father and my mother for¬
sake me, then the Lord will take me up." This part
of the story can be best told in his own simple lan¬
guage :
" When I was five months old I was carried to Gran
ville, Massachusetts, and bound out as a servant to Dea¬
con David Rose till I was twenty-one. He was a man
of singular piety.* I was taught the principles of reli¬
gion. -His wife, my mistress, had peculiar attachment
to me : she treated me as though I was her own child.
T remember it was a saying among the neighbours, that
she loved Lemuel mose than her own children."
The people of Middle Granville, among whom he
passed the first thirty-two years of his life, were a
choice company of emigrants from Durham, Connecti¬
cut. They had been brought up under the ministry of
the Rev. Nathaniel Chauncoy, and he had consecrated
most of them, in their infancy, with the sacramental wa¬
ter. They possessed the bold and intelligent spirit
* Deacon Rose was remarkable Tor bis spirituality and communion with
God. He was often called in to pray with the s-L-k ant! the dying, and he
was endowed with the gilt, ami cspcrinl'y with the spirit of prayer. Such
was his holy walk with G.d, that his face seemed to shine, like that of
Moses after he had been with God on the mount. He felt tenderly con¬
cerned for the salvation of sinners, and, as I12 had opportunity, solemnly
admonished them, and often with good effect. It is related, in illustration
j of his character in this respect, that, on going one morning into a neigh¬
bour's house, he said t> the woman—"Good morning: how do you do?
How does your soul do?" This salutation was uttered with so much ten¬
derness, that the woman was instantly brought under pungent conviction
of sin, which soon resulted in a hope in the Lord Jesus unto salvation
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
31
which usually marks the character of those who break
away from the home of their fathers, and encounter the
perils and privations of a rugged desert. That they
possessed their full share of intellectual worth is mani¬
fest from the fact, that of the youth in this small parish,
with a population of less than seven hundred, one has
become a member of Congress, one a judge of the supe¬
rior court, and as many as fourteen have entered the of¬
fice of the Christian ministry. Deacon Rose was one
of the first settlers, and a practical agriculturist. Hav¬
ing a farm to subdue that was covered with thick forest,
Lemuel had the simple and hardy education common
to these mountainous regions. The God of the forlorn
sent him into this religious family, where the Sabbath
was sanctified, daily prayer offered, and the evening
preceding the Sabbath sacredly employed in the reli¬
gious instruction of the household. In this beloved re¬
treat he found a home, not only till he was " twenty-
one," but until his ordination as a minister of the gospel.
Thus removed from the low and froward associates to
which such a child must have been exposed in many
places, he was here trained up under the influence of
pious example, and his mind was early imbued Avith
religious knowledge. A more suitable place could not
have been found. As a servant-boy, he was strictly and
firmly faithful to his trust; so th?.t any one acquainted
with him would not be inclined to inquire with Solo¬
mon, Prov. xx., 6, "A faithful man who can find?"
Indeed, but few years had passed over his head before
he discovered such prudence in the management of his
master's business, that the oversight of it was almost
wholly committed to him. If a horse was to be pur¬
chased, Lemuel was the purchaser. He went unbidden
32
LIFE AND CHARACTER Of
to his daily toils and cares, and every thing prospered
in his hands.
When he was a small boy lie experienced a dread¬
ful alarm in a thunder-storm, which made an impression
that was never effaced. The circumstances of this af¬
fecting event he used to relate to his family in nearly
the following words : " One evening, as I was left at
home alone, a dark cloud came over, and the air was
filled with streams of lightning, and with terrible peals
of thunder, and the house shook. At first I had fearful
apprehension that the last great day was come, and that
the world would be burnt up. My mind was filled with
solemn awe of God's great power and majesty. I wa3
afraid of being struck dead and sent to hell. I had a
solemn conviction that I was unprepared, and that it
would be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God."
To what extent the scenes of this evening affected
his tender and thoughtful mind is not fully known. It
is stated, however, that he retained the impression
which the solitude of his condition, and especially hi3
view of his unfitness to die, were calculated to make.
Ever after he was peculiarly affected during thunder¬
storms, and never failed to allude to them in prayer in
terms of grateful recollection. Of these the following
is a specimen: "We thank thee that thy lightning's aw¬
ful blaze has not consumed our dwelling, nor been com¬
missioned to burn the thread of life as in a moment."
If a storm of thunder arose during the hour of worship
in his family, it was their custom to sing Watts's hymn,
entitled, "God the Thunderer; or, the Last Judgment
and Hell."
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
33
" Sing to the Lord, ye heavenly hosts,
And thou, O earth ! adore;
Let death and hell, and all their coasts,
Stand trembling at his power.
" His sounding chariot shakes the sky,
He makes the clouds his throne ;
There all his stores of lightning lie
Till vengeance dart them down.
" His nostrils breathe out fiery streams,
And from his awful tongue
A sovereign voice divides the flames,
And thunder roars along.
" Think, 0 my soul! the dreadful day
When this incensed God
Shall rend the sky and burn the sea,
And fling his wrath abroad.
" What shall the wretch, the sinner do ?
He once defied the Lord !
But he shall dread the thunderer now,
And sink beneath his word.
" Tempests of angry fire shall roll,
To blast the rebel worm,
And beat upon his naked soul
In one eternal storm."
About the same time he experienced a wonderful
deliverance from perishing in the water. He had gone,
with a number of his mates, to bathe in the river. It
was one of his first attempts in learning to swim.
While they were amusing themselves near the shore,
Lemuel ventured beyond his depth, and soon sunk in
deep water. His young friends had not the skill, nor
even the power, to save him. In his allusions to this
memorable event of his life, he used to say—" I imme¬
diately sunk to the bottom, and should without doubt
have been drowned, had not a friend, who was not far
off, plunged into the water and conveyed me to the
34 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
shore." This narrow escape from a watery grave he
often alluded to, even in the pulpit, as illustrating the
special and merciful care of Divine providence towards
himself in that dangerous season of life.
" Those who observe providences shall have provi¬
dences to observe." Some time after this, there was an-
her event which he could never call to mind but with
admiration and gratitude. He went out to drive a
young ox to the slaughter, and, as he was passing
through a forest, the ox determined to return. But he
resolutely urged him forward with considerable violence,
till at length, irritated to madness, the animal turned
upon his driver, and with his sharp horns inflicted seve¬
ral wounds on his face and head. With much difficulty,
and pursued by the ox, he escaped to a tree. By pas¬
sing continually and rapidly round it, he was able just
to elude the strokes of his horns. At the moment
when he was nearly exhausted by exertion and terror,
some person came and diverted the attention of the
infuriated animal, and saved his life. His wounds, by
medical aid, were ultimately healed, but his deliverance
from an untimely and dreadful death was never forgot¬
ten. Long afterward, even to the close of his life, it
was remembered and mentioned with much gratitude.
He was a firm believer in a special providence, and
often expressed his belief by quoting a favourite pas¬
sage from John Newton : " Did I not believe in the
particular providence of God, I should not dare to step
my foot out of doors."
It was a just saying of Juvenal, " Maxima pucris
debetur reverenlia."* An instance strikingly illustra-
* "The most circumspect deportment should be maintained in the pres¬
ence of children."
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
33
tive of this principle occurred to Lemuel Haynes, at
the age of nine or ten. Being very expert as a plough-
boy, he was frequently employed by a neighbour of li¬
centious principles. By this maif religion was often
ridiculed in his hearing, and the prayers of his godly
master were from day to day the subject of profane
jest. The infection, thus infused, soon produced un-
happy effects in his susceptible mind. He actually
began to think, that, peradventure, religion is but a
small business. Not many months passed away, how¬
ever, before the family of the scoffer was visited with
mortal disease, and one or more of them were carried
to the grave. " In the lime of adversity" he began to
" consider." His views respecting the important sub¬
ject of religion were changed, and he sent for Deacon
Rose to pray with him. Lemuel saw the force of truth
at once. He reasoned thus—" If prayer and religion
are needful in sickness and in death, they must be im¬
portant in health and in life." Nearly seventy years
afterward, in his last visit to Granville, he referred to
this remarkable incident with grateful acknowledgment
of the hand of the Lord, which had thus saved him
from the withering influence of infidelity.
The extent, particularity, and accuracy of the knowl¬
edge which he eventually acquired of various subjects,
and especially of his profession, have led intelligent
men who were acquainted with him to inquire how he
emerged from his obscurity, and by what means and
efforts he arrived at the intellectual rank and influence
which he held during so great a portion of his life.
From all that can now be learned respecting him, it ap¬
pears that lie possessed the facility in the acquisition of
knowledge which is " the birthright of genius." it was
36
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
one condition of his indenture that, " in common with
other children, he should enjoy the usual advantages of
a district-school education." As, in the newly-settled
village where he resided, schools were in session but
few months in the year, and the teachers but moder¬
ately educated, his early opportunities for instruction
must have been very limited. Business often kept him
from school, or caused him to arrive at a late hour.
How highly his scanty privileges were appreciated may
be learned from his own words :—" As I had the ad
vantage of attending a common school equal with the
other children, I was early taught to read, to which I
was greatly attached, and could vie with almost any of
my age."
The remark has been a thousand times repeated, that
" Lemuel Haynes got his education in the chimney
corner." This is literally true. It may be necessary
to say here, that chimneys among the early settlers on
the western hills in New-England were of a peculiar
structure. They wrere built of huge stones, with a
broad base, occupying at least one third of the ground
covered by the building. The fireplace seems to have
received its form either with reference to its consuming
O
the greatest quantity of fuel, or for the purpose of form¬
ing a kind of sitting-room for the younger members of
the family. Hence the fireplace was nearly eight feet
between the sides, and a full yard in depth. In one
extreme was the oven, and in front of it was the long
square block, which would comfortably seat the chil¬
dren, one, two, or three in number, as the case might
require. Such was the " chimney-corner" where Lem
uel Haynes in his childhood laid the foundation of his
future usefulness. While his mates were ^porting in
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
37
the streets and even round the door, you might see hirn
sitting on his block with his book in his hand. Even¬
ing after evening he plied his studies by firelight, hav¬
ing the preceding day laid in a store of pine knots and
other combustibles for the purpose. The luxury of a
candle he rarely enjoyed. Here he studied his spel¬
ling-book and psalter till he had literally devoured them
He studied the Bible till he could produce by memory
most of the texts which have a bearing upon the essen¬
tial doctrines of grace; and could also refer, with nearly
infallible accuracy, to the book, chapter, and verse where
they might be found. At length he procured Young's
Night Thoughts, and was soon able to repeat large por¬
tions of it, together with a great part of Watts's Psalms
and Hymns. All this and much more he accomplish¬
ed on his block in the chimney-corner by firelight. At
the same time no boy in the neighbourhood performed
a greater amount of manual labour. Bound by inden¬
ture as a servant, he was obliged to labour hard through
the day, so that the hours of the evening and the twi
light of the morning were his only time for mental im
provement.
And yet he had a system. One day, on meeting a
youth who had been his schoolmate, he said to him,
" Israel, how do you succeed in your studies ?" After
hearing the reply, he added, " I make it my rule to
know something more every night than I knew
in tiie morning." Here is the grand secret of his at¬
tainments. Whatever might be the urgency of his la¬
bour, he made every passing day contribute something
to his improvement. This was undoubtedly the gov¬
erning principle of his life. And as in his immediate
D
38 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
vicinity there were but few books, he converted inani¬
mate things into instructers, so that he found
" Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing."
Thus he struggled forward in a course of study, and,
as far as he was taught at all, he was his own teacher.
Though almost without books, and entirely without
teachers except in the rudiments of reading and pen¬
manship, and exposed to numerous hinderances and per¬
plexities, his mind was subjected to unremitting and
severe discipline. And if he suffered by the absence
of the usual advantages of liberally educated men, he
must have been led at least to try his own powers, and
to form habits of independence and decision.
A general scarcity of books was one of the severest
difficulties which he had to encounter. There was no
public library in the place. The Bible, psalter, spel¬
ling-book, and perhaps a volume or two of sermons,
comprised the library of the most respectable families.
Hence he remarks—" I w7as constantly inquiring after
books, especially in theology. I was greatly pleased
with the writings of Watts and Doddridge, and with
Young's Night Thoughts. My good master encour¬
aged me in the matter."
At the age of about sixteen or seventeen he again
experienced a narrow escape from the fatal snare of
the infidel. A professional gentleman had moved into
the place who owned a small library. The privilege
of using his books was granted to young Haynes.
Having borrowed and thoroughly read one book after
another, lie at length received the loan of a volume
which contained the principles of a poisonous infideli¬
ty. He was now at that perilous period of life when
RET. LEMUEL HAYNES.
39
the unformed mind is specially exposed to the influence
of skepticism. As yet he was a stranger to the renew¬
ing operations of grace. He soon learned the charac¬
ter of the book, and, recollecting his former exposure,
determined not to read it. Having invented a suitable
reproof, and wrought it into two or three poetic coup¬
lets, he put it into the book and returned it to the own¬
er. The doctor was exceedingly mortified at having
subjected himself to so just a reproof from a poor ser¬
vant-boy, and never again attempted to obtrude infidel
principles upon him.
Deacon Rose seceded from the first church in Gran¬
ville, and united with a small company of Christians
styled separates. While he attended on the Sabbath a
meeting of his separate brethren, his wife strenuously
adhered to the church, and no ordinary obstacle could
detain her from the house of God on the Lord's day.
It fell to the lot of Lemuel to accompany her, of which
he has given a very amusing account. " I used to
carry my mistress across the mountain Sabbath days to
meeting. She was a member of Reverend Mr. Smith's
church. In the winter our carriage was a one-horse
sled; the box was two boards, with four round sticks
to couple them together. In this humble plight I used
to take a great deal of satisfaction in waiting on my
good old mistress from time to time."
In the intermission, especially in the warm season,
he often stole away into the forest, and spent the hour
in devout meditation and prayer. At other times, when
even but a boy, he sometimes collected his youthful ac¬
quaintances around him, and repeated in their hearing
the morning sermon with wonderful accuracy. At
night, whenever requested by Deacon Rose, he gave
40
life and character of
him from memory a copious analysis of the sermons
and other religious services of the house of God.
In 1775 the excellent and pious Mrs. Rose died. In
her death he lost every thing comprehended in the en¬
dearing name of mother. She had adopted him as her
own son in early infancy, and tenderly trained him up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This mem¬
orable and grievous affliction he has recorded in the fol¬
lowing words:—" Soon after I came of age, God was
pleased to take my mistress away, to my inexpressible
sorrow. It caused me bitter mourning and lamenta¬
tion."
CHAPTER II.
history of mr. haynes continued till he com¬
mences studying for the ministry.
In the life of every good man, with the exception of
such as are sanctified in their infancy, there is a marked
period, when the great change is experienced to which
the Saviour refers when he says, "Ye must be born
again." In some instances, men of high attainments in
piety, instead of pointing to the time of this change, can
only adopt the language of the blind man ; " One thing
I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see." Baxter
could tell neither the day, the month, nor the year in
which he was made alive in Christ Jesus. Edwards,
Brainard, Richmond, and many others, leave us in little
or no doubt respecting the time of their conversion to
God; of this class was Mr. Haynes Though he has
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
41
left to us no means of fixing on the day, nor even the
year, in which he was renewed in the spirit of his mind,
yet he often spoke of a time, and particularly described
the place where it occurred. In childhood, indeed, he
was the subject of religious impressions, but it was not
till his arrival at mature years that he was enabled, after
a season of great distress, to accept the salvation of the
gospel. In a letter written in answer to the particular
inquiries of a friend, he gave the following account of
this interesting event.
HIS CONVERSION.
" I remember I often had serious impressions, or
fearful apprehensions of going to hell. I spent much
time in what I called secret prayer. I was one evening
greatly alarmed by the Aurora Borealis, or Northern
Lights. It was in that day esteemed a presage of the
day of judgment. For many days and nights I was
greatly alarmed, through fear of appearing before the
bar of God, knowing that I was a sinner; I cannot ex¬
press the terrors of mind that I felt. One evening, being
under an apple-tree mourning my wretched situation, I
hope I found the Saviour. I always visit the place
when I come to Granville, and, when I can, I pluck
some fruit from the tree and carry it home : it is sweet
to my taste. I have fears at times that I am deceived,
but still I hope. Reading averse in Mr. Erskine's son¬
nets a little strengthened me. In describing marks of
grace, he asks,
" ' Dost ask the place, the spot of land,
Where Jesus did thee meet ?
And how ho got thy heart and hand T
Thy husband then was sweet.'
" Soon after I united with the church in East Gran-
D 2
42 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
ville, and was baptized by the Rev. Jonathan Hunting
ton, minister or pastor of the church in Worthington.
Mr. Haynes, during his minority, enjoyed the labours
of a faithful, evangelical minister, and has left, in a let¬
ter to a friend, the following tribute to his memory:—
"You wish me to give a biographical sketch of the
Reverend Jedediah Smith. I am not able to say much,
being young, and much of the time inattentive and too
indifferent to the preaching of the gospel; but I have
the impression that he was an evangelical preacher.
He used to make, at times, considerable impression on
my mind. He used zealously to call upon the youth
to remember llieir Creator. He would preach to us the
dreadful state of the damned, and the necessity of being
born of God. I used at times, after hearing his solemn
addresses, in the intermission, to retire by myself up
north of the old meeting-house for meditation and
prayer. I remember that Mr. Smith was veiy pointed
against vice and immorality." *****
" The sentiments of Dr. Hopkins were very unpopu¬
lar in that day. Many considered them as unscriptural.
Mr. Smith, though a Calvinist, did not approve of them,
which was the case with many good ministers; the
doctrines of the gospel, being illustrated in. a novel point
of light, were not so readily embraced. The cause of
division between Mr. Smith and his people was the
subject of the qualifications for church membership.
'When he was called to settle in Granville, he suggest¬
ed that he was inclined to be a Stoddardian, or in senti¬
ment with Mr. Stoddard of Northampton, who did not
hold evidence of grace to be a necessary term of admis-
RET. LEMUEL HAYNES.
43
sion into the visible church. Many of the church
thought differently, and were of Edwards's opinion*
Mr. Smith observed that he had not investigated the
matter so accurately as he could wish. Not much
more was said on the subject. He was ordained,
though some of the members of the church were not
entirely satisfied. There was good harmony existing
between the minister and people for many years, and
several revivals of religion, particularly among the
youth. He was a man of remarkable piety, pleasant¬
ness, and affability."
To the above account it may be proper to add, that
in 1776, the Rev. Mr. Smith, after a ministry of twenty
years, was dismissed from his pastoral charge. Hav¬
ing preached his farewell sermon to his flock in Gran¬
ville, he embarked at Middletown, with his family, for
Louisiana, which was then nearly an unbroken desert.
Previous to reaching the place of his destination, he
went to the " bourn from whence no traveller re¬
turns." In a lingering passage up the Mississippi, be¬
ing exposed to intense heat and a noxious atmosphere,
he was attacked with fever, and in a phrensy leaped
overboard into the river. By the efforts of the marin¬
ers he was rescued from the water, but" soon after
died, and was buried on |"he land. The river gradually
encroached on the bank where he lay, till, in a flood,
the grave, with its precious deposite, was borne away,
and, as in the case of Moses, " no man knoweth of his
sepulchre unto this day." His bereaved family pro¬
ceeded with a commendable perseverance, and founded
a settlement in that remote country. The descendants
of the Rev. Mr. Smith comprise some of the most re¬
spectable citizens in the State of Louisiana.
44
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Mr. Haynes early manifested a happy faculty in re¬
proving the vices of his companions. Plain, personal
reproof, though difficult and often odious, is an imperi¬
ous and salutary duty. In some felicitous cases, like
that of Nathan the prophet and the royal transgressor,
the result exceeds all rational expectation. In other
instances, the faithful reprover of sin, like John the
Baptist, who fearlessly rebuked Herod, falls a victim to
his fidelity. Young Haynes was in the habit of re¬
buking all transgression which fell under his own no¬
tice ; and this was done with such discernment of the
human character, and such chastened shrewdness, as
seldom failed of success.
The first conversion of which he seems to have been
the happy instrument, was the result of bold reproof
for open and revolting wickedness. It is painful to re¬
late the deed which aroused his feelings and called
forth his remonstrances ; but, as it furnishes an instance
of desperate depravity, and especially as it exhibits that
successful boldness in reproof for which Mr. Haynes
was distinguished through life, the facts will be given.
Being requested, in company with two reckless
young men, to perform the service of watching through
the night with a corpse, he little suspected what he was
compelled to encounter. After the bereaved family had
retired to rest, the two young men, having previously
procured a quantity of strong drink, soon banished from
their minds that seriousness and solemn sense of death
and eternity which the occasion might seem to inspire.
They commenced their intemperate drinking and guilty
carousal, and the house of mourning became a scene of
midnight revelry. Mr. Haynes expostulated with them,
but in vain His warnings only exasperated them. Al
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
45
length he beheld an instance of impiety the most re¬
volting ! Taking a cup of strong drink, they proceeded
to pour it into the mouth of the dead man, saying, "He
used to love it when he was alive, and we think a little
will not hurt him now he is dead." Appalled at such
irreverence of God and regardlessness of death, he ad¬
dressed them in loud and earnest tones of warning and
reproof. Thus the night passed away. In the morning
they separated; and, from all that then appeared, the
events of that night had produced no effect but to prepare
the guilty actors for other deeds of revolting impiety.
One of the young men, however, " was pricked in the
heart" by the affecting admonitions which he then heard.
Conscience was aroused, and his sins were set in order
before him. He strove, at the time, to stifle his con¬
victions, and treated his reprover with contempt. But
it was in vain to resist the truth of God. Light flashed
across his guilty conscience. It pleased God by his
spirit to give him such a sense of danger and of guilt,
that he could find no peace till he found it in Jesus
Christ. Some time after this, in a letter to Mr. Haynes,
he frankly and penitently acknowledged his guilty con¬
duct, gave him many thanks for his timely and earnest
warnings, and ever after " brought forth fruits meet for
repentance."
Lemuel Haynes was a patriot of the revolution. In
his youth he imbibed those great principles respecting
" the rights of man," in defence of which war was
waged with the parent country. He lived in times
that " tried men's souls," and never did there exisi
men, in any age or country, whose souls were better
fitted for the trial than those among whom his lot was
cast. In 1774 he enlisted as a "minute man," and
<46
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
ihus became connected with the American army. By
this enlistment he was required to spend one day in
the week in manual exercises, and to hold himself in
readiness for actual service. Soon after the battle at
Lexington (1775), he joined the army at Roxbury.
The next year he was a volunteer in the expedition to
Ticonderoga to expel the enemy. These were scenes
never to be forgotten. After the lapse of more than
forty years, he very beautifully alludes to these cam¬
paigns in a sermon 011 the anniversary of Washing¬
ton's birthday.
" Perhaps it is not ostentatious in the speaker to ob¬
serve, that in early life he devoted all for the sake of
freedom and independence, and endured frequent cam¬
paigns in their defence, and has never viewed the
sacrifice too great. And should an attack be made on
this sacred ark, the poor remains of life would be devo
led to its defence."
In a sermon delivered at Bennington, in Vermont,
there is also an allusion to these early events. The
following is an extract from the manuscript:—
" When Bennington was first settled it was highly
esteemed for piety. ■ Their first minister was the Rev¬
erend Mr. Dewey. Fifty-four years ago next October,
1 was in this town with troops on their march to
Ticonderoga. We halted here on the Sabbath for
the forenoon. I heard him preach from Rom. v., 1 :—
' Therefore, being justified by faith, ive have peace
with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.'' He was
zealous, and called on his hearers affectionately to flee
to the Saviour. I think you have settled six ministers
111 this place, with five of whom I had personal ac¬
quaintance ; and, in a judgment of charity, we must
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
47
call them the faithful servants of Christ, who have, iro
doubt, warned you to flee from the wrath to come
When I was here at the time I have just mentioned)
I was in some families where I thought I discovered
uncommon piety and zeal for the cause of God. I
heard fervent prayers for the minister, that God would
be with him on the morrow, which I can never forget.
I lodged one night with him who was afterward chief
magistrate in this state—I mean Governor Robinson,.
I was transported with his apparent attachment to the
cause of God. When in the army, at the northward,
I would go to his camp, and hear him pour out his
heart in prayer to God for his country and the church
of God. I have heard him in this house call on sin¬
ners to repent. What an example of piety was the
aged mother, at whose interment I was present, and
heard a pertinent discourse from Rev. xiv., 13 :—'And
I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labours*; and their works do follow them.'
Her piety was spoken of through this and adjoining
states. What prayers, what fervent intercessions, as
cended up from that consecrated altar for this people,
is known only in heaven. I remember, at an anniver¬
sary celebration of 'Bennington battle,' being myself
present, this mother in Israel, fearing that something
might be done to the dishonour of God, who gave sig¬
nal deliverance and victory over the enemy, said, ' that
she feared and trembled more on that day than 011 the
day of Bennington battle.'"
After the close of his northern campaign he return¬
ed to his former home, where his time was employed
48
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
in agricultural pursuits. One year he cultivated a
large field for the raising of wheat, and a short time
before the work was finished he was assailed by a
typhus fever, and for a long time confined to his bed.
His friends collected and generously completed the
labour requisite to prepare his field for a harvest.
But while thus industriously engaged in the ordi
nary employments of life, and largely enjoying the
respect of those by whom he was surrounded, he little
anticipated the designs of Providence concerning him.
By improving his evenings, and by rising early in the
morning, he had made considerable proficiency in the
study of theology. At length he selected his text, and
composed a sermon, without education or teacher. As
in the family of Deacon Rose, the evening preceding
the Sabbath was devoted to family instruction and reli¬
gious worship, a sermon was occasionally read. The
sermons of Watts, Whitefield, Doddridge, and Davies
were usually selected, and young Haynes was the
reader. One evening, being called upon to read as
usual, he slipped into the book his own sermon which
he had written, and read it to the family. The deacon
was greatly delighted and edified by the sermon, as
it was doubtless read with unusual vivacity and feel¬
ing. His eyes were dim, and he had no suspicion
that any thing out of the ordinary course had happen¬
ed ; and, at the close of the reading, he inquired very
earnestly, " Lemuel, whose work is that which you
have been reading ? Is it Davies's sermon, or Watts's,
or Whitefield's ?" It was the deacon's impression that
the sermon was Whitefield's. Haynes blushed and
hesitated, but at last was obliged to confess the truth—
"It's Lemuel's sermon." The only person among the
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
49
Jiving who was present on this interesting Saturday
evening has kindly furnished some of the facts here
slated.*
This sermon, being the production of a young man
who had never enjoyed an hour's instruction beyond
the district school, and being delivered under such
peculiar circumstances, will be read with curiosity and
delight. It is here presented in its original form, with
scarcely the slightest alteration from the manuscript.
SERMON.
John iii., 3:—"Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
This chapter contains a conference between our
blessed Lord and Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
This great man came to our Saviour by night, and ad¬
dressed him in thi$ manner : " Rabbi," says he, " we
know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no
man can do the miracles that thou doest except God be
with him." Doubtless he had a rational conviction,
from the many miracles that Christ did, that he was
come from God. Our blessed Lord did not stand to
show who he was, but, like a wise and kind teacher,
takes occasion to inculcate the importance of the great
doctrine of regeneration ; and tells him, with a double
asseveration, that, except a man be born again, he can¬
not see the kingdom of God. But, as great as this
man was, we find that he was ignorant in a fundamen
tal point in religion. It appeared a paradox unto him;
for he, supposing our Lord must mean a natural birth,
asks him, as in ver. 4, " How can a man be born when
he is old ? Can he enter the second time into his
mother's womb, and be born V Christ, in order fur¬
ther to explain his meaning, and to show that it was
* Stephen B. Munn, Esq., New-York.
E
50
LIFE AND CHARACTER Of
not a natural birth that he had reference to, adds,
" Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God." By which, perhaps, we may under
stand, that, as water is often made use of in the Scrip¬
tures as a symbolical representation of the regenera¬
ting and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit on
the hearts of the children of men, so, unless we are
born of the water of the Spirit (as divines interpret it),
we cannot see the kingdom of God.
Our Lord proceeds to tell him, That which is born
of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
spirit is spirit. Q. d., It would be to no purpose if a
man should have another natural birth, seeing it would
not alter his nature; for that which is born of the
flesh is flesh; let it be born ever so many times of the
flesh, it would still remain fleshly ; and that which is
born of the spirit is spirit. " Marvel not that I said
unto thee, Ye must be born again." And now it seem¬
ed a greater mystery to Nicodemus than ever; there¬
fore he cries out, as in ver. 9, " How can these things
be ?"
Thus you see, as I observed before, that, although
Nicodemus was a great man, a ruler of the Jews, he
was ignorant about the new birth. And doubtless it is
so now. There are many of the great ones of the
earth—tell them about experimental religion—tell them
that they must feel the Holy Spirit working power¬
fully on their hearts—that they must be born again—
they are ready to cry out, with this master in Israel,
How can these things be ?
But, to return to the words first read In
speaking something from these words I shall pursue
the following method :—
I. Show the necessity of regeneration, or of our
being born again.
II. Explain the nature of the new birth, or what it
is to be born again.
III. Show what we are to understand by seeing the
kingdom, of God. °
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
51
I\ . Make some remarks.
1- This will appear, if we consider that state that
mankind are in antecedent tc the new birth. And if
we view mankind as they come into the world, we
shall then find them haters of God—enemies to God
—estranged from God—nay, the very heart is en¬
mity itself against all the Divine perfections; and we
shall find them acting most freely and most voluntarily
in these exercises. There is no state or circumstance
that they prefer to the present, unless it be one where¬
by they may dishonour God more, or carry on their
war with heaven with a higher hand. They have no
relish for divine things, but hate, and choose to re¬
main enemies to, all that is morally good. Now, that
this is actually the case with sinners, is very evident
from the Scriptures. We are told in the chapter of
which the text is a part, that that which is born of the
flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is
spirit; which teaches us that there is nothing truly
spiritual or holy in the first birth, but that this comes
by the second, or by the renewings of the Holy Ghost.
Christ tells the Jews that they hated him without a
oause. And the inspired apostle says, " That the car¬
nal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be. So, then,
they that are in the flesh cannot please God."—Rom.
viii., 7, 8. Therefore,
2. Seeing this is the state that mankind are in an¬
tecedent to the new birth, it is not fit or reasonable
that God should bring them into favour with himself,
or be at peace with them, without regeneration. Nay,
he cannot, consistent with his perfection, for this would
be for him to connive at wickedness when he tells us
that he can by no means clear the guilty. And,
3. To suppose that sinners can see the kingdom
of God or be happy in the Divine favour without re
generation or the new birth, is a perfect inconsistency,
or contrary to the nature of the thing. The very
essence of religion consists in love to God ; and a man
is no further happy in the favour of God than he loves
52
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
God. Therefore, to say we enjoy happiness in God
and at the same time hate God, is a plain contradiction.
4. It is evident from Scripture that those to whom
God gives a title to his spiritual kingdom are regen¬
erated or born again, and those that are not, and re¬
main so, shall be miserable. This is not only asserted
in the text by the Son of God, who was co-equal, co-
eternal, and co-essential with the Father—whose words
stand more permanent than the whole fabric of heaven
and earth—and who stands at the gate of the universe,
and will not alter the things that have gone out of his
mouth; I say, it was not only spoken by this glorious
being who cannot lie, by his own lips, with a repeated
verily, but has been confirmed by those whom he in¬
spired, and who, we are assured, had the mind of
Christ. St. Paul gives us the character of a good
man, or one entitled to the heavenly world, 2 Cor. v.,
17: "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new crea¬
ture ; old things are passed away, behold, all things are
become new." And they are said to be renewed in the
spirit of their mind, Eph. iv., 23. Compare Rom. xii.,
2. And to be born of God, John i., 13. And they
are spoken of as being lovers of God, Prov. viii., 17,
And [respecting] those that are not of this character,
or that remain enemies to God, he tells us that he will
pour out his fury upon them. Hence we read that the
wicked shall be turned into hell, even all the nations
that forget God ; and that without holiness no man shall
see the Lord. And St. John the Divine, having a view
of the glory of the heavenly world, says that there shall
in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but
they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Thus we see the propriety of our Lord's assertion,
that, except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.
But, as I mean to handle the subject with the utmost
brevity, I pass on,
II. To show the nature of regeneration, or what il is
to be born again. And here,
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
53
1. 1 would consider the agent, or who it is that ef¬
fects this great work. And if we consider that state
that mankind are in by nature, as has been described
above, we need not stand long to know who to attribute
this work to. It is a work too great to attribute to men
or angels to accomplish. None but He who, by one
word's speaking, spake all nature into existence, can
triumph over the opposition of the heart. This is the
work of the Holy Spirit, who is represented in Scrip¬
ture as emanating from the Father and the Son, yet co¬
equal with them both. It is God alone that slays the
native enmity of the heart—that takes away those evil
dispositions that govern the man—takes away the heart
of stone and gives a soft heart—and makes him that
was a hater of God, an enemy to God, to become
friendly to his divine character. This is not wrought
by any efficiency of man, or by any external motives, or
by any light let into the understanding, but of God.
Hence we read that those that receive Christ are born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God.—John i., 13. And that it is the
gift of God.—Eph. ii., 8. Also that it is God which
worketh in us.—Phil, ii., 13.
Thus, I say, the man is entirely passive in this work,
but it is all wrought immediately by a Divine agency.*
The man now becomes a new creature. Although he
cannot discern what is the way of the spirit (as the
wise man observes), or how God thus changes the heart,
yet he knows that he has different feelings from what
he had before. Therefore,
2. It is necessary that we consider those things that
arc the attendants or consequences of regeneration or
the new birth; for there are no gracious or holy exer¬
cises that are prior thereto, to be sure, in the order of
nature. Some seem to suppose faith to be before re¬
generation, but a little reflection upon the matter will
* " In regeneration man is wholly passive ; in conversion he is active.
Regeneration is the motion of God in the cre.tture; conversion is the mo¬
tion of the creature to God, by virtue of that irst principle whence spring
all the acts of believing:, repenting, and quickening. In all these man is
active; in the other he is merely passive."—Charnock.
E 2
54
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
show this to be wrong. By faith we are to understand
a believing of those truths that God has exhibited in
his word with a friendly heaTt. Now, to suppose that
a man believes with this friendly heart antecedent to
regeneration, is to suppose that a man is a friend to
God while in a state of unregeneracy, which is contra¬
ry to Scripture. Now, if to believe with a friendly and
right-disposed heart is absolutely necessary in order to
constitute a true faith, and such a heart is peculiar to
the regenerate only, then we must be possessed with
this heart (which is given in regeneration) before there
can flow from it any such exercises. So that the man
must become a good man, or be regenerated, before he
can exercise faith, or love, or any grace whatever.
Hence we read of men's receiving Christ, and then be¬
coming the sons of God.—John i., 12. Therefore, what
lies before us is to show what those fruits and effects
are, and what are those inward feelings that come in
consequence of the new birth. And,
1. He loves God supremely. He loves holiness for
what it is in itself, because it agrees with his new tem¬
per. He chooses and prefers that to any thing else.
He loves the law of God. He loves the gospel, and
every thing that is Godlike. He loves the holy angels
and the spirits of just men made perfect. His affec¬
tions are set on things that are above. is treasure is
there, and his heart will be there also. Pie loves the
people of God in this world ; nay, wherever moral rec¬
titude is to be seen, he falls in love "with it. He loves
all mankind with a holy and virtuous love. Although
he cannot love those that are the caoiuios of God with
a love of complacency, yet he loves them with the love
of benevolence. He is of a noble and generous spirit.
He is a well-wisher to all mankind. And this supreme
love to God and benevolence to man is spoken of in
Scripture as the very essence of true relhnon.
2. He repents of all his sins. He feels°guilty before
God. He sees and owns that God is right and he is
wrong. He sees and gives in that it would be just with
God to consign him over to the regions of despair.
KEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
55
Now the man which could take no delight in any thing
else but sin, hates it beyond any thing whatever. Now
he can acknowledge his sin with holy David—" Against
thee, and thee only, have I sinned."—"Hide thy face
from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities." He sees
that the sacrifice of God is a broken and a contrite
spirit. Like the publican, afraid to look up, he smites
upon his breast, saying, " God be merciful to me, a
sinner."
3. He believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. I just
observed what it was to believe. It is believing the
record that God has given of his Son with a friendly
heart. He gives in to the truths of the gospel with his
heart, and he knows the truth by his own happy expe¬
rience.
4. He is disposed to walk in all the ordinances of
God blameless.
He evidences by his holy walk that he has a regard
for the honour of God. He endeavours to imitate his
Divine master in all his imitable perfections. Knowing
that he saith " he that abideth in him, ought himself so
to walk, even as he has walked." Oh, happy change
indeed! The man is made like God in some good
measure. He has the same kind of affections and dis¬
positions as there are in God. He has a living princi¬
ple within him, which is active and vigorous, springing
up into everlasting life.
But we pass on to take notice of the third thing in
the method, which was,
III. To show what we are to understand by see-
ins the kingdom of God.
& ^ ......
Now we are not to suppose that it is an intuitive
view that we have of the kingdom of God, as we be¬
hold objects with our eyes ; but we are to understand
enjoying, or being admitted to possession of, the bles¬
sings and entertainments of the heavenly world, or be¬
ing brought into the Divine favour. He cannot be a
{jartaker of that unspeakable happiness that is in God;
le cannot enjoy that blessed intercourse and holy com
munio.n that comes to the believer in consequence of
56
LIFE AND CHARACTER 0?
his being united to Christ in this world, or be admitted
to those more subli*.ie entertainments that are above
Something like this we are to understand by seeing the
kingdom of God. But it will not be amiss to inquire
a little what is meant by the kingdom of God. And we
may understand,
1. The spiritual kingdom of Christ here in this
world. I mean that gracious temper of mind, or those
holy dispositions that are implanted in the heart by re¬
generation, and also when a number of such do unite
together in an ecclesiastical body. This is called
Christ's kingdom, because they not only have Christ's
kingdom in their hearts, but also, being visibly united
together to promote the cause of Christ, they may, by
way of eminence, be so styled. And,
2. We may understand the kingdom of glory, or this
principle of divine life consummated in the heavenly
world, so that this kingdom that believers have set up
in them in this world, is the same in kind as it is in
heaven. But when we shall come to put off this taber¬
nacle, and be imbodied spirits in the upper world, our
love will be increased, and we shall drink full draughts
out of that crystal stream that glides gently through the
paradise of God.
Oh! did believers once know adequately what is
prepared for them in the heavenly world, how would
they despise all things here below, and long to be on
the wing for heaven! Well may it be called a king¬
dom, where are crowns not of gold, but of glory;—
where the King of kings sits amid the heavenly
throng, and feeds them with his celestial dainties.
And when the body is reunited to the soul at the
resurrection, there will no doubt be much higher de¬
grees of glory. Oh ! then, let us live as becometh those
that are so highly favoured of the Lord.
APPLICATION.
1. Hence see the propriety of our blessed Lord's
assertion in the text, that, except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God, or enjoy the favour
REV. LEMUEL HAFNES.
57
and love of God, either m this world or that to come.
If men are totally depraved, as has been considered,
from thence arises the absolute necessity of the new
birth, and it is no strange or unaccountable thing that
men must be born again. There is no obtaining the
blessings of heaven without it. Therefore, says our
Lord, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be
born again."
2. Hence learn the folly of all those that rest in any
thing short of regeneration or the new birth. For,
however far we may go in the things of religion, yet, if
we are destitute of this divine and holy principle, we
may be assured of it, from scripture as well as from
the nature of things, that we cannot see the kingdom
of God.
3. Let us examine ourselves whether we are pos¬
sessed of this holy temper of heart or not. Have we
new dispositions ?—new affections ?—and new desires ?
Are God and divine things the centre and object of our
supreme love ? Have we repentance towards God and
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Have we got that
universal benevolence which is the peculiar character¬
istic of a good man ? Do we love the law of God ?
Have we viewed it in its purity and spirituality ? Are
we heartily disposed to walk in the ways of holiness ?
Do we freely and voluntarily choose that way ? Are
we well pleased with the gospel way of salvation ?
Lastly. Let all those that are strangers to the new
birth be exhorted no longer to live estranged from God,
but labour after this holy temper of mind. Flee to
Christ before it be too late. Consider that there is an
aggravated condemnation that awaits all impenitent sin¬
ners. There is a day of death coming. There is a
day of judgment coming. A few turns more upon the
stage and we are gone. Oh how will you answer it at
the bar of God, for your thus remaining enemies to
him ? It is sin that separates from God. But it is the
being or remaining such that will eternally separate
you from him. Never rest easy till you feel in you a
change, wrought by the Holy Spirit. And believe it,—
58 life and character of
until then you are exposed to the wrath of God; and
without repentance you will in a few days be lifting
up your eyes in torment.
The Lord grant that, we may lay these things suita¬
bly to heart;—that we, having the kingdom of Christ
set up in our hearts here, may grow up to the stature
of perfect men in Christ Jesus. This will lay a foun¬
dation for union with all holy beings, and with this
everlasting happiness in the kingdom of glory is in¬
separably connected, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The manuscript from which the above is a transcript,
nearly verbatim, was found among the papers of Rev.
Ebenezer Bradford, of Rowley, Massachusetts, with the
following note on a blank leaf.
" This sermon was composed by Lemuel Haynes, a
young fellow who was brought up a farmer, not favoured
with so much as a good common education.
" E. Bradford."
The papers with which this was found bear the date
of 1776, and it is unquestionably one of Mr. Haynes's
early productions; and from a careful comparison of this
with his other manuscript sermons, there is nearly con¬
clusive evidence that this is the very discourse read on
the occasion as stated above. The manuscript was
kindly furnished by Rev. James Bradford, Sheffield,
Massachusetts.
*EV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
69
CHAPTER III.
preparatory studies, etc.
The incident respecting the Saturday night sermon,
as stated in the preceding chapter, brought young
Haynes very favourably into public notice. He had
always been regarded as a youth of uncommon ami-
ableness and ingenuity. From childhood he had been
marked for his unspotted purity of character. When
he entered a house upon an errand for his master,
there was such retiring humility in his whole deport¬
ment as prepossessed all in his favour. 1
Now he began to be regarded in the neighbour¬
hood as one raised up of God for more than com¬
mon usefulness. It became known that he possessed
uncommon gifts in prayer and exhortation; and, the
parish being destitute of a minister, he was frequently
called upon to read approved sermons, and to lead in
the devotional exercises of the house of God. A re¬
port has gone abroad that, by invitation, he took the
deacon's seat, and delivered his own original sermons
on the Lord's day. Of this I can find no evidenoe
except that of tradition.
It was now discovered by a discerning Christian
community, that in this young man were the germes of
usefulness. He was encouraged to look forward to
the Christian ministry. On this subject a letter of his
own furnishes the following remarks:—"I was solicit¬
ed by some to obtain a collegiate education, with a
60
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
view to the gospel ministry. A door was opened for
it at Dartmouth College, but I shrunk at the thought.
Reverend Mr. Smith encourage*d me, with many others.
I was at last persuaded to attend to studying the
learned languages. I was invited (1779) by the Rev¬
erend Daniel Farrand, of Canaan, Connecticut, to visit
him. I accordingly did; with whom I resided some
time, studying the Latin language. He was a most
pious and friendly man."
Mr. Farrand was a most extraordinary man, whose
excellences and eccentricities were happily balanced.
In him were blended the deepest piety and the most
amusing wit. His memory was so tenacious, that,
when he was abroad on the Sabbath, if he happened
not to take the sermons with him which he chose to
deliver, he could, by recollection, preach them with
facility, without his notes. His great originality of
thought and quickness in repartee were much celebra¬
ted among his contemporaries. He was a poor man,
and seemed even to contemn worldly wealth. Not
far from him resided a gentleman of a directly oppo¬
site character in this respect. While he possessed
extensive arable lands and well-watered meadows, he
was penurious to a proverb. One day he invited Mr.
Farrand to a walk into his meadow, which stretched
far in front of his dwelling. As he was pointing to
the fertilizing creek that passed through it, and was
boasting of the richness of the soil, Mr. Farrand
rebuked his covetousness and pride with the following
lines:—
"Though a broad stream, with golden sand.
Through all his meadows roll,
Yet he's a wretch, with all his land*
Who wears a narrow soul *
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
6 i
Such was the structure of Mr. Haynes's mind, that
Jie readily caught the spirit and habits of his early in¬
structor. Like him, he was imbued with a spirit of
deep piety ; and, like him, he had a disposition for
amusing remark and keen retort, which rendered him
at once the delight of his friends and the terror of his
opponents. He was obliged, while with Mr. Farrand,
to labour in the field, and thus to defray the expense
of board and tuition. One day, being with his instruct¬
or, managing the planting of his garden, he gave him
some seeds of rare quality, saying to him, " Plant
them in the richest spot you can find." Haynes re¬
plied, " I shall plant them in the kitchen, then."
He used often, in after life, to relate an incident
which he had from the lips of his venerable instructer
Mr. Farrand, as he was riding in company with a
young clergyman not distinguished for his humility,
beheld, at a little distance from the highway, two or
three Indians at their work ; and turning, rode up and.
gave an affectionate salutation. After overtaking his
fellow-traveller, he received a sharp rebuke for his
attention to the Indians. Mr. Farrand replied, in his
usual laconic style, " They always treat me with good
manners when I meet them, and I should be ashamed
to have it said that the minister of the parish hasn't as
good manners as an Indian."
How long he enjoyed the instruction of Mr. Farrand
is not ascertained. He studied principally the Latin
language, devoting a part of his time to belles lettres
and the writing of sermons. He composed a poem
while here, which was surreptitiously taken from his
desk; and he afterward heard of its being delivered at
a certain college on the day of commencement.
F
62
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
He retained to the end of life a grateful remem¬
brance of his friend and patron. The unfeigned and
Vivid piety, together with the propensity for satirical
and humorous remark, so conspicuous in the instructer,
seem to have been transfused in4o the very soul of the
pupil.
Mr. Haynes often related the following instance of
the faithfulness and ingenuity of his teacher. With
much labour he had prepared a theme, in a style of
great elegance, as he supposed. He had introduced
many such terms as blue expanse—azure sky—and
other richly embellished expressions. Mr. Farrand
heard him through very patiently, and then remarked,
in the language of irony, " Mr. Haynes, you have been
talking, it seems by your style, to the inhabitants of
the upper world; what if you should come down to
folks on the earth, so that we can understand you?"
He felt mortified, but was thankful for the kind rebuke.
It did him good.
Having mastered the Latin language, he felt a
quenchless ardour to obtain a knowledge of the Greek
also, that he might read the New Testament in the
original. He had neither wealth nor friends to aid
him. And while in perplexing doubt by what means
tie could effect so desirable an object, God, in his
providence, raised him up a patron. The Reverend
William Bradford was at this time preaching at Win-
tonbury, a small parish, composed, as its name im¬
ports, of a part of three towns, Wt?zdsor, Farmingtort,
and Symsbury. Of him Mr. Haynes says, " He pro¬
cured a school for me in Wintonbury, and generously
offered to instruct me in the Greek language; and the
expense of my board would be discharged by my
REV. LEMCEL II A.YNES.
63
school. 1 exerted myself to the utmost to instruct the
children of my school, and found I gave general satis¬
faction. The proficiency I made in studying the
Greek language I found greatly exceeded the expecta¬
tions of my. preceptor."
By intense study by night, while the school engaged
his attention through the day, he in a few months be¬
came a thorough Greek scholar. As a critic on the
Septuagint and Greek Testament, he possessed great
skill. He had now laid up a valuable store of various
learning, especially in theology, and by advice of many
friends, both ministers and laymen, he made application
for license to preach the gospel.
Nov. 29th, 1780, several ministers of high respecta¬
bility " having examined him in the languages and
sciences, and with respect to his knowledge of the doc¬
trines of the gospel, and practical and experimental reli¬
gion, recommended him as qualified to preach the gos¬
pel."
His credentials have the signatures of Rev. Daniel
Farrand, Canaan, Rev. Jonathan Huntington, Worth-
ington, and Rev. Joseph Huntington, D. D., Coventry.
Ilis first sermon was preached at Wintonbury, of
which a brief analysis is here given.
Psalm xcvi., 1. "The Lord reigneth, let the earth
rejoice."
DOCTRINE.
The absolute government of God affords just matter
of rejoicing. Because
1. He has a perfect knowledge of all those events
which ever took place in the whole universe. Prov.
xv., 3.
2. All things are entirely dependant on God for their
existence.
64
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
3. He is infinitely wise.
This is another essential thing in an absolute govern
or, that he should know the exact number of events
necessary to take place;—when and how they shall
take place;—how powerful and how long they must
continue to operate; for, if this is not perfectly under¬
stood, it will cause the greatest disorder in the system.
This wisdom belongs to God, and to him only. Psal.
civ., 24.
4. He is all-powerful, hence he is called " the Lord
Omnipotent." Rev. xix., 6.
5. He is perfectly holy. Psal. cxlv., 17.
OBJECTIONS.
1. Does it not look like tyranny for Jehovah to set
up asi absolute governor of the universe ?
2. This doctrine destroys that freedom of the crea¬
ture, which is necessary in order to render his actions
virtuous or vicious.
3. If God is the disposer of all events, and it is mat¬
ter of joy that he reigns, then we ought to rejoice in all
that wickedness and disorder which have taken place
in the intellectual system.
4. The absolute supremacy of Jehovah is a licentious
doctrine. If all things are dependant on God, then the
salvation of the sinner is ; therefore I will sit down in
indolence ; if he should please to save me in my stupid
state, well,—if not, I must be lost.
ANSWER.
Two things seem to be taken for granted in such
an objection that are not true.
]. That the sinner has some true desire to be recon¬
ciled, and that his wickedness does not consist in the
voluntary exercises of his heart. But the truth of the
case is, his heart is wholly at enmity to God, without
the least true desire to be reconciled to him, and in this
all his inability and all his sin does radically consist.
2. It seems to suppose that the sinner may possibly
obtain salvation while in a state of indolence, which is
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
65
contrary to the very nature of those things that are re¬
quired in the gospel, and which are connected with sak
vation, viz., repentance towards God, and faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ. These are opposed to sloth and
carelessness. They imply activity. Exertion is the
very essence of that salvation which delivers from
everlasting destruction. So that, to say that we may
possibly obtain salvation while in a state of indolence,
is to say we may have a thing, and at the same time
not have it. Continuing in a state of stupidity is in
separably connected with everlasting burnings.
Farther, the consequence which the objector draws
from the doctrine is not a natural one. Is it not a fear¬
ful thing to be in the hands of God? Yes, verily.
But to whom? Not to the friends, but to the enemies
of God ; for to them he is a consuming fire. Their
case is truly dangerous ; and has the consideration of
danger a tendency to make men careless and secure ?
Nay, it is always in view of danger that persons are
exercised with concern and anguish. Did sinners real¬
ize these things, they could not live so careless as they
do. Therefore, one reason why sinners are so stupified
is, that they do not believe divine sovereignty. Hence
we see that no such consequence follows from this doc¬
trine. It is true men make this improvement of it.
And what is the reason that they draw such frightful
consequences ? Alas ! the reason is too obvious. It
is because the carnal mind is enmity towards God.
It luis been remarked of Cicero and Demosthenes,
the great orators of Greece and Rome, that they first
distinguished themselves in public at the age of twenty-
seven years : as if ibis were the age in which great
geniuses regularly bloomed for maturity. Without
comparing the humble subject of this sketch with the
great orators of antiquity, it is natural to remark, that
he commenced his public ministry at the age of twenty-
seven. A Congregational church having been recently
F 2
66 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
organized in Middle Granville, and a new house of
worship erected, he was cordially^and unanimously
invited to supply the pulpit. It deserves!© be recorded
as one of the wonders of the age, that a person should
be invited to become a spiritual teacher in a respecta¬
ble and enlightened congregation in New-England,
where he had been known from infancy only as a ser¬
vant-boy, and under all the disabilities of his humble
extraction. A prophet is not icithout honour save in
his own country and in his own house. That rever¬
ence which it was the custom of the age to accord to
ministers of the gospel, was cheerfully rendered to Mr.
Haynes. All classes and ages were carried away with
the sweet, animated eloquence of the preacher.
"Even children followed, with endearing smile,
And plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile.*1
You might see children by the wayside, or near the
village school-house, arranging themselves in due order
to welcome him as he passed, and vying with each
other in their tokens of reverence. It was remarkable
how singularly he attached to himself the rising gener¬
ation. He seldom met a child without asking some
amusing, instructive question, or making a striking re¬
mark, and all was done in a manner to make an impres¬
sion which time could never efface.
The writer of this narrative, though a resident in a
different parish in the town, and having opportunity to
hear him in comparatively but few instances, owes more
under God to Lemuel Haynes than to an)' other minis¬
ter among the living or the dead. Ilis sermons are
the earliest which I new remember to have heard, and,
though preached more than half a century ago, are at
this time recollected with a distinctness entirely inappli-
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
67
cable to those of any other preacher. They uniformly
left the impression of the majesty of God;—the im¬
portance of immediate repentance;—the awful solem¬
nity of the judgment day;—the attractive loveliness
of Christ;—and the pleasantness of wisdom,s ways.
He laboured in Granville five years, preaching pub¬
licly and from house to house. And I may add, in the
language of the apostle to the elders of the church at
Ephesus, he " ceased not to warn every one, day and
night, with tears." "His delivery was rapid—his voice
charming, like the vooti argentea* of which Cicero
makes such frequent and honourable mention;—his ar¬
ticulation uncommonly distinct—a perennial stream of
transparent, sweet, animated elocution—presenting his
arguments with great simplicity and striking effect.,,
The perfect ease with which words and thoughts flow¬
ed was like the river, on the banks of which, as the
poet beautifully relates, the traveller sat himself down
till it should run by.
+ * * "at ille
Labitur, et labetur omne volubilis aevum."—Hor.
It was a season of great moral darkness through
New-England when Mr. Haynes commenced his min¬
istry. The Stoddardian principle of admitting moral
persons, without credible evidence of grace, to the
Lord's Supper, and the half-way covenant by which
parents, though not admitted to the Lord's Supper, were
encouraged to offer their children in baptism, prevailed
in many of the churches. Great apathy was prevalent
among professing Christians, and the ruinous vices of
profancncss, Sabbath-breaking, and intemperance were
affectingly prevalent among all classes. The spark of
* Silver voice.
68
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
evangelical piety seemed to be nearly extinct in the
churches. Revivals of religion were scarcely known
except in the recollections of a former age. Some of
the essential doctrines of grace were not received even
by many in the churches. Such was the character of
the age. Such, too, was the place in which Mr
Haynes commenced his labours. Against the errors
and vices of the times he exerted a powerful influence.
There was such directness in his appeals, and such
withering pungency in his replies to the caviller, that
"the word was sharper than a two-edged sword." No
special revival is recollected under his ministrations in
this place. Not a fewr, however, were savingly bene¬
fited through his honoured instrumentality.
As an instance of his success in silencing the soph¬
istry of error, it is related that a member in the church,
of great candour and of unblemished morals, was an
open, calm opposer of the doctrine of personal elec¬
tion. He alleged the common popular objections
against the doctrine, and at the same time he seemed
to have great reverence for the authority of the Bible.
Mr. Haynes had fully measured the man, and formed
his plan for wanning him to the truth. For this purpose
he carefully shunned personal controversy. Whenevei
a plain Scripture proof occurred, he called on Mr. At¬
kins, and proposed the text with appropriate questions.
For instance, Eph. i., 4—"According as he hath cho¬
sen us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before him in
love."—" What is the meaning of this text ? Were the
persons here said to be chosen, Christians? When was
this choice made ? Was it grounded on foreseen Jioli*
ness, or were they chosen that they should be holy ?"
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
69
The interview was short, and no opportunity given 1o
Hwaken a spirit of controversy. He called again and
again with a " Thus saith the Lord," till at length he
gained his point, and the man was won to the love of
evangelical truth, and shone bright for years as a mem¬
ber and an officer in the church, and was a friend and
correspondent of Mr. Haynes to the day of his death.
And from the papers in his possession at the time of
his decease, some of the most interesting materials for
this volume were collected.
An event now took place which greatly affected his
condition. Among the pious youth in Granville was
Elizabeth Babbit, who, in her deep religious anxiety,
was greatly aided in her search after salvation by the
counsels and prayers of Mr. Haynes. She possessed
a refined education for that day, and was employed as
a teacher of youth in the centre of the town. After
days and weeks of distressing darkness, she was led to
embrace a cheering hope unto salvation. Now she was
ready to inquire what she should render to the Lord for
all his benefits. She could not but inquire what she
should render to him who had thus been the humble
and happy instrument of such an unspeakatle blessing.
Reverence for Mr. Haynes as her spiritual father seems
to have laid a foundation for a connexion both honour¬
able and sacred for life. Looking to Heaven for gui¬
dance, she was led, with a consistent and justifiable
delicacy, to make him the overture of her heart and
hand as his companion for life. By such a proposal he
regarded himself as highly honoured. He commended
the subject to God in prayer, imploring the guidance of
his spirit. He consulted a number of ministers, and
it is understood that he received their unanimous advice
and sanction.
70 ltfe and character of
September 22d, 1783, his marriage with Miss Eliza¬
beth Babbit was solemnized at Hartland. Connecticut,
by the Rev. Samuel Woodbridge.*
CHAPTER IV.
ordination of mr. haynes, and HIS MINISTRY AT
torr1ngton.
In this place, where the early days of Mr. Haynes
were spent, the question has been often proposed to his
most familiar acquaintances, "Did you ever hear the
slightest fault alleged against him ?" The inquiry has
been answered by various individuals—some his early
schoolmates, others the connexions of the family which
brought him up. The uniform answer has been " No."
Not a fault on which the eye of recollection could rest
as a visible stain upon his fair and lovely character.
Such is the testimony of all who knew him during his
residence in Granville, comprising the first thirty-two
years of his life.
After preaching in that place for the term of five
years with very favourable reception, it was judged ex-
* Mrs. Haynes was bom at Dighton, Mass., February 28, 1763. Died
February 8, 1836. She possessed an amiable character as a wife, a moth¬
er, and a Christian. Nine children survive. One, a daughter, has deceas¬
ed. All the children are hopefully pious except one, and all but two have
made a public profession of religion. The eldest daughter, Mrs. C., is set-
tied in Rutland, and is a member of the English church. There are three
eons. One is a farmer; Samuel is settled as a physician in the State of
New-York ; William has been engaged in a law office in Massachusetts.
Three of the children are married, it is said respectably.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
71
pedient that lie should receive ordination as an evange
list. Accordingly the church, by unanimous vote, ap¬
plied in the following manner to the Association of
Ministers in Litchfield county, Connecticut, to ordain
him.
"We, the second church of Christ in Granville, hav
ing been acquainted with Mr. Lemuel Haynes from a
child, would recommend him as a man of sober life and
conversation, and in good standing in the church. And
having employed him for several years past as a preach¬
er among us to general satisfaction, we think he is, in
some good measure, qualified to preach the gospel. It
is our earnest and unanimous request that this reverend
association would set him apart to the work of the min¬
istry, by the imposition of hands, or by ordination at
large, if they should think proper; as we think it would
render him more serviceable to the church, and to the
cause of the adorable Redeemer in the world.
" Per order of the church.
"Timothy Robinson, ) Church
"Aaron Coe, 5 Committee
" Granville, Oct. 12th, 1785."
The ordination of Mr. Haynes was solemnized No¬
vember 9th, 1785. On this occasion his venerable
instructor, the Reverend Daniel Farrand, preached a
discourse from 1 Chron. xvii., 16, "Who am I, O
Lord God, or what is my house, that thou hast brought
me hitherto 1" Reverend Mr. Knapp, of Winsted,
offered the introductory prayer, and gave the right
hand of fellowship; Reverend Mr. Thompson gave
the charge; Reverend Mr. Hallock, of Canton, offered
the concluding prayer.
Hitherto we have seen him move in a small retired
parish, among the companions of his childhood and
72 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
youth. Now he is sent forth an accredited minister
of Christ. A door was soon opened for his usefulness
m Tomngton, Connecticut j where he continued about
two years, preaching the gospel and administering the
sacramental seals. Possessing peculiar talents to
rouse attention to public worship, the assembly in¬
creased from Sabbath to Sabbath, till the house was
filled. The congregation continued large during the
whole term of his residence in that place. Several of
ihe most respectable families from adjoining towns,
particularly from Goshen, were his warmest friends,
and constantly attended on his ministry. What num¬
ber became the subjects of renewing grace, cannot at
this remote period be even conjectured. The last
great day will make the disclosure. The aged refer
to his ministry with many delightful recollections.
He was held in high estimation, especially by the
church, and was esteemed by all classes as " an apt
and very ready man in the pulpit." The mere mention
of his name even now, after the lapse of half a cen¬
tury, seems to renew in their minds interesting asso¬
ciations. The church and society were strengthened
by his labours, and many wished to retain him as their
permanent pastor. The sensibility of a few individ¬
uals prevented, it is said, the accomplishment of their
desires.
In reference to his labours here a president of one
of the New-England colleges says :—" I had heard
much of Mr. Haynes from my earliest remembrance,
aspecially from my mother, who was a great admirer
of his preaching." How many other pious mothers
enjoyed his stated or occasional preaching during his
short residence in Litchfield county, and how much
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES. 73
they were influenced thereby in training up their sons
to become luminaries in the church, " we know not
now, but we shall know hereafter!"
Respecting his ministry here there is a striking
fact, which I will relate in the language of a corre¬
spondent.* " There is a man of my acquaintance who
feels that he owes much, under God, to the preaching
of Mr. Haynes while at Torrington. He was dis¬
affected that the church should employ him, and neg¬
lected meeting for a time. At length curiosity con¬
quered prejudice so far that he went to the house of
God. He took his seat in the crowded assembly, and,
from designed disrespect, sat with his hat on. Mr.
Haynes gave out his text, and began with his usual
impassioned earnestness, as if unconscious of any
thing amiss in the congregation. 'The preacher ha,d
not proceeded far in his sermon,' said the man, ' be¬
fore I thought him the whitest man I ever saw. My
hat was instantly taken off and thrown under the seat,
and I found myself listening with the most profound
attention.' That day was a memorable era in the life
of this scorner, and the sermon was memorable for its
piercing effects upon his conscience. Through the
influences of the spirit of God, he was roused from his
stupidity—convinced of his guilt and ruin—and led to
look to Christ Jesus for salvation. He became a man
of prayer and unexceptionable piety; and is now, if
living, an elder in the church at the west."
Brief sketch of a Tour into the State of Vermont.
"Torrington, July 26, 1785. Set out on my jour¬
ney to the State of Vermont, accompanied by Mr. L.
• Rev. Milton Huxley.
G
74
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Loomis. May we be prospered, and have the Divine
presence ! Visited Mr. S. Banning, of Hartland, a
young man of twenty-one, who appeared to be upon
the borders of the eternal world.— Could not talk with
him much about dying, his reason being gone.—Com¬
mended him to the Throne of Grace in prayer.—Heard,
at the same time, of the sudden death of Mr. Wilder,
an old acquaintance.—Went to visit the distressed
family.—Discoursed with them on the importance of
being prepared to meet sudden death.—Lodged at
Granville.
" July 28. Set out for Williamstown.—Dined with
the Reverend Mr. Collins, Lanesborough.—Heard him
discourse very sensibly on divinity.
"July 29. Kept Sabbath with the Rev. Seth Swift,
Williamstown, an exceedingly agreeable gentleman
and faithful minister.—Am grieved for the unhappy
divisions among his people, chiefly on account of pub¬
lic affairs.—Preached from Numb, xxi., 9; ' And Moses
made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole ; and it
came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when
he beheld the serpent of brass he lived.' And Tit. ii.,
13; 'Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious
appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesii3
Christ.'—The people were very attentive.
" July 30. Called on the Rev. Job Swift, of Benning¬
ton.—Had an agreeable interview.
"July 31. Lodged at Esquire Smith's, in Clarendon.
"Aug. 1. Came to Rutland.
" Aug. 2. Preached at Deacon Roberts's, from Matt,
xiii., 44; ' Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto
treasure hid in a field, the which, when a man hath
found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth
all that he hath and buyeth that field.'
" Aug. 3. Preached at Mr. Cornish's, from Tit. ii., 13-
—Saw something of the power of God among the peo¬
ple.
_ " Aug. 4. Visited a sick man—attempted to pray with
him.
" Aug. 5. Sabbath. Preached at Rutland, from 2
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
75
Pet. i., 10; 'Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili¬
gence to make your calling and election sure ; for if ye
do these things ye shall never fall.' Numb, xxiii., 10.
' Who can count the dust of Jacob, and count the fourth
part of Israel ? Let me die the death of the righteous,
and let my last end be like his !'—The people gave
remarkable attention.
"Aug. 6. Went to Pawlet.—Preached for Rev. Mr.
B , from Zech. xii., 10; 'And I will pour upon
the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jeru¬
salem,' &c.—Met with Rev. Mr. Graves, of Rupert,
and Messrs. Thomson and Tolman, candidates.—Had
much conversation with them.—All seem to be zealous
in the cause of the Redeemer.—Heard Mr. Tolman
preach from 1 Cor. vii., 29 ; ' The time is short.'
" Aug. 7. Heard Mr. Thomson preach to a sick
woman, from Psal. lv., 5, 6; Tearfulness and trem¬
bling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed
me. And I said, Oh that I had the wings of a dove !
for then would I fly away and be at rest.'—Rode to
Granville after sermon, in company with Mr. Thom¬
son.—Visited a sick woman—prayed and conversed
with her.
"Aug. 8, Preached at Granville for Rev. Mr. Hitch-
cox.—Rode to Poultney.—Preached from Phil, iii., 13 ;
' Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are
before.'
"Aug. 9. Rode to Tinmouth,—preached, at 4 o'clock,
from Col. iii., 4 ; ' When Christ who is our life shall
appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.'—
Visited the Rev. Mr. Osborne, who, on account of di¬
vision, had stopped preaching.—Lodged with Judge
Mattocks of that place.—Had a most agreeable oppor
tunity with him.
" Aug. 10. Took leave of Judge Mattocks.—Rode to
Rutland—East Parish,—preached from Gen. xxviii.,
12; 'And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on
the earth.' &c.—After meeting heard that Mr. A
76
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
S of that place received a dangerous wound in
his head by a stone accidentally cast. Went to see
him—prayed with him—he appeared to be danger¬
ously hurt.
"August 11. Saturday evening. Was very unwell,
gome apprehensions of leaving the world.
"Aug. 12. Sabbath. Was much belter through di¬
vine goodness.—Preached at West Rutland, from
Num. xxi., 9; and Zech. viii., 22.—Sabbath evening,
rode to Clarendon.—Preached to a crowded auditory,
from Matt, xxviii., 5 ; ' And the angel answered and
said unto the women, Fear not ye, for I know that ye
seek Jesus that was crucified.'
"Aug. 13. Rode to Dorset.—Preached at one o'clock,
from Heb. xiii., 9 ; £ Be not carried about with divers
and strange doctrines.' Same day,—rode to Manches¬
ter—preached from Job xxxvi., 18; 'Because there
is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his
stroke; then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.'—
Lodged with Mr. C , a good Baptist minister.—Had
an agreeable interview with Messrs. B and G .
"Aug. 14. Rode to Shaftsbury.—Preached from Gen.
xxviii., 12.
"Aug. 15. Visited Mr. B in the morning.—
Rode to Bennington—preached at 4 o'clock, from Matt,
xxviii., 5.—Visited old Mrs. Robinson—dined with her
—a pious woman !—Went to Rev. Mr. Swift's for
lodgings.—Met with Rev. Mr. Swift, of Williamstown,
and Mr. Marsh, a young candidate."
Thus the journal closes abruptly. Why it was
never resumed is not known. Probably Mr. Haynes
deliberately weighed the subject, and for reasons satis¬
factory to his own mind, decided to keep no journal or
diary of his own feelings and actions. His extreme
delicacy in speaking of himself, together with the un¬
ceasing round of labours which pressed upon him,
might have been the reasons for such a decision. But
ilfcv. lemuel haynes.
77
from ihe sketch here given of his labours and cares for
the kingdom of Christ during a few weeks, it is easy
to form just conceptions of his whole life. Wherever
you see him, whether at home or on a journey, whether
among friends or strangers, he was " always abounding
in the work of the Lord."
CHAPTER V.
ministry at rutland, vermont.
At this time the State of Vermont was a very im¬
portant field for ministerial usefulness. There was
much to be done. Every thing was in a state of na¬
ture ; the genial influence of science and religion being
scarcely felt. The foundation of literary institutions
and religious societies was now to be laid. There was
no college in the state, and the only academy was the
one at Norwich, near Dartmouth College. There were
not more than four or five Congregational ministers on
the west side of the Green Mountains. A religious re¬
vival of considerable extent, under the preaching of
Rev. Jacob Wood and others, had resulted in the for¬
mation of a few small churches. But they were, in a
peculiar sense, as sheep among wolves, with none to
lead or to feed them.
«vThc inhabitants of this state had participated, not
only in the dangers, but also in the corrupting influence
of the revolutionary war. A systematic and confident
infidelity had been introduced, and it widely prevailed.
G 2
78 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
It boasted of genius, and wealth, and station. Not a
few among the leading men in the state were open infi¬
dels, and exerted, in many instances, a fatal influence
on the rising generation. They extensively circulated
Allen's " Oracles of Reason," and other infidel books,
which were read with more interest ,by many than " the
lively oracles of God."
Such was the state of religion in Vermont when Mr
Haynes first visited this great moral desert. And who
is not compelled to see the hand of God in this event!
Of all men, he was the one to expose the sophistry and
silence the blasphemies of infidelity. His great mem¬
ory and ready wit enabled him to deal the heaviest
blow in controversy. No champion of the gospel in
that region was better qualified to confute the specious
subtleties of infidels. If they assailed him with argu¬
ment, his replies were ready and appropriate, and gen¬
erally with such naked point as to make sophistry ap
pear ridiculous. And if they railed and ridiculed, he
knew full well how to reply.
In his cast of mind there was great originality. He
was keen in repartee; and whoever attacked him rude¬
ly or impertinently, had reason to regret that he had not
preserved silence.
" On one public day," says a respected correspond¬
ent, " I saw Mr. Haynes engaged in conversation with
a Mr. B. P., a man who had collected a number of
books in support of infidelity, and fancied that he was
an able disputant. A large circle of attentive specta-
, tors had gathered about them. The infidel asked Mr.
Haynes in what he supposed real virtue to consist ? I
understood Mr. H. to give in answer nearly President
Edwards's view of the subject, to which the infidci
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
79
readily objected. Mr. Haynes then returned the ques-
ion, 'What do you think it is ?'—'I believe,' he repli¬
ed, ' that the essence of true virtue is natural affection
He proceeded immediately to expatiate on its impor¬
tance in promoting the happiness of beings. ' Nat¬
ural affection virtue?'' (Mr. H. repeated)—'Natural
affection virtue? Then my old swine is full of virtue.
She is so full of it, that, if I attempt to catch one of her
pigs, she will tear me in pieces if she can.' "
March 28,1788, he went to Rutland, having received
a call to the pastoral office in the west parish.
Rutland is a pleasant and fertile town, situate on Ot¬
ter Creek, and is the county seat. The west parish,
comprising an intelligent, industrious population, were
harmonious in their invitation to him to become their
spiritual guide. Being now in the meridian of his
days, he brought forth to this people the fruits of a
mind enriched with divine science, and imbued with
the spirit of his Master. He had a deep sense of the
awful responsibilities of the ministry, and was "deter¬
mined not to know any thing among his people save
Tesus Christ and him crucified."
Having, by patient and critical investigation, formed
for himself a system of divine truth as he understood
the Scriptures, he clearly and fearlessly taught this sys¬
tem to his congregation. Never did he wait to inquire
whether a particular doctrine was popular. His only
inquiries were, " Is it true ? Is it profitable ? Is it
seasonable V He seldom if ever preached a merely
doctrinal sermon. The essential, humbling doctrines
of grace were the seasoning of all his sermons. Often
by a happy illustration he would place some great truth
in a convincing light only by a few sentences. The
80
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
Divine goodness in the eternal decree of election he
thus illustrated :—" Does God give a sinner a new heart
to-day 1 All say that he is good for this act. A sin¬
ner is plucked as a brand from the burnings, and a pre¬
cious soul is saved from eternal death. If God formed
the design of saving that sinner one day beforehand, he
was good during a whole day for such a design. If it
was the purpose of God a month or a year beforehand
to renew that sinner's heart, he was good for a month
or a year for his benevolent purpose. What if God de¬
termined from eternity to sanctify that sinner ? Then
he was eternally good for such a determination. This
is God's decree of election ; therefore his eternal elect¬
ing love, instead of proving that he is a hard master,
unanswerably proves his eternal, unchangeable good¬
ness."
" Some say it is no matter what men believe. Is it
no matter if men are damned?"—2d Thess. ii., 12.
Such illustrations were as common almost as his at¬
tempt to pi^ach.
He was singularly^aaetessful in filling the house of
God with attentive anS deeply-interested hearers. On
Sabbath morning you might see nearly the whole popu¬
lation moving with solemn stillness to the place of wor¬
ship. Neither the feebleness of age, nor the levity of
childhood and youth, nor even the stupidity- of invete-'
rate wickedness, prevented attendance in the house of
God.
One Sabbath morning, as he" was passing by a de¬
vout woman of threescore years and ten, who had
walked two miles or more on her way to the sanctuary,
he thus accosted her after a brief salutation—" Why,
Mrs. yon constantly to meeting. You are
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
bo aged and infirm, I wonder how you dare to set out on
foot."—" O, Mr. Haynes," said the good lady, " I have
but few more Sabbaths to enjoy here. I expect every
one that I attend will be the last. I take so much com¬
fort that I cannot lose one Sabbath, and that is the rea¬
son why I go. And besides, I know that He who gives
me strength to set out is able to strengthen me on the
way." One of the deacons in his church was never ab¬
sent from the sacramental lecture except in one in¬
stance, and he was free to confess that even one solita¬
ry instance was a faulty neglect. He used to say, " I
never heard a sermon from my minister without gain¬
ing something new."
Mr. Haynes was decided in requiring his own family
to attend public worship, and to attend both parts of
the day. If any one proposed staying at home one
half of the day, he would reply, " If the devil can make
one stay away in the forenoon, he is almost sure to de¬
tain him in the afternoon."
During the greatest part of his ministry in Rutland,
the attachment of his hearers was unanimous and
ardent. It was a disappointment to see a stranger in
the pulpit. Some emulation existed between the two
parishes in the town, in respect to their ministers.
Although Mr. Haynes was cordially welcomed by the
people in the old parish, both to their families and to
the pulpit, yet the young men, by way of pleasantry,
would often remind the youth in the West Parish of
their coloured minister! The latter would strenuously
reply:—
" His soul is pure !—all yvhite !
Snow white !"
Mr. Haynes had but few correspondents, and his
'etters were evidently written in great haste. They
82
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
cannot fail, however, to be highly appreciated, as they
exhibit, in some instances, great originality; and espe¬
cially as they manifest the humble, devoted Christian,
and the faithful, persevering pastor.
Extracts from his Letters.
LETTER I.
FROM MR. HAYNES TO DEACON ELIHU ATKINS, GRAN
VILLE, MASS.
Rutland, October 19th, 1795.
* * * We are well; for which we have reason
to admire distinguishing goodness. It has been a very
dying time, especially among children, the summer
past.
My ministerial labours have been almost insupport¬
able. We have but few ministers in this vicinity. I
find that my strength begins to fail. I hope I shall be
able to finish my course with joy, though infinitely
unworthy. I am happy among the people of my
charge as to union. I fear we have but little religion.
We have lately procured a library in the society, and
there is considerable attention to reading. I think
sometimes, with pleasing satisfaction mingled with
gloom, of the many happy hours I have spent under
your roof. Whether they will ever be repeated God
only knows, in whose hands are the lives of men.
May we meet in a better world !
Yours sincerely, &c.
LETTER II.
FROM MR. HAYNES TO THE PASTOR OF THE FIRST
CHURCH IN GRANVILLE.
Rutland, October 1st, 1796.
* * * Experience alone can teach us the great
difficulties that attend the gospel ministry. If we are
faithful we shall have Divine approbation. With re¬
spect to religion in these parts although the year past
REV. LEMUEL HAVNE8.
63
some towns have been remarkably visited with Divine
influence, yet it is in general a very stupid time. I
think I never knew infidelity more prevalent. As
you observe, Paine has advocates. I have attended
to all his writings on theology, and can find little els«
but invective and the lowest kind of burlesque. No
candid reader will own him as reasoning fairly. "We
may rest satisfied that the Lord omnipotent reignetlv.
I find it more and more necessary to study divinity,
and to obtain clear ideas. I attend more to reasoning
on the subjects than formerly. The truth of Divine
revelation is called in question. The doctrine of God's
electing love is disputed—which tends to enervate [un¬
dermine] the foundation of rational religion. We have
but few regular ministers among us, but we are hap¬
pily united. I wish to hear from you every opportu¬
nity. Should Providence concur, I expect to be at
G next winter ; but 'tis more than possible that I
may exchange worlds before that time. Remember
me at the Throne 01 Grace. My heart wishes you
success. The Lord make you faithful.
Yours sincerely, &c.
LETTER III.
TO THE SAME.
Rutland, September 15th, 1797.
# * # It has been a very dying time in this so¬
ciety and the places adjacent. Since last spring we
have buried about fifteen, chiefly children I
have mentioned it to the people in public, that perhaps
God is correcting us for our neglect of family religion
—that we take so little care to instruct our children in
religion. I have just returned from a proposed ordi¬
nation, at Granville, State of New York. The pastor
elect was Mr. Nathaniel Hall, of Sutton, who had pre¬
viously made a journey there, and was to return a week
before the time of ordination. The council met, bul
the candidate did not appear, to our great disappoint¬
ment, but much more so to the people. Mr. Hall is a
84
life and character of
promising character. None are suspicious of iniquity
in him about the matter. But it is presumed he is
either dead or sick on the road from Boston. We
wait to hear the event unfolded. Several likely young
preachers have come into this state of late. I hope
Providence will open the door for the gospel to spread
among us. Infidelity and stupidity are very prevalent
Corrupt- doctrines are circulated ; and Arminianism is
not without its votaries. I find a clear understand¬
ing of the doctrines of the gospel is very necessary
for ministers at this time. We had need to study
and pray. We have lately lost a preacher in these
parts, the Reverend Mr. Carpenter. He was a man
of unexceptionable character. His funeral sermon
will soon be published, when (God willing) you shall
have a copy sent you. Was disappointed in not visit¬
ing you last winter—hope to see you within a few
weeks or months. Pray write me every opportunity
—let me have some useful ideas Remember
me at the Throne of Grace—more especially Zion in
general.
Yours sincerely, &c.
LETTER IV.
to the same.
Rutland, Dec. 29, 1799.
Rev. and dear Sir,
Yours by your brother T has been received,
and it was like good news from a far country. I
almost envy the happiness of such ministers, whose Lt
is cast among a people where God is pleased to pour
out his spirit in so plentiful effusions. Yet souls are
as precious in one part of the world as in another, and
wherever God is calling in souls, it will afford joy to
the people of God. Accounts from below, of late, have
often refreshed the souls of the pious in these parts.
There have been, and still are, instances of awakenings
in this state, though they have not been general.
At Mount Holley, a town about sixteen miles from
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
85
Rutland, there have been nearly forty who have lately
entertained a hope. I have lately been with them to
assist in gathering a church, and was abundantly satis¬
fied with their appearance. A few drops have fallen
on Pittsford, the town adjoining this. But the general
inattention in this state is gloomy. But little inclina¬
tion to settle the gospel. We have an ordination ap¬
pointed at Brandon on New-Year's day. Regular
candidates have almost forsaken this state. Dissen¬
sions about politics have had an unfavourable influence
on religion, as they have greatly tended to alienate the
;) flections of the people from each other, at least in
many towns in the state. However, I think they have
in a measure subsided. The late melancholy news of
the death of General Washington seems to shock every
heart. I think we may view it a great frown of Provi¬
dence. May it teach us to cease trusting in man,
whose breath is in his nostrils. I have for a long time
boon very desirous to pay you a visit, but family and
ministerial affairs have hitherto prevented: still, I hope
to see you before long. The longer I live the greater
my work appears. But have great reason to be hum
bio that I sec so little fruit of my labour. A number
of churches among us have agreed to spend some time
every other Thursday in prayer for the outpouring of
the spirit. I hope we shall find the Most High a
prayer-hearing God. While it is well with you, pray
remember us.
Believe me, faithfully yours, &c.
LETTER V.
to the same.
Rutland, Sept. 22, 1801.
Dear Sir,
I am scarcely able to express my desire for an inter¬
view with you and my old friends at G . Provi¬
dence has for a long time prevented. Hope however it
will be but a few months before I shall converse with
you face to face. For the present, as a substitute, I
86
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
wrap myself up in a small piece of paper, and have
agreed with Deacon H. to carry me, post free, in his
pocket. The main thing you want to hear about is the
state of religion among us. Although, for the most
part, stupidity reigns triumphant, yet there are hopeful
appearances in some places. Deacon H. will tell you
the good news from Swanton. There seems to be con¬
siderable attention in a great number of towns to the
northward. Perhaps God has yet mercy in store for
poor Vermont. The missionaries from Conn, have
been of singular service. When the enemy shall come
in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a
standard against him. We have, of late, a little in¬
quiry among some young people about religion. A
number sent for me last Sabbath to converse about
their soul's concern. Five or six children and youth
are crying out, " What shall wre do to be saved ?" I
take a little courage that these few drops may presage
a shower. Pray for us that the Lord would carry on
his work. We sensibly feel the frowns of Divine
providence in removing Dr. Edwards from Union Col¬
lege. The prospects were promising. But the Lord
reigns.
It has been a time of mortality for months past in the
east parish in Rutland. A young man was thrown from
his horse the other evening, and was killed almost in
stantly.
I am preparing another political discourse for the
press, delivered on the 4th of July. I feel an aversion
to preach, and especially to print, on the subject, but
I find it unavoidable without giving offence.
I thank you for your correspondence. Pray write
every opportunity. I hear from you with joy. What
is the meaning of Zech., chap, v., 5-11 verses ?
Yours, in the fellowship of the gospel, &c.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
87
LETTER VI.
to the same.
Rutland, Oct. 3,1802.
Dear Sir,
Finding that the bearer had no letter for me was at¬
tended with some disappointment. However, I suppose
you did not consider yourself indebted. We love to
work for wages, and the sentiment will abide with us
till we get to heaven. Mr. B. informs me that 'tis a
time of coldness among you. This makes it hard,
studying and preaching. But, after all, perhaps it will
be found at the day of judgment that he is most faithful
who, out of right views, has done the most to prepare
matters for that day. Yet the conversion of souls is
pleasing to the benevolent mind, and will be a subor¬
dinate object of attention. We have nothing very
special. A few individuals are serious. Let us prize
even the day of small things. At Castleton there has
been considerable attention to religion for months past.
About twenty-six have been added to the church. In
Ira, about three miles from here, a family is visited of
late with the influences of the spirit, who have always
neglected meeting and things of a religious nature.
'Tis best God should so work as to make it evident
that 'tis all of him.
The missionaries have been peculiarly useful among
us ; and, generally, met with a kind reception. I think
that the missionary spirit that has appeared of late is
an omen of good.
I have this day finished reading a fourth volume of
Mr. Fuller, an ingenious European writer. You have
doubtless read his " Letters to the Calvinists,"—" The
Gospel its own Witness,"—" The Gospel a Faithful
Saying," and the " Backslider." They are admired by
the serious ; and, I think, are worthy of a place in every
minister's library.
I intended to have been at G. the second Sabbath in
this month, but sickness I think will prevent. One of
83
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
my children, a daughter of fourteen, is very sick. God
is correcting us. I have doubts of her ever recovering.
I find I deserve chastisements.
I intended to have written more, especially more to
the purpose, but weariness of body and mind prevents.
'Tis Sabbath evening—the fatigue of the pulpit and of
my distressed family must apologise.
We live at a great distance, but would it be too much
boldness for me to suggest, that, should we spend one
quarter of an hour every Saturday evening at the Throne
of Grace, to intercede for our own souls and the souls
of our people, and for Zion in general, we might thereby
be peculiarly present in spirit ?
Yours sincerely,
Lemuel Haynes.
CHAPTER VI.
revivals of religion.
Through the instrumentality of Whitefield and his
fellow-labourers, our own country was blessed with ex¬
tensive revivals a little before the middle of the last cen
tury. Owing to various causes, the fruits were in some
measure blasted, and the churches were covered with a
cloud of portentous darkness. In many parts of New-
England, " religious awakenings," as they were styled,
were regarded with a suspicious eye. The special in¬
fluences of the Spirit were., in a great measure with¬
held, and for half a century the church was enlarged
chiefly by gradual additions.
But, near the commencement of the present century,
copious showers of Divine grace began to be more fre-
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
qiient. Through the tender mercy of the Lord, these
seasons of refreshing continued with increased frequen¬
cy and power, till now a very large proportion of those
who are members of the church seem to have been
turned from darkness to light in revivals of religion.
Respecting the operations of the Holy Spirit, Mr.
Haynes had adopted the same principles as Edwards
and Whitefield. His preaching from the commence¬
ment of his labours was distinguished for directness
„i\& unction, and was calculated to quicken the believer
in his course, to rouse the impenitent sinner from his
dangerous slumber, and to guide him to the Lamb of
God as the only hope of salvation. He entered with
all his heart upon the work of promoting revivals of re¬
ligion. He possessed the talent of so dividing divine
truth as to strip the sinner of all his vain pleas, and
present vividly to view both his entire dependance and
his obligalion to obedience. One third of the term of
his ministerial life had passed away previous to the
commencement of these remarkable religious revivals,
which, in this latter age, have been the glory of the
American churches. In that period of lukewarmness
and declension, he was not without seals of his minis¬
try. From year to year he occasionally met anxious
inquirers after salvation, who were aided by his coun¬
sels and prayers.
The church in West Rutland, when he was invested
with the pastoral care, consisted of forty-two members,
most of whom were advanced in life. The first year
twenty-six joined by profession, and few additions were
made in subsequent years. It was not., however, till
the year 1803, that his labours were blessed with what
is now regarded as a revival of religion. This waa,
H 2
90
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
xuly " a year of the right hand of the Most High." It
will be remembered by many favoured churches—it
will be remembered in other worlds. The Holy Spirit
came down like a mighty rushing wind, bearing away
all opposition. An account of this work of grace is
given in the following letter to the pastor of the first
church in Granville :—
Rutland, Apiil 5, 1803.
Dear Sir,
* * * I have never taken up my pen with more
satisfaction than now, as I am able to inform you of the
prosperity of Zion. Since I have been in this place,
for the most part of the time it has been a time of stu¬
pidity. Only about thirty have been added to the
church for fifteen years. We have kept up pra)-er-
meetings once a week or fortnight during the whole
time. The spirits of God's people have been sunk;
but very few attended ; our harps were hung upon the
willows. Matters grew more and more gloomy till
some time in November last. I was almost determin¬
ed in my own mind to ask for a dismission, when it
pleased God to arrest the attention of a very thought
less youth, who on Sabbath evening opened his distress
to me. We appointed a conference-meeting that week,
and, to our astonishment, the house was crowded, and
a great number appeared to be under deep impressions
The work spread from week lo week, till it was diffi¬
cult to find any dwelling-house that would hold the
people. In one instance a large house was so crowded
that the sleepers gave way and threw the people into
the cellar. None received much harm. Not a day nor
night in a week but people would crowd to meetings.
The'great inquiry among the youth and others was,
" What shall we do lo be saved ?" Children of eleven
and twelve years of age seemed to be more engaged
about religion than they were before about their play.
The minds of the people in general were attentive. My
house has been often thronged with people who desired;
ftEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
91
to discourse about religion. Professors are alive
Never did I behold such a winter as the past. We
have been able to reap in the middle of January. I
hope the work still continues, and we are astonished at
the displays of Divine grace among us. Some of the
most open enemies have been bowed to sovereign grace,
and brought to sit at the feet of Jesus, and in their right
mind. We have, I believe, now but few prayerless
families among us in comparison to what there were
previous to the awakening. Within about two months
we have had above sixty who have made a profession
of religion and joined the church ; and a great number
more will probably soon come forward. [The whole
number added to the church was one hundred and three.]
Thus it has pleased the Lord to do wonders among us,
to the praise of his glorious grace. We ask an inter¬
est in your prayers, that those who have named the
name of Christ may be enabled to walk worthy of their
profession, and that God would continue his work here
and through the world. Please write to me by the
bearer.
Yours sincerely,
Lemuel Haynes.
N. B. At Pittsford, the town adjoining Rutland on
the north, not less than one hundred and fifty have late¬
ly made profession of religion, and the work still con¬
tinues.
P. S. Two persons, die one sixty and the other above
eighty years of age, appear to be subjects of convert¬
ing grace, who live in Rutland.
O O 7
In 1808 another season of refreshment from the
presence of the Lord jccor;panied his ministrations.
As many as one liundrei! and nine were added to the
church in one year. H. following letter has reference
to this precious seaf-vu . revival.
92
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
to the same.
Rutland, April 2d, 1810.
Very dear Sir,
I arise this morning before light to converse with you
through the medium of my pen. Why our correspond¬
ence has been so long interrupted is almost unaccount¬
able. I find so many domestic and ministerial avoca¬
tions that I can scarcely find time to write to a friend.
This causes me to look on your negligence with a fa¬
vourable eye. I am sorry I cannot entertain you with
a more favourable account of the state of religion in
Rutland. We are some of us crying out, " 0 that it
was with us as in months past!" And yet I fear there
is but little sincerity in all this, for why are we not up
and doing 1 I think I informed you of what the Lord
did here the year past. It was truly a refreshing sea¬
son. It astonished beholders. I could visit houses
and see poor distressed creatures, with their book in
their hands, crying out, " What shall I do to be saved ?"
Blessed be God, we still see the effects of it. I hope
far the greater part of families are those who call upon
God. But we are sunk into a deep sleep. Political
distraction, I believe, has extinguished the flame.
But God is doing wonders around us. At Middle-
bury the work of God has been astonishing, especially
among the students in college. At Shoreham, Orwell,
Cornwall, and Whiting, it has exceeded all description.
Hundreds have, we hope, bowed to the sceptre of Ira¬
ni an u el. A school at Orwell the other day was so im¬
pressed with a sense of their danger as wholly to pre¬
vent their preceptor from regularly proceeding amid
the sighs and cries of his pupils. The minister was
sent for. It astonished the master of the school, who
was obliged, though contrary to his inclination, to cry
out or to acknowledge that it was the power and hand
ot God. I hear that twenty-seven of those little crea¬
tures have hopefully come to Jesus. 0 ! my dear
brother, how comforting the thought, that although we
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
93
must soon die, God will have instruments to build up
his precious cause in the world.
In a letter Mrs. B. wrote to her daughter, she sug
gests that some drops have distilled among your peo
pie of late. Pray don't despise the day of small
things. Thank God and take courage. I had an in¬
clination to visit G the winter past. I long to
see you once more in the flesh, but was unexpectedly
called to attend an ordination, where many of our church
have removed, one hundred and fifty miles to the
northward. I travelled about a hundred miles on the
lake, which has proved a watery grave to many this
season, but God preserved us.
Is it not in your power to wrest as much as five or
six minutes at least from more important business to
write me a few lines ? It would afford me peculiar
satisfaction.
My family have been exercised with sickness—some
of them have been brought near the grave. Mrs. H
is very much unwell, but we all live.
Between you and mc, may I not mention without
ostentation that three of my wicked children, I hope,
love God. Oh ! help mc to praise the Lord ! I con¬
clude I am selfish—forgive my impertinence—I ask
you to pray for Rutland—for Zion in general—and for
one of the least of all God's mercies. Remember me
to your dear family—to good Mr. Baker and family.
Believe me, dear sir, faithfully yours,
Lemuel Haynes.
Mr. Haynes was a most successful and acceptable
labourer in religious revivals within his own charge
and in the surrounding region. Several churches
sought and obtained his labours when practicable. He
was much in revivals, and few pastors, it is believed,
will have a crown of more gracious seals in heaven
than Lemuel Haynes.
In these sacred seasons his private conversations as
94
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
well as his public discourses were singularly felicitous
and effective. The instructions which he gave to the
diffident, the anxious, or the lingering inquirer, will
long be remembered, not merely on account of their
success, but as illustrations of the condition of the hu¬
man heart, and of a happy method of assailing this
citadel of hostility to God. Of these the following is
related by a worthy correspondent.
" Mr. Haynes was once at my house in B at
the time of a revival of religion. He had inquired
with deep interest of the progress of the work, and ex¬
pressed his fervent prayer for its prosperity, when a
young lady called, whom I waited on in an adjoining
room. She was deeply convicted of sin, but saw no
light in the gospel plan of salvation. She felt her
need, but not her obligation, and was waiting for God
to convert her by a miracle. I conversed and prayed
with her, but no light arose to her mind. I then in¬
formed her that Father Haynes was in the house, and
that, if she had any desire to receive instruction from
the voice of age and experience in the Christian life,
I would invite him in. She readily assented ; and,
after I had informed him of the state of her mind, he
commenced the interview as follows :—
"Question. 'Young woman! do you expect to go
home to-night V
"Ansioer. 'Yes, sir.'
" Question. ' How do you expect to get there V
" Answer. ' I expect to walk.'
" Question. ' How will you walk ?'
" The young lady was embarrassed, and made no
reply. ' Well,' said Mr. H., ' I can tell you how you'll
walk. You'll put one foot before t'other—that's the
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
95
way you'll get home, if the Lord pleases. And that's
the way to get to heaven—you must put one foot be¬
fore t'other, and the Lord will take care of you. It is
He who is calling you bv his spirit—and he calls you
not to wait for him to carry you, but to follow him;—
and then you have his promise that he will guide you
by his counsels. But he will not carry you to heaven
without your own walking, any more than he will
carry you home to-night while you sit still here. You
must put one foot before the other, and set out.'"
By this singular introduction he arrested the atten¬
tion of the young lady to the very point of her diffi¬
culty. He then urged upon her with warmth and
simplicity her obligation to immediate submission and
unreserved obedience in faith and love. His words
were attended with the power of the Holy Ghost; and
that night, as the young lady walked towards her home,
every step, as she put one foot before the other, was
an admonition, in the light of the instruction she had
just received, to commit her ways unto the Lord. She
soon gave evidence of hopeful conversion—and adorned
the doctrines of the gospel by her subsequent life—
holding in the most grateful remembrance the instru¬
mentality of Father Haynes in bringing her from dark
ness to light.
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
CHAPTER VII.
controversy with hosea ballou.
In the year 1805 Mr. Haynes published his cele¬
brated sermon, from the text, " Ye shall not surely
die," in answer to Hosea Ballou, a distinguished
preacher of the doctrine of universal salvation. This
discourse has been printed and reprinted, both in
America and in Great Britain, till no one pretends to
give any account of the number of editions. It is sta¬
ted by those that heard it, that, in the publication, not a
few of the happiest illustrations are omitted. The cir¬
cumstances in which it was preached are thus detailed
in an extract of a letter from a respected correspond¬
ent, A. G. Dana, M. D.:—
" Pittsford (Vt.)> July 13th, 1835.
" Rev. and Dear Sir,
* * * " Several years since Mr. Haynes passed
the Sabbath and preached where I then resided; and
having tarried at my house during his stay, I took the
opportunity to inquire of him as to the circumstances
of his meeting with Mr. Ballou on the abovementioned
occasion, when he related the following facts :—He
had, on the preceding Sabbath, made an appointment
to preach a lecture in a remote part of the parish, the
same day in which Mr. Ballou preached in his pulpit.
I think he informed me that he knew nothing of the
appointment of Mr. Ballou till the day arrived. On
the morning of the day some of his friends called on
him and expressed their regret that his lecture was on
that day, as Mr. Ballou was to preach there; and that,
rev. lemuel haynes.
97
on his arrival the preceding evening, and learning that
Mr, Haynes was to be absent, he had remarked, that
' the orthodox gentry generally scud'' when he went
into a place to preach. His brethren unanimously
advised him to forego his own appointment, and go
and hear Mr. Ballou. During the conversation, the
man at whose house his own lecture was to be deliv¬
ered happening to call, united with his friends in the
same opinion. Accordingly Mr. Haynes came to the
conclusion to attend the preaching of the universalist.
On arriving at the meeting-house he was introduced to
Mr. Ballou, who immediately invited him to take a part
in the exercises, which he modestly declined, saying
that he came merely as a hearer. But, on Mr. Bal-
lou's repeating the request, adding that he thought it
peculiarly proper that he should take some part in the
exercises, as he was to occupy his pulpit, Mr. Haynes
remarked that he might perhaps be willing to make
j-ome remarks after he had closed. Accordingly, Mr.
Ballou, after concluding his discourse, turned to Mr.
Haynes and said, ' There is opportunity for remarks,
if you are disposed to make anywhen he arose and
delivered the discourse in question.
" It is obvious from these facts, as well as from the
discourse itself, that the subject was chosen, and the
plan and arrangement of the discourse formed, while
listening to Mr. Ballou ; who, with all his ' note
of preparation,' was so signally and triumphantly over¬
thrown.
" I am, sir, very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
"A. G. Dan>
" Rev. Dr. Cooley."
I
98
life and character of
Universal Salvation a very Ancient Doctrine, ivith
some Account of the Life and Character of its Au¬
thor : a Sermon delivered at Rutland, West Parish,
Vermont, in the year 1805, by Lemuel Haynes,
A. M. Seventh Edition. New York: printed for
Cornelius Davis. 1810.
[From the Panoplist.]
The following are some of the excellences of this ser¬
mon :—
1. The text is very aptly chosen.
2. It is a very impressive and convincing sermon. What
could more strongly prove the falsehood of Universalism
than to show from Scripture that the devil was its author
and first preacher 1
3. The satire which runs through the sermon is founded
on truth and justice, and managed with Christian sobriety.
4. The sermon displays much originality.
5. It is a very popular sermon. Of this there is sufficient
proof in the six editions of it which have been printed with¬
in two years.
6. It is a very useful sermon, especially to those who
want leisure, ability, or patience to follow with advantage a
long chain of reasoning.
PREFACE.
There is no greater folly than for men to express
anger and resentment because their religious sentiments
are attacked. If their characters are impeached by
their own creed, they only are to blame. All that the
antagonists can say cannot make falsehood truth nor
truth falsehood.
The following discourse was delivered at Rutland, in
June, 1805, immediately after hearing Mr. Ballou,
a Universal preacher, zealously exhibit his sentiments.
The author had been repeatedly solicited to hear and
dispute with the above preacher; and had been charged
with dishonesty and cowardice for refusing. He felt
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
99
that some kind of testimony, in opposition to what he
calls error, ought to be made; and has been urged to
let the same appear in print. But whether, on the
whole, it is for the interest of truth, is left to the judg¬
ment of the candid.
Rutland, Dec. 30, 1805.
A SERMON, &C.
Genesis iii., 4: —11 And the serpent said unto the
woman, Ye shall not surely die."
The Holy Scriptures are a peculiar fund of instruc¬
tion. They inform us of the origin of creation; of the
primitive state of man ; of his fall, or apostacy from
God. It appears that he was placed in the garden of
Eden, with full liberty to regale himself with all the
delicious fruits that were to be found except what grew
on one tree—if he ate of that he should surely die, was
the declaration of the Most High.
Happy were the human pair amid this delightful par¬
adise, until a certain preacher, in his journey, came that
way, and disturbed their peace and tranquillity by en¬
deavouring to reverse the prohibition of the Almighty,
as in our text—" Ye shall not surely die."
" She pluck'd, she ate ;
Earth felt the wound : nature from her seat,
Sighing through all her works, gave signs of wo,
That nil was lost."—Milton.
We may attend,
To the character of the preacher—to the doctrine
inculcated—to the hearer addressed—to the medium or
instrument, of the preaching.
I. As to the preacher, I would observe, he has many
names given him in the sacred writings, the most com¬
mon is the Devil. That it was he that disturbed the feli¬
city of our first parents, is evident from 2 Cor. xi., 3,
and many other passages of Scripture. He was once an
100
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
angel of light, and knew better than to preach such
doctrine ; he did violence to his own reason.
But, to be a little more particular, let it be observed,
1. He is an old preacher. He lived about one thou¬
sand seven hundred years before Abraham—above two
thousand four hundred and thirty years before Moses—
four thousand and four years before Christ. It is now
five thousand eight hundred and nine years since he
commenced preaching. By this time he must have ac¬
quired great skill in the art.
2. He is a very cunning, artful preacher. When
Elymas, the sorcerer, came to turn away people from
the faith, he is said to be full of all subtlety, and a child
of the devil—not only because he was an enemy of all
righteousness, but on account of his carnal cunning and
craftiness.
3. He is a very laborious, unwearied preacher. He
has been in the ministry almost six thousand years,
and yet his zeal is not in the least abated. The apostle
Peter compares him to a roaring lion, ivalking about,
seeking whom he may devour. When God inquired of
this persevering preacher, Job ii., 2, "From whence
earnest thou ?" he " answered the Lord, and said
From going to and fro in the earth, and from icalking
up and, down in it.P He is far from being circum¬
scribed within the narrow limits of parish, state, or con¬
tinental lines; but his haunt and travel is very large and
extensive.
4. He is a heterogeneous preacher, if I may so ex¬
press myself. He makes use of a Bible when he holds
forth, as in his sermon to our Saviour, Matt, iv., 6. He
mixes truth with error, in order to make it go well, or
to carry his point.
5. He is a very presumptuous preacher. Notwith¬
standing God had declared in the most plain and posi¬
tive terms, " Thou shalt surely die"—or, " In dying thou
shalt die"—yet this audacious wretch had the impu¬
dence to confront omnipotence, and say, "Ye shall not
surely die !"
6. He is a very successful preacher. He draws a
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
101
freat number after him. No preacher can command
earers like him. He was successful with our first
parents—with the old world. Noah once preached to
those spirits that are now in the prison of hell, and
told them from God that they should surely die ; but
this preacher came along, and declared the contrary—
"Ye shall not surely die." The greater part, it seems,
believed him, and went to destruction. So it was with
Sodom and Gomorrah—Lot preached to them; the
substance of which was, " Up, get ye out of this place;
for the Lord will destroy this city."—Gen. xix., 14.
But this old declaimer told them, No danger! no danger!
"Ye shall not surely die." To which they generally
gave heed; and Lot seemed to them as one who
mocked—they believed the Universal preacher, and
were consumed—agreeably to the declaration of the
apostle Jude, " Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities
about them, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
II. Let us attend to the doctrine inculcated by this
preacher, "Ye shall not surely die." Bold assertion!
without a single argument to support it. The death
contained in the threatening was doubtless eternal death,
—as nothing but tiiis would express God's feelings to¬
wards sin, or render an infinite atonement necessary.
To suppose it to be spiritual death is to blend crime and
punishment together. To suppose temporal death to
be the curse of the law, then believers are not delivered
from it, according to Galatians iii., 13. What Satan
meant to preach was, that there is no hell; and that the
wages of sin is not death, but eternal life.
III. We shall now take notice of the hearer addressed
by the preacher. This we have in the text—" And the
serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die."
That Eve had not so much experience as Adam is evi¬
dent ; and so not equally able to withstand temptation.
This doubtless was a reason why the tempter chose her,
with whom he might hope to be successful. Doubtless
he took a time when she was separated from hex hus¬
band.
That this preacher has had the greatest success in
12
102
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
the dark and ignorant parts of the earth, is evident; his
kingdom is a kingdom of darkness. He is a great ene¬
my to light. St. Paul gives us some account of him in
his day—2 Tim. iii., 6, " For of this sort are they
which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women,
laden with sins, led away with divers lusts." The
same apostle observes, Rom. xvi., 17, 18, "Now I be¬
seech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions
and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve
not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by
good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the
simple.'1''
IV. The instrument or medium made use of by the
preacher wTill now be considered. This we have in the
text—"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye
shall not surely die." But how came the devil to preach
through the serpent ?
1. To save his own character, and the better to carry
his point. Had the devil come to our first parents per¬
sonally and unmasked, they would have more easily
seen the deception. The reality of a future punish¬
ment is at times so clearly impressed on the human
mind, that even Satan is constrained to own that there
is a hell, although at other times he denies it. He does
not wish to have it known that he is a liar ; therefore he
conceals himself, that he can the better accomplish his
designs and save his own character.
2. The devil is an enemy to all good, to all happi
ness and excellence. He is opposed to the felicity of
the brutes. He took delight in tormenting the swine.
The serpent, before he set up preaching universal sal¬
vation, was a cunning, beautiful, and happy creature;
but now his glory is departed. " And the Lord said
unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this thou art
cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the
field ; upon thy belly shah thou go, and dust shalt thou
eat all the days of thy life." There is therefore a kind
of duplicate cunning in the matter—Satan gets the
preacher and hearers also.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
108
" And is not this triumphant treachery,
And more than simple conquest in the foe!"—Young.
3. Another reason why Satan employs instruments
in his service is, because his empire is large, and he
cannot be everywhere himself.
4. He has a large number at his command that love
and approve of his work, delight in building up his
kingdom, and stand ready to go at his call.
INFERENCES.
1. The devil is not dead, but still lives, and is able
to preach as well as ever, "Ye shall not surely die."
2. Universal salvation is no new-fangled scheme, but
can boast of great antiquity.
3. See a reason why it ought to be rejected, because
it is an ancient devilish doctrine.
4. See one reason why it is that Satan is such a
mortal enemy to the Bible, and to all who preach the
gospel, because of that injunction, Mark xvi., 15, 16—
" And lie said unto them, Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned.''''
5. See whence it was that Satan exerted himself so
much to convince onr first parents that there was no
hell, because the denunciation of the Almighty was
true, and he was afraid that Adam and Eve would con¬
tinue in the belief of it. Was there no truth in future
punishment, or was it only a temporary evil, Satan
would not be so busy in trying to convince men that
there is none. It is his nature and element to lie.
"When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own, for
he is a liar, and the father of it."—John viii., 44.
6. We infer that ministers should not be proud of
their preaching. If they preach the true gospel, they
only in substance repeat Christ's sermons. If they
preach "Ye shall not surely die," they only make use
of the devil's old notes that he delivered almost six
thousand years ago.
7. It is probable that the doctrine of universal salva-
104
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
tion will still prevail, since this preacher is yet alive,
and not in the least superannuated; and every effort
against him only enrages him more and more, and ex
cites him to new inventions and exertions to build up
his cause.
To close the subject. As the author of the forego¬
ing discourse has confined himself wholly to the char¬
acter of Satan, he trusts no one will feel himself per¬
sonally injured by this short sermon. But should any
imbibe a degree of friendship for this aged divine, and
think that I have not treated this universal preacher
with that respect and veneration that he justly deserves,
let them be so kind as to point it out, and I will most
cheerfully retract; for it has ever been a maxim with
me, " Render unto all their dues.'1''
The following lines, taken from the Theological
Magazine, were repeated after the delivery of the pre¬
ceding discourse :—
A late writer in favour of Universal Salvation having
closed his piece with these last lines of Pope's Messiah,
"Xhe seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fali to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fixed his word, his saving power remains,
Thy realm for ever lasts, thy own Messiah reigns
his antagonist made the following addition to them :—
UNIVERSALISM INDEED.
"When seas shall waste, and skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
In adamantine chains shall death be bound,
And hell's grim tyrant feel the eternal wound."
But all his children reach fair Eden's shore,
Not e'er to see their father Satan more.
The tottering drunkards shall to glory reel,
And common strumpets endless pleasure feel.
Bless'd are the haughty who despise the poor,
For they're entitled to the heavenly store.
Bless'd all who laugh and scoff at truth divine,
For bold revilers endless comfort find.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
105
Bless'd are the clam'rous and contentious crew,
To them eternal rest and peace are due.
Bless'd ail who hunger and who thirst to find
A chance to plunder and to cheat mankind:
Such die in peace—for God to them has given
To be unjust 011 earth, and go to heaven.
Bless'd is the wretch whose bowels never move
With generous pity or with tender love ;
He shall find mercy from the God above.
Bless'd all who seek to wrangle and to fight—
Such mount from seas of blood to worlds of light
Go riot, drink, and ev'ry ill pursue,
For joys eternal are reserved for you.
Fear not to sin till death shall close your eyes,
Live as you please, yours is th' immortal prize.
Old Serpent, hail! thou mad'st a just reply
To mother Eve, "Ye shall not surely die!"
But, reader, stop ! and in God's holy fear,
Styith sacred truth these tenets first compare ;
Our Saviour's sermon on the mount peruse—
Read with attention, and the bane refuse !
A Letter to the Reverend Hosea Ballon, being a reply
to his Epistle to the author; or, his attempt to vin¬
dicate the Old Universal Preacher. By Lemuel
Haynes, Pastor of a Church in Rutland (Vt.).
Rutland: printed by William Fay, 1807.
Rev. Sir,
You may perhaps think it strange that I have so
long neglected answering your epistle, and that my in¬
attention is a mark of disrespect. It is not more than
two or three weeks since I have had time to give it
only a cursory reading. Should you think that there
are things in these remarks inconsistent with Christian
sobriety, you will turn to Prov. xxvi., 5, which passage
lias had peculiar influence, and repeatedly dictated the
following strictures.
In your first page you charge me with calling the
master of your house Beelzebub, together with his
household. 1 have examined the sermon, and find no
such title applied to him or to his household. So that
I plead not guilty.
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
You tell us that the design of your epistle is to in
form me and the public how you viewed my conduct
at the time I delivered the sermon, about which you
seem to be so much agitated. You say, "It was the
most unchristian-like behaviour I ever saw in one who
professed to preach Christ and his salvation ; and that
some of my own parish and others have said the
same." Possibly you might think so, and some others
might think so—and myself and many others think
very different, and what of all that ? there is nothing
proved; it comes to this,—you and I, and other people,
will think just as we please. However, should the
matter terminate according to the decision of my own
parish, as you call them, you may be very jealous that
il would not be agreeable to your wishes. But what
kind of advantage it would be to the public to have us
inform them what we think of each other, I cannot
conceive ; I have real doubts, should we bring it all
out to view, whether we or others would derive much
advantage by the exhibition.
You go on to tell us that the sermon you delivered
at that time was a lovely thing ; or, " like its subject,
loveto prove it, you have directed us to your text;
that it was 1 John iv., 10, 11. If preachers were to
determine the merit and worth of their own discourses,
perhaps we should have but few bad sermons. Quo¬
ting your text would have proved the point, if it was
always certain that if a man has a lovely text he has a
lovely sermon; there are exceptions to this rule.
Many of your hearers had a very different idea of
your performance than what you represent in your
epistle.
You proceed, further, to extol the discourse—that
there was nothing " corrosive against any name or de¬
nomination of professors." Let me here observe that,
had you treated my name or the names of any denomi¬
nation of men with contempt, and let another name
alone, you would never have heard from me ; but, sir,
let me tell you that there is a name which is above
every other name; this is a name in comparison of
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
10?
which your name and my name are of little worth. Tf
I am not mistaken, this name was treated by you with
utmost contempt, as well as all such as have a real
veneration for it. By this time, I believe, you have
my ideas of your sermon and of your conduct, and it
may be our ends are equally answered.
You call my discourse "fraught with low cunning
Sir, when you will show the difference between low
cunning and high cunning, perhaps I shall be able to
determine to which of these cunnings your answer to
such a piece belongs. You express great astonish
ment, and seem to be filled with two great wonders—
the one is, that 1 should ever deliver such a discourse,
and that it should ever come to you through the me¬
dium of the press; this is a second astonishment, and
that it should be done deliberately. Sir, the piece has
gone through several editions—some of them through
my approbation,—which may lead you on to a third,
fourth, fifth, or sixth wonder. I hope you will never
be led to "wonder and perish."
You observe, "Every person of discernment must
see that your design was personal." But how came
they to find out my design, or who was intended ? It
could be only by comparing the doctrine of the old
preacher with others. If men of discernment could
see a likeness between that and yours, I can see no
ground of complaint; unless it be that there are per
sons of discernment in the world who are able to
judge right. Had you found any thing said about the
character and preaching of that old declaimer contrary
to truth, you ought to have pointed it out; or, if there
is no similarity between his sermon and yours, you
should have showed it, and then persons of discern¬
ment would have been undeceived.
You tell us, page 3, that your moral character is
good. Sir, as you know more about it than anybody
else—and are under peculiar advantages to recommend
it,—being destitute of prejudice and prepossession, I
have no disposition to call your assertion in question
You cannot help repeating that my conduct is tin
108
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
friendly, injudicious, unchristian-like, inconsistent
with meekness, piety, good works with solemn ordi¬
nation—with feeding the lambs of Christ—injurious
to the cause of Christ—and wounding to the feelings
of all the friends of truth. Sir, men have very differ¬
ent views about the cause of God, piety, good works—
the friends of truth—feeding the lambs of Christ, &c.
I have my doubts whether such a group of hard cen¬
sorious expressions, just now adverted to, is perfectly
consistent with pure benevolence or attachment to the
cause of God—with meekness, with solemn injunction,
&c. I would observe, " every person of discernment"
will see that your intention was to prejudice the minds
of your readers, to prepare them for your remarks, in
pertinency with your object. You immediately add,
" I will now begin my reply."
I have no doubt at all but the discourse you com¬
plain of, and my conduct at the time of delivery, tended
to injure what some may call the cause of God, to cut
or wound th & feelings of some, and did not afford such
food as many are hungering after. I can see no injury
done to the cause of God in giving the devil his due,
or in calling him a universal preacher, if he was one.
Or how any person's "feelings" need be " wounded,"
unless they approve the doctrine, or can make it appear
that he has reported and given up the sentiments.
You proceed to correct a very capital error that my¬
self and many others have made; we have "really
mistaken the character of the devil for that of the Al¬
mighty." Wretched mistake! oh, fatal delusion! that
Satan should have the services of the church for so
many ages—that so many should suffer and die to his
glory, trusting to him to support them in death, and
all their hope beyond the grave ! How thankful should
w-e be for so remarkable a light, to illuminate our dark
world, and correct the fatal delusion! Generations
passed away will lament the tardy rising of this cheer
ing star, while posterity, yet unborn, will hail its ex
mlaratjng beams J
We will now attend to your " easy argument.*
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
109
" If universal salvation from all sin and misery be a
natural production of an evil principle, the natural pro¬
duction of a contrary principle would be universal
damnation in sin and misery ; but if salvation from sin
be the work of God, it ought not to be ascribed to the
devil because it is done universally."
Sir, did the devil mean in the declaration, "Ye shall
not surely die," to produce universal holiness or happi¬
ness ? or has the effect actually took place ? You think
the saying could not come from the devil, because there
is evil in all his operations, and so could not produce
good. True—yet he could promise good ; but let men
and devils preach universal salvation from all sin and
misery in their way to eternity, it never will produce
the effect, nor will they give the least evidence that this
is their design. Satan meant to lie to our first parents,
and encourage sin and misery, which is the natural ten¬
dency of his doctrine.
To suppose Satan or any other being aims at univer¬
sal holiness and happiness by encouraging men in sin
or disobedience, is highly preposterous. You say, "A
contrary principle Avould be universal damnation in sin
and misery." If there be any meaning in your asser¬
tion, it is this—that for God to give law to his crea¬
tures, and to threaten them with death in case of diso¬
bedience, tends to produce " universal damnation in sin
and misery." We have mistaken the character of the
devil for that of the Almighty. The soul that sinneth
it shall die. The tuages of sin is death. This is the
language of Satan, and exhibits his character: Thou
shalt not surely die. You shall have peace, though
you walk in the imagination of your oiun heart. This,
according to your statement, is the language of the Al¬
mighty. Thus you have corrected a very capital mis¬
take that myself and many since the Christian apostacy
have heedlessly run into. Not only will students in
theology derive peculiar advantage by your improve¬
ment, but legislators will feel themselves much inter¬
ested in the discovery : it will save them from annex-
K
110
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
ing penalties or sanctions to laws, as tliey tend to en¬
courage UTltVCTSoX d,QJTl/lCltlO?l 171 SZTl G,?icl ffllSGI y•
You pretend to be at loss how to understand or apply
this expression in the prefcce to my sermon, viz.—
" There is no greater folly than for a man to express
anger and resentment because his religious sentiments
are attacked." Sir, I have no doubt but you perfectly
understand me, yet I much scruple whether you have
made the application as you ought; had it been the
case, it would greatly have altered the complexion of
your epistle. So long as you can remember that un
common and imperious resentment that marred youi
conduct on hearing my sermon about the old preacher,
you will never hesitate about the matter to which the
above remark has a more particular reference.
You go on to exculpate yourself from boasting that
I was a coward, and dare not dispute with you - hut
why should you plead not guilty before you was char¬
ged with it ? I scruple whether your argument to ex¬
onerate yourself is much to the purpose. You say you
never saw me before ; but is there no way that a man
may use menacing language about another without see¬
ing him ? If you will call on me, I will endeavour to
produce documents of a challenge from you since our
meeting, though we have had no personal interview.
Please to examine also the eighth page of your epis¬
tle. I will pay only a moment's attention to the meth¬
od you take to prove me to be a man dishonest, and
destitute of rectitude, or paying too much regard to
slander. Your words are, "If it were some of your
own parish who thus charged you with dishonesty, it
must have been some one who knew your want of rec¬
titude, or by whom you certainly ought not to have con¬
sented to be influenced." Sir, I think you have cor¬
rected as great a mistake among logicians as among
divines. This is your reasoning—If a man charge an¬
other with dishonesty, it is either true, or. if not, he
ought not to take notice of it or deny it; but if it is
a matter of fact, then he may be influenced bv it, and
contradict it. This sentiment is a good comment on
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
Ill
our epistle. Should I here add, " that through grace
have been able to support a good moral character, to
the acceptance of my numerous friends," I fear it might
excite a degree of jealousy in your mind that I had too
soon become an egotist.
You go on, and attempt a vindication of the charac¬
ter of the old universal preacher, by observing that he
spoke right according to orthodox divinity. You say,
" Will you contend that man died an eternal death in
the day of transgression ? If he did, he certainly has
not been alive since ; no, nor will lie ever be again. If
you say he did not die an eternal death in the day of
transgression, you make out what the serpent said to
the woman was true. Can any mortal be so blind as
not to see V 6cc. Sir, I am one of those blind mortals
that firmly believe that the threatening to our first pa¬
rents was eternal death, and that the audacious wretch
told a horrible lie ! You say, if I contend that man died
an eternal death in the day of transgression, he has not
been alive since, nor ever will be. Sir, it is true ; you
reason well. If eternity contains just twenty-four
hours, and no more, then nothing has been alive since,
nor ever will be. No one ever supposed that the whole
threatening of the law was fully executed in the mo¬
ment or day of man's fall, or ever will be to its full ex¬
tent on the wicked. The idea is, in dying he should
die, or be liable to, an eternal death.* Eternally dying
does not suppose an extinction of being any more than
eternally living. It is certain that man did not actually
die a temporal death completely in the day of trans¬
gression. As to spiritual death, we should meet with
the same difficulty as in eternal death. This death
* We are not to suppose that God meant to tell ouv first parents that
they should die an eternal death in one day, or that a space of time that
had an end was endless. This was not what the serpent meant to deny.
To suppose that, in order to have the threatening true, the wicked must suf¬
fer until eternity has an end, is impossible ; and it would be as far from
truth in any period of eternity in this sense, as their not dying an eternal
death in the first day of his apostacy. The idea is, that they should be ex¬
posed to and deserve an endless duration of penal evil, which in some de
gree began in the day of transgression. This is what the devil meant to
tlenjr.
112
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
consists in sin ; but our first parents nor men in gen-
eral have not all their evil exercises in one hour, day,
or year; so that it could not be said that this death was
executed fully in the day of disobedience. We see,
then, that the declaration of Satan was as true, should
we consider the threatening in the law temporal or spir¬
itual, as eternal death, since the threatening was inflict¬
ed only in a partial manner. If temporal death was
the thing threatened in the law, I again observe that
believers are not delivered from the curse of the law,
agreeable to Gal. iii., 13. You pretend to argue against
my proposition, and conclude by saying, " Go which
way you will, sir, you are snared and taken in your own
craftiness." I own myself to be snared in your intri¬
cate reasoning. If any mortal can see the least sense
or pertinency in your observations, doubtless they may
profit by it; but I confess I cannot.
The difference between universalists and others is
not whether all will be saved or all be damned, which
you seem to take for granted in your remarks. Eternal
death is the true demerit of sin; and for God to threat¬
en any thing more or less than the crime deserves is
inconsistent with moral rectitude. If the threatening
to our first parents was spiritual and not eternal death,
this would suppose God to encourage men to commit
one sin to punish another. The whole of spiritual
death consists in sin; and when God threatens this as
a punishment for the first sin, it must suppose an ante¬
cedent crime to precede the first act of rebellion; but
this was holiness. To conclude that the second, third,
or fourth act of transgression was to testify against fore¬
going acts of wickedness, or spiritual death, would be
for God to bear testimony against one threatening of his
law by another threatening of the law. Is this the
common idea of sanction to law, to threaten the mur¬
derer or the thief with further indulgences in such
crimes ?
In Gal. iii., 13, it is said, " Christ hath redeemed us
from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us;
for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a
ftEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
113
tree.H The idea doubtless is, that he in some sense
bore the curse of the law, in the room of all that be¬
lieve. Christ did not die a spiritual death—that would
have made him a sinner; but he was hanged on a tree,
endured pain and distress. We are told, Rom. vi., 23,
that " the wages of sin is death." Death is there the
sanction or penalty of the law: if it is spiritual death
that is there meant, the reading would be, the wages
of sin is sin. Sir, you seem to make a distinction be¬
tween sin and moral death, page 8th. Your words are,
"Sir, I profess to believe and preach universal salvation
from all sin and moral death" I am not able to dis¬
cern the difference between sin and moral death, un¬
less the two different words constitute it. You thank
God that his " gift through Jesus Christ our Lord is
even to those to whom sin has proved death." I con¬
clude you mean moral death. Sir, you have made am¬
ple provision for those who have sinned, and it has
proved, sin; but those who have sinned, and it did not
prove sin, you have left without relief.
You suggest, page 3d, that it is a good principle that
holds up universal salvation from all sin and misery.
You profess to preach universal deliverance from all
misery. But men cannot be the subjects of universal
deliverance from misery unless they are exposed to it;
and tlicy cannot be liable to it unless they are sinners ;
and thev cannot be sinners unless they violate a law.
If you preach deliverance from misery, it supposes that
men are subject to it by the sanction of a law, in con¬
sequence of their sin. " In the day thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die," was the declaration of God to
our first parents. The meaning is, that they were now
exposed to eternal misery, or penal evil, that began to
lake place ; or that they were under the curse of the
law—that was the second death. " St. Paul says, that
when the commandment or law came, sin revived, and
I died. That is, he found himself dead ; he found him¬
self under the curse of the law, according to the origi¬
nal threatening." We are not to suppose that the
whole threatening of the law was executed on our first
K2
114
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
parents, or on any other transgressor, in one day, or
ever can be. There would, then be the same objection
against man's dying an eternal death, or against the
threatening of the Taw being completely executed in
any period of eternity, as there is 111 its not being fully
accomplished in the very day of transgression.* The
threatening would admit, of a substitute in perfect con¬
sistency with divine veracity. When sentence is passed
against a criminal that he must surely die, yet, if there
can be a way found out that will equally secure the dig¬
nity of the commonwealth without his death, all will
justify the legislator in pardoning the offender; yet it
was proper to say, that m the day of his trial, according
to the sanctions of the law, or verdict of the court, he
was a dead man. It was the design of God, in threat¬
ening our first parents, to secure the honour and dignity
of his character and government; and if this can be
done as well or better by accepting a substitute, who
dare call his truth or veracity in question ? We are in¬
formed by the sacred pages that this is the case—that,
through the Mediator, God can now be just to himself
and the universe, and yet justify him that believclh in
Jesus, Rom. iii., 26. But such as continue in unbelief
and do not embrace the Mediator, remain in a state of
condemnation, and must feel the wages of sin, that is,
eternal death.
In page 6th you observe, "In order for you to be
duly prepared to make these assertions" (viz., how
God feels towards sin), " you ought at least to possess
a complete knowledge of the whole nature of sin, cause
* " The threatening expresses two thing*, viz., the certai.ity of the pun¬
ishment. as infallibly connected with transgression ; and t.iat the penalty
should follow on one or the first act of rebellion We rind much the same
language to express one or both these ; and nut that the threatening should
he immediately 'fully' executed on the day the crime was committal.
•Rzek. xxxiii., 12, 13. See also 1 Kings ii , H7. ' For it shall be that on
the day that thou goesf out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt
2/°' certain that thou shalt surely die.' This does not mean that he
ho ,hn„"f °n the sm)le ciay ia which he should pass over Kidron ; but that
—.jQr j-f L^'fin'y he put to death for the offence without a furthei trial."
ject larselv^nri Y,01' p' 307' Those who Wlsh to see the sub-
point. clearly illustrated, are desired to consult the Dr. on the.
REV. LEMUEL 1IAYJSES.
115
and consequences, and all the feelings of God towards
it, and also the fulness of his wisdom and knowledge, or
you could not with any propriety have limited the Holy
One ot Israel to that single point." Sir, can we never
know that God hates sin, without comprehending all
sin, in its nature and consequences, and the fulness and
v:isdom of Deity ? If a man must have so much knowl¬
edge to know whether God hates sin, I would ask, in
my turn, how much must one have to deny it ? It seems
that by some means you have obtained so much infor¬
mation as to know that God has not an infinite dissatis¬
faction or hatred towards sin. I would reply, that God
must have an infinite hatred towards it, or a finite
hatred, or no hatred at all. If God has only a finite
hatred towards sin, then he is a finite being :—then why-
are you puzzled to know how I came to judge of the
feelings of the Holy One of Israel ? Cannot one finite
being judge of the feelings of another finite being ? If
God lias no hatred towards sin, why that compassion¬
ate exclamation, page 10, "O, may God forgive you
this folly, and lay not this sin to your charge ?"
You admire at my retentive memory in attempt¬
ing to tell what Satan meant to preach almost six thou¬
sand years ago. " Either I must exist in some sort of
animal in the days ot Adam, and been conversant with
the serpent, or do it by transmigration or conjuration.''''
Sir, did you find out what the serpent did not preach in
this way ? Is there no other way to obtain ideas ?
How sli^ll we understand your epistle?—we were not
with you when you wrote it. Must we understand it by
transmigration and conjuration ? Was it from these
sources that it derived so many new and valuable
ideas 1
You ask, page 6, " Did you, sir, ever meet with the
idea in any of the universalian authors, that the wages
of sin is eternal life71' Yes, sir, I think I have, in the
first universalian author or preacher. His words are,
" Ye shall not surely die. In the day ye eat thereof,
then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,
knowing good and evil." Now what can be more ex-
116
t.IFE AND CHARACTER OF
press 1—they should have their eyes open, and know
good and evil : this surely supposes life ; dead people
ao not have their eyes open, &c.
But you will have it that I mean you, and mean to
stigmatize you and others. But, sir,—-don't be offended
—now came you to discern that you was intended ?—
was it done by transmigration or conjuration ?
" To transmigrate csnnot be right,
Since 'tis so great an evil ;
And he that conjures out of sight
Must conjure with the devil."
In seeing you insist so much that I mean you, and
not the old preacher, brought to my mind the following
anecdote: As a man was writing to his friend, a by¬
stander looked over his shoulder all the time, which led
him to conclude in the following manner—" Sir, I should
have sent you a much longer epistle, but has been
all the time looking over my shoulder." The by-stander
exclaimed, "'Tis false ! I have not looked over you,
nor do I know a single word you have wrote!"
You proceed to ask me questions, to which you
doubtless expect answers. " Do you expect to be look¬
ed upon as an honest man, and to be treated as a gentle¬
man, while you studiously represent the devil as a
universal preacher ?" Ans. If I never meet with re¬
spect, and be looked upon as an honest man, and have
genteel treatment, till I desist from esteeming and rep¬
resenting the devil a universal preacher, I am confident
I shall never receive such treatment. I hope never to
court genteel treatment at the expense of Divine truth.
Should any " persons of discernment" view themselves
implicated by the sentiment, and have their genteel
feelings wounded, who is to blame ?
You ask a gain, " Will your low cunning support you
long in the estimation of enlightened people ?" Ans.
When I receive your definition of high cunning and
low cunning, and who you mean by enlightened peo¬
ple, I shall be able to reply.
My querist proceeds, "Have you not already prac¬
tised this mischief of misrepresentation to your dam-
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
117
age m your own parish ?" Arts. When the old preacher
complains regularly of misrepresentation, and proves
the charge, J stand ready, according to former promise,
to retract, and give the devil his due.
Further, you ask, " How far abroad do you wish to
have yourself known to be a person who can so easily
descend to unjust measures to carry a bad design into
effect ?" By unjust measures, and bad design, I con¬
clude you mean my opposition to the universal preach¬
er. Ans. So far as the old gentleman's ability and in¬
fluence extend.
Sir, you seem to be full of questions. You ask
again, " Will you represent all those who enter your
parish to preach Christ, and him crucified, to be the
servants of the devil?" Ans. JNo, sir, none but those
who are sent by him, and preach like him, "Ye shall
not surely die."
Again, " You will not contend that universalism
ought to be rejected merely because it is an ancient
doctrine V Ans. No, sir, but because it is a devilish
doctrine.
Since it seems so fashionable to ask questions, if it
would comport with modesty, I would ask a few.
How came you to suggest, page 8, that I dare not con¬
tend with you on fair ground ? Is that the first repre¬
sentation of this kind you have made ? If such boast¬
ing is natural to you, why do you try to exculpate }rour-
self from any thing of this sort in page 4 ? Sir, you
well remember, that when we delivered our sermons,
I opened the door for a public discussion : I told you
and the congregation my objections against your dis¬
course ; I believe the greater part of the people present
were of your sentiment, but you wholly neglected to
dispute with me. Was not this an offer to meet you
on fair and open ground ?
Some months after you wrote me a challenge—to ap¬
point a day for a public combat, to choose a committee,
or seconds, to see if we fought fairly;—I then told you
that I viewed it inconsistent with Christian modesty
and decency for you to make the challenge, and for
118
LIFE AND CHARACTER. OF
me to comply. I am still of the same opinion, Had I
complied with your request, and called the people to¬
gether to hear us debate, I had reason to believe that
you would not have engaged in the controversy, as
you had utterly refused 011 a much more favourable
opportunity. With what face then can you repeatedly
observe, that I " dare not contend with you on fair and
open ground ?" When you are disposed to repeat the
assertion among strangers, please to show them my
written reply to your challenge, and they will find out
the truth.
Another question I wish to ask you is, How came
you to know so much about the people of my parish 1
You are often mentioning them. You have preached
among them a few times—but you are sensible you
fiever saw many of them on such occasions, and it is
very possible you never will. If you had left conju¬
ration out of your epistle, I should have many doubts
whether you knew much about them.
In page 9th you have the following threats : " Go
on, then, and meet the certain consequences; and,
should you persist in your present line of conduct a little
longer, I don't think you will believe the consequences
of sin to be altogether in another world." Sir, where
is your benevolence ? have you forgot your lovely ser¬
mon, that had nothing " corrosive ?n Will you tor¬
ment your fellow-creatures before the time, and fill the
mind with forebodings of some dreadful event, nor
even suggest what it is ? Whether it is to consist in
assassination, confiscation, transmigration, or conjura¬
tion ?
You tell us that universal salvation was preached by
God " when he promised that the seed of the woman
should bruise the serpent's head. He preached it by
the bow in the cloud to Noah. He preached it by
promise to Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all na
,ions of the earth be blessed. He preached it to Isaac,
ind Jacob," &c. Here I must say, almost in the lan
Tuage of a late writer,* " You are possessed of the
* Wr. Hallou s Eoistle. Da^es 7, 8.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
119
most retentive memory of any person I ever heard of,
or else you are the most extraordinary conjurer the
earth has ever produced. Either you must have exist¬
ed in some sort of animal in the days of Adam, Noah,
Isaac, and Jacob, &c., who perhaps in confidence
told you their whole plan and meaning, or by the
laws of transmigration you have come to be what you
now are, and retain all those things still in perfect
memory, or you must have made the discovery by
conjuration. When a professed minister of the gospel
undertakes to tell what those meant who talked almost
six thousand years ago—in order to establish a certain
doctrine, for which he is unable to bring any Scripture
evidence,—he ought not to complain if he sees his own
ridicule justly falling on his own head."
You have quoted a few texts to prove universal sal¬
vation, but have not shown their pertinency to your
point. I shall not therefore attend to them. To me
they do not appear to approve your doctrine any more
than if you had directed us to Num. xxii., 30.
You observe that, "If universalism should still pre¬
vail, it would be an evidence that it is true," page .11.
Sir, has not a contrary doctrine prevailed for ages, and
does it not continue so to do ? Would not your propo¬
sition prove too much for you ? Could you prove that
the doctrine always will prevail, your reasoning or text
would be in point.
The poem subjoined to my sermon seems to disturb
you on account of its obscenity. I have examined
every verse, line, word, and letter, and I can find noth¬
ing that tends to unclcanliness, moral impurity, or licen¬
tiousness, unless you esteem the title or subject of the
hymn so. I cannot see that, in this respect, it tends
to looseness and impurity any more than the doctrine
in the text, " And the serpent said unto the woman,
Ye shail not surely die." Is the poem more obscene
than this ? Let us compare one verse.
" Fear not to sin, till death shall close your eyes,
Live as you please, yours is the immortal pnze—
Old Serpent, hail ! thou mad'st a just reply
To mother Eve, 4 Ye shall not surely die!'"
120
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
You say the burden of the poem is to convey an idea
that universalists suppose all manner of vile characters
will be received to the enjoyment of everlasting happi¬
ness, without being cleansed from moral defilement.
Sir, the poem supposes, and I pretend to make others
believe, that universalists preach, that if men lie, mur¬
der, steal, commit adultery, kill themselves, &c., yet
they will finally escape hell, and be eternally happy.
This I own to be the burden of the poem—and this
is the burden of universalism—and the doctrine ought
to be a burden, and a great burden, to all who love
God and the souls of men, because it confronts every
dictate of Scripture and common sense. We do not
suppose you, or any other preacher, tell people they
will go to heaven in their sins—this would be so gla¬
ring that even Satan would not preach so—but to tell
sinners that they shall all finally be saved from sin and
misery is going contrary to Scripture, and encouraging
men in transgression. You add, "I will not pretend
to say that such characters as yourself may not have
caused some uninformed persons to believe that uni¬
versalists held to such absurdities—I do not believe
you have that idea yourself, and why should you wish
to deceive ? you must be accountable." Sir, I would
just inquire, if the character you have given me in
your epistle be a just one, why did you depart from
the rule you prescribe in page 5, where you reprove
me for being influenced by such as do not speak the
truth? You say it is among uninformed persons thai
I am believed. It appears by your writing that you
are not among those uninformed persons. We never
had but one personal interview. I preached a short
sermon before you, which the public are acquainted
with. You refused to say a word to me, or answer a
single question ; yet ybur information is so great that
you are able to say just what you please. How far
your peculiar wisdom and skill [conjuration] may serve
to exculpate you, is not for me to say, as I am ignorant
Nothing can appear more evident than that the mea&»
ares you have taken to vindicate the character of the
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
121
old preacher indicate his" cause not to be the best, and
that it will need auxiliaries of a very different nature
to support it, or it must fall to the ground.
You say you have published a treatise on atonement,
which you think is unanswerable. An encomium from
another quarter might have been a little more accepta¬
ble. I have read the piece, and have a very different
idea of it. By the leave of Providence, perhaps you
arid the public will know my mind more fully about it
before long.
See that you do not preach for filthy lu-cre; we are
very prone to be caught in this snare. " Good advice
can do you no harm."
I close with a word of advice.
Reverend sir—You tell me " in the fear of God that
you are not an enemy to me or any other person;"
that you wish, me happiness, &c. But why need you
tell me this ? I have just been reading your benevolent
epistle. You say, " Good advice can do me no harm,"
Sir, I think it has not. Perhaps you esteem me a
debtor to you for your very friendly admonition, " good
advice can do you no harm." Beware of challenging
others to dispute with you, and boasting that they "dare
not contend with you on fair and open ground" (Epis¬
tle, p. 8), and that you " want to find an antagonist"
(Epistle, p. 5). Should you ever be overtaken in this
matter, don't deny it. " Good advice can do you no
harm." Beware of pomposity; we should carry low
sails on this tempestuous sea. " Good advice can do
you no harm." Learn to distinguish between benevo¬
lence and malevolence, and make no great pretence to
the former unless you are pretty confident you have it
and act it out. " Good advice can do you no harm."
In your next epistle, should you find nothing to em¬
ploy your pen about but personal invective and matters
that you know nothing about, try, according to your
promise, to use a morp candour, and not be quite
so unmerciful. " Gooa advice can do you no harm."
Sir, your humble servant,
Lemuel Haynei.
122
life and character of
CHAPTER VIII.
ORIGINAL ANECDOTES.
" Happily to steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe."
Truth requires that this part of Mr. Haynes's pecu¬
liar character should not be suppressed. *It will be
evidently difficult for those who were not acquainted
with this eccentric and extraordinary man, to see the
consistency of his very free indulgence in wit, with a
uniform and pervading piety. In the view, however, of
those who were intimately acquainted with him, it did
not detract either from his Christian or ministerial char¬
acter. It seemed to come unbidden, and unaccompanied
by levity, its usual companion. Though we may dep¬
recate every attempt by others to imitate this qual¬
ity of his mind, yet any view of his character which
does not embrace it will be evidently incomplete.
Moreover, it is thought by those who best knew the cir¬
cumstances of his location, the cunning and obtrusive
skepticism, the bold and blasphemous infidelity, with
which the region was infested, that this talent gave him
an influence which could not otherwise have been ac¬
quired, and which inspired the ranks of infidelity with
alarm at his approach.
He went one evening into a store where ardent
spirits were drunk as well as sold. In his pleasant
manner he addressed the company, " How d'ye do ?—
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
123
how do you all do here ?" The merchant, willing to
jest a little, replied—" Oh ! not more than half drunk."
"Well, well," said Mr. Haynes, "I am glad there's a
reformation begun"
When a revival of religion was in progress in his
parish, and Satan gave intimations of dissatisfaction
(as he is wont to do at such times), some of his stu¬
dents having been slandered for their zeal and activity,
made their complaints to him of what they had suffered,
and expected his sympathy and protection. After a
pause, Mr. Haynes observed, "I knew all this before."
" Why, then," said one, " did you not inform us ln
" Because," said he, " it was not worth communicating;
and I now tell you plainly, and once for all, my young
friends, it is best to let the devil carry his own mail,
and bear its expenses."
It is said that some time after the publication of his
sermon on the text, " Thou shalt not surely die," two
reckless young men having agreed together to try his
wit, one of them said—" Father Haynes, have you
heard the good news ?"—" No," said Mr. Haynes,
"what is it?"—"It is great news, indeed," said the
other, "and, if true, your business is done."—"What
is it ?" again inquired Mr. Haynes. " Why," said the
first, " the devil is dead." In a moment the old gentle¬
man replied, lifting up both his hands and placing them
on the heads of the young men, and in a tone of solemn
concern, " Oh, poor fatherless children! what will be¬
come of you
124
LIFE AND CHARACTER CTP
Mr. Haynes was a strong advocate for an educated
ministry, and often expressed his great regret that he
had not enjoyed the inestimable privilege of a regular
course of study. A young clergyman, in conversation
on this subject, sincerely remarked, that he thought
ministers without learning succeed well, and that igno¬
rant ones usually do the best. "Wont you tell me,
then, sir," said Mr. Haynes, " how much ignorance is
necessary to make an eminent preacher ?"
4< An important political office was to be filled i?t
Vermont," says a respected correspondent, "and two
candidates were before the people, both of whom were
avowed and open infidels, and rather notoriously such.
These being the favourites of the two political parties,
serious people felt embarrassed, and many withheld their
votes. On the day of election, when the people were
thronging to the polls, Mr. Iiaynes, being a resident in
the same county, had occasion to pass through B ,
and made me a friendly call. As he rode up to the door,
I met him with the cheerfulness and pleasure which his
presence was apt to inspire ; and feeling curious to
know his impressions in regard to the all-absorbing
question of the day, and willing also to try his wit, I
said, as I took him by the hand, ' Well, Father Haynes,
did you put in your vote for before you left
home?'—'No;' he replied, without the least embar¬
rassment or surprise,—'No;—when there are two can
didates up, and one is Satan and t'other the Old Boy, I
don't think it is much object to vote.'"
KEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
125
Mr. Haynes was quite remarkable for his catholic
spirit towards Christians of all orthodox denominations.
As a matter of course, they reciprocated his brotherly
kindness. If occasion required, he could, without
seeming to give the least offence, by a single brilliant
stroke, allay every tendency to disputation An elder
of high respectability, of the Baptist denomination, thus
accosted him:—" Brother Haynes, I love you much, and
I can cheerfully give you the right hand of fellowship,
both as a Christian and a gospel minister ; but I want
you to follow Christ down the banks of Jordan."—" 0,"
said he, " I am an old man, and the banks of Jordan
are a great way off."—"You misunderstand me," repli
ed the elder; " here is the creek close by—what hinders
you to be baptized ?"—" Oh, Brother said Mr.
Haynes, " that is not Jordan,—that is Otter Creek."
A minister having had his house burnt, and stating
the circumstances of the event to Mr. Haynes, he added,
that most of his manuscript sermons were consumed
with the building. Mr. Haynes replied—" Don't you
think, Brother , they gave more light from the
fire than they ever gave from the pulpit ?"
A young man who had embraced the doctrine of
universal salvation requested an introduction to Mr.
Haynes, for the purpose of asking some questions on
certain points of doctrine, when the following dialogue
passed between them :—
Universalist. " I understand, sir, that you hold that
L 2
126
LIE'E AND CHARACTER 0
God has decreed all things that come to pass, and that
he has elected some from all eternity."
Mr. H. "Well, what then?"
U " If God has decreed all things, I think it unjust
for him to damn men for doing wrong, when it was de¬
creed, and they couldn't help it."
Mr. H. " I should like to know what you hold about
it."
U. " I hold, sir, that God has decreed to save all
men."
Mr. H. "Well, well, upon your principles none can
be saved—for if decrees destroy free agency, so that
men can't be sinful and go to hell, they destroy free
agency so that they can't be holy and go to heaven."
A physician in a contiguous town, of rather libertine
principles, in removing to the western country, arrived
in West Rutland with a retinue of his friends. Mr.
Haynes, seeing the doctor drive up and call at the pub
lie house, immediately went there to give him and his
family the parting farewell. After the exchange of sal¬
utations, Mr. Haynes said to him, " Why, doctor, I was
not aware that you expected to leave this part of the
country so soon. I am owing you a small account,
which ought to have been cancelled before. I have not
the money, but I will go and borrow it immediately."
The doctor replied that he must have all his affairs set¬
tled, as he expected never to return to this part of the
country. Mr. Haynes, as he went out to borrow the
money, was called back by the doctor, who had previ¬
ously made out a receipt in full, which he gave to him,
saymg, "Here, Mr. Haynes, is a discharge of your ac¬
count ; you have been a faithful servant here for a long
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
127
time, and received but small support; I give you the
debt." Mr. Haynes thanked him very cordially, ex¬
pressing a willingness to pay; when the doctor added,
" But, Mr. Haynes, you must pray for me, and make
me a good man." Mr. Haynes quickly replied, " Why,
doctor, I think I had much better pay the debt."
As he providentially met a clergyman who had re¬
cently returned from a tour in the northern part of the
state, preaching false and pernicious doctrines, he said
to him, " You have been out on a preaching tour, I un¬
derstand ; and what success do you meet with ?"—" 0,
good success, sir, very good success—great success,"
replied the clergyman; " the devil himself can never
destroy such a cause." Mr. Haynes instantly replied,
"You need not be concerned—he will never try?
The late Royal Tyler, chief justice of Vermont,
when on his circuit at Rutland, frequently spent an even¬
ing with Mr. Haynes, of whose talents and principles
he ever expressed himself in terms of the highest ad¬
miration. He often entertained his family and friends,
on his return home, with anecdotes, strikingly illustra¬
tive of Mr. Ilaynes's quickness of perception and reply
The two following will furnish a specimen :—
Happening one day to pass by the open door of a
room where his daughters and some young friends were
assembled, he thought, from what he overheard, they
were making too free with the characters of their
neighbours; and after their visiters had departed he
gave his children a lecture on the sinfulness of scandal.
They answered, "But, father, what shall we talk
128
life and character of
about? We must talk of something."—"If you can
do nothing else," said he, " get a pumpkin and roll it
about; that will at least be innocent diversion." A
short time afterward an association of ministers met at
his house, and during the evening discussions upon
some points of Christian doctrine were earnest, and their
voices were so loud as to indicate the danger of losing
the Christian temper; when his eldest daughter, over¬
hearing them, procured a pumpkin, entered the room,
gave it to her father, and said, " There, father, roll it
about, roll it about." Mr. Haynes was obliged to ex¬
plain, and good-humour was instantly restored.
A clergyman of a neighbouring parish had persisted
for some years in remaining a bachelor, contrary to the
wishes of his people. When urged by them to marry,
he put them off on various pretences : he must first get
him a house, enlarge his library, &c. &c. But when
all these things were accomplished, and he seemed as
much indisposed as ever, they became impatient, and
sent a deputation to Mr. Haynes, desiring him to per¬
suade the doctor to get married. Mr. Haynes there¬
fore called upon him, and urged him to comply with
the wishes of his parishioners, saying that he could not
feel that sympathy iu their joys and sorrows which he
would if he had a family of his own. The clergyman
replied that he felt the force of his remarks, and was
disposed to think of the subject seriously; adding, very
emphatically, " I understand, Mr. Haynes, that you have
some very fine daughters." Mr. Haynes instantly re¬
plied, " I have sympathy for you and your parishioners;
but, really, I have taken great pains to educate my
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES. l2&
daughters, and much care to prepare them for useful¬
ness, and I hate to throw them away."
" The last time that I saw Mr. Haynes," says a re
spected correspondent, "was at the General Convention
at Charlotte, in the fall of 1825 ; when, taking my hand,
he said, ' They say you are making a book—be you V
'Trying to do a little something at it,' I replied
'Well,' said he, 'you have just as good a right as those
that know how.'' "
Mr. Haynes being invited to solemnize a marriage in
a neighbouring town, and having completed the cere¬
mony, the young and rather ignorant bridegroom said to
him, "What, sir, is your usual compensation?" Mr.
Haynes humorously replied, " This depends entirely
upon the parties ; if they are promising and respecta¬
ble, we of course receive a liberal reward; but if they
are what we call poor things but little is expected." A
munificent marriage fee was instantly presented.
As Mr. Haynes was travelling in the State of Ver
mont, he fell in company with a person of infidel prin
ciples. He soon discovered himself to be an unprin
cipled scoffer at religion. In the course of conversa¬
tion he demanded of Mr. Haynes what evidence he had
for believing the Bible. "Why, sir," answered Mr.
Haynes, " the Bible, which was written more than a
thousand years ago, informs me that I should meet just
such a man as yourself."—" But how can you show
that?" returned the caviller. "Why, sir, the Bible
says, 2d Pet. iii., 3, ' In the last days scoffers shall
come, walking after their own lusts.' "
130
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
CHAPTER IX.
ingenious remarks on passages of scripture.
Matt, xxiii., 35.—" That upon you may come all
the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias,
son of Barachias, whom ye slew betwreen the temple
and the altar."
Some think that Christ refers to that Zacharias men¬
tioned 2 Chron. xxiv., 20 ; others to a Zecharias, son
of Baruch, who, Josephus says, was killed in the tem¬
ple a little before the destruction of Jerusalem.
The point presented in this text seems to be this—
that every impenitent sinner is, in a sense, concerned
in, or accessory to, all the sin that ever was commit¬
ted, or ever will be, to all eternity.
John iii,, 8.—" The wind bloweth where it listeth,"
&c.
The wind is a strange, mysterious thing. Why it
blows from one quarter, and then from another—some¬
times powerfully, and then gently, or why it blows at
all, cannot be accounted for, or what becomes of it.
So it is as to the manner of the Spirit's operation.
Hos. xi., 9.—" Therefore will I return, and take
away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the
season thereof, and will recover my wrool and my flax
given to cover her nakedness."
Howrever wicked men may waste and embezzle
Divine property, God will recover the whole at their
hands, and not, finally, lose a single farthing by them.
Gjeat prosperity in this life as to outward things, and
eternal misery in the world to come, are consistent
rev. lemuel hatnes.
131
with each other. We may all examine how we have
used Divine property.
Lev. xx., 5.—" Then will I set my face against that
man, and against his family," &c.
There is a sort of impropriety for people to com¬
plain of God for not saving their children, while they
use no means for their salvation, but to the contrary.
By our opposing God's taking away our children by
death, we may actually oppose their eternal salvation,
and encourage their going to hell.
2 Cor. xii., 15.— ..." Though the more abundantly
I love you, the less I be loved."
The more Christians express their love to sinners,
it is commonly the case, the more they are hated by
diem.
1 Sam. viii., 19.— . . . "And they said, Nay; but
we will have a king over us."
Let God do or say what he will, by moral suasion,
to deter men from sinful ways, yet they to ill go on to
destruction.
Matt, xxvi., 15.—" And they covenanted with him
for thirty pieces of silver" [$14 79].
Why does Christ go so cheap ? Men have a great
love to worldly objects—esteem them high, like Judas.
They have no relish for the good Christ promises—
from the characters men sustain—blind—mad—beside
themselves—easily cheated.
Rom. xiv., 8.—" For whether we live, we live unto
the Lord," &c.
Life, in the present state, is one of the most impor¬
tant things of which we can conceive. Should we
132
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
compare living 011 earth with existing in eternity, how
much does it exceed it 1 One hour of our present life
is of more consequence to fit for future scenes than all
eternity.
Prov. ix., 18.—" But he knoweth not that the dead
are there—and that her guests are in the depths of
hell."
The wicked on earth make up a part of the family
in hell.
Matt, xxvii., 61.—"And there was Mary Magda¬
lene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the
sepulchre."
Whence is it that Jesus Christ had so few to at¬
tend his funeral ?
Job xx., 14.—" Yet his meat in his bowels is turned
—it is the gall of asps within him."
Though sinners delight in sin, it will prove death in
the end, and that very soon. " The bite of an asp,"
says Burder, "kills in four hours."
Rom. xvi., 3.—"Greet Priscilla and Aquila," &c.
Priscilla is first named, because she was more active
than her husband in the cause of religion.
John xviii., 38.—" Pilate saith unto him, What is
truth ?"
Some people inquire for the truth when they do not
wish or wait for an answer. Like Pilate,
" They go out,
Dissolve the court, and mingle with the crowd."
Exod. x., 9.—"And Moses said, We will go wiA
our young and with our old," &c.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES,
133
It is going to heaven will bring us there. Observe
this. We may use great boldness in the cause of
God : like Moses, We will go.
Joiin xx., 13.—"Woman, why weepest thou?"
If saints on earth were wise as saints in heaven,
they would not weep as Mary did.
"Col. iii., 1.—"Seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
The thought of Christ's being in heaven should raise
our affections there.
Jer. ix., 5.—" And weary themselves to commit
iniquity."
Sinners weary and tire out themselves in the service
of Satan.
1 Sam. xiv., 6.—" There is no restraint to the Lord
to save by many or by few."
God can save by small means.
Gen. xix., 22.—" Haste thee—escape thither—for I
cannot do any thing till thou be come thither."
Sometimes calls away the righteous to bring de¬
struction on the wicked.
Gen. iii., 18.—" Thorns also and thistles shall it
bring forth to thee."
We see the pernicious nature of sin—one sin spoil¬
ed six days labour of God.
M
134
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
CHAPTER X.
afflictive scenes.
" The heart of the wise is in the house of mourn¬
ing." In a remarkable degree this characteristic of
wisdom was found in Mr. Haynes. Few of Christ's
ministers have been called more frequently on funeral
occasions to administer instruction and consolation;
and few possessed a happier gift " to speak a word in
season to him that is weary." His tender sensibility,
his affectionate manner of address, his ardent and ex¬
alted piety, together with his severe training in the
school of affliction, rendered him one of the best of
comforters. In this connexion the following letters
will be read with deep interest.
to deacon atkins.
Rutland, Oct. 10, 1814.
Very dear Sir,
Yours of the 15th Sept. was received two days ago.
It informed us of three deaths in rapid succession, among
whom was the dear wife of your youth. You know that
I esteemed her one of the best of friends. The long ac¬
quaintance, the innumerable favours I have received
from her, can never be repeated, and, I trust, by me
will never be forgotten. I can say with one, " The
thing I greatly feared is come upon me." I was men¬
tioning to one the day before I received the melancholy
tidings, that I feared Mrs. A. would never recover.
Mrs. Haynes was much agitated, in a dream, we think
the flight that she expired. She thought she saw greaj
trouble in your house. But I pay but little attentioa
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
135
to dreams. Sir, I hope you do not imbitter the
affliction by murmuring or repining against God. You
may think on the goodness of the Almighty in blessing
you with such a companion—in preserving her so long,
—and for the hope that she is among the blessed—and
that you may hope shortly to meet her there. Above
all, that the to ill of God is done. I trust I do not
forget you at the throne of grace. You are much in
my thoughts. I hope the Lord will be your support in
a day of trouble. Read Prov. xxiv., 10 ; "If thou faint
in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." Whether
I shall ever see you on tins side of the grave is uncer¬
tain. Should it ever be my lot and portion, it seems
that your house would, in some degree, be a gloomy
mansion. But I would not add to the tide of grief that
flows from your bleeding heart. Yet we may mourn
with those that mourn. The week I received your
letter, we were called to bury two of the sisters of our
church, the one an adult, the other a youth. A brother
of my wife died four weeks ago very suddenly. Thus
we are all going. I thank you for the seasonable infor¬
mation you gave us of the mournful event. Make our
respects acceptable to Rev. Mr. B. and family. We
greatly respect them, and shall never forget their hospi¬
tality. I trust I bless God that you have such a pre¬
cious man among you. May he be continued. May
the Lord sanctify his hand to all the bereaved.
Your sincere friend in your trouble,
Lemuel Haynes.
TO the pastor of the first church in granville.
Rutland, January 13, 1806.
Rev. \nd Dear Sir,
* * * * It has been a remarkable time of health
among us the year past. But four deaths in this
society. The last was Charity Rowley, daughter of
Mr li. R., about thiiteen years of age. She died Dec,
(3th. Her disorder was in her head, which rendered
her sickness very distressing, and for a great part of
the time she was deprived of reason. I scarcely ever
136
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
saw a more distressing scene. Every means was used
for her recovery, but all in vain. She was a most
amiable child. But few children so much respected.
All loved her. Her death is greatly lamented. Her
parents and the family were almost overwhelmed by
the stroke. She discovered great concern about a fu¬
ture state when in the exercise of reason. Would call
on others to pray for her, and was often in prayer for
herself. Many prayers were put up for her. But an
all-wise God saw fit to call her away. We have great
reason to hope that she is gone to rest, and is now
sharing the rewards of the righteous. She has left us
many warnings to prepare for death. I hope they may
make a deep impression on the minds of us who sur¬
vive. If sweetness of temper, amiable conduct, love
and esteem of friends could exempt from death, she
would still have continued. But alas ! there is no dis¬
charge in this war. It was a loud call to our youth.
Oh! that i| might not prove in vain.
I preached on the occasion of her funeral from
2 Kings iv., 19, 20; "And he said unto his father, My
head, my head ! And he said to a lad, carry him to his
mother. And when he had taken him to his mother, he
sat on her knees till noon, and then died."
We have greatly to lament the low state of religion
among us. How is it with you ? I think we may say,
jn some sense, that it is neither day nor night.
Yours sincerely,
Lemuel Haynes.
In 1808 he was severely afflicted by sickness, and
on his recovery he thus wrote to a friend:—" I have
only a moment's time to write. I am just raised up
from the brink of the grave for some purpose. * * *
Nothing very important has taken place of late. Wick¬
edness reigns triumphant. There is an extraordinary
work of God in Sudbury, twenty miles to the north of
us. Eight or njne are hopefully converted in a week.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
137
Our missionary and evangelical societies in this state
flourish; how is it with you V
On the Sabbath, he selected a subject suited to the
occasion of his restoration to his labours. The text
was Rom. xiv., 8 ; " For whether we live, we live unto
the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the
Lord; whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the
Lord's." In this sermon his own thoughts and feelings
seem to have been an affecting illustration of the senti¬
ments of the apostle. " I might," said he, " I might,
if it was not too much like preaching self, apply the
subject to my own case. It has pleased God to bring
me from the borders of the grave. Strange to reflect,
that I stand this day in the midst of you, as one raised
from the brink of death. I am convinced that a sick
bed is no place for repentance. It was reliance on the
merits of the Saviour that supported me. Had I a
thousand souls, I would venture them on him. 'Tis for
your sakes that I am spared. I have no desire to live
for the sake of living to self. But to God would I de¬
vote all my life. 'Tis by your prayers that I am de¬
livered to you, and O that you would pray that my
spared life may be wholly devoted to his service."
It is not improbable that Mr. Haynes, during his
ministry, preached as many as six hundred funeral ser¬
mons. His labours among the bereaved were often re¬
quested in neighbouring towns, especially on distin¬
guished occasions. He was in the habit also of im
proving such dispensations of Providence for the benefit
of his own people, by preaching on the occasion of
the death of eminently useful men. The following
sermon "will present a specimen of his talents and apt¬
ness in this respect.
M a
138
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
The substance of the Rev. Lemuel Haynes s sermon^
delivered at Rutland (West Parish), Oct. 28th,
1804. Occasioned, by the sudden and much lamented
1 death of the late Rev. Job Swift, D. D.
2 Tim. iv., 6 :—" And the time of my departure is at
hand"
Among the many sources of evil to men, there are
few more hurtful than their inattention to future scenes:
this subjects them to unavoidable troubles here, and
endless sorrow herea^er. Men are generally disposed
to crowd eternal realities from them, and put far away
the evil day. Having the last week heard of the sud¬
den death of the Rev. Dr. Swift, which I consider,
speaking after the manner of men, a greater loss to the
church than could have taken place m the death of a
single individual in this state; and having lately had so
agreeable an interview with him, it has fixed my mind
so intensely on eternal realities that I found some diffi¬
culty in turning my attention on any other subject.
If ever the sentiment in my text was proclaimed in
powerful and significant language, it is in this alarming
dispensation of Divine providence. The time of my
departure is at hand.
St. Paul wrote this epistle after his last confinement
at Rome, about nine years after the former, and a little
before his death, as intimated in the text. Although the
exact time of our death is fixed by the unalterable pur¬
pose of God, Job vii., 1 ; xiv., 5, yet tin's moment to us
is uncertain. We are not to suppose that Paul under¬
stood this ; but by what he could discern by the con¬
duct and temper of his enemies, he concluded that his
exit was near. Analuseoos, which is rendered depar¬
ture, signifies "to return home ; to weigh or loose an¬
chor; to change our place. It is a metaphor taken
anml I^nar'0®rs' Sporting the sailing from one port to
eal^ is, as it were, the unfolding the net, or
o open the prison door by which the soul was
REV. LEMUEL HAYNBS.
139
before detained in a kind of thraldom."—See LeigWs
Critica Sacra. Paul expected to live in a future state,
and that death was not an eternal sleep, but that a
crown of glory awaited him beyond the grave. That
we ought to live in the constant expectation of death, is
the point to which our attention is particularly called on
the present occasion.
The nature and importance of the duty will be con¬
sidered. There are many people who, though they
have the clearest intimations that they must die, yet do
not expect it. Every age of the world affords us pain¬
ful examples of the truth of this observation. Death
often comes and finds us sleeping. Many no doubt
will go into eternity within one hour, that have no ex¬
pectation of dying for years yet to come. Some of
you who are now present will doubtless die within a
few weeks, who are not looking for such an event.
Many of you have more worldly schemes already laid
ouc than you can accomplish to the day of your death.
Follow men to their death-bed, and you will generally
find that death is an unwelcome and unexpected mes¬
senger. Who those are that live in the expectation of
death, is a question of serious importance.
People who expect to die will have their thoughts
much on the subject, as one who is about to remove to
a great distance will think and converse much about
the matter. Job called the grave his house, and made
his bed in the darkness; and said to corruption, Thou art
my father, and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my
sister. The man who considers that the time of his
departure is at hand, will not be much elated with sub¬
lunary objects. Of whatever importance they may be
to others, yet to him they are of little consequence, as
he is just ready to leave them. 1 Cor. vii., 29, 30, 31.
"But this I say, brethren, the time is short. It remain
eth, that both they that have wives be as though they
had none ; and they that weep, as though they wept
not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not;
and they that buv, as though they possessed not; and
they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
fashion of this world passeth away." Neither prosper¬
ity nor adversity will much affect him who expects
every hour to come to the end of his journey, or close
his eyes on things below.
The man who expects soon to remove, will have his
mind much taken up with the country to which he is
going. He will inquire about it, and form as much ac¬
quaintance with it as possible; he will attend to the geog
raphy of it, and will have it much in his conversation;
will wish to know how it is like to fare with him when
he arrives there. The dying man, who acts in character,
will read the word of God—that informs us about eter¬
nal things ;—will endeavour to obtain a knowledge of
the heavenly state—of its laws, inhabitants, and employ¬
ments. He will look upon the things that are not seen
—that are eternal. 1 Cor. iv., 18. And his conversa¬
tion will be in heaven. Phil, iii., 20.
A man that adopts the sentiment in my text will set
immediately about the work of preparation for death,—
will, without any delay, set his house in order. Being
struck with a sense of the shortness and uncertainty of
life, he will summon every faculty of his soul to the
most vigorous exertion in this great work ; will do with
his might what his hand findeth to do: he will not put
off that work until to-morrow that should be attended to
to-day, since he knows not what a day may bring forth.
He will pay a diligent attention to the means of grace.
Prayer, reading, meditation, and attending religious in¬
stitutions, will be matters of serious importance. When
men are apprehensive that they are drawing near the
eternal world, they commonly have very different views
of many external duties that they despise in days of
health. Visits from ministers and pious friends, prayer
and religious conversation, now appear valuable. The
man that really expects soon to die, like Paul in the
text, will be solemn, serious, and honest; will not trifle
with sacred things ; but will act in view of a judgment
to come.
Farther' They who are properly looking out for
Heath, look upon it as an event to which they are ex-
KEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
141
osed at any time, at any place, or on any occasion, at
ome or abroad ; and they will endeavour not to en¬
gage in any work inconsistent with being called imme¬
diately before the bar of Christ. A willingness to de¬
part out of time, and to land on the shores of immortal¬
ity, comports with the nature of the duty under consid¬
eration. With what holy and ecstatic joy does the apos¬
tle, in the chapter and verse from which our text is se¬
lected, anticipate the approaching moment of his depar¬
ture. " For 1 am now ready to be offered, and the time
of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righte¬
ousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all
them also that love his appearing." In a word : to live
as expectants of death, is to do the work of every day
in the day; that we faithfully discharge the duties we
owe to God, to ourselves, and fellow-creatures ; that we
live in the daily exercise of Christian graces, and per¬
severe in holy obedience, in a constant dependance on
the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. We are now
to attend to the importance of the duty, or the propriety
of our living in the constant expectation of death.
We argue from Divine injunctions. IIow constantly
and forcibly is the sentiment enjoined in the word of
God.—" Watch therefore. Be ye also ready. Let
your loins be girded about, and your lights burning,"
&c.; are the repeated admonitions of him who spake
as never man spake. To live in the constant expecta¬
tion of death, is falling in with the dictates of the writ¬
ten word of God—and with the examples of the people
of God, who attained to eminent degrees of piety.
They considered themselves as strangers and pilgrims
on the earth—that their days were as a shadow—ana
that the time is short. The dispensations of Divine
providence illustrate the same idea, that the time of
our departure is at hand, and call for correspondent de¬
portment. The history of mankind—the repeated in¬
stances of death within our own observation—point
142 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
us to the grave, and. proclaim, with united voice, that
" There is but a step between us and death." Men
of every character, station, &ge, and relation m life, are
daily falling victims to the king of terrors, and leave us
this kind admonition, that the time of our departure is
at hand.
If we were to look round on the various instruments
of death, we learn the propriety of constant watchful
ness. Almost every tiling we behold is armed with
deadly weapons, and ready to destroy: even when
we think we are fleeing from the enemy, we often run
into the arms of death. The feeble and delicate slate
of our bodies loudly proclaims our approaching disso¬
lution. The pains and infirmities which have already
racked this earthly house of our tabernacle, show us
that it cannot be long before it will crumble and fall.
When I turn my eyes around on this congregation, I
beheld evident signatures of death in every counte¬
nance, which speak the language in the text, The time
of my departure is at hand.
Suitably to imbibe this sentiment would have a
happy influence on us in every department of life—on
ministers and people, parents and children, friends and
neighbours. We should lay hold of every opportunity
to admonish, reprove, and instruct. Did we consider
on all occasions that it is more than possible that we
are giving our last and dying advice, would it not make
a groat alteration as to the manner of our addresses?
Keeping death at too great a distance tends to make us
colli and indifferent about the things of religion. It is
often the occasion of that foolish jesting and levity, in
which wc are too prone to indulge ; this renders our
visits among our friends so very barren, and turns our
conversation on subjects of no importance. Were it
constantly sounding in our ears, The time of my de
is at hand ! it would have a salutary influence
acfvanta<r°n^UCt' nn<^ others would derive unspeakable
tivc to "(7]e d\°m 11 ^ might further add, as an incen-
ccwstunt Un^er consideration, that to live in the
-1 nation of death is the only way to be pre-
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
143
pared for it, and obtain a victory over it. The reason
that this enemy breaks in upon us with such terror and
surprise is, because we do not watch, or keep awake.
When our blessed Lord calls upon us to watch, he
takes the metaphor from the sentinels that stand on
guard, or on the watch-tower. The word signifies to
keep awake. If we view death at a great distance, and
so fall asleep, should lie come at such a moment, we
fall an easy prey to the king of terrors. On the other
hand, do we stand looking for and hastening to the
coming of the Lord, with our loins girded about, and
our lights burning, that, when Christ shall come and
knock, we may open immediately—we shall have the
blessedness of those servants whom the Lord when he
cometh shall find so doing. This no doubt supported
our reverend father whom God has lately called home;
he could say, amid the agonies of dissolving nature,
" Death has no terrors to me." This account I lately
had from one living in the family at the time of the
doctor's death. His usual calmness and fortitude of
mind shone conspicuous in his last moments, and
astonished spectators. In a word, the magnitude and
importance of death, judgment, and eternity, should
command the utmost attention, watchfulness, and cir¬
cumspection.
The subject, thus far illustrated, suggests a number
of thoughts, which, if pursued by way of improve¬
ment, would afford us useful instruction.
In the first place, it is natural to observe, that it is
very probable that there arc many people that will
never be saved. They are on the very borders of the
grave—they have but a few moments to live—and yet
have done nothing to prepare for death—and have no
disposition to do any thing. The work is great—and
they are fully determined to do nothing by way of
preparation. This no doubt is the case with many
present.
We may further observe, that there is but a little
difference between men's outward circumstances ; be¬
tween the rich or the poor, the old and the young.
144
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
death will, in a moment or two, lay all on a level.
There is but a very little difference between the dead
and the living,—only a single step.
We are taught once more by a review of this sub¬
ject, that all disputes about religion will soon subside.
'Tis vain for men to spend their time in warm and
angry contentions about matters that will be decided
in a single moment. " The time of our departure is
at hand."
How ministers are to preach, and how people are to
hear, and how all ought to conduct, in every place and
on all occasions, are easily deductible from the prece¬
ding discourse, viz., In the constant view of death and
the eternal world. The sound should always be in
our ears, " The time of my departure is at hand !" and
should have a commanding influence on all our behav
iour.
We should, by this subject, be led to examine our¬
selves, and take a review of our past life, since we are
soon to leave this world, and our endless happiness or
misery depends on the manner in which we improve
the present life. Blessed are all those who can adopt
the language of the dying apostle, " I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith," &c.
In a particular manner we ought to be excited to
the utmost diligence in religion, since our time is so
short, and since the sentiment is so powerfully incul¬
cated by the deaths of others with whom we yesterday
conversed.
The recent instance of mortality speaks with too
much energy to be disregarded. Perhaps scarcely
ever was there a death in which we were more inter¬
ested, or one in which God could have manifested
equal displeasure against us. If so important and vir¬
tuous a character could not be exempted, but must ba
called away suddenly in the midst of his usefulness,
may we not with propriety every day be looking out
for death ? The situation in which God in his provi¬
dence had lately placed Dr. Swift, and the remarkable
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
145
success that attended his ministerial labours among the
people where he resided, afforded pleasing prospects,
and promised a long continuance; but, in a moment,
our expectations are frustrated by Him who destroyeth
the hope of man. The preacher has not the vanity to
suppose that a commendation from him would add
much weight to a character so well established among
all who were acquainted with him. I have often
thought, and repeatedly mentioned m private conver¬
sation, that I never saw the description of a gospel
minister, as given in the word of God, so illustrated
and exemplified by any person as in the life and char¬
acter of Dr. Swift.
Few ever attained a more thorough acquaintance
with divinity, or were so capable of opening the mys¬
teries of the gospel. He appeared always ready to
solve difficult passages in the Scripture and questions
in theology. I believe numbers in the ministry are
ready to acknowledge that many important ideas on
this subject they have obtained through his instrumen¬
tality. Affability, Christian zeal, and firmness in the
fundamental principles of religion, were distinguishing
traits in his character. These things I thought shone
more conspicuous in him than usual at our last meet¬
ing. His benevolence and hospitality often astonished
those who came under his roof. Those who had taste
for plain, instructive, experimental preaching, greatly
admired his public performances. His attachment to,
and exertions in, the missionary interest were great: I
have often thought to the prejudice of his health, espe
cially of late. About the last conversation I had with
him was on the subject of missions. He requested me
to go to a place at some distance to preach, as he had
given the people previous encouragement. I told him I
was pre-engaged—he replied, " It will not do to neg¬
lect them, I must go myself." But few churches in
this state, on this side of the mountain, but owe much
of their present prosperity, under God, to Dr. Swift.
Perhaps no man was more approved, and more useful
in ecclesiastical councils than he. In our associations,
N
146
life and character of
where he always presided, he was truly a burning ar.d
a shining light. But, however hard to realize the
thought, he is gone ! Heaven has so decreed! and it
becomes blind mortals to submit. Oh! let us be
thankful to God that we have enjoyed him so long !
Let us call to mind, and rightly improve, the advan¬
tages with which we have been favoured, and endeav¬
our to imbibe that temper, and imitate those virtues,
that dwelt so richly in him. Oh, that a double portion
of his spirit might rest upon all the ministers of Christ!
That those, especially in this state, to whom he has
been so kind a father and benefactor, would consider
how loudly God, by this providence, calls us to enga-
gedness in his cause—knowing that the time of our de¬
parture is at hand. Let us learn to put our trust in
that God who is able to take care of his church without
us, or those who are more eminent in gifts and grace,
and who worketh all things according to the counsel of
his own will. Amen.
CHAPTER XI.
mr. haynes's labours beyond the limits of his
parish.
It is no easy task to estimate the amount of good
effected by the ministers of Christ, especially by% those
pastors whose labours are abundant beyond the bounds
of their respective societies. It is indeed a privilege
of inestimable worth to be the instrument of building
up a single church, and of witnessing revival after re¬
vival, in which many sinners are converted to God and
gathered into the church. Mr. Haynes was not an in¬
sulated individual, whose influence was limited to pa
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
14?
rochial bounds. In the early part of his ministry he
had more calls to labour as a preacher at funerals and
on special occasions than any other minister in the re¬
gion.
As his early days were spent in agricultural pursuits
he took much delight in this kind of labour. The ex¬
penses of his numerous family and his hospitality re¬
quired that large portions of time should be employed
in manual labour. He was often called from the field
to the pulpit. A young man, from the adjoining town
of Castleton, calling to engage his services on a funeral
occasion, was directed to the field where he was la¬
bouring. The young gentleman went accordingly, and
meeting Mr. Haynes in his field-dress, and not suspect¬
ing him to be the preacher, said to him, " Can you tell
me, sir, where I can find Mr. Haynes ?" He replied,
" My name is Haynes."—" No," said the young man,
" I mean Mr. Haynes the preacher."—" I try to preach
sometimes," said Mr. Haynes.
He was ready at a moment's notice to exchange his
field garments for a clerical but plain attire, and to
stand as " the legate of the skies" among deeply-af¬
flicted mourners.
In 1804 he was appointed by the Connecticut Mis¬
sionary Society to labour in the destitute sections of
Vermont. In 1809 he was appointed to a similar ser¬
vice by the Vermont Missionary Society. A minute
journal of these missionary tours would furnish mate¬
rials for the historian, instruction to young missionaries,
and improvement to all. In that early period of home
missions a wide field was occupied by a single mission¬
ary, and the labours of a few weeks were distributed
among a number of destitute churches. A single fact,
148
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
which faithful memory has rescued from oblivion, will
illustrate the untiring diligence of Mr. Haynes, as well
as his aptness at original and amusing remarks. Trav¬
elling in the northern parts of Vermont, at a season
when the business of the husbandman was pressing,
but the business of the missionary infinitely more so,
he sent forward an appointment to preach a sermon on
the morning of a week day. On his arrival at the
place he was extremely grieved to learn that his lec¬
ture had not been properly notified, and that some of
the people had come to the conclusion that they could
not find time to attend a religious meeting. " Can't
find time to go to meeting ?" said Mr. Haynes; " do
people ever die here in St. Albans ? I wonder how
they can find time to die /"
In ecclesiastical councils he was sought by churches
near and remote. He attended about fifty ordinations,
and in many instances was the appointed preacher. In
cases of difficulty and division, his influence, counsel,
and prayers were bless-ed to the restoration of peace in
the churches.
In one of the remote churches in Yermont, a painful
difficulty originated between two prominent members,
which soon destroyed all Christian fellowship, and di¬
vided the church into parties. Neither the measures
adopted by the discreet members of the church, nor the
advice of several successive councils, had effected a
reconciliation. The dissension became more alarming.
At length it was resolved to call a council from distant
churches. The council convened accordingly, and the
Reverend Mr. Haynes was chosen moderator. Having
ascertained the facts in the case, the moderator address¬
ed the parties in a plain, conciliatory manner, and in-
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
149
vited them to retire and settle the difficulty. They re¬
tired, but soon returned with unsubdued hearts and de¬
termined looks. The moderator perceived the deep-
rooted difficulty, and felt the importance of plain and
faithful dealing. He arose and observed, " That we
have all gone out of the way; that we all fail in living
up to the Christian profession; that we often stand in
the gap, and stop poor sinners from entering the king¬
dom of Christ. Oh ! how important it must be for
Christians to be active. How painful the thought that
the Redeemer should be wounded in the house of his
friends ! Our time is short. What we do we must do
quickly. Reason, experience, religion instruct us to do
all in our power to administer comfort to those who
abuse us. If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he
thirst, give him drink, for in so doing thou shalt heap
coals of fire upon his head. Forgive from the heart
those who trespass against you. Oh, let us strive to
make those who abuse us happy as we can while we
live; for, if they do not repent, they must finally be
pierced to the heart with an undying agony. What is
life but death to him that destroys not his passions.
With a bruised and humble heart, do, my friends, over¬
come these evil passions. Forgive one another—then
the clear light of the Divine favour will illuminate your
souls."
At this distance of time, only a very imperfect sketch
of what was then said can now be given. Many of the
beautiful illustrations and happy turns of expression,
for which Mr. Haynes was distinguished on special oc¬
casions, are now lost from the memory; but they weTe
not lost on the parties concerned in these unchristian
divisions.
N 2
t50
£IFE AND CHARACTER OF
The effect of this affectionate and solemn appeal was
indescribably happy. When the moderator closed his
remarks, the parties were melted with tears. They
took each other by the hand, made penitential confes¬
sions to each other and to the church. The whole
church also arose simultaneously, and mutually made
confessions. It was a blessed season. Tears of peni¬
tence flowed copiously. God was pleased to "pour
upon them the spirit of grace and supplication, and they
looked upon him whom they had pierced, and mourned
for him as one mourneth for a first born." The church
was thus reclaimed and humbled, and prepared for a
heavenly visitation. A religious revival commenced
immediately.
CHAPTER XII.
LETTERS.
letter i.
FROM mr. haynes to the pastor of the first church
in granville.
Rutland, January 12th, 1805.
Very dear Sir,
It seems, for some reason, our correspondence has
for a long time been interrupted. Whether it is not
through criminal inattention, may be a serious question.
May it again be revived ? Granville being my former
home, renders intelligence from thence interesting. I
often hear from you, though not by letter. Were I at
your house, your first inquiry would- be—" How is re¬
ligion among you?" I must answer,—Not as in days.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
151
past, though some hopeful appearances. A little boy of
twelve years old joined the church a few days ago;
being asked what was the means of his being awakened,
he said, that " he thought one night that he had been
given up to God in baptism, and he thought it to be his
duty to give himself up to God." He is a remarkable
instance of piety. I wished that our Baptist brethren
had heard the relation.
The alteration that God has made in this state within
the last two or three years is surprising. Thousands
have been converted. The call almost everywhere now
is—preach! preach ! The harvest is great. I have
been on a mission last fall, and was pleased to see the
attention among the people. I am fully convinced that
missionary exertions should be encouraged. We have
formed a society in this state. I think we shall be able
to maintain one missionary constantly; but labourers
are few. You have heard of the death of the Rev. Dr.
Swift. He died suddenly, while out on a mission, at
the same time that I was out. I had an interview with
him a few days before his death. Why so useful a man
was taken away, and such a vile wretch spared, is to be
resolved into the sovereign wisdom of God. Our loss
is almost insupportable. Zion trembled when he fell.
I wonder that I have not visited Granville before now.
Never was I so taken up with ministerial work, but yet
do nothing. I still hope to see you. I am to set out
to-morrow for W oodstock, over the mountains, to an or¬
dination.
Remember me at the throne of grace.
Yours sincerely in gospel bonds, &c
This was written in the greatest haste, which must
excuse inelegance—'tis time to attend conference.
152
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
LETTER II.
TO THE SAME.
Rutland, February 9th, 1806.
Rev. and dear Sir,
Did you know the satisfaction it affords me to hear
from you and from Granville, the place of my former
residence, I am persuaded you would feel yourself am¬
ply rewarded in writing to me. You speak of stupidity
among you, and I wish I was able to tell you that it is
different with us. We have had great and peculiar tri¬
als, such as I have never experienced since I have been
in the work of the ministry; but, through the blessing
of God, they have in a good measure subsided. I think,
on the whole, matters are growing more favourable as
to religion in Vermont. Ministers are settling very fast.
Middletown, Middlebury, Essex, and Shorham, afford
recent instances. Many other towns are following their
example. I think, as Dr. Burton observed the other
day, that infidelity is on the decline, which makes the
enemy to rage violently.
I was apprized of Mr. S 's sentiment more than a
year ago, by a man from his parish. I think that Arian-
ism is what will now call for the resistance of the advo¬
cates for truth.
I was exceedingly pleased with your proposal to con¬
tribute something for the use of children. I think we
are too apt to neglect them. The future being of the
church depends, under God, upon them. Should I be
able to afford any materials for the work, I shall most
willingly contribute.
In answer to }^our question* I would readily say, No;
for the reasons following:—God nowhere requires it.
Those exercises necessary for damnation are what the
holy soul would deprecate. The damned will for ever
hate God and seek his destruction. A Christian can
never see that it is for the glory of God to damn him.
* Does true submission ever imply a willingness to be damned for the
glory of Goa ?
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
153
We are to seek the good, and not the misery of our own
souls. So, to be willing to be damned for the glory of
God, would involve a contradiction. God never will
and never can reveal to his people that 'tis his or for his
glory to damn them. Much might be said on the sub¬
ject, but as you wish for an answer just as you state
the question, I give it hastily ; perhaps my reasoning is
not conclusive. The text often quoted as supposed by
some to carry a different idea, is Rom. ix., 3. Much
has been said on this difficult text. I will submit the
following remark to your consideration. I find the
Greek word mo, which is translated from, often render¬
ed with, as you will see by turning to your Greek
Lexicon, and I could give instances in the Scriptures
had I time,—but the bearer waits. Perhaps the read¬
ing is, " I could wish myself accursed with Christ, or
die an accursed death as he did, for my brethren and
kindred according to the flesh." But this is submitted
to your examination. I intended to have enlarged and
furnished you with some of my plans of sermons, if
they would be worth notice, and by that means have
excited you to have made me better returns. I preach¬
ed to-day from Psal. xlviii., 14, and from Judges x., 14.
On the first I had this method :—To show, 1. In what
sense God is the believer's God. 2. That he will al¬
ways be their God. 3. The great advantage in having
him for our God. The other text afforded this point:—
That those who have any thing short of the true God
for their God, may expect to have none other to go to
in the time of their distress. 1. Who are they that
have any other God ? 2. A day of tribulation will soon
overtake such. 3. Prove the point.
Sir, please to write to me as soon as possible.
Believe me yours, in the fellowship of the gospel.
154
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
LETTER III.
FROM MR. HAYNES TO DEACON ELIHU ATKINS.
Rutland, July 7, 1816.
Very dear Sir,
Your kind letter has been received, and would have
been answered long ago had not sickness prevented.
Soon after the receipt of your communication I was
seized with a most distressing disorder, which brought
me fu the borders of the grave. Five or six Sabbaths
I was unable to attend divine service. But God, who
is rich in mercy, has so far recovered me that, through
great infirmity of body, I have been able this day to
preach and administer the holy supper. I am fast re¬
covering my health. You will see by my writing that
I am in a weak and trembling state ; you will scarcely
be able to read my writing. You inform me of the
death of many among you, but at the same time of
some who have been raised from the dead. This in a
degree turns our mourning into joy. * * * Mr. A.
J. Bogue called on me last week; complains bitterly
against the clergy ; he tells me he has joined another
presbytery, viz., under James Madison, which he likes
better.! * * * You inform me of your new con¬
nexion, in which I wvish you God's blessing. * * *
The season among us appears gloomy; it is cold and
dry. God has evidently a controversy with us. Re¬
member me to Mrs. B. and her mother. T remember
the last interview I had with their dear deceased friend
may the Lord support them.
Yours sincerely.
t Mr. B. had been deposed by the Presbytery, and was now chaplain is
the army.
rev. lemuel haynes.
155
LETTER IV.
from mr. haynes to the pastor of the first
church in granville.
Rutland, October 28, 1816.
Dear Sir,
* * My health is better than when I wrote to you
last, tho.ugh it is far from being confirmed—probably
never will be. I am however able, in my poor way,
to perform ministerial services. My late sickness has
greatly impaired my constitution. It is time for us to
realize that the time of our departure is at hand. There
is nothing very favourable with respect to religion in
this town, though there seems to be a greater attention
to meeting than formerly. In the east parish there are
some drops of Divine influence. In many places in
this state God is doing wonders, particularly at West¬
minster, Putney, Bridge water, and Salisbury; at Mid-
dlebury the work is great; at Cornwall, New-Haven,
Charlotte, St. Albans, Sheldon, Benson, and many other
places. We hear good news from the westward; also
from Massachusetts. Some begin to pfedict that the
millennium draws nigh. * * * I thank you for the
pains you took in your former letter to inform me of a
number who had obtained hope among you, and of the
deaths. I wish you would give further like informa¬
tion. I can never be weaned from G., the place of my
long residence. We are threatened here with a scar¬
city as to worldly things. The latter harvest is chiefly
cut off; how is it among you ? God's judgments are
abroad in the earth.
Faithfully yours
P. S. I have just been reading a sermon of Dr
Lathrop's, of West Springfield, on the sixtieth anniver¬
sary of his ministry. He is eighty-foui uj. eighty-five
years of age. He is truly a wonderful ma:.
Remember me at the throne of grace.
156
life and character op
LETTER Y.
to deacon el1hu atkins.
Rutland, November 27, 1816.
Affectionate Friend,
Yours by Mr. H., bearing date the 7th instant, has
been received, and read with pleasure and satisfaction.
It informed of your health and prosperity, and that of
your family; that you had one added to your church;
of the wonderful work of God at Sandisfield and other
places. You inform me that the latter harvest is cut
off among you and in Connecticut in a great measure.
But, at the same time, if the cause of God flourishes
and prospers, it is more than to have corn, oil, or wine
increase. In the east parish of Rutland there is con¬
siderable attention to religion, but among us there is
nothing special except stupidity and irreligion. Near
by us, God is at work in a wonderful manner. In Fair-
haven many are inquiring, " What shall we do to be-
saved ?" Those that are stout-hearted and far from
righteousness are bowing to the sceptre of grace. The
work is begun at Castleton, seven miles from us. We
almost hope we shall not be passed by. Three or four,
and sometimes jive hundred meet at a time. A few
days ago a number met in Fairhaven for prayer, as they
have done for some time every morning. But the min¬
ister, Mr. Cushman, was sick, and could not attend,
and none were there that could attempt the duty of
prayer. They were in distress to know what they
could do. One, who was in great distress, proposed
that he would kneel down and say the Lord's prayer
if the rest would join. Accordingly they did, and it
had a blessed effect. The church at Fairhaven had
been reduced to three or four male members. But
God nas appeared m a needy time.
You mention two deaths, Mrs. F. and Mrs. K Did
Mrs. P. become any more rational before her death:
I remember the many days and nights I spent in tha1
family in the time of her husband's sickness and death
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
157
Was Mrs. II. insane, or was it suicide in the aggrava¬
ted sense 1 * * * My health is rather on the gain,
though it is not as formerly—'tis not likely it ever will
he. I }) ave just received a request to cross the Green
Mountains, and preach a dedication sermon at a new
meeting-bouse lately erected. I contemplate to go if
my health will admit. I feel almost worn out. We
cannot expect to continue long by reason of death.
Mrs. A. wishes to know whether I ever expect to visit
G. again. My answer is, 'tis what I even long for
much, and, should Providence open the door, I intend
to; but you see life is uncertain, and she and I have
become old, and it will not do for us to depend much
on future time. Oh that we could often reflect on the
words of old Barzillai, 2d Sam. xix., 34—" How long
have I to live V
I think much of being dismissed from my people,
should they be willing, and have more latitude to visit
friends, but am not determined. Should I live, I hope
within a year to visit you ; but all is uncertain in this
life but death. # # # #
Your sincere friend and servant.
LETTER VI.
to deacon e. atkins.
Rutland, Feb. 17, 1817.
Dear Sir,
* * * I am happy in letting you know that the
work still goes on in those places I mentioned to you
in my last. On the first Sabbath in this month, nearly
one hundred came forward in Castleton, and made
public profession. No instance like it has ever taken
place in these parts. Never did I see a work so pow¬
erful as the one in that place. Perhaps nearly as many
more have obtained hopes. The work goes on in
other places—and, what is wonderful, the Lord has
come among us, though unworthy. The attention of
people is called up, and some are rejoicing in hope.
We have conferences every day or nighl this week.
O
158
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Our meetings are crowded. My labours have been
more abundant lately than ever they were since I have
been in the ministry. Oh, that I could do the work
well! I feel unequal to the task. I ask your prayers.
Some begin to predict that the millennium is at hand.
I think Mr. Flavel somewhere says, " When doves fly
to their windows, look out for a storm." Sinners
should take warning. No doubt there will be a great
destruction among the wicked before that day, and
many will be called in. I preached yesterday from
Rev. xii., 7. I think the battle will soon be decided.
The many expressions of friendship I have re¬
ceived from you I can never forget. Your deceased
companion I often remember—may we all be ready to
follow her.
I remain, as usual, cordially yours, &c
LETTER VII.
to the same.
Rutland, Sept. 25, 1817.
Dear Sir,
* * * X feel thankful for your communications,
although they often contain melancholy tidings—I
mean the deaths of friends. It is a remarkable time
of health with us, only one adult has died in our society
for about twenty-one months—three or four infants
have been taken away. We have some attention to
religion of late—about thirty have been added to the
church—but we are too stupid. I hear that Mrs. A. is
dangerously sick; I fear what will be the next tidings.
I long to hear from you.
A melancholy accident happened at Middlcbury this
week. Professor Allen, of the college, fell from the top
of the building, and soon expired; was heard to say, " I
am a dead man. The Lord reigneth—let the earth
rejoice." Just before he died he was heard to repeat,
"The Lord reigneth." So exposed are we to death—
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
159
may we all be ready. I wish once more to see you
on this side of the grave—but life is uncertain !
Yours affectionately,
Lemuel Haynes.
LETTER VIII.
to the same.
Rutland, Jan. 16, 1818.
Dear Sir,
* * * You inform me of the state of Mrs. A.; I
am glad to hear that she is in some measure recovered,
and I would join with you in giving thanks to God for
his goodness. I often send my imagination to G ,
and see the havoc death has made there. I travel
from lane to lane, and I find but few alive. My con¬
temporaries are mainly gone. We may say with great
propriety, that the time of our departure is at hand.
As to the fruit of our awakening, which you ask me
about, I lament to say that the harvest was short, and
our hopes not fully answered. We had but only
twenty-seven added to our church. There appears to
be a great degree of stupidity among us. Saints cold,
and sinners bold in sin. But the Lord reigns. Some
young people have lately died among us, which has ex¬
cited some seriousness ; I hope it will not be in vain.
I feel sometimes discouraged and worn out with fa¬
tigue. I tell my people 1 wish they would release
me, at least for a time, and employ some other preach¬
er, that I may journey abroad. You know we are too
apt to be uneasy.
* * * I thank you over and over again for you.
letters.
Cordially yours.
160
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
CHAPTER XIII.
attendance at the meeting of the general
association of connecticut.
In 1814 Mr. Haynes attended the session of the
General Association of Connecticut, as a delegate from
the General Convention of ministers in Vermont. On
his way to Fairfield, the place of meeting, he visited
the city of New-Haven, where he lingered a day or
two, to enjoy an interview with the Rev. Dr. Dwight,
the highly distinguished president of Yale College.
On his arrival, it was announced that the Rev. Mr.
Haynes, of Vermont, would preach in the Blue Church ;
and at an early hour the house was filled. Mr. Haynes
was introduced into the pulpit, and being very desirous
to see Dr. Dwight, he carefully watched every person
who entered in the garb of a clergyman, to see if he
might be Dr. Dwight, whom he had then never seen.
One came in, and another, and another, and he asked
himself—Can that man be Dr. Dwight? and he men¬
tally answered—no, no—for several in succession. At
length there entered a gentleman whom he pronounced
unhesitatingly to be Dr. Dwight, and when he saw him
ascend the pulpit stairs he was sure he was right.
"How did you feel," said one to him afterward, "when
you found you were to preach before Dr. Dwight ?"
" Oh," said he, " I learned long ago not to fear the face
of clay."
"That sermon," says Professor Silliman, of Yale
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
161
College, " it was my pleasure to hear. It was preached
to a full audience, in the old Blue Church, as it was called
(formerly Dr. Edwards's), on the northeast comer of the
public square. I well remember the text—which was
in Isa. v., 4 ; ' What could have been done more to my
vineyard that I have not done in it ? Wherefore, when
I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it
forth wild grapes.' The doctrine obviously flowing
from this remarkable passage was illustrated and en¬
forced by the preacher with dignity and feeling, and
left, I doubt not, a happy influence upon the audience,
both as regards the important truths illustrated, and the
capacity and piety of the preacher."
An intelligent and highly respectable lady, who was
then at a boarding-school in New-Haven, and was
present at the evening meeting, has kindly furnished
the following communication.
West Springfield, Feb. 26, 1836.
Dear Sir,
It would afford me great pleasure could I communi¬
cate any thing that would be of service to you concern¬
ing the estimable man of whom you are preparing a
memoir. When I saw him I was but a child of ten
years. I then heard him preach at New-Haven. * * *
His appearance, the simplicity of his manner, I shall
ever remember with interest. I recollect that in the
course of his sermon he broke out in something like
the following strain of remark :—" A good lady has
been on a visit this afternoon,—have you had a good
visit, madam V—" Oh yea, a charming visit."—" And
did you converse about the Lord Jesus Christ?"—" Oh
no, we did not say any thing about Christ."—" What!"
he exclaimed with emphasis, " a charming visit, and
not a word said about the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of
sinners V From this he went on to speak of the in¬
difference and guilt of Christians, in neglecting to con-
162
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
verse about the Saviour. This has occurred to my
mind hundreds of times in later years, and I trust it
lias been and ever will be a salutary lesson to me.
About the same time he preached before the General
Association of Connecticut, in one of the towns west of
New-Haven. My father* heard him on both these oc¬
casions. I have often heard him speak of the latter as
an interesting season. Mr. Haynes at that time related
an anecdote which has since been frequently published.
" A lady, who was fond of gayety, spent the whole
afternoon and evening with a party at cards, and other
vain amusements ; and, returning home late at night,
found her waiting-maid reading a religious book. She
cast her eye upon the book, and read the word ' eternity,'
at the same time reproaching the girl for reading such
gloomy books. After retiring to rest, she was over¬
heard by the maid-servant groaning and w?eeping. She
went to her mistress, and inquiring what wras the matter,
' Oh,' said she, ' that word—that awful wrord, eternity /' "
This was related in such a manner as to make a deep
impression.
Dr. Dwight, sitting in the pulpit with the speaker,
was observed to be deeply affected, even to tears.
* * * *■
Yours, &c.
E. K. Hazen.
Rev. Dr. Coo ley.
The reader will not fail to be delighted with a full
analysis of this very interesting sermon, as far as it can
be collected from the brief skeleton left among the man¬
uscripts of the author.
* Rev. Asa King-
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
163
SERMON.
Isa. v., 4 :—" What could have been done more to my
vineyard that 1 have not done in it ? wherefore, when
I looked that it sJtonld bring forth grapes, brought
it forth wild grapes."
Vineyards were very common in the eastern country,
and composed a considerable part of field husbandry.
They were made in very fruitful places, and required
much care and cultivation—often expressive of that care
which God takes of people in this world, especially of
Israel. A vine is a weak, slender thing, that cannot
support itself,—unless it bear fruit it is of no value, as
illustrated in Ezek. xv. Unprofitable to God—'them¬
selves—saints—sinners—devils.
A great naturalist tells us of one single grape-vine,
planted by the Emperess Livia, that produced one hun¬
dred and eight gallons of wine in a year.
In the words before us, we have God's care of his
people. He even appeals to man's own judgment, that
they would decide the controversy between him and his
people. What could I have done more? &c. What is
it possible to do more ?—Sept.
We have the barrenness of men under Divine cultiva¬
tion. They did not answer the reasonable expectations
of the Almighty.
There are two or three important points that are
worthy of our serious consideration.
I. In some sense God does all that he can for sin¬
ners.
II. God may most reasonably look that men should
bring forth good fruit under Divine cultivations.
III. Men in general arc very far from answering such
an expectation.
When it is said in the doctrine that God does all that
he can, we arc not to suppose that God does all that it is
in his natural power to do. A parent may offer all his
estate to a rebellious child to reclaim him; or he may
104
LIFE AND CHARACTER Otf
relinquish his authority. So God has a natural power
to give up the reins of government into the hands of
sinners. But this would be inconsistent with God's
holiness, goodness, and truth.
It is as much impossible for the Deity to do that
which it is inconsistent with his moral character to do,
as if it were not in his natural power to do it. God
does all he can do that is consistent with the general
good: and, should he do more, it would avail nothing.
God has adopted the best possible plan for the salvation
of men.
1. God has been at as great expense to make an
atonement as he could. All the perfections of the God¬
head centre in Christ. More than if he had sacrificed
worlds.
2. God could hold up no more powerful motives.
Psal. 1., 23. Stronger than Adam had before the fall.
John x., 10.
3. God has given us as great evidence as possible of
his willingness to save sinners, and that he is sincere in
his offers of salvation. Has sworn, Ezek. xxxiii., 11 ;
Heb. vi., 18. Has actually saved some of the chief of
sinners,—yea, all that would come. In his conduct on
earth—in heaven.
4. God has been as earnest in his invitations as he
could be. Read Isa. lv., 1 ; Matt, xi., 28, 29 ; John
vii., 37; Rev. iii., 20; xxii., 17; Psal. xxiv., 7; Jer. iii.,
4; xxxi., 18, 19, 20.
5. God has brought down the conditions as low as he
could.
6. We have as clear evidence as God can give and
we receive of the truth of religion.
How futile the Jews' arguments ? Mother's name
Mary ?
7. God has promised as great a reward as he can.
All he has, Luke xv., 31.
8. God waits on sinners as long as is consistent with
the general good. It would be injurious to others, and
even to sinners themselves, should he wait longer,—
viz., on the finally impenitent.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
165
9. God sets before men as great threatenings as he
can,—eternal death.
II. God may reasonably expect, <fcc.
I looked, stayed, or waited.—Sept. Not that the
Almighty is disappointed. Things are just as God
knew they would be. The idea is, that men's bringing
forth fruit is most reasonable, in itself considered.
Many things are reasonable that do not take place.
1. From a view of the great advantages they enjoy.
2. We may reasonably expect an event will take
place, when such exertions are put forth to produce it
as would effect it, unless counteracted by the most
unreasonable conduct. 2 Kings viii., 15.
3. From a consideration of their relation to God.
Isa. i., 2. We owe all to God—my vineyard.
4. From the ability God has given them. If we
have hands, ears, and eyes, 'tis reasonable that we
should use them—'tis accepted according to what a
man hath. The service is most reasonable. Rom.
xii., 1.
5. From the great reward promised—even eternal
life.
6. From a view of the faithfulness of inferior crea
tures.
7. From the dreadful consequences of barrenness,
v., 5, 6, 7, 10.
III. Men in general are far from answering such an
expectation. 'Tis the general complaint in Scripture.
Compared to barren trees—unprofitable servants—
Ephraim is an empty vine.—Hos. x., 1 ; Deut.xxx., 32.
God destroys whole nations for their barrenness,
verses following the text. Ten acres only seven and
a half gallons, ver. 10.
Christians complain. Examine the conduct of men
towards God — others—law — gospel—under means ;
judgmcnt-s. How do they improve their time—talents
—faculties of soul and body ?
From the charge that will be brought in against
men at the day of judgment, "Ye gave me no meat."
166
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
IMPROVEMENT.
1. 'Tis impossible for God to save more sinners
than he does.
2. Yet 'tis possible for all to be saved.
3. A reason why sinners complain is because God
does so much for them.
4. The wicked do much to oppose their salvation.
What could they do more ? They would do more if
God would let them Jer. iii., 5.
5. God's character will appear glorious at the day
of judgment. He will let it be known what he has
done.
6. Sinners will likely be damned,—since God does
all he can and they are not saved,—and they do all
they can to be damned.
7. We should do all we can for the salvation of
men.
8. All should examine their fruit—this is the way to
know Christians.
9. Sinners should repent, and make it possible for
God to save them.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM DAVID JUDSON, ESQ.
Fairfield, March 5, 1836.
Sir,
I well recollect that Reverend Lemuel Haynes (the
partially coloured preacher) did preach in this place,
before the General Association of Connecticut, as
delegate from Vermont, in 1814; that Dr. Dwight and
Mr. Goodrich sat in the pulpit with him. Dr. Dwight
spoke very highly of his sermon, and of his great use¬
fulness in Vermont—that, in his attendance with the
Association, he discovered a very great knowledge of
the Scriptures, and was almost as a concordance to refer
them to texts. The church was much crowded on the
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
167
occasion—and the people much pleased with the
preacher. * * *
I am your obedient servant,
David Judson
extract of A letter from reverend president
humphrey.
Amherst College, April 5. j 836.
Rev. and very dear Sir,
* * * I had heard much of Mr. Hayries from mv
earliest remembrance, especially from my mother, who
was a great admirer of his preaching ; but I never saw
him till 1814, when he attended the General Associa¬
tion of Connecticut, as a delegate from the churches
of Vermont. I was then pastor of the church in Fair¬
field, and the Association met there that year. It was
our privilege to receive Father Haynes (for so we re¬
garded him), with other members of that body, as an
inmate of our own house. Though my time was very
much taken up, as you know is unavoidable under such
circumstances, my recollections of him are very dis¬
tinct. He was exceedingly simple and child-like in his
manners—sociable and shrewd in his observations
upon men and things, but rather inclined to keep him¬
self in the back-ground, notwithstanding the marked
attention he received from all the brethren. His pray¬
ers in the family were characterized by great humility
and spirituality, and his conversation was highly edify¬
ing. It was evident that he had been a diligent stu¬
dent of the Bible, and that he had an uncommon knowl¬
edge of those things which the " Holy Ghost teach-
eth."
Everybody, of course, was anxious to hear him
preach, and none so much as the eighty or hundred
ministers, including Dr. Dwight, who attended the
Association. With a good deal of reluctance he con¬
sented ; and I believe I may say with truth, that our
expectations were more than answered. According to
the best of my recollection, he used no notes, but spoke
168
life and character of
with freedom and correctness. His sermon was rich
in Scriptural thought, perfumed with holy unction, and
abounded with striking illustrations. It was from that
interesting passage in Isaiah, " Look unto me and be ye
saved, all the ends of the earth." Some of his closing
remarks, as I well remember, produced a powerful
effect upon the great congregation. He had been rep¬
resenting the sinner as in the last stages of spiritual
disease—just ready to sink down in death and despair
—unable to help himself, but yet capable of looking to
the Lord Jesus Christ for help. How affecting is
such a condition ! but it is not hopeless ! " It is," said
he, " as if a child was so very sick as not to be able to
go to his father, nor even stretch out his hand for help,
nor to speak a word, but merely to look. Such an
imploring look the father understands perfectly, and all
his bowels of compassion are moved wdthin him. So
it is with the dying sinner ; as long as he can look
there is hope. Let him look to Christ by an eye of
faith in his greatest extremity, and he shall be saved."
It was so unexpected, and there was so much of truth
and nature in it, that I believe I may literally say,
hundreds were melted into tears.
By the grace of God Mr. Haynes was what he was.
May you, dear sir, be assisted by that good Spirit
which dwelt in him so richly, in preparing the me¬
morial of him which you now have in hand ; and, un¬
der the Divine blessing, may it be made eminently
useful, wherever it shall be circulated and read.
I am, dear sir,
Very sincerely and affectionately yours,
H. Humphrey.
REV. LEMUEL HAYJv'ES.
169
CHAPTER XIV.
dismission from rutland.
It was a sage remark of Rev. Robert Hall, " that
the Christian ministry is in danger of losing something
of its energy and sanctity by embarking on the stormy
element of political debate." In the most interesting
period of the life of Mr. Haynes, there was an inter¬
ruption of the blessed effects of his ministerial labours
through the influence of violent political controversy.
The impression made throughout the United States by
the late war with Great Britain was such, that nearly
every freeman was identified with one or the other of
the two great parties which then divided the nation.
It will be remembered that in early life Mr. Haynes
took the field as a common soldier in defence of his
country. A mind like his, which had been imbued w7ith
the spirit of the American revolution, could not easily
rest in neutrality while great and conflicting interests
were apparently rending asunder the nation for which
he had fought. In principle he was a disciple of Wash¬
ington. The State of Vermont was early agitated by
ihe measures of the national government. The spirit
of party rapidly ripened into a spirit of deeply-rooted
and unquenchable rancour. Mr. Haynes was invited
to preach on political occasions, and in some instances
to give his sermons to the public through the medium
of the press. He talked sometimes about politics, and
probably with a keenness and sarcasm which were felt.
P
170
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
His talents and influence he consecrated to sustain the
views of the immortal Washington ; and the keenness
of his satire often fell upon unprincipled parasites, what¬
ever might be their political creed.
In one of his published discourses he has the follow
ing paragraph :—" A dissembler is one proud of ap¬
plause—will advertise himself for office—dazzle the
public mind with high pretences, like aspiring Absalom,
' Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every
man that hath any suit or cause might come unto me,
and I would do him justice !' Such devotees to ap¬
plause and hypocrisy will, even when the destinies of
their country are at stake, be to a commonwealth what
Arnold was to American freedom, or Robespierre to a
French Republic."
Political excitement interrupted the harmony which
had subsisted between pastor and people in West Rut¬
land. In some instances Mr. Haynes experienced un-
kindness, and even abuse, from unprincipled men.
Fr»om such trials, however, it was always his felicity to
come forth as " gold tried in the fire." An unprincipled
man, overtaking him in the highway, accosted him in
the style of rude impertinence and abuse, as follows:—
" Mr. Haynes, have you heard the scandalous reports
that are abroad about you ?"—" I have heard nothing,"
replied Mr. Haynes, very calmly.
The man proceeded to state the evil reports, alleging
that they were true, using profane and abusive language.
"You see," continued he, "what a disgrace they have
brought upon your character !" Mr. Haynes, in the
spirit of his Master, " when he was reviled, reviled not
again—when he suffered, threatened not." He passed
on silently till he reached the gate of his own house,
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES
171
when he turned to the persecutor and said to him—
"Well, Mr.— —, you see what disgrace my conduct
has brought upon me, according to your account. I
want you to take warning from me to forsake your evil
course, and thus save your own character from dis¬
grace." Tlius they parted. The next day he came to
him with humble acknowledgments, saying, " I was
wrong ! I was wrong ! I ask your forgiveness."
The trials which ministers are often called to expe¬
rience are ordered in wisdom, and designed to brighten
their Christian graces, llencc, said the apostle, " We
glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation work-
eth patience, and patience experience, and experience
hope, and hope maketh not ashamed."
If the subject of this memoir, at a season of great
party excitement and political phrensy, was wounded
in his feelings or his good name, it was only to shed a
lustre around his Christian character.
" He loved the world that hated him ; the tear
That fell upon his I5ible was sincere ;
Assailed by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was—a blameless life ;
And he that forged and he that threw the dart,
Had each a brother's interest in his heart."
Mr. Ilaynes was a discreet observer of "the signs
of the times." While reasons of weight pleaded for
his continuance with his beloved church in West Rut¬
land, others of greater weight seemed to call for his re¬
moval. Upon prayerful deliberation, he felt himself
governed by the indications of Providence in requesting
a dismission from his pastoral charge.
Accordingly, on the 29th of April, 1818, a council
was convened, and the pastoral relation by mutual con¬
sent was dissolved. The result of council closes with
172 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
the following ample testimonial:—"We do cheerfully
recommend the Reverend Lemuel Haynes as a tried
and faithful minister of Jesus Christ."
The parting scene was deeply painful, both to the
pastor and many of the people. He had taken them by
the hand in their infancy, and laboured day and night
with tears to promote their highest interests for both
worlds. He had met them in the sanctuary, the prayer-
meeting, and the conference-room, and with great fidel¬
ity directed them m the way of salvation. He had
been their comforter in the chambers of sickness and
of death, and in processions to " the field of graves."
In seasons the most deeply impressive and interesting,
when the people were moved by the Holy Ghost "as
the trees of the wood are moved by the wind," he was
to them " the messenger of the Lord of hosts." A
great part of the church were his spiritual children.
He had gathered more than three hundred into the
church under his pastoral care, and had seen the par¬
ish rise under his influence and labours to a state of
high respectability.
LETTER I
from mr. haynes to deacon atkins.
Rutland, 20th May, 181 tf.
Dear and respected Friend,
Attended with some infirmity of body, I now sit
down at my table to write a few lines. You have
doubtless heard of the event which has taken place
with respect to myself. On the 29th of last month I
was dismissed from the people of my charge, with
whom I have laboured more than thirty years. I think
I gave you a hint in a former letter that I expected it
would be the case. It was by mutual agreement. No
impeachment of my moral or ministerial character was
HEt. LEMUEL HAYNES.
173
pretended. I fully acquiesce in the event. I have
many calls to labour elsewhere. I am now preparing
a farewell sermon, to be delivered next Sabbath, from
Acts xx., 24. Never was a greater degree of stupidity
discovered among us; but the Lord reigns. * * 1
almost hope once more to see Granville ; but I am old,
and the time of my departure is at hand. Pray write
as often as you can, and don't forget me at the throne
of grace.
Yours affectionately
LETTER II.
to the pastor of the first church in granville.
Rutland, 20th May, 1818.
Rev. and dear Sir,
Your kind letter and book by Mr. R. were thankfully
accepted. An encouragement of another of your la¬
bours on an interesting subject was given; if it is out,
perhaps I may receive it by the bearer. It would be
gratefully accepted. On the 29th day of last month,
by an ecclesiastical council, I was dismissed from my
pastoral and ministerial relation to the church and peo¬
ple in this place. It was by mutual agreement. The
council gave me a higher recommend than I deserve.
►Such arc the events of Divine providence. My work,
I find, is not quite done. I have many calls abroad,
and have not ceased preaching a single Sabbath. The
Lord reigns. I am now preparing a valedictory dis¬
course to deliver next Sabbath. Association meet at
my house next Tuesday, and I am preparing a " concio
ad clcrum," and so have only a moment's time to write
to you.
1 have just, had news from Manchester, that a good
work has begun there.
President Bates has come to Middlcbury. We are
greatly pleased with his singular talents and piety. I
hope he will be a great blessing to the seminary. My
heart is often at G. I cannot be wholly weaned from
the place of my childhood and youth. * * * May
174
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
the best of Heaven's blessings rest on you and family,
and the people of your charge.
Remember us at the throne of grace, and believe me
yours, in the strictest bonds of friendship and labour in
the gospel of Jesus.
LETTER III.
to the same.
Rutland, 13th July, 1818.
Very dear Sir,
I have lately visited Manchester; there is a revival
there. I expect to be with them next Sabbath. They
have invited me to preach there six months, but I think
I cannot go. I have more calls than I can comply with.
I find, since my dismission, I am called to more labori¬
ous service than before. I think not^to be confined
again, as I am old and almost worn out. Perhaps J
may alter my mind. There are places destitute ^f
preaching all around. * * * My farewell sermon
perhaps will be printed ; if so, you will accept a copy,
Faithfully yours.
Pray for us !
LETTER IV.
to deacon e. atkijns.
Rutland, 23d September, 1818.
Dear Sir,
I have just had the pleasure of reading another letter
from you, and cannot be too thankiul lor the pains you
take to inform me of matters among you. I am much
delighted in hearing from people who were my former
acquaintance.
Your account about the daughter of Alderton Pratt
is very remarkable. I hope more will be learned about
her.
Since my dismission I have not been idle a single
Sabbath. "I am astonished, and even ashamed, at the
pressing calls I have to preach. I know I am unwor¬
thy. I have been preaching at Hubbarton and Man-
REV. LEMUEL HAYNE3.
175
Chester chiefly. Told the people at Manchester I wish¬
ed they would obtain some other man, but they have
renewed their invitation, and I must be with them again.
There has been a good work there the season past.
Meetings on the Sabbath and at conference are crowd¬
ed. Last Sabbath I was at Fairhaven ; preached to
a most solemn congregation. No place has been more
favoured with the influences of the Spirit. I had de¬
termined not to settle again in the gospel ministry. T
am at some loss what is duty. Your family will ac¬
cept our love. May the Lord guide us unto death.
Yours sincerely,
Lemuel Haynes.
P. S. I am called to-day to visit a poor young wom¬
an who is going into eternity. I must fold my letter
and'hasten.
The'sufferings, support, and reivard of faithful minis¬
ters illustrated: being the substance of two Vale¬
dictory Discourses, delivered at Rutland', West
Parish, May 24///., A. D. 1818, by Lemuel Haynes,
A. M., late Pastor of the Church in that place.
Acts xx., 24.—" But none of these things move me,
neither count, I my life dear unto myself, so that
I might finish ray course with joy, and the ministry
to hie h I hare received of the Lord, Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God"
Long and painful experience evinces this truth, that
the present world is a stale of suffering : its influence
is as extensive as the inhabited globe. The fall of
man points out. its commencement and duration. No
a<;e, country, or character can plead exemption. The
gifts, grace, and inspiration of the great apostle of the
Gentiles could not deliver from this calamity. He
could recapitulate scenes of distress as well as antici-
176
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
pate troubles yet to come. Eph§sus was the metrop¬
olis of what is called the Minor Asia; Paul visited
it in the year 53—preached three years—but, on ac¬
count of dissensions and persecutions, departed and
went to Troas, and from thence to Macedonia and Cor¬
inth. Proposing to embark for Syria at Cenchrea,
which was about nine miles from Corinth, on its east¬
ern boundary, but fearing the Jews, who, understand-1-'
ing his course, and that he was carrying money to Je¬
rusalem, which he had collected for the saints, lay in
wait to rob and kill him, he altered his course, and
returned to Macedonia: visited many churches, and
came to Miletus, several miles to the south, where he
sent for the elders at Ephesus, that he might have an
interview with them, to whom he gave the valedictory
address contained in the chapter from whence my text
is selected. The people at Ephesus were acquainted
with the peculiar trials of their former minister, which
might excite sympathetic and distressing feelings, and
perhaps tend to dishearten them in the cause of reli¬
gion. To fortify their minds against such discourage¬
ments the holy apostle gives them to understand that
he was not in the least intimidated or turned aside
from advocating that cause in which he had embarked,
but was still adhering to those important truths that he
had heretofore inculcated at Ephesus and elsewhere.
This sentiment is expressed in the heroic and ecstatic
language of the words before us : " But none of these
things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my¬
self, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to
testify the gospel of the grace of God."
The method I propose in illustrating the subject be¬
fore us is,
I. To show that ministers of the gospel receive
their commission from the Lord Jesus Christ.
IT. That they will soon accomplish their work and
finish their course.
III. That wherever they go they may expect to
meet with trials and sufferings.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
177
IV. That they ought not in the least to fear or be
moved from the path of duty by their trials, but perse¬
vere in their work.
V. The faithful ministry of the servants of Christ
will terminate or issue in their great joy and satisfac¬
tion.
Paul says in my text that he received it of the Lord
Jesus Christ. The same apostle is very explicit on
this subject, Gal. i., 11, 12 : " But I certify you, breth¬
ren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not
after man. For I neither received it of man, neither
was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Again, Rom. x., 15, " How can they preach except
they be sent ?"—" No man taketh tins honour unto him¬
self but he that is called of God, as was Aaron," Heb.
v., 4. In the early periods of time, preachers of righte¬
ousness were called and sent forth by the Almighty
In every succeeding age God has been carrying on his
work by the ministry of men : such are called prophets,
apostles, &c. It was through the instrumentality of
gospel ministers that the kingdom of the Redeemer
was promulgated in the days of the Messiah, who
gave them their commission, and sent them forth upon
the important embassy, see Matt, x., 26 ; Luke x., 3.
Although primitive bishops were many of them called
in a miraculous and extraordinary manner, yet this by
no means suggests the idea that ordinary ministers do
not receive their commission from God, and are not
equally sent by him.
The appropriate names belonging to the ambassa¬
dors of Christ illustrate the sentiment before us.
They are called stewards, servants of the Most High,
angels'' ambassadors, &c. These characters involve
the idea of negotiating business for others, and of re¬
ceiving commission from them. Plenipotentiaries are
invested with full power to act by the court \ylio sends
them. Angels are sent from heaven to be minister¬
ing spirits on earth ; and so, in this sense, bear a rela¬
tion to the servants of Christ.
The faithful ministers of Christ are engaged in the
178
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
cause of God, and it seems suitable that he should ap¬
point them. They are messengers sent on the King's
errand to transact business for him, and receive their
commission from above. They come to people in the
name of the Lord. The motives by which the faithful
ministers of Christ are influenced to enter upon their
work are not. congenial with the natural and carnal dis¬
positions of men ; no wicked man, while in that state,
was disposed to be a pious preacher of the gospel; so
that, when any are inclined, they are moved thereto by
the Holy Ghost. When Paul engaged in this work he
had to contend with a fleshly and selfish heart, did
not confer with flesh and blood, Gal. i., 16. All those
natural, spiritual, and acquired abilities that ministers
possess are from God—lie directs outward circum¬
stances, by which a door is opened for their usefulness
and improvement. When Paul came to Troas to
preach, he observes that a door was opened unto him
of the Lord, 2 Cor. ii., 12. The gospel ministry was
an ascension gift of Christ, Eph. iv., 8.
Faithful ministers derive strength from Christ to
preach and discharge ministerial duties. They are
taught to go to him for help, and can exclaim in the
language of a pious preacher, " I can do all things
through Christ, who strengthened me," Phil, iv., 13;
who could say, "The Lord stood with me, and
strengthened me." 2 Tim. iv., 17.
Ministers receive directions from Christ how and
what to preach. They are to preach the preaching that
God bids them. Jonah iii., 2. With plainness ! The
trumpet is to give a distinct and certain sound. They
are to deliver God's messages with earnestness, under
a feeling sense of the importance of their work. Jonah
was to cry against Nineveh. Isaiah was to cry aloud,
and spare not; and lift up his voice like a trumpet, See.
Those awfully betray their trust who deliver their dis¬
courses in a cold, formal, and lifeless manner; as though
death, judgment, and eternity, and the souls of men,
were things to be trifled with. Paul could tell the
elders of Ephesus that he had not shunned to declare
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
179
unto them all the counsel of God, ver. 27. That he
had kept back nothing that was profitable unto them,
ver. 20.
The servants of Christ are directed by him how long
to tarry with a people. The dispensations of Divine
providence dictated to Paul, that after three years con¬
tinuance at Ephesus, it was time to leave them. He
that sent forth primitive evangelists, gives them this di¬
rection, Malt, x., 14, 15: "And whosoever shall not
receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out
of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Verily I say unto yon, it shall be more tolerable for the
land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment,
than for that city." Ver. 23 : "But when they perse¬
cute you in this city, flee to another." Jeremiah was
directed by God to terminate his ministry among his
people. Jer. vii., 17: "Therefore pray not for this
people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither
make intercession to me : for I will not hear thee."
There was a time when the ministry of Rosea with
Israel was to cease. He is to let them alone. Hos.
iv., 17.
The usefulness of a minister among a people may
appear to be at an end : this may be occasioned by the
unfaithfulness of ministers, or of people, or both ; there
is criminality somewhere. It mav be the case that
people may make violent attacks on a minister's charac¬
ter, and do all they can to destroy his influence, and
come forward with this hypocritical plea, "The man's
usefulness is at an end and so cloak their wickedness
and deceit under the garb of religion. The great clam¬
our and hue and cry against the church and servants of
Christ, are from high pretences to sanctity; and you will
find that those who make the widest mouths in their
vociferations arc the most destitute of virtue and re¬
ligion.
II. It was proposed to show that ministers will soon
accomplish their work and finish their course. Paul
speaks in my text of finishing his course. We are all
on a journey, travelling into another world. This is the
180
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
case with ministers in common with other men. They
are not suffered to continue by reason of death, Heb.
vii., 23. They run,fly swiftly, as the word dramon sig¬
nifies. They have an object in view, on which their
attention should be fixed, " even on the things that are
ETERNAL." 2 Coi\ iv., 18.
The prophets, the apostles, and those eminent ser¬
vants of Christ who afford us daily instruction, where
are they ? Do they live for ever? No : they ran jheir
race, they have finished their course, and their work
on earth, and among the people once committed to
their care, is come to a final end. St. Paul pursued
his work with diligence and rapidity, like one in a race.
He visited many places and planted churches. Seven
towns in Italy—in Greece, nine—in Syria, nine cities
—in Asia Minor, ten—in Asia, fifteen—in Egypt, three.
He visited seventeen islands. 'Tis said that he was
converted on the 25th day of January, and baptized the
28th. In nine years he had travelled 1928 miles. He
had preached much in Arabia. In a second travel he
went 1744. His third was 2154. His fourth was
3396 miles.
He travelled much more after this. St. Paul is sup¬
posed to have been about 70 years of age when he
died. He calls his life only a moment; that the time
is short. The lives of ministers are often shortened by
the trials they meet with ; sometimes they are actually
put to death for the sake of the gospel: they can say
with this holy apostle, " As dying, and behold we live !
as chastened, and not killed : as sorrowing, yet always
rejoicing." The memory of a Patrick, a Beveridge, a
Manton, a Flavel, a Watts, a Doddridge, an Edwards,
Hopkins, Bellamy, Spencer, and Fuller, is precious to
us ; but, alas ! we see them no more. No more in their
studies ; no more the visitants of their bereaved flock;
no more in their chapels or sanctuaries on earth. They
have run their race, finished their course, and are re¬
ceiving their reward. Their successors in office are
pursuing them with rapid speed ; and will soon, very
soon, accomplish their work. The labours of faithful
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
181
ministers are of that nature that subjects to pulmonary
and many diseases incident to public speakers. Instru¬
ments there are on every side to hurry them to the bar
of God, and put an end to their labours. That with
propriety they may adopt the language of dying Peter,
" I must shortly put off my tabernacle." Since I came
to this state, which is a little more than thirty years,
twenty-seven ministers have died on this side of the
Green Mountain, and forty have been dismissed from
their people ; two lie dead in this burying-yard. Paul
lived nine or ten years after delivering his farewell dis¬
course. Moses continued his ministry for eighty years.
Noah for one hundred and twenty. Jeremiah thirty-
two years. But how soon did they finish their course,
and bid farewell to the world !
III. Wherever ministers go, they may expect to
meet with trials and sufferings.
This was what was taught Paul by the Holy Ghost,
as you will see in the two verses immediately prece¬
ding my text. " And now, behold I go bound in the
spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall
befall me there : save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth
in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide
me." \Ve are taught by the same spirit that 'tis through
much tribulation we are to enter into the kingdom of
God, Acts liv., 22. Our blessed Lord, when he sent
out his disciples to preach, lets them know that they
went forth like sheep among wTolves, Matth. x., 16.
Ezckiel's hearers were to him as briers and thorns;
as uncomfortable and tormenting as thorns and briers
are, that tear and wound the flesh ; hedged up and arm¬
ed that he could have no access to their minds or influ
ence among them. The wicked are compared to a
hedge of thorns, Prov. xv., 19. God says of people,
" Behold I will hedge up thy way with thorns," Hos. ii.,
6. It is the case with sinners, that they are so preju¬
diced against the doctrines of the gospel and the ser¬
vants of Christ, that it is dangerous to come near them.
What a sore complaint was made against Jeremiah's
hearers, Jcr. ix., 8. " Their tongue is as an arrow shot
182
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
out; it speaketh deceit; one speaketh peaceably to his
neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart lie layeth his
wait."
If we trace the dispensations of Divine providence,
we obtain further evidence in proof that the servants of
Christ may expect to meet with trials wherever they
go. Paul went to Arabia; the Jews sought to kill him.
He went to Jerusalem, to Judea, to Syria, Cilicia, and
most of the countries of the Minor Asia. His suffer¬
ings increased upon him. A minute catalogue of them
we have in the sketches he gives of his life, 1 Cor. iv.,
10; he observes, "We are fools for Christ's sake." An¬
other time he is so cunning and crafty that there was
no dealing with him, 2 Cor. xii., 16. Paul suffered in
his name or character. Defaming him by propagating
falsehood and lies was not uncommon. People had the
impudence and boldness even to affirm and slanderously
report, that he and others said, " Let us do evil that good
may come," Rom. iii., 8. In Acts xvii., 18, he is called
a babbler. " The babbler is observed by the critics to
be a term of the utmost contempt; in allusion to a lit¬
tle worthless chattering bird that used to pick up the
seeds which were scattered in the market-place."—See
Dr. Guyse on the place. They pretended he was 3
man who had picked up a few scraps of "learning in
different places, of which he wanted to make a show;
and as one who was fond of hearing himself speak,
even among those who had studied more than he had."
—Dr. Scott. " The tongue of a Tertullus is uncom¬
monly eloquent (though more gifted in lying, says one)
when called to calumniate Paul before a Roman tribu¬
nal. He begins, says Beza, by a diabolical rhetoric
and flattery, and ends with lies." Acts xxiv.: " For we
have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of
sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and
a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes : Who also
hath gone about to profane the temple ; whom we took,
and would have judged according to our law," &c.
Lying about the ministers of Christ has been a com¬
mon thing. " Being defamed, we entreat; we are
REV. LEMUEL HAYKES.
183
made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring
of all things unto this day." 1 Cor. iv., 13. "We are
become the purgation of the world. The learned ob¬
serve, that the persons who were sacrificed to the gods
for averting their anger, and for procuring deliverance
from any public calamity, were called purifiers, and
were commonly very mean, worthless persons, and at
the time of their being sacrificed were loaded with ex¬
ecrations, that all the misfortunes of the state might rest
upon them. The word signifies expiation. The apos¬
tle compares himself to those devoted persons, who
were sacrificed for the purpose above mentioned. The
filth of all things. The word signifies filth scoured off;
to scour off all around. It is used most commonly to
denote the sweeping of the streets and stalls, which,
being nuisances, are moved out of sight as quick as
possible."—Dr. Machnight.
Dr. Scott observes, " They were held as the filth of
the world, and refuse and scum of the earth. They
were considered below contempt, or as worthy of exe¬
cration as pestilence and nuisance; who ought to be
purged or extirpated out of society, as the common
sewer carries away the filth and offscourings of the city
to prevent infection and disease. Like human victims,
peculiarly mean and vile, offered to the infernal gods,
with vehement expressions of abhorrence and execra¬
tion."
Paul's enemies thought him to be the fruitful source
of their calamities, and could they only be rid of him'
their troubles would cease, their gods would be at
peace with them. The united cry was, " Away with
such a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that he
should live," Acts xxii., 22. It was a perilous event
with this holy apostle when he was with false brethren,
2 Cor. xi., 26. Hear a detail he gives us of sufferings :
" In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure,
in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews
five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I
suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in
184
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
the deep; in journeying often, in perils of waters, in
perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in
perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in
the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among
false brethren; in weariness and painfullness, in watch-
ings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in
cold and nakedness." It was not the least of his trials
that those who professed friendship to him and the
cause of religion should turn traitors, and become his
enemies. How painful was the reflection of the pious
apostle to think that many of the Galatians, who had
given recent expressions of friendship to him, had so
awrfully departed from the truths of the gospel, and be¬
come inimical to him? See his affectionate expostu¬
lations, Gal. iv.: " I am afraid of you, lest I have be¬
stowed upon you labour in vain. Ye know how,
through infirmity of the flesh, I have preached the gos¬
pel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was
in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received
me as an angel of God. Where is then the blessed¬
ness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had
been possible, ye would have plucked out your own
eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore
become your enemy, because I tell you the truth ?"
When vindicating the cause of God against opposers,
he complains that all forsook him at first, 2 Tim. iv.,
16. When the professed friends of God forsake the
ministers of Christ, it is attended with circumstances
peculiarly aggravating. The sweet counsel and com¬
munion they have taken together are now interrupted—
mutual confidence destroyed—the parties exposed to
peculiar temptations, which renders it difficult to retain
that forgiving spirit manifested by the holy apostle
when all men forsook him : " I pray God that it may
not be laid to their charge."
David, the man after God's own heart, was tried in
this particular, Psal. Iv.: "For it was not an enemy
that reproached me, then I could have borne it—neither
was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself
against me, then would I have hid myself from him—
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
185
but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and
mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together,
and walked unto the house of God in company." Above
all, when the professors of religion take sides with the
world against the servants of Christ, they then strength¬
en the hands of the wicked, and the Saviour is wound¬
ed in the house of his friends—which must excite
painful sensations in the hearts of faithful ministers.
The history of the preachers of the gospel, in every
age of the world, affords distressing evidence in proof
of the point before us. The imprisonment of a Ru¬
therford, a Baxter, the sufferings of a Manton, Flavel,
Whitefield, and their contemporaries, evince this truth,
that opposition to the servants of Christ is not an acci¬
dental thing, but that it is congenial with the corrup¬
tion or depravity of the human heart.
Should our own experience, or the consciences of
any present prompt them- to declare in favour of the
sentiment that has engaged our attention, such evidence
will be admitted without the imputation of perjury.
To carry on their opposition against Paul, friendship
to the gospel, or to the doctrines he preached, was
pretended ; that it was not religion or his preaching that
excited their dissatisfaction, but the character of the
man; and, could they be rid of him, they would be ad¬
vocates for the same sentiments. This attachment to
the cause of Christ was the motive by which they pro¬
fessed to be influenced. They would therefore employ
and hear men who preached Christ, with a design to
carry their point against Paul, and render him con¬
temptible. Phil, i., 15, 16: "Some, indeed, preach
Christ even of envy and strife ; and some also of good¬
will. The one preach Christ of contention, not sin-
2erely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds."
III. The wretched and dangerous slate of uncon¬
verted sinners is another source of distress to the
faithful servants of Christ: this caused great heaviness
and continual sorrow in the heart of Paul, Rom. ix., 2.
''The word is used to express the torments of he'l,"
says Mr. Leigh, in his Critica Sac?~a. The history of
186
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Moses, of David, and the prophets, yea, of the blessed
Saviour of the world, affords painful demonstration in
proof of the point under consideration.
All gospel ministers know experimentally, in some
degree, the terror of the Lord, and are led to persuade
men, 2 Cor. v., 11. That man that does not appreciate
the worth of souls, and is not greatly affected with their
dangerous situation, is not qualified for the sacred
office. It was the saying of a pious minister, who
would arise at midnight and retire for prayer, " How
can I rest, how can I sleep, when so many of my con¬
gregation are exposed every moment to drop into hell!"
The ambassadors of Christ have been called to sacri¬
fice their property, ease, character, yea, their lives, for
the salvation of men's souls ; like Paul, suffer the loss
of all things, not counting their lives dear unto them;
being driven from town to town, and have no certain
dwelling-place, 1 Cor. iv., 11. The requitals or re¬
turns made to the apostle for his benevolence to men,
and his sacrifices for their good, was a bitter ingredient
in the cup of affliction. He was cast among beasts at
Ephesus to be torn in pieces—carried the scars of the
whip on his back—and the more faithful, the more ha¬
ted and abused, and the less beloved, 2 Cor. xii., 15.
The consequences that often attend a minister's
leaving a people are distressing : God frequently gives
them up to divisions and carnal dissipation, to heresy,
and an awful contempt of divine institutions ; or, if the
externals of religion are attended to, it is often to keep
themselves in countenance, and support a character
among men, and they often sink into a stale of mere
formality. Oh! how affecting to a pious minister to
see the flock that was the delight and joy of his heart,
and once committed to his charge, become an easy
prey to the enemy of their souls ! How bitter was this
xeflection to our apostle! Acts xx., 29, 30: "For I
know this, that after my departure shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of
your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them."
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
187
The analogy between cause and effect suggests the
idea that the servants of Christ may expect to meet
with trials and opposition wherever they go. They
will continue to preach the same soul-humbling doc¬
trines, perhaps with greater and greater degrees of per¬
spicuity and zeal; they will still testify the grace of
God ; they will have the same kind of hearers, whose
hearts are enmity against God; and so may expect to
meet with similar treatment. Paul preached the same
gospel at Jerusalem, at Macedonia, Rome, &c.
In a word, there is no place in this world that either
ministers or people can find a peaceful asylum ; 'tis com¬
pared to the rolling sea.
" No, 'tis in vain to seek for bliss,
For bliss can ne'er be found,
Till we arrive where Jesus is,
And dwell on heavenly ground."
IV. In following the method proposed, I am to show,
that whatever trials the servants of Christ meet with in
finishing their course, they ought not to fear or be
moved out of the path of duty, but persevere in their
work. None of these things move me: " I look on
them as mere trifles, and make no account of them."
He did not account even his life dear unto him : He
argues from the greater to the less. If the dearest
thing, even life, was of no value compared with the
cause of God, how diminutive those afflictions that
were only for a moment; especially when we consider,
That they suffer in obedience to the commands of
God. Ezek. ii., 6 : " And thou, son of man, be not afraid
of them, neither be thou afraid of their words, though
briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell
among scorpions; nor be dismayed at their looks, though
they be a rebellious house." Jer. i., 8 : "Be not afraid
of t! i.oii faces ; for I am with thee, to deliver thee, saith
the Acts xviii., 9, 10: "Then spake the Lord
to P.r.il in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but
speak and hold not thy peace ; for I am with thee, and
no man shall set on thee to hurt thee." Luke xii., 4 :
" And I say unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them
1S8 LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
that kill the body, and after that have no more that
they can do." Obedience to the commands of God
will as effectually secure his people from eventual harm,
as the high and adamantine walls of the New Jerusalem
will the inhabitants of heaven.
The example of him that spake as never man spake,
should be a powerful incentive to encourage his servants
in their work. 1 Pet. iv., 1. With what persevering
diligence did he prosecute his ministry in the face of
earth and hell, until in dying accents he could exclaim,
" It is finished !" The cause in which ministers of
Christ are engaged may well excite them to persevering
faithfulness and fidelity in their work. 'Tis that dear
interest for which all things were created, and the cause
of the ever blessed God in three persons ; for which the
glorious Redeemer shed his precious blood, and is now
pleading. A cause in which all the dispensations of
Divine providence are subservient, and in which all
heaven are engaged. The character, oath, life, yea, all
the perfections of the Deity, are pledged for its defence.
" Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world. Amen," Matt, xxviii., 20, is a promise, that, to
all faithful ministers, at all times, even to the second
coming of Christ, is as replete with encouragement
and support as can be given by the pen of inspiration.
By being steadfast and unmoved under trials, the
servants of God can bear an honourable testimony in
favour of religion. This is one way by which God has
furnished the advocates of the gospel with peculiar ar¬
guments in defence of the truth, and has made them re¬
joice and glory in tribulation. It is not a stoical apathy
that reconciles God's people to sufferings ; not because
they are not susceptible of injuries, and ignorant of
abuse ; but God is glorified by their patiently enduring.
Therefore it is that the language of the persecuted apos¬
tles was so appropriate. Acts v., 14: "And they de¬
parted from the presence of the council, rejoicing that
they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for his
name." From hence it was that our blessed Lord says
to his disciples, Matt, v., 11, 12, "Blessed are ye when
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
189
men shall rtvile you, and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your re¬
ward in heaven : for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you."
The ministers of Christ are frail, imperfect creatures,
in common with other men ; they need thorns in the
flesh to humble and keep them low; and their afflic¬
tions tend, if patiently endured, to work for them an
exceeding weight of glory, 2 Cor. iv., 17. A reason
of Paul's being so useful to the church of God was on
account of his being a vessel chosen and formed in
the furnace of affliction. Perhaps a more accurate
attention to order would have led me to an additional
detail of the sufferings of God's people under a former
head, such as a body of death, which Paul so much
complains of: this made him cry out, O wretched
man that I am ! I believe this is the greatest enemy
that faithful ministers have to contend with, and ex¬
cites the most painful sensations. Oh ! the pride, the
stupidity, the corrupt passions, the selfishness, that
they often feel! tending to draw away their minds
from God, and divert them from a close adherence to
duty. These are trials that cleave unto us, go where
we will. They are too apt to be intruders, even into
our solemn acts of devotion ; like Abraham's fowls,
descend to mar the sacrifice, and 'tis hard to drive
them away.
Ministers of the gospel need not be moved from the
path of duty, nor be discouraged under suffering, be¬
cause it is what they may reasonably expect: this was
suggested by Christ to primitive teachers, to fortify
against despondency, John xvi.: "These things have I
spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended : they
shall put you out of the synagogues : yea, tne time
cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he
doeth God service," &c. " But these things have I
told you, that, when the time shall come, ye may re¬
member that I told you of them."
The ambassadors of Christ have sworn to be faith-
190
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
ful—are all under oath—and for them to betray their
trust is treason and high-handed perjury. Their pro¬
fession is before many witnesses : " In the sight of
God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Je¬
sus," &c., 1 Tim. vi., 13. What is a life, yea, ten
thousand lives, when contrasted with that sacrifice that
must be made by our deserting the cause of God ?
The great and sure reward promised to the faithful
servants of Christ for all their sufferings should more
than barely support them amid all the sorrows of life.
Every pain, every tear, every insult they bear for
Christ's sake, will secure them a great reward in
heaven, Matt, v., 12. The wearisome and tiresome
nights they spend here in running their race and in
finishing their course, will only prepare them for a
more sweet repose and rest at their journey's end,
when the morning shall break forth.
V. The faithful ministry of the servants of Christ
will terminate or issue in their great joy and satisfac¬
tion: " So that I might finish my course with joy."
1. They will have the approbation of their own con¬
sciences, 2 Cor. i., 12: "For our rejoicing is this, the
testimony of our conscience, that, in simplicity and
godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the
grace of God, we have had our conversation in the
world, and more abundantly to you-ward."—"It arises
to a holy triumph," says Guyse. Conscience will not
be an idle or indifferent spectator at the day of judg¬
ment ; it will have peculiar influence in accusing or
excusing in the day when God shall judge the secrets
of men, Rom. ii., 15, 16. It will be a source of un¬
speakable torment to the wicked, a gnawing worm, that
will never, never die; but where its dictates have been
held sacred, and not violated, peace, comfort, and holy
rejoicing will be the attendants. The true friends of
God, amid all the calumny cast upon them by men and
devils, can say, in the face of a frowning world, " We
trust we have a good conscience."
2. When godly ministers have finished their course,
H will end all their imperfections and trials. They
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
191
see so many defects in themselves, so much self-seek¬
ing, unfaithfulness, and ignorance, that they often
tremble lest, after they have preached to others, they
may be cast away—that they shall fall short of that
heaven they have so often recommended to others, and
have their dwelling with the wicked;—but these fears
will subside, and, to their surprise, they will hear their
Redeemer say, " Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"
All those sorrows caused by the state of impenitent
sinners, which have occasioned them many wearisome
days and nights, will for ever cease. No more slander,
no more stripes or imprisonments—they will be out of
the reach of men and devils, and obtain a complete
and everlasting victory—and shout that ecstatic song,
" I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course!" &c.
3. God will explain to them those things that now
appear dark and intricate : why so much distress, why
they must be made the song of the drunkard, why
they must be driven from town to town, and have no
certain dwelling-place. The providences of God will
all appear harmonious, calculated, through divine ordi¬
nation, to promote the highest glory of the universe
and their personal good. "Who shall not fear thee,
0 Lord, and glorify thy name ? for thou only art holy :
for thy judgments are made manifest," will be their
song for ever, Rev. xv., 4.
4. It will afford peculiar joy to the people of God,
especially to the ministers of Christ, when they have
finished their course, in that God will publicly plead
and espouse their cause, vindicate the doctrines they
inculcate according to truth. The enemies of religion
are often complaining that preachers are setters forth
of strange things, too rigid, too pointed and overbearing
in their preaching: tending to wound the delicate feel¬
ings of their hearers, like goads and nails, Eccl. xii.,
11. There is no stopping the wide mouths of gain-
sayers ; but, so far as ministers have been faithful, God
will own them, and vindicate their cause against the
vile aspersions of wicked men. Their characters will
192
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
be exonerated and cleared from those hard speeches
which ungodly sinners have spoken against God and
his people, Jade 15.
5. The sentence that will be pronounced and execu¬
ted on the wicked will afford joy to the saints. In this
world the ministers of Christ often tremble by anticipa¬
ting the misery that is coming on sinners, and especial¬
ly on their hearers that disregard their admonitions and
reproofs, and, like their divine Lord and master, weep
over them; but at the day of judgment, although pain
and misery will, in itself considered, be undesirable, and
an object of displacence, yet their holy and perfect at¬
tachment to the divine character will render the clis-
plaj^s of vindictive justice glorious, and excite praise
and adoration, Rev. xviii., 20 : " Rejoice over her, thou
heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets: for God
hath avenged you on her."
6. The great and unspeakable reward and honour
that will be bestowed and conferred on the faithful ser¬
vants of Christ will be matter of great joy : it will ex¬
hibit the condescending grace of God, and excite humil¬
ity in them; they can scarcely believe that God could
ever take notice and reward such poor services as they
have done, and will cry out with wonder, love, and praise,
"Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee?
or thirsty, and gave thee drink ? When saw we thee a
stranger, and took thee in ? or naked, and clothed thee ?
or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto
thee V Matt, xxv., 37, 38, 39. As God's rewarding
the saints will humble them, so it will tend to fit them
for the world of everlasting adoration. One great de¬
sign of the day of judgment will be to exhibit the
riches of divine grace, which will excite endless songs
of joy to the saints.
•' The more thy glories strike mine eyes,
The humbler I shall lie ;
Thus, while I sink, my joy shall rise
Unmeasurably high."—Watts.
God will make it appear, that those who had trials
*)f cruel mockings and scourgings, of bonds and impris-
REV. LEMtEL HAYNES.
193
onments, that were stoned and sawn asunder, tempted,
slain with the sword, who wandered about in sheep¬
skins and goatskins, in deserts and in mountains, and
in dens and caves of the earth, being destitute, afflicted,
tormented, &c., were men, after all, of whom the world
was not worthy, Heb. xi.
The scars and signals of sufferings in the cause of
God, that his people will carry with them, will procure
more illustrious monuments than pillars of marble ; they
will possess that kingdom prepared for them, and be
made kings and priests unto God. This was that dig¬
nity to which St. Paul was aspiring, the prize of the
high calling: that for which he did not account his life
dear, honourable unto him.*
Finally, It will enhance the joy and reward of the
ministers of Christ to meet all their brethren and com¬
panions in tribulations. There will be so great a de¬
gree of similarity in the sufferings of the servants of
God, and in the interpositions of Divine providence
towards them, as to excite a pleasing and holy fellow-
feeling in their souls; the celestial spark will catch
from breast to breast, while an harmonious flame of di¬
vine love and adoration will ascend as from one altar,
to Him that hath given them all the victory. Ministers
will meet the pious part of their congregations with
great rejoicings : those especially to whom they have
been instrumental of saving good: Such will be their
crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus, 2 Cor.
i., 14; 1 Thes. ii., 19, 20; Heb. xiii., 17.
Paul will meet with his brethren that were at Corinth,
Rome, &c. A more public and interesting rehearsal
of their mutual and personal interview's will be attend¬
ed to. What reciprocal joy will his meeting with Tim¬
othy and his son Onesimus afford ! The parting of
the apostle and his Ephesian brethren at Miletus was
painful and distressing; what weeping and sorrowing!
but at their arrival at the haven of eternal rest, what a
contrast! No fearing that they should see each other's
* The Greek word is Timian, honourable, precious.
R
194
XIFE AND CHARACTER O*
faces no more; nay, that once mournful parting, and
Paul's valedictory sermon, are recognised with emo¬
tions of joy, as events necessary to promote the further
promulgation of the gospel, and accomplish the decrees
of heaven.
Ministers and their people, when they have finished
their course, will remember those Bethel visits that they
have enjoyed in the sanctuary, and around the table of
the Lord, and the sweet counsel they have taken to¬
gether ; they will remember the seasonable reproofs
given to each other, and whatever differences have ta¬
ken place between them will all be forgiven, and for evei
exterminated; they will see the wisdom and goodness
of God in all these things. Thus, when the ministers
of Christ have finished their course, it will finish and put
an end to all their troubles : and so their ministry wil
end, or issue in their unspeakable joy and consolation.
IMPROVEMENT.
1. Since ministers receive their commission from
Christ, none have any right to forbid them preaching
All courts of inquisitions, all prohibitory measures adopt¬
ed by men to prevent their declaring the glad tidings
of the gospel, or fulfilling the ministry they have re¬
ceived of the Lord Jesus, are an insult on the majesty
of Heaven, and discover a spirit hostile to religion and
the rights of men, and ousht to be treated with a holy
contempt by all the servants of Christ. With what re¬
ligious indignation were those presumptuous measures
treated that, were used to stop the mouths of those re¬
corded in Acts iv.: "And thev called them, and com¬
manded them not to speak at all, nor teach, in the name
of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto
'hem, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken
unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we can¬
not but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
ajicTl?' c^fPt3r xiii.: "When the Jews opposed Paul
2■ Since S' waxe<J hold in their work."
Heaven, \ye ™lnistei's receive their commission from
See e °bliga lions that people are under
REV. LEiMUEL HAYNES.
195
to regard them, and pay attention to the sacred lessons
they are to inculcate. To reject and despise the am¬
bassadors of Christ is very dangerous : 'tis insulting the
sacred Trinity, and accounted high treason in the court
of Heaven. It indicates the displeasure of the king when
ambassadors are abused and recalled; that the treaty or
negotiation of peace is closing. 2 Chron. xxxvi., 16 :
" But they mocked the messengers of God, and despi¬
sed his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath
of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no
remedy." Let the enemies of God fear and tremble
when they read the credentials of Christ's ministers,
sanctioned with this capital label or inscription, Luke x.,
16: " He that heareth you, heareth me ; and he that
despiseth you, despiseth me ; and he that despiseth me,
despiselh him that sent me."
3. Since ministers must soon finish their course, the
thought should excite them to the utmost faithfulness,
constancy, and engagedness in their work, seeing their
time is short. We can scarcely believe the senate or
legislative department to be the place assigned to gos¬
pel ministers, who are to give themselves wholly to the
work. Paul could remind his Ephesian brethren, that
for the space of three years he ceased not to warn every
one, night and day, with tears. The same apostle ex¬
horts Timothy to give attendance to reading, to exhor¬
tation, to doctrine. 1 Tim. iv., 13.
How desirable that the servants of Christ receive
such a decent support as to be able to devote all their
service to the sanctuary and the souls of their hearers.
Every sermon should be a kind of farewell discourse.
It is said of the pious Mr. Shepherd, that he used to say
that he never preached a sermon but what he thought
it might be the last. Oh ! how does it become us to
preach and act like dying men, that we may finish our
course with joy !
4. It is no evidence that ministers are not the true
servants of Christ because they meet with great oppo¬
sition from the world, and even from the professors of
religion : yea, it was from the high pretenders to sanctity
196
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
that the Saviour of men suffered most severely. St. Paul
observes concerning bishops, that " they must be of
good report of them that are without." l5id the apostle
mean by this to prove that himself was disqualified for
the sacred office, being of bad report among the ene¬
mies of God? This, above all others, would disqualify
Christ for the ministry. He observes to those whom
he sent forth as preachers, Luke vi., 22, " Blessed are
ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall sep¬
arate you from their company, and shall reproach you,
and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's
sake."—" When men shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake." Matt, v., 11. That the ambassadors of
Christ should so conduct as to give no just occasion to
them that are without to reproach the cause of God, is
evident. Doctor Macknight has the following para¬
phrase on 1 Tim. iii., 7 : "Moreover, before his con¬
version, he must have behaved in such a manner as even
to have a good testimony from the heathen, that he may
not be liable to reproach for the sins he committed be¬
fore his conversion, and fall into the snare of the devil,
who, by these reproaches, may tempt him to renounce
the gospel, knowing that he has little reputation to lose."
That the heathen may more willingly receive him, he
being formerly a man of good reputation. Consult
Henry and Scott on the place, whether the learned
commentator has given the meaning of the text or not.
We are assured that it was never designed to fix a re¬
proach on the characters of the faithful servants of
Christ, or sanction those invectives and slanders so often
cast on them by the enemies of God.
That the word of God is often wrested and perverted
by him who is no stranger to the art, and introduced
as an auxiliary to his evil machinations, is evident, even
from the farce he attempted with the blessed Saviour
of the world. He can say, "It is written," &c. It is
far from being a singular case to have people make and
spread false and scandalous things concerning the min
isters of the gospel, and even to offer rewards to such
Rev. Lemuel haynes.
19?
as will join in the game ; then, to accomplish their de
signs, have the audacity and duplicity to say, "Oh ! the
man is of bad report of them that are without." Was
not the Saviour of men betrayed in this way ?
Let not his faithlul servants relinquish their work, or
determine against their call to the sacred office, be¬
cause they have so many trials and persecutions ; " for
so persecuted they the prophets which were before vou."
Matt, v, 12.
5. Since ministers receive their commission from the
Lord Jesus Christ, 'tis dangerous for them to go before
they are sent. 'Tis suitable that they have some exte¬
rior evidence of their mission ; something more than
their pretensions to inward sanctity. Primitive extraor¬
dinary ministers could exhibit miraculous testimonials
of their being called to the sacred office. It seems
equally necessary that in all succeeding ages the am¬
bassadors of Christ have some kind of credentials of
their being regularly called to the work. We therefore
find that ordinary ministers not only appeared to be in
wardly called by the Holy Ghost, or were in the judg¬
ment of charity good men, endowed with ministerial
gifts and graces, but were recommended and set apart
by those in office, and ordained by the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery. Those, therefore, that thrust
themselves into the work without these prerequisites,
do not come in by the door appointed by the great Head
of the church, but climb up some other way, and ought
not to be treated and encouraged as the true ministers
of Christ.
G. Since all true ministers receive their commission
from the court of Heaven, there ought to be a cordial
union among them ; ihcy should treat each other as
brethren. Although they may have gifts differing, the
strong arc not to despise the weak: they derive license
from the same authority, bearing the same signet—are
called by different names, such as bishops, overseers,
ministers, ciders, angels, &c. But we do not conceive
that they arc expressive of superiority or diversity of
grades in office, any more than various names among
R 2
198
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
men imply different species. The soldiers of Jesus,
deriving their commission from the same king, and be¬
ing engaged in the same cause, should, as far as possi¬
ble, see eye to eye, and strengthen each other's hands.
7. We infer the truth of the Holy Scriptures, that
so accurately foretel the trials and sufferings of gos¬
pel ministers. The benevolent embassy with which
they are intrusted, and the authority with which ihey
are invested, would indicate better treatment, were it
not confronted by predictions in the sacred volume,
While, therefore, the enemies of God slander and per¬
secute the servants of Christ, they, in a degree, estab¬
lish the truth of Divine revelation.
8. The subject teaches how to account for that firm¬
ness and intrepidity discovered by the people of God,
especially the ministers of Christ, in eveiy age. They
will not give up the cause—come life, or come death.
This rendered Luther, Melanchton, liuss, Jerome, Poly-
carp, Wicliffe, and a thousand others, invincible to
all the flatteries and intrigues of wicked men and dev¬
ils, and the menaces and terrors of an inquisition : they
could say, " None of these things move us," &c.
9. There will be a very solemn meeting of ministers
and people at the day cf judgment. Joy and terror
will attend the transactions of that day. Ministers and
people will meet, as having special business with each
other; their reciprocal conduct will be publicly inves¬
tigated. How suitable that these things are now seri¬
ously examined, with candour, before the commence¬
ment of that day.
As, in the course of Divine providence, a dissolution
of the pastoral and ministerial relation between me and
this people has lately taken place, according to the
declaration of an ecclesiastical council convened for
that purpose, I have been requested to deliver a vale
dictory discourse. As I am still residing among you,
the occasion is different from the one that took place
between Paul and those he was then taking his leave
of; he tells them, that he knew that those among
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
199
whom he had been preaching the kingdom of God
should see his face no more : this may, or may not, be
the case of the speaker. I am willing to say some¬
thing on the occasion—which I esteem solemn and in¬
teresting,—hoping that I shall be enabled to address
you with all that plainness and prudence which be¬
comes one who expects to give an account. The
apostle reminds the Ephesian brethren of some things
that had transpired while he was with them.
My Brethren and Friends,
The church of Christ in this place was organized
forty-twro years ago the 20th day of October last, by
the assistance of the Rev. Benajah Roots, my worthy
predecessor.
It was thirty years ago the 28th day of March last,
since I took the pastoral care of this church and peo¬
ple ; the church then consisted of forty-two members ;
since which time, there have been about three hundred
and twelve added to it; about sixty have been removed
by death, and about four hundred have died in this so¬
ciety, including those above mentioned. There are
only ten of the church now living in this place who
were here when I first came among you; the greater
part sleep in death. I have preached about five thou¬
sand five hundred discourses : four hundred of them
have been funeral sermons. I have solemnized more
than a hundred marriages. During this period we
have had two remarkable seasons of the outpourings
of the Spirit, as avcII as some refreshings at other times,
which many of us who arc yet alive recognise with
emotions of joy. Twice I have been brought, in my
own apprehensions, to the borders of the grave ; but
God has spared me to see this day of trial, which I
desire lo meet with resignation to his will.
The flower of my life has been devoted to your ser¬
vice—and while I lament a thousand imperfections
which have attended my ministry, yet, if I am not de¬
ceived, it has been my hearty desire to do something
for the salvation of your souls. He that provided the
200
LIFE AND CHARACTER CY
motto of our discourse could say, on his farewell, " I
have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea,
ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered
unto my necessity." The appropriation of such lai>
guage is, in a degree, congenial with the testimony that
many present could give, and might be admitted, were
it not for the danger of comparison. I have sometimes
thought that perhaps God designed that I should spend
the few of my remaining days among you ; and, with a
degree of satisfaction, I have looked into the repository
of the dead adjoining this house, intending to sleep
with them ; claiming a sort of kindred dust, intending
to rise with them ; but the ways of God are mysteri¬
ous, who often destroys the hope of man. In my soli¬
tary reflections I cast a look towards this house to bid
it a final adieu; but, in spite of all that fortitude, dicta¬
ted by reason and religion, can do, the sympathetic tear
will betray the imbecility of human nature. Can we
suppose that even a Paul was unmoved when " They all
wept sore, and fell on his neck, sorrowing most of all
that they should see his face no more V Acts xx., 37, 38.
A three years ministry had excited such reciprocal
endearments as made the parting like tearing soul
and body asunder. More than one thousand five hun¬
dred Sabbaths have I spent with you, the most of them
in this house. More than one hundred and thirty sea¬
sons of communion have we enjoyed around the table
of the Lord. Oh! how many sweet and comfortable
days have I spent in this house with you that are alive,
and those who arc dead ! We have taken sweet coun
sel together ; I trust I have at times felt the powerful
presence of Christ, while speaking from this desk ; can¬
not we adopt the language of the Psalmist,
"'Tis with a mournful pleasure now,
I think on ancient days :
When to thy house did numbers go,
And ail our work was praise 1"
It appears m the course of Divine providence that my
labours among you have come to an end. We have
done meeting in this house; I am called to give you
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
201
the parting hand; but let us all remember that a very
6olemn meeting awaits us at that day suggested in my
text, when we shall all have finished our course.
Our meeting at that day will greatly differ from what
it has been in this house : I have often been here and.
found but few within these walls; some trifling excuse
has detained you ; but at that day it will not be option¬
al with people whether they attend or not; all will be
there ; the congregation will be full, not one in a town,
state, or in the world, but what will appear. Some¬
times you have manifested great stupidity, and I have
witnessed drowsiness and carelessness while I have
been speaking; but at that day you will be awake and
be all attention. You will believe, realize, and feel in¬
terested in the things exhibited. Often through the de
pravity of the human heart, and the prejudice that sin¬
ners have to the truth, and to the servants of Christ,
they will turn their backs on divine worship, and leave
the house of God : But when ministers and people meet
before the tribunal of Christ, there will be no deserting
or quitting the assembly; there they must hear, however
disagreeable their preaching will be, and tormenting to
their consciences. In this house our meeting has been
promiscuous or indiscriminate ; saints and sinners sit
on the same seat, around the same table; we cannot
certainly say who has and who has not on the wedding
garment; but at the day of judgment there will be an
exact separation; Christ will separate the sheep from
the goats.
In this house we have often met, not less than four
thousand times; we go and we come : Although we
see no fruit of our labour, we do not wholly despair ; we
hope God may yet bless his word; but when ministers
and people meet before the bar of God, it will be the
last interview, none to follow it: The case of sinners
will then be for ever hopeless and helpless.
One great design of our meeting together in this
world is to offer salvation to sinners, to entreat and to
beseech them to be reconciled to God; but at the day
of judgment an irreversible sentence will be pronounced
202
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
on the righteous and on the wicked; the saints will bo
rewarded, and sinners condemned, and sent to endless
perdition.
When the ambassadors of Christ have finished their
course, and meet their people, a critical examination will
take place : I must give an account concerning the mo¬
tives which influenced me to come among you, and how
I have conducted during my thirty years residence in
this place : the doctrines I have inculcated : whether I
have designedly kept back any thing that might be prof¬
itable to you, or have, through fear of man, or any other
criminal cause, shunned to declare the whole counsel
of God. Also, as to the manner of my preaching,
whether I have delivered my discourses in a cold, for¬
mal manner ; and of my external deportment. You, who
have been the people of my charge, must give an ac¬
count what improvement you have made of my minis¬
try ; whether you have attended as you ought; whether
your excuses for withdrawing from public worship at
any time were sufficient. God will attend to them,
and they will be weighed in a just balance ; not a single
neglect will escape divine notice. We have a thousand
excuses, which, when put in the scale of the sanctuary,
will be lighter than a feather.
You must give a strict account as to the manner of
your attending in this house : whether you have receiv¬
ed the word with joy, and obeyed its precepts. Pa
rents must render an account, whether they have taught
their children, by precept and example, to reverence
the word of God, and respect the servants of Christ.
Whether they have endeavoured to maintain or support
the influence of their minister among the youth or rising
generation, and so been workers together with him.
Whether the servants of Christ do not fall into contempt
in a measure through their instrumentality. People will
be examined whether they have contributed to the tem¬
poral support of the ministers of Christ; it will not be
left with men how much they ought to impart; but God
will be the judge how much was suitable, and whether
it was agreeable to the word of God, and the exigences
of the preacher.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
203
On the separation of a minister from his people, there
are often very criminal causes existing, either on the
part of the minister or people, or both. There may be
pretended, reasons, while the truth may be kept out of
sight, to escape censure. Ecclesiastical councils may
think it inexpedient to make any inquiry into the mat¬
ter ; but they will have a plain, candid, and thorough
investigation before the tribunal of Christ. No decep
tion, no hypocrisy will be concealed under religious
pretences; but it will all be detected and exposed be¬
fore the assembled universe, and the hearts of all men
be revealed.
"Nothing but truth before his throne,
With honour can appear;
The painted hypocrites are known,
Through the disguise they wear."
The accusations brought against the ministers of
Christ will be examined. Ministers will fare no better
for the name they sustain ; their wickedness will be ex¬
posed ; they condemned or exonerated, not according to
popular noise and clamour, but coincident to truth and
equity. These are scenes, my brethren, that are just
opening before us, and to which we are hastening with
the utmost rapidity. These are things that should
move us, and call up our attention. It is a small, very
small thing to be judged of man's judgment. Oh ! let
us labour to be found of God in peace. This day to
me in some respects is very solemn and interesting, on
which I. am called to give you the parting hand; but
its importance is eclipsed when contrasted with that
awful period when we are to meet before Him who is
to judge the quick and the dead.
There you and I must shortly appear. Much has
been said on the subject of my dismission—that it ha»
been in consequence of my request. I think I have
been sufficiently explicit on the matter; but I am wil¬
ling to repeat it in this public manner, that, had the
people been united, wholesome discipline properly ex¬
ercised, a firm and unshaken attachment to the cause of
God manifested among all the professors of religion,
204
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
I should have chosen to continue with you at the ex
pense of temporal emolument; but, considering the di¬
visions existing, and the uncommon stupidity preva¬
lent, I have been fully satisfied that it was my duty to
be dismissed, and have requested my friends not to op¬
pose it. I am persuaded that it will appear another
day that unfaithfulness in the minister did not originate
the event, to the exclusion of criminal causes in this
society; but this matter is laid over to the day of final
decision. I trust I feel in a degree reconciled, know¬
ing that God's way is in the sea and in the deep waters,
and his footsteps are unknown.
I find my strength in a degree inadequate to itinerant
labours, and that I am shortly to put off this my taber¬
nacle ; but I purpose, so long as life and health con¬
tinue, to preach the same gospel that J have been pub¬
lishing to you for more than thirty years, and on which,
I humbly hope, I have ventured my eternal salvation.
Oh that I may be enabled to discbarge the duty with
greater zeal and fidelity ! And now I am called to go,
not to Jerusalem, but from plaoe to place, not knowing
the things that shall befall me, saving what the Holy
Ghost and the providence of God witnesseth in every
city, that trials await me; but I hope I can in some
small degree say, " But none of these things move me,
neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I
might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel
of the grace of God."
My dear brethren and friends, I did not realize my
attachment to you before the parting time came. Many
disagreeable things have taken place ; but still I feel
my heart going out towards this people. How many
pleasant days have I spent with you in this house!
How many hours under your roofs, and delightful visits
in your families ! I will not except a single door that
has not been hospitably opened for my reception.
Many kindnesses have I received from you, both in
sickness and in health. You will accept my warmest
gratitude for the many instances of kindness shown
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
205
me. I hope, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord,
that you will still remember me at the throne of grace;
that God would support me under every trial, and that
lie would render the evening of my life useful to the
church of God: that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the
mystery of the gospel.
May the Great Head of the church send you a pastor
after his own heart, vastly superior in gifts and grace to
him who is giving you his farewell address. 'Tis a dis¬
tressing thought to think that I am about to leave any
of you in an unconverted state,—that my labour among
you will prove to your heavier condemnation. Partic¬
ularly let me call on you that are young: this house
and your own consciences are witnesses that I have re¬
peatedly called on you to attend to the important con¬
cerns of your never, never dying souls, and I fear too
many of you in vain. Have you not turned a deaf ear
to the calls and invitations of the gospel, and to the sol¬
emn warnings of God in his providence ? I fear you
are going down to eternal destruction, under the intoler¬
able weight of aggravated sins. I will now, perhaps
for the last time, invite you to Jesus, the God-man
Mediator. Some of your parents, on a death-bed, have
charged me with their dying breath to be faithful to you;
should it appear at our meeting at the day of judgment
that I have in any good measure answered their request,
must I re-echo to the tremendous sentence of the judge,
" Depart," Amen ! Amen ? Oh ! how dreadful!—how
heart-rending the anticipation ! Must this be the case ?
Nothing but a speedy and thorough repentance and turn¬
ing unto God can prevent it. Dear youth, your souls
were once committed to me; I would now commit them
to him who is able to keep you from falling, and present
you faultless before the presence of his glory, with
exceeding joy.
In general, you have treated me with respect; I do
not remember ever receiving an insult from a single
youth. Many of your parents sleep in dust, where I
must shortly be; should I be so happy as to sit down
206
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
with them in the kingdom of heaven, and should you
arrive at those blissful regions, oh! what a blessed in¬
terview ! With what ecstatic joy and congratulation
should we present the offering before the throne of
God with the humble, grateful, and astonishing excla
mation, " Here Lord we are, and the natural and spir
itual children thou hast graciously given us."
You will shortly hear of the death of the speaker
whether his grave will be here or elsewhere is to us un¬
certain. Oh, remember that those icy fingers were
once employed in writing sermons for you; those lips
that are now chained in gloomy silence were once
speaking to you, in accents that were sounding from
Sabbath to Sabbath, and from year to year, within the
walls of this house ; that his soul has taken its flight to
yonder tribunal, where a rehearsal of those discourses
that you have heard from him will be made in your
ears, and before the assembled universe. Ministers
who have finished their course may be useful to people
after they are dead : this is an idea suggested by a dy¬
ing apostle, 2 Pet. i., 15 : " Moreover, I will endeavour
that you may be able after my decease to have these
things always in remembrance." How far, consistent
with truth and Christian modesty, I may adopt the lan¬
guage of the holy apostle, ver. 26, will be better known
hereafter. " Wherefore I take you to record this day,
that I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have
not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of
God."
It was for your sake principally that your fathers
called me here : they sat under my ministry but a short
time; their memory is still precious, and, though dead,
still speak. Oh ! for their sake, and for your souls'
sake, and above all for the sake of him that created you,
hearken to the things that concern your eternal interest.
Could you consider your former minister worthy of any
respect, I beseech you to manifest it by preparing to
meet him, and be a crown of his rejoicing in the day of
the Lord Jesus. You that are young will be those who
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
207
will compose this society in a short time: we who are
advanced in life must soon leave you.
Let me warn you against Sabbath-breaking—against
neglecting the public worship of God. Willingly and
promptly contribute to the support of the gospel minis¬
try, as you would prosper in this world, and meet your
judge in peace. Beware of carnal dissipation, a sin
which I have often warned you against. Beware of
slander and detraction, those banes of society; the in¬
fluence of which, even among us, you cannot be stran¬
gers to. According to Scripture testimony, they have
their origin in hell, James iii., 6, and are incorporated
with characters not very ornamental to human nature ;
nor do they stand fair candidates for the kingdom of
heaven. 1 Cor. vi., 9, 10 : " Know ye not that the un¬
righteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be
not deceived : neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adul¬
terers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God."
Suffer me to warn you against false doctrines, such
as are pleasing to the carnal heart. The inventions of
men are skilful in exciting prejudices to the plain truths
of the gospel: hence it is that faithful ministers are ac¬
cused with being too pointed and unpolite in their dis¬
courses. Beware of false teachers, and of being led
astray by the errors of the present day. Remember
there are damnable heresies as well as damnable prac¬
tices. Paul predicted this danger, ver. 29 : " For I
know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock." But. be¬
loved, I would hope better things of you—things that
accompany salvation, thoiigh I thus speak. Dear chil¬
dren and lambs of the flock, you have in a sense, for a
time, been committed to my care ; with the tenderest
affection I would, in the arms of faith, bear you to that
Divine Saviour who has said, " Suffer little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the
kingdom of God." May your cheerful hosannas fill
208
life and character of
this house when your fathers and mothers shall sleep
in dust.
My friends in general:—Whatever we have seen
amiss in each other, it becomes us to exercise forgive¬
ness, as we hope God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven
us, and as we would find mercy in that day. How often
have our united prayers ascended up in this house !
may we not forget each other for time to come ! Live
in peace, and may the God of peace be with you. May
3ny family have a share in your affections and interces¬
sions, who have been brought up among you ; they
will doubtless soon be left without parents. May the
wife of my youth, who has been my companion in trib¬
ulation—whose health, and strength, and domestic ease
have been sacrificed and devoted to your service—■
should she survive me, not be forgotten. As I still
continue to reside among you, should you at any
time be destitute of a minister on a sick bed, be ready
to send for me; it will be the rejoicing of my heart
to do all I can to comfort you in the hour of distress,
and to alleviate the groans and terrors of a dying
moment; I request the same from you, as there is op¬
portunity.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to
the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
and to give you an inheritance among all them which
are sanctified. Amen.
RET. LEMUEL HAYNE8.
209
CHAPTER XV.
ministry of mr. haynes at manchester
After preaching his farewell sermon at Rutland, a
new field of usefulness was opened, and Mr. Haynes
was invited to preach in Manchester, a pleasant town
on the west side of the Green Mountains. Manches¬
ter was at this time the residence of the self-taught
Richard Skinner, who in early life was elected a
member of Congress, and afterward sustained the
offices of judge of the Supreme Court and governor of
Vermont. It was also the residence of Joseph Burr,
Esq., the liberal benefactor of several literary and reli¬
gious institutions. Mr, Haynes's reputation as a dis¬
tinguished preacher introduced him into this delightful
village. There was at this time a deep and solemn
interest among the people respecting religion. The
spirit of God was poured out, and " the fields were
white already to harvest."
Extracts from his Correspondence.
LETTER I.
to deacon atkins.
Manchester, 16th April, 1819.
Dear Sir,
* * * I am now at Manchester, among a kind
und benevolent people. How long I shall continue
here is uncertain, probably all summer. *_ * It
has been a time of awakening with us, but it is now a
time of stupidity. I have not been silent a single Sab«
S 2
210
LIFE AND CHARACTER Of
bath since I was dismissed. But I cannot write far¬
ther—the bearer waits. Should you write to me, I
will make a long reply. * * *
Faithfully yours.
LETTER II.
to the same.
Manchester June 21st, 1819.
Dear Sir,
I have just received your letter—am thankful for it
You give me an account of deaths—the main of them
were of my acquaintance. Oh, sir, why is it that we
live ! I am still at Manchester—find it difficult to
*eave the people, even for a little time. God has
opened a door, in abundance, for me, though unworthy.
A young woman was buried yesterday—she died in
the triumphs of faith. I preached her funeral sermon
from John xvii., 1; and again, on the Sabbath, from
Gen. xxii., 12.
I have this moment received the fourteenth report
of the British and Foreign Bible Society. May wc
not rejoice ? I rejoice to see you a friend to the insti¬
tution, as well as your sister. I have noticed dona¬
tions. Don't forget us. But I must stop writing—I
can only give hints.
Faithfully yours.
LETTER III.
to the same.
Manchester, 27th April, 1820i
Dear Sir,
It is a long time since I received a letter from you,
though I think you wrote last. I hope you will now
think yourself indebted to me, and immediately make
me returns for my poor communication. I am still at
Manchester, and am likely to continue for the present.
We have lately had sudden and alarming deaths among
us. We have of late been a little encouraged that
God is about to work among us by his holy spirit.
HEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
211
Some are serious. I preach three times on the Sab¬
bath. Our evening lectures are crowded. We hear
of a wonderful work at Stillwater, Ballston, and Roch¬
ester in this state. Since my dismission, I am con¬
stantly employed. But I have reason to mourn my
barrenness. I often, in the solemn watches of the
night, think of Granville. My mind goes from house
to house, and contemplates the awful ravages that
death has made among my old acquaintance. I long
to see you once more; and think, God willing, I shall.
I expect to go to New-York this spring. I may be
there two or three weeks. I have encouragement to
go there and continue, but I am too old to settle. I
live among a kind people and civil. I think I never
was more agreeably situated. We have an excellent
school at Manchester. I have three daughters and
two sons professors of religion. My youngest I keep
to school. He is now studying Latin. We hope he
is serious. Is very attentive to learning. We are in
tolerable health, except our second daughter. We
never expect she will have her health. Please to re¬
member me at the throne of grace.
Yours affectionately
LETTER IV.
to the same.
Manchester, 12th June, 1820.
Dear Sir,
* * * God has sent several sudden deaths among
us, but I fear we do not lay them suitably to heart. I
have, for the year past, preached three sermons every
Sabbath. I deliver a discourse in the village at 5
o'clock—people in general attend, but they are stupid
We attend the general concert. We also have a
prayer-meeting every Tuesday, but, unless the Lord
bless, we labour in vain. You tell me that Mrs. A. is
unwell; I ?iope she is better; if not, that her illness
will excite her to prepare for a better world. Ben-
212
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
nington have dismissed their minister, and have agreed
to settle another the 5th of July next. There is some
seriousness among some—dear sir, may we bring forth
good fruit in old age! I wish to hear from you often
I have only a moment's time to write. The Associa
tion meet at my house to-morrow.
Yours affectionately.
LETTER y.
to the same.
Manchester, 201,h February, 1822.
Cordial Friend,
Yesterday I received yours of the 5th of January
with great satisfaction, although it contained melan¬
choly tidings of my old acquaintance. Mrs. S., you
know, was brought up in the house with me; but,
alas ! she is gone, and I live. I visited Mr. H. on my
return home, but did not think I should see him no
more. Oh, how uncertain is life ! Dr. Ball, the good
minister of the east parish in Rutland, died a few
weeks ago, suddenly, as in a moment. I used to en¬
joy great intimacy with him. Sir, may we not, who
are aged, admire God's patience towards us ? I heard
of the death of Mrs. S. the week after I returned to
M . Give my love to Mr. S. Tell him I rejoice
to hear that the death of his dear wife makes him
think of another world, and stirs him up to prepare for
death—and that he attends meeting. Tell him that I
mourn with him. May the Lord bless it to his spirit¬
ual good. I think there is no earthly comfort that
gives me such satisfaction as visiting my friends at
Granville ; but it must soon come to an end.
I have thought it to be my duty to leave Manches¬
ter, and go to Granville, N. Y., though I and the peo¬
ple are friendly.
My respects to dear Mr. Baker and lady, and theiT
aged mother, you will make acceptable. Does their son
conclude to be a lawyer or a minister ? I hope it will
REV. LEMUEL HAYJVES
213
be the latter, at least if God calls.* Religion is at a
low ebb among us ; may the Lord revive his work.
Don't forget to remember us in your intercessions.
Sincerely yours.
N. B. I expect to move to Granville next week.
The following extract of a letter from the wife of his
excellency the late Richard Skinner, will show the high
estimation in which Mr. Haynes was held in Manches¬
ter, and also present some of his characteristic peculi¬
arities.
Manchester, Feby. 18th, 1836.
* * * In the summer of 1818, this church and
society, being destitute of the stated administration of
the word and ordinances, invited Mr. Haynes to come
and reside here; and although it was not considered
expedient to call him as our permanent pastor, yet he
continued with us about three years. His labours were
acceptable to the people—his influence and example
promoting religion and morality, and gradually advan¬
cing the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. Many of
our people still remember him with deep respect and
affection as their spiritual guide. As a man, Mr.
JIaynes was cheerful in temper, affable in demeanour,
quick in perception, shrewd and sensible, and in his
daily intercourse with his fellow-men, exhibiting that
trait of character enjoined by our Lord, " Be ye wise
as serpents, and harmless as doves." In his public ad¬
ministrations he was devout and serious : discovered
uncommon acquaintance with the Scriptures; always in
his quotations giving chapter and verse, sometimes
adding, " If I mistake notgenerally, however, recol¬
lecting without hesitation. In his belief, entirely ortho¬
dox, often calling to the minds of his hearers the great
truths of God's word ;—appearing to have the convic¬
tion from his own experience of the truth of the doc-
* Mr. Curtis Baker, a young man of great promise, who died while a
member of the Theological Seminary in Andover, 1824.
214
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
trines of divine sovereignty, total depravity of the sin¬
ner's heart, and the way of recovery only in and by the
blood of Christ, through sanctification of the spirit. He
appeared to be ever actuated by a grateful temper; al¬
ways upon the Sabbath morning, when convened with
his people, returning thanks that so many were pre¬
served to meet for the worship of God, when almost
every day brought us intelligence of some called into
eternity, the victims of sin and death, making the
world " one great Bochim and acknowledging our
desert of the same visitation. He seemed to have much
of a submissive temper, although, under the providence
of God, there were circumstances calculated to depress
him. He ever held the station of a man without blem¬
ish,—never appearing to repine that God had not made
him without a stain upon his skin: nor was he often
called upon to remember it, unless more than ordinary
tenderness, manifested by others in their intercourse
with him, should have reminded him of it. I recollect,
in conversation thirty-five years since with the Rever¬
end Dr. Swift, who was then a firm pillar of the church
in Vermont, and one that all delighted to honour, he
said, that in all their ecclesiastical meetings Mr. Haynes
was first noticed,* and in such manner that every disa*-
greeable feeling arising from the peculiarity of his situ¬
ation should be done away. With respect,
F. Skinner
Rev. Dr. Cooley.
During the residence of Mr. Haynes at Manchester,
there was an occurrence which has scarcely a parallel
in the history of civilized man. There resided in this
town a man by the name of Russell Colvin, who had
been for many years in a state of mental derangement.
Being incompetent to attend to the concerns of his fam-
* In meetings of councils and associations, where it was necessary to
Sit two in one bed, one and another would say, "Jwill sleep with Mr.
aj/tut!"
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES. 215
ily, his children were dispersed among his relatives, and
Colvin was a wandering maniac. It was his custom to
go and come as he pleased, and in some instances he
was absent from his connexions for several months.
In the year 1813 he disappeared suddenly, and some¬
what remarkably, and nothing was heard of him. Years
passed away, and he neglected to return to his friends.
At length there began to be serious suspicions that Col¬
vin was murdered, and that Stephen Boorn and Jesse
Boorn, the brothers of his wife, were the murderers.
The more the subject was investigated, the darker the
case of the unfortunate Boorns appeared. At length
they were brought to trial upon an endictment for mur¬
der ; and after a careful and impartial investigation of
the case, a verdict of guilty was found by the jury.
Accordingly, the court pronounced the sentence, " That
the criminals be remanded back to prison, and that on
the 28th of January next, between the hours of ten and
two o'clock, they be hanged by the neck until each of
them be dead; and may the Lord have mercy on their
souls."
Mr. Haynes felt deeply affected with the condition
of the unhappy convicts, and visited them daily in the
prison. It was for the purpose of awakening their at¬
tention to their state as ruined sinners, and lead¬
ing them to the Saviour as their only hope, that his
visits were continued. With the tenderness of a pa¬
rent, and the charity becoming a faithful minister of the
gospel, he spent many hours with the unhappy suffer¬
ers in religious instruction, and prayer and supplication
at the throne of grace in their behalf. In the course of
his visits to the prison, from the conduct and converse-
tion of the prisoners, he became convinced that they
216
life and character of
were innocent of the crime for which they were sen¬
tenced to suffer an ignominious death, although for
many long weeks not a ray of hope dawned upon their
dark and loathsome prison. At length, thirty-seven
days before the arrival of the time appointed for their
execution, strange to relate ! one evening, just as the
sun was setting, there was a cry through the village—
" Colvin is come! Colvin is come /" and it was soon
ascertained that the man who was supposed to have
been murdered years before, and for whose murder two
innocent men had been convicted, was still alive, and
had suddenly appeared in the village !
The whole of the circumstances connected with this
most extraordinary affair, and the measures which it
became necessary to pursue in consequence thereof,
may be fully learned by a perusal of the following nar¬
rative, which was written mostly by Mr. Haynes, and
from his sermon preached on the occasion of the re¬
lease of the now evidently innocent prisoners from con¬
finement.
Mystery Developed; or, Russell Colvin, supposed to
be murdered, in full life; and Stephen and Jesse
Boorn (his convicted murderers), rescued from ig¬
nominious death by Wonderful Discoveries. Con¬
taining, I. A narrative of the whole transaction, by
Rev. Lemuel Haynes, A. M. II. Rev. Mr. H.'s
Sermon upon the development of the mystery. III.
A succinct account of the endictment, trial, and con¬
viction of Stephen and Jesse Boorn.
to the reader.
The unusual excitement of the public feeling, in con
sequence of the recent conviction of Stephen and Jessb
rev, lemuel haynes.
217
Boorn, for the murder of Russell Colvin, more than
seven years since—the discovery of Colvin, in full life—
his return to the place where his mouldering bones were
supposed to be discovered, and the narrow escape of the
Boorns from ignominious death, induced the publisher
to resort to the most authentic sources of intelligence
to obtain all the light that was possible upon a subject
enveloped in doubt, darkness, and mystery. The highly
respected and reverend clergyman of Manchester, Yt.
(the scene of this mystery), has furnished what the pub¬
lisher ventures to pronounce altogether the most satis¬
factory account of these strange occurrences.
The impressive discourse delivered upon the return
of Colvin, and the happy rescue of his supposed mur¬
derers from impending death, will be read with interest
bya]1-.
Copious materials were obtained of the trial of the
Boorns; but it is deemed inexpedient at this time to
give any but a brief statement of it.
Publisher.
narrative.
The wonderful occurrence that lias lately been ex¬
hibited at Manchester, in relation to the supposed mur¬
der, may be ranked among those rare events that sel¬
dom, if ever, take place. The public mind has been un¬
commonly agitated. Reports have been circulated
tending to create prejudices and lead astray. That
many things without any foundation in truth should be
spread abroad in a matter so astonishing and interesting,
could hardly have been unexpected. The writer of this
narrative believes that there are many things in relation
to the event that may be useful and entertaining, and
calculated to throw some light upon this mysterious
subject.
Mr. Barna Boorn and his wife, the parents of Ste¬
phen and Jesse Boorn, are advanced in age, have been
residents of Manchester for about 40 years, and are per-
T
218
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
sons of respectability: they have three sons and two
daughters; they all have families. Sally Boom was
married to Russell Colvin eighteen years ago. They
have children: their eldest son's name is Lewis; an¬
other is Rufus. Of the latter his father was very fond,
and used often to carry him from place to place on his
back. Colvin had been in a state of mental derange¬
ment for a long time, by which he was incapacitated to
attend to the concerns of his family, who were dispersed
among the connexions. Colvin's parents formerly re¬
sided in Manchester, but are both dead. He has a
brother supposed to live in the western country. He
has a sister, named Clarissa, who is mentioned in Mr.
Chadwick's letter. The sudden departure of Colvin,
which was seven years ago the 7th day of May last, ex¬
cited some inquiry about what had become of him ; but
as he had frequently absented (at one time he was gone
nine or ten months, and was heard of at Rhode-Island),
it was expected he would return as usual. There were,
however, some surmises that possibly he had been mur¬
dered. Many observations were made by Stephen and
Jesse Boorn which excited jealousies that they were
guilty. .
With respect to dreaming, about which so much has
been said and published, it may be remarked, that there
has been much said about the murder, and conjectures
where it was committed, and where the body might be
deposited. By this the mind was prepared to receive
similar impressions when asleep; and there was nothing
miraculous in the matter, about which so many strange
things have been circulated. The dream is here rela¬
ted for the sole purpose of correcting those fabulous re¬
ports, of which the human mind is too susceptible.—A
Mr. Boorn* dreamed that Russell Colvin came to his
bedside, and told him that he had been murdered, and
lie must follow him, and he would lead him to the spot
where he was buried: this was repeated three times.
The deposite was the place talked of previous to the
♦ Uncle to the aforesaid Stephen and Jesse, and a gentleman of respect¬
ability, whose character is unimpeachable.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
319
dream, which was where a house had formerly stood,
under which was a hole about four feet square, which
was made for the purpose of burying potatoes, and now
filled up. This pit was opened, and nothing discovered
but a large knife, a penknife, and a button. Mrs. Col-
vin, anterior to their being presented to her, described
them accurately, and on seeing them said they belong¬
ed to her husband, except the small knife.
An impression made on the mind by previous circum¬
stances may dictate a dream, which is commonly the
case, and nothing strange, should it .have influence in
the present affair in searching after truth ; but that any
decision was predicated in the least on such nocturnal
fancies, we have no evidence. They were not men¬
tioned on occasions of inquiry before court or jury.
Perhaps the court had never heard of them. It is cer¬
tainly to be regretted that such seeds of delusion should
be disseminated among mankind, and that truth and
propriety do not receive more attention previous to such
publications. Much has been said about sculls and
bones being found of the human kind. I think we are
without sufficient evidence that any thing of this nature
has been discovered. A circumstance took place that
excited much attention. A lad walking from Mr. Bar-
na Boom's at a small distance wTith his dog, a hollow
stump standing near the path engaged the notice of the
spaniel, which ran to the place and back again several
times, lifting up his feet on the boy, with whining notes,
as though to draw the attention of his little master to the
place ; which had the effect. A cluster of bones were
drawn from the roots of the stump by the paws of the
"animal. Further examination wras made, and in the cav¬
ity of the stump were found two toe nails, to appear¬
ance belonging to a human foot; others wrere discover¬
ed m a crumbled state, which apparently had passed
through the fire. It was now concluded by many that
some fragments of the body of Colvin were found. The
cluster of bones were brought before the court of in¬
quiry. They were examined by a number of physi¬
cians, who thought them to be human ; one of the pro-
220
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
fession, however, thought otherwise. A Mr. Salisbury,
about four years ago, had his leg amputated, which was
buried at the distance of four or five miles. The limb
was dug up, and, by comparing, it was universally de¬
termined that the bones were not human. However, it
was clear that the nails were human, and so appeared
to all beholders. The bones were in a degree pulveri¬
zed, but some pieces were in a tolerable state of pres¬
ervation. Suspicions were excited that the body was
burnt, and some part not consumed cast into the stump,
and other bones put among them for deception. Some
time after the departure of Colvin, a barn belonging to
Mr. Barna Boorn was consumed by fire accidentally : it
was conjectured that the body was taken up and con¬
cealed under the floor of the barn, and mostly consumed.
About that time a log-heap was burnt by the Booms
near the place where the body wras supposed to be de¬
posited : it was thought by some that it was consumed
there.
Some indeed looked upon the manner of the dis¬
covery as a kind of prodigy ; others, with more pro¬
priety, saw nothing marvellous in the affair ; the dog
might be allured to the spot by scent or game, which
was common to the species. The attention of people
was greatly excited; they had strong prepossessions
that murder had been committed ; by which some were
prepared to look even on common things as supernat¬
ural. But still, as has before been observed, none of
these things were introduced or even mentioned in any
part of the examination or trial. The strange disap¬
pearance of Colvin, his not being heard of. together with
some things that took place on the day he was missing,
could not fail to create strong suspicions that he had
been murdered. Evidence was adduced, that on the
day of his departure a quarrel commenced between him
and his brethren, which led to a belief that he had fallen a
victim. But, after all, the evidence was circumstantial,
though the general evidence was that the prisoners were
guilty. Some thought that it was best to dismiss Jesse
from any further examination, which had commenced on
REV. LEMUEL HAYNE5.
221
Tuesday, the 27th day of April. He was, however, still
tcept in custody. Search was made on Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for the body, during
which time those discoveries were made above alluded
to. Jesse was on the eve of being set at liberty; but on
Saturday, about ten o'clock, he with a trembling voice
observed, that the first time he had an idea his brother
Stephen had murdered Colvin was when he was here
last winter: he then stated that he and Russell were
hoeing in the Glazier lot; that there was a quarrel be¬
tween them, and Colvin attempted to run away; that
he struck him with a club or stone on the back part of
his neck or head, and had fractured his scull and sup¬
posed he was dead. He observed that he could not tell
what had become of the bod)*. He mentioned many
places where perhaps it might be found. Search was
accordingly made, but to no purpose.
The authority issued a warrant to apprehend Stephen,
who about two years before had removed to Denmark,
Lewis county, State of New-York, 198 miles. Capt.
Truman Hill, grand juryman for the town of Manches¬
ter, Esquire Raymond, and Mr. R. Anderson, set out
for Denmark, and arrived there in three days. They
called on Mr. Eleazcr S. Sylvester, inn-keeper, who in
the night, together with a Mr. Orange Clark and Mr.
Hooper, belonging to the town, accompanied them to
the house of the supposed criminal. Mr. Clark went in
first and began some conversation about temporal con¬
cerns ; the others surrounded the house, and he was
easily taken. The surprise and distress of Mrs. Boorn
on this occasion are not easily described : it excited the
compassion of those who had come to take away her
husband, and they made her some presents. The pris¬
oner was put in irons, and was brought to Manchester
on the 15th day of May. He peremptorily asserted in¬
nocence, and declared lie knew nothing about the mur¬
der of his brother-in-law. The prisoners were kept
apart for a time, and assigned to separate cells. Noth¬
ing material transpired,-and they were afterward con¬
fined in one room Stephen denied the evidence brougli
T 2
222
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
against him by Jesse, and treated him with severity
Both the prisoners were repeatedly admonished to pay
the strictest regard to truth. Many days were taken
up in public examinations of the reputed criminals.
Evidence was brought forward which was much against
them. Lewis, son of Colvin, testified that he saw his
uncle Stephen knock down his father, was frightened,
and ran home. This witness is before the public. Jesse
Boom, after an interview with his brother, denied that
Stephen ever told him that he killed Colvin, and that
what he had reported about him wras false. Evidence
appeared so strong against the prisoners that they were
bound over to await their trial at the silting of the Su¬
preme Court, to be holden at Manchester the third
Tuesday of September.
During the interval the writer frequently visited them
in his official capacity, but did not discover any symp¬
toms of compunction; they persisted in declaring their
innocence, with appeals to Heaven. Stephen, in partic¬
ular, at times appeared absorbed in passion and impa¬
tience. One day I introduced the example of Christ
under sufferings as a pattern worthy of his imitation :
he exclaimed, " I am as innocent as Jesus Christ!" for
which extravagant expression I reproved him : he repli¬
ed, " I don't mean that I am guiltless as he was; I know
I am a great sinner; but I am as innocent of killing
Colvin as he was." The court sat in September ; a ju¬
dicious and impressive charge wras given to the grand
jury by his honour Judge Doolittle, and a bill of endict-
ment was presented against Stephen and Jesse Boorn ;
but, as it was not a full court, the trial could not com¬
mence, according to a late act of the legislature of this
state.
The court was accordingly adjourned to the 26th of
October, 1819. It was will} much difficulty that a jury
was obtained; but few could be found who had not ex¬
pressed their opinion against the prisoners. The Hon.
Judge Skinner and Mr. L. Sergeant were counsel for
the prisoners. Mr. C. Sheldon, late state's attorney,
was employed in behalf of the stato. The counsel on
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES. 223
both sides discovered much zeal and ability. The trial
commenced on Tuesday, the 27th day of October, and
continued until Saturday night following.
An endictment was presented, containing a charge
against Stephen and Jesse Boorn for the murder of
Russell Colvin, to which they pleaded Not guilty.
The occasion excited uncommon attention. Six hun¬
dred people attended each day during the trial. Much
evidence was introduced which was rejected by the
court as being irrelevant. The case was given to the
jury after a short, judicious, and impressive charge,
by his honour Judge Doolittle, which was followed by
a lengthy and appropriate one by the honourable
Judge Chase. The jury retired, and within about
one hour returned ; and, in compliance with a request
of Mr. Skinner, ihey were severally inquired of wheth¬
er they had agreed upon a verdict, and each agreed
that they had found both of the prisoners guilty of the
murder charged against them. The verdict was then
publicly read by the clerk. After a short recess, his
honour Judge Chase, with the most tender and sym¬
pathetic emotion, which he was unable to suppress,
pronounced the awful sentence, " that the criminals be
remanded back to prison ; and that on the 28th day of
January next, between the hours of ten and two
o'clock, they be hanged by the neck until each of them
be dead; and may the Lord have mercy on their
souls."
None can express the confusion and anguish into
which the prisoners were cast on hearing their doom.
They requested by their counsel liberty to speak,
which was granted. In sighs and broken accents they
asserted their innocence. The convulsion of nature
attending Stephen at last was so great as to render him
unable to walk ; but he -was supported by others, and
carried to prison. The compassion of some was exci¬
ted, especially towards Jesse, which inclined them im¬
mediately to send a petition to the legislature, then
sitting at Montpelier, praying that the punishment of
the criminals might be commuted for that of imprison-
234
LIFE AND CHARACTER Of
ment for life. But few, however, signed the petition
in favour of Stephen. The Assembly spent several
days on the subject, and finally granted the request of
Jesse ; yeas 104, na}^s 31. The request of Stephen
was negatived in the House; yeas 42, nays 97. The
decision of the Assembly was brought to Manchester
by his excellency Governor Galusha, and immediately
communicated to the prisoners. Jesse received the
news with peculiar satisfaction; while Stephen was
freatly depressed, being wholly left without hope,
esse lamented that his brother could not share in the
same comparative blessing with him, and that they
could not be fellow-prisoners together. Little did
these brothers think that the fate of Stephen would ter¬
minate more favourably than that of Jesse, and be the
cause of a more speedy deliverance. 'Tis often the
case, that the darkest dispensations of Divine provi¬
dence are presages of the rising morning. This
should teach us always to trust in the Lord, and con¬
sider that although clouds and darkness are round
about him, yet justice and judgment are the habitation
of his throne.
On the 29th day of October Jesse took a final fare¬
well of his brother, of his friends, and family at Man¬
chester, and was carried to the state-prison at Wind¬
sor, expecting to spend the remainder of his life there.
None can express the melancholy situation of Stephen,
the poor prisoner, separated from wife and children,
parents and friends, under sentence of death, without
hope. I visited him frequently with sympathy and
grief, and endeavoured to turn his mind on the things
of another world ; telling him that, as all human means
failed, he must look to God as the only way of deliv¬
erance. I advised him to read the Holy Scriptures,
to which he consented, if he could be allowed a candle,
as his cell was dark; this request was granted; and I
often found him reading. He was at times calm, and
again impatient. The interview I had with him a few
days before the news came that it was likely that Col-
vin was alive was very affecting. He says to me*
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
265
'Mr. Ilaynes, I sec no way but I must die; every
thing works against me ; hut I am an innocent man;
this you will know after I am dead." He burst into a
flood of tears, and said, " What, will become of my
poor wife and children ! they are in need)'' circumstan¬
ces, a;id 1 love them better than life itself." I told
hiin God would take care of them. He replied, "I
don't want to die. I wish they would let me live even
in this situation some longer ; perhaps something will
take place that may convince people that i am inno¬
cent." I was about to leave the prison when he said,
" Will you pray with me ?" He arose, with his heavy
chains on his hands and legs, being also chained down
to the floor, and stood on his feet during prayer, with
deep and bitter sighings. A Mr. Taber Chadvvick,*
of Shrewsbury, Monmouth county, New-Jersey, broth¬
er-in-law of Mr. Wm. Polhamus, in Dover, New-Jer¬
sey, where Colvin had lived ever since April, 1813,
seeing the account of the trial of the Booms at Man¬
chester, he wrote the letter that has been so often pub¬
lished. When the letter came to town, every one was
struck with consternation. A few partly believed, but
the main doubted. "It cannot be that Colvin is alive,"
was the general cry. Mr. Chadwick's letter was car¬
ried to the prisoner, and read to Stephen ; the news
was so overwhelming, that, to use his own language,
nature could scarcely sustain the shock ; but, as there
was some doubt as to the truth of the report, it tended
to prevent an immediate dissolution. He observed to
me, " that he believed that, had Colvin then made his
appearance, it would have caused immediate death.
Even now a faintness was created that was painful to
endure." Soon a letter was sent, to Manchester in¬
forming that there was a probability that the man
supposed to be murdered was yet alive, and that Mr.
Whelply, of New-York, formerly of Manchester, and
who was intimately acquainted with Colvin, had actu-
•* Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Polhamus live distant from each other about
forty miles.
226
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
ally gone to New-Jersey in quest of him. Thus there
was increasing evidence in confirmation of the letter.
As soon as Mr. Whelply had returned to New-York,
he immediately wrote " that he had Colvin with him."
A Mr. Rempton, a former acquaintance of Russell's,
wrote to his friend here, "that while writing Russell
Colvin is before me." A New-York paper announced
his arrival also, and that he would soon set out for Ver¬
mont. Notwithstanding all this, many gave no credit to
the report, but considered it a mere deception. Large
bets were made. On the 22d of December, Colvin ar¬
rived in the stage with Mr. Whelply at Bennington.
The county court being then in session, all were filled
with astonishment and surprise. The court suspended
business for some hours, to gaze upon one who in a sense
had been dead, and is alive again. Many who formerly
knew him now saw that there could be no deception;
Russell could call many of them by name. Inwards
evening, the same day, he came to Manchester ; notice
being given that he was near at hand, a cry was heard,
" Colvin has come /" The stage was driven swiftly,
and a signal extended; it was all bustle and confusion.
The stage stopped at Captain Black's inn. The vil¬
lage was all alive ; all were running to obtain sight of the
man who they had no doubt was dead, and had come
as a kind of saviour to one who was devoted to the gib¬
bet. Some, like Thomas in another case, would not
believe without tangible evidence. People gathered
around him with such eagerness as to render it impos¬
sible to press through the crowd, or obtain a sight of
him. Almost all his old acquaintance he could recog¬
nise, and call them by name. Several guns were dis¬
charged for joy; people ran to different parts of the
town to give notice. The prison door was unbolted—•
the news proclaimed to Stephen that Colvin had come !
The welcome reception given it by the joyful prisoner
need not be mentioned. The chains on his arms
were taken off, while those on his legs remained; be¬
ing impatient of an interview with him who had come
to bring salvation, they met. Colvin gazed upon the
IflEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
227
chains, and asked, " What is that for ?" Stephen an
swers, " Because they say I murdered you." Russell
replied, " You never hurt me." His wife, and friends,
and people from every part of the town were collected,
Joy and gladness sat on every countenance. Many
shouts of rejoicing were heard, together with the dis¬
charge of cannon. The news having been spread that
Colvin had come to Manchester, the next day there
was a large collection from the neighbouring towns,
who met to behold the returned exile, and to express
their high satisfaction on the occasion. I think I can
say that I scarcely ever saw more exultation and ten¬
der sympathy on any occasion. Not less than fifty
cannon were discharged, and at a seasonable hour
they returned to their places of abode. Mrs. Colvin
came to see her husband, but he took but little notice
of her, intimating that she did not belong to him.
Some of his children came to see him, of whom he ap¬
peared somewhat fond. He wondered how they came
here, as he said " he left them in New-Jersey, and
must take them back." He fancies that he is the
owner of the farm belonging to Mr. Polhamus, in Do¬
ver ; talks much about his properly there. It is ob¬
served by those who formerly knew him, that his
mental derangement is much greater than it was when
he left Manchester. Many things that took place
years ago he can recollect with accuracy, and de¬
scribes with a degree of propriety. He discovers a
placid and harmless disposition. The family where he
resided in New-Jersey are fond of him, wish hifti to
return and spend his days with them, of which he
se»ms very desirous ; accordingly, on the 29th of De¬
cember, he set out from Manchester with Mr. Whelp-
ly for New-York, who engaged to convey him froftt
thence to his former habitation in New-Jersey, having
received remuneration from this town for that purpose.
There it is probable Colvin will end his days. Ste¬
phen is not in a state of confinement, but lives with
"his family. Jesse is still in state-prison, has heard
the news, and has written to his attorney to use means
228
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
for his release. It is probable that the honourable
court will provide some way by which they may ob¬
tain a legal dismission at their session, which is at
Bennington,-on the third Tuesday of January instant.
The writer would observe, that publishing the above
narrative wras the effect of friendly importunity. It
may be expected that imputations of an unwarranted
nature on the town of Manchester, and on the civil au¬
thority of Vermont, will be made ; but I am fully of the
opinion, were the matter well understood, that the judi¬
cious and candid would be satisfied.
It must be acknowledged, that it is one of the most
mysterious events recorded in the annals of time.
There are circumstances attending it which are still en¬
veloped in obscurity that human sagacity cannot ex¬
plore. Has there murder been committed at Manches¬
ter ? is a question often suggested by people abroad.
We are ready to answer, that evidence to prove such
an event does not appear. One thing we are sure of,
that Russell Colvin has not been murdered; and that
the prisoners condemned are, and ought to be, exon¬
erated.
Lemuel Hatnes.
Manchester, Vt., 1820.
Addition.—About four years after Colvin was mis¬
sing, some children of Mr. Johnson's, near the place
where it was supposed that the murder had been com¬
mitted, found a hat; they carried it home : all agreed
that.it was Colvin's hat: it was in such an injured state
that it was pulled in pieces and thrown away.—Colvin
was unwilling to return to Vermont with Mr. Whelply,
who was obliged to have recourse to stratagem. A
young woman of Russell's acquaintance agreed to ac¬
company him, pretending that they only designed a visit
to New-York. While there she was missing, which
excited some uneasiness in the mind of the returning
exile. While staying a few days at New-York, to pre¬
vent his returning, Mr. Whelply told him there were:
British men-of-war lying in the harbour, and, unless he
rev. lemuel haynes.
229
Kept within doors, he would be kidnapped. This had
the desired effect. Colvin, when he set out for Man¬
chester, concluded that he was on his way home to
New-Jersey, and never perceived the deception until he
came to Bennington, and saw many people with whom
he had formerly been acquainted, and he was filled with
surprise.
The Prisoner Released. A Sermon delivered at Man¬
chester, Vermont, Lord's Day, Jan. 9th, 1820, on
the remarkable interposition of Divine Providence
in the deliverance of Stephen and Jesse Boorn,
ioho had been under sentence of death for the sup¬
posed murder of Russell Colvin. To which are
added, some particulars relating thereto. By Lem¬
uel Haynes, A. M., Minister of the gospel in Man ■
Chester.
Isaiah xlix., 9 : That thou mayst say to the prison¬
ers, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show your¬
selves.
Hieroglyphical illustrations were very common
among the eastern nations, which shows the propriety
of their being so much used in the sacred volume.
The wretched and forlorn state of mankind is set forth
by metaphors the most apt and appropriate. The char
acter and work of the ever-blessed Redeemer are desig
nated in terms calculated to meet the exigences of fall
m creatures. Are men said to be blind ? Jesus is ex¬
hibited as the light of the world ; as one who has eye-
salve and can open the eyes. Are men said to be poor <
Christ is compared to gold, who can make them rich
Aie they naked? he has white raiment to clothe them
that the shame of their nakedness need not appeal
Are men starving ? Jesus is the bread of life. Are wo
fn bondage or in prison ? Christ is anointed to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to
them that are bound. Isa. lxi., 1 : "He says to the
U
230
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show
yourselves!"
Prisons are of ancient date—they have their origin
in human depravit)'. They are places where criminals
are confined to restrain them from acts of violence, and
to secure the safety of the commonwealth. There is
doubtless reference had in my text to the emancipation
of the Jews from a long and distressing captivity, which
is emblematical of the conversion of sinners that are in
spiritual thraldom, but yet prisoners of hope. Could the
late wonderful providence of God in delivering our fel¬
low-mortals be improved for the emancipation of pre¬
cious souls from the prison of death and hell, oh ! with
what thanksgiving, with what ecstasies of joy should we
hail such an event! To improve it to this purpose is
my main design on this occasion, and I am persuaded,
my brethren, that you will this day bid me God speed
and not withhold your assistance in a matter so solemn
and important.
Wherein there is and is not a similarity in the mat¬
ters before us, is the order proposed.
1. Prisoners are in a state of confinement by an ac
of the civil authority, and are condemned by law: the
murderer for shedding blood : so the wicked are arrest¬
ed by an act of the court of Heaven, and are condemn¬
ed already, John iii., 18. The endictment against the
wicked is very high: God makes inquisition for blood,
Psalm ix., 12. Is it not more than probable that the
blood of a husband, a wile, a brother, a sister, a child, is
crying from a repository of the dead against you, with
accents not less severe and significant than the blood
of a murdered Abel? Yea, perhaps from the prison of
eternal despair, to which place your unfaithfulness has
consigned them. You are endicted for suicide, for de¬
stroying yourselves, Hos. xiii., 9. Neither does the
charge stop here. You stand convicted before the
court of Heaven for shedding the precious blood of the
son of God, or making a violent attempt on the life of
the God-man mediator, for piercing the Saviour, Zech.
xii., 10, For crucifying the son of God afresh, arid foi
REV. LEMUEL HAVNES.
231
putting him to open shame, Heb. vi., 6. Does not a
groaning creation, adverse Providence, and a guilty con¬
science, bear a coincident testimony against you ?
2. Prisoners are cut off in a great measure from hu¬
man society, as unlit for their communion and fellow¬
ship. So it is with the wicked—they separate them¬
selves. Saints and sinners are prone to keep at a dis¬
tance from each other. The prisoner converses prin¬
cipally with his fellows in jail, while those abroad are
not fond of their place of abode, nor of their company.
While constrained to stay with them, they are forced to
exclaim, in the language of David, "Wo is ine that I
sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar."
Psal. cxx., 5. Men naturally are deprived of the bles¬
sing of society, and the privileges of the children of
God.
3. Another distressing circumstance that attends pris¬
oners is, they are in a state of darkness, as mentioned
in the text. The light of the sun does not shine upon
them. The wicked are said to sit in darkness, to walk
in darkness, to love darkness, &c. They are blind to
their own characters and the character of God—to their
own danger, and to the only way of escape. Wicked
men behold nothing of the divine glory in his word or
in his works. Their eyes are blinded and they cannot
see. Like prisoners confined in a dungeon, no cheering
ray can penetrate the impenetrable wall, or illuminate
the solitary mansion.
4. A prison is a place of distress and trouble. What
a wretched state was Jeremiah in when cast into the
dungeon, where was no water, and his feet sank down
into the mire ! Eastern monarchs, when they had cast
their wretched captives into a dungeon, never gave
themselves the trouble of inquiring about them; but let
them lie a long time in that miserable condition, wholly
destitute of relief, and disregarded, says Bishop Lowth.
Prisoners among the Romans were fettered and con¬
fined in a singular manner. One end of the chain,
which was of a commodious length, was fixed about the
right arm of the prisoner, and the other about the left
232
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
arm of a soldier. Imprisonment, says Dr. Doddridge,
is a much greater punishment in the eastern part of the
world than here. State criminals, especially when con¬
demned to it, are not only forced to submit to a very
mean and scanty allowance, but are frequently loaded
with clogs and yokes of heavy wood, in which they can¬
not either lie or sit at ease ; and by frequent scourgings,
and sometimes by rackings, are frequently brought to an
untimely end. These instances are introduced to illus¬
trate the propriety of the appropriate allusion in my
text. The wicked are represented as being under the
bonds of iniquity—as perishing with hunger—as trav¬
ailing in pain all their days, and like the troubled sea
that cannot rest.
5. The prisoner assigned to an impregnable castle is
in a state of confinement; he cannot extricate himself.
His case is in a sense hopeless and helpless, without an
interposition of Divine power, as in the case of Daniel,
and Silas, and Peter. Sinners in spiritual bondage
cannot deliver themselves, being bound with the cords
of their sins, and are morally unable to burst their bands
asunder, scale or break through the adamantine walls
of their iniquities.
6. Imprisonment is a state of degradation. Such are
despised and treated with contempt. So the wicked are
considered as outcasts, forlorn, vile, and despicable in
the sight of God. They are said to be clothed with
shame, like prisoners having on .them filthy garments—
like wretched captives covered with vermin, loathed and
abhorred by the Almighty, and will be treated with in¬
finite contempt at the day of judgment.
7. Criminals have a time appointed by authority for
their execution, when they must be brought forth, and
in a public manner experience a shameful death. So
the sentence is pronounced by the judge of quick and
dead against all th^ finally impenitent, and, in the council
of God, the day of their death is appointed by an unal¬
terable decree of Heaven. " The wicked is reserved to
the day of destruction—they shall be brought forth to
the day of wrath," Job xxi., 30.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
233
8. Poor prisoners in jail are objects of pity and
commiseration. They excite the tender sympathy of
the humane and benevolent. Their friends mourn their
sorrowful state, and tremble at the approach of the day
of their execution. Who can describe the distresses of
a parent, a brother, or a sister, on the reflection of the
state of a child, a brother, doomed to an untimely and
ignominious death! They bedew their pillow with
tears, and wearisome days and nights are appointed to
them. This, my friends, is but an imperfect picture of
those agonies and pains that God's people sometimes
experience by reflecting on the state of sinners doomed
to the first and second death. Paul travailed in pain for
the souls of men ; was in great heaviness and sorrow of
heart. " 0 that my head were waters, and my eyes a
fountain of tears ! Rivers of water run down mine eyes,"
were the exclamations of holy David, on account of
those who were under the condemnatory sentence of
God's holy law, and every moment exposed to its awful
infliction !
2dly. But it may be useful to draw a contrast between
the two cases before us.
]. Prisoners committed to jail among us are assigned
there by men, or human tribunals, and not always sanc¬
tioned by the Almighty. But the wicked are doomed
to punishment by an act issued from the court of Heav¬
en. Jesus, who is appointed judge, pronounces the
awful sentence, " Let him be taken from among men,
from the prison on earth, and delivered to the tormen¬
tors, to suffer eternal death!" The denunciation is
from the majesty of Heaven, and fills the trembling
criminal with terror and dismay. He shudders! ha
sinks! like an affrighted Belshazzar. His counte¬
nance is changed ; the joints of his limbs are loosed,
and his knees smite one against another! Prisoners
condemned by earthly judiciaries may entertain hopes
thai they may possibly escape the hands of men, or have
the sentence" reversed, or the punishment commuted;
but when it is denounced by the Lord Jesus Christ, the
incorrigible sinner can have no hope in his present state.
1234
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
He cannot flee from the hands of the Almighty, nor sup¬
port himself amid his inflexible wrath. " God will not
meet him as a man, but will take vengeance."—Isa.
xlvii., 3. His hands cannot be strong, nor his heart en
dure, when God shall deal with him.
2. When the sentence is passed on criminals, they
can sometimes appeal to higher authority, and obtain
favour: have a new trial, plead an error of court, or a
commutation of punishment; but there is no appeal
from the court of Heaven; no mitigation of sentence ;
but, amid all the schemes and inventions of men, the
counsel of the Lord that shall stand.
3. Criminals among men are allowed counsel to plead
for them; and their cause is often ably defended by
gentlemen of the bar. But this will not be admitted
before the tribunal of Christ. None will even dare to
undertake for them before the assembled universe ; to
none of the saints can they turn ; their cause will ap¬
pear so unreasonable and hopeless, that no man or angel
will dare to say a word in their behalf.
4. Those confined in prison for crimes bear a small
proportion to the world in general. The rapid increase
of late of men of this character, is an alarming consid¬
eration, and calls all classes of men, especially rulers,
to vigilance, humiliation, and prayer. But, blessed be
God, humanity and philanthropy are still distinguishing
characteristics of our land in general; and there is a
laudable disposition prevalent among our citizens, to ap¬
prehend and detect those who, by their enormous
crimes, forfeit their liberties and their lives into the
hands of civil justice. Murderers in our land and on
the high seas cannot elude the hand of the pursuer.
Although they flee to foreign countries, they are detected
and remanded to our shores, to receive the punishment
due to their crimes. But have we not reason to fear
that the number of those who are in a state of spiritual
bondage and imprisonment is very great., vastly exceed¬
ing those who have been made free by the Son of God ;
and still have a dreadful verdict lying against them in
the Supreme Court above ? Not to mention heathen
rev. lemuel haynes.
233
lands, whose dreary regions have never been illuminated
by the exhilarating beams of the Sun of righteousness.
How few comparatively, even under the light of the
gospel, who are called upon to go forth from their
wretched confinement and show themselves, obey the
heavenly mandate !
5. The imperfections incident to all men and all
courts of judicature, render them liable to wrong ver¬
dicts. The most prudent and experienced cannot plead
exemption. The innocent may be condemned, and the
guilty go with impunity. But the great Searcher of
hearts cannot be deceived. Every decision is dictated
by infinite wisdom and infinite goodness : he can by no
means clear the guilty or condemn the innocent. " God
will judge the people with perfect equity, and justice
and judgment are the habitation of his throne," Psal.
Ixxxix., 14.
II. Let us attend to the other illustration in the text,
which implies deliverance—" Go forth—show your¬
selves." The author of it is the Lord Jesus Christ.
That thou mayst say, viz., the person designated or
appointed by the Father, see verse 8th, "Thus saith
the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and
in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will
preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the peo¬
ple, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the deso¬
late heritages."
The deliverance of sinners is consistent with the law
of God and dignity of divine government. It is by the
blood of the covenant that prisoners are sent out of the
pit wherein there is no water, Zech. ix., 11. It cannot
be admitted in any other way; as intimated in the text,
" That thou maystsuggesting the idea that the thing
may not take place on any other condition. The Lord
Jesus Christ brings about the deliverance of his elect
through the instrumentality of means; not that they
are efficacious ; for, after all, God gives the increase.
God is said to save men by the foolishness of preach¬
ing, 1 Cor. i., 12. In the late instance among us, it
was God who wrought the salvation ; but it was brought
236
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
about by means, and very unexpected. There was a
series of events that might be traced ; but they were
all directed by the invisible hand of Him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will, Eph. i., 11.
In delivering men from the bondage of sin and death,
God defers it to an extreme hour, that his power and
grace may clearly appear, to which men are apt to be
exceedingly blind. The sentiment suggested may de¬
rive a degree of illustration by the late providence of
God, with which we are all acquainted. Measures
were used in vain to deliver from punishment. Court
and jury were unanimously against the prisoners. The
public voice pronounced the verdict just, and were not
altogether satisfied with the commutation of the punish¬
ment of death for that of imprisonment for life, granted
to one of them by legislative authority. With respect
to Mr. Stephen Boorn, there were ninety-seven against
forty-two members in the house who were opposed to
affording him any relief, so that he was left to suffer
death, agreeably to sentence. Able counsel was em
ployed. No hope of escaping out of custody, being
cast into the inner prison, bound in triple chains, and
carefully guarded. The object of going in search of
the exile supposed to be murdered was pretty much re¬
linquished. The advertisement published at the re¬
quest of the criminals was not a means of the informa¬
tion that Colvin was yet alive, as Mr. Chadwick's letter
was anterior to his having seen that publication. The
time of execution was drawing nigh, and not a gleam
of hope from any quarter. Until, behold, from a far
country the Lord raised up an instrument of deliver¬
ance, a stranger to us all. It was great, seasonable,
satisfactory, and sure.
It may be. worthy of remark, and tend to illustrate
Divine interposition, that Mr. Chadwick was not in the
habit of taking the Evening Post, which contained the
trial at Manchester, and which inclined him to write
the letter, by which information was obtained that the
man supposed to be murdered was yet alive, but had
REV. LEMUEL HAViN'ES.
237
tlie paper put into his hand by what we are wont to
call mere accident.
" Just iii the last distressing hour,
The Lord displays delivering power ;
The mount of danger is the place
Where we shall see surprising grace."
When God says to prisoners, " Go forth ! show your¬
selves !" what power in the word ! Their chains are
taken off—the bars of the prison-house broken ! With
joy they leave the solitary dungeon ! They are quick¬
ened, and made to stand on their feet, ana walk at large,
and are restored to the arms of their friends, and to the
liberties and immunities of God's people. The poor
prisoner leaps for joy—comes to the light—shows him¬
self—is beheld with raptures of transport—appears in
a different point of light to all beholders—shows him¬
self as one exonerated, and to whom there is no con¬
demnation—is a fellow-citizen with the saints. ""To
open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from tho
prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-
house. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise
from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea,
and all that is therein ; the isles, and the inhabitants
thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift
up their voice, the villages that Ivedar doth inhabit: let
the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from
the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the
Lord, and declare his praise in the islands," Isa. xlii.
"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and como
to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and
sighing shall flee away," Isa. xxxv., 10.
There is certainly a degree of likeness in the two
cases before us, or the deliverance of men out of com¬
mon jails and the sentence denounced against them, and
the freeing the wicked from the bondage of sin and con¬
demnation. To draw a striking contrast may be use¬
ful on the present occasion.
1. In the case of the former, their trial is before
earthly courts—their sentence denounced by them; but
238
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
the deliverance of the wicked from the power and do¬
minion of sin, is the special and immediate work of
God, or the mighty agencies of the Holy Spirit. The
people of God may work—ministers may preach, and
say to prisoners, " come forth !"—but it will be foolish¬
ness, it will be ineffectual, until the arm of the Lord be
revealed. Then, and not till then, will the foundation
of the prison be shaken, and all the doors opened, and
the bands loosed.
2. Sinners confined in the prison of their sins are
unwilling to leave it—they love prison fare and com¬
pany—love their chains—love darkness ; and, although
the door is thrown wide open, and liberty proclaimed to
the captives, yet they will not come forth nor show
themselves ; but exert their power and faculties to close
I he door, and deeper drive the massy bolts, and shutout
every ray of divine light, it being painful to them. But
men confined in earthly dungeons, when they hear the
news of their emancipation, how do they leap to lose
1 heir chains, and bid adieu to their gloomy abode ! Oh !
how welcome the invitation—" Go forth out of dark¬
ness !—show yourself !" When a poor prisoner reflects
on the many painful days spent in the melancholy cell,
separated from dear connexions and friends, in expecta¬
tion of a horrible death, oh ! how welcome the rever¬
sion of the doom ! none but the experienced can form a
conception.
3. 'Tis sometimes the case that criminals are acquit
ted on the principle of distributive justice ; they are
not found guilty of the crime alleged, or for which they
were committed; but the wicked can never be ac¬
quitted in this way. They are fully guilty of every
crime with which they are charged. There can be no
error in the testimony and decision to oppose or com¬
mute the punishment. No irrelevant witness can be
admitted for or against, the prisoner. 'Tis pardoning
grace through a mediator that frees the penitent from
the sanctions of the law.
4. The emancipation granted by human courts is
pnly a reprieve of the body for a few years, months, or
rev. lemuel haykes.
239
days—perhaps hours or moments. Death may be in¬
flicted by the hand of God before the time specified in
the sentence of civil authority. But the act of the Al¬
mighty frees the soul from the terrors of the first and
second death.
When God delivers sinners from the slavery and
bondage of their sins, and the sentence thereto annexed,
he confers great blessings upon them—bestows many
valuable gifts by which they are made rich. Psal.
lxviii., 18 : " Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led
captivity captive ; thou hast received gifts for men, yea,
for the rebellious also." When men are liberated from
prisons, people may be disposed to make them some
remuneration; but it is only temporal good at best they
can impart, which can only relieve them and family from
bodily wants.
5. Persons exonerated by earthly judiciaries are lia¬
ble to arrests for new offences. Many have been' ac¬
quitted from jails or state prisons, but again commit
crimes and are sentenced to death, and in a few months
executed. Such instances of late have been within our
observations. But those whom the Lord acquits will
never again be arraigned before the court of Heaven and
condemned. None can or dare lay any thing to their
charge, so as to sentence them to death; for there is no
condemnation to them, Rom. viii., 1. There is an
immutable and an eternal act of absolution issued for all
past and future crimes.
The late remarkable occurrence, or dispensations of
Divine providence among us, in relation to the prison
ers condemned and their wonderful deliverance, wi\
form an epoch in the annals of history that will be
transmitted to generations yet unborn. Reflections of
a serious and interesting nature are suggested.
1. The imperfection of human nature under peculiar
advantages is clearly exhibited. Perhaps in no case
was circumstantial evidence more clear and conclu¬
sive, or greater unanimity in court and jury, or coinci¬
dence in the public mind. But few who did hesi¬
tate to bring in their verdict of guilty. The wisdom*
240
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
candour, and integrity of the board of trial cannot b&
questioned. Neither are we disposed to impeach the
witnesses in generaj. Even the prisoner himself had
confessed the crime, and after all we are assured that
they arc innocent. It may prove a caution to us to
look as favourably as possible on the side of innocence,
and to the exercise of that charity that " hopeth all
things," and not be too hasty in taking up a reproach
against our neighbour, Psal. xv., 3. Courts of judica¬
ture are hereby taught to proceed with the utmost de¬
liberation and carefulness, especially in cases of life
and death, and not decide without very clear and con¬
clusive evidence.* How far the opinion of our first
commentators on law ought to be regarded, is out of
the preacher's province to determine—but a point to be
discussed by gentlemen of the bar. " All presumptive
evidence of felony should be admitted cautiously,"
says Blackstone, "for the law holds that it is better
that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent
suffer." And Sir Matthew Hale, in particular, lays
down two rules, most prudent and necessary to be ob¬
served: "1. Never to convict a man for stealing the
goods of a person unknown, merely because he will
give no account how he came by them, unless an ac¬
tual felony be proved of such goods. 2. Never to
convict any person of murder or manslaughter till at
least the body be found deadon account of two in¬
stances he mentions where persons were executed for
the murder of others who were then alive, but missing.
2. The final issue and termination of the event, so
plainly in favour of the reputed criminals, should by
no means be improved as a discouragement to search
after iniquity, and use all pi'oper measures to detect
transgressors, and bring them to condign punishment.
* These remarks are not designed as the least reflection on the honour¬
able court who attended at Manchester. I have often observed, that du¬
ring the trial there appeared to be a favourable leaning iri behalf of the
criminals, and a very candid indulgence. Evidence not directly in point
was not admitted. Mr. S. Boom has repeatedly told me and others that
he did not blame the authority for deciding against him, considering the
evidence adduced. This he has observed to me since the sitting of the
Supreme Court.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
In apprehending criminals there are two objects pro¬
posed : viz., to find out the guilty, and clear the inno¬
cent. These ideas are inseparably involved. When
the latter is effected, character is retrieved, the man
honoured and restored to society, and the dignity and
safety of the state secured. . A more important point is
obtained even to the public than if criminality were dis¬
covered.
If positive evidence in the minds of all must be ob¬
tained of offence anterior to public process, it would
render investigation in almost all cases unnecessary.
That there were grounds for suspicion that murder had
been committed at Manchester, none acquainted with
all the circumstances will deny; and that it became an
imperious duty to inquire into the matter will not be
disputed by the candid. Whether there has been too
much or too little attention paid to the matter, and
whether every thing has been attended to in the best
manner, would be to contend with the doctrine of hu¬
man imperfection. The result is favourable, and we
rejoice.
3. We are clearly taught that there is a superintend¬
ing providence that directs all events; that the works
of God are great and marvellous, and past finding out.
The goodness of the Almighty is plainly illustrated.
While he is one that will by no means clear the guilty,
yet he will deliver the innocent in his own time and
way. " God will execute judgment for the oppressed
—give food to the hungry : the Lord looseth the prison¬
ers : He heareth the groaning of prisoners, to loose
those who are appointed to death." If the Lord is so
ready in such a wonderful way to rescue the bodies and
lives of men from death, may we not argue from the
less to the greater, and infer the infinite benignity of
the Saviour, who delivers the souls of men from end¬
less perdition. Verily the Lord is good, and ready to
forgive.
4. We are evidently taught, by reflecting on the late
dispensation of the Almighty, the vast importance of
paying a strict attention to truth and veracity, and that
242
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
at all times, and under every trying circumstance. How
pertinent that injunction of the apostle, Eph. iv., 15,
Speaking the truth in love. Those who have been the
subjects of so much distress, cannot but see that the
want of adhering properly to this important lesson has
been a fruitful source of their calamity and trouble, and
how much pains and cpst it has been the occasion of
Let parents inculcate this important duty on the minds
of their children ; and let every instance of vexation and
sorrow to which a contrary conduct subjects us, teach
us to pay the most sincere regard to truth and upright¬
ness, as we would have the approbation of our Judge,
and the testimony of a good conscience.
5. The subject is peculiarly interesting to those
among us who have lately been remarkably emancipa¬
ted from bondage, slavery, and death. Was there ever
a clearer display of divine interposition ? and can they
be blind to that Almighty hand that hath wrought deliv¬
erance ? God has said to you that were prisoners, " Go
forth!"—to you who were in darkness, " Show your¬
selves !" Human means were used in vain, especially
for him who continued under sentence of death. Applica¬
tion to legislative authority only tended to render his case
more desperate; as it diminished the power of the gov¬
ernor and council to grant a reprieve. Nothing scarcely
but the appearance of the supposed murdered exile
would satisfy the public mind, or reverse the sentence
of death, and it was little to be expected. But amid all
these gloomy apprehensions, the arm of the Lord was
revealed in your behalf, and has given incontestible evi¬
dence of your innocence. The prisoners released, espe¬
cially the one present, will recognise those melancholy
days and nights he has spent in the dreary dungeon ;
shut out from society, from your family, and friends.
I can never forget those many solitary hours I have
spent with you amid that dismal habitation. I have in
some sense been a kind of companion with you in trib¬
ulation. I have been an eye and an ear witness to
your tears, agonies, and groans, under the awful antici¬
pations of an ignominious death, and of a speedy sepaxft
REW LEMUEL HAYNES.
243
tion from the dear companion of your youth and help¬
less children, whom you declared unto me were dearer
to you than life itself. Had the event taken place, who
could relate the pitiful story to fatherless children!
Could a broken-hearted mother lead them to some ob¬
scure spot, and say, There, dear children, lie the remains
of an unfortunate parent, who wished to be your sup¬
port in life ; the fondness cf whose arms were wont to
embrace you with parental affection ! Could she point
them to the gibbet, on which a father was suspended,
and relate the melancholy disaster! — To conceal it
would be impossible, and to relate it almost impossi¬
ble. You ought to consider, that although you are re¬
stored to your family, yet God must be their support.
That Almighty arm that has taken care of you and been
your preserver, must also be their protector. Your anx¬
ious desire to be restored to your family is granted and
effected by Him whose tender mercies are over all his
works. You cannot but feel the obligations you are un¬
der of gratitude to Him who has almost miraculously
interposed in }^our behalf. Can you think on this with¬
out the most sincere emotions of praise and thanksgiv¬
ing? Can you refrain from having an altar of praise
erected in your house to Him who has done such great
things for you ? Shall not the morning and evening sac¬
rifice ascend like holy incense from your habitation?
This display of Divine goodness should lead you to
repentance ; Rom. ii., 4. Although you are found in¬
nocent of the charge alleged by a human court, yet,
with respect to other sins, in common with your fellow-
sinners, you cannot plead exemption. 'Tis for our sins
we are punished by the hand of God. 'Tis for our sins
that others are suffered to afflict us. You cannot but
see that some of your conduct during your imprison¬
ment has had influence in the decision against you. By
improper and wrong concessions, you have been led to
self-crimination. I hope you will review your past con¬
duct, and will be led to amendment of life. You have
ingenuously confessed to me, that you have too much
indulged yourself imprudent and profane language^
244
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
which has greatly been improved against you in your
late trial. You have been sensible of this, and to your
oredit I mention it, you have promised to reform. The
apostle James, in relation to the tongue, says, " Behold
what a great matter a little fire kindleth !" The good¬
ness of God in sparing you is a sure pledge that he is
willing to pardon and restore you to his favour. Oh !
reflect on the wretched state to which twenty days more
would have introduced you, had you died in your sins.
A more awful prison awaits the ungodly, where hope
never comes. The sentence pronounced against you
will doubtless soon be reversed; yet, should you be
found impenitent, the court of heaven still holds you a
prisoner condemned, and the more awful execution may
take place before the 28th of January. This day may
form a kind of anniversary in your life : you will always
remember it; and oh! may it, during your abode on
earth, be a day of thanksgiving to God for the signal
display of his mercy towards you !
In this remarkable providence you can see judgment
and mercy, chastisement and benignity. Affliction in
subjecting you for months to a dark and gloomy prison
in chains—in being reputed a murderer—cut off from
society, your family, and lying under the sentence of
death. But here is divine wisdom and goodness displayed
in reversing the sentence, retrieving your character, &c.
Had you been exonerated, by the court, or if the pro¬
cess had never commenced, 'tis probable that Colvin
would never have been discovered, and a stigma might
have been fixed on you and unborn posterity. But God
has effectually wiped away the reproach. The prison¬
ers released will be under peculiar temptations to in¬
dulge a hard and bitter spirit towards some who have
appeared in evidence against them. A perfect adhe¬
rence to propriety in all things, amid such a series of
events, could not be expected. If you havejn any in¬
stance been injured, it is God's prerogative to avenge
the wrong, and not yours ; as it is written, "To me be-
longeth vengeance and recompense.—Dearly beloved,
vrenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto
ftEV. LEMUEL HAYNEST.
245
Wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine ; I will re¬
pay, saith the Lord," Deut. xxxii., 35; Rom. xii., 19,
You see by what has taken place in your late trials, that
God can conduct matters best even for you. Commit
all to him. Be of a peaceable, forgiving temper. Sup¬
press every unruly passion, and all evil speaking. Let
God's goodness, so wonderfully displayed, excite you to
be merciful, as our Father who is in heaven is merciful.
The general and unusual joy manifested by this and the
neighbouring towns on the return of your deserted
brother-in-law, will, I think, incline you to believe that
they were not hostile to your life, and did not thirst for
human blood. Every countenance expressed gladness,
and every tongue hailed the auspicious day. Shouts
and rejoicing resounded from house to house, and from
town to town. All seemed anxious to drink deep with
you in the cup of your deliverance.
However great you may prize your escape from pris¬
on, how much more ought you to value and seek ac¬
quittance and freedom from the fatal bondage of sin and
death! This would excite singing of a more sublime
and ecstatic nature. All heaven would exult in songs
that would never, never end ! Luke xv., 10. Since the
Lord has in so wonderful a manner spared your lives,
oh! what obligations are you under to devote the re¬
mainder to God. You cannot expect another call so
powerful and alarming; and, should this be misimproved,
may you not consider it an awful presage of inevitable
rain ? Prov. xxix., 1 : " He that, being often reproved,
hardencth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and
that without remedy."
The aged parents who have for months been groan¬
ing under the heavy hand of the Almighty, may greatly
rejoice. You have been mourning children, devoted to
a shameful and untimely death. Had it taken place,
perhaps it would have brought down your gray hairs
with sorrow to the grave. The miseries that come upon
our children should lead us to examine whether our
unfaithfulness to the concerns of their souls has not had
influence in the calamities to which they are incident
X 2
246
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Every day, especially the shadows of evening, did not
fail to waft your imaginations to the doleful mansions
that contained your unhappy children, while horrible
and frightful scenes of a disgraceful death disturbed
your nightly repose. Every enjoyment of life was im-
bittered, and every walk became solitary. The yearn¬
ing of the bowels of tender parents over their children,
bound in chains, doomed to the gibbet, is taught only by
experience. Could you not say with the broken-heart
ed Jacob, " All these things are against me V
The dwellings of a brother and sister become a Bo-
chim, and their responsive cries enter the walls of dis¬
tress. At home, abroad, in the house of God, grief lies
heavy on their souls ; while every tender feeling of the
heart swells the tide of anguish and distress. Could
an affectionate sister hear of the fatal destiny of two
brothers, and not sink beneath the heart-rending ti¬
dings !* Oh the bitter reflections, the painful sensa¬
tions among friends, whose mingled sorrows absorb all
the pleasures of life !
But why should I harrow up the soul by too minute
a detail, or dwell too long on those days of tribulation ?
They are passed and gone. God has turned your
mourning into dancing. Although weeping endured for
a long and wearisome night, yet joy came in the morn
ing. Let Jehovah-jirah, the Lord will see and provide,
be written on the posts of your door, and on the fleshy
tables of your hearts. Let this motto be inscribed in
legible and indelible characters on all your deportment,
that he may run that readeth—The Lord hath done
great things for us, whereof we are glad.
I trust this and the neighbouring towns have, in a de¬
gree, by their conduct, exemplified that inspired injunc¬
tion, " Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with
them that weep." Their readiness to afford pecuniary
relief to the distressed family, is a practical demonstra¬
tion. It has for months past been a time of peculiar
* Mrs. Richardson, sister of the prisoners, being on a visit to a neigh
bouring house, on hearing that the sentence of death was pronounced
against hor brothers, fell prostrate on the floor.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
247
mourning and distress, to see our fellow-creatures in
wretched confinement, awaiting an awful execution. I
trust our prayers have been ascending to heaven for
Divine interposition, and the Lord in a mysterious way
has granted us deliverance. Through the faithfulness
and vigilance of our fellow-citizens (under God), the
town ot Manchester is delivered from the public censure
of blood-guiltiness, which otherwise would have cleaved
to them to the latest posterity. All who read and hear
this mysterious event, even generations yet to come,
will be constrained to exclaim, " Verily there is a God,
whose judgments are unsearchable, and his ways past
finding out."
I can scarcely persuade myself to quit the subject,
although it will be a kind of repetition, without advert¬
ing to that ecstasy and delight with which we beheld
the devoted man quit his direful abode. He was wait¬
ing between hope and fear, until the glad tidings were
proclaimed, the prison door opened, the chains unriv-
eted, and he welcomed to the light. May it not reprove
such who are under the sentence of God's law; pris¬
oners of hope, and will not come out. Oh ! that I could
with success proclaim in your ears this day the expos-
tulatory declaration of the great deliverer, Isa. ]xL
"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; because the
Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the
meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted;
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound." Let me say to the pris¬
oners, " Go forth !"' To you that are in darkness, " Show
yourselves." The door is thrown wide open—Jesus is
ready to break your bonds asunder. Angels invite—
yea, all Heaven stand ready to shout your deliverance
through the streets of New-Jerusalem. The nature of
our inability can be inferred by seeing the prisoner
escape when the door is unlocked, that it is of the moral
kind, being bound only with the cords of our sins, urv-
willino- to depart. We are not convened this day to
witness the awful death of a fellow-mortal, suspended
between the heavens and the earth—nor to hear ths
248
LIFE AND CHARACTER Of
bitter sighs, or behold the distorted visage of a dying
malefactor; but to hear the jubilee trumpet proclaim¬
ing salvation. Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prison¬
ers of hope. May the arm of the Lord be revealed.—
Amen.
STATE OF VERMONT.
Supreme Court, adjourned term, November, 1819.
Present — Hon. Dudley Chase, Chief Justice ;
Hon. Joel Doolittle, Assistant Judge.
A bill of endictment for murder was found by a grand
jury, at the September term of the Supreme Court,
against Stephen Boom and Jesse Boorn, for the murder
of Russell Colvin; but, as the court did not consist of
the requisite number of judges, the trial was adjourned.
The endictment was in the usual form, charging the
prisoners as " being moved and seduced by the instiga¬
tion of the deviland that they " feloniously, wilfully,
and of their malice aforethought, did kill and murder"
Russell Colvin, upon the 10th day of May, A. D. 1812.
The state's attorney appeared in support of the pros¬
ecution.
Messrs. Skinner, Wellman, and Sargeant as counsel
for the prisoners.
Before the introduction of any testimony, Mr. Skin¬
ner made a motion, that as the prisoners had pleaded
severally " Not guilty," they might be allowed separate
trials.
The court ruled that Stephen and Jesse Boorn should
be jointly tried for the murder of Russell Colvin.
About fifty witnesses were successively examined ,
but, as they were only corroborative of each other, all
tending to prove the leading facts in the case, and too
voluminous for this brief sketch, none but the principal
testimony will here be introduced
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
249
EVIDENCE ON THE PART OF THE STATE.
Thomas Johnson sworn.—I was a neighbour to the
Boorns and Colvin. In the early part of the month of
May, seven years ago last spring, I saw one morning
Stephen Boom, Jesse Boorn, Russell Colvin, and his
son, Lewis Colvin, picking up stones. They appeared
to be in a quarrel. I had a full view of them, although
they could not see ine. I have never seen Russell
Colvin since. Stephen said he was not in the field
picking stones at the time Russell went off, but that he
went olf at that time. Jesse, while in imprisonment,
told nie that he was assisting in shoeing a horse wdien
Russell went off. Stephen said the woodchuck they
had for dinner the day Russell went off, was killed by
him when mending fence for a Mr. Hammond. Hav¬
ing purchased the land where this quarrel took place,
the children found and brought home an old, mouldy,
rotten hat; I knew it to be the hat of Russell Colvin.
In the cellar-hole stood a thrifty apple-tree, about three
feet high, which was taken away the season after I no¬
ticed it.
Lewis Colvin (son of Russell Colvin) sworn.-—He
said that at the time Russell went off, he was picking
stones with him and Stephen and Jesse Boorn ; that a
quarrel arose between Stephen and Russell; that Rus-
sel struck Stephen first; that Stephen knocked Rus¬
sell down with a club, and that he (the witness) ran
away, and saw no blood ; that Stephen told him not to
tell that he struck Russell; that he has never seen Rus¬
sell since.
[It appeared from the testimony of many witnesses
that a jack-knife and a button were found in the old
cellar-hole, which were recognised as having once be¬
longed to Russell Colvin ; that he had occasionally ab¬
sented himself from his family, and was at times in a
state of mental derangement; that bones had been
found, which by some were supposed to be human
bones, but which appeared, from the most conclusive
evidence, not to be human bones. From a large mass
£50
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
of evidence, that which relates to the accidental obser
vations of the Booms before their arrest and imprison¬
ment, and their confessions when chained in a dungeon,
are deemed altogether the most important.]
Truman Hill sworn.—He stated that he had the
keys of the prison in which the Boorns were impris¬
oned ; that he exhorted Jesse to tell the truth, and that
if he told a falsehood it would increase his trouble;
that he confessed that he was afraid that Stephen had
murdered Colvin, and that he believed he knew very
near where the body was buried; that when the knife
and the hat of Colvin were shown him, he was much
agitated. He said he urged Jesse to confess nothing
but the truth.
Daniel D. Baldwin, and Mrs. Baldwin, to the same
effect, said that about three years since Stephen told
them that Colvin went off in a strange manner into
the woods at the time he, Jesse Colvin, and Lewis,
were picking stones—that Lewis had gone for drink,
and when he asked them where Colvin was gone, one
answered, Gone to hell; the other, that they had put
him where potatoes would not freeze.
[Numerous witnesses testified to the contradictory
declarations of the Boorns in regard to the disappear
ance or death of Colvin; but the testimony of Silas
Merrill, to the extraordinary confession of Jesse Boom,
is in substance inserted.]
Silas Merrill sworn.—-Testified that as Jesse was re¬
turned to prison from time to time from the court of
inquiry, that he had been urged to confess ; that one
night in the prison we got up, and Jesse said that Ste¬
phen knocked Colvin down twice, broke his scull, and
the blood gushed out; that his father came up three
several times, and asked if he was dead, and said damn
him; that all three of us took the body and put it into
the old cellar, where father cut his throat; that he
knew the jack-knife to be Colvin's ; that Stephen wore
Colvin's shoes ; that about a year and a half after they
took up the bones, put them under a barn that was
burnt, then ponnded them up and flung them into th©
river; that father put some of them into a stump,
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
261
[The following written confession of Stephen was reject¬
ed by the court; but, as its contents were alluded to by oral
testimony, it was introduced by the prisoners' counsel.]
" May the 10th, 1812, I, about 9 or 10 o'clock, wen!
down to David Glazier's bridge, and fished, down bo-
low uncle Nathaniel Boorn's; and then went up across
their farms, where Russell and Lewis was, being the
nighest way, and sat down and began to talk, and Rus*
sell told me how many dollars benefit he had been tao
father, and I told him he was a damned fool; and he
was mad, and jumped up, and we sat close together,
and I told him to set down, you little tory; and there
was a piece of a beech limb about two feet long, and
he catched it up and struck at my head as I sat down;
and I jumped up, and it struck me on one shoulder-;
and I catched it out of his hand, and struck him a
back-handed blow, I being on the north side of him ;
and there was a knot on it about one inch long. As I
struck him, I did think I hit him on his back ; and he
stooped down—and that knot was broken off sharp-—
and it hit him on the back of the neck, close in his
hair—and it went in about a half of an inch on thai
great cord—and he fell down, and then I told the boy
to go down, and come up with his uncle John—and he
asked me if I had killed Russell, and I told him no,
but he must not tell that we struck one another. And
I told him, when he got away down, Russell was gone
away—and I went back, and he was dead—and then
I went and took him and put him in the corner of the
fence by the cellar-hole, and put briers over him—and
went home, and went down to the barn, and got some
boards—and, when it was dark, I went down, and took
a hoe and boards, and dug a grave as well as I could,
and took out of his pocket a little Barlow knife, with
about a half of a blade, and cut some bushes, and pul
on his face and the boards, and put in the grave, and
put him in, four boards on the bottom and on the top,
and t'other two on the sides, and then covered him up;
and went home, crying along, but I warnt afraid as I
know on. And when I lived to William Boam'a I
252
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
planted some potatoes; and, when I dug them, I went
there, and something I thought had been there, and I
took up his bones and put them in a basket, and took
the boards and put on my potato-hole, and then it was
night, took the basket and my hoe, and went down and
pulled up a plank in the stable floor, and then dug a
hole, and then covered him up ; and went into the house
and told them I had done with the basket; and took
back the shovel, and covered up my potatoes that even¬
ing. And then, when I lived under the west mountain,
Lewis came and told me that father's barn was burnt
up; the next day, or the next day but one, I came
down, and went to the barn, and there was a few
bones; and when they was to dinner, I told them I
did not want my dinner, and went and took them, and
ihere warnt only a few of the biggest of the bones, and
thro wed them in the river above Wy man's, and then
went back, and it was done quick too, and then wa9
hungry by that time, and then went home, and the next
Sunday I came down after money to pay the boot that
I gave to boot between oxens; and went out there and
scraped up them little things that was under the stump
there, and told them I was going to fishing, and went,
and there was a hole, and I dropped them in, and kick
ed over the stuff, and that is the first anybody knew
it, either friends or foes, even my wife. All these I
acknowledge before the world.
" Stephen Boorn."
Manchester, Aug. 27, 1819.
Much other testimony was adduced, but cannot be
introduced into this, which is again pronounced a mere
" Sketch" of this singular prosecution.
The charge of the court to the jury was solemn,
learned, and peculiarly impressive.
The jury returned with a verdict finding both of the
prisoners guilty.
They were sentenced to be executed upon the 28th
January, 1820.
BEV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
293
CHAPTER XVI.
REMOVAL TO GRANVILLE, N. Y.
In February, 1822, Mr. Haynes removed lo Granville,
New-York, where he passed the last eleven years of his
pilgrimage. Towards his friends at Manchester, he
cherished till his death feelings of unfeigned affection.
He had found in them a generous and enlightened people,
ever ready to minister to the wants of his numerous and
dependant family. They attended upon his ministry
with devout interest and with evident profit. The
church in Manchester was enlarged under his faithful
ministrations. It was now with him the even-tide of
life. It could not be said of him as is recorded of
Moses, when he was a hundred and twenty years old;
"his eye was not dim, nor was his natural force abated."
His physical and intellectual vivacity had perceptibly de¬
clined ; and although there was entire harmony between
him and the people in Manchester, yet it was natural
for such a village to desire the labours of one who could
bring into action the ardour and vivacity of youth. Ac¬
cordingly, the church and people in Manchester yielded
to the wishes of the Congregational church in Granville,
that the setting sun of this holy and remarkable man
should be witnessed among them. On taking leave of
his beloved charge at Manchester, he could adopt the
language of the apostle Paul to the elders of the church
*n Ephesus, though he would be the last to class him
self with the great apostle : " Remember that for the
y
254
LIFE AND CHARACTER Of
space of three years I ceased not to warn every man,
day and night, with tears."
The following extracts from his correspondence will
illustrate this part of his life, and will show him to have
been an indefatigable preacher of the word after he had
completed the term of " threescore years and ten."
LETTER I.
to deacon atkins
Granville, October ]9th, 1822.
Dear Sir,
* * * I was surprised to hear of the death of youi
nephew E. B.—I hope he had forsaken the sin that had
too easily beset him. You also tell of the death of S.
B.—Mr. Eddy, a preacher, visited me a few days since,
who confirmed the melancholy tidings.—Oh, why are wc
kept alive while so many younger are called away !
May we be ready ! You tell of good news from Bland-
ford, Westfield, &c.—may we rejoice ! Nothing special
of a religious nature in these parts.—Deaths are fre¬
quent. I am just applied to to preach a funeral ser¬
mon to-morrow, at 4 o'clock, at Hebron, four miles dis¬
tant. I have a large congregation that attend my min¬
istry ; I wish I was able to entertain them better ; but
God has deposited the treasure in poor earthen ves¬
sels, that the power may appear to be of him.
I thought of visiting Granville again before now, but
I never was more taken up in ministerial services.
Make my regards acceptable to Rev. Mr. Baker and
family. I aru glad to hear that he is engaged in the
cause. I hoped to hear good news from G. after the
visit from the Hartford brethren. The bearer to the of¬
fice I expect every moment. I must close.
Lemuel Haynes.
Remember us at the footstool of mere v.
REV. LEMUEL IIAYNES.
255
LETTER II.
TO THE SAME.
Granville, N. York, Oct. 21st, 1823*
Dear Sir,
* * * I intended to have visited you this fall, but
by the multiplicity of business I am prevented. Should
the Lord keep me alive, I hope again to visit G ,
But I ought to say, " The will of the Lord be done."
We have a time of refreshing among us. Many
seem to be inquiring, " What shall we do to be saved ?"
God has visited my family in a remarkable manner.
We hope the greater part of them have become new
creatures in Christ Jesus. May we give God all the
glory.
We have a circular meeting appointed among us this
week. A number of ministers are expected. I hope
the Lord will bless their endeavours. My days are cer¬
tainly nearly finished. I lament my unfaithfulness. I
am enabled, commonly, to preach three times on the
Sabbath—besides, we have conferences five times a
week.
Remember us at the throne of grace. The bearer
waits. Faithfully yours.
LETTER III.
TO the same.
Granville, 15th July, 1824.
Dear and affectionate Friend,
If you are still in the land of the living, I think I can
tell you what at times passes tkrough your mind. It
is this : Why has my old friend Mr. Haynes ceased
to write to me ? Is he dead ? Or has he forgotten me ?
This may inform you that neither of these is the casa.
I feel in a degree to blame. The apologies that I might
make, perhaps, would not excuse me. Should my life
and yours be spared, I hope to do better. We are all^
through the goodness of God. in the land of the living.
256
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
My health is good, considering my age. Have strength
to preach twice or three times on the Sabbath. 'Tis
of the Lord's mercy I am not consumed. There seem
to be some refreshings of a spiritual nature among us.
At Pawlet, the town adjoining, the work is considera¬
ble. Bible societies flourish among us. I attended a
meeting of the society of this county last week. It
was very interesting. All party spirit was excluded.
Baptists, Presbyterians, Seceders, &c., were united.
All was harmonious. * * *
* * The Lord be with us in life, comfort us
in death, and may we meet in the heavenly
would, and celebrate the praises of GoD among
the blessed. Sincerely yours,
Lemuel Haynes
Here closes the correspondence which he had main¬
tained with Deacon Elihu Atkins, of Granville, for more
than thirty years. There had been a cherished inti¬
macy between them from early life. Mr. Haynes had
been of special, if not of saving benefit to him, by his
convincing instructions, so that he might perhaps have
addressed the deacon in the language of " Paul the
aged" to Philemon—" I do not say to thee how that
thou owest thine own self unto me." If he had known
by the gift of prophecy that the preceding letter was to
be the last in the series scattered through one third of
a century, what could have been more appropriate than
the closing sentence?
letter iv.
letter to his daughter.
Electa,
Yours has come to hand. We are glad to hear from
you. Wish you could have visited us before your
gchool closes; but you think you cannot, Hope your
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
25"/
headache is better. I will (God directing) endeavour
to attend a meeting with you the day your school ends.
You may give notice according^; if any thing is like
to prevent, [ will try to send you word. I am glad that
you strive against sin. I wish we may all do this more
and more. Lois has been worse. We feared she was
near her end a few days since ; is now better. * * *
I propose to preach this afternoon from. Job xiv., 10 .
1 But man dieth," &c.
Watch and pray.
It is worthy of special notice, that wherever Mr.
Haynes laboured for a considerable time, the reviving
and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, to a
greater or less extent, seemed to accompany and bless
his ministrations. While connected with the church in
Granville, New-York, though experiencing the gradual
but perceptible decline of activity and strength, and the
infirmities of age were thickening upon him, yet were
"his last days" in some respects his " best days." From
year to year he occasionally met with the anxious in¬
quirer after salvation. In the year 1831, distinguished
through the country for the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit, Mr. ITaynes enjoyed the privilege of a very pre¬
cious spiritual harvest. During this season of God's
visitation, his labours were abundant. He was prompt
at the evening lecture, and at the sunrise prayer-meet¬
ing. Now, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, you
might have seen him faithfully attending the prayer-
meeting with his Christian friends, and making it a
point to be present as early as; the rising of the sun.
This was a season of great joy to his own soul, and he
was rapidly ripening, by progressive sanctification, to
join with holy beings in another world.
During his ministry of about eleven years in Crau-
Y 2
258
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
ville, nearly eighty, by relation of their experience and
by a correspondent life, gave evidence of their piety,
and were received into the church ; about fifty of whom
were the hopeful subjects of renewing grace in this sea¬
son of revival.
In this period he preached about one hundred and
twenty funeral sermons in Granville, and many in the
adjoining towns. His attendance and sympathies on
such occasions were never withheld when requested,
unless in consequence of sickness or previous appoint¬
ments. In one instance he preached two funeral ser¬
mons in one day, in addition to the fatigue of riding six
or eight miles, and this at the age of nearly eighty
years. The latter was at the burial of a youth of six¬
teen years, when he addressed a deeply-affected assem¬
bly from Zech. ii., 4 : " Run, speak to that young man."
While administering to hundreds and thousands un¬
der the bereaving strokes of the Almighty, his own
family were mercifully spared till the youngest of ten
children had reached the age of adult years. There
was, however, a cup of affliction mingled, which he must
ere long drink. His second daughter had been afflicted
with severe and wasting disease, which neither care
nor medicine could relieve. For months all hopes of
her recovery had been relinquished, and she was per.
ceptibly drawing near the close of life. But great
mercy was mingled with the affliction. By her marked
resignation and patience, she was giving evidence of
being one of God's adopted children. One morning in
particular, having called her father into her chamber,
she spoke of wonderful joy and light which had broken
in upon her mind. The Saviour appeared exceedingly
precious and altogether lovely. It was a memorable
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
259
season, and filled the heart of her revered father with
great consolation.
On the day preceding her death, Mr. Haynes went
out to attend a funeral, and requested prayers in her
behalf. She was now sinking rapidly. During his
absence she became speechless, and seemed to be dy¬
ing. On his return, as he approached her bed, she
knew him, and revived. He then informed her that
prayers had been offered for her at the meeting, at
which she seemed well pleased. He discoursed long
and faithfully with her, imparting consolation, praying
her to put her whole trust in the merits of the Saviour,
and receiving from her dying lips assurance that Christ
was her " all." The morning following she died, leav¬
ing the consolation to her friends that she had " fallen
asleep in Jesus." The next day being the Sabbath,
like David in his affliction, " he came into the house of
the Lord and worshipped," unattended by his family.
With composed and affecting solemnity he took the
lead in the morning service, and preached from 1 Pet.
iv., 17 : "For the time is come that judgment must
begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us,
what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel
of God ?" How perfectly appropriate was his text to
the occasion.
Funeral service in the afternoon was performed by
Rev. John Whiton, of Granville, Middle Parish. The
preacher, in consequence of ministering to his own con¬
gregation, arrived at a late hour. After the assembly
had been some time in waiting, Mr. Haynes arose, and
gave out the following appropriate hymn from Watts :—
260 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
\
" Not from the dust affliction grows,
Nor troubles rise by chance,
Yet we are born to cares and woes,
A sad inheritance.
" As sparks break out from burning coals,
And still are upward borne,
So grief is rooted in our souls,
And man grows up to mourn.
"Yet with my God I leave my cause,
And trust his promised grace ;
He rules me by his well-known laws
Of love and righteousness.
" Not all the pains that e'er I bore
Shall spoil my future peace,
For death and hell can do no more
Than what my Father please."
After listening to the sermon delivered on this occa
sion, he arose and addressed the youth with great ef¬
fect. Throughout the painful trial, he manifested great
calmness and Christian resignation. It proved a sanc¬
tified affliction. He often lamented that he had felt no
more anxiety for the welfare of her soul. He frequently
said, " The meeting of parents and children at the
judgment is a truly affecting thought, which, since the
decease of my own child, I most sensibly realize."
The daughter was thus taken away, and called home
as a pioneer to that world whither her father was soon
to follow. And thus was the Lord preparing his faith
ful servant to glorify him by his dying behaviour.
Scarcely would he allude to his daughter's decease
without exclaiming—" Oh, that I had teen more faith¬
ful !"
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
261
CHAPTER XVII.
his last visits abroad.
In 1823, his intimate friend and former parishioner,
Joseph Burr, Esq., of Manchester, was taken ill, and
died in the month of April. Mr. Burr, the distinguished
patron of religion and science, was early an orphan, and
received a mercantile education from his brother in New
York. He commenced business in Manchester, Ver¬
mont ; and, by his rigid uprightness, soon acquired the
confidence of the community. In early life, like many
of the enterprising men in Vermont at that time, he
was disposed to cavil at the doctrines of grace, and
openly professed to disbelieve that God, in his direction
of the universe, noted the minute and daily transactions
of men. In the revivals with which Manchester was
blessed, his views were essentially changed : he became
a firm believer in the doctrines of revelation, and a liber¬
al patron of the objects of charity and piety. Like the
aloe, which blooms but once in a century, such men are
rarely found. Mr. Burr, on perceiving that his dissolu¬
tion was drawing near, sent for his former beloved pas¬
tor to visit him and minister to him in the last extrem¬
ity. Mr. Haynes spent several days with him. He
was calm in view of eternity. In some of his last re¬
marks he said—" I feel that I have brought myself and
all that I have to the feet of Jesus." Mr. Burr had ex
pressed his determination to bequeath to several literary
and religious institutions the greater part of his estate
262
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
He was apparently near his end, and nothing had been
done respecting the distribution of his possessions.
Judge Skinner, who had been expected to transact the
business, was absent, and the time of his return was un¬
certain. Mr. Haynes, perceiving the peculiarly critical
state of this important business, was at first exceeding¬
ly moved, and appeared very anxious to do something
which would secure to the cause of learning and reli¬
gion the ample provisions which Mr. Burr had intended
to make, and which were every moment liable to be
lost by his death. But soon his composure returned,
and sitting quietly down, he said, " Ah ! if the Lord
have need of this money, he will have it."—lie has it.
In 1632 he visited New-York to attend the anniversa¬
ries. Jn a letter to a friend, he says :—" In my visit to
New-York I was greatly entertained. I did not expect
to see so much piety among the people. I was cordial¬
ly received by the ministers. I preached at New-York,
Albany, and Troy, and received ample pecuniary com¬
pensation. I was much pleased with the company of
Dr. Sprague, of Albany. He brought the handwriting
of many of the old ministers that have been in their
graves for years. Those he obtained in England ; such
as the handwriting of Dr. Doddridge, Dr. Guise, Mr.
Henry, John Newton, and many others. I remarked
to the doctor, 'If it afforded so much satisfaction only
to see their manuscripts, what joy would it be should
we be admitted to see and dwell with them in the heav¬
enly world.' Should I live until next November, it will
be half a century since I commenced preaching the gos¬
pel. I have abundant reason to bless God for his good¬
ness in maintaining and supporting me so long, and in
his so abundantly opening a door for improving the
REV. LEMUEL HA VNES.
263
small talent he has given me. But, ' Oh, my leanness !
my leanness !' As I draw near the eternal world, I
trust I feel more and more that, should I ever be saved,
it will be through astonishing grace. I am about closing
my stated ministry among this people. I preach to
them occasionally. My strength holds out remarkably.
I most earnestly desire to visit Granville, if it might be
the will of God, and intend to this spring or summer,
Providence concurring. Give my love to brother Baker,
—tell him it is through great tribulation that good min¬
isters, in a special manner, enter into the kingdom of
heaven. Sincerely yours."
In 1833, the pulpit in Granville, Massachusetts, being
vacant by the declining health of their beloved pastor,
Rev. Joel Baker, application was made to Mr. Haynes
to preach there for a short season. As he had been
contemplating a visit to the place, this request was sea¬
sonable and gratifying. His visits, though " few and
far between," had been ever greeted by his friends with
enthusiastic delight. No personage, of whatever rank
or character, could receive a more cordial welcome.
Upon his arrival in Granville and appearing in the pul¬
pit on the Sabbath, the people, without regard to sect
or denomination, crowded the house of God. His own
feelings on this occasion may be learned from the fol¬
lowing brief extract of a letter to his family.
• * * "We arrived safely at Granville on Satur
day, four days after leaving home. Lodged at Man¬
chester the first night; at Williamstown the second;
at the Reverend I)r. Shepard's, in Lenox, the third.
Preached at Granville on the Sabbath, and it was an af¬
fecting thought to stand in the desk where I used to
preach more than forty years ago. The people are re¬
markable kind."
264 LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
The preacher, now nearly eighty years of age, re
tained something of the intellectual vigour of better
days. The descendants of his early friends regarded
him as a relic, handed down from a generation which
had gone to eternity. They hung upon his lips with
unwonted pleasure. Now he might have adopted the
remarkable words of the apostle *(though his humble
spirit would blush at the suggestion); " My temptation,
which was in my flesh, they despised not nor rejected ;
but received me as an angel of God, even as Jesus
Christ."
This was Ms last visit to the place of his earliest rec¬
ollections, and a premonition of this was evidently on
his mind. " I was led to notice," says his friend who
entertained him, " that his mind was most constantly on
the subject of death and the day of judgment. Not one
hour passed without some express allusions to these
events."
The preaching of Mr. Haynes was always distin¬
guished for its appropriateness to the occasion. On
meeting the congregation in Granville, whose fathers,
his coevals, were nearly all of them in the habitations
of the dead, he arose and addressed them from the fol
lowing most appropriate passage. " Having therefore
obtained help of God, I continue unto this day," Acts
xxvi., 22.
BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SERMON.
" All creatures are effects which declare a first cause.
All finite existence, whether natural or moral, is the pro¬
duct of omnipotent power. The great wheeis of Di¬
vine providence are turned round by the hand of God.
The motions of our souls and bodies are alike directed
by the agency of him who rolls the siars along. For
'tis a sentiment acknowledged even by heathen,—by
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
265
Homer, Hesiod, and especially by Aratus, that 1 we are
the offspring of God.'* With how much propriety,
therefore, might St. Paul adopt the sentiment in the
text!
" The points before us are these :—
" I. Our continuance in this world is wholly owing
to the help of God.
" 1. Keeping people alive is ascribed to God. Deut
xxxii., 39 : ' I kill, and I make alive.' Psal. Ixviii., 20:
' Unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.'
"2. We cannot keep ourselves alive any more than
we can begin to live.
"3, Others cannot—physicians cannot—Asa's could
not.
"4. None of the springs of nature commence with¬
out God. Every pulse, every breath the effect of Di¬
vine agency.
" 5. God cannot communicate independent power to
men.
" 6. 'Tis not owing to what some call fortune, luck,
or chance. Such things have no power, nor even ex
istence.
" 7. That it is by God's help we continue is evident
from the many dangers to which we are exposed.
" II. We ought to be deeply sensible of this.
"1. This is an important trait in the character of
God's people,—Paul, Jacob, Caleb, David.
"2. 'Tis God's due. Not to acknowledge it is rob
bing him.
" 3. Not to acknowledge God is practical atheism.
" 4. God has given us the requisite faculties—eyes,
ears, reason—and. is calling us to take notice."
IMPROVEMENT.
" 1. We should often take a review of past acts of
God's goodness.
" 2. We should not place our ultimate dependance on
second causes.
• " r» yap xai ylvoff w/iw. Hemisti# tt ML.1 WO."—OiliM.
266
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
" 3. God must help for time to come, or we must die
' Boast not of to-morrow
" 4. How vile to take that help which God is giving
us, and consume it on our lusts.
" 5. We cannot expect God to help us much longer.
" 6. Comfort in trials—God's help is sufficient.
" 7. People live just as long as God chooses—then
die.
" 8. Goodness of God that has helped us to live so
long."
The several heads of this discourse were sustain¬
ed by apt illustrations, and affecting allusions to past
and passing events, with appropriateness to the occa¬
sion, and greatly to the delight and satisfaction of the
assembly. This was the morning service. In the af
ternoon an agent addressed the congregation on " Home
Missions." Mr. Haynes listened with deep interest till
the preacher had finished his discourse. He then arose,
and with great earnestness commended the cause of
missions to the congregation, concluding his remarks
with an amusing and characteristic anecdote. " A few
days ago," said he, " I was expressing my astonish¬
ment at the progress made in the benevolent efforts of
the day, and the amount of good accomplished by the
American Bible, Missionary, Sabbath School, Tract,
and Temperance Societies. A skeptic who was pres¬
ent interrupted me, and remarked, with some earnest¬
ness, that he believed the devil had got up all these so¬
cieties. 'What!' said I to him, 'What! the devil in
favour of the Bible !—and missions !—and temperance?
Has the devil met with a change of heart ? He didn't
use to favour such things, and I am sure he would not
now if he had not met with a change. He must have
been very lately converted.'"
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
267
The short lime which he could spend there was
actively employed in labours of love. He preach¬
ed almost daily, either there or in the contiguous
parishes. He spent several days in visiting from
house to house, and thus renewed the recollections of
early life. This was a service mingled with many
painful emotions.
'• 'Twas sad to see the wonted seat of friends
Removed by death, and sad to visit scenes
When old, where, in the smiling morn of life,
Lived many who both knew and loved us much;
And they all gone, dead, or dispersed abroad,
And stranger faces seen among the hills."
There were certain places which he could not visit
without awakening peculiar associations. In company
with N. Cooley, Esq., he visited the old mansion where
his master lived and died. It is understood that it
was the first framed house erected within the bounds
of the parish. Opposite to it there had previously
been a dwelling-house adapted to the condition of set¬
tlers in the forest; the first story being built with,
stones, as a defence from the attacks of the Indians,
and the second of durable logs. Mr. Haynes said to
his attendant, " It was the intention of my mis¬
tress and myself to raise the house on the prin¬
ciples of temperance, without strong drink."
Pointing to a huge stone in the chimney, he said, " I
assisted in raising that stone, and in placing it where it
now lies." He adverted to the broad, antique fireplace,
where he plied his evening studies by firelight. He
took a last look into the chamber which he occupied as
his study after he commenced preaching the gospel.
He walked over the fields which he had cleared, and
ploughed, and reaped for many successive years.
268
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
The next object of affecting interest was the burying-
ground, where
" The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
It cannot fail to attract the notice of the traveller by
its elevated and retired location, and by its tombstones
of purest white.
" I had a very interesting time with him," remarks
his attendant, " in the graveyard. He pointed out to
me, by the tombstones, many that experienced religion
during the short time in which he laboured in the min¬
istry in this place. He also pointed out many of the
tombstones on which I could read the epitaphs of his
own composition. One in particular attracted my at¬
tention ; it was the first opened grave in the whole
field. A child three years old is the tenant; and the
epitaph, composed by Mr. Haynes in his youth, is as
follows :—
' I was the first came here to lie :
Children and youth prepare to die.' "
There is another sacred spot of ground—it is the place
of the apple-tree, where, in early life, he found the Saviour
to be precious to his soul. Though some of its limbs
are decayed, the tree itself is yet alive, after enduring
the blasts of more than eighty winters. It stands be¬
hind a gentle elevation of ground, and near it a granite
rock rises a little above the surface. Hither he often
came during his distressing conviction of sin ;—here he
found relief and hope in Christ;—and while in Gran¬
ville he always made this the place of his private de¬
votion and prayer. It was like Bethel, where Jacob
lay down to sleep, and dreamed, " And behold, a ladder
set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven :
and behold, the angels of God ascending and descend
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
209
ing on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it." It is
impossible to describe or even conoeive the emotions
which he felt on visiting this place. After lingering a
while, he kneeled down and prayed. As he was reti¬
ring, he said to his attendant, " I leave this tree for the
last time."
The next day was the Sabbath, and he delivered his
last sermon from the well-chosen words of the apostle,
2 Cor. i., 9 : " But we had the sentence of death in
ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in
God which raiseth the dead." On this text he remark-,
ed:—
" Some think that the apostle has relation to his
fighting with wild beasts at Ephesus, 1 Cor. xv., 32.
Others suppose that he refers to the uproar at Lydia
or Asia Minor; but that it was an habitual temper of
mind for the apostle to feel that he was a dying man,
is evident from what he observes, 1 Cor. xv., 31 : 'I
die daily.' Life and death are terms of the most sol¬
emn import. Some suppose life is of more importance
than death, as it is that which can render death a
blessing or a curse. Suitable reflection on death
greatly tends to our right improvement of life. This
is the sentiment in the text; and the inspired apostle
speaks of it, as belonging not only to himself, but to
others. We had the sentence of death in ourselves.
" That we have all reason to view ourselves in this
point of light, with the advantages arising therefrom,
is the order proposed.
" 1. God has pronounced the sentence of death on
us, and why should not we on ourselves ? Gen. iii., 19.
" 2. We may with propriety have the sentence in
ourselves by viewing the providences of God. How
many are dying around us ! Is there any thing to
secure us from death which they had not ? Are we
Z 2
270
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
young ? so were they. Old, middle aged, full of world¬
ly schemes ?—was not this the case with them ?
"3. Weak state of our bodies.
" 4. Pains we feel from day to day.
" 5. Many instruments stand ready to destroy us.
In the case of Paul, wild beasts—wicked men and
devils—perils from sea and land.
" ' We stand as in a battle, throngs on throngs
Are falling round us, wounded oft ourselves.'
"6. We cannot resist or ward off the stroke, 1 Cor
iv., 9 : ' For I think that God hath set forth us the
apostles last as it were appointed unto death.' This
is thought to be an allusion to the Roman theatrical
sports ; for, from a passage in Seneca's epistles, quoted
by Dr. Whitby, it appears, that in the morning those
prisoners to whom they gave a chance of escaping with
their lives fought with the wild beasts armed; but, in
the afternoon, the gladiators fought unarmed.
" 7. By our sins we expose ourselves to the sentence
of death. Justice, and abused patience, and mercy,
cry, ' Cut them down !'
" 8. All need carry the sentence of death in them¬
selves. All have sinned—old and young—rich and
poor—saints and sinners.
" 9. At all times and on all occasions—at home or
abroad—awake or asleep.
" ' Whate'er we do, where'er we be,
We're travelling to the grave.'
" Finally, It has been the case with the people ot
God—pilgrims and strangers on the earth. Even Jesus
Christ, though innocent, for our sake carried the sen¬
tence of death in himself."
ADVANTAGES.
"1. 'Tis acting rationally—correspondent to truth
and divine exhibition.
"2. To have the sentence of death in ourselves is-
complying with the word of God. Christ said repeat¬
edly, ' Watch,'
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
271
" 3. It tends to wean us from the world. Did we
hear the sentence of death sounding in our ears, should
we be elated with worldly prospects ?
"4. Having the sentence of death in ourselves tends
to make us diligent in the things of religion. Keeping
death at a distance is the fruitful source of the sin of
procrastination.
" 5. This is the way to obtain the victory over death.
The reason why death is so terrible to many is, that
they think so little of it, and are deaf to the sound and
sentence of it.
" 6. Having the sentence of death in us leads to the
use of means necessary to salvation. We see men,
when death in their apprehension is approaching, wish¬
ing prayers and visits from ministers.
"7. It supports under sufferings, 2 Cor. iv., 17.
"8. It will influence to self-examination. When the
midnight cry is made, it is time to see whether our
lamps are trimmed and burning."
IMPROVEMENT.
" 1. We see that there is evidently a controversy oe-
tween God and mankind in general, in relation to the
subject that has been discussed. God has pronounced
the sentence of death on men, but they practically deny
it, and pronounce the sentence of life.
" 2. There is the same propriety in treating our fel¬
low-creatures as dying men, as there is when actually
dying. Some that are now well may die before them.
"3. Thoughtlessness about death is a source of great
evil to men. 'Tis so in respect to families—closets—
house of God—visits—death-beds.
"4. We have reason to fear that the unconverted
will never be saved. They are dying, yet neglect sal¬
vation.
" 5. Sinners are in a dreadful state. Under sentence
of death, temporal, spiritual, and eternal."
272
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
This brief analysis can give but an extremely imper¬
fect impression of the sermon. The train of thought
here presented was interspersed with timely and im¬
pressive remarks, well adapted to the farewell occasion.
Mr. Haynes now returned to his family and flock, to
give the finishing strokes to his earthly labours—to bid
farewell to the world, and enter into his rest.
CHAPTER XVIII.
jews of his character as a man, a christian, and
k minister of the gospel, and on his death-bed.
From the preceding narrative it will be seen that Mr.
llaynes must have accomplished a great amount of
good. He was emphatically a self-taught man ; " the
founder of his own fortune." And, viewing his humble
origin, and the extremely limited means of his early
education, he cannot fail to be regarded as an extraor
dinary man. His influence over minds was wonderful.
He was also a child of grace, and no one could more
appropriately adopt the expression of the apostle Paul,
" By the grace of God I am what I am."
Could we ascertain what were the constituent ele¬
ments of his great usefulness, it would aid others in
their plans of doing good. They may be summarily
expressed in the following particulars :—
i. personal comeliness.
Although the tincture of his skin, and all his fea-
res bore strong indications of his paternal original^
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
273
yet in his early life there was a peculiar expressimi
which indicated the finest qualities of mind. Many,
on seeing him in the pulpit, have been reminded of
the inspired expression, " I am black, but comely."
In his case, the remarkable assemblage of graces which
were thrown around his semi-African complexion, espe¬
cially his eye, could not fail to prepossess the stranger
in his favour.
II. TENDERNESS AND SYMPATHY WITH OBJECTS OF
DISTRESS.
No man had a more feeling heart,, or was more sen¬
sibly affected at the sight of human suffering. Speak¬
ing in reference to his daughter, who was afflicted with
long-continued and painful illness, he said, " I sliall
spend all my property, if necessary, rather than she
shall suffer." In his last sickness, after being confined
almost wholly to his house, a young woman sickened
and died in the neighbourhood. Notwithstanding his
own distressed condition, he had many tender anxieties
for her, and offered prayer daily in her behalf. Hear¬
ing that her symptoms were worse, he said, " I must
see her again !" With great difficulty and suffering he
was carried to the house, that he might administer
comfort to a dying fellow-mortal.
His sensibility knew no bounds. He would never
see animals put to death if he could avoid it; much
less would he see them subjected to wanton and need
less torture. On seeing a lad having in his hand a
small snake, which he was wantonly torturing to death,
and was sporting with the writhings of the harmless
though accursed animal, he said to him, " Why do
you torture and kill the poor striped snake ? It does no
274
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
harm." The boy very sagely replied, " It's according
to Scripture, sir; the Bible says we must bruise the
serpent's head."—"That,"said Mr. Haynes, "means the
old serpent. You may bruise his head as much as you
have a mind." No one could more appropriately adopt
the language of Cowper, and few possessed a greater
measure of his indescribable loveliness and sympathy.
" I would not enter on my list of friends,
Tho' graced with polished manners and fine sense,
Yet wanting sensibility, the man
Who needlessly sets loot upon a worm."
III. QUICKNESS OF PERCEPTION.
" When a new subject was presented, or an intricate
question was introduced, on which he had never brought
his mind to bear, it was delightful to observe with what
power he grasped the s-ubject, and how readily he remo¬
ved the difficulties it involved. During his ministry at
Rutland, infidelity in various forms was fashionable.
The writings of Payne, Allen, and Ballou were in the
hands of many. The errors inculcated by these men
he often combated with great power, both in the pulpit
and in personal conversation. Other men may have far
exceeded him in deliberate and protracted investigation ;
but for a sudden conflict, or an effort strictly extempo¬
raneous, requiring all the energies of the mind at once,
his powers were transcendent. Instances often occur¬
red of a text being given him as he was about to com¬
mence a lecture or a funeral sermon, which, as a matter
of courtesy, he would accept, illustrating it with as
much self-possession and apparently with as much ease
as if he had meditated upon it for weeks."* He was
eminently ready for every emergency which reasonably
* Extract of a letter from Rev. A. Parmalee.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
275
claimed his ministerial services. In a number of ordi¬
nations, when the appointed preacher failed, he has,
without proper time for preparation, occupied the vacant
place with much ability and acceptance. In one such
instance, after the assembly had principally convened,
he sketched the plan of his sermon, which was entirely
appropriate, and was received with great satisfaction.
IV. GREAT MEMORY.
This high excellence was in part the gift of God, and
in part the result of persevering cultivation. " Memory
like a friend, loves to be trusted, and will amply reward
our confidence." Like other faculties of the mind, it is
capable of indefinite improvement.
"At the age of fifty," says Rev. Mr. Parmalee,
"he could repeat nearly the whole of Young's Night
Thoughts, Milton's Paradise Lost, Watts's Psalms and
Hymns, and large unbroken passages from different
authors, and more of the sacred Scriptures than any
man I ever knew. When he had listened to a sermon
or a conversation of great length, he could report the
whole, and much of it in the very terms in which it was
given. His memory was a safe depository for every
thing he thought worthy of retaining, and hence it be¬
came a sort of proverb among his students, that his
head was a concordance." In a single extempore
sermon he usually referred to twenty or thirty texts of
Scripture, always in his quotations giving chapter and
verse, sometimes adding, " If I mistake notgenerally,
however, recollecting with confidence. One of his stu¬
dents in theology says,* " I frequently noted the numer¬
ous p»£S?gp». quoted in his sermons, for the purpose
* Rev. Ashbel Parmalee.
276
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
of improving my own mind, as well as satisfying my¬
self in regard to his accuracy, but do not recollect a sol¬
itary instance of error."
His mind from childhood was subject to just that
discipline which was calculated to improve the faculty
of memory. He could obtain but few books, and with
the contents of these he became familiarly acquainted.
He was required by his master to render an account
of the sermons he heard on the Sabbath, and by this
means a habit of attention was formed, which no doubt
contributed greatly to the promotion of his extraordi¬
nary memory.
V. MATURE JUDGMENT.
The general confidence reposed in Mr. Haynes as a
counsellor, both by ministers and people, is proof of his
penetration in cases of difficulty, and of the general cor¬
rectness of his opinions. For many years, each party
m a difficult case was solicitous to secure his services,
as though safe under his adjudications. " His mind
however, was distinguished rather by native quickness
and energy, than by exact regimen. Hence his meas¬
ures as a counsellor and disciplinarian were not always
judged to be according to ecclesiastical order." Yet
such was his discernment of the human character, and
of the operations of different minds and tempers, that he
was qualified to form correct decisions, and was often a
great helper to the churches in this department of duty.
VI. LITERARY MERIT.
With regard to his learning, it has been already seen
that he began his ministry under great disadvantages
It was however his affliction, and not his fault, that he
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
277
was destitute of a classical education. No man appre¬
ciated more highly than he the various branches of ed¬
ucation, or laboured more pcrscveringly to furnish his
mind with useful knowledge. He used olton to say,
O ~
" If I were to live my life over again, I uculd devote
myself to books." He had never penetr, led far into
the exact sciences, nor was he extensively acquainted
with the Creek and Latin classics. His mind, how¬
ever, was richly stored with various knowledge, espe¬
cially that which was of immediate use in the work of
the ministry. As a writer or public speaker, he never
spent a moment to polish his style, or stepped aside to
pluck a flower. The Latin language he had studied,
and acquired a superficial acquaintance with some of
the classics. In Greek, he had never gone beyond the
Ureek Testament and Septuagint.
After all, he was not destitute of literary merit. The
English classics he had read with some attention, and
his remarks discover a correct taste for the beauties of
poetry and elegant composition.
On hearing the first page in " Akenside's Pleasures
of the Imagination," commencing thus—
" With what attractive charms this goodly frama
Of nature touches the consenting hearts
Of mortal man," &c.,
lie remarked, " The sentences are too long from one
period to another. The sense of the author is thus
rendered obscure.1' Johnson, in his " Lives of the
Poets," has precisely the same criticism. " His flow
is smooth, and his pauses are musical, but the concen¬
tration of his verses is generally too long continued, and
the full close docs not recur with sufficient frequency
The sense is carried on through a long intertexture 01
A a
278
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
complicated clauses, and, as nothing is distinguished,
nothing is remembered."*
As he was listening one day to the elegant paper in
Johnson's Rambler, " The Journey of a Day : a Pic¬
ture of Human Life," his son asked, " Is not that in¬
imitably beautiful ?" He replied, " It is well written,
but I think I have read something as striking;—let me
repeat it:—' And the voice said, Cry. And he said,
What shall I cry ? All flesh is grass, and all the good-
liness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass
withereth, the flower fadeth, because the spirit of the
Lord bloweth upon it.' "
In adverting to Johnson's remarks in the Life of
Waller, that " devotional poetry cannot often please,"
he expressed his dissent from the views of Johnson.
He thought, however, that many who had attempted to
versify passages of Scripture failed entirely. He some¬
times humorously quoted the following lines :—
" Hands have they, but they handle not,
Noses have they, but smell no jot."
He considered the following version of the forty-second
Psalm as superior in sublimity to that of Watts :—
"As pants the hart for living streams,
When heated in the chase,
So pants my soul to see my God,
And his refreshing grace.
" For thee, my God, the living Lord,
My thirsty soul doth pine ;
Oh ! when shall I behold thy face,
Thou Majesty divine !"
Johnson's closing sentence in the Life of Addison re¬
ceived his entire approbation :—" Whoever wishes to
# Vol. ii., page 52], Life 0/Akenside.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
279
attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and ele¬
gant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights
to the volumes of Addison."
Of the Spectator he used to say, with the exception
of Mr. Addison's papers and some others, it contained
a great deal of trash, and that selections should be
made for the young reader.
These hints might be multiplied to a great extent,
and they are inserted to exemplify the taste of Mr.
Ilaynes for ingenious classic writings.
In 1804, the honorary degree of Master of Arts was
conferred upon him by the trustees of Middlebury
College.
VII. INDUSTRY.
He early imbibed the sentiment of Seneca, " That
time is almost the only thing of which it is a virtue to
be covetous." Throughout his long life, he was con¬
scientious in the improvement of time. His early habits
were formed with reference to a rigid pursuit of busi¬
ness, day and night. He rose at an early hour, and often
trimmed the midnight lamp. He sometimes left his
bed for study in the dead of night, especially if he had
occasion to prepare a sermon in which his feelings were
deeply interested. The darkness and solitude of mid¬
night he considered as favourable to his meditations.
He was a zealous friend to persevering industry in
some honest calling; often repeating the following
lines :—
" Go to the shop, the plough, the hedge, the ditch,
Some honest calling choose,—no matter which ;
Be postman, porter, ply the labouring oar,
Employment keeps the bailiff from the door."
280
LIFK AND CHARACTER OF
VIII. DOMESTIC VIRTUES.
It was in the bosom of his family that his character
shone the brightest. As a husband and a father he had
no superior. Between him and the companion of his
choice there was a sanctified endearment which knew
no interruption.
His family, comprising his children, and occasionally
students in theology, was truly a little Zion. His
children were trained up in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord. While their understandings were well
cultivated, their hands were taught the useful arts of
life, and their minds were early imbued with religious
knowledge. Family government was strictly parental,
and in all respects the government of reason and prin¬
ciple, not of sudden passion or blind indulgence. When
a child committed a fault, there was tender and faithful
reproof, accompanied with a passage of Scripture di¬
rectly applicable to his case. The effect was great.
The feelings of the child were deeply impressed, and
the tears of penitence copiously flowed. Such govern¬
ment, while it secured the authority of the parent and
the dutifulness of the child, bound parent and child to¬
gether in the strongest ties of affection. One of his
sons adopts the following language as an expression of
his feelings :—" I will here say, that my father's coun¬
sels and prayers, I have reason to think, have kept me
from falling into many snares and temptations, with
which my life has been beset. His advice and warn¬
ings are as fresh in my memory as if they were uttered
yesterday. I have reason to bless God for the gift of
such a parent. May I never be guilty of any act that
»hall tarnish his memory."
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
281
Though his means of support were extremely limited,
yet his house was the home of the poor stranger, and
the resort, too, of men of taste and distinction, who were
drawn by the attractive ingenuity of the man.
The children were prone to regard their father as
sufficient authority for any point of doctrine or duty.
After gaining their father's opinion, it was as when in
old time they asked counsel of Abel; " So they ended
the matter." The father, however, utterly discounte¬
nanced the disposition to quote him as authority, insist¬
ing that the child should examine for himself. If it
was ever said, by way of proving any point in divinity,
"Father said so;" he would reply most earnestly,
"Don't make a Bible of me." One day, somewhat dis¬
turbed by being thus used, he repaired to his study and
penned the following couplets :—
"How often has my soul been vexed
When I am quoted as a text;
I must be burned at the stake
If you of me a Bible make."
Family worship was conducted in a manner both
delightful and highly instructive. It was attended at
an early hour both morning and evening. Each of
the children took a Bible,* while the father read from
the Greek Testament or Septuagint, always offering
such remarks on the portion read as were suggested
by his knowledge of the Greek. The Scriptures were
usually read in connexion with Scott, Henry, Guise,
Doddridge, M'Knight, Orton, or some other approved
commentary. At the close of the reading, if a difficult
passage had occurred, he was accustomed to say, " I
want light: who of you can give any ?" He com
* Their Bibles were the gift of the Rev. Dr. Proudfit,
A a 2
282 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
inenced with the youngest, and closed with Mrs
Haynes ; and, after gaining their views, he expressed
his own, or mentioned which opinion is the correct
one. If none of the opinions expressed by his chil¬
dren was correct, he sometimes said to his young
commentators, " You give darkness rather than light
on the subject."
Example I.—Exodus, 28th chapter.
Mr. Haynes. In ver. 34th, what is the meaning of
the pomegranate ?—have I ever explained it 1
Samuel. I recollect that you have.
Mr. II. How ?
•S1. The bell and the pomegranate represent religion •
—the bell the outward profession—the pomegranate
inward piety, or the fruit.
Mr. II. Does religion then consist in noise only ?
S. It does not.
Mr. II. Is it not repeated that there must be the
pomegranate ?
S. It is.
Mr. II. Is it not implied that there should be both
an outward profession and a holy life ?
S. I think it is; both are required—fruit always.
Mr. II. My son, is there not reason to fear that a
great many professing Christians have nothing but the
bell ?
Examtle II.—jLuke, 13/7/. chapter.
Mr. II. In ver. 32, why did our Saviour call Herod
a fore!
S. Because he is supposed to have been a cunning,
artful man.
Mr. II. For what other reason did he doubtless call
him a fox?—can you tell?
O. A fox is cruel and mischievous—Herod was
such.
REV. LEMUEL HAYflES.
283
Example III.—Psalm 84.
Mr. II. Ver. 6th : " Who passing through the valley
of Baca, make it a well." Can any of you explain the
verse 1
Ans. We cannot; will father explain it?
Mr. II. An old translation has it, " Who passing
through the valley of Baca, make God their well-
spring." Baca was a dry, barren vale, through which
the people travelled to meeting or to their place of
worship. Instead of fainting from thirst, they go on
cheerfully, "making God their well-spring;"—were
spiritually refreshed and comforted.
Mr. II. Ver. 5th : " In whose heart are the ways of
them." IIow arc the Voids explained ? do you re¬
member 1
E. In whose heart are the highways; i. e., whose
heart is in the way to worship—feeling an anxious de¬
sire to be on the road (as we say) to meeting.
Mr. II. Ver. 3 : Can any of you explain it ?
Ans. We wish father to explain it.
Mr. II. After the word young there should be a
period. The psalmist, having mentioned the privileges
of the sparrow and the swallow, then, after a full
pause, commences the subject which animated his own
soul: "Thine altars! thine altars!" For these he
longed. I think it incredible that these birds, as some
expositors explain it, build their nests on the altars !
I7!x ample IV.—Psalm 103.
Mr. II. Ver. 5: "Thy youth is renewed like the
eagle's." I lately explained it, but propose it again to
Bee if you remember. W , how is it?
W. "You observed that naturalists say, that the eagle
becoming old, the upper p:irt of the bill becomes so
lengthened as to prevent his tailing food. The bird
resorts to a rock and grinds oft his bill; and, by this
singular expedient, it can Lake food, and thus its age is
renewed.
284
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Example V.—Eccl., 3d chapter.
Mr. II. Ver. 2 : "A time to be born and a time to
die." Can any of you tell the remarkable omission
made here ?
Ans. Why ! it is not said there is a time to live.
The interim between our birth and our death is so
very brief, that the inspired writer is remarkably direct¬
ed to pass on without making any account of it.
Mr. H. Iiow should the thought affect us !
Here is a specimen of the manner in which Mr.
Haynes trained up his children to a critical and practi¬
cal knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. His house for
a short season each day was in a sense a theological
seminary. As he was remarkably fond of sacred mu¬
sic, and all the children could unite their voices, sing¬
ing was usually blended with the other devotional exer¬
cises. The whole service was short, as if he had in
mind what Whitefield said to his good deacon, who had
wearied him with a long prayer: " Sir, you prayed me
into a good frame, and you prayed me out of it." The
prayer was short, appropriate, and fervent. The
stranger, who has never witnessed these scenes, can in
nowise conceive the fervency which fired his heart
and glowed upon his lips. Never can the surviving
children cease to remember these sacred seasons
they might exclaim with Philip Henry, when he had
closed the duties of the Sabbath, " Well, if this be not
heaven, it must be the way to it."
ix. honesty.
He had adopted a high standard of severe and rigid
uprightness. Much as he suffered from the pressure
of want, and talented as he was in the business of
KiiV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
285
making a bargain, he was far removed from suspicion
in respect to the purest integrity. He admired, and
often quoted, the sentiment expressed by Johnson in
the Life of Sir Francis Drake : " The first step to
greatness is to be honest." When he heard of a revi
val of religion, he often inquired whether it made peo¬
ple honest; adding, " That religion is not worth any
thing which does not make men honest/" No man
could have a more sacred regard for dealing justly ; he
often expressed his perfect detestation of all man¬
oeuvres, shifts, or deceit, to avoid justice.
X. AFFABILITY.
After what has been already said, it is hardly neces¬
sary to say that Mr. Haynes possessed social qualities
of a high order. He was indeed the life of every cir¬
cle in which he moved. It was a common saying
among his parishioners, that Mr. Haynes could see
every person he met, and was not too proud to speak
to the lowest fellow-being. His speech was with
grace, seasoned with salt. Willi great facility he could
adapt himself to all classes. It is often a delicate task
to present the subject of religion with directness to
men of wealth and station. This duty he seldom neg¬
lected, and rarely failed of performing with efiect.
Especially did he possess the gift of the heavenly
Watts, in imparting instruction and delight to little
children. He seldom met a child without proposing a
question, suggesting a fact, or dropping a word of
counsel, which, from the peculiar manner in which it
was littered, became riveted in his memory. More
than half a century ago the worker met him in the high
wav, and the question he proposed seems like an event
286
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
of yesterday. No child could know him without lov¬
ing him. " I always loved Mr. Haynes," said an intel¬
ligent young lady; " when I was learning my alphabet,
lie told me, ' As soon as you have learned to read I
will give you a Bible,' and I have got it yet."
In some instances, a quotation from the poets, happily
applied, imparted vivacity to his conversation.
On hearing of the affecting catastrophe of the fall
of the large store of Phelps and Peck, in New-York,
which buried several men in its ruins, he instantly re
peated the following lines :—
" Our safety often into danger turns,
And our guard falling, crushes us to death."
Standing in the door of the village inn in Manches
ter, a stranger rode up, and a conversation commenced
involving the question how persons should act in pe¬
culiar exigences. After hearing'the remarks of the
tstranger, he added,—
" Who does the best his circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly—angels could no more."
His ready wit, which was of the most innocent and
chastened character, gave inexpressible sprightliness to
his social powers. If, through eager inquisitiveness, he
found himself in difficulty, he was ingenious in turning
his inadvertences to his own advantage. In a large
circle of clergymen and others on a public occasion,
Mr. Ilaynes inquired of a stranger present whether the
town of was supplied with a minister. Being an¬
swered in the affirmative, he inquired with much inter¬
est, "Do you know the man?"—"Yes," replied the
stranger, " I have some acquaintance with him."—
" Well, what is he as a preacher," said Mr. Haynes ;
" is ho a man of talents ?"—" I cannot say," replied
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
287
the stranger, " that he is a man of superior talents. He
is rather ordinary as a preacher."—" Why," said Mr.
H., " is a large town, comprising an intelligent
congregation. An ordinary man, I think, will riot an¬
swer for that place!" By this time a significant smile
round the room, which Mr. H. was quick to interpret,
discovered that the stranger was the minister of the
place referred to. "Well, well," said Mr. Haynes, " I
think their minister has one excellent qualification."—
"What is that?" continued the clergyman. "Why,
sir, I believe he is a man of truth /"
XI. TALENTS AS AN INSTRUCTER.
Previously to the existence of theological institutions,
the business of instruction in divinity devolved upon
pastors of the churches. About twenty young men
at different times were under the instruction of Mr
Haynes in this department of their preparation for the
ministry. The following extracts of a letter from the
Rev. Simeon Parmalee will give additional information
on this part of our narrative :—
• * * " Asa theologian, he was rather practical
than metaphysical. He was not an adept in nice dis¬
tinctions; hence he was more general in his views. He
directed his students to a system of questions, upon
which they were required to write, and submit their
dissertations to his critical remarks upon matter* style,
■plan, and sentiment. In these recitations he was very
instructive, sometimes exceedingly shrewd, and evea
severe. His greatest excellence as an instructer was in
teaching his pupils to sermonize. It was for this ob¬
ject mostly that many sought to spend time with him.
Some of his remarks and rules on this part of a minis-
288
LIFE AND CHARACTER 0tf
ter's labour I have not forgotten, and I rarely prepare a
sermon without having in my innul that man of God.
When he heard a man preach that played around his
text without analyzing or opening it, he was wont to
say, ' that, the preacher said some good things, but did
not draw the heart's blood of his text.1 He often said
to his pupils, ' See that you select the best thought in
your text, and then follow it out.' lie frequently said
of men whose sermons were without edge or point,
' They get their plans too quick.'—' If your subject,'
he often remarked, ' is well digested, and reduced to an
ingenious plan, you have little to fear about your scr
mon.' "
Extract of a letter from another of his students, the
Reverend Ashbel Parmalee, Malone, New-York:—
* * "I only remark in general, that he was a
great man, a preacher of the first order, eminent in his
gifts for prayer, a good instructer ; and I tender my
thanks to Almighty God for having placed me in early
life under his care, and given me so many opportunities
of receiving the most important lessons from his lips,
which I hope to carry to the grave, and to heaven."
He used to say, "that the exordium is usually the
most difficult part of a sermon. If a man stumble at
the threshold, he will be apt to appear awkward after
he enters the house."
lie sometimes adverted to the direction which Dr.
Witherspoon gave to his pupils :—" Never begin to
speak till you have got something to say, and always
stop when you have done."
The following is an expression of his opinion re
specting commentaries, of which he possessed several,
and studied them with great attention. He thought Dr
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
289'
Guise had furnished the best commentary on the diffi¬
cult passages in the New Testament. His expression
was, " He never went round the swamps." Scott's
commentary he thought to be excellent as a family
work, though rather loo prolix, and not as good for min¬
isters, wh<? wish for light on difficult passages, as
Guise, Henry, or Doddridge. He thought Orton was
underrated. He used in his last years to read his work
in the family, saying that he found more instruction
than he expected. He often alluded to the circum¬
stance of Orton's concluding, in most instances, his
recollections with some appropriate Scriptural passage.
He knew that the acceptance and success of a minis¬
ter depended not more on his talent in the pulpit than
on his conduct out of it. As a faithful instructer, he
often gave hints for the formation of ministerial charac
t.cr. In reference to bearing injuries with patience, he
often repeated an old minister's saying,—" If you can't
bear to hear a man say to you, ' You lie,'' when you
know that he knows that he lies, you are not fit to be
a minister." As a summary of every thing that could
be said in this connexion, he commended to his pupils
the very expressive direction of the Saviour,—" Be ye
wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." He would
pleasantly say, "An ounce of serpent to a pound of
doVe is generally enough !"
XII. EMINENT AND CONSISTENT PIETY.
His religious experiences were grounded upon a
change of heart, through the power of the Holy Ghost,
lie ever referred to the new and wonderful change
which he felt under the " apple-tree" as the commence¬
ment of his religious feelings. Previously to that raem-
Bb
290
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
orable event, he was the subject of many serious im¬
pressions ; but it was not till then, as he believed, that
his heart was sweetly constrained to accept the salva¬
tion of the gospel. His religion was based upon a firm
belief of the soul-subduing doctrines of the cross. He
seemed continually, and especially in scenes of deep
affliction, to look up to heaven with serene joy, that Je¬
hovah was on the throne. A remarkable spirituality
was apparent in his conversation, which plainly evinced
that he was familiar with Heaven. He loved the du¬
ties of the closet, where no eye but that of Omnis¬
cience witnessed his secret wrestlings with the angel
of the covenant. He was distinguished for great ten¬
derness, and was often deeply affected with a sense of
his own sinfulness. In prayer he seemed to covet the
lowest place, more than the throne of an archangel.
" I beheld the transgressors and was grieved." This
was characteristic of Mr. Haynes. In the pulpit, he
often wept in view of the exposure of others to the
wrath of God. If he possessed any one of the Chris¬
tian graces in a higher degree than the rest, it was
doubtless humility. He was everywhere surrounded
with incitements to pride; whenever he preached abroad
he was sure to draw a large audience, who hung upon
his lips with most flattering attention. If he travelled,
all classes were solicitous to give him entertainment.
Amid the admiration of crowded assemblies or the pres¬
sing invitations of his friends, he never discovered any
other feelings than those of marked humility. He often
spoke of Cowper, who stayed from public worship, fear¬
ing that by his presence he should defile the house of
God. In speaking of himself or of his performances,
he manifested great delicacy. He used to say, " It is a
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
291
greal deal for ministers to keep ego out of the pulpit.''
W hen led to speak or to offer prayer in reference to
himself, it was in terms of affecting self-abasement. He
loathed all self-exaltation. If his family, after he had
retired, spoke in commendation of his public perform¬
ances, he would stop his ears that he might not hear it.
lie was deaf to the voice of praise.
Finally, we may consider his ministerial gifts. Mr.
Haynes possessed a clear head and a pure heart. In
him was a rare union of qualifications for the gospel
ministry. His unoffending deportment and great spirit¬
uality ; his tenderness and humility; his quickness of
perception and strength of memory; his systematic
views of theology and comprehensive knowledge of all
subjects connected with his work as a minister of
Christ, fitted hitn to stand forth as " a burning and
shining light."
It is much to be regretted that he left no diary or
other writings on his own private religious experience.
" The living epistle," which his long life has left as a
legacy to all who knew him, may be " known and read
of all men." His piety was uniform, deep, and consist¬
ent, and always active. He was much in his closet;—
watched, and prayed, and fasted much; and, as one of
God's ministering angels in flesh and blood, he seemed
to maintain habitual communion with the Father of
spirits. He forgot himself while the glory of the Lord
and the interest of Zion lay near his heart. He was
like one standing on the verge of two worlds, viewing
alternately the one and the other, and taking his meas¬
ures in due regard to both.
His manner in the pulpit was peculiarly his own. I
Would describe him, "simple, grave, sincere." From
292
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
the very commencement of public service he held his
audience as by a kind of religious fascination. He
made no gestures except to wave horizontally the hand
in which he held his reference Bible. He never looked
a hearer in the eye, but seemed as much absorbed in
his subject as if no assembly was before him. His
enunciation, though remarkably clear, was extremely
rapid; a delightful flow of words and thoughts, as if
they were crowding each other for utterance. Remark¬
able as he was for wit and keen retort, he was never
known in the pulpit
"To court a grin when lie should win a soul."
His discourses were delivered either extempore or
memoriter, almost entirely. Occasionally you might
have seen him open his Bible and refer to the brief
heads of his sermon. You would be carried along
through the several divisions of the discourse as by the
charm of a musical instrument. Throughout his ser¬
mons, he kept his subject so thoroughly in view, and so
incessantly brought forward convincing arguments and
happy illustrations to confirm and explain it, that lit
rarely failed to produce a deep and permanent impres¬
sion. His sermons you could never forget. You would
have been occasionally thrilled with fine strokes of elo¬
quence. At the close of the service 3^011 would be
ready to say, as an interesting and intelligent lady once
said, after listening with rapture to his sermon from
Psalm xvi., 11, on heavenly joy^—"It seems as if the
angels had come down !" In short, " he was the orator
of nature, and such a one as nature would not blush to
own."
lie was always happy in the choice of his text.
Being a most thorough textuarist, the whole Bible was
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
at his command on all occasions. On the demise of
Napoleon Bonaparte at St. Helena, a respectable pa¬
rishioner proposed to him that the event should be com¬
memorated by a funeral discourse. " Is it best ?" said
he; " I can deliver a discourse if it is best. I have
thought of a text. ' The Lord hath taken away; bles¬
sed be the name of the Lord.'" His text rarely com¬
prised more than one verse^ and in many instances only
a single clause. It was always the very one which the
occasion required, and was presented to view so prom¬
inently, and connected so closely with the whole dis¬
course, that his texts and sermons have been remem¬
bered for half a century.
He discovered, great originality in the plan of his
sermons.
It was generally his method to reduce his text to a
categorical proposition, which he illustrated by three or
four distinct divisions, as the subject required. Much
ingenuity appeared in the arrangement of his subdivis¬
ions ; and the meaning of his whole text was given
with perspicuity and force. Although he followed the
method of the old divines in the multiplicity of his di¬
visions, yet lie never said Bthly or 9thly without a
thought which richly rewarded the attention of the
hearer.
The following skeleton of one of his sermons may be
regarded as a fair specimen of his manner.
" Zech. xi., 13 : 'A goodly price that I was prized at
of them.'
" There arc people to be found who sell the Lord
Jesus, and are wicked enough to think they make a
good bai'gain.
" I. Who are those that sell the Lord Jesus Christ.
B b 2
29i LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
" II. Whence it appears that they think they have
sold him for a ' goodly price,' or traded well.
" III. Expose the folly and criminality of their con
duct."
improvement.
"1. Were Christ personally here, he would fare no
better than he did in the days of his flesh.
"2. No wonder God has controversy with us ;—we
have sold Christ.
" 3. When God converts a sinner, he disannuls the
soul-destroying bargain.
"4. When he damns the sinner, he ratifies the bar¬
gain which he has made.
" 5. 'Tis more dangerous selling Christ than former¬
ly. Truth of Christianity is more confirmed.
" 6. This conduct of men should be a town-talk.
The reason why it is not is, that so many are in the
trade.
" 7. All should do what they can to break up such
bargains.
" 8. Examine—Have you sold Christ ? Is it not
written on your conduct—on the doors of your houses
— vour closets — your pew-doors — 'Christ sold
here ?' "
His preaching was doctrinal and discriminating.
u His theological views were systematic. They
embraced essentially the New-England orthodoxy of
the last age. He knew what he believed, and he was
distinguished for an uncompromising exhibition of the
doctrines of grace. - He preached these doctrines with¬
out distinction in revivals of religion. And perhaps no
pastor in Vermont enjoyed more abundant fruits of re¬
vival, for the size of his parish, than Mr. Haynes.
West Rutland was among the first and largest sharers
in that copious rain of righteousness in 1803-4. The
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
295
church was greatly augmented and edified. Several
churches in the neighbourhood sought and obtained his
labours when practicable. He was much in revivals,
and few pastors, I believe, will have a crown of more
gracious seals in heaven than Lemuel Haynes. In the
period of his strength and activity he held a high stand
ing with people of almost every class. He was greatly
beloved and esteemed by his ministerial brethren for his
sprightly gifts, his brotherly, meek, unassuming spirit,
and for his consistent, devoted piety. He was truly
' the brother whose praise was in the gospel through¬
out all the churches.' "*
He discovered an uncommon knowledge of men.
In his early life he was in the living, acting world, asso
ciated with men in the field, in the town-meeting, in the
camp, and in the daily intercourse of business and friend¬
ship. He knew the infidel, the caviller, the hypocrite,
the worldling, in their naked character. He was famil¬
iarly acquainted with men of all classes, and by hearing
the captious reasonings of the wicked against the doc¬
trines and duties of the gospel, he brought with him into
the ministry a knowledge which could never have been
gained from books alone. A knowledge of the human
heart is as truly necessary to the preacher as that of the
Holy Scriptures. In this important science Mr. Haynes
was exceeded by none of his contemporaries. He had
studied his own heart with tears and on his knees.
This knowledge of men and things is of inestimable
worth to the orator, and especially to the Christian
orator, whose most difficult work is to expose the de¬
ceitful windings and doublings of the human heart.
• Extract of a letter from Rev. W. Jackson, Dorset, Vt., who has fa»-
nished many interesting facts for this memoir.
2i>6
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
He compelled the poets to contribute from then
choicest treasures an interest and an impressiveness to
?iis sermons.
The best passages in Milton, Young, Cowper, and
Watts, were entirely at his command. If the impres¬
sion on an audience was to be deepened, or a sentiment
was to be exhibited more forcibly, they came at his
bidding.
He imparted weight to his discourses by appropri¬
ate and abundant quotations from the Scriptures.
If there was a text to his purpose, he selected it, and
brought it to the place where it was needed. In bibli¬
cal exegesis he was remarkably ready. The Bible had
been his study, and with several commentators he was
familiar. His memory seemed to be a kind of synopsis
criticorum, so that, on almost every text not perfectly
plain, he could give you the views of all the prominent
commentators, accompanied generally with pertinent
original suggestions. This added not a little to the in¬
terest of his conversation and of his public discourses.
There was throughout his sermons such an array of
Scripture proof, that opposition to the great doctrines
which he preached was felt to be opposition to the Bi¬
ble. His discourses being thus full of Divine truth, and
bearing the sanction of a " Thus saith the Lord,"
awakened great attention—took a deep hold upon the
soul—pierced the conscience—roused the affections—
and produced convictions of the truth and importance
of religion, which failed not to inspire a congregation
with a deep interest in their pastor, and with great re¬
spect for his character.
He was remarkable for his simplicity.
His style was neither vulvar on the one hand, ncr
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
297
florid 011 the other. It was plain and neat. His words
were chosen with special reference to carrying home
truth forcibly to persons of every variety of intellect.
He often referred to the original Scriptures,—not, how¬
ever, to make a display of learning, but to present some
new and important thought. His discourses, while they
interested persons of the most cultivated intellect, were
perfectly within the comprehension of the most ordi¬
nary capacity ; and even children could comprehend
every part of the sermon, and remember it distinctly
for years.
His illustrations were usually taken from the com
mon occurrences and objects of life, and were managed
with such felicity that every one saw and felt their
power. What Quinctilian has said of a discourse, pri¬
ma virtus orationis perspicuitas* was in the highest
sense applicable to his sermons.
lie was distinguished, for his animated delivery.
He had studied no rules of elocution, and was far
from being an accomplished orator. Occasionally he
adopted an obsolete expression, and his pronunciation
was that of the last age. It was apparent, however, on
his entering the pulpit, that he felt conscious of his aw¬
ful charge. He possessed not only a kind of poetic en¬
thusiasm, and knew how to employ the most lively
images as his subject required, but the tones of his
voice were natural, familiar, and insinuating. His man¬
ner was modest and deeply impressive. Sermons often
fail of producing effect from the cold and lifeless man¬
ner in which they are delivered. "How happens it,'
said a bishop to a stage-player, " that you treat of nc-
* Plainness is the chief excellent nf a sermon.
29a
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
tion, and yet people are attentive and deeply affected;
while we preachers treat of realities without effect?"
" Because," replied the stage-player, " you treat reali¬
ties as fictions, but we treat fictions as realities." In
the pulpit orator there is a certain quality which ani¬
mates and inspires his discourses, and never fails to
awaken emotion in the assembly. This quality is sen¬
sibility. Hence the Latin poet Horace thought that
the orator must himself feel the passion he would de¬
scribe :—■" Si vis me jlere, dolendum est primurn ipsi
libi /"
It was this quality of mind in Mr. Haynes, in con¬
nexion with his holy fervour, that gave him such influ¬
ence as a public speaker. It wras this that rendered his
services so desirable and so interesting on funeral oc¬
casions. His addresses at the grave were exceedingly
impressive. On one occasion he said, " Come, my
friends, let us look into our house. Here we must soon
be placed. It is ours in a peculiar and appropriate
sense. We deserve it, and our sins have ensured it to
us. How dreadful the thought to the impenitent sin¬
ner, to go down to this region ' with endless curses on
his head.' To such it is a dreary abode. It sometimes
makes the good man tremble to think of lying here.
How then must it startle tbe sinner!"
Mr. Haynes was seen to be the man of God in the
pulpit and out of it. Such he was in the social circle,
in the chamber of sickness, in the house of mourning,
and in all the intercourse of life. Such a preacher,
bearing about with hitn the credentials of the Lord,
" resembles the angel of the Apocalypse, who was seen
standing in the sun." He cannot fail to produce effect
on the minds and consciences of men, and to gather
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
299
around him a church which shall " be in earnest about
their eternity." And if the immortal Shakspeare had
intentionally described him in the following lines, he
could not have greatly erred :—
" He was a man, take him for all in all:
We ne'er shall look upon his like again."
Extract of a letter from Rev. Simeon Parmalee,
Westford, New-York:—
* * "For the last twenty-eight years I have known
little of that ever memorable man, Reverend Lemuel
Haynes, except from occasional interviews; hence I
must depend on memory for what I may state respect¬
ing him. No man, however, not even my own father,
has more perfect standing in my recollection than that
affectionate and extraordinary man. My native place
was within ten miles of his residence at West Rutland.
He was a most intimate friend of our beloved pastor,
and often exchanged pulpits with him on the Sabbath.
The fact was always announced on the preceding Sab¬
bath, and he never failed of securing a crowded assem¬
bly. Hence, from a child, I entertained the most exalt¬
ed views of the man, and nothing would induce me to
be absent when he was to supply the pulpit. While
yet a careless youth, I well remember that I regarded
it as a serious evil to find myself belated so as to de¬
prive myself of the first prayer. There was something
in the looks, manner, and gesture of the man that chain¬
ed my attention, and impressed my youthful mind with
the thought that he was something more than human.
I often passed the Sabbath with a sister, who, with her
husband and some of the children, were members of
his church ; and my visits were a source of great pleas¬
ure, as I could enjoy the luxury of hearing Mr. Haynes
on the Sabbath. After making a profession of religion,
which was in early life, I became more intimately ac¬
quainted with him. While studying divinity, I spent
the most of one season in his family, and enjoyed the
privilege of sitting under his ministry. One peculiar
300
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
character of his talents in the pulpit was great solem¬
nity. When he ascended the pulpit, it was with a
gravity which seemed to indicate that he felt the ama¬
zing weight of his charge as an ambassador of God to
dying men. His solemn counlenance, with an eye
quick and piercing, at once hushed every thing like lev¬
ity in the assembly, and compelled all to feel that they
were in God's house. His reading was somewhat old-
fashioned and monotonous, but peculiarly impressive.
His prayers were inimitable. They were expressed in
language peculiarly solemn, and reverential, and hum¬
ble. He seemed to feel like a guilty offender upon his
knees before the great Sovereign of the universe, plead¬
ing for guilty worms, himself the mo?l guilty. He
seemed to sigh for a more humble spirit, often closing
his prayers with such an expression as this,—' When
our poor services here are ended, oh, let us sit down in
that world of eternal humiliation, where we shall serve
thee more acceptably.' When notes for special prayer
were presented, he was wonderful in introducing them
in such a manner as to bring the subjects in the most
moving manner before the eye of the congregation.
His sympathies were uncommonly strong. Both his
matter and manner in prayer were original. He was
the least formal, in the family and in the pulpit, of any
man I ever heard. He often commenced family prayer,
in which he was always short, with a passage of Scrip¬
ture like the following,—' It is good to give thanks unto
thee, O God.' In praver and in preaching, it may be
said of him that he was like no one else. His choice
of a text was peculiar. His plans were original. He
wras mighty in the Scriptures, and he could quote them
from memory, referring to chapter and verse. This
practice gave him 110 small share of popularity. I have
heard him often on important occasions, when called to
preach at the funeral of distinguished characters, or at
ordinations, when he rarely came up to himself. He
shone brightest in his own pulpit. His gestures were
few, and those not the most graceful. But there was
an earnestness in his manner, and looks, and language,
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
301
which told on the consciences of his hearers. His dis¬
course; were plain to be understood, exceeding prac¬
tical au'l pointed. Few incji Jiuvc at command a greater
lund of useful knowledge than he; and it was so man¬
aged as to render his sermons both useful and enter¬
taining. i\ot merely the common people, but all
classes were delighted in listening to Ins ingenuity.*
Though possessed of rare wit, he seldom employed it
in the pulpit. Tears were much more common than
smiles in the congregation. At a meeting of ministers,
if an accidental sermon was called for, it almost uni¬
formly fell on Mr. Haynes to be the preacher."
Ills LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH.
It was the prayer of John Wesley, " Lord, let mc
not live to be useless." Mr. Haynes lived to a good
old age, but not one day too long. His powers of use¬
fulness continued in such a degree that he officiated
in the ministry till within five months of his decease.
And these months, though marked by severe suffering,
were distinguished for sweet submission, and a hope
full of immortality.
After taking a final leave of friends in Granville,
Massachusetts, he returned in August to his beloved
flock in Granville, New-York, and continued his pas¬
toral labours, as usual, through the year. Early in the
year following he penned his last sermon from these
words : " And serve him day and night in his temple."
He was now contemplating the " saint's everlasting
rest," a subject on which he had often dwelt with
great delight, and which, as he drew near to eternity,
was unquestionably invested with new interest. His
mind was elevated with heavenly contemplations.
• The president of one of our colleges, hearing him preach on Judas'#
selling Christ, remarked, that " there were more rich thoughts ia that dis¬
course than any he had ever heard."
302
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Symptoms of disease indicated that the time of hi?
departure was at hand. Early in March a species of
gangrene appeared in one of his feet, which threaten¬
ed speedy dissolution. For three weeks he experi¬
enced extreme anguish day and night. There was
then a mitigation of the violence of disease, and he re¬
sumed his pastoral labours. On the 7th of April ho
preached at the funeral of a young man from 2 Cor. v.,
1 : " For we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
His aspect was of such a death-like paleness, that he
seemed, in a sense, to be preaching his own funeral
sermon. For several weeks, though at the expense of
great suffering, he met his congregation twice on the
Lord's day. His last sermon delivered in public was
from Luke iv., 16: "And, as his custom wTas, he wenl
into the synagogue on the Sabbalh day."
He now bade farewell to his pulpit, and retired to
the bosom of his family to die. And he retired laden
with the blessing of multitudes, whose gratitude, con¬
fidence, and affection he carried with him to his grave.
In May he was confined for the most part to his
house, but still had strong desires to preach the gospel
to his fellow-men. To a brother in the ministry he
made the following remarks : " I am strong in the be
lief of the same doctrines, and wish to die preaching
the same gospel, which, for more than fifty years, I
have proclaimed to mankind."
In these externally afflicting circumstances, the Rev
crend Mr. Jackson, of Dorset, says.—
" It is worthy of remark, that such was the affection
.and sympathy of our churches for Mr. Haynes, when
REV. LEMUEL IIAYNES. 303
compelled by infirmities to resign his work, the Rut¬
land Consociation, in June, 18:33, appointed a com¬
mittee of ilieir own body to see that this aged servant
of Cod should be carefully provided for, and not suffer
any privation which could be prevented. And, as soon
as this co'mmittce notified the churches that there was
need, ample relief began lo flow in from the churches,
and continued for a season even after his decease."
It is a just saying of Logan, "that afflictions, sup¬
ported by patience and surmounted by fortitude, give
the last finishing to the heroic and gracious character."
Mr. Ha ynes was one .of whom it might be emphati¬
cally said, "1 have chosen thee in the furnace of
affliction." From his birth "he had been set as a
mark for the arrow." While he was distinguished in
every period of life by rich expressions of Divine
favour, his cup was mingled with draughts of severe
suffering. But it wras apparent that each successive
trial carried him forward in meetness for the world of
glory.
Mr. Haynes did not die suddenly, but had time for
self-examination and prayer. He could deliberately
review the past and look forward to the future. He
did not suffer a wreck of intellectual powers, but he
was calm and collected even to the last. His death¬
bed was a scene of triuixph. His whole deportment
showed that he was familiar with heaven.
As summer months advanced, the gangrene spread
in his diseased limb, and the only hope was in ampu¬
tation. In July a council of physicians was called, his
own son being one of the number, and the result was
not to amputate. About this time he writes to one of
his sons at a distance, and the letter carries with il
304
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
the proof that " his right hand had lost its cunning." In
this letter he says :—
* * * " My situation is much as it has been—I
think not very encouraging. I am in the hands of
God, and in a measure reconciled to his will; and it is
impossible to determine what will be the issue of the
disease. I hope I can say, ' The Lord reigns, bles¬
sed be his name.' But you see what poor work I
make of writing—should be glad to see you all before
I die—I commit it all to God. Oh ! remember your
Creator! Let not the fashions of the world divert
your minds from eternity !
" Your dying father,
" Lemuel Haynes.
" 2d July, 1833."
This letter being finished, the hand that wrote it laid
down the pen for ever.
Through a long and active life he had been familiar
with "the chamber where the good man meets his
fate;" he had often alluded to it in the pulpit. No
man could speak more tenderly or eloquently of the
dying Christian. He had aided many a weary travel¬
ler to close his pilgrimage in peace. Now it was a mat¬
ter of personal experience.
It is to be acknowledged that his sky was not cloud¬
less. He had seasons of desertion and doubt, when dark •
clouds obscured his prospects of heavenly rest. And
yet, in these seasons of the hidings of his Father's coun¬
tenance, with holy confidence he trusted in the Lord,
and stayed himself upon God. If he was at times com¬
pelled to express his feelings in the language of the
pensive Psalmist, " Why art thou cast down, O my
soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ?" ho
could also add, " Hope thou in God, for I shall yet
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
306
praise him, who is the health of my countenance and
my God." When the Sun of righteousness shone, his
face was cheered with a smile, and he longed to depart
and to be with Christ in glory. To the Rev. Mr. Clark,
who resided in the vicinity, and often visited him in his
last sickness, he said, " I have been examining myself
and looking back upon my past life, but I can find
nothing in myself and nothing in all my past services to
recommend me at the bar of Jehovah. Christ is my all.
His blood is my only hope of acceptance. I have been
praying for the faith of assurance, and feel that I have
almost attained it. My pains are great; but, blessed be
God, they are not eternal. I long to be in heaven.
Oh ! what blessed company will be there ! I shall there
see not only many great and good men whom I have
seen and loved on the earth, but I shall there see Henry,
and Scott, and Guise, and Owen ! I shall see Abra¬
ham, and the prophets, and apostles, in the kingdom of
glory ! These men I have revered on the earth, and
hope to see and converse with them in 3'0nder brighter
world."
The visits of his ministerial brethren were peculiarly
refreshing to him. The Rev. Mr. Whiton, of Salem,
his beloved and intimate friend, visiting him, said,
" You have a claim upon me. I have left my sick
paople to come and see you. Shall I stay by you ?"
" Oh ! yes," said Mr. Hayncs, " I want your company
to all eternity. Do pray for me." His daughter hav¬
ing in her hand Jancway's " Best Friend in the Worst
Times," lie requested Mr. Whiton to read the conclu¬
sion. " And now my work is done. I must leave you ;
and whether I shall ever again see you or speak to you,
1 know not. My body is frail, and I am a poor dying
C c 2
806
LIFE AND CHARACTER OP
man." After the reading was closed, Mr. Haynes, with
great earnestness, said, "Isn't that good? Isn't thai
good ?"
" During his last sickness I thought it my duty,"
says Rev. Mr. Wilson, " to make some effort to minis¬
ter to his comfort, and to relieve the temporal wants of
his family. In the prosecution of my work, I repeat¬
edly made the remark that it was pleasant business;
everybody was so ready to give for the relief of Mr.
Haynes. On carrying to him the collection we had
made, he received it very thankfully, saying, ' I believe
the Lord has sent you.' I inquired of him respecting
his hope in Christ. He very feelingly replied, ' I know
in whom I have believed, and I am not afraid to trust
myself in his hands.' "
"At another time, finding him exercised with consid¬
erable pain, I asked him whether he enjoyed the satis¬
faction of a heart submissive to God. He immediately
replied, ' I have been preaching love to God and sub¬
mission to his will for almost fifty years, and I have no
idea of undoing what I have been trying to do almost
my whole life.'"
Some months previous to his last sickness, it was no
ticed by his family, that in prayer-meetings and family
worship he often read the G3d Psalm of Watts.
" 'Twas in the watches of the night,
I thought upon l.hv power,
I kept thy lovely face in sight
Amid the darkest hour.
" My flesh lay resting on my bed
My soul arose on hijh^
'My God, my life, my hope,' I said,
' Bring thy salvation nigh.' "
During his protracted and painful illness, when
REV. LEMUEL HAYNE3. 307
* months of vanity and wearisome nights were appoint¬
ed unto him," the stanzas of this delightful psalm were
his solace in the night-watches. To those who had at¬
tended him through the night, he often said in the morn¬
ing, "What a happy night I have had ! What mani¬
festations of God's love to my soul !"
Some days previous to his death, a conversation,
never to be forgotten, occurred between him and one of
his sons. The subject was—eternity! On such a
theme, it is easy to conceive that a train of solemn and
highly interesting thoughts would pass from such a fa*
ther to his son. At length the son said to him, "Fa¬
ther, is death a terror to you?" He was not surprised
at the question. With a benignant smile, and with thai
peace that passeth all understanding, he replied, " Sam¬
uel, it has been rising of fifty years since I have been
preparing for this, and do you think I shall now shrink
back? No—no!" He then repeated his favourite lines
from Gospel Sonnets.
" Dost know the place, the spot of ground," &c.
Throughout his sickness, there was manifested a
sweet sense of obligation for the kindness and care of
his family and friends about him. Respecting a sister
in the church, whose repeated calls affected him even
to tears, he said, What an excellent woman ! 41 waa
sick and ye visited inc.'" To her two little daughters,
who were often in attendance, manifesting their sympa¬
thy and care, lie said, " Mav the Jjcrd bless these l^nd
children ! May the Lord bless them with salvation!"
To his family, whose tenderness could not be exceeded,
he often said, " I fear I am troublesome," and wept
under a grateful sense of their kindness.
308
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Morning and evening worship, as it had been con
ducted in his family, was in some sense a foretaste of
heavenly joys. The last time he led the family to the
throne of grace was within eight days of his dece^e,
and in a sitting posture in his study. He enjoyed his
usual enlargement, praying very fervently not only for
his wife and children, but for the beloved church under
his care, and especially for the impenitent of all classes.
He was now rapidly wasting away, and ripening for
the world of glory. One morning as he awoke, he said,
" Oh, my dear wife, what a night of consolation I have
enjoyed! What divine manifestations ! Oh, I am
well!" He sometimes called his family together, and
requested them to sing the hymn entitled Night
Thoughts.
" How can I sleep while angels sing,
And all the saints on high," &c.
A great part of the time he lay apparently in a state
of insensibility. Once, after lying some hours in this
condition, he noticed in the room his daughter who
was not a professor of religion. Beckoning her to his
bedside, he took her by the hand, and as he spake to
her in whispers, she wept much. She said to him,
"Father, pray for me after you get to Heaven." Sud¬
denly a kind of holy indignation seemed to kindle in his
features, and he said, " No ! no ! no !" expressing great
displeasure at the unscriptural suggestion.
On Thursday, two days before his death, having lain
quietly through the day, he requested one of his daugh¬
ters to come to his bedside, when he thus exclaimed,—
" What wonderful views I have had this day ! I have
been brought to the borders of the grave. Oh! what
REV. LEMUEL HA YlfES.
309
views! Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! I have
heard singing. Oh ! how wonderful! I am well. Glory
ineffable !" He often repeated the following stanza •—
" Now let me rise and join the song,
And be an angel too ;
My heart, my hands, my ear, my tongue,
Here's joyful work for you."
Two days before his death, a pious lady, solicitous
to know the feelings of the dving saint, said to him,
" Mr. Haynes, how do you feel ?" Raising his hand,
and striking several times significantly on his breast, he
replied in a whisper, for his voice had now failed,—
" Happy ! happy ! happy !" and then stretched his
hands upward, as if longing to depart.
On the last day of his life, after he had seemed ac¬
tually to have entered the dark valley, he suddenly re¬
vived, and exclaimed with an air of transport,—" Oh !
what beauties I have seen ! Glories of the other world !
What joys do I feel! I have seen the Saviour !" He
remained in this state of inward peace and triumph.
Now, as he was lingering on the verge of heaven, he
was heard to say, " I love my wife, I love my children,
but I love my Saviour belter than all."
At half past three o'clock, on the 28th of September,
he fell asleep, and one move was added to that great
multitude which no man could number, who stand be¬
fore the Lamb, clothed in white robe?, and palms in
their hands. Not a murmur could be uttered by sur¬
rounding relatives. God had done all tilings well. His
servant had " come to his grave in a full age, like as a
shock of corn cometh in in his season."
"lie taught us how to live, and oh, too high
The price of knowledge, taught us how to die "
810
life and character of
Extract of a letter from his son Samuel to his brother
William
Dear Brother,
* * All is over. Our "beloved father is no more.
May every murmur be hushed, lias not the Lord
been gracious in that he has continued our father so
long? We have heard his admonitions for many years
—have been blessed with his society and prayers. Our
father was happy in death ; his sun set clear. I could
not forbear calling to mind the expressive lines of
Waller,—
" His soul's weak cottage, battered and decayed,
Let in new light through chinks disease had made."
He could say but little to us—admonished us to walk
in the ways of wisdom—live in love—implored the God
of peace to be with us.
Your affectionate brother,
Samuel,
from iiis daughter electa.
* * * I have seen lonely hours, and had painful
feelings—mourning the loss of a dear father, who was
our best friend. I stood over him, and heard his dying
admonitions. He said to me, " Electa, peace be with
you, and the God of peace bless you." Oh, precious
words ! I often think of them with tears. And were
they heard in heaven ? And will the blessing of God
rest on w orthless me ? Did not my dear father die in
a good old age ? Was he not gathered to his people ?
Has he not longed to see the good old patriarchs ?—the
beloved Baxter ?—Watts ?—Church ?—with innumera¬
ble brethren in the ministry ?—the incomparable Ains-
worth ? as you heard him often mention. When 1 was
wiping the sweat off from his face, he said to me, "Oh,
remember these things/' These words shall I ever
forget ? His mind continued sound—his understanding
clear. I think in theology it excelled. Truly he died
the death of the righteous. His Maker kissed his soul
awav. In this room I have often met with him in
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
:311
prayer. Often, while watching with him, lie said, "We
will pray." The last time I attempted to pray with
our dear father was when he was dying. I kneeled by
the side of his bed as he desired. It was pleasing to
pray once more with our dear father. He appeared
sensible of what was uttered.
Your sister with affection.
During his long illness, the people of his pastoral
charge paid him the most affectionate and respectful
attentions. His brethren in the ministry were constant¬
ly resorting to his house, to make inquiries respecting
his situation, to administer the consolations of the gos¬
pel, or to catch the falling mantle of the departing saint.
His funeral was attended on the following Monday,
when a large concourse of people and several ministers
of the gospel convened. The Reverend David Wilson
led in prayer before the corpse was removed from the
dwelling. The public services at the church began by
singing the 75t.h hymn of the 2d book of Watts,
which had been selected by a favourite grandchild of
the deceased. The Reverend John Whiton preached
a sermon adapted to the mournful occasion, from Phil
i., 23 : " For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a de
sire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far bet
ter." The Reverend Mr. Drury gave a brief sketch of
the life and character of the deceased. The hymn
composed by the deceased was sung agreeably to his
request. And they took up the body, and went and
buried it.
The following record was entered on the minutes of
the Rutland Consociation :—
"Whereas Rev. Lemuel Hayncs has been connected
with this Consociation from its organization, and hat)
312
life and character of
laboured long and usefully in the service of our Sav¬
iour; and whereas he has been called during the past
year, as we trust, to his crown in heaven;
" Resolved, That we affectionately cherish his mem¬
ory, and record on our minutes this tribute of our re
spcct."
At his grave a plain marble monument is erected,
with a brief inscription. It was not known to his
friends at the time of its erection, that, although he had
left but few records of his life, yet he had left, in his
own handwriting, the following inscription for his tomb¬
stone, prepared probabfy when he was in the meridian
of his days :—
" An epitaph to be put upon my tombstone.
"Here lies the dust of a poor hell-deserving
sinner, who ventured into eternity trusting
wholly on tiie merits of CllRIST for salvation.
In the full belief of the great doctrines he
preached while on earth, he invites his chil¬
dren, and all who read this, to trust their
eternal interest on tiie same foundation.
"LEMUEL HAYNES,"
" who died"
September 28th, 1833.
REV. LEMUEL HAYNES.
3m
LOVE IN DEATH.
"1 love my wife, I love my children, but I love my Saviour better thao
all."—Dying testimony of Rev. Lemuel Iiaynes.
The following lines were kindly furnished for this volume
by Miss A. D. Woodbridge.
'Twas silent all around that dying bed,
Tho' to its deepest source the fount of thought
Within each heart was stirred.
Prostrate there lav
The man of God, who to his Master's work
Had gone unceasing forth, while time rolled on
Full half a hundred years. Ay, longer still,
He had not ceased to cry, to lift the voice,
And show the people their transgressions all •
And then to point to Jesus as the way,
The truth, and life, for erring, sinful man.
'Twas silent all! for there was heard no voice
Of wailing or remorse : No half-formed prayers
For mercy, slighted long—no fruitless plea
To the destroying angel. Not a sigh
Escaped those lips ; and on that reverend brow
No cloud was darkly brooding. No! his eye
Was bright, e'en now, as if it caught a ray
Of heavenly glory ; and his ear seemed turned
To catch the rustling of that angel's wing,
Who came to bear him to his far-off home,
Where God unveils his glory ;—where the hosts
Of blissful spirits bow, and strike with joy,
With bliss unutterable, their golden harps !
He knew that soon the messenger would come—
Ho felt his work was ended. On his soul
Press'd heavily the weight of fourscore years:
And soon, ah! soon, he knew the silver cord
Of life would part asunder. Yet, e'en new,
He felt his anchor sure, and calmly he
Had laid him down to die.
'Twas silent all!
Save now and then a stifled sob of grief,
Or half-check'd sigh, told of the swelling hearts
Who formed that sorrowing group. They press'd around
To gaze once more, as if upon the wreck
Of their lon^-cherished hopes to meet once more
D d
314
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
Affection's fondest glance. 'Twasthen ms eye
Was dimmed with tear-drops, as he looked on each
Among that household band. 'Twas then a shade
Pass'd o'er his wasted features, and the chords
Of strong affection stirr'd within his breast.
Yet even then he asked not longer life,
But gently raised his hand, as to invoke
A parting blessing—looked once more on all,
And then exclaimed, " I love my wife full well,—
I love my children dear,—but more than all,
Far more, I love my Saviour !"
This was love !—
Love even unto death.
rev. lemuel hayne3.
315
REMINISCENCES OF THE LATE REV. LEMUEL
HAYNES. BY A FRIEND.*
My acquaintance with this extraordinary man com¬
menced in the autumn of 1819. He was then the
minister of the Congregational church in Manchester,
Vermont, and about sixty-four years of age. I had
heard much of his eccentricities for many years, and
his celebrity, as the successful antagonist of Ballou
(the champion of univcrsalism), had awakened my
curiosity to see him.
Being called to minister to a neighbouring congre¬
gation, my curiosity was no sooner gratified than it be¬
gan to be lost in the intimacies of a Christian friend¬
ship, which continued without interruption, excepting
by our removal to more distant fields of labour, during
the remainder of his days. For several years he was
my neighbour, my friend, and one of the most esteem¬
ed and venerated counsellors of my youth in the minis¬
try. My recollections of him are, of course, mingled
with a feeling of affectionate respect for his character
as a whole, which merges the prejudices of taste, and
throws an air of comeliness over the person even of
my departed and venerated friend. I feel incompetent
to do justice to his rare and varied excellences. Yet
the existing social disabilities of the African race in
this country are such, that it seems especially incum¬
bent on us to hold up, as encouragements to the de¬
pressed and neglected, the example of those few indi-
* Rev. Dr. Peters, of New York.
316 REMINISCENCES OF THE LATE
viduals who, by the force of native talent and the
grace of God, have been enabled to overcome all the
embarrassments of their condition, and to attain to a
degree of. intellectual and moral culture, which places
them in the highest circles of respectability and useful¬
ness. Such examples are doubly interesting to the
philanthropist and the Christian. They cast their ra¬
diance onward, like the dawn of the morning, and indi¬
cate the coming of that day when, in answer to the
prayers of the church, and the patient endeavours of
the benevolent, all " the oppressed shall go free," and
" Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God."
He was cheerful and amiable in his intercourse ;
and though often, and most naturally facetious, he
was manifestly guarded by a disciplined conscience
against excessive indulgence in mirth, and possessed
the rare talent of mingling with his wit and repartee
the solemn admonitions of principle. His facetious-
ness, indeed, seemed a near neighbour to his piety;
and while the former was chastened by the latter,
itself was, in return, rendered more attractive by its
association with the former. His conversation, there¬
fore, seldom failed to be instructive and profitable, as
well as amusing. His manners, though respectful,
were free, and usually unembarrassed. They were
also plain and antiquated, the relics of a farmer age,
but slightly modified by the refinements of the present;
and the style of his thinking and of his remarks, both
in conversation and in writing, would often remind one
of the days of Cotton Mather and the " Magnolia
Americana"
lis memory was remarkably tenacious of what he
Aad seen, heard, and read; and having had access to but
REV. LEMUEL HAYNE8.
317
few books,* he seemed to have devoured them all, and
to have stored his mind with the whole of what they
contained. He had studied the Latin, and was apt and
ready in quotations from the authors he had read in this
language. He was also familiar with the Greek of the
New Testament; and by the study of such commenta¬
ries as he was able to procure, he hud enriched the
storehouse of his memory with much of the learning of
Pool, Henry, and others. He had read Edwards, and
Bellamy, and Hopkins, and was familiar with their
leading views, though not able to possess their works.
Having indeed, as we have already intimated, but few
books upon his shelf, his memory was his library, stored
with a rich variety of knowledge, not arranged with
much apparent system, yet each portion of it, familiar
to himself, was ever ready at his call when occasions
demanded its use.
His mind also was active and fruitful in invention,
and in the combinations of thought lie was eminently
original. Limited in his reading to a narrow rar>ge, he
was accustomed, in his preparations for the pulpit, to
depend especially upon the study of the Bible, with
which he had cultivated a familiarity equalled by few,
and surpassed by no one whom I have ever known.
His theology was accordingly in a high degree biblical;
and, as a consequence of this, both his piety and his
teaching were simple and unencumbered. lie studied
his sermons with care, but seldom wrote them. His
notes for the desk were a brief skeleton of what he in¬
tended to say. In the filling up of this outline, he felt
and exhibited the entire freedom of an extemporaneous
• His libiarv consisted of between three and four hundred select books,
Dd 2
318
REMINISCENCES OF THE LATE
speaker, and turned with readiness and rapidity to the
numerous passages of Scripture with which the many-
parts of his discourse were at once linked together and
rendered replete with divine instruction.' Asa preacher,
therefore, he commanded attention, and was always
heard with interest. The topics of his discourses were
strictly evangelical, and less various than they probably
would have been under a different training; but his il¬
lustrations of truth were ever-changing, novel, and stri¬
king, while his replies to the objections of infidelity and
the cavils of skepticism were often pointed and polished
with the keenest irony and the most felicitous wit. His
discussions were thus rendered no less entertaining than
instructive, and, though he seldom held a congregation
long without producing a smile, either by the quaintness
of his manner or the piquancy of his remarks, the pre¬
dominant influence his preaching was to produce so¬
lemnity of feeling and deep conviction of truth. His
eccentricities would have been faults in any other man,
but in him they were so inherent and essential to his
character, and his wit was so spontaneous, and came, as
it were, without his bidding, that they neither interrupt¬
ed the current of his own piety, nor often weakened the
religious influence of his discourses upon others.
It is apparent, then, that Mr. Haynes was at once a
most eccentric and interesting man. Born under the
embarrassments of illegitimacy, having been, in the most
condemning sense of that penitential expression of the
Psalmist, " shapen in iniquity," he was nevertheless
endowed by his Maker with talents of a high order, and
was early made a subject of that grace which redeems
from all sin, and translates its trophies from the power
of Satan unto God. Thus redeemed and regenerated,
REV. LEMUEL HAYNE3.
319
lie left the paths of infamy in which his unnatural par
rents had forsaken him, and, under the kind hand of a
protecting Father in heaven, he was trained to fill a
sphere of distinction and usefulness to which few com¬
paratively of the saints of God on earth are advanced,
He was an able and faithful minister of the New Tes-
tament, whose profiting appeared unto all. His learn¬
ing as well as his talents commanded the respect of the
intelligent, and his unassuming and amiable piety se¬
cured the confidence of both the good and the bad. His
very colour, which marks the neglect and servitude of
his race in this country, associated, as it was in the
subject of these remarks, with his high qualifications to
entertain and instruct, became the means of increasing
his celebrity and enlarging the sphere of his influence.
Among strangers it attracted crowds to hear him, and
even where his labours were statedly enjoyed, it se¬
cured the attention of some who were holden by curios¬
ity, until conscience became permanently awakened, and
thev were bound by stronger and better ties to the priv¬
ileges of the sanctuary. He was accordingly every¬
where respected for his works' sake, and highly honour¬
ed by his brethren in the ministry. His memory is still
precious to the several churches which he served during
a period of over half a century, and few of the watch¬
men of Israel have been called from their stations on
earth with better hopes of receiving " many souls in
glory as the crowns of their rejoicing."
APPENDIX
As the wish has been expressed by many that this
—one may contain as much of the writings of Mr.
Haynes as practicable, the following selections from
his printed sermons are appended, viz :—
A FUNERAL SERMON:
ENTITLED,
The important concerns of ministers and, the people
of their charge at the day of judgment; illustrated
in a sermon, delivered at Rutland, Orange Society,
at the interment of the Rev. Abraham Carpenter,
their worthy pastor.
1 Thess. ii., 19.—" For what is our hope, or joy, or
crown of rejoicing ? Are not even ye in the presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming V
The second coming of Christ is a source of peculiar
joy and consolation to the people of God ; it is a day
in which their hopes and expectations will be fully an¬
swered. Tribulation attends the good man while in
this life ; the scenes of divine Providence are mysteri¬
ous, and many things unaccountable and insignificant
without a day of judgment; they will then be explain¬
ed and adjusted, to the joy and admiration of all who
love Christ's appearing. Many of the events that take
place in this life stand in a solemn relation to the judg¬
ment day, and none more so than the gospel ministry ;
hence it is that the attention of the true servants of
Christ is so much taken up with a future state. St
822
APPENDIX.
Paul, being detained from the church of Thessalonica,
Bends this epistle as a token of his love and respect to
them; in which he anticipates that blessed period when
he should meet them at the bar of Christ, which would
afford such joy and satisfaction as to more than com¬
pensate for all their sorrow, more especially for his be¬
ing prevented a personal interview with those to whom
he wrote. " For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of
rejoicing ? Are not even ye in the presence of our
Lord Jesus Christ at his coming V We have two
very important ideas suggested in the words. One is,
that ministers and their people must meet each other at
the day of judgment. The second is, that although
ministers are often separated from their hearers in this
life, yet the people of God among whom a pious
preacher finishes his work will be a cause or crown of
peculiar joy and satisfaction at the second coming of
Christ.
With respect to the first point, we may observe, to
give us a striking contrast between this and the coming
world, we are in the present state subject to many vi
cissitudes.
What changes are taking place in empires, states,
societies, -and families ! In nothing is this more ob¬
servable than in matters relating to ministers and the
people of their charge. A persecuting spirit, that pre¬
vailed in the apostolic age, was often a means of part¬
ing friends, and especially of driving preachers from
churches. The same cause has had influence in every
age of the church ; but if religious societies are so hap¬
py as to escape such a calamity, yet it pleases the Great
Head of the church, in his sovereign wisdom, to sep¬
arate ministers and their people by death ; this gives
feeling to a pious preacher, and in some degree has in¬
fluence in every sermon he delivers. That all mankind
will be collected before the bar of Christ, to see the
great and intricate affairs of the universe adjusted, is a
plain dictate of reason and Scripture ; but that many
will meet there as having mutual concerns with each
other, is evident. More especially ministers and the
APPENDIX.
323
people once committed to their cha:ge doubtless will
appear in some sense as distinct societies, as having
particular and personal matters to attend to. This
supposes that they will have a knowledge of each oth¬
er ; for without this, the purposes of their meeting in
such a manner could not be answered. How far this
will extend, or by what means it will be conveyed, is
too curious to inquire. It seems, unless we are able
by some means to distinguish those from others with
whom we have been intimate in this life, the designs
of a future judgment will in some measure be frustra¬
ted. The great end of that day is to illustrate divine
truth, or make that appear conspicuous to created intel¬
ligence. To effect this, God will make use of mankind
as instruments; this is the method he takes in this life,
and doubtless it will be most eligible in the world to
come. For our acquaintance to be summoned as wit¬
nesses for or against us at this court, will perhaps be
the best means to administer conviction. In this way
the great God can speak in language easy for finite
creatures to understand. One design of the world be¬
ing divided into distinct societies and communities, is
doubtless to prepare matters for the day of judgment.
The relation between ministers and people is such as
renders them capable of saying much about each other;
in this way the justice and mercy of God will be illus¬
trated, Divine proceedings vindicated, and every mouth
stopped. It is our conduct in this life that will direct
Divine proceeding towards us at the final judgment;
that the equity of God's administrations may appear,
'tis necessary that our characters be clearly investiga¬
ted. The salvation and damnation of many souls will
be through the instrumentality of faithful and unfaithful
watchmen ; this is an idea contained in the charge God
gave to Ezekiel, 32d chapter. It will be necessary
that the motives by which ministers have been influ¬
enced in their work be brought out to view ; for with¬
out sincerity of heart, they can never execute their office
with any degree of true faithfulness, and are a high af¬
front to God, and a vile imposition on the people.
324
APPENDIX.
At the day of judgment the doctrines with which a
minister has entertained his hearers must be examined.
However doctrinal preaching may be discarded by
many, and such words as metaphysical, abstruse, &c.,
are often made use of to obstruct free and candid in¬
quiry ; yet it is evident that one great end of the gospel
ministry is to disseminate right sentiments ; hence it is
that Paul so often exhorts Timothy to take heed to his
doctrine. Sound doctrine, as well as good practice, is
necessary to constitute the Christian character : " Who¬
soever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God."—2 John, 9.
A careful inquiry will be made whether an empty
parade of learning, elegance of style, &c.., have been
the main things with which a people have been enter¬
tained, tending only to gratify vain curiosity, and to fix
the attention of the hearers on the speaker. This made
St. Paul contemn such a mode of preaching, and de¬
termine not to know any thing save Jesus Christ, and
him crucified, 1 Cor. ii., 2. Whether vague, equivocal
expressions have been used to convey, or rather to ob¬
scure the truths of the gospel, by which any thing and
almost every thing may be understood. This is caus¬
ing the trumpet to give an uncertain sound, and has no
tendency to impress or give feeling to the mind, as i3
the case with the words of the wise, being as goads
and nails, Eccle. xii., ] 1. Whether to please men has
had greater influence in our composing and delivering
our sermons than the glory of God and the good of
souls. People will be examined at the bar of Christ
whether they have not been dealt plainly with; been
told their characters and danger; that they are wholly
opposed to God, destitute of every thing that is holy or
morally good ; that they are by nature under the curse
of God's law, exposed every moment to endless wo ;
that they are hopeless and helpless in themselves; the
necessity of the renewing influences of the spirit; the
nature of their impotence, that it consists in an evil
heart; that therefore they are altogether inexcusable,
APPENDIX.
325
and are criminal in proportion to the degree of their ina¬
bility ; that nothing short of repentance towards God
and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate
duty of all that hear the gospel.
Ministers and their people must meet before the
judgment-seat of Christ, to give an account whether
the true character of God has in any good measure
been investigated ; as a sin-hating and sin-revenging
God.
Without this the character of God is kept out of
sight, people left in the dark, and are not able to deter¬
mine whether they love or hate the true God.
It must be known whether people have had the char¬
acter and work of the Redeemer set before them; the
design of his sufferings, the efficacy of his blood, and
the necessity of our union to him. The manner in
which divine truth has been delivered will be a matter
worthy of serious examination at that day; whether
with that earnestness and fervour becoming the vast
importance and solemnity of gospel truth, tending to
affect the mind. The deportment or examples of min¬
isters among their people will be closely attended to ;
their private visits, exhortations, and reproofs, holy de¬
sires and wrestlings for the souls of their hearers, will
not escape public notice; the improvement that people
have made of such advantages will be brought into
public view.
How often people have attended on the ministration
of the word, and the manner how, will be matters of
serious concern at the judgment day. Those excuses
that men make for neglecting public worship will be
weighed in a just scale. Whether people have so far
contributed to the temporal support of their ministers
as to enable them to devote themselves to the service
of Christ; or, by too great neglect, have not obstructed
the gospel, robbed God, wounded their own souls.
It will be useful that the time of a minister's contin-
aance among a people be known, as it will serve to set
he characters of gospel despisers in a true point of
ight. That ministers and the people of their charge
E e
326
APPENDIX.
will meet each other at the bar of Christ, is suggested
in my text, and in other parts of the sacred writings.
It has already been observed that in this way truth will
appear conspicuous, and the conduct of God will be
vindicated, and the designs of a judgment day in the
best manner answered. It may further be observed,
that the matters relating to the gospel ministry are of
such magnitude that it appears important that they be
attended to ; they concern a judgment day and an eter¬
nal state. When ministers and people meet in the
house of God, it is an acknowledgment that they be¬
lieve in a future state of retribution, and is a sort of
appeal to the day of judgment. The influence of a
faithful or unfaithful minister is such as to affect un¬
born ages; it will commonly determine the sentiments
and characters of their successors, and in this way they
may be doing good or evil after they are dead, and even
to the second coming of Christ. That God's hatred
towards false teachers, and against those who choose
them, together with their criminality, may appear, it
will be necessary that these matters be laid open at
the tribunal of Christ. As a proof of the matter under
consideration, I may only add, that there always has
been an important controversy, in a greater or less de¬
gree, between ministers and part of their people ; it is
so with faithful preachers and some of their hearers ;
wicked men oppose the doctrines they preach, and will
not be convinced. Unfaithful preachers have advo¬
cates and opposers ; the dispute involved the charac¬
ter of Christ; it cannot be settled in this world. How
necessary that ministers and people meet at the great
day, to have the matter decided, the doctrines of Christ
vindicated, and ths characters of ministers or people
exonerated.
II. Another important idea contained in the text is,
that the church or people of God among whom a faith¬
ful minister finishes his work, will be a cause or crown
of peculiar joy or rejoicing at the coming of Christ. It
will be matter of great satisfaction to sit down with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and other saints at thai
APPENDIX.
327
day , but the Scriptures represent that godly ministers
will derive peculiar joy from the pious part of their
congregations, Daruxii., 3; 2 Cor. i., 14; Phil, ii., 16.
Reflecting on past^rovidences will be a source of great
joy at the day of judgment; and as many things have
taken place between a minister and his people in which
they are more particularly conversant and interested,
when they come to be explained it will afford special
joy and admiration; as they have been companions in
tribulations, so now it is likely they will be in a more
peculiar sense copartners in joy, and help each other
in magnifying the Lord for special favours, and dis¬
plays of divine power and grace on their behalf.
The prayers and struggles of pious teachers have
been for Zion in general, and for those over whom
the Holy Ghost has made them overseers in particu¬
lar. Now God will give their hearers who have been
converted through their instrumentality as a kind of
reward and fruit of their travail or labour. When it
appears that God has made use of the true ministers
of Christ for the conversion of some of the souls once
committed to their charge, it will excite wonder, joy,
and humility in the minds of pious teachers, that God
should deign to honour them as instruments of such
glorious work, by which they will be led to adore sov¬
ereign grace and condescending love. As it is often
through the painful labours of Christ's servants that
souls are brought home to God, doubtless he will ap¬
prove of such virtues by conferring signal honours on
those who have turned many to righteousness, who will
shine as stars for ever and ever.
Pious people will give such account of their faithful
teachers as will meet with the approbation of God, which
will be expressed by that heavenly plaudit, " Well-done,
good and faithful servant!" Their mutual accounts will
be given up with joy, and not with grief, Hebrews xiii.,
17. The hopes and expectations of such ministers are
great, as the apostle suggests in the text—For what is
our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? are not even
ye ? &c. He speaks of it as the earnest hope and ea»
?28
APPENDIX.
pectation of all Christ's ministers, by calling it our hope.
They reflect with pleasure on the approaching happy
moment, and when it comes it will greatly gratify their
holy desires.
. That it will be possible to hold equal communion
with all the saints, especially at one time, in the invisi¬
ble world, perhaps is not admissible. It appears that
the wicked who have been associates in sin here will
be companions of torments hereafter, Luke xvi., 28.
They are to be gathered like the standing corn, and
to be bound in bundles to burn. It is more than possi¬
ble that the righteous who have lived together in this
life, will have a more intimate access to each other in
the world to come.
If it will be useful for them to meet in some sense
as distinct societies, perhaps it will subserve the inter¬
est of the universe that they in a degree continue so.
It is the character of the true church of Christ that they
treat his ministers with respect in this life, accounting
them as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God, 1 Cor. iv., 1. They help them in
their work, 2 Cor. i., 11. God will in the great day
reward people for such kindness; as hereby they ex¬
press their love to Christ, Matt, xxv., 40. This will-
gratify the benevolent feelings of Christ's servants ; at
the same time fill them with holy admiration and
deep humility, that what has been done to such poor
sinful creatures should be taken notice of.
Ministers and the people of their charge will assist
each other, and be united in bringing a verdict against
the wicked and impenitent among whom they lived
while on earth. The saints are to judge the world,
1 Cor. vi., 2. One way by which they will do this
will doubtless be to declare before angels and men
what they know about them, or their conduct in this
life. An attachment to divine justice will make this
delightful work. Ministers must declare what and
how they have preached to them, and the bad improve¬
ment they have made of the gospel, so far as it has
come under their observation; how they have despised
APPENDIX.
329
And mocked the messengers of the Lord, contemned
his word and ordinances. Pious hearers can witness
to the same things, and in this way the mutual testi¬
mony of godly ministers and people will be strength¬
ened and supported, and Divine proceedings against
impenitent sinners vindicated. Thus the church will
be a crown of joy to her faithful pastor.
IMPROVEMENT.
1. We may infer from this subject that the gospel
ministry is of God, and that we ought to seek its wel¬
fare, and use suitable exertions for its support.
Doth Scripture and reason dictate that it is of so
much importance, especially as it relates to a judgment
day, we may conclude that God would not do without
it, and we may see Divine wisdom and goodness in the
institution. Nothing more conducive of Divine glory,
and salutary to men, than the preaching of the gospel.
Without these glad tidings arc proclaimed, the incar¬
nation of Christ is vain. Nothing but opposition to
God, and disregard to his glory, will make men indif¬
ferent to the preaching of the gospel. A rejection of
Christ and his ministers has commonly vice and open
profanity for its inseparable companions. The oppo¬
sition that the impenitent part of mankind have made
to the servants of Christ, has doubtless in some meas¬
ure had its rise from a consciousness that they must
meet them at the bar of Christ, to their disadvantage.
We may conclude, that, since the gospel ministry is
so very useful, it will be continued to the end of the
world.
2. When a faithful minister is taken away, it ought
seriously to be regarded. But few ways perhaps that
God shows greater displeasure against a people than in
calling his ambassadors home. By this he threatens to
put an end to his treaty of peace, and become irrecon¬
cilable. It may sometimes be the case that God has
no more chosen or elect ones among them. When
Paul and Barnabas were preaching at Antioch, as
E e 2
830
APPENDIX.
many as were ordained to eternal life believed, then
tfiey departed, Acts xiii. All the encouragement for a
minister to preach among a people, so far as the salva
tion of souls ought to be a motive, is the doctrine of
election. After the death of a faithful minister there is
less hope of a people.
We may further observe, when it is considered that
we are to meet them no more in the house of God, to
hear them declare unto us the words of reconciliation;
but our next interview will be at the tribunal of Christ,
to hear them testify for or against us, how affecting the
consideration ! It is more solemn to die than if we had
never been favoured with the gospel ministry. People,
whether they hear or forbear, shall know, to their joy
or sorrow, that there hath been a prophet among them,
Ezek. ii., 5.
3. The subject affords direction how ministers
should preach, and how a people ought to hear, viz.,
with death and judgment in view. It is this that makes
preaching and hearing a serious matter, and renders
the house of God so very solemn. We must soon
meet before the bar of Christ, and perhaps before the
next Sabbath, to have our sermons and our hearing ex¬
amined by Him who is infinite in knowledge, and is
present in every congregation. Did we always con¬
sider these things, it would tend to abolish that cold¬
ness, drowsiness, and indifference, that too often attend
the ministers of the gospel, and that formal spirit which
is too apparent among hearers. How would it check
that levity of mind and disorderly behaviour that pre¬
sumptuous creatures often indulge in the house of God.
How dreadful is this place /—is a reflection suitable
on all occasions, and more especially when we meet
for public devotion.
4. The surviving widow and children will for a mo¬
ment suffer the word of exhortation. Are not you in
some sense his hope and joy ? Was it not a reflection
that tended to smooth the rugged road through death,
that he should meet you before the bar of Christ, and
that you would be a crown of rejoicing in that day ? If
PPENDIX.
331
ministers and people are to meet each other before the
tribunal of Christ, as having special business together,
then we may conclude that this will be the case with
particular families, such as husbands and wives, parents
and children ; you can say much about each other upon
that occasion, having for so long a time composed one
family on earth.
You, who are this day called to mourn, must give
an account how you have improved his public and more
private admonitions; and especially this providence.
The present occasion, however solemn, will appear
more so at the great day. Consider, that although he
is gone to return no more, yet God, the source of con¬
solation, ever lives. His promises are always new to
the widow and fatherless. That God who gave has
taken him away. But still he lives in another state,
and is more useful to the universe than he could be in
this world. God's people always die in the best time,
manner, and place. You have only time to take up the
body and bury it, set your houses in order, and follow
him. Manifest your love to the deceased by preparing
to meet him, and make his heart glad in the day of the
Lord Jesus. Contemplate the rectitude of divine gov¬
ernment, and a future world, and be still.
Let the children remember, that to have a pious faith¬
ful parent taken away is an unspeakable loss. Your
father has done much for your bodies, but we trust
more for your souls ; never, never forget his prayers
and admonitions. Can you, dare you meet him at the
bar of Christ; in impenitence ? Should this be the case,
instead of those endearing and parental caresses that
you have received from him in this life, he will join
with the Judge of all in saying, Depart! He will de¬
clare what he has done for you, and condemn you.
Let your mother experience that tender regard and
kind assistance, during her short continuance with
you, as becomes dutiful, obedient children. Make her
heart glad by a holy life, and let your father live duly
before her eyes in your pious examples.
Let me say a word to the church and congregr^ <t
332
APPENDIX.
in this place. Dear friends, I am not a stranger to
those mournful sensations that the present melancholy
providence tends to inspire. I trust I am a hearty
mourner with you, and am a -sharer in your loss.
By the foregoing observations you have reason to
conclude that you have lost a faithful minister.
You can't forget those solemn and affectionate warn¬
ings that he has given you from the desk, nor those
pious examples he has set before you. He has
preached his last sermon. Your next meeting must
be before the tribunal of Christ, where those sermons
you have heard him deliver in this life will come to
view, and the improvement you have made of them.
Will you, my brethren, be his crown of rejoicing in
that day ? If you were his hope and joy in this life,
you doubtless are still. It is with satisfaction we trust
that he this moment looks forward to that day, when
he expects to see this the dear people once committed
to his charge; and doubtless he hopes to meet some
of you as crowns of rejoicing. Oh ! do not disappoint
the hope and expectations of your reverend pastor.
Manifest your love to him by imitating his holy exam¬
ples, and by having those heavenly instructions that he
so often inculcated always in remembrance ; and by
preparing to give him joy in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Examine what improvement you have made of the gos¬
pel ministry while you had it; and whether too greal
inattention has not had influence in its being removed.
Have you ever experienced the power and efficacy of
the gospel upon your own souls ? Have you by the
Holy Spirit been formed into the moral likeness of the
blessed God, and into the image of his son Jesus ? Or
have you been contented with the mere form of godli¬
ness ? Have you not, through sloth and unbelief,
neglected attending on the preaching of the gospel
during the residence of your pastor among you ? Oh !
what account will such gospel despisers have to give
another day! Consider, I entreat you, how dreadful it
will be to have these things brought into view when
Vou come to meet your minister, who was once, and
APPENDIX
333
perhaps is now, an eyewitness of youi conduct, and
will testify against you to your everlasting condemna¬
tion !
Your minister, though dead, now speaketh. He
preaches a most solemn lecture to us all this day on
mortality.
You will, as it were, hear his voice when you look
on the place of public worship, where he and you so
often attended—when you look on his grave, which is
here among you—and when you look to the second
coming of Christ. Think often of that day. Let the
Sabbath, and worship of God, be still dear unto you;
and remember him who has spoken unto you the word
of God, whose faith follow.
334
APFENDIA.
EXTRACTS FROM A SERMON:
ENTITLED,
Di vine Decrees, an encouragement to the use of means,
delivered at Granville, N. YJune 25th, A. D. 1805,
before the Evangelical Society, instituted for the
purpose of aiding pious and needy young men in
acquiring education for the work, of the gospel
ministry.
The whole of this discourse is able, and charac¬
terizes the author as possessing a strong mind and a
pious heart:—if it be not equal in some things to his
sermon on universal salvation, of which it is very
justly remarked, " That sermon is one of the finest
pieces of satire to be found in all the annals of pulpit
eloquence," it is not inferior to it in sound doctrine and
fervent piety.*
The discourse is founded on the 23d verse of the 11th
chapter of Hebrews : " By faith Moses, when he was
born, was hid three months of his parents, because
they saw he was a proper child ; and they were not
afraid of the king's commandment." His object is to
show, that although pious people believe and confide
in the unalterable purpose and providence of God to
bring about events, yet they will diligently use such
means as God requires, and that tend to their accom¬
plishment. To confirm his assertion that the pious do
believe and confide in God's absolute government, or
in his purpose and providence, he justly remarks
• This sentence, with the remarks preceding the extracts, were kindly
famished by the Rev. Dr. Broadhead, of New-York.
APPENDIX.
335
"We find that it has always been the practice of
the people of God to acknowledge him; therefore it is
that they attend to the external duties of religion, such
as the public worship of God, prayer, and praise, by
which they express their belief and love of a superin¬
tending Providence. This was the object of the faith
of those mentioned in my text. They had a firm be¬
lief in Divine purposes concerning Moses, so as to ex¬
clude all fear of the king's commandment. The right¬
eous view and hold communion with God in his works,
and repair to his absolute government in times of dis¬
tress as their only hiding-place, Psal. xxvii. It was
God's immutable promises and designs that supported
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and all
God's people in all ages of the world. God has ap¬
pointed the Lord Jesus Christ to be king on his holy
hill of Zion, and has laid the government on his shoul¬
ders ; the pious are his obedient subjects, and it is their
duty to submit to him. They are to have the mind of
Christ, as they would not forfeit their interest in him,
Rom. viii., 9. Rejoicing in the absolute dominion and
agency of God was an important trait in his character,
Luke x., 21 : 'In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit,
and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes ; even so,
Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.' "
In discussing that part of the subject which relates
to the use of means by the people of God, as connected
with those events which are brought about by the un¬
changeable purpose and providence of God, he says :—
" This idea is remarkably illustrated in the conduct
of the parents of Moses, alluded to in the text; they hid
him three months. Their care was excited by the full
trust they had in God that he designed him for some
important work. Their faith was so great as to ex
elude all doubt but what God would take care of the
child, and fulfil his own purpose, in spite of all the do-'
336
APPENDIX.
signs of the enemy: ' They were not afraid of the
king's commandment.' They did not fear to exert
themselves to the utmost for the preservation of the
child, nor that their measures would not be successful.
He was doubtless secreted, and removed from place to
place, to elude the search of the enemy. An ark waa
invented for the security of the helpless infant; every
seam carefully secured with slime and pitch, that the
babe might have a dry and safe asylum. It is carried
to the river-side, deposited among the flags—an un¬
likely place to be found. She chose a place where the
swelling of the Nile would not be likely to carry it
away. The ark was not committed to the foaming
waters, to be exposed to the voracious monsters of the
deep; but as much care was exercised as though the
life of the child wholly depended on their vigilance.
Miriam, the sister of Moses, must lie in ambush at a
suitable distance, to watch every disaster, and often to
run and sooth the cries of the solitary infant. Bui
'Moses was not safer when king in Jeshurun, encom¬
passed with the thousands of Israel—was not safer in
the mount with God—is not safer within the adaman¬
tine walls of the New Jerusalem, than in the flags.'*
" The same spirit of vigilance shone conspicuously
among all the people of God in all ages of the world.
God revealed unto Abraham his unalterable designs
concerning him and his posterity ; and yet how diligent
was he in using such means as tended to bring the
events to pass. By faith he went out; by faith he so¬
journed in the land of promise, &c. The conduct of
Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and the prophets illustrates
the same sentiment. Paul, in Acts xxvii., is a striking
instance of the truth now under consideration. When
it was revealed to him that God's purpose was to save
all in the ship, yet his diligence in the use of such
means as tended to their preservation exceeded all the
mariners. He was evidently encouraged by the pur¬
pose of God revealed; yea, without means, he tells
them plainly, they cannot be saved. No preacher ever
# Dr. Hunter.
APPENDIX.
337
held up the decrees of God more clearly and more fre
quently than Paul, and none of the apostles were more
laborious ; he laboured more abundantly than they all^
1 Cor. xv., 10. We derive similar ideas from the doc¬
trines and examples of Him who spake as never man
spake. The purposes of God with respect to the de¬
liverance of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity
stirred up the saints to prayer, Dan. ix., 2. The cer¬
tainty of the incarnation of Christ excited Old-Testa¬
ment saints to prayer for the accomplishment of it; and
this is what God greatly approved. The parents of
Moses have a place in the sacred canon, whose faith is
highly applauded.
"Faith in Divine purposes will excite the people of
God to the diligent use of means, as he has appointed
them as instruments by which he will accomplish his
designs, and has commanded them to be workers to¬
gether with him ; indeed, without the exertions of men,
it is impossible that they should take place. God re¬
vealed to Abraham that his seed should go down into
Egypt, and at such a time be delivered; but this sup
posed a series of second causes, all dependant oil the
first cause; without them the event could not take
place. One was the edict of Pharaoh to destroy the
male infants of the Hebrews ; that Moses should be
born, and hid three months ; that he should be educa¬
ted at the expense of the King of Egypt; that the
Egyptians should be visited with ten plagues, &c. I
might with propriety make the same remark with re¬
spect to the deliverance of Israel from the Babylonish
captivity, rind the birth and death of Christ. The peo¬
ple of GnJ. consider themselves as active instruments
to bring ab'>nt his holy designs; and are, in a good de¬
gree, cured of that unreasonable temper of mind that
will deduce unnatural consequences from certain prem¬
ises, in order to gratify a licentious conduct.
" The friends of God delight in expressing their obe¬
dience to him. The use of means affords them oppor¬
tunity to glorify God and commend him to others. If
love and obedience are delightful exercises to the saints,
F f
338
APPENDIX.
then to express tliem will be pleasing. As God cannot
exhibit any true virtue or moral excellence without pur¬
suing a plan, so neither can we, unless we regard his
will and interest, and are workers together with him.
" The good man, indeed, will see enough to employ
his head, his heart, his hands, and his temporal inter¬
est, in the service of Gcd. The reason that so many
can find but little to do for God is on account of a
slothful and indolent heart, that refuses to labour."
The autnor concludes this valuable discourse in the
following animated strains of fervent zeal in the cause
of benevolence and salvation by Christ, through the
means of the ministry of the gospel.
" The subject, so far illustrated, sets the design of the
institution to which our attention is particularly called
on the present occasion, in an important point of light.
Jt is to aid pious and needy young men in acquiring
education for the gospel ministry. A remarkable
spirit of zeal and liberality in the cause of God has
been excited in the minds of the pious in various parts
of the Christian world. Missionaries have been sent
out among the heathen, and to our new settlements ;
and their labours have been crowned with abundant
success. People, while watcrinc, have been watered
themselves. The conversion of thousands, I believe,
has been the effect of these benevolent exertions.
The desert and the solitary wilderness have been made
to blossom as the rose. Recent instances of the tro¬
phies of Divine grace in some parts of Africa have
made glad the city of our God. The friends of Christ
on both sides the Atlantic have united in this glorious
cause ; but much still remains to be done.
"People within our reach arc perishing for lack of
spiritual food. The harvest is great, but the labour¬
ers are comparatively few. The number of those quali¬
fied to carry the bread of life to the dying is inade¬
quate. Our missionary exertions must be greatly im¬
peded, unless pious, ingenious, and learned men be
APPENDIX.
339
found to engage in the service. Our Evangelical
Society virtually embraces the same object of those
commonly called missionary societies, as necessary and
subservient thereto. Whatever funds are raised, un¬
less proper preachers can be obtained, they cannot be
rendered useful. That a competent degree of literary
acquirements is necessary and indispensable in those
who engage in ministerial labours, none will deny who
have the importance of the work on their minds. The
patronage of those who love God and the souls of men
is earnestly solicited. We hope you will not withhold
that pecuniary aid which the urgency of the case re¬
quires.
"I stand here this day, my friends and brethren, to
plead for thousands of poor perishing, dying fellow-
mortals, who need the bread of life ; whose cries and
distresses call for compassion, beyond the groaning
Israelites. Whe, that knows the love of God and the
terrors of eternal death, but longs to run to their relief?
Satan, the potent and imperious prince of darkness, has
long since issued his cruel and bloody edict against the
church of God, to destroy and exterminate it from the
earth.
" We stand this day to plead the cause of that Jesus
who sits upon the holy lull of Zion, with pardon in his
[lands, and whose delight is with the sons of men ; and
who is now calling for your assistance. We plead the
promises and predictions of God's word, that may en¬
courage your hope and trust. Be not afraid of the
haughty mandate of ihc prince of darkness, for it shall
be made to subserve the interest of Christ's kingdom.
God requires exertions as much as he did for the pres¬
ervation of Moses, or the deliverance of Israel out of
Egypt. It is sacrificing the cause of God and the im¬
mortal souls of men to withhold. Is there not an im¬
propriety in "our bearing the name of Christians, unless
the love of Christ constrains us? Is it not an important
trait in the characters of the godly, that they took joy¬
fully the spoiling of their goods?" That they suffered
the loss cf all things, that they might win Christ and
340
APPENDIX.
save their souls ? What illustrious examples of be¬
nevolence do we find in the word of God; especially
in the blessed Saviour of the world! ' That, though
he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, that we,
through his poverty, might be rich.' Can there be a
more delightful employment this side heaven than to
wrest souls from the jaws of death and hell, and to send
the blessed news of salvation to a perishing world ?
"To promote the felicity of the universe is the happi¬
ness of the redeemed in glory; and this spirit among
Christians is heaven begun on earth. If your hearts
do not glow with holy affection towards perishing sin¬
ners, by which you are disposed to do something for
their relief, you have reason to fear and tremble that
you have no inheritance among the saints in light.
" The design of our institution is far from being new :
God's people have in all ages, in a measure, drunk into
the same spirit. That angel of a man, Dr. Doddridge,
in describing objects of Christian benevolence and lib¬
erality, observes: ' I would particularly recommend to
you the very important and noble charity of assisting
young persons of genius and piety with what is neces¬
sary to support the expense of their education for the
ministry, in a proper course of grammatical or aca¬
demical studies.'* Consider that you are God's stew¬
ards, and that all your property belongs to him, and you
are to use it in his service. That he can easily make
up, if he sees fit, what your liberality imparts : and if
you ' cast your bread upon the waters, you shall find
it after many days,' Eccles. xi., 1. If we withhold
shall we not rob God, and incur his righteous displeas¬
ure ? who will soon call us to give an account of our
stewardships ! Remember the maxim of the wise man,
' There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there
is that withholdeth more than meet, but it tendeth to
poverty,' Prov. xi., 24. Since this spirit of liberality
has shone so conspicuously in many parts of the Chris¬
tian woild, I think we have had manifest tokens of Divine
* Rise and Progress of Religion,
APPENDIX.
341
approbation. God has poured out his spirit in such
copious effusions as to make it obvious that it is ' an
odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-
pleasing to God.' Let us not be weary in well-doing,
for we shall yet reap a more plentiful harvest if we faint
not.
" If we delight in giving, God will delight in reward¬
ing. ' Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse—and
prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not, be room enough
to receive it,' Mai. iii., 10. We may make a profes¬
sion of religion—tell much of our regard for God; but
words, as one observes, are cheap things, and are by
no means the test of our sincerity. How many of this
character are to be found ; who, when objects of charity
are presented, that call for a pittance of their store, like
the young miser in the gospel, go away sorrowful, hav¬
ing large possessions.
" My Christian friends and brethren, you will be far
from pleading exemption from dutv by having recourse
to the reasonings of a licentious world, ' that if Gcd
has determined ^1} things, our endeavours are unneces¬
sary this, I trust, has been sufficiently reprobated in
the foregoing discourse, as betraying an unbelief of the
doctrine by which you profess to be influenced, and
that you arc governed by carnal principles. Consider
that you are the only ones that will heartily engage in
this cause ; ' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem,' Isa. ii3.
" Perhaps the conversion of every soul is the effect
)f the church's travail and exertions. Are there not
housands at the present day that are casting in their
■nites ; and in this way sending a morsel of the bread
of life to starving, perishing souls ? Surely it is a rich
and valuable treasury, that will refund an infinite arid
eternal reward to all true adventurers. What if, by
distinguishing yourselves by withholding, you should
not be admitted to their society hereafter, nor taste of
the rewards of the righteous ?
F f a
342
APPENDIX.
" The institution for which I am now pleading can¬
not fail of attracting your attention, if we only consider
the extensive nature of the object. It is that by which
we may do good after we are dead. It is but a moment
that we have in the present life to stretch out the be¬
nevolent hand to the distressed, or to pluck them from
devouring flames. To act with reference to this life
only, is too contracted for a soul that has been enlarged.
With what beauty and elegance is this sentiment illus¬
trated by the Apostle Peter, in his second epistle, 1 ch.
15 ver.—' Moreover, I will endeavour that you may be
able, after my decease, to have these things always in
remembrance.' It will be a tree of righteousness that
will spring up over your grave, diffusing divine fra¬
grance—bringing forth fruit till time shall be no more.
Will it not afford unspeakable delight, should we ever ar¬
rive in the fields of immortal bliss, to meet with thou¬
sands, who, through our instrumentality, were saved from
endless perdition 1 What admiring thoughts of Divine
mercy and condescension would it excite, that God
should make use of such poor despicable instruments
for the salvation of souls ! God will deign to take no¬
tice of it, and declare it before the assembled universe ;
and bestow an eternal reward of grace, even for giving
a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple. They
who shall be instrumental of turning many to righteous¬
ness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. The
blessing of many that were ready to perish shall come
upon you ; and thousands yet unborn may give glory to
God.
"How many now among us are reaping the blessed
effects of the pious exertions of God's people while on
earth. The vigilance of Moses, oh, how amply re¬
warded ! The faith and care of his parents will never
be forgotten through ceaseless a^es.
" The institution before us looks forward to heathen
nations; and we may be among the number of those
who shall introduce the glorious days of the MES¬
SIAH, when 'the earth'shall be full of the knowledge
of God.' Should we refuse to comply with the pres-
APPENDIX.
343
®nt call of Divine providence, and withhold our hand
from contributing, will not those who are perishing for
lack of provisions rise up in judgment and condemn us
at the bar of Christ ? The reproof of a Hottentot, aa
lately related in a missionary publication, cannot but
give feelings to a Christian. Upon becoming acquaint¬
ed with salvation, she thus exclaims : ' What a pity,
what a sin it is, that you Europeans, who have for so
many years enjoyed in great abundance the heavenly
bread, should keep it all to yourselves, and not spare
one little crumb to the million of poor heathen !' Ad¬
ding, 'You may depend upon it, you should not have
the less for yourselves by giving some to them; but
the Lord Jesus would bless you and give you the more.'
She also observed that, ' Could we but conceive fully
of the miserable situation of the Hottentots, we would
certainly feel more compassion.'
"Ye that are strangers to God, remember, that it is
more blessed to give than to receive. We wish you
to put in with us—we wish you the reward of the
liberal. It is true, that unless love to God and the
souls of men direct you, your services, however great,
will be but vain oblations, and displeasing to the Most
High, though your interest devoted may be the occasion
of the salvation of thousands yet unborn. It will be so
with the professors of religion, if the glory of God is not
their object—they will lose their reward. There is as
much propriety in calling on the wicked to engage in
this duty as in any other. You are under obligations
to repent, to love God, and to express it in all those
ways he has appointed and commanded.
" Could we persuade young men and young women,
instead of spending time and property in carnal dissi¬
pation, to turn their attention to the object before us,
of what service might they be to the interest of Zion
while on the earth ! The people of God, your pious
parents, yea, God himself, would pronounce you
greatly beloved ! Would it not afford consolation
in death, to reflect, that the time, talents, and property
given you by your Creator, instead of their being con-
APPENDIX.
sumed in a ball-room, or around the card-table, have
been devoted to God ? Oh ! that you would seriously
think on that Divine injunction and promise, Matt, vi.,
33; ' Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and its
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto
you.'—' Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of
unrighteousness ; that when ye fail, they may receive
you into everlasting habitations,' Luke xvi., 10.
" It is with pleasure I relate, and to their honour be
it mentioned, that some even among our young women,
we would hope prompted by a holy zeal for God,
whose circumstances are far from being affluent, have
engaged to contribute something yearly to our society.
May it excite many to follow their laudable example.
There is no external duty that is spoken of in Scripture
that is so evidential of our love to God, as imparting a
portion to the necessities of the souls and bodies of
men. It will be publicly held up at the day of judg¬
ment, as a test of the sincerity of the righteous :—'For
I was an hungry, and ye gave me meat.' Let none
plead their inability to administer. Cannot you look
round and see many ways by which you may retrench
your expenses without any real injury to yourselves or
families, and spare a little for the Lord ? Should we
throw in only two mites, like the widow in the gospel,
like her we should meet Divine approbation. ' For if
there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to
what a man hath, and not according to what he hath
not,' 2 Cor. viii., 12.
" A single act, truly devoted to God by faith and
prayer, may issue in the conversion of thousands. The
circumstances of hiding Moses—the building the ark—
the weeping of the babe, &c., were apparently trifling
events; yet connected with infinite consequences. The
deliverance of millions from bondage—the preservation
or being of a church, depended upon them.
" ' I cannot believe,' says Chrysostom, ' that he has
ever tasted the sweets of religion that has no tender
concern for the salvation of others.'
" But, after all, sine® the success of our endeavours
APPENDIX.
315
depends on the blessing of Heaven, we earnestly entreat
the prayers of God's people of every denomination, that
he would bless the institution—increase its funds— -
make those faithful, and instrumental of turning many
to righteousness, to whom aid may be imparted—that
it may more abundantly flourish after we are dead—
and the whole world be filled with the glory of God.
Amen."
XfT3 It may be due to acquaint the reader, that the
preceding selections from the writings of my revered
father were appended by a son of the deceased, partly
with a view to the ample fulfilment of the issued terms
of the work, they having been previously approved by
our respected fiiend the author.
W. B. Haynes.
346
APPENDIX
The following interesting letter from the Rev. Dr.
Tucker, late of Troy, was not obtained in season to
appear in the preceding editions of this work.
Rev. Dr. Cooley,
Dear Sir,—I rejoice to hear that you had consented
to devote some time to a preparation of a memoir of the
venerable Father Haynes. If eminent talents, a well-
sustained Christian life, a vigorous and useful old age*
entitle one to the appellation of " venerable," Lemuel
Haynes well deserves it. The first time I had the
pleasure of seeing him was at Bennington, some twelve
or fourteen years ago, at-the ordination of Brother Pe¬
ters. I had heard of him, and read some of his sermons,
and held him in high admiration. He offered the prayer
on that occasion ; and though he was then an aged min¬
ister, and showed signs of infirmity, there was in his ap¬
pearance so much humility, in his prayer such an unc-
l.'on, such fervour of spirit, such fulness of soul, such
.earness of access to the mercy seat, such deep self-
abasement, such comprehension and compass, that I
was melted and quickened ; I have never forgotten it to
this day.
I did not see him again till some three or four year*
ago, when he came to Troy to visit some of his frier *s
who had removed to this city from Vermont- I irwted
him to my house; and I can truly say there has seldom
been a minister in my family who has excited more in¬
terest. My children were delighted with his kindness,
his familiar and solemn illustration of truth. He was
faithful to them, and some time afterward sent each of
them a most precious little book, which they keep as a
remembrance. During that visit I had an opportunity
of studying his character. Though a very aged man,
he evinced a vigour of intellect that was very uncom¬
mon. I saw what he must have been in the noon of
life. His criticisms upon d;/?icult passages of Scrip-
APPENDIX.
347
fcure showed an acuteness and depth of thought I did
not expect. I have known more learned men, but none
more correct, and none who could give a more satis¬
factory reason for original views of truth. The old di¬
vines of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries he
had deeply studied. 1 was afterward at his house, and
found he had a select and valuable library; and it bore
stronger marks of having been studied than any I ever
saw. He was a deep, original thinker, a learned man,
and a very sound divine. But his piety appeared the
sunlight that rested upon, and gave lustre and attractive¬
ness to, all his acquirements. lie was devout without
repulsiveness ; humorous and cheerful without levity;
faithful and decided without impertinence.
His conversation was in heaven. He reminded one
of xSt. John, and truly his fellowship seemed to be with
the Father and with his Son. ilis seriousness was ha¬
bitual ; it set upon him so naturally that none could be
offended with his searching remarks. This fact was re¬
cently mentioned to me by a clergyman. Some years
since, he said, he was passing through Lee, Mass., and
spent a night with the venerable and judicious Dr.
Hyde. It was during one of those precious seasons
which that favoured minister and people enjoyed so fre¬
quently. Father Haynes was there, and had preached
in the evening. After public service, when the family
were gathered around the altar of worship, Dr. Hyde
requested Mr. Haynes to address his children, as none
of them appeared to be interested in the good work then
in progress in that place. He very solemnly remarked,
" that he had often thought that ministers' children,
who enjoyed so much light, received so much instruc¬
tion, and were so often called, were like the children of
Israel in the wilderness; when the manna fell evening
and morning around their tent, they loathed that light
food.'1'1 There was so much truth and point in the re¬
mark, it placed so nearly before them their high priv¬
ileges and their great sin, that it seemed to produce
more effect than all the sermons they had heard in the
house of God. It was never forgotten.
348
APPENDIX.
If all his pertinent observations and weighty remarks
could be collected, they would be a treasure. His
originality and shrewdness were very uncommon. You
have doubtless availed yourself of the assistance of his
many friends and admirers in Vermont, who will never
forget the wisdom of his sayings and the richness of
his sermons ; who yet walk in the light of his example,
and hope to meet him in the kingdom of God.
I have heard some of the first men in Vermont say
that no man in Rutland County had so much influence
as Mr. Haynes in religious matters; perhaps no minis¬
ter there preached so many funeral sermons; and it is
doubtful whether any man's sermons were longer re¬
membered.
As a preacher, I should judge (for I heard him preach
several times) that he was in early life very forcible.
He was discriminating. His views of truth accorded
with Edwards and Fuller. In the leading features of
his mind I should think he resembled very closely the
latter.
His preaching was greatly blessed, especially his oc¬
casional sermons. He had a peculiar tact to accommo¬
date historical facts to spiritual purposes. His inge¬
nuity would arrest the attention, while his close and
pungent appeals awakened the conscience. He was a
great and good man. His memorial is everywhere ia
Vermont.
Affectionately yours, &c.,
Mark Tucker.
the end.