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sketches with great interest. In the mean while, our readers will be gratified with the account which this letter contains of the influence of Dr. Emmons's writings in Tennessee, and the abundant good which seems to have resulted from the labors and prayers of a few godly women in Connecticut.

BROTHER STEARNS :

BOSTON, JULY 23, 1849.

Since my visit to New England, I have been led to review pages in the precious book of providence, recording facts which have deeply impressed my own mind; and, peradventure, the communication of them to the public may favorably affect the minds of others.

It is now more than thirty years, since Dr. Anderson of Maryville, Tennessee, put into my hands a volume containing the Sermons of Nathanael Emmons, D.D., of Franklin, Mass. The book was open as he gave it to me, and his finger pointed to the sermon on the language of Joseph to his brethren :-"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life." I had never before heard the author's name, and knew nothing of his character or history. But I commenced reading, and at once was charmed with the clearness, accuracy, and precision of his style; and delighted with his full, rich, transparent tide of thought. I soon made arrangements to procure for myself, and to circulate among my people, the works of this able and instructive theologian. I sent to W. W. Woodward of Philadelphia, and obtained through him the volumes containing the sermons of Emmons, some of which, I remember, had been published by Samuel T. Armstrong of Boston. Other ministers in East Tennessee did in like manner. Thus the writings of Dr. Emmons were extensively circulated, and attentively read by ministers and church-members through a large district of country. Very many of the early settlers in the West, were religious men, I allude to those who settled in Tennessee and Kentucky sixty and seventy years ago. They had the Holy Scriptures among them, also the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly, and the Sermons of Davies, Doddridge, Whitfield, Bellamy, Edwards, and others. Yet both ministers and people united in esteeming the sermons of Emmons as a most valuable addition to their theological literature. 35*

VOL. III.

Lest I should be misapprehended, however, allow me to remark, that neither our ministers nor our people thought of ascribing to Dr. Emmons the accuracy of inspiration. They well knew, that absolute perfection is the attribute of but one book the Book of God. Nor did they at all sympathize with those who shut their eyes against the lovely light of day, because they suspect, forsooth, that there may be here and there a dim or a dark spot on the surface of the sun. Many of these precious people, and many of these precious ministers, are now gone "to the city of the living God." And I but "speak what I know, and testify what I have seen," when bearing witness that the divine truth embodied in the sermons of Dr. Emmons cheered and strengthened many of their hearts while they were journeying through this dark world. I wish here to give, more particularly, one specification.

The doctrine of the certain and final perseverance of the saints, was esteemed among this people, a very delightful Bible doctrine. They thought it was clearly taught in the Word of God. And they wished to derive from it that encouragement, and that consolation which it is calculated to impart. But this doctrine was violently assailed by persons who denounced it as both false and dangerous. And the great argument on which its opponents relied, was this: The certain perseverance of the saints in holiness, unto eternal life, is inconsistent with the exhortations, warnings, and cautions addressed to Christians in the Scriptures. Said the objector: "If there is a certainty that the saint will persevere in holiness, then such warnings and exhortations are idle and useless." Now it was at a period, when there was much discussion and much feeling on this subject, that the sermon of Emmons came to hand, on the text," Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." He shewed with the conclusiveness of demonstration, that in this case, there was a previous certainty that Paul and his shipmates would come safe to land. For when their prospect was darkest, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said: "Now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship; for there stood by me this night, the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before. Cæsar; and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God, that it shall

be even as it was told me." But, soon afterwards, when the sailors were about to flee out of the ship, "Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, in which the sailors designed to escape, and let her fall; the sailors, remaining in the ship, employed their skill in managing the vessel, "And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land." The warning of Paul was necessary and important, the exertion of the sailors was essential to their safety, and yet all this was in perfect agreement with "the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God," that there should be "no loss of any man's life." The exhortation of Paul answered a most valuable purpose, and was a necessary link in the great plan of God. So in the delightful Scripture doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. The word of God is: "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." And O how firm is the word of God! "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever." Now the warnings given to Christians, are just as consistent with the certainty of their salvation, and just as important and necessary links in the great chain of God's counsels, as was the warning of Paul to the centurion and the soldiers. Or, to take another illustration; the warnings given to Christians, are just as important as the warning given to Joseph by the angel of God: "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him;" while it was certain that the time of Messiah's death was more than thirty years distant, and that "all things must be fulfilled. which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning him." Who will say that this warning of the angel was useless? or unimportant? or inconsistent with the other declarations of God?

To those who delight to "dig deep dig deep" into the great doctrines of revelation, and lay the foundation of their hope "on a rock," a clear, satisfactory view of the connection and consist ency of high momentous truths in the scheme of redemption is like "rivers of water in a dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Now, in imparting aid to Christians in this respect, no sermons written since the days of inspiration, have been so extensively useful, for the last thirty years, in the wide

region of which I have spoken, as the sermons of Dr. Emmons. On reaching Boston two months ago, I was informed that the widow of Dr. Emmons was yet living in the country, some ten miles distant from the city. I soon had an opportunity, through the polite attentions of her son, of making her a visit. Though at the advanced age of eighty-six, she was cheerful, communicative, and seemed to be in the full enjoyment of her mental faculties. She spoke with much interest of her departed husband, and said that she was happy to see any one who had a regard for his memory. I told her that I had long cherished an exalted esteem for the great and good man who was once her husband, and asked her if Dr. Emmons ever knew, during his life, that his sermons were widely circulated in the State of Tennessee? And that they were considered as the instruments of very great bles sings to the church of God in that country? She replied that she was quite confident that he never knew it. On hearing this statement from that venerable woman, I was deeply affected in view of the mysterious and wonderful ways of God. Ah, we but "know in part," in the present life. What rich and rapturous disclosures await the faithful servant of God when he enters eternity!

These sermons helped to quicken the Christian mind of East Tennessee, and prepare the good people of that region for the great mercies the Lord had in store for them. These will appear in connection with another train of facts, which I have been led to review, since my visit to the East.

There existed some twenty-five years ago, in the State of Connecticut, an association of pious females, called "The Tolland County Revival Society." That society, about the year 1825, sent an excellent man, who was also a worthy minister, to labor among the churches in East Tennessee. This minister was Nicholas Patterson. He had been, I think, for a considerable time associated with Rev. Asahel Nettleton. Why those pious sisters sent this brother to Tennessee, rather than to another field, I never knew. But he was an able minister of the New Testament, and he was most cordially received by the churches in that part of our Lord's vineyard. About nine years before his arrival, I had commenced preaching at Rogersville, Tennessee, where in a village numbering a population of four hundred, there was not one professor of religion,- not a Baptist, not a Methodist, not a Presbyterian; for this county had been much neglected, and

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was a wild waste, while other counties contained churches of thirty years standing. But at the time of Mr. Patterson's arrival, two churches had been formed in that county. One at the village, or county seat, the other thirteen miles distant; and the two churches embraced above three hundred members. This may be taken. as a tolerably fair specimen of the state of the church, in that section of our country. In some counties the number of churchmembers was greater, in some, not so great; but perhaps the above is near the average. Many of our preachers had the charge of two churches, some of three, and some even of four. Among these ministers, there were many strong men; men who were "mighty in the Scriptures;" men, the joy and rejoicing of whose heart it was, to unfold to listening multitudes, the sublime truths of "the everlasting gospel." Often, while listening to the rich discourses which they gave, concerning Christ and the great salvation, have I found myself instructed, encouraged, and my heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord;" often have I felt the obligation to praise God for the institution of a standing ministry, and the divine ordinance, that the gospel shall be preached to all nations, and preached to the end of the world. When the English bishop asked the Welch minister "What kind of preaching do you have in Wales?" "We have very good preaching," was the modest reply. "What!" said the bishop, "I know you are famous for jumping in Wales, but I did not know that it was owing to the kind of preaching you have." "Ah, you would jump too," said the Welshman, "if you could only hear such preaching."

Repeatedly, has this anecdote occurred to my mind, when I have listened to the preaching of such pulpit orators, as Isaac Anderson, John McCampbell, Frederic A. Ross, David Nelson, author of the "Cause and Cure of Infidelity," and other men of the same class. Now, such was the description of preachers among whom this brother Patterson found himself, when he arrived in Tennessee. And though they were "workmen that needed not to be ashamed," yet, Mr. Patterson, having labored with Nettleton, and other successful ministers at the East, had much knowledge and experience, that was of great value to the ministers in Tennessee. "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser." It is a proof of true wisdom to be willing to learn.

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