several days in accomplishing his journey. On his way he fell in with a man going to the place where his friends resided, which was then called Deerfield, lying on the north side of the Mohawk, and a few miles east of Utica. By this man he sent on an appointment to preach in the school-house near where his friends resided, on a certain evening, previously to which he exexpected to reach his home. The appointment was accordingly made, and when the evening arrived the school-house was filled by the congregation, among whom were two gentlemen from Utica, who were members of the bar or were substitutes for such; and were attending to legal concerns in that place. Some business had led them to Deerfield on that evening; and calling at a tavern near the school-house, and seeing the people gathering, they inquired the cause, and were informed that a young man was to preach there that evening. After a little consultation they concluded to go and hear. The preacher had got in and taken a seat before the arrival of the two legal gentlemen; and they, when seated, seemed to be looking inquiringly around for the preacher, not having any idea that the young man in the antique dress was the person who was to officiate. Presently one of them inquired of a man in the

next seat, whether the preacher was present, and was answered in the affirmative, and his eye was directed to the young man in the gray suit sitting in the corner of the room. The man of law gazed at him for some time with apparent astonishment; and then, turning to his companion, said, "If that is the preacher, I think we shall get but little to-night." The other replied, "Don't be hasty in making your conclusion; you can never tell how far a toad will hop from his appearance." All this passed in hearing of the preacher.

Little did these men know what was concealed within that apparently unseemly garb. Keith was well educated for the times and circumstances in which he lived. His mind was stored with useful knowledge, especially the knowledge of human nature. His voice was like a well-tuned instrument, and at once flung a charm over and around his audience. The glance of his beaming yet gentle eye was calculated to produce emotion in the heart susceptible of kindly feelings. But above all, God was in his heart, and his heart was in his work; and a heavenly influence attended his ministrations. On the occasion I am describing, he had not proceeded far before many of his audience, and especially the two lawyers, were

deeply affected. He continued to preach occasionally for several weeks in this place, and a goodly number were converted to God, and the two legal gentlemen were among the first. Brother Keith appears no more in the itinerant ranks until 1806. What transpired with him during this interval I shall leave unnoticed, save that before entering the second time into the itinerant work he was rendered very useful as a local preacher to the people dwelling between Whitesboro and Rome, where a glorious work of revival was commenced and carried on through his agency; and many were converted to God. And when, in 1812-13, I traveled over the same ground on Westmoreland circuit, his name was still among the people as ointment poured forth. There is a mournful pleasure now in calling to mind those seasons when I was favored with the privilege to hear him declare the counsel of God; and when, with the naked sword of the word of God, he hunted the sinner from all his false refuges-drove him into a corner, and then aiming directly at his heart, offered him mercy in the name of Christ at every successive thrust, until his heart, bleeding with penitential grief, bowed to the Saviour and accepted mercy: and then, O how would he portray that mercy, and pour into the wound

ed heart the balm of the divine promises, until the wounded spirit was healed, and made to sing redeeming love!

It was generally the case that where, and whenever he addressed a congregation, his audience felt that they were listening to one who had authority higher than any earthly power could give. In 1809 he was stationed in the city of New-York; and a brother from that city informed me that the church in that place rejoiced greatly when he came among them. But their hopes, which had been highly raised, were soon blighted. He preached, I believe, but three times, or three sabbaths, when the fatal consumption, to which he had long been predisposed, suddenly prostrated his physical system. He lingered for some months on the shore of time, suffering much, but with the patience and meekness of the lamb; and then passed calmly away to his final rest. O how unsearchable are the counsels of Jehovah !-a Keith, a Summerfield, with many others, have been taken away at a time when it seemed that the church and the world could not well do without their services. But God has shown us that he

is not dependent upon these or any other agencies. Before closing this, I wish to refer the reader to the memoir of this blessed man, writ

ten by Dr. Bangs, which may be found in the Minutes of the conferences for 1811, where it is stated that "he possessed the happy art of expressing much useful matter in a few well chosen words." The doctor, who had lived several months under the same roof with him, adds the following: "He had failings, no doubt, but as the writer of this was unacquainted with them, he cannot tell what they were." O, that I and my brethren in the ministry may live, and labor, and die like William Keith!

NUMBER IX.

IN 1807, at a camp meeting held at Niskeuna, between Troy and Schenectady, I first became acquainted with the eccentric Lorenzo Dow, who was at that time, I think, in possession of a truly Christian spirit, though extremely odd and exceptionable in his manners. He seemed to possess the ability, or art, to transform himself into almost any, and every human character. He could become ludicrous in the extremecould satirize or speak ironically to admiration: and yet I have heard him deliver some of the most solemn discourses to which I ever listened. At this camp meeting he had given offense to