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prisoner, and had about twenty of her forlorn associates assembled in the ward. The sick woman appeared very sensible of her miserable state, and her need of an Almighty Saviour. After directing her to Jesus, the Lamb of God, he addressed the company present with good effect, and closed the visit with prayer.

On the 8th of January, Mr. Stanford received a class of eight divinity students, of whom he says:-"I pray the Lord to make me useful in directing their minds into the greater knowledge, harmony, connection, and application of divine truth; that thereby they may become more able ministers of the New Testament, and more useful to the church and the world." Of the class here alluded to, only one has been called to give up his account unto God; and it is gratifying to be permitted to state, that he died in the work of the Christian ministry, and in the triumph of faith. Three of the survivors are now preaching the gospel with success in the state of NewYork, and the remaining members of the class are filling stations of importance in the churches of Christ.

In the month of April, he received a message, by a gentleman from the Baptist church in Savannah, wishing him to come and settle with them as their minister; but impressed with a firm persuasion that God had fixed the place of his habitation, and blessed him in this city, he immediately declined the proposal.

In the month of August, Mr. Stanford visited Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, by the particular request of the Common Council, for the purpose of examining the condition of the State-Prisons, and with a view to improvements in the New-York StatePrison. A similar service was performed in 1821, of which a particular account may be found under that date.

In company with Mr. Joseph Price, one of the inspectors, he passed through the institution in Phila

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delphia, and made notes on the construction of the building, the government of the prison, the articles manufactured, and such other subjects as appeared to be worthy of particular notice. On his way home, he spent a day at Trenton; and in company with his old friend, his Excellency Governor Bloomfield, he visited the State-Prison of New-Jersey, for the same purpose, and having satisfied himself in viewing the institution, taking notes, &c. he delivered a discourse to the prisoners in the afternoon, and in the evening a lecture to the Baptist church at Lamberton. The following evening, by request of Dr. Clarke, the Presbyterian minister, he delivered a sermon in his pulpit, and on the following day returned to his habitation in peace. Thus did he once more experience the fulfilment of that gracious promise-" The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." Psalm cxxi, 5, 8.

In the month of October, Mr. Stanford wrote an able dissertation, on "The Laying on of Hands,” but, as it was never published, it would seem that the chief design of this composition, was, to furnish his own mind with what the scriptures say on the subject. About the same time he published his excellent tract on "Profane Swearing;" a large edition of which was gratuitously distributed among the lower class of the community.

The subjoined letter to Dr. H*****, is another evidence of his zeal for the salvation of men.

"DEAR N. H.

"I regret, that at present, my engagements are such as to prevent my making you frequent visits. Notwithstanding, you are remembered in my prayers, that it may please God to bless the means employed for your recovery, or, if he has otherwise determined,

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that you may enjoy adequate support and consolation. The love of life is natural to all; but, in the bloom of years, and surrounded by the brightest earthly prospects, the desire proportionably increases. When, therefore, sickness or afflictions overcast our sky, it cannot but produce very painful emotions. I know of but one adequate remedy for this case. It is, a cheerful resignation to the divine will, from a persuasion that he pardoneth our sins, and that he designeth our present and future benefit; or, if you wish the recipe in other language, you have it in Psalm xlviii. 14.

"A quack doctor may make up a prescription presented to his hand, without knowing the properties of the drugs, or the nature of the disease, which the medicine is intended to cure; but, a well educated physician, will endeavour to understand both, in order to secure his success. You will, I suppose, admit, that there are quacks both in the profession of medicine and in divinity. I am only the Physician's servant; lest, therefore, you should think me a quack, I must describe to you the component parts of my prescription. It consists,

"1st. In a persuasion that God pardoneth our sins. This pardon is the principal ingredient, because sin is our mortal disease. If we analize this, we shall find that it contains justice, mercy, and love. Not produced by the abstract benevolence of the Deity, but found only on the hill of Calvary, through the sufferings and death of the Son of God. The sovereign efficacy of this arises from the appointment of God— its perfect correspondence with the requirements of the law which we have violated, and its adaptation to our wretched condition as sinners. Now, there is no other book but the Bible, which reveals this remedy; and the greatest care ought to be taken to explain its nature, because the life of the patient absolutely depends upon it; and, however valuable and effica

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cious in itself, the patient has the most astonishing aversion to it, until he is convinced he must surely die.

"Does not my reason tell me, that I must bear the punishment due to my own sins, or, that I must be indebted to the mediation of another? Certainly; even if there were no Bible, common sense would teach me this lesson.

"2d. The next ingredient is, 'A cheerful resignation to the divine will.' This will most charmingly incorporate with the former drug, if I may so say, but, without it, it will have no effect: for I must first know that God forgiveth my sins, before I can with cheerfulness resign myself to his will. But, if I am persuaded of this, I may say, This God is my God, for ever and ever; and he shall be my guide, even unto death. In prosperity or adversity, in sickness or in health, my temper, conduct, whole life, shall be directed to the honour of my God and Guide.

6

"Now we take the last, which sweetens all the rest-A full persuasion that he designs my present and future felicity.' All things shall work together like the different drugs in a medicine, administered by the great Physician, for my good-to save my soul -comfort me in sorrow-preserve me from evilsupport me in death, and bring me to immortality and glory! Such is the comfort which the gospel reveals ; and my prayer to God for you is, that you may abundantly enjoy it.

"Well, I have got to the end of my paper, and yet, you know something more is necessary. You always put a label upon the phial to direct the patient how to take the contents; but as for me, I am only the poor servant of the great Physician, yet I will pray my divine Master to make you a visit, and administer to you the cordial of salvation.

"Sincerely your's,

"JOHN STANFORD:

"March 8th, 1811."

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On the first Lord's day in November, a pestilential fever made its appearance in the State-Prison, which rendered it necessary to convert the chapel into a hospital. In consequence of this arrangement, Mr. Stanford consented to preach in hall No. 5, at a considerable distance from the seat of the contagion; but his visits among the sick and dying in the hospital, were unremitted and faithful.

Like the praiseworthy Howard, to whose magnanimous philanthropy we have before alluded, our indefatigable Stanford did literally relinquish his own ease, to visit the abode of the wretched who were destitute, and "bound with fetters of iron." Few of those who have adorned the Christian Church in any age, have been more willing to expose themselves to danger, that they might free others from it, or to enter the gloomy cell, that they might inspire a ray of hope immortal in the breast of the disconsolate captive. He lived and died in the noble cause of Christian benevolence; and though no sculptured monument will convey to posterity the history of his disinterested and pious labours, yet his memory is embalmed in the grateful hearts of those for whom he toiled; and his imperishable fame will survive the wreck of every mausoleum, save that, where works of righteousness are had in everlasting remembrance.

About this time, Mr. Stanford, meeting with Mr. E. J. W******, in Wall-street, who, judging from the thread-bare appearance of his garments, that a new suit would be acceptable, invited Mr. S. to step into a merchant tailor's shop opposite. After they entered, Mr. W. remarked to the tailor that he had called for the purpose of requesting him to decide a point upon which there was some doubt, viz.who was the largest man, Mr. Stanford or himself. They were accordingly measured, and nothing more was said upon the subject. The following week a new suit of clothes was brought to Mr. S. accompanied