186

CHAPEL IN THE DEBTOR'S-PRISON.

believe, that return, though humble, to be sincere.` The remembrance of your disinterested kindness will remain with us through life, and descend with us to our graves. Accept, Sir, our warmest and most affectionate prayers for your happiness.

"In behalf of the patients,

"SIMON CRYGIER,

"GEORGE THATCHER, "DANIEL PARMER."

On Friday morning he visited three rooms in the Bridewell, in which were a number of miserable women, very sick with what is called "the jail distemper." He found most of them in a state of deplorable insensibility of mind, ignorant of Christ, and without hope in the world. To them he preached repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, as the only hope of the guilty. The ministry of Mr. Stanford was generally characterized by what is called, doctrinal orthodoxy,' but while it is true, that he delighted to expitiate upon the sovereignty of God, still his frequent theme was

"Come, all ye vilest sinners, come,

He'll form your souls anew;

His gospel and his heart have room,
For rebels such as you."

In the evening he preached in the Alms-House, to a large collection of poor, many of whom were earnestly seeking the salvation of their souls.

“While grace is offer'd to the prince,

The poor may take their share;
No mortal has a just pretence
To perish in despair."

On the morning of the 24th, he preached in the City-Hospital, and in the afternoon he opened the new chapel in the Debtor's-Prison. It was formed

COLD WATER TOASTS.

187

by throwing two rooms into one; and was provided with a convenient desk, books, seats, &c. all of which Mr. Stanford procured by subscriptions among his personal friends.

The prisoners confined in the debtor's apartments having been handsomely entertained by the sheriff, Mr. Ruggles Hubbard, and Mr. J. L. Bell, on the anniversary of the fourth day of July, 1814; though it is believed they had no wine, yet among other sentiments uttered on that occasion, they gave the following cold water toasts, as an expression of their high respect for the gentlemen named.

66

The humane sheriff, (Ruggles Hubbard,) who prefers the interest of his prisoners to his own emolu

ment.

"The Rev. John Stanford, the philanthropist, who searches the dreary dungeon to proclaim the free grace of his blessed Redeemer to his brothers in adversity. May the ministers of the gospel in this city learn to do-likewise."

On the morning of the 9th, Mr. Stanford received a special invitation to attend the annual meeting of the trustees and patrons of the New-York FreeSchool, and introduce the exercises with prayer. A very numerous assembly of our most respectable citizens were convened on the occasion. From thence he went to the Alms-House, where he found a woman, aged seventy-one, who was then dying; but in a state of mind the most enviable. Behind the cloud of death, she saw, by faith, the Sun of Righteousness, and panted for the hour to depart. Respecting this case. he says:-"I have seldom met with a person so near to death, with a mind more calm and devout." In another ward was a female with whom he had often conversed about the subject of her salvation. Death had already commenced his work; her eye rolled, and her lips quivered, under the struggle; but her faith in Jesus was triumphant. After prayer, she said:~

188

1

SCHOOLS EXAMINED.

"Lord, carry me safely through. Thou wilt not forsake me: I shall soon be with thee."

"The righteous hath hope in his death."

"J. a prisoner, died on the 18th, and I have reason," says Mr. Stanford, "to believe he had been a partaker of the grace of God. In death, his faith was firm in the Lord, and his prospects bright for eternity. O how do such instances of sovereign mercy, magnify the grace of God."

The morning of the 19th was employed in examining the schools in the State-Prison. They were convened in the chapel, amounting in the whole to fifty-eight scholars. Their examination in reading, writing, arithmetic, catechism, &c. gave great satisfaction to the inspectors, and much credit to the teachers. After the exercises, which lasted three hours, Mr. Stanford delivered an address to the assembly, and concluded with prayer.

He commenced the services of the month following, by a long visit to most of the wards in the AlmsHouse. "It is truly gratifying," he says, "to find so many who are immersed in poverty, searching after the durable riches of divine grace. O that the Spirit of the Lord might make them rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom of God."

The afternoon was spent with the board of inspectors on prison business; and the evening, by preaching in the Alms-House.

On the following day Mr. Stanford again visited the Military-Hospital, and preached a sermon; after which he conversed particularly with each individual. Amongst them he found one man under deep concern of mind, who wept bitterly, and seemed overwhelmed with a sense of his sins. To this mourning sinner he preached salvation through the blood of Christ, after which prayer was made unto God for him.

The next visit was to the sick in the State-Prison

THE TEMPTED STRANGER.

189

hospital; here Mr. Stanford conversed with a black man, supposed to be dying. He suffered great pain, but his heart was filled with love to God, and he was anxiously waiting for the moment of final victory over death and the grave, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ.

After this visit. Mr. Stanford remarks:-"O how good it is-how blessed the employment, to labour for the present and eternal benefit of immortal souls."

On Tuesday, the 14th, he passed his usual rounds among the sick in the City-Hospital; and in the evening he preached a sermon in the Mulberry-strect meeting-house, on the subject of educating pious young men for the gospel ministry. This discourse was afterwards printed by the Baptist Literary and Theological Society of the State of New-York.

On Thursday morning, while walking out of the city to perform his usual service at the State-Prison, he was overtaken by a young gentleman, with whom he entered into conversation upon the subject of the Christian religion. After discovering great diffidence, the young gentleman, (a stranger to Mr. S.) proceeded to make the following rémarks:-"O, Sir, for several years have I been the victim of very strong and awful temptations, which, however, I could never find courage to communicate to my pious parents, or to any other person; but as I feel great confidence in your paternal sympathy, if you will permit, I will give you an account of my case.' Mr. Stanford having assured him of his readiness, not only to hear, but to afford him such advice as the nature of the case demanded, the young man proceeded, with flowing tears, to unbosom himself. The case was very interesting, and awfully illustrative of the imminent danger to which unwary youth are exposed in a city like this. After giving suitable instruction and encouragement to the troubled conscience, Mr. S. parted with this tempted stranger, whose expressions of

190

LETTER TO MR. W. S.

gratitude afford conclusive evidence, that young persons especially, might often derive great assistance under their temptations and other trials, by seeking the counsel of age and experience.

The affecting case referred to in the following letter, may serve as a commentary upon the adage-"Youth wants a guide." It is not to be controverted, that where sentiments of piety are early impressed upon the human mind, they generally form the basis of respectability in the present life, and greatly tend to prepare for the consummation of bliss in the world to come. But it is equally indisputable, that thousands of unsuspecting youth of both sexes, who leave the paternal roof, fortified by habits of industry and early religious instruction; and followed by the prayers of anxious friends, have nevertheless become the victims of those multiform temptations which, in a populous city, assail them, almost at every step. In many instances they might have been delivered from evil, if, when coming to the city, they had been specially introduced by a letter from their parents, or from the clergyman of the village, to the attention of some pious friend, who would have watched for their good.

Letter to Mr. W****** S*****.

"DEAR SIR,

"New-York, July, 1814.

"That man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward, is not only a fact recorded in the scriptures, but it stands inscribed upon the history of the world. Those afflictions which may be denominated peculiar, sometimes arise from our social connections, and never fail to be doubly severe to the heart of a parent, on witnessing the disobedience of a favourite child. Though, perhaps, unknown to you even by name, I esteem it a duty to offer my condolence on the painful