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NARRATIVE OF GEORGE VANDERPOOL.

his hands, and with tears gushing from his eyes, exclaimed, 'O that God would have mercy on my soul, then I would willingly die!'

"By soothing advice, in a few days these unfortunate men were able to listen to my admonitions, with a degree of calmness. I folded down two or three pages of scripture, particularly Isaiah ́ i. 18; requesting them to seek the Lord by prayer, to bless his own word to their souls. I likewise gave them a tract on The Way of Salvation,' and commended them to the mercy of God.

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Early in the next week, I found the mother of Vanderpool in the Bridewell, waiting to accompany me to visit her son, for the first time since his condemnation. The meeting between them was too affecting for description. The wretched son, covered with shame, and filled with remorse, had scarcely power to embrace his mother. Overwhelmed with grief, he exclaimed:- My mother, O my mother! pray for my soul!' After such a scene, it was with much difficulty I could compose my mind sufficiently to pray for the prisoners, and the unhappy female.

"On my next visit I found Vanderpool composed, and attentively reading his Bible. With a deep sigh George said, Sir, do you think there may be hope of mercy for such a poor wretch as I am? For his encouragement I explained to him Micah viii. 18, 19, and concluded my visit with prayer.

"At my next visit I was exceedingly gratified to find them both in the exercise of penitence, and reading their Bibles. From conversation, I could not but indulge a hope, that God had shown George the iniquity of his heart.

"At my next visit Vanderpool handed me his Bible, and directed my attention to these wordsCome unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' This,' said he,suits my case.' While the tears were gushing from his eyes,

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NARRATIVE OF GEORGE VANDERPOOL."

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he exclaimed, O that the Saviour would fulfil this promise to me, and give me rest in his mercy, then I would rather die than live, though I must be hung.' His grief was so overwhelming, that I immediately offered a prayer to the Lord, for mercy to the soul of this unhappy young man.

"When I saw him on the following day, Vanderpool said, 'I was reading the account of the death of Christ, and took notice of his mercy to the penitent thief, which cucouraged me to pray that the Lord would remember me too.' As soon as George could recover his feelings, he adverted to a sermon I had lent him, preached in the State-Prison, (1815,) on the death of an unfortunate youth; which he said more than any thing else convinced him of the necessity of sincere repentance in the sight of God. I left him with prayer, apparently more sensible than at my former visit.

"The time appointed by the judge for the execution of these two criminals, now drew near.

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derpool said, To-morrow will be my last Sabbath day on earth, and I pray to God, it may be the best day I ever had. O, Sir, come and see us to-morrow. Though I look forward to my execution on Friday, I wonder how it is, I feel so resigned-I am sure it must be from God. I can now with good confidence repeat that text you read to me last week-' Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.' ́Psalm xxxi. 5. And here I wish to rest. May these be my last words.'

"Before I left the room, Frazer said to me, I am more sorry for George than for myself. For he did not attempt to set fire to any place; he did not give any assistance, nor did he take any plunder.'

"Tuesday morning, while I was present, the mothers of these young men came to take their last farewell of their sons. A scene this, which it is equally impossible for me to describe, or ever to forget.

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NARRATIVE OF GEORGE VANDERPOOL.

"On Wednesday the high sheriff put into my hand a document, which he had just received from his Excellency Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of the State of New-York, stating, that in the exercise of the pardoning power vested in the executive, he had commuted the sentence of George Vanderpool to confinement in the State-Prison during his natural life. This was in consequence of my communicating to the Governor facts, which demonstrated the difference between the two culprits, and recommending Vanderpool to his clemency. For this result of my exertions to save a human being from death, I shall always feel grateful to God.

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By appointment, I met the Sheriff, with the other officers, at the Bridewell, on the following day, for the purpose of separating Vanderpool from his chains and from his fellow-prisoner. As it was deemed proper not to communicate the good news to him until he could be removed into an adjoining room. It is natural to suppose, that the sudden and unexpected operation of knocking off his chains, threw him into considerable agitation. When conveyed from his cell, he was informed of the Governor's clemency, on condition of perpetual imprisonment, which of course he thankfully accepted. Permission was then granted to him to return to the cell, and take leave of the miserable Frazer-the parting on both sides was extremely affecting. A coach was immediately provided, and without binding the prisoner, either with chains or cords, I accompanied the Sheriff, to lodge the young man within the walls of the State-Prison.

"On the entrance of Vanderpool, he appeared to possess an unusual mixture of feeling. He was humble, thankful, solemn, and devout. From the head keeper and others, he received congratulations on his unexpected escape from death, accompanied with suitable addresses, calculated to increase his gratitude to God, and to teach him the great obligation he was

NARRATIVE OF GEORGE VANDErpool.

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under, to observe a correct course of conduct, in confinement. And it is but justice to say, that during his residence within the walls of the prison, for four years and nine months, he conducted himself with that propriety, which secured the entire approbation of his keepers, and the good will of all his unfortunate companions. From repeated conversations with him, it appeared evident that his hope in Christ continued to be firm; and that notwithstanding the temptations which surrounded him, it was his constant prayer and only consolation, to walk humbly with God.

"One day, while in the yard with him, he said, '1 cannot forget God's mercy to me when I was in the Bridewell. It was great that he should save my life, but a great deal more that he should save my soul. I cannot forget how resigned I felt; and the hope and peace I had in the Saviour, when I looked for nothing else but to be hung. I often wish I had the same very happy feelings now; but I am thankful that I can still trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.'

"For several months, the health of Vanderpool visibly declined, and finally terminated in consumption. This made it necessary for him to enter the prison hospital, where I had frequent and satisfactory conversations with him.

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"On Wednesday, the 12th of September, I found him in bed, very ill, but perceived no symptoms which indicated a speedy dissolution. After some inquiries concerning the state of his mind, he assured me that it was perfectly composed. That sweet text," said he, that you gave me in the Bridewell, I can still repeat it with confidence—' Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. I feel submissive to the Lord's will-all my desires are to him.' Then looking at me with a solemn countenance, he said, Sir, I am certain that the day before I was to have been executed, I enjoyed so much mercy and peace in my Saviour, that if I had been hung, my soul now would be happy with

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EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF LABOUR.

my God, in heaven. I encouraged his hope, and comforted his mind, by assuring him that God was ever faithful, and that he had said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. When, on his request, I had offered a prayer, with his hands clasped, he saidMy God, let this prayer be fulfilled on me.' Late

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in the evening of this day, George, unexpectedly, and without a groan, sunk into the arms of death, aged twenty-five years. Thus, may we not say' Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"

"Now Satan thou hast lost thy aim,

Against this brand thy threats are vain;
Jesus has pluck'd it from the flame,

And who shall put it in again ?"—Newton.

Friday, the 1st December. Spent about an hour with Gabriel Hornan, a Jew, born in Poland, aged seventy. He is now convinced of the necessity of embracing Christ as the Messiah."

During the month of August, Mr. Stanford preached sixty-six sermons.

December 31st. In this place it may not be improper to state, that from a document now before us, in the hand writing of our venerable friend, it appears, that in the space of fifteen years, in the humane and criminal institutions in our city, he preached an average of FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY-SEVEN sermons each year, or more than nine each week. This fact, if contemplated in connection with his advanced age, and almost innumerable other duties, presents an instance of ministerial zeal and diligence which has few parallels in this or any other country. But even this amount of labour was transcended during the year 1820.

On the last day of this year, he remarks-"Blessed be the name of the Lord my God for his abundant mercy in sparing me another year, and enabling me to preach six hundred and twenty times, or, eleven and a half sermons each week."

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