JEWISH CUSTOM AT WEDDINGS.

51

Abraham Ten Eyck, Esq. who was at the time of his death an officer in the Custom-House, and a vestryman of Trinity Church. By this pious lady, Mr. Stanford had four children, only one of whom survives. In less than eight years, this union, which was cemented by the strong principle of Christian affection, and stood identified with the fond recollection of many endearments, was sundered by the touch of death. Mrs. Stanford died in New-York during the prevalence of the yellow fever, and was buried in Trinity Church yard, on the 6th of September, 1798. (To this subject, reference will again be made in the proper place.) How solemn the thought, that all the most valued and interesting connections which we form on earth will be dissolved by time, and how soon, is known only to Him who is the sovereign Disposer of all events. Amongst the Jews, it is in some countries the custom at weddings, after the Rabbi has finished the ceremony, to bless a glass of wine, of which the bride and bridegroom drink, and then dash the glass against a stone, upon which a double triangle, and the letters Mem and Teth are inscribed. This is an abreviation of the words Mazel Tov, i. e. good fortune. This ceremony is intended to express their desire, that as the fragments of the broken glass cannot be re-united, so their union may continue indissoluble until death. It is also calculated to teach them, that their mutual happiness depends upon the continuance of life, which is frail and brittle as glass. Such was the painful experience of Mr. Stanford, in the sudden loss of the youthful companion of his life and cares: but though bereaved, it is not known that he murmured against the righteous dispensations of heaven. As resignation to the divine will was his interest, so it was a duty which he appears always to have performed with cheerfulness. He did not complain of what was, for faith, taught him to see the hand of God in every event of Providence; and he

52

A CHURCH CONSTITUTED.

seems not to have been anxious about that which was future, because he saw all events in the hand of God.

Having purchased a lot of ground in Fair-street, (now Fulton-street,) Mr. Stanford erected upon it a building, which he occupied as an academy and lecture room. It was opened on the 27th of February, 1795, with a discourse on 2 Chronicles vi. 18. " Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!" As most of his hearers had no stated place of worship, he consented, at their request, to perform service three times on each Lord's day; nor was it long before he had the happiness of believing, that the Lord, by his spirit and word, had brought many sinners to drink of the cup of salvation. In the latter end of April, a number of persons who had received the blessings of the gospel under his ministry, expressed their earnest desire to be baptized, and to enjoy the fellowship of a Christian church. This appears to have been regarded as a subject of peculiar importance, and one intimately connected with the honour of God. To the throne of grace therefore did he repair, with frequent and fervent supplication, for "that wisdom which is profitable to direct," and, as a rational means of ascertaining the will of the Lord, he consulted several intelligent ministers, who united in the opinion, that the indications of Divine Providence made it sufficiently evident, that these believers in Christ, ought to be baptized, and publickly constituted as a church. In consequence of this, and the concurrence of other Christian friends, they were accordingly formed into a gospel church, on the 31st of May, and at the same time Mr. Stanford was installed as their pastor. This was a solemn and impressive event, and all present, but especially the incumbent, seemed to realize that:

LETTER FROM REV. ROWLAND HILL.

""Tis not a cause of small import,

53

The pastor's care demands;

But what might fill an angel's heart,

And fill'd a Saviour's hands."

The following year Mr. Stanford visited the annual Association of ministers and representatives of churches, assembled at Pleasant-Valley, about eighty miles from New-York. Into the fellowship of this body, the newly constituted church and her pastor, were cordially received. During the session of the Association, Mr. Stanford delivered a discourse, founded upon 2 Corinthians viii. 23. "Whether our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ."

During this year, Mr. Stanford was elected a member of the "Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, the RELIEF OF FREE NEGROES unlawfully held in BONDAGE, and for IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THE AFRICAN RACE."

Among Mr. Stanford's numerous correspondents, it is gratifying to find the name of the venerable and Rev. Rowland Hill. The following letter from his pen, will no doubt be read with pleasure.

"REV. AND DEAR SIR,

"Your packet from Mr. Naylor was not received till yesterday evening, with information that if an answer was returned, it must be by this evening. I have time, therefore, but for a few lines.-The plan of our Missionary society is upon the most enlarged principles. Among Christians of all denominations, who rejoice in Christ Jesus, worship God in the spirit, and have no confidence in the flesh; and should it please God to plant any Christian churches by their instrumentality, it is our solemn determination to leave the settlement of such churches in regard to their outward government, among themselves, as they shall judge most consistent with the word of God. In

54

LETTER FROM REV. ROWLAND HILL.

this corrupted state of things, for want of more of the mind of Christ, little matters sometimes create great differences; but, blessed be God, when the work of regeneration is perfected in glorification, all will be eternal unity and love.

"The Church of Christ is but one in the esteem of him who is the living Head of influence among all those who believe on his name. We being many, are one body in Christ, and everv one, members one of another; as all the elect of God are converted and saved by the gratuitous love of God, which is in Christ Jesus; so surely they will prove that they are his disciples by loving one another.

"We are not without the same awful attacks with us, as with you, from infidels of every description, against the glorious truths of the word of God. Still, however, we have reason to be thankful, that the word of God runs, and is glorified; and not a few are the instances of an influence going with the word of life, so that infidelity itself can never deny, that it must be of God. The Lord is giving us to see that he needs no human powers for the promotion and protection of his eternal truths; when he works, none can let.

"Much of the mischief done to the cause of Christianity, has been from pretended Christians themselves. If human reason, in its corrupted state, is to be the judge of divine revelation, if man's righteousness is to be preferred to Christ's righteousness, and heathen morality is to be substituted for the work of the Holy Spirit on the souls of the elect, then the truths of the Bible are only calculated to puzzle and distract.

"America has been famous for 'the power of religion. O that the Spirit of the Lord may again descend on her ministers, and send them forth with that flaming zeal for the glory of God, as that thousands under the influence of a divine power, may fall down and acknowledge God is in them of a truth.

"God is humbling the pride of our nation, daily; all our judgments we well deserve; the curse of a continued war is most righteous in his hands, who is ever just.

"I have sent you some account of our present proceedings in the enclosed printed addresses. May the Lord stir you all up to be very zealous for the Lord of hosts. Our time is short, and we have much to do. When saved ourselves, should we not agonize for the salvation of others? Had not many things called this day for my attention, I shonld have been glad to have been more particular.

"Some attempts have been making by the Missionary society to call up the attention of the Jews. I send you some of our papers.

"I am, Rev. and dear Sir,

"Yours sincerely in our common Lord,

"London, Feb. 25, 1796."

"ROWLAND HILL.

On the morning of the 8th of August, an alarming circumstance occurred, by which, but for a merciful Providence, Mr. Stanford must in a few minutes have been bereft of his earthly all. Shortly after he arose, an unusual smoke was seen issuing from the eaves of an adjoining bake-house, which in a few minutes was enveloped in flames, and with several of the surrounding buildings, entirely consumed. His dwellinghouse, though within a few feet of the conflagration, was mercifully preserved; but the adjoining part of the building, occupied as a place of worship, was considerably injured.

"Behold!" saith the prophet Amos, (vii. 4,) "the Lord called to contend by fire." This is certainly one among the greatest earthly calamities. The burning of a city, or even a single dwelling, with all its tumult of concomitant distress, is one of the most dreadful spectacles which this world can offer to human eyes.