CHAPTER IV.

REMARKABLE PROVIdences-SUFFERINGS DURING THE PRES VALENCE OF YELLOW FEVER-DEATH OF MRS. STANFORDMR. STANFORD RESUMES HIS PUBLIC DUTIES-DECLINES SEVERAL INVITATIONS TO REMOVE FROM NEW-YORK.

THE death of his valuable friend, Samuel Naylor, Esq. was announced about the 9th of March, 1798. To commemorate this event, Mr. Stanford composed a sermon, which was subsequently printed and transmitted to the surviving family, as a memorial of his gratitude for the numerous evidences of friendship, which in early life he had received from the deceased. If

"To the generous mind,

The heaviest debt, is that of gratitude,

When 'tis not in our power to repay it :"

Ah! what then must be the anxiety of the humble Christian, suitably to express his obligations to the divine Author of every mercy! And although the soul can here render no adequate tribute, yet the pious man will delight to record the goodness of the Lord. It was a favourite saying of the puritan fathers: "He that will observe divine providences, shall never want providences to observe ;" and it may with much truth be said, that as few men have been more accustomed to speak of the dealings of the Lord with their souls, so few have been more remarkably the objects of heavens special care, than the subject of this memoir. Like the eminently pious Mr. Brown, of Haddington, he might say " I have met with many trials, yet so merciful hath the Lord been to his servant, that if I

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UNEXPECTED RELIEF.

were to live my days over again, I would not desire one circumstance in my lot changed, except, that I wish I had less sin." Upon Mr. Stanford's coffin it might with truth have been inscribed:

"Here lies one of the cares of Providence,

Who early wanted both father and mother,
And yet never missed them."

On the 13th of March he thus writes:-" I have sometimes been disposed to call in question the verity of narratives, in which Providence has been described as affording relief, by special and supernatural means. This arose, in part, from a disposition not to receive matters of fancy for matters of fact; but circumstances have recently occurred, calculated at least to modify my former opinions upon this point. This day, being under obligations to answer a pecuniary demand, but entirely destitute of the means, I learned a practical lesson, which changed my sentiments on the subject. The claim was correct in point of justice and honour; but unable to meet it, I resorted to my God in prayer. In the course of the day, adequate money was brought from an unexpected quarter, which more than enabled me to pay the debt, and produced in my mind not merely a conviction, that all the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, but also a determination, for the future, always to implore the aid of heaven, even in the most minute concerns of life."

On another occasion, a similar circumstance occurred in the life of Mr. Stanford, which affords satisfactory evidence of the providential care of God towards his people. When he had scarcely recovered from the withering influence of a malignant disease that prevailed through the city, and which brought him to the borders of the grave-an event of which he speaks in the language of the Christian—“ I did not murmur-I felt submissive-but I was all

CAST DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED.

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astonishment at the hand of God upon me!" Then, like Job, he sat amid the ruins of his former prosperity, to mourn over his afflictions, and to ponder the ways of God. Turning his eyes toward the door of his deserted school-room, there all was silent. as the grave. He looked around upon his destitute little children, the youngest of whom, to human appearance, was then agonizing in the grasp of death. The neighbourhood as yet continued in a state of mournful abandonment, and he was left nearly alone, to watch with the sick, and to perform every necessary duty towards the afflicted members of his domestic circle. Almost entirely deprived of those kindly sympathies which usually assuage the sorrows of the distressed in this enlightened country, he felt the necessity of exerting every remaining energy, to provide for the present wants of his helpless babes. But what was his dismay, when, on examination, he found that his family stores were consumed, and to use his own words, his "money totally exhausted." Nevertheless, Mr. Stanford did not despair; his soul rested upon the promise of that God who has said-" The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." But what was to be done in so painful an emergency? Should he seek, and apply to some member of his congregation, who might have ventured to return to the city? Should he call upon some respectable citizen and solicit the loan of a small sum? His maxim had always been, "Owe no man any thing," and though at this time reduced to extremity, he appears to have maintained the principle inviolate. Thus circumstanced, he had only one resource, and that was in the mercy and faithfulness of God; to God therefore did he repair for direction and support, nor did he ask in vain. "In the afternoon," he remarks, "I took a walk as far as Wall-street, and called to see my friend Mrs. J****. She inquired, with much affectionate solici

tude, about my state, and respecting the wants of the children, &c.; and on my going out she put seven dollars into my hand, as for my children. This I considered as from the Lord, and demands my humble gratitude and praise." Shortly afterwards he received a letter from Mr, H***, containing another supply, and expressing much Christian sympathy; upon which he says-" May every instance of human friendship lead me to the Lord in grateful adoration."

In the month of March his health appeared to be fast declining. His animal spirits, though naturally lively, began to fail; and after Dr. C******* had prescribed a change of air, or a permanent residence in the country as indispensable to his recovery, he for a moment evinced dejection of mind, at the thought of being compelled to abandon his home; but from this state of feeling he was soon relieved by the reflection, that the Israelites did not move, or halt, but by the direction of the cloud. This so entirely reconciled · his mind, that he could say with pleasure, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good."

"He's good when he gives, supremely good,

Nor less when he denies;

E'en crosses from his sovereign hand,

Are mercies in disguise."

In the early part of April, Mr. Stanford was enabled, pursuant to the advice of his physician, to visit Stamford, in Connecticut, where he was most affectionately received by his Christian friends. In the Baptist church in that place, he preached two sermons, without experiencing any particular inconvenience; but owing to great weakness, which produced a depression of his naturally buoyant mind, he was unable either to impart, or to derive satisfaction from conversation. In returning to New-York the stage broke down, and compelled him, notwithstand

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DESPAIR, THE FRUIT OF SIN.

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ing his great debility, to walk several miles; yet, a kind Providence enabled him to reach his habitation in safety. This journey produced a strong desire to enjoy the advantages of a situation in the country, where he might, with less interruption, pursue the study of the sacred volume. Nevertheless, he seems

to have been entirely submissive to the will of heaven. "Let me live or die, when, and where the Lord ordains."

By particular request, he visited a person at Brooklyn, who had been, for some time, trembling in a state of almost total despair. The case was peculiarly alarming. Every argument employed as a means of instructing and consoling the unhappy backslider was rejected. This person pretended to dreams and visions, (generally a suspicious circumstance;) and it afterwards became sufficiently evident that his fears arose from secret indulgence in sin. One question among others, which this person proposed to Mr. Stanford was, "Whether God did not - leave many souls, in time, for the purpose of sealing them up in eternal misery?" To this he replied, "Secret things belong to the Lord our God,' who has a right to do what he will with his own; yet it is revealed for our admonition, that there are some, whom, for their wickedness, God gave over to a reprobate mind." (Romans i. 28.) This quotation from the scriptures, was followed with tender admonitions, and a suitable selection of promises made to distressed and penitent minds, but all in vain. Despair seemed now to have cast her shades of night around him, as the impenetrable clouds which hover over

6

"That Syrian lake, upon whose surface,

Morn and summer shed their smiles in vain,
For all beneath is dead."

Upon this affecting case, Mr. Stanford makes the following pious reflections:-"Lord, what is man when left to himself! How much do I deserve to be given