He poured for all the crimson flood: And still 'tis free, as when he hung High on the cross and prayed-'tis true-) "Tis free for thee: nor rank, nor wealth, The stream of life flows wide and clear. The Shepherd Chief, who watchful leads The thirsty fills with kind supply. Then equal praises let us bring To Him, who saves us by his love; For the Panoplist. HYMN BY A PIOUS YOUNG LADY LATELY DECEASED. OH! I have shed the burning tear Of mingled shame and grief; And I have felt the pang severe, I mourn that folly round me throws, Her poison influence still; And while my cheek indignant glows I'm passive to her will. Sick of a nature prone to err, How longs my soul for rest; When grief and shame no more shall stir The calm, untroubled breast. A hope so cherished and so dear may not fix below; In Heaven alone shall every tear, PEACE. WE sincerely congratulate our readers on the return of peace. We had intended to. devote a column to this subject; but, in the first moments of joy, it seems hardly possible to say any thing, which shall make a deeper impression than the bare news of this happy event. Let us all receive so great a blessing, as becomes those who are favored with the Gospel of peace, and who are accountable to God for the use which they/ make of this new instance of the Divine benignity. TO CORRESPONDENTS. SEVERAL Communications on our files will be inserted; and others will be noticed hereafter. MEMOIR OF THE REV. ASAHEL again, rendered the occasion HOOKER. ·(Continued from p. 42. ) WHEN Mr. Hooker reached Goshen, it was apparent to his friends, that the flattering expectations of his speedy recovery, which had been indulged, were premature. Indeed, his whole appearance excited pain ful apprehensions, that he was sinking into a settled decline. These apprehensions continued through the next summer, which he spent in short excursions, attended wherever he went by Mrs. Hooker. In the autumn, he concluded, with the advice of judicious physicians, to avoid the hazard of a northern winter by a voyage to Carolina. Among the tender and trying scenes, which preceded the execution of this purpose, was that of his taking leave of his numerous circle of friends, and especially of his people. On the Sabbath before his departure, he made an address to his church and congregation. His debility being such, that he scarcely seemed able to stand in the pulpit, his not having publicly spoken to his hearers, in many months, and the probability that he might never speak to them VOL. XI. #9 deeply affecting. Having stated the grounds, on which he had before thought it expedient for him and them, that he should request a dismis. sion from his pastoral charge, and the reasons which had more recently induced him to wave that request for the present; having made a voluntary rélinquishment of his salary for the relief of the Society; and exhorted them to receive it, as though it were his dying charge to be liberal in their future support of the Gospel; he closed his address as follows: "You know my purpose of spending the ensuing winter at Charleston, (S. C.) This pur pose, which has been contemplated with much reluctance and anxiety, and with many prayers to God for direction, has been matured with the unanimous advice of the ablest physicians, and the concurring opinion of many other respectable persons. If the Lord will, I shall take my departure to-morrow, or shortly after. To me the present occasion is deeply interesting. I have already taken leave of my children, and must now take leave of you, my beloved charge, not knowing what things await me in my journey, and in a land of strangers; nor whether I shall return again to my house, or my place know me any more. The event I would solemnly, submissively, commit to the decision of the infinite Disposer. Should you see my face no more, I trust that my wife and chilren will not be forgotten, or suffer through want of any kindness, which you can shew them. Should I return, and with such health as may enable me to resume my labors with you, I shall greatly rejoice. While I hope for a daily remembrance in your prayers to God for me, I can say, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, by ceasing to pray for you, "I have now been with you almost nineteen years, as a watch man for your souls. During this period, I have been peculiarly happy, in the harmony which has subsisted betwixt me and the people of my charge. I can add the testimony of my conscience, that I have steadily aimed, (though with much imperfection, for which I would humbly look to the blood of Christ for pardon,) to preach the truth as it is in Jesus, and to declare unto you the counsel of God faithfully. Should I be so happy, as to be accepted, through infinite grace, I humbly trust that some of you will be my crown of rejoicing, in the day of the Lord Jesus. If God should be pleased to return me to you, after an absense of eight months, some of this numerous assem bly I shall probably never see again in this house of prayer. But of one meeting we are fully assured, in which ministers, with their hearers, will be as sembled at the judgment-seat of Christ. Then we shall meet again. With reference to the awful solemnities of that day, I intreat and exhort those of you, who have confessed Christ be fore men, to love one another. Let your light shine. Keep yourselves unspotted from the world. Be sober and watch unto prayer. Evince your love to Christ, by keeping all his commandments. "Concerning those of you, my hearers, for whom I have labored in vain, as to any saving advantage, the anxiety which I have often felt, is greatly heightened on the present occasion. Let me once more beseech you, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God, lest you mourn at the last, saying, how have we hated instruction and our hearts despised reproof. "I once more beseech you,. who have children committed to your charge, not to ruin their souls by your unfaithfulness. You are witnesses that I have often and earnestly addressed you on this subject. Your children, too, are witnesses of this. As you regard their salvation, be intreated to train them up with Christian fidelity, lest they perish, and their blood be required at your hands. "I beseech you all to pursue the things which make for peace. Behold how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren tɔ dwell together in unity. I pray God, that you may not be divided and scattered. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together; but be always glad when it is said, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Should I return to you no more, or be able no more The people received this address with many tears of tender and undissembled affection, and the prayers of many hearts attended their beloved pastor, in the doubtful enterprise before him. At the time proposed, he commenced his journey, with Mrs. Hooker, whose company was deemed indispensable to the success of the undertaking. The passage from New York to Charleston was short and prosperous, except that Mr. Hooker was much troubled with seasickness. To those, who know the character of the people in Charleston, it is needless to say, that his reception and residence there were peculiarly pleasant. Some circumstances, which contributed to this, will be best made known to the reader, by a few paragraphs taken from his letters. “Charleston, Nov. 20, 1809. "My very dear Mary, land, we can hardly feel our selves to be any longer strangers. Our friends here, (for such we are bound to consider them,) seem determined to do every thing in their power to render us happy. A merciful Providence continues to deal very kindly with us. My cough, which became more trouble some in New York, has almost left me. I hope, my dear child, you will improve in the best manner, the opportunity, with which you are so seasonably favored, of attending school. Above all, look well to your spiritual and eternal interest. This is infinitely more important than all your other concerns. If this be neglected, you will be undone, whatever else you may have gained." In a letter to the Hon. Judge Reeve, dated Dec. 1st, he says: A number of excellent people meet at Dr. Keith's, weekly, on Wednesday evening, when a sermon is read, a prayer made, and several hymns sung. But religion cannot be said to flourish in this city, nor in this region. Including a hundred miles, in all directions from Charleston, there probably are not half so many regular ministers, as in Litchfield County. There are some hopefully pious people among the blacks. On a pleasant morning, I have seen about sixty of these people, from neighboring families, at prayers in Dr. Keith's house. Several hundreds attend his meeting on the Sabbath, and occupy about half the gallery, in, one of the largest churches in this country. After a pleasant passage of eight days, we arrived in this city on the 13th instant. On the day following, we were invited to take up our residence at Dr. Keith's, where we are treated with the utmost kindness. Many of the respectable and good people soon called to see us, to inquire about Mrs. Washburn, and bid us welcome to their city. They are very affable; and their hospitality to strangers almost makes me ashamed of some among my own countrymen. "I am unquestionably better Though pilgrims in a strange than when I left home; and but for some remaining weakness in my left breast, I should expect during the winter to regain my health. God knows what is best. With him I hope cheerfully to leave the decision. He has dealt bountifully with me and mine. The kindness which we have received from many, not in word only, but in deed and in truth, has served to alleviate much of that solicitude, which seemed inevitable, when going into a far country among strangers. Mrs. Hooker and I have often agreed, that we will never distrust our Heavenly Father any more." The kindness of friends, so of ten referred to in Mr. Hooker's letters, was not confined to common offices of hospitality, but extended to liberal supplies of money, and other articles which his circumstances rendered necessary. The grateful marks of attention and generosity, which he experienced in his journey to Savannah, and on his return homeward, as well as at Charleston, doubtless contributed in no small measure to the restoration of his health. The people of Goshen, during this absence of their pastor, were supplied by Mr. Harvey, an excellent young man, whose labors were very acceptable to them. The small probability, that they might enjoy Mr. Hooker's min. istrations in future, induced their committee to request of him an explicit declaration of his views on this subject. His answer to their letter says: "I do not think it expedient, either for my people or for me, that I should attempt to continue with them. Should the attempt be made, and fail, it would be calamitous for both. That it would fail, I have but little doubt. In my own view, the permanent recovery of my health depends so much on my removal to some more favorable situation, that it is my duty to request a dismission from you. The contemplation of such a scene excites emotions not easily described. To leave a people, to whom I have been so strongly attached, for so many years, and to go from them in total uncertainty as to my own future prospects, is one of the greatest trials to which I have ever been called. But the will of the Lord be done." The communication, of which the above is a part, was dated Philadelphia, May 16, 1810. The contemplated dismission took place soon after Mr. Hooker's return Goshen. In justice to his character relative to this transaction, I insert an extract from the minutes of a church meeting, holden in that place, June 11th, 18.10. to "Voted, that we consider the reasons offered this day by Mr. Hooker, for requesting that the special connexion between him and us should be dissolved, to be sufficient; and accordingly give our consent that the same should be dissolved. "Voted, unanimously, that we reciprocate the expressions of affection and attachment, offered by Mr. Hooker; and that, while we express to him our approbation of his past labors for our good, and the good of our chil dren, as an exemplary and faithful minister, and lament the occasion for his dismission; we also tender him our best wishes for the complete restoration of his health, and that a kind Providence would direct his way in |