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A high fever followed, in which the lungs were involved. All efforts proved unavailing; and gradually sinking under the power of disease, he died on the 22d day of the following April. Thus fell, in the prime of life, an able minister of Jesus Christ, a victim to the unreasonable usage of having the officiating minister follow the corpse to the grave. Nor was he the first or last victim to this murderous custom. It is scarcely possible to conceive of any thing more disastrous to those delicate organs concerned in respiration and speaking, than the excitement and exhaustion attendant upon a country funeral. The house almost always crowded, is left for a long, slow ride to the grave yard, there to stand shivering in the snow until the grave is filled, and then take another ride home. And yet, knowing that this is expected, many of our preachers, even when in feeble health, do not feel at liberty to decline it, lest they should add to the sorrows of those already smitten and afflicted. When duty demands it, and the salvation of souls requires it, the Christian minister should fear no danger, flinch from no exposure; but the life of such an one is worth too much to the church and the world to be sacrificed to a needless custom.

In person, Mr. Hubbard was of about the medium height; of full habit, and inclined to corpulency. His countenance wore an expression of cheerfulness and kindness well calculated to make a favorable impression. In his attire, he was scrupulously exact and tasty. In his intercourse with society, he was pleasant, dignified and courteous, open, communicative and social. Exceedingly sensitive himself, he was careful not to wound the feelings of others. Of an ardent temperament, he was greatly chagrined when he failed in any undertaking. A confiding frankness was a marked trait in his character, which led him sometimes to speak of himself and his affairs, with a freedom that might have

appeared to some to savor of egotism. To his family he was ardently attached. Constitutionally kind-hearted, he erred, perhaps, in allowing his sympathies to overcome his firmness, in the government of his children. Early in life, his mind was stored with religious truth. The works of Wesley and Fletcher, and the preaching of the early Methodists made their lasting impression upon his youthful mind. The great doc. trine of a free and full salvation for the world, by faith in Jesus Christ, was strongly engraved upon his mind and heart.

His piety was unquestionable. Such, however, was his natural temperament, that his religious emotions were greatly influenced by external circumstances. Sickness not only prostrated his body, it also often affected his mind; a deep depression, doubting and fears ensued. Perhaps none but experienced Christians, of a similar temperament, can appreciate his sufferings, in those seasons of trial and temptation. In the midst of these, there was manifested a resolute cleaving to the cross of Christ. His ardent longings for full conformity to the divine image, were manifested in his devotions, and are indicated in his diary, a few extracts from which are here given.

"Sept. 12. I still find roots of bitterness in my heart; Lord extract them. Take away my heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh. I desire to count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. "13. Still mourning over my aptitude to unbelief; yet, thank God, I have some faith, some peace.

"14. I commenced this day, as usual, by reading a chapter on my knees; but do not feel as deeply on the subject as I could wish.

"18. On the whole, feel some better in soul and body. O, my God! save me from sin and Satan's power, and all praise shall be thine, in time and in eternity.

"26. Still pleading for love; supreme love to God, and love to all mankind.

"30. My heart's desire and prayer to God is, that the work of holiness might be perfected in me."

As a preacher, he was successful in winning souls to Christ. In several of his appointments, revivals of religion accompanied his labors. The writer never heard him preach, and, therefore, can not speak with the confidence he otherwise might, of his style in the pulpit. His mind was peculiarly unfitted for debate, and he seldom engaged in it. He loved peace, and preferred to dwell on those truths generally acknowledged among Christians. He was much more accustomed to speak words of encouragement, than to denounce the terrors of the divine law. His sermons, so far as the language is concerned, were mostly extemporaneous; nothing more than a "sketch," or "skeleton," being used in the pulpit. His voice is said to have been flexible and powerful. He frequently illustrated his sermons, by the relation of incidents, with happy effect.

His uncommon sensitiveness, and subjection to seasons of gloom and depression, were a source of trial to him, in regard to his preaching. During those seasons, he could not preach with satisfaction to himself. He imagined, at such times, that all he said was dark and unprofitable; and his acute sensibility was greatly shocked at his supposed failures. Satan, too, would take advantage of such seasons, and he would be tempted to believe that he had never been called to the work of the ministry. The following extract from his diary, gives some insight into those conflicts:

"June 29, 1841. Yesterday, I did not preach, or go to meeting. I took some medicine, read two of Mr. Wesley's sermons, and examined myself. Felt that I was a very unprofitable servant. Prayed and groaned on my knees.

before God, and cried, 'Who is sufficient for these things?' To-day am somewhat relieved, but still a cloud hangs over my mind, and something seems to whisper, ‘What if God has not called you to preach? O, God! if I am wrong, forgive and set me right. I think myself sincere. I will try, by grace divine, to live to thy glory. Oh, keep me!"

Though ordinarily happy in God, and in his ministerial work, yet such were the inward conflicts through which he sometimes passed.

He was a good pastor. He delighted in telling of the love of the Savior, to the people, at their own houses. The children, being kindly noticed by him, learned to love him. His deep sympathy with the afflicted rendered him a welcome visitor at the sick room.

His death was peaceful, and calmly triumphant. He was constitutionally timid, in view of death; but the promises, which he had so often exhibited to others, sustained him in the trying scenes of closing life. He was enabled to exercise a faith in God, that gave him comfort, and freedom from anxiety and fear. Though called to leave a dependent family, with very limited temporal resources, he planned for their comfort when he should no longer be with them, and encouraged them to trust in God. His confidence that his family would be provided for, was not misplaced: the people of Fort Edward, his last charge, gave substantial evidence of their regard for him and his, and the seed of the righteous have not begged bread.

As for himself, all was well. There were no murmurings, no fears, no doubts. His soul was calmly stayed on God. His feet were upon the rock. In the midst of pain, he could say:

"Forever here my rest shall be,
Close to thy bleeding side;
This all my hope, and all my plea,
For me the Savior died.

There was no

taking a leap in the dark." The veil was parted, and rays of celestial light shone upon his last journey. He triumphed as the disciple of his risen Lord. When he could no longer articulate, he raised his hands in token of victory.

Thus, at the age of fifty-three, having spent eighteen years in the Christian ministry, died Elijah Brainard Hubbard. A discourse was preached on the occasion of his death, at Fort Edward, where he died, by his presiding elder, Rev. S. Washburn, to a large and deeply interested congregation, on "The labor, rest and reward of the Christian minister." His remains were interred in the cemetery, between Fort Edward and Sandy Hill, in a spot selected by himself. His memory will long be cherished by a large circle of warm friends.

L

REV. CYRUS BOLSTER, A. M.

During the winter of 1837-8, the village of Rensselaerville, Albany county, N. Y., was visited with a gracious revival of religion. Those who, like good old Simeon, had waited long for the salvation of Israel rejoiced in Christ's appearing. Meetings were held daily, the attention of the community was aroused to the contemplation of spiritual things, and many a praying parent was made to rejoice in seeing his prayers answered in the awakening and conversion of his sons and daughters.

There was in that village, at the time, a young man of superior mind, and unusual amiability, engaged in study with a view to the legal profession. He was gen

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