not as our thoughts, will assuredly take care of his own cause, and make all work for good. The tributary streams of various opinions, will finally concentrate, and an union of strength and prosperity crown the faithful wishes, and strenuous efforts of his dear people." Thus much of his correspondence upon this subject has been submitted, because it was deemed important to exhibit precisely the course he adopted, in all proceedings that affected, or were likely to affect, either directly or indirectly, an Institution in which both the Church and himself had so deep an interest; and it is presumed, that no reader who has perused it with attention, can cherish in relation to that course, throughout, any other opinion than that it was in a high degree consistent with his profession and station-disinterested, magnanimous, praiseworthy. From this time, the dear, venerable man, seemed to consider the school as permanently fixed at New-Brunswick; and no new attempts were made to locate it elsewhere.* *The General Synod of this year, (1818) elected the Rev. Tho. De Witt, to succeed the late Dr. Schureman, as Professe: of Biblical Literature and Ecclesiastical History; the appoint Early in the ensuing autumn, death again entered his dwelling, and removed from him one of his grand-daughters, the wife of the Rev. B. Hoff, in the twenty-second year of her age. Of this afflictive event, he gave a hasty account to his friend Mr. K―,the same day it occurred, in the following letter: "New-Brunswick, Sep. 18th, 1818. My dear Friend, "After indulging the hope, that our precious Sarah was gradually feviving from her tedious indisposition, and would again enjoy her former health, a decisive event has prostrated our fond expectation, and finished what appertained to my amiable child. In the course of last week, she evidently began to lose strength; yet her vigour and cheerfulness struggled against disease, and prevented her from complaining. Our fears were not yet alarmed. Yesterday morning she sat at ment, however, was not accepted. In consequence of the declinature of the Professor elect, the Board of Superintendents deemed it their duty to provide temporary instructers;-they accordingly appointed the Rev. James S. Cannon, to teach Ecclesiastical History, Church Government, and Pastoral Theology; and Mr. John S. Mabon, to teach the Hebrew and Greek languages, -the services of these gentlemen, in their respective departments, gave great satisfaction. breakfast with us, but soon laid down, to rise no more in this life. During the evening and night she was rapidly declining, and this morning at daylight, without a struggle, groan, or motion, she gently fell asleep in the Lord. I never saw a death so easy and tranquil. Her reason continued to the last moment. She could speak but little; but all, I trust, was well.” Mr. H. is "You can judge of our feelings. ported through grace, in his grief. The children are overwhelmed with sorrow. My heart is pierced; but I trust the Lord will uphold and comfort us in our diştress. I drop this line to communicate the event, and because I know you sincerely sympathize with us.” "We send our tender love to you and the family. I bless you and all yours, and am, most affectionately, my dear friend, "Your servant and friend, "J. H. LIVINGSTON." To this painful dispensation of Divine Providence, soon succeeded another of a similar nature, in the decline and death of his second grand-daughter, and the only companion he had left. Under date of February 6th, 1819, he again wrote:-"My dear Eliza is daily consuming. She is reduced to a mere NEW-BRUNSWICK. up, skeleton. Her power of digestion appears to be wholly lost. The sustenance she receives is little or nothing. It is astonishing that with so little food she still survives. We have cause to fear that some sudden prostration of her little remaining strength, will close the scene. Yet she sits walks through the house, and is with us at the table; but she appears sensible of her situation, and I hope and pray the Lord will prepare my precious child for her great change. She is my only remaining companion in my family here, and the dispensation of Providence is severely felt :-My heart replies,It is my Father-It is my Saviour-His blessed will be done. It is all right. He does all things well. O, if my name be written in the Book of Life!”—And in April, he communicated the sad tidings of her departure. "New-Brunswick, April 5th, 1819. "My dear Friend, The scene has closed. My dear Eliza rests. She died this morning, at ten o'clock. Without a struggle, or the least apparent agony, she gently sunk into the bosom of her Divine Shepherd and Saviour. Her mind has been uniformly serene. She knew her change was approaching, but was not terrified. Without fear or unbelief, she seemed cheerfully to commit her departing spirit into the hands of the precious Jesus." and all yours. "I send my love to you and all Remem ber me at the throne of grace. I have only time to and assure you that bless you, "I am yours, "J. H. LIVINGSTON." The Lord had now added grief to his sorrow; but the Lord, nevertheless, was his strength and his fortress, and his refuge in the day of affliction.* The foregoing letters afford pleasing evidence of the exercise of pious resignation and strong faith under these repeated and heavy strokes, which his Heavenly Father, in covenant love, had dealt out to him, to mature him for heaven. And who can picture to himself this servant of Christ, at seventythree years of age, bereft of wife and children, yet composed-exercising a firm confidence in God— filled with joy and peace in believing-and talking sweetly of heavenly things, even while the smart of the bereavement is keenly felt, and not desire and pray that he may experience, if he be a stranger to it, the power of that Religion, whose precious * Jer. 45, 3, and 16—19. |