1846.] The Value of a Bible. 161 I thought I could give my piece of gold at last, if other means should fail. The sight indeed of this Bible so overjoyed me, as if an angel had spoken to me from heaven; to see that my most gracious God had prepared such an extraordinary blessing for me, which I did, and ever shall look upon as miraculous; to bring unto me a Bible, in my own native language, and that in such a remote part of the world, where his name was not so much as known, and where any Englishman was never known to have been before. I looked upon it as somewhat of the same nature as the Ten Commandments he had given the Israelites out of heaven; it being the thing for want whereof I had so often mourned, nay, and shed tears too; and than the enjoyment whereof there could be no greater joy in the world to me. Upon the sight of it, I left off fishing; God having brought a fish to me that my soul had longed for-and now how to get it, and enjoy the same, all the powers of my soul were employed. I gave God hearty thanks that he had brought it so near me, and most earnestly prayed that he would bestow it on me. Now, it being well towards evening, and not having wherewithal to buy it about me, I departed home, telling the old man, that in the morning I would send my boy to buy it of him. "All that night I could take no rest for thinking on it, fearing lest I might be disappointed of it. In the morning, as soon as it was day, I sent the boy with a knit cap he had made for me, to buy the book, praying, in my heart, for good success, which it pleased God to grant; for that cap purchased it, and the boy brought it to me to my great joy, which did not a little comfort me over all my afflictions." F. A LITTLE boy one day said to his superintendent, with an animated countenance, "I have got a good teacher now, he explains the lesson: I never had a teacher before who did any thing but ask the questions." Good teachers often occasion animated countenances, and not unfrequently tearful eyes. VOL. III. 14* DEACON ELIJAH F. WOODWARD. THE providence of God, now and then, brings under our consideration exhibitions of character that both good and bad may profitably contemplate. Persons more or less remote from each other, as to time and place, are raised up and qualified by the grace of God, to act an important part in the world; and when they pass away, the fragrance of their names remains, and their memory is blessed. Such a person was the late Deacon Elijah F. Woodward, of Newton, who died suddenly, of a disease of the heart, April 16, aged fifty-nine years. A brief notice of some of his prominent characteristics, it is believed, will be acceptable, not only to his numerous acquaintances, but to the many readers of the Visiter. 1. It may be proper that we should notice his conversion to God, the great event that decided his character and the future course of his life. It is, indeed, understood by all evangelical Christians, that all genuine piety begins with moral regeneration. Piety always presupposes that the heart has been renewed by the divine Spirit, that it has been cured of its native alienation from God, and been brought to love his glorious character, and to submit to his holy pleasure. For every one that loveth is born of God." This truth is illustrated and our convictions are confirmed by the religious experience of Deacon Woodward. If any can boast of amiable dispositions, and rely on the natural goodness of their hearts, he might have done it. For, probably not one in a thousand, was so perfect a pattern of all that is amiable and lovely in the natural character. And, besides all that was lovely in his natural disposition, his character was adorned with every social virtue, and from his childhood, he manifested a sacred regard for the ordinances and institutions of religion. So thoroughly was his mind 1846.] Deacon Elijah F. Woodward. 163 imbued with the importance of maintaining family religion, that on the decease of his father, he took it upon himself to continue the family devotions. But, notwithstanding his natural character was so lovely, and his life so entirely beyond reproach, he had a thorough conviction of the alienation of his heart from God, and that all that was so amiable and indeed exemplary in his character, did not amount to holiness. He felt that however just was the estimation in which he was held by his fellow-men, still his heart was not right in the sight of God, and nothing but "the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost," could constitute him a friend of God, and prepare him for a better world. These rational convictions, produced by the word and Spirit of God, prepared him to feel his need of the grace of the gospel, and to receive the Saviour it reveals. And when at last, his heart was humbled and broken for sin, his repentant soul laid hold on Christ as his atoning Saviour, his Lord and his God. From that moment, peace that passeth all understanding, filled his mind; he commenced a new life, and his character exhibited the additional charms of a cheerful and spiritual religion; and a life of uncommon usefulness bore uniform testimony to the genuineness of his piety. 2. As a result of religious experience, eminently evangelical and thorough, Dea. Woodward ever manifested a tender conscience. This sterling virtue equally manifested itself in the duties of religion and in the intercourse of life. Other men might manœuvre and practise intrigue. His conduct was open and fair. Other men might test the integrity of their conduct by the statute book or the practice of the trade. It was his custom to inquire whether the conduct in question was right, as the Bible estimates conduct. Other men might think small offences were to be tolerated. It was enough for him that they were offences; he could tolerate nothing that he believed was wrong. Such a conscience made him prompt and constant in all his religious duties, constant in his attendance upon public worship, and the weekly meetings of the church; and though his residence was more than two miles from the place of worship, he was rarely behind the time. It made him prompt and faithful in all his business engagements, and in the discharge of numerous public duties placed his character beyond reproach. We often hear it said, of men who have a reputation for piety, that they are excellent men, true and faithful in all their dealings; but they are dreadful hard for a bargain, and always get the highest price for every thing. Such, however, was not the character of Deacon Woodward. He was indeed, true and faithful in all his dealings; but, though he was almost constantly employed in the service of other persons or the public, he was proverbially moderate in his charges. And, in these days of hasting to be rich, such a feature in his character deserves a special notice. 3. A tender conscience, regulating all his business intercourse with society, would seem to indicate a heart uncommonly benevolent. And such we believe to have been true. He had long been in the habit of contributing largely, according to his means, to the various objects of Christian benevolence; but he did not confine his benevolence to public charities; though in moderate circumstances, he contributed largely, from his private resources, to promote every laudable and important object in his neighborhood, not forgetting the noiseless charities that bless the poor and the needy. This he did, not as many, because he was invited : but unsolicited and without giving any account of what he had done. In short, those who best understood his private history, best know that he was among the few who understand what it is to make pecuniary sacrifices to promote the cause of Christ. And though his occupation very much engrossed his time, yet he had always time to spare when any important public or private interests demanded his attention or his efforts. 1846.] Deacon Elijah F. Woodward. 165 He loved his Sabbath school. Thirty years ago he saw it gathered. He was its first superintendent, and with the exception of one year, its only one till the time of his death. He watched over its interests with paternal solicitude, and labored diligently to promote its prosperity. The library, during the whole period of the school's existence, was under his care and well cared for. Yet with all these cares constantly demanding his attention, he found time to devote to the choir. He was forty-eight years a member of it; and during about half that period its instructor and leader. To his benevolence and sound discretion, it is indebted for its peace and prosperity. 4. Deacon Woodward's consistent but unostentatious piety conferred on him, through the suffrages of his brethren, the office of Deacon, when he was twenty-eight years old. And from that day to the day of his death, thirty-one years, it is believed he was never absent from the communion of the church and very rarely from church on any other occasion. He was the main pillar of the church and society with which he worshipped; a man of rare excellences;-a man of peace and a peace-maker. 5. It is interesting to trace such a character to its origin. We believe that the influences that produced it lie far back. Four generations of his paternal ancestry lived and died in the house in which Deacon Woodward was born and died; and each of them, like himself, was a Deacon and Town Clerk. And each, we cannot doubt, recognized his personal interest in God's everlasting covenant; and relying on its promises, gave his children to God in baptism. The subject of these remarks was baptized at five days old. And having began right, when he was older he did not depart from the good way in which he had been trained. His six children, in their turn, were dedicated to God in the same manner; and long since they have all acknowledged their father's God and covenanted with him to be his. The seventh genera |