that an experienced sea-captain was able to detect, in the whole address, but a single nautical term whose application involved a misconception of its use. Its popularity, from the very first, has been unrivalled by any thing of its kind. Copies of it have been multiplied to an extent past computation. It has been translated into some of the languages of the old world, and pretty extensively circulated on the coasts of the Mediterranean, from the press at Malta. And, if report be true, some divines of the mother country have not thought it disgraceful to claim a parental relation to it. Still it was no labored production; it was happily conceived, but the author does not appear to have laid himself out to produce any thing very extraordinary. It was thrown off almost at a sitting, and at a time when he was encompassed with infirmities," and heavily pressed by other labors. This is evident from his private record:

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"Oct. 22, 23, 1821. Very unwell these two days. Could do nothing, though I have four sermons to prepare this week. Was, for a moment, tempted to murmur; but the recollection of God's past kindness and faithfulness prevented me, and caused faith to revive.

Oct. 24. Was better to-day, and wrote almost the whole of an address to seamen, to be delivered Sabbath evening. Felt some degree of gratitude, and resolved never to refuse to improve any opportunity of doing good because I seemed not to have time for it. "Oct. 25. Was furnished with a suitable text and sermon for this evening without much labor. How graciously and wisely does God deal with me! How much I ought to love and trust him! Tried to preach my sermon to myself. Went to the house of God in

much such a frame as I should wish to go; but had no assistance in preaching, and got through with difficulty. But felt satisfied that it should be so, and was enabled to rejoice in the Lord."

His mother once told a friend that he said to her, "God deals with me just as men do with an unruly horse; they take off the fetters for just so long as they wish to use him, and then put them on again. I have gone to my Thursday evening lecture, feeling that I could not, and that I was such a sinner that I ought not to say a word; and expecting, after the introductory exercises, to rise, give this information, and dismiss the assembly: but, before the close of the second singing, a subject has opened to me, and filled my heart, so that all I had to do was to contract it within the limits of an hour."

"Oct. 26. Was assisted to-day in writing, and had a precious season in prayer.

"Oct. 27. Sick to-day-a violent head-ache, with some fever. Did not see how I could complete my preparation for to-morrow, but felt satisfied and easy. Saw it was best I should have some rebuff; took courage from it, and hope that God meant to bless my labors to-morrow. In the evening wrote considerable, notwithstanding my head-ache; and, after I retired, was almost painfully happy, rejoicing in God with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

"Oct. 28. Sab. Some better this morning. Finished a sermon for the afternoon, on increasing in the knowledge of God. Was almost insupportably happy, and could hardly refrain from shouting aloud for joy. Was assisted in praying for others; yet had no assistance in public prayer or preaching. In the evening

preached to seamen-an overflowing house; aisles and pulpit stairs full, and hundreds went away who could not get in. Was enabled to go through tolerably. As soon as I came down was beset so importunately for a copy for the press that I could not refuse."

"Portland, Nov. 25, 1821.

"My Address to Seamen is published, and I shall send you one with this. They have printed nine thousand copies; three thousand in the sermon form, and six thousand in the form of a tract. They mean to send them to every sea-port in the United States. I know you will pray that a blessing may go with it. It produced a great effect upon seamen and others for a time; but I do not know that any have been really awakened by it. One hundred and forty sailors applied the next day for Bibles, most of whom paid for them. I could not but wonder to see God work by it. I had only ten days' notice, and during that time had to prepare and preach six sermons, besides the Address, and another sermon which I did not preach."

"December 26.

"If I do not feel thankful for any other favor which God gives me, I do feel some gratitude when he enables me to do any thing which gives pleasure to the heart of my mother. If you were dead, one half the gratification I feel when I publish any thing which is well received, would be gone. I should also lose one half of my hopes that any thing I publish will do good; for I build my hopes very much on your prayers for a blessing. I suppose you or H. sent me the Keene paper, which contains my Address. It has been published

in two other papers, and in a Baptist Magazine at Boston: and I have just received a letter from Professor P.'s lady, at in behalf of a number of ladies there, who wish to publish a large edition in the form of a tract. I have requested our church to pray that a blessing may go with it, and I doubt not you will continue to pray. If it does any good, it will be owing to prayer."

His other publication was a sermon, preached before the "Marine Bible Society of Boston," entitled "The Oracles of God,"-a much more labored production than either of his other published discourses; and yet, for some cause, it has been far less popular. Besides these, he furnished one or two manuscript sermons for the National Preacher, which appeared soon after his decease.

CHAPTER XVI.

His exertions without the bounds of his parish-Influence on his ministerial associates; in resuscitating and edifying other churches-Visits "The Springs"-Effect of his example, conversation, and prayers on other visiters-Excursions in behalf of charitable societies-Translation of ministers— He is invited to Boston and New-York.

It is not easy to estimate the usefulness of a man in public life, whose numerous relations bring him into contact with his fellow-men in a great variety of c'rcumstances. A minister of the Gospel, especially 27*

M. P.

at this day, is not an insulated individual, whose influence is limited by parochial bounds. His presence, counsel, example, prayers, give shape, tone, direction, energy to public institutions. for enlightening the human species, alleviating its sufferings, and extending the empire of holiness. It is, indeed, no slight honor to be permitted to feed and build up a single branch of the church of God. To see the number of believers multiplied, and converted sinners joining themselves to the people of God, as the fruit of his labors, is an adequate reward for the pastor's most arduous toils, and for all the solicitude with which his anxious bosom is afflicted. And yet the increase and edification of his own particular charge may be only a small part of the good which is to be traced, more or less directly, to his instrumentality. The many hundreds to whom Mr. Payson's labors were blessed in the place of his residence, and whom it was his happiness to welcome to the church under his special supervision, are only a part, and may be found a small part of the gems which will embellish his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord. To ascertain the whole amount of his usefulness, we must know the nature and degree of his influence upon his fellow-laborers in the ministry -the effect of his occasional labors in different and distant parts of the country-his agency in raising the tone of piety in all the churches which could be reached by his influence, the results of his powerful pleadings in behalf of religious and charitable enterprises, of his counsel in ecclesiastical concerns, and as one of the guardians of the principal seminary of learning in Maine-all, in short, that flowed from his conscientious and ever-watchful regard, wherever he was, and