CHAPTER VI.

First effort in the pulpit.-Preparation and delivery of his sermons. Their character. His manner in preaching.-Entire devotion to his new and delightful work.-His pleasant grove.-Unexpected trials. -Supplies the pulpit in West-Simsbury, afterwards Canton.-Feelings, labors, private devotions.-General practice at funerals and social meetings.-Some seals to his ministry.-Receives a request to continue at West-Simsbury.

MR. Hallock's first performance, as a preacher of the Gospel, with some of his feelings in connexion, he himself describes in the following terms :

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April 7. Rode home with Mr. Parmele to Lee, in order to preach for him, next Sabbath. How I shall do, I know not.

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April 10. As usual in prayer, morning, noon, and night—some troubled about to-morrow-at times, thought I could in some measure trust in God -visited a person on the brink of the eternal world -labored hard to get my sermons by heart.

"April 11, 1784. Sabbath morning. Now the day is come, when I must appear in public. I have various changes in my mind. -Spent the morning in study and prayer, to as great severity as my nature would endure. Was a little embarrassed when I rose to begin service, but was marvellously delivered from the fear of man. I tried to preach from Joshua vii. 9. Did not look at my text or sermon. I was awkward and raw, yet for some reason had the attention. O may I learn humility. Spent most of the intermission in study and prayer. Had more freedom in prayer and preach

ing, and thought the attention greater, in the afternoon than in the morning. Used my notes some in the latter part of the sermon. Felt weary, but had an agreeable conference this evening. O may I be strengthened to go on in the great work."

Mr. Hallock's practice, in the preparation and delivery of his sermons, was not uniform. At first, he wrote them, and committed them to memory. Not satisfied with this mode, he soon began to preach, at times, with the thoughts arranged by previous study, yet trusting for language to the moment of utterance. He also went forward, in a few cases, with still less preparation. At the end of nine or ten years, his custom was to preach a part of the time with notes, and a part of the time without them. During the most of his ministry, however, including all the last half, he commonly preached on the Sabbath, with his sermon before him, written out in full -sometimes, with the application in an unfinished state. And though, at more private meetings, he rarely made use of written discourses, yet the arrangement and excellence of the matter could scarce leave a doubt in any mind, either of the intenseness of previous study, or of the solemnity and fervor, with which the whole had been prayed over before the Lord.

His sermons were highly evangelical-void of human philosophy-a happy mixture of doctrinal, practical, experimental matter-good rather than great. The leading characteristic, in their structure, was unaffected simplicity, in thought, arrangement, and expression. The style was very plain and concise.

His meaning, a child could scarce misapprehend. With the Bible for his model, he rose, at times, to a bold and vivid imagery. In originality and felicity of illustration, he had few equals. Here, like his divine Master, he often availed himself of surrounding circumstances and passing events, in the physical and moral world. He made much use of the arguments and language of the inspired writers. His conclusions, no less than his premises, were supported by Scripture, in the application of which he had uncommon skill. No one suspected him of preaching himself, rather than "Jesus Christ and him crucified."

His manner was unborrowed-alike above art and description. The man who saw him once, in the attitude of Christ's ambassador, could never forget the deeply solemn countenance, the tenderness of tone, the slow and distinct articulation. He had little action, and made no effort at animation, yet every word seemed warm from the heart. In his whole appearance, there was the reality without the affectation of sanctity. For the tasteful and fastidious hearer, he had few attractions. In the absence of many things, which constitute what is usually termed eloquence, there was often a certain undefinable charm, that riveted every eye and ear-a power that reached and moved the soul. Perhaps, it was a combination of sterling thought, simple language, depth of feeling, and tones of nature. One of the finest writers in our country, on hearing Mr. Hallock preach, declared the performance the best specimen of sacred eloquence he had ever witnessed. In the popular

sense of the term, however, he could not be pronounced an eloquent preacher. Yet he ever seemed to have come from his closet to the pulpit, prepared to diffuse light and heat throughout the assembly.

In prayer, he was humble, appropriate, comprehensive, fervent, solemn. It seemed like the address of an affectionate child to a kind and beloved, yet revered father. No attentive hearer could avoid the conviction, that heaven and earth were brought near together. "I love to hear Mr. Hallock pray," said one who had often enjoyed the privilege, "because he speaks to God, as if he was acquainted with him." To the spiritual, who joined with him in devotional exercises, it was indeed a luxury.

From these general remarks on Mr. Hallock's appearance in the pulpit, we turn to his early course, after receiving license to preach the Gospel. He now gave himself wholly to his new and delightful employment. For several weeks, he was in Goshen and the vicinity, preaching in various towns every Sabbath, and often on other days. and visiting from house to house. Almost every week, he kept some time as a private fast. At one of these seasons, he writes: "This forenoon I set apart for prayer and fasting, to renew my covenant and resolutions, and to seek God's grace and presence for the morrow, if I may be called to speak in his name. O may I keep it aright. The devil has tried, what he could, to hinder me from keeping fasts, and I have need of pardon, for the sins of every moment spent in fasting and prayer; but, by the grace of God, I think

this has been a comfortable forenoon to my soul. I know not that I ever had sweeter meditation and prayer. The life of Cotton Mather was exceedingly sweet,-blessed be God, that I have seen that book. Felt willing, if I was not mistaken, to be used for God, in that way which he may appoint for me. may I always be submissive to God."

The next day, he writes: "Think I never had clearer views of the excellency of Christ-O may I ever be ravished with his beauty. Expect soon to go again to preach-may I aim wholly at God's glory. Though I am but a poor dark-lantern, yet may Christ speak through me to his honor, and may his power be seen."

Again: "To-day, cleared a place in the woods for meditation and prayer-O that I might find God there." This retreat for private devotion was near the house of his father. He called it his " pleasant grove." Similar places he afterwards selected, in the various towns where he was called to labor; and when he had closed his term of service in any parish, he was as careful to take a formal farewell of these sequestered spots, as of the dear friends at his lodgings. But, while he had many hours of spiritual comfort-some of high delight, on his entrance upon the good work; the following passages from his journal show, that his trials did not end with his permission to preach the Gospel.

"April 21, 1784. Some freedom in prayer. Why it is, I know not, I feel myself in a thick cloud. My mind does not take hold of truth. I feel the disposition of the poor man, who buried his talent in the