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 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924050017759 
 
CORKELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 050 017 759 
 
' rffirt fis Mr/, \rJi J) 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS 
 
 REY. JAMES MAY, D.D., 
 
 EBY. ALBXANDEE SHIEAS, A.M. 
 
 " When ooe that holds communion with the akies 
 Has filled hia urn where heaven's sweet fountainii rise, 
 And onoe more mioglea with us meaner things, 
 'Tis e'en as if an angel shook his wings. 
 Celestial ft-agrance fills the circait wide, 
 And shows us whence his treasures are supplied," 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 PKOTESTANT EPISCOPAL BOOK SOCIETY. 
 
 1221 CHESTNUT STREET. 
 
^f 
 
 SHEKMAIT & CO., PSraiKBS, PHILADIIPHIA. 
 
THE STUDENTS WHOM HE TAUGHT, 
 
 AND IN WHOM 
 
 IT IS HOPED THAT HE MAY LIVE AGAIN, 
 THIS MEMOIR OF DR. MAY 
 
 IS AJTECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 
 
Almightt GrOD, who hast knit together 
 thine elect in one communion and fellow- 
 ship, in the mystical body of Thy Son, 
 Christ, our Lord ; grant us grace so to fol- 
 low Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and 
 godly living, that we may come to those 
 unspeakable joys, which Thou hast pre- 
 pared for those who unfeignedly love Thee ; 
 through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Aubh. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Early Life, 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Conversion and Study for the Ministry, .... 14 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 Ministry in Wilkesbarre, 27 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Life in Philadelphia and Abroad, 40 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Professorship at Alexandria, 55 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Last Days in Philadelphia, 82 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Letters op Comfort to a Christian Sufferer, 
 Letter on Prayer-Meetings, .... 
 Letter to a Young Christian Relative, 
 
 Letter to a Minister, 
 
 Letter on Attendance at Convention, . 
 
 117 
 
 166 
 
 in 
 
 175 
 180 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS 
 
 OF 
 
 JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY LIFE. 
 
 The virtues of Christians are the riches of the 
 Church. A faithful record of them brings new glory 
 to the Gospel. And the accumulation of such re- 
 cords becomes a history of grace. 
 
 When, therefore, a Christian has been moulded by 
 the Spirit to specially near likeness to his heavenly 
 Lord, it seems a duty to photograph, for preservation, 
 the specimen of living Christianity thus given. 
 
 Hence this brief memoir of the Rev. James May, 
 D.D. Friends intimately acquainted with the holy 
 beauty of his life, have thought that there was some- 
 thing in it which they could not willingly let die. In 
 hope of blessing to his students and parishioners, per- 
 haps to some besides, that may peruse it, they give a 
 faint sketch of him to the world. 
 
 He came, as is usually the case with Christians, of 
 reputable and religious parentage ; for though God 
 can gather jewels where He will. He generally takes 
 
 2 
 
8 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 for the crown of the Redeemer those polished for 
 his purpose in the households of Christ's people. 
 
 His mother, a member of the Potts family, of 
 Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was a communicant in the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church, and an intelligent and 
 faithful Christian. His father was an ironmaster of 
 Coventry, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, — a man 
 of large business and lofty character, — so noted in 
 his neighborhood for calm thought and pure inte- 
 grity, that he was commonly called on to be settler of 
 estates, executor of wills, guardian of orphans, and 
 arbiter in all disputes. He had prospered in his busi- 
 ness, both as farmer and as furnaeeman, and built 
 himself, in the pleasant valley of French Creek, one 
 of the tributaries of the Schuylkill, a mansion that 
 was almost noble for those days. A meadow sloped 
 from it to the level of the stream, and beyond 
 stretched a fair prospect of fields and farm-houses, 
 garden-grounds and woods, filling the valley, and 
 reaching back into the hills. Here young May first 
 saw the light (October 1st, 1805), and here, beneath 
 the care of judicious and kind parents, whose influ- 
 ence did much to mould his character, he spent most 
 happily the first years of his life. So happy was he 
 in those years, indeed, that he always reverted to 
 them with peculiarly fond memories, and seemed to 
 feel that they had had in them some tastes of Para- 
 dise. 
 
 They were destined, however, to a painful termi- 
 nation. When James was just entering his eighth 
 year, his father one day undertook to break a strong 
 young horse, and had apparently partially succeeded ; 
 but suddenly the animal began to rear and plunge, 
 and, the reins breaking, Mr. May was thrown vio- 
 
EARLY LIFE. 9 
 
 lently on a stony road. His head struck on a stone, 
 and lie was so much injured, that he never woke 
 again to consciousness. He died November 18th, 
 1812. 
 
 This was a fearful darkening of the sky, which 
 previously had been hardly flecked with any clouds. 
 And the shadow thus thrown over the bright life of 
 the household, left its sad traces long behind it. The 
 sunshine never was as clear again, around the home, 
 as it had been before this sorrow. The large busi- 
 ness in which Mr. May had been engaged, was either 
 injured by the war with England, which was at 
 that time just thoroughly commenced, or else fell 
 into hands less competent than his to manage it, 
 and ere long was a wreck, of which the farm and 
 home were almost the only fragments. 
 
 " Nantes in gurgite vasto." 
 
 Sorrow and vndowhood told, too, upon the health 
 of Mrs. May. Without the strong hand of her hus- 
 band to assist her, the care of farm and family toge- 
 ther became more weighty than she could endure. 
 The seeds of painful and even torturing disease 
 were before long sown deeply in her system, and 
 after a few years of bitter suffering, borne with a 
 patient Christian faith, she went to lie beside her 
 husband in the little graveyard on the farm. Her 
 death occurred January 17th, 1820; and thus the 
 home that had been once so full of happiness was 
 left desolate. 
 
 Before this, however, she had taken prudent care 
 for the education of her children, in order to their 
 making their own way in the world. They all were 
 put in the way to some profession, by which they 
 
10 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 might sustain themselves if necessary. James pur- 
 sued his studies at the village school near by his 
 home, till December, 1816. At that time he was sent 
 to Pottsgrove (now Pottstown), to study Latin with 
 his elder brother Thomas, a young man of fine abili- 
 ties and spirit, then a student for the ministry. Be- 
 neath the skilful training of this brother, who had 
 previously had some experience as a teacher, he 
 made considerable progress in the language, and be- 
 came an unusually accurate scholar for his years. 
 The next season, his brother, just ordained, was 
 chosen Rector of St. John's Church, N"orristown, and 
 St. Thomas's, "WTiitemarsh, Pennsylvania. James 
 removed with him to N"orristown, and entered there 
 the Classical Academy, which held almost a colle- 
 giate rank. He remained a student at this institu- 
 tion, according to a record made in his own hand, 
 till some time in the year 1821, adding Greek and 
 Mathematics to the studies he had previously been 
 engaged upon. Intensely devoted to these studies, 
 and fired with ambition to excel, a friend that knew 
 him at this time, says it was difficult to detach him 
 from his books and induce him to go forth to play. 
 Perhaps, too, the weight of the sorrows he was pass- 
 ing through, was beginning, even thus early, to de- 
 press his spirits, and indispose him for mere frolic 
 sports. For while he was still at the Academy in 
 IS'orristown, two of the greatest trials of his life fell 
 on him. His brother Thomas, with whom he had 
 been making his abode, had been asked to preach 
 in St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, and, while there, 
 was called in to see a lady suffering with yellow fever. 
 He took from her the terrible infection of the mala- 
 dy, and died in the full flush of his youthful talents 
 
EARLY LIFE. 11 
 
 and success, and in the third year of his ministry, 
 September 20th, 1819. And then, early in the next 
 year, came the death of his beloved mother, with 
 the consequent upbreaking of his home. God was 
 fitting him by trial for the tender sympathies of 
 later years. He was darkening the world for him, 
 that he might induce him to seek light from Heaven. 
 What fruit of Christian feeling grew out of these 
 deep griefs, we have no means of thoroughly deter- 
 mining. A record which he kept of the incidents 
 and feelings of those days, has unfortunately been 
 lost, and he was constitutionally too reserved, to let 
 his emotions on such subjects develope themselves 
 before men's eyes, unless they absolutely got the 
 mastery of his firm nerves. It is, however, hardly 
 likely that one so religiously educated as himself, 
 could, twice within four months, part from the dear- 
 est Christian relations at the grave-side, without ex- 
 periencing some drawings of the spirit towards 
 Christ and his kind sympathy — towards Heaven and 
 its peaceful rest. A stream of more than earthly 
 "feeling often fiows from even rocky hearts, when 
 struck thus with the rod of trial. And James May's 
 heart was not a rocky one. It was as full of fine af- 
 fections and tender sensibilities as human heart well 
 could be, — moved to intense emotion by even such 
 apparently slight things as a bright scene in a land- 
 scape, a soft strain of pensive music, or an affection- 
 ately warm greeting from a friend. And such a 
 nature must have felt the need of Christian hope 
 and consolation, when first a mother, then a brother, 
 to both of whom he had been tenderly attached, 
 passed from his already broken family circle to the 
 rest of those that " sleep in Jesus." Still we know 
 
 2* 
 
12 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 nothing in relation to it, except that about this time 
 there was a special seriousness of deportment, and a 
 dwelling in some measure upon spiritual themes. 
 His compositions took the cast almost of sermons, 
 and one of them was so deeply religious in its spirit 
 as to awaken much hope respecting him, amongst 
 his friends. The seed of early Christian nurture was 
 probably beginning, even then, its germination, 
 though the fall fruit of a spiritual change was not 
 developed till a later day. 
 
 The access of affliction did not diminish in the 
 least his steady purpose to pursue the course of 
 study he had entered on. But, to change somewhat 
 the scenery of life, while still advancing towards the 
 literary culture he desired, we find him the next 
 year, 1821, removed to the house of a half-sister, 
 Mrs. Stevens, the wife of a then ex-governor of 
 Maryland. Their place was in the neighborhood of 
 Easton, Talbot County, on what is termed " the East- 
 ern Shore " of Maryland, i. e., the fertile level region 
 lying between the Chesapeake and the Atlantic 
 Ocean. 
 
 There was an excellent school here, under the 
 charge of the Eev. Dr. Alexander Campbell, spoken 
 of as " an eminent Presbyterian divine." In this, 
 our youthful aspirant for education prosecuted still 
 the studies that he had been busy with at ]!^orristown, 
 a son of Governor Stevens, to whom he seems to 
 have been much attached, giving him the encour- 
 agement and stimulus of his companionship. "With- 
 in a year they were so far advanced as to enter to- 
 gether, October, 1822, Stevens the junior. May the 
 senior class, of Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, 
 Pennsylvania. James was at this time only seven- 
 
EARLY LIFE. 13 
 
 teen years of age ; and his ability to enter, at that 
 period, the highest class of a well-conducted col- 
 lege, while somewhat due to the native vigor of his 
 mind, gives ample evidence of his fidelity in study. 
 Through those five years of narrowing circum- 
 stances and depressing griefs, he had, with patient 
 and painstaking diligence, laid deeply the founda- 
 tions of a thorough scholarship, and of the useful- 
 ness which it materially promotes. The child was 
 father of the man. 
 
CHAPTER 11. 
 
 CONVERSION AND STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY. 
 
 The college wliich our youthful student entered 
 had probably been recommended to him by Dr. 
 Campbell. It was an outgrowth from the Scottish 
 Presbyterianism of Western Pennsylvania, and was 
 pervaded by a healthy Christian influence. It had 
 yet hardly passed its infancy,* and had both the 
 advantages and disadvantages of youth. The num- 
 ber of its students still was small, and its endow- 
 ment scanty. But there was a fresh and vigorous 
 life about it. It was situated in a charming region. 
 The standard of scholarship that it maintained was 
 good. Its President, Dr. Matthew Brown, was ad- 
 mirably fitted for his post; and, to young May, it 
 was no slight recommendation that it was within 
 his native State ; for while he was a cordially true 
 patriot, and took the whole Union warmly to his 
 heart, he naturally looked with an especial love on 
 the portion of it in which he had been born and 
 nurtured. 
 
 Of course, his entrance on the senior class made 
 necessary only one year's residence at Jefierson. It 
 might have been supposed that this would be too 
 short a time for much impression to be made either 
 by him or upon him. Yet both were done. 
 
 He made a good impression upon others. His intellec- 
 
 * Chartered 1802. 
 
CONVERSION AND STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY. 15 
 
 tual ability and patient industry secured him quickly 
 a higli standing in his class. His modest amiability 
 and obedience to law gained him the good-will of 
 the Professors. Before the year had ended, he be- 
 came "a great favorite" with the President; and, 
 at its close, he shared, with general approval, the 
 highest honors of the college with a young gentle- 
 man who afterwards succeeded Dr. Brown in the 
 presidency of the institution. 
 
 And the best of all impressions was made upon himself, 
 for he passed here through a decided spiritual change. 
 His college became to him the place of introduction 
 to a new and better birth, — birth into a higher life 
 and a more honorable citizenship. God's chasten- 
 ings began to yield in him at length the peaceable 
 fruit of righteousness. They had taught him already 
 the uncertainty of earthly good, and the desirable- 
 ness of imperishable treasures. And now that he 
 was brought into a place where novel Christian in- 
 fluences were around him, and pressing continually 
 on his notice, he heard the voice of the Divine 
 awakener within his conscience as he never had be- 
 fore. The death of a beloved sister, about five 
 months after he had entered college, was blessed 
 as a means of deepening the feelings which were 
 already working in his bosom; and realizing finally 
 his lost condition as a sinner, he began, June, 1823, 
 to cry out, not in vain, for the creation in him of a 
 new heart and a right spirit; for though he had 
 been outwardly blameless to man's view, he now 
 saw that his inward spirit was all wrong, and that 
 he needed, not only pardon for his sins, but also 
 thorough renewal of his nature. It was the voice 
 of Law, however, rather than of Gospel, that had 
 
16 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 roused him ; and he awoke to the darkness of terri- 
 ble conviction, with yet but little light upon it from 
 the Cross. Oppressed with guilty feeling, he groped 
 on in this darkness for a considerable time, and only 
 through distressing alternations of faint hope and 
 torturing fear emerged at last into the comfortable 
 trust that his transgressions were forgiven and his 
 sins covered. 
 
 The change was real ; but he did not believe after- 
 wards that it was then complete. It satisfied his 
 friends, but did not satisfy himself. He thought — 
 with good reason, as it eventually proved — that 
 there was something richer in religion than he thus 
 had reached; and it was not till more than a year 
 afterwards, when he had returned from college to 
 his friends in Maryland, that the Holy Spirit cleared 
 thoroughly away for him all difficulties, showing him 
 how, through Christ's obedience unto death for us, 
 the means of perfect salvation is provided, and how, 
 through simple faith in this obedience, as answering 
 for us all the claims of law, the precious benefit and 
 joy of the salvation are attained. Then, taldng 
 Christ entirely to his heart as the one only perfect 
 Saviour, he came at length to rapturous enjoyment 
 of the glorious redemption of the Gospel. 
 
 God often leads men thus past Sinai to Calvary — 
 subjects them to his government by the brandished 
 rod of Law, and then wins them to his bosom by the 
 opened mercy of the Gospel, — induces first a yield- 
 ing of the will to him as God, and then a yielding 
 of the heart to Christ as Saviour. 
 
 Some think that such a " law-work" is unneces- 
 sary. It may not be essential. But it forms Chris- 
 tians of decided type. To those who go thus through 
 
CONVERSION AND STUDY FOE THE MINISTRY. 17 
 
 deep darkness to the Cross, "truly the light is sweet, 
 and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to hehold the 
 sun." A long and terrifying consciousness of sin 
 makes Christ, as Redeemer from it, richly precious ; 
 and the soul that has been shaken and agitated with 
 alarms, rests sweetly, and generally steadfastly, in 
 the glorious salvation that secures it peace from 
 them. 
 
 It was so in this case. Young May " rejoiced 
 that he was made acquainted with this way of 
 mercy." He wondered that he had not seen before 
 this method of- salvation, in which wisdom and sim- 
 plicity are so strikingly combined. He saw " a 
 beauty" that he " never previously had found" in 
 " righteousness by faith." And Christ became to him 
 inestimably dear. "He is to me," says his record 
 of this change, " the shadow of a great rock in a 
 weary land," " the Rock of Ages," " my all in all." 
 
 One of the first issues of his spiritual change at 
 college, was a disposition to connect himself imme- 
 diately with Christ's openly declared disciples. And 
 here came in a demonstratien of Christian generosity 
 and delicacy on the part of Dr. Brown, the Presi- 
 dent, which it would be pleasant to find oftener 
 exhibited. Our new-converted student, with his 
 nephew, who was borne to Jesus on the same wave 
 of religious feeling with himself, called on the 
 President, to consult him as to union with the Pres- 
 byterian Church, in which their awakening had 
 taken place. He knew, however, that they had 
 been trained Episcopalians, and, kindly declining to 
 take advantage of their youthful impulse, advised 
 waiting, sober thought, and consultation with their 
 friends at home. "With May, this was enough. His 
 
18 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 calmly thouglitfal mind required only such a touch, 
 to readjust the wavering balance of his feelings, and 
 give Church principles an opportunity to operate 
 again. He waited ; saw, upon consideration, that 
 God's awakening of him among Presbyterians did 
 not bind him necessarily to them ; became a mem- 
 ber of the Church in which he had been educated ; 
 and though always large-hearted and liberal in his 
 spirit, never afterwards was shaken from his stead- 
 fastness of love for it. The more ardent Southern 
 blood of Stevens was not, howeve"r, to be calmed. 
 He pressed his application for admission to the 
 Presbyterian Church ; was eventually welcomed to 
 it ; became finally a minister ; and in West Chester, 
 Pennsylvania, gathered a large and influential con- 
 gregation, in which he labored, with great accep- 
 tance, till his death. 
 
 There is little to record respecting Mr. May's 
 remaining college life. Pervaded now by the in- 
 fluences of religion, it quietly progressed to a suc- 
 cessful close. On the 25th of September, 1823, he 
 received, with high distinction, the degree of Bache- 
 lor of Arts, and went forth to make what mark he 
 might upon the world. 
 
 His first intention, influenced by some remaining 
 wish for earthly wealth and honor, was to study 
 law. With this in view, he returned to the house of 
 Governor Stevens, gathered his law-books around 
 him, and prosecuted vigorously his studies in that 
 line for several months. But deepening religious 
 feeling would not let him rest in this seeking of 
 great things for himself. He began to see that there 
 was something higher to be thought about than per- 
 sonal advancement; something nobler to be lived 
 
CONVERSION AND STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY. 19 
 
 for than a comfortable position, in the world, — that 
 Jesus and the Church had claims which must he met, 
 and only could be fully met, in his case, by his 
 entering the Gospel ministry. A change of aim was 
 not, however, made immediately. Self and the 
 world had still some hold upon his heart. He had 
 not come to see yet the full glory of the Saviour, or 
 to realize, from such a sight, the blessedness of a 
 self-denying life, hidden in Christ with God. Visions 
 of great things to be gained by legal study were 
 painfully contrasted, in his view, with ministerial 
 poverty and ministerial exclusion from all lofty 
 place. And it is not wonderful that there occurred, 
 in consequence, a struggle between conscience and 
 ambition — between the feeling that he ought to 
 give himself to Jesus in the ministry, and the desire 
 which still dwelt in him to gain wealth and fame. 
 I^ature always combats grace in the beginning : well, 
 if it does not do so to the end. In this case the 
 struggle was a sharp, but not a long one. Chris- 
 tianity and conscience triumphed ; and with the feel- 
 ing that necessity was laid upon him, and that woe 
 was unto him if he preached not the Gospel, he 
 bowed his will to what he thought to be the will of 
 God, gave up his once strong hope of greatness in 
 the world, and resolved, God helping him, to become 
 a minister of Christ. 
 
 Such victories of grace bring usually results of 
 comfort. This did, with Mr. May. From a state of 
 distressing inward conflict, which he subsequently 
 spoke of as " the most unhappy period of his life," 
 he passed to an experience of spiritual joy which was 
 like Elim after Marah. He had gone from Mary- 
 land to Pennsylvania, to gather books for the study 
 
 3 
 
20 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 of theology and visit friends residing near his child- 
 hood's home. "vV^hile there, " one Sunday, after 
 reading the experiences of some true Christians," 
 he retired, for meditation, to a neighhoring hill, and 
 " suddenly felt all his powers quickened in devotion." 
 " I heheld God," says he, " hy the eye of faith, as a 
 reconciled Father. I beheld an inexpressible love- 
 liness in the character of my Redeemer, and oh ! I 
 thought, how could I oifend so kind a Saviour ! I 
 enjoyed great freedom in prayer, and besought my 
 Redeemer, in consideration of the weakness of my 
 nature and the inefficiency of my resolutions, to 
 grant me grace to enable me to live more near to 
 him, and more devoted to his service. I truly felt 
 joy and peace in believing. At no former period 
 had I enjoyed such a sweetness in religion." 
 
 With this sweetness still upon his spiritual taste, 
 he prosecuted for some months his studies in theo- 
 logy, partly while yet with friends in Pennsylvania, 
 partly afterwards at Governor Stevens's, in Mary- 
 land. In October, 1825, he entered the Theological 
 Seminary at Alexandria, D. C, and was found, 
 upon examination, so well grounded, that he was 
 admitted to the Middle Class. 
 
 The Seminary thus selected as his school of train- 
 ing for the ministry had been established but three 
 years before, under the auspices of the honored 
 Bishops of Virginia, the Rt. Rev. R. C. Moore, D.D., 
 and his subsequent assistant, the Rt. Rev. William 
 Meade, D.D. It was especially designed to furnish 
 mi-nisters for the Southern portion of the Church, 
 and its aim was to train these not only to a pure and 
 evangelical theology, but also to an elevated Chris- 
 tian character. There were yet only two resident 
 
CONVERSION AND STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY. 21 
 
 professors, the Rev. Ruel Keith, D.D., and theliev. 
 E. R. Lippitt ; the latter of very respectable attain- 
 ments in Church history ; the former eminent alike 
 for holy spirituality, theological acquirements, and 
 peculiar aptitude to teach. 
 
 Mr. May entered this afterwards celebrated school 
 in thorough sympathy with its great objects, writing, 
 as he began his seminary course, " I have come 
 here to make preparation for the work of preaching 
 the everlasting Gospel. I trust God has called me 
 to labor in his cause ; and if so, I may rest assured 
 of his blessing on my preparatory studies. My ac- 
 quirements are comparatively very limited, and I 
 have need for great diligence and close application. 
 Besides human wisdom, I need deep experience in 
 religion, and a heartfelt acquaintance with the 
 truths of the Gospel." " I desire constantly to bear 
 in mind the high vocation wherewith I am called. 
 And since there is in me no good thing, and no suf- 
 ficiency to do anything of myself, I desire that all 
 my sufficiency may be of God through Christ." 
 
 And as he thus begun, he seems to have con- 
 tinued, making Luther's maxim essentially his own. 
 Bene orasse est bene siuduisse, and laboring to insti- 
 tute a holy union of learning and devotion, know- 
 ledge and heavenly grace. He gave himself at once 
 devotedly to study, allowing little time for recrea- 
 tion, and almost none for those enjoyments of society 
 which often form the snare of student-life. And as 
 devotedly did he consecrate himself to effort for 
 steady advancement in the graces of the Gospel, 
 aware that learning will not make a minister, unless 
 associated and interpenetrated with true holiness ; 
 that one must be in sympathy with sacred truth, in 
 
22 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 order to a thoroughly effective presentation of it ; 
 and must be purely and heartily Christ's follower, in 
 order to win others to his Lord. 
 
 A record of the experiences of his Seminary year, 
 shows earnest cultivation of a Christian spirit. 
 Sometimes there are the traces of a conflict amount- 
 ing almost to an agony, as, laboring to subjugate 
 some special evil in himself, he cries out for divine 
 assistance : " Oh God ! have mercy ! Leave me not 
 to my own heart ! Grant me grace to resist temp- 
 tation ! Deliver me from the dominion of all sin !" 
 And sometimes there are evidences of a clear self- 
 conquest, through the grace which he has thus 
 implored ; as when, the old ambition vanishing, he 
 writes, " Dear Saviour, help me to thank thee that 
 thou hast mercifully denied, me the splendors of this 
 world ! I feel ashamed that I should ever have in- 
 dulged a wish for the distinctions of it, when thou, 
 who boldest the sceptre of eternal power, didst live 
 despised on earth." 
 
 Upon the whole, the progress made upon this 
 field of inward strife appears to have been quite fair 
 for a youthful soldier of the Cross. For though 
 there are no boasts of splendid victories, no vaunt- 
 ings of great spiritual success, we plainly see upon 
 the pages of the journal a deepening humility and 
 growing faith. Sin evidently came to be more 
 dreaded and detested; Christ, to be more trusted 
 in, more honored, and more loved. 
 
 Study and silent conflicts with himself were not, 
 however, his sole occupations at the Seminary. The 
 grace that was growing in the student's heart bore 
 fruit of exertion for the Saviour in his life. Besides 
 steady engagement, twice every Lord's day, in the 
 
CONVERSION AND STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY. 23 
 
 Sunday-school of Christ Church, Alexandria, we 
 find frequent notices of visits to the prison, to tell 
 those confined there (mostly slaves) of the Redeemer 
 who has preached " deliverance to the captive ;" 
 visits to houses of the suffering poor, to administer 
 to them in their afflictions the consolations of the 
 Gospel ; and visits to the heds of the aged and the 
 sick, to commune with them in the sacred ordi- 
 nances of religion, or talk with them of the house 
 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And 
 when, about the middle of the spring in the next 
 year, he found it necessary to remove to Philadel- 
 phia, to study more immediately under the direction 
 of the ecclesiastical authorities in Pennsylvania, he 
 had grown from a diffident, shy, shrinking student, 
 into a well-experienced Christian, and a workman 
 needing not to be ashamed. 
 
 In Philadelphia, where he resumed his studies, 
 after a vacation of about a month, he came, with the 
 consent of Bishop "White, under the guidance of the 
 Eev. George Boyd,* Rector of St. John's Church, in 
 the l^orthern Liberties, a minister of considerable 
 learning, and a very faithful preacher of the Truth. 
 Mr. Boyd was occasionally sent by the Missionary 
 Association of the Diocese on preaching tours 
 through the northern counties of the State, and, 
 knowing thus the wants of the infant churches of 
 that region, was qualified to train his student up for 
 useful missionary labor. The profiting of Mr. May 
 from his instructions in this line eventually appeared 
 to all. 
 
 His special object in establishing himself with 
 
 * Subsequently D.D. 
 3* 
 
24 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 Mr. Boyd in Philadelphia was to prepare himself, 
 by earnest diligence in study, for admission to the 
 Diaconate in the latter portion of the fall. This 
 compression within six months of the studies usually 
 occupying nine, was not infrequent in those early 
 days, when ministers were few, and calls for them 
 often urgent. It involves, however, considerable 
 danger ; with careless students, of going slightly over 
 subjects; with conscientious ones, of injury to health 
 from the exhausting application it requires. Mr. 
 May, belonging to this latter class, bent himself 
 down with resolute determination to full and tho- 
 rough accomplishment of the whole work. And by 
 economy of time, by careful system, by giving up 
 himself to it entirely, almost to the exclusion of 
 everything besides, he did complete his wearing 
 task, though not in six months, in a little under 
 seven. But he paid for his success the almost inevi- 
 table price, in weakened health- 
 He did not, however, so attend to study as to ne- 
 glect the cultivation of the heart. The journal still 
 kept of his daily progress gives token of less conflict 
 with temptation, it is true, but evidently because 
 grace was getting gradually the victory, and Christ 
 was putting all enemies under his feet. He was 
 growing in acquaintance with the great salvation of 
 the Gospel, and getting nearer to that happy state in 
 which, reposing thoroughly upon Christ's fulness, 
 faith yields itself to no agitating doubts. The Sun- 
 day after his settlement in Philadelphia, there is the 
 record, " Attended at St. John's Church, where I 
 partook of the communion. I found God present 
 with me. I felt the preciousness of Christ. Alas ! 
 felt, also, the evil of my own heart. Oh ! that my 
 
CONVERSION AND STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY. 25 
 
 thoughts were all subjected to my Saviour. Of my- 
 self I am nothing ; Christ is all in all. My darling 
 theme now is salvation by faith in Christ, through 
 God's free grace. When my sins cause me to mourn 
 and weep, here I look for pardon. Oh ! I love my 
 Saviour; he has done so much for his vile and sinful 
 creature." And again, shortly after, " Salvation by 
 grace, how precious ! My soul, art thou weary ? 
 Christ is ' the shadow of a great rock in a weary 
 land.' Art thou tossed on the mountain billows? 
 He is ' the Rock of Ages,' against which the tempest 
 beats in vain. Art thou thirsty ? Christ says, ' He 
 that is athirst, let him come unto me and drink.' 
 Art thou hungering ? He is ' the living bread that 
 came down from heaven.' Art thou weak? He is 
 thy ' strength.' Art thou sinful ? He is ' the Lord 
 our righteousness.' Art thou complaining of sick- 
 ness? He is 'the balm of Gilead, and the great 
 Physician.' Art thou wandering? He is 'the way.' 
 Art thou in darkness ? He is ' the bright and morn- 
 ing star;' 'the sun of righteousness.' What more 
 dost thou want ? ' Christ is all in all.' " Still further, 
 in the autumn, we find the declaration, " There is 
 nothing so edifying as the company and conversa- 
 tion of Christian friends. The mutual communica- 
 tion of each other's experience, and talking of the 
 love of Christ, tend to inflame the heart, and quicken 
 and encourage in religion. Since I have been in Phi- 
 ladelphia, I have enjoyed Christian society more than at 
 any former period of my life. I have found some who 
 are truly humble and devoted followers of Jesus. 
 And I love all who love him." 
 
 Henceforth, indeed, his journal gives continual 
 evidence that grace was keeping pace with know- 
 
26 LIFPi AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 ledge, and that rich ripening in the spirit of the 
 Gospel accompanied a growing acquaintance with 
 its truths. It is not, therefore, matter for surprise 
 that, with the high approval of the clergy, he should 
 have passed his various examinations; and that, 
 with like approval from the Bishop, his ordination 
 should have been appointed for the Ember season in 
 December. On the 24th of that month, 1826, he 
 writes : " This day is marked with an occurrence of 
 incalculable moment in my history. I was this 
 morning ordained a deacon by the venerable Bishop 
 White, in Christ Church, in this city. And oh ! that 
 God my Saviour would cause me to realize the tre- 
 mendous importance of my calling. I have set my 
 hand to the plough, and God forbid that I should 
 ever look back." " Preached twice ; in the afternoon 
 at St. John's, and in the evening at St. Paul's 
 Church. With a determination to preach the plain 
 and simple doctrines of the Cross, I find it difficult 
 to divest myself of a disposition to cull a flower here 
 and there, and make a nosegay." Did ever youthful 
 preacher fail of such temptation ? But the aim was 
 right and high, — such as should ever mark a work- 
 man in Christ's field. " / desire to make the grand 
 subject of my preaching salvation hy grace, through faith 
 in Christ Je^us. I pray that this may ever occupy a 
 high place in all my thoughts." How truly such 
 became the case, how loftily he held up Jesus and 
 Him crucified, and with what loving spirit he con- 
 tinually lingered around the Cross, all subsequent 
 hearers of his preaching can declare. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 MINISTRY IN WILKBSBAREB. 
 
 Beginning his ministerial career with a high char- 
 acter for both ability and piety, our youthful deacon 
 had not long to wait for a field in which to labor for 
 his Lord. The Parish of St. Stephen's, Wilkesbarre, 
 Pennsylvania, was at this time without a minister. 
 It was yet comparatively small, and somewhat agi- 
 tated by divisions. The salary it oflered was hardly 
 large enough to enable even an unmarried man to 
 live ; and no minister had, up to 1827, been en- 
 couraged to remain there long. But it was in a re- 
 gion evidently destined to be populous. The rich 
 coal-fields and splendid scenery of the Valley of Wy- 
 oming lay around it. Besides the townspeople, there 
 was a large and growing country population ; and 
 for one that was willing patiently to work and wait, 
 it oflfered an interesting and attractive sphere of ac- 
 tion. Dr. Boyd had often preached there, and knew 
 well the place and people. He told the vestry that, 
 if they desired a Rector, " of all the servants of his 
 Master, there was no one whom he could more cor- 
 dially recommend to them than James May." The 
 yestry accordingly invited him to visit them, with a 
 view to his settlement among them. Bishop White 
 being informed of it, wrote a letter to the people, 
 speaking of Mr. May in unusually laudatory terms, 
 and saying that in the opinion of himself and other 
 
28 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 examiners, they "had seldom found equal suffi- 
 ciency in the necessary studies for admission to the 
 ministry." The result was his immediate election 
 to the Rectorship of St. Stephen's, and his settle- 
 ment there in February, 1827. 
 
 "When he thus entered on an independent charge, 
 Mr. May was little over twenty-one. " He went into 
 his work," says Dr. Stone, " in appearance, as well 
 as in reality, a mere youth, with fresh complexion 
 and dark glossy hair, an object of naturally pleasing 
 interest ; and though at first painfully diffident, he 
 speedily won, and what he won never lost, the hearts 
 of all his people." If any had supposed that his 
 youth and inexperience would hinder his early at- 
 tainment of much influence, they soon found their 
 mistake. Almost before one could have deemed 
 it possible, the little divisions in the Parish were 
 forgotten, and a united, loving, and harmonious 
 congregation welcomed the ministry of the young 
 pastor. This was not through the influence of a 
 commanding eloquence, or the geniality of an espe- 
 cially attractive character, for his abilities had not 
 reached yet their full development, and youthful 
 diffidence still threw a shade of distance and reserve 
 over his address. But it was, under God, through a 
 wisely quiet prudence, which utterly ignored the ex- 
 istence of divisions, and cautiously abstained from 
 word or act that might fan any old ember of excite- 
 ment into flame. It was through a serene and pious 
 dwelling in such an elevated Christian atmosphere, 
 as worldly influences could hardly venture to invade. 
 It was through instant, full engagement in ardent 
 labors for the advancement of Christ's cause, giving 
 the people something better to attend to than trifling 
 
MINISTRY IN WILKESBARRE. 29 
 
 differences about personal or Churcli affairs. And 
 it was through such an obvious and open honesty of 
 purpose to know nothing among them but Jesus 
 Christ and Him crucified, as left no room for any 
 doubt that he was a true and faithful servant of the 
 Saviour. 
 
 If there was any jarring element that survived the 
 first few weeks of intercourse, it was one that quickly 
 vanished, like the rest. This was a disposition on 
 the part of one or two to awaken doctrinal debates. 
 There had been a suspicion (not uncommon in those 
 days respecting every earliest preacher), that the 
 new minister might be a Calvinist. Quick ears 
 watched, therefore, every pulpit utterance. But 
 when they heard nothing about reprobation or elec- 
 tion, and found that the free offer of acceptance in 
 Christ Jesus had no restriction but the one of wilful 
 unbelief, debate had no ground left on which to 
 plant its batteries, and suspicion was soon fairly in 
 retreat. The very ones that seemed most prepared 
 to cavil, became finally the warmest friends of Mr. 
 May. 
 
 Thus, prudence, goodness, and a pure adherence 
 to God's word, will ever win their way at last to 
 men's regard. And thus God gave the youthful 
 shejiherd, before long, the cordial confidence, not 
 only of the flock he guided, but also of the whole 
 community in which he moved. An excellent old 
 gentleman, not a member of his congregation, used 
 sometimes, quietly, to say to friends, that he had his 
 fears respecting Mr. May, for there was a woe to 
 them of whom " all men" should speak well. 
 
 Of course, with such a minister, the congregation 
 of St. Stephen's grew. Men that had never pre- 
 
80 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 viously attended, began to be found within the sanc- 
 tuary. Loose hangers-on became regular attendants. 
 A fair proportion of the intelligence, cultivation, and 
 piety ofboth Wilkesbarre and its neighborhood, clus- 
 tered around the man whom all respected and many 
 were beginning ardently to love. And, ere long, 
 full audiences, devout, respectful, and heartily en- 
 gaged, rewarded the efforts of the young pastor in 
 his church. This, too, although the othet Christian 
 congregations in the place were favored at the same 
 time with a very able ministry; and although, in 
 one of them (the Presbyterian), the afterwards cele- 
 brated Dr. Murray (Kirwan) was then officiating, in 
 the first flush of his great powers. 
 
 This success, however, was not reached through 
 personal influence alone. It was assisted, doubtless, 
 by that reverence for goodness which seems a rem- 
 nant of man's first estate. But it had other grounds. 
 Mr. May was a faithful and most earnest preacher 
 of the Gospel. He never-tired of presenting its ines- 
 timable truths. He dwelt affectionately and con- 
 stantly on the provision Grod had made in Christ for 
 the redemption of our sinful race. He showed how 
 freely all the benefits of that redemption were offered 
 by a gracious Saviour. He pointed to the generous 
 willingness of God to give the Spirit unto them that 
 ask him, to enable them to turn from sin and lay hold 
 on the Redeemer. And he urged his hearers, with 
 all the tenderness of pleading, tearful love, to go, be- 
 neath the guidance of the offered Spirit, to the Sa- 
 viour, stretch out to him the hands of faith and 
 prayer, and take what he was ready to bestow on them 
 a full salvation. Eager to bring these Gospel mes- 
 sages to bear more constantly and closely on the 
 
MINISTRY IN WILKESBARRB. 31 
 
 hearts of all Ms flock, he established numerous week- 
 ly services, which, up to this time, had been almost 
 unknown amongst his people. One was held on 
 Monday evening for the young, one on "Wednesday 
 evening for the congregation generally, and one on 
 Friday, of a more social and informal character, for 
 the members of the church. To these was added, 
 soon, a Bible class on Saturday. 
 
 To most men at that date, such frequent services, 
 in addition to two on the Lord's day, would proba- 
 bly have seemed abundantly enough to meet entirely 
 the responsibilities of their position. But to Mr. 
 May there was no limit of responsibility, save that of 
 the utmost exertion of his strength. And as he saw, 
 beyond his congregation, a considerable rural popula- 
 tion, with no churches in its midst, he felt that he 
 must go as far as to these, also, preaching the Gospel 
 of Christ. He instituted, therefore, first one religious 
 service for them, then another, till he had four regu- 
 lar stations in the country, at each of which he offi- 
 ciated twice a fortnight — once on Sunday and once 
 in the week — making thus, vnth his appointments in 
 Wilkesbarre, four Sunday services and one every 
 week-day. It was too much for a parish clergyman 
 to undertake. No one but an evangelist like White- 
 field and the Wesleys, continually travelling, and not 
 bound up to in-door work, can safely tax his strength 
 to such an extent. Mr. May eventually paid dearly 
 for it. But it was beautiful evidence of his devotion 
 to Christ's cause, his love for souls, and his willing- 
 ness to spend and be spent for their salvation. It 
 did great good, too. It brought multitudes to listen 
 to the Gospel that might never otherwise have heard 
 it. It was the means of leading not a few to Jesus. 
 
 4 
 
32 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAT, D.D. 
 
 And it sowed good seed in many neighborhoods, that 
 is still springing up and bearing fruit unto eternal 
 hfe. 
 
 In a letter, written quite late in his life, he de- 
 scribes the first institution of these country services. 
 It is dated at Philadelphia, July 8, 1861, and says, " I 
 never preach with more spirit than to such an au- 
 dience of honest, simple-hearted hearers as assemble 
 in your school-house on Sunday nights. Such hear- 
 ers I was accustomed to speak to in years long gone, 
 some of whom, too, I followed to their graves. My 
 first essays at this kind of preaching were on a barn 
 floor, in the Valley of "Wyoming, in a neglected 
 neighborhood, where was neither church nor school- 
 house. Active Sunday-school teachers procured the 
 use of a large barn during summer, and employed 
 the farmer to sweep it out every Saturday afternoon, 
 and place boards on stones or blocks for benches 
 (the normal shape of pews); and there, with the great 
 doors thrown open, we enjoyed shade and cool 
 breezes, without being disturbed by any articulate 
 sounds, or impatient motions of oxen and horses, 
 which were feeding in their stalls on our right hand 
 and on our left." 
 
 " After the duties of the Sunday-school in that 
 model room, the religious services and preaching 
 came on. You may imagine how a young deacon 
 would speak in such circumstances. So one did 
 speak every Sunday afternoon, till we advanced to 
 the dignity of a log school-house." 
 
 " "Would you think it a marvel, if I should say 
 that one of the hearers there was a boy who after- 
 wards rose to the office of Attorney-General of Penn- 
 sylvwia? It was even so," 
 
MINISTRY IN WILKESBARRE. 33 
 
 The services thus spoken of were all held subse- 
 quently in the little school-houses of the several 
 neighborhoods, generally two or three miles from 
 town. They were well attended by a plain, substan- 
 tial people, mostly the small farmers and laborers 
 around. The prayers were brief; the singing ani- 
 mated; the preaching, simple Gospel truth, set in the 
 sunlight of familiar illustration, and perfectly pure 
 English words. Mr. May never suffered himself to 
 be kept from them, if it was at all possible for him 
 to be there, though sometimes his resolution was 
 severely tasked. On one occasion, a blinding tem- 
 pest had set in, before the time for service, and snow 
 and sleet were sweeping down the hills, along the 
 road that he must travel to his post. His friends 
 expostulated with him against turning out in such 
 a storm. But he said the rugged country people, 
 accustomed to exposure, would probably be out, and 
 he could not disappoint them. He started, but the 
 dashes of the impetuous wind and sleet soon drove 
 him back into the house. Again he made the effort, 
 and again was driven back. But when there came 
 a little lull, he once more set resolutely forth, and 
 with iron will pressed on against the blasts, to find 
 the people, as he thought he should, gathered for 
 worship, and expecting him. Of course, that settled 
 for him the question about keeping his appointments 
 at all risks; as his presence settled for the country 
 people the question of their attendance in all cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 From all this sowing of the Gospel seed, fair hai-- 
 vests were naturally to be looked for. They came 
 in their due time. God did not let his word return 
 unto him void. First gradually and silently, then in 
 
34 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 full shower, the influences of the Holy Spirit were 
 poured out upon the field so industriously cultivated. 
 And beneath those influences the seed that had been 
 sown sprung up, and bore its fruit. A great im- 
 provement in the spirit of the Christian portion of 
 the congregation was the first visible result. Then 
 came the quiet addition of one and another tho- 
 roughly converted soul from the world to the com- 
 munion, — not many, but every one a real accession 
 to its strength. And, finally, after about five years 
 of prayerful labor, there was granted to the patient 
 pastor such an ample spiritual blessing as promised 
 for awhile to bring bodily into the Church almost 
 all the previously unconverted portion of the people. 
 More than seventy persons came in a single day, 
 after a series of religious services, to ask their mi- 
 nister to guide them in the way to an eternal life; 
 and, had he been ambitious of the reputation to be 
 gained by mere numerical additions to his church, 
 he might have swept at once into its communion 
 almost the whole of these inquirers after Christ. 
 But, cautious to an extreme as to admission to church 
 membership, and believing that true strength came 
 from pure character, not lengthened lists, he brought 
 comparatively few of the whole number to the sacra- 
 ments, and these not until after months of prepara- 
 tion. Of the rest, some were not admitted to com- 
 munion for a year; others, not until after a still 
 longer time. 
 
 The caution thus displayed is mentioned as a fact. 
 How far it should be followed as a pattern, there 
 may be difference of views. Undoubtedly the Church 
 has suffered much from hasty and inconsiderate ad- 
 ditions. Undoubtedly, one well-proven subject of 
 
MINISTRY IN WILKBSBAERE. 35 
 
 God's grace is worth many dubious ones. But as 
 undoubtedly there must be great indulgence for the 
 first weaknesses of Christian feeling, — a remem- 
 brance that the just-awakened are but "babes in 
 Christ," — and a gentle recollection that there must 
 be " first the blade, then the ear, afterwards the full 
 corn in the ear." Religious feeling, in our fallen 
 nature, is such a tender, delicate exotic, that ordi- 
 narily it must be early housed within the Church ; 
 and even there the husbandman must have " long 
 patience" in looking for bright blossomings and 
 precious fruits. The ones whom Jesus called to be 
 his special followers were very imperfect Christians 
 at the outset; and it took three years of intercourse 
 with him, and then a large outpouring of the Spirit, 
 to make them all that they required to be. And 
 where the Master leads the way, the minister may 
 safely follow. 
 
 Another season brought another wave of serious- 
 ness along with it, due in some measure, under God, 
 as was the last, to the kind labors of a " Clerical Asso- 
 ciation," but still more to the blessing of the Spirit 
 on the faithful pleading of the pastor with his flock. 
 The services of the Association, held for some days 
 in the church, were drawing to a close, with seem- 
 ingly but slight results, when he arose, and with a 
 melting pathos which instantly affected every heart, 
 implored the unconverted portion of his people not 
 to let slip that golden opportunity for going to their 
 Saviour, and seeking life and peace through him. 
 Ten minutes of the tenderest exhortation followed ; 
 and when it ended, there was not apparently a tearless 
 eye nor unaffected spirit in the church. All dropped 
 upon their knees in prayer for blessing; and men 
 
 4* 
 
36 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 that had been quite unused to weep were overflow- 
 ing with emotion, A considerable subsequent addi- 
 tion to the Church was the result, though, as before, 
 not what it might have been, and would have been, 
 under a caution less extreme than Mr. May's. 
 
 And so it went on, till the church in Wilkesbarre, 
 from a feeble missionary station, grew to be what it 
 has ever since continued, the largest, strongest, most 
 effective one of the Protestant Episcopal communion 
 in all that section of the Diocese, — ^fuU of a living, 
 working Christianity, and of those fruits of righte- 
 ousness which are, through Jesus Christ, to the glory 
 and praise of God. 
 
 The Pastor of St. Stephen's had not been cdone in 
 all these pleasant experiences with his flock. On the 
 8th of January, 1829, — two years after his settle- 
 ment in"W"ilkesbarre, — ^he had wedded Ellen Stuart 
 Bowman, daughter of Captain Samuel Bowman, of 
 his parish, and sister of the E.ev. Samuel Bowman, 
 afterwards Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Penn- 
 sylvania. ISo marriage union could well have been 
 happier than this proved. It was one of the matches 
 that seem truly "made in heaven." To supplement 
 the sterling sense and devout piety of Mr. May, Miss 
 Bowman brought personal graces, mental endow- 
 ments, and a Christian spirit of a very lofty order. 
 She held the doctrines of the G-ospel with a clear 
 discrimination, and placed before herself the highest 
 standard of a purely Christian life. How nearly she 
 approached that standard in the clear beauty of her 
 life-long walk, none that were well acquainted with 
 her need be told. She was one of the happy charac- 
 ters whom all unite to praise. " When the eye saw 
 her, then it blessed her; and when the ear heard her, 
 
MINISTRY IN WILKESBARRE. 37 
 
 it gave witness to her." She shed life through every 
 company she entered, and joyful sunshine round her 
 husband's home. 
 
 In the household, her neatness, taste, domestic 
 order, hospitality, and piety, were conspicuous at 
 once. The study was directly made as comfortable 
 as wifely hands could make it. The family Bible 
 was assigned a place upon a stand designed especi- 
 ally to bear.g.t. The domestic worship was studiously 
 attended to, as the central point of interest; and 
 every effort was industriously used to make the 
 home, for all that entered it, as happy and as holy 
 as an earthly home might be. 
 
 In the parish, she aided officially in all associations 
 of the female members of the Church for religious 
 and charitable objects; while in the Sunday-school 
 she taught, with great efficiency, a large and interest- 
 ing infant class. 
 
 Thus bound anew to his people and the place by 
 ties of the sweetest and most pleasing character, it 
 is no wonder that, when calls to other fields were 
 made, Mr. May should have shrunk from the accept- 
 ance of them. Entirely happy in his home and in 
 his work ; blessed in himself, and made a blessing 
 to his people, he seemed to have no aspirations left 
 for anything on earth beyond what he enjoyed. 
 The invitations to attractive points which reached 
 him, he, therefore, quietly turned over to his Vestry, 
 as the representatives and executive committee of 
 his congregation. And when he was assured by 
 them, as he was repeatedly,' of their high estimate 
 of his services among them, with their desire to 
 preserve him for their church, as well as all that 
 portion of the Diocese, such matters immediately 
 
88 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 ended with him. He seemed to put them out of 
 mind entirely. But he certainly could not have put 
 out of mind the kind expressions of his Vestry on 
 one of these occasions. " When you first came to 
 this people, you found them divided and broken, 
 burdened with debt, and few in number. The 
 influence of your character and your exertions 
 have healed these dissensions, have enabled them to 
 free themselves from their incumbrances, and have 
 formed them into a respectful body of attentive 
 hearers. What schisms and difficulties your depar- 
 ture and their choice of a successor may lead to, He 
 only with whom there is no future can tell, and time 
 alone make known to us." 
 
 At length, however, the dreaded hour of separa- 
 tion came. The long jnorning sunshine of his resi- 
 dence in Wilkesbarre drew to a close. He had re- 
 ceived, October, 1836, a call to the Rectorship of St. 
 Paul's Church, Philadelphia, then vacant from the 
 election of the Rev. Samuel A. McCoskry to the 
 Episcopate of Michigan. He did not incline to the 
 acceptance of it, and told his Vestry so, to their 
 great joy. But the pleadings of many ministerial 
 friends were thrown into the scale of the invitation 
 to St. Paul's, and notwithstanding the opposing 
 pleadings of deep-rooted and sincere attachment to 
 his charge, he at last began to hesitate. His people 
 grew uneasy, and used every effiart to retain him ; 
 but finally they had to yield. A ministerial brother, 
 by one quick, decisive blow, bore down the waver- 
 ing balance on the Philadelphia side, telling him, 
 that pleasant as it might be for him to be cultivating 
 his little flower garden in the country, he owed it to 
 his Master to assume the duties of the wider and 
 
MINISTRY IN WILKESBARRB. 39 
 
 much, more laborious field to which so many voices 
 called him. That was enough. The thought that 
 for mere personal considerations, he might be evad- 
 ing a clear call of duty to Christ's cause, determined 
 him to go to Philadelphia. So, amidst many tears, 
 he gave his final charge to his beloved flock in 
 Wilkesbarre,* and with a deeper grief than he dared 
 utter, turned from his happy valley home, to work 
 for Jesus amidst city streets, commercial bustle, and 
 the crowd and shock of men. 
 
 * That final charge is worthy of republication. It is full of the 
 very marrow of the truth as it is in Jesus, and of a tender per- 
 suasiveness that is touching in the extreme. After telling the 
 people of the pain with which he parts from them, and the great 
 happiness he has enjoyed amongst them, he counsels the Christians 
 of his church to hold fast the foundation of safety and peace laid 
 for them in Jesus Christ, to study more and more to know Christ, 
 to cultivate the religion of the closet, to be diligent in prayer and 
 study of the Scriptures, to cherish love for one another, and for 
 the members of the other churches round. And then, turning to 
 those not yet connected with Christ's people,, he reminds them of 
 his labors for their spiritual benefit, and pleads with them to seek 
 instant pardon and acceptance before God in Christ ; to ofler 
 themselves to him who claims their all, and in his love find what 
 the riches of a world could not supply. And finally, he says, " I 
 now take leave of all my late parishioners, knowing well, that a 
 more affectionate people I shall find in no place whithersoever I 
 may go. My dearly loved friends, a burden is on my heart while 
 I leave you. I shall have many an affectionate remembrance of 
 you. I commend you to God, who will not forsake you. I pray 
 for his grace to abide with you, for his love to be in your hearts 
 evermore. My heart's desire is, that after having followed Christ 
 our Saviour in his temptations, we may all meet at his table in 
 the kingdom of the Pather.'' 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABROAD. 
 
 It was in February, 1837, that, from the moun- 
 tains covered with their drifted snows, the departing 
 pastor took his last sad look at the town, and church, 
 and school-houses, in which, for ten most happy 
 years, he had labored for his Lord. Before the 
 month closed, he was at his work in Philadelphia 
 with all his wonted earnestness. A goodly number 
 of the members; of the church ^ave him their warm 
 co-operation there. Ears long accustomed to the 
 sound of the pure Gospel at St. Paul's, perceived 
 the clear ring of its truths in the utterances of their 
 new minister ; and hearts that loved the spirit of that 
 Gospel embraced in their affections the beautiful and 
 holy exhibitions of it, apparent in the walk of both 
 himself and Mrs. May. And neither he nor his 
 admirable wife were persons to withhold, from any 
 demonstration of affection, a hearty and sincere re- 
 turn. They learned to love most truly the members 
 of the flock in Philadelphia, and quickly formed, 
 with some of the good people there, close intima- 
 cies, that continued throughout life. 
 
 Such men, too, as the Rev. Dr. Tyng, John A. 
 Clark, William Suddards, and the like, extended 
 cordially the hand of ministerial welcome, and did 
 all they could to make their new associate feel at 
 home. 
 
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABROAD. 41 
 
 Of course these things attached him closely to his 
 church, his people, and the friendly clergy named. 
 But yet, to old familiar friends, it was evident that 
 the transplanted tree was not entirely at its ease in 
 the new soil. Its roots bled secretly. Its foliage 
 drooped. The fresh, pure, vigorous life it had ex- 
 hibited in its old seat, came very slowly back to it. 
 
 The truth was, there were some disadvantages 
 about the change which had been made, that hin- 
 dered comfortable settlement. 
 
 In the first place, Mr. May had not been wholly 
 clear, in his own mind, as to the duty of removal to 
 St. Paul's. He had rather yielded to the judgment 
 of his brethren, than formed a decided conclusion 
 for himself; and in such circumstances, a deeply 
 conscientious man is apt to be disturbed by occa- 
 sional uprising doubts respecting the propriety of 
 his own action in the case. 
 
 Then, too, the Vestry of the church in Wilkes- 
 barre had not entirely given up their hold upon him. 
 Aware of his preferences for a country charge, and 
 thoroughly assured of his attachment to them, they 
 kept their pulpit open for a year and more, in the 
 declared hope of having him return to it. And, kind 
 as the feeling was that led to this, it naturally kept 
 up some unsettled questionings whether there ought 
 to be a continuance or a return. For, strong as were 
 the ties that had been formed in Philadelphia, there 
 were, of course, many drawings of the heart towards 
 the pleasant home, the little missionary stations, and 
 the bright scenery of his first church-love. 
 
 Perhaps because of this, there was no dwelling 
 taken, and no real home formed in the city. He 
 boarded ; and though with pleasant people, and in 
 
42 LIFE AND IiBTTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 pleasant nearness to his cliureli, all know how much 
 less deeply the roots of the affections strike about a 
 mere sojourning place, than they do about a home. 
 
 And, finally, his honest modesty stood in his way. 
 He came, at St. Paul's, in close successorship to two 
 men of much more than usual note ; one, the most 
 energetic pastor that either that or any other church 
 could well have had, the Rev. Dr. Tyng ; the other, 
 a minister distinguished, in a high degree, for social 
 attractiveness and oratoric grace, the newly elected 
 Bishop of Michigan. In contrast with such men, 
 the new incomer, wont to underestimate himself, 
 hardly felt as if he could command, for his clear,* un- 
 adorned presentments of the Gospel, the audience 
 that had been given to the splendid talents of one 
 predecessor, and the pleasingly attractive manners 
 of the other. It was a needless feeling, but it was 
 sincerely entertained, and it discouraged him. 
 
 The shadow of these things was thrown across 
 the sunshine of his life in Philadelphia, and some- 
 times, in consequence, there was a painful gloom. 
 With his calm, conscientious steadfastness, this did 
 not hinder full devotion to his work. But it did long 
 hinder his enjoyment in it. He went at it with a 
 hearty will, and did it with a pure fidelity. !N"o tittle 
 of it was neglected. JS'o portion of the strength God 
 gave for it, was unused. In church, in lecture-room, 
 in prayer-meeting, and in Sunday-school, he was 
 still the clearly faithful preacher of the Gospel, and 
 loving herald of "the Lamb of God that taketh 
 away the sin of the world." He even added to his 
 
 * "So clear, so shining, and so evident, 
 
 That they might glimmer through a blind man's eye." 
 
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABROAD. 43 
 
 arduous paatoral labors, other work, which his pre- 
 decessors had not done — such as the editorship of 
 the Episcopal Recorder, which he undertook in 
 union with the Rev. Messrs. Clark and Suddards, 
 and the Rev. Dr. Tyng. And what a golden age of 
 editorship that was, the older Episcopalians of Phila- 
 delphia well remember. But amidst all labors, the 
 shadow lay along the path for a long period, and he 
 was slow in coming out into the brightness of the 
 old genial home-feeling that he had in Wilkesbarre. 
 Doubtless to some extent in consequence of this, 
 as well as in consequence of his excessive labors in 
 the Valley, there came, before very long, symptoms 
 of failure in his health. His voice lost something of 
 the clearness qf its ring, and other tokens of a pain- 
 ful Laryngitis showed themselves. The disease was 
 battled with for a considerable time, before the en- 
 ergetic laborer would at all consent to yield. But, 
 at last the advice of physicians was emphatic, that 
 there should be a retirement from exhausting pas- 
 toral work. A voyage to Europe, and a temporary 
 rest from all public exercise of voice, was recom- 
 mended, and finally determined on. Leave of absence 
 for a year was voted by the Yestry, in the hope that 
 by the expiration of that time he might return re- 
 stored. By most men, such a leave would probably 
 have been accepted almost as a right, and all the 
 perquisites of office have been held still, as a thing 
 of course. But with Mr. May the standard of clerical 
 action was a high one. He questioned whether a 
 minister of Christ should draw a salary which he 
 was not earning by his labor. And he did not wish 
 to hold the Church bound to him while he was a 
 wanderer, uncertain as to the restoration of his 
 
 5 
 
44 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 health, and consequently as to the time of his return 
 to duty. He therefore, before leaving, sent in to the 
 Vestry his resignation of the Rectorship, thus cutting 
 himself off, as far as his own action could effect it, 
 from all claim to salary, and putting it within their 
 power to call, in place of him, whom they might 
 please. The resignation was not handed in by the 
 gentleman to whom it was" intrusted, till Mr. May, 
 informed of its retention, wrote back to urge that 
 it should be offered as designed. Then, with a gene- 
 rosity very properly answering to his, the Yestry 
 declined action on it, in the expressed trust that 
 God's good providence would yet restore him to 
 themselves and to the Church. 
 
 Of the feeling entertained respecting him at his 
 departure, and of the impression he had made on 
 those associated with him while in Philadelphia, 
 some estimate may be formed from the language of 
 an editorial notice of him, published at this time in 
 the Episcopal Recorder. After giving an account 
 of the failure of his health, and departure for a 
 European voyage, the writer says : " "We have no 
 words to express our estimate of the worth of our 
 brother to the Church. We have never yet heard 
 the preacher of the Gospel, whose views of divine 
 truth were more clear, searching, instructive, and 
 powerfal. We have never seen the man, whose life 
 was more accordant with the Gospel he proclaimed. 
 He is a mighty and a holy man. When such a one 
 is laid aside from the ministry in the very spring of 
 his maturity, and the Church is deprived of his ines- 
 timable labors, it is a trying judgment. We beg 
 our friends, and the friends of the Gospel of Christ, 
 to pray for his recovery, — to beseech the Lord of the 
 
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABKOAD. 45 
 
 harvest that such a laborer, so quahfied, so tried, so 
 approved, so competent, may not be taken out of 
 the harvest." 
 
 Followed by many such demonstrations of esteem, 
 and attended by Mrs. May and a valued female 
 friend from Philadelphia, Mr. May embarked at jSTew 
 York for Havre, October 24th, 1838. The days of 
 ocean steamships were then just beginning, the first 
 regular passages being made this very season by the 
 Sirius and Great Western. There were none for 
 French ports yet ; and the party accordingly took 
 passage in the sailing packet Poland. Five weeks 
 were spent upon the ocean, and the bleak winds of 
 vdnter began to make themselves perceived, when, 
 onrthe Ist of December, the voyagers awoke to find 
 themselves within the port and by the quays of 
 Havre. The enthusiasm of the French portion of 
 the passengers at seeing once again their native soil, 
 communicated something of its glow to their trans- 
 atlantic company, as they landed for their long so- 
 journ amidst foreign sounds and scenes. 
 
 A Sabbath rest was taken,* amidst all the Sabbath 
 bustle of the French, — thanks offered for their preser- 
 vation on the sea,^and their future way committed to 
 the Lord. Then, as soon as possible, they were on the 
 road to Paris, admiring the beauty of the Valley of 
 the Seine, and finding in its venerable towns, quaint 
 chateaux, and vine-covered hill-sides, points of inte- 
 
 * Such was the regular rule with these true Christian travellers, 
 when on land, and with their movements under their control. 
 Never was sacred time invaded by a journey. Nor was it dese- 
 crated by mere sight-seeing, either in the Komish Church or other 
 ways ; but always devoted to true worship in Protestant sanctu- 
 aries, or in the privacy of their own rooms. 
 
46 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 resting contrast with the new world from which they 
 came. Two weeks in Paris gave them considerable 
 knowledge of its chief localities, many works of art, 
 and then rapidly increasing Christian privileges. 
 That accomplished, they were off for Italy, fleeing 
 from wintry storms to its bland atmosphere, — from 
 snow-clad landscapes, to its still green and sunny 
 scenes. At Marseilles, they stopped a moment to 
 renew acquaintance with a French family whom 
 they had known in the Valley of "Wyoming; then, 
 launching forth on the steam-packet for the South, 
 were soon again on the blue waters of the sea. Op- 
 pressive sea-sickness induced a landing of our travel- 
 lers at Leghorn ; thence a run up the Valley of the 
 Arno, to see the beauties of Florence and its neigJi- 
 borhood ; and then a journey by the road across the 
 hills to Kome. Il^aples became the centre of their 
 winter sojourn, excursions being made at intervals 
 to all the classical localities around its splendid bay, 
 and even down into Calabria. As spring advanced, 
 the line of march was taken up again for I^orthern 
 Italy, amidst the glorious scenery of which some 
 charming days were passed. The early summer was 
 devoted wholly to the grandeur of the Alps, and to 
 the lakes and towns of Switzerland ; later July to 
 the beauties of the " castled Rhine," and of the bor- 
 der lands of Germany. In August, the Low Coun- 
 tries were gone over, Paris visited again ; and then, 
 with eager steps, England and Scotland, Ireland and 
 "Wales, were sought, nine months of sojourn and 
 travel on the Continent having made them hungry 
 for the home-like institutions, the familiar language, 
 and especially the Christian influences of these well- 
 known sister lands. And great indeed was their 
 
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABROAD. 47 
 
 enjoyment, not only of the scenery and antiquities 
 of Britain, but also, and still more, of the services 
 and the society of such men as Baptist Noel, T. S. 
 Grimshawe, Edward Bickersteth,^ Josiah Pratt, and 
 other kindred followers of Christ. To sit beneath 
 the ministry of men that preached the Gospel as 
 these- did, or to commune with them in private in- 
 tercourse about the interests of the Redeemer's 
 cause, was, to these ardent Christian souls, a re- 
 ligious luxury superior to sight-seeing, having tastes 
 ill it of " the marriage-supper of the Lamb." They 
 loved the image of the Saviour in his people : they 
 loved a hearty, earnest proclamation of his truth : 
 they loved a Gospel, that, reverently and affection- 
 ately, made "him first, him last, him midst and 
 vsdthout end." And in the leaders of "the Evan- 
 gelicals" in England, they found all that they sought 
 in these respects, and were most richly satisfied. 
 
 At London, on their return from Ireland in Octo- 
 ber, the friend that had accompanied them thus far 
 took leave of them, to return to the United States, 
 the advice of experienced English physicians being 
 that Mr. May should spend another winter in South 
 Italy, and probably the whole remaining portion of 
 a second year abroad. After some new conscien- 
 tious questionings as to what was duty in the case, 
 Mr. May had resolved to follow this advice. Renew- 
 ing, therefore, to his Vestry the offer of a resignation 
 made to them a year before, he and Mrs. May 
 turned their faces once more toward the Continent, 
 on the 11th of November, 1839. 
 
 There was some natural sadness at starting thus 
 again in a direction opposite to that which they 
 had hoped to follow. The memories of home and 
 
48 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 friends and country had been re-awakened by the 
 flag that floated at so many mast-heads in the En- 
 ghsh ports. The thought of restoration to their 
 waiting church and people had been warmly enter- 
 tained. And to have to give all up, to leave even 
 the country which had seemed to them the most like 
 home of all in Europe, and plunge once more amidst 
 the foreign tongues and habits from which they re- 
 coiled, was no slight test of their serenity of trust in 
 God. But faith was strong, and triumphed. They 
 knew in whom they had believed, and could not 
 doubt that he was making all things work together 
 for the good of those that loved and trusted him. 
 Without a murmur, therefore, though not, possibly, 
 without a sigh, the arrangements for another year's 
 sojourn abroad were made, and on the 11th of No- 
 vember, they were on their way again towards 
 Italy. The footsteps of their former journey South 
 were retrodden for the greater portion of the way ; 
 only, this time, the journey closed at Eome. Their 
 winter- quarters were established on the Pincian Hill 
 there, and the cold months spent in renewed study 
 of the language, in re-examination of the antiquities 
 and works of art, and in the enjoyment of a pleasant 
 Christian intercourse with friends from America and 
 England.* They saw, whenever they could be seen 
 
 * In a letter to a cousin, under date of January 1st, 1840, Mr. 
 May gives the following picture of their home life while in 
 Borne: 
 
 "We are in some sense keeping house, i. c, we hire furnished 
 lodgings, the necessary furniture for the table being included ; and 
 then we buy all our own groceries, and have our bread, butter 
 and niilk sent in. Our dinners are either sent ready cooked from 
 a Traiteur's, or we go out and get them, as we please. A card 
 being furnished, on which are the names of several hundred dishes, 
 
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABROAD. 49 
 
 upon the week-days, the peculiar ceremonies of the 
 Papal Church, getting from all they witnessed of its 
 working, in this its very central seat, such deepen- 
 ing convictions of its superstition and idolatry, as 
 made them stronger Protestants than ever. To test 
 how far the Bible was allowed to circulate where 
 Romanism had all things its own way, inquiry was 
 once made for it at a number of the bookstores, but 
 for some time utterly without success. At last, one 
 bookseller said he had it, yes ; and handed down a 
 whole shelf-full of books, the Bible, but so overlaid 
 with commentaries, that it was almost impossible to 
 find the text, amidst the mass of cumbersome inter- 
 pretations. Yet such, as far as could be ascertained, 
 was the only copy of the Holy Scriptures at that 
 time for sale in Rome ! The Roman revolution, nine 
 years afterwards, introducing a liberal Republic for a 
 time, afforded opportunities, which Christians were 
 
 with the price affixed to each, we can make a selection according 
 to our taste, our appetite, our purse, or all together. Our dinners 
 cost from twenty to twenty-five cents each. But to-day being 
 New Year's day, we launched out into one of the most extrava- 
 gant dinners we have yet ordered in Eome. We prescribed roast 
 turkey, lamb cotelettes, vegetables, cauliflowers, custard, &c. &c., 
 and, when we came to the reckoning, paid a bill of thirty-two bai- 
 occhi and a half each, — exactly thirty-two and a half cents of our 
 money, — and came home quite filled with our feast. 
 
 "You would no doubt laugh if you could come into our parlor in 
 the morning, when we are preparing breakfast. Our Donna (the 
 servant woman of the house) brings in our tea-kettle, and puts it 
 on the fire. Then, while Ellen (Mrs. May) gets her teapot ready, 
 if we are in a hurry, I take the bellows and 'raise the wind.' 
 Our bread, butter, &c., being furnished us regularly from a shop, 
 we soon get all prepared, and sit down as independently as the 
 Pope himself. We are by no means peculiar in our mode of 
 living, but are in the Italian style." 
 
50 LIFE AND LBTTEKS OP JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 not slow to use, for considerable circulation of the 
 sacred Word ; though, probably, upon the reinstate- 
 ment of the Papacy, it became as scarce as ever at 
 the stores again. 
 
 Of course, amidst such proofs of misgovernment 
 and tyranny, the growth of patriotism in our travel- 
 lers kept pace with that of Protestantism. They were 
 true citizens of the United States. Genial and 
 friendly with the foreigners whom they were thrown 
 in contact with, and fully appreciative of whatever 
 might be good, in them, their institutions, or their 
 social ways, the amor patrice still deepened in their 
 breast with every month that they remained abroad. 
 And often, as they caught a glimpse of the ensign 
 of their country, or saw how, elsewhere, the people 
 were oppressed, there was a disposition to hurrah 
 for the Republic, as, of all governments, the best, 
 the happiest, and the most intelligently free. 
 
 Nor was this feeling lessened in the least when, 
 the next spring after their wintering in Rome, they 
 made a visit to the Grecian Archipelago, stopped for 
 awhile at Athens, and then, crossing to Alexandria, 
 went up the Mle. The beauty of the isles of 
 Greece, the interest and grandeur of the antiquities 
 of Egypt, although observed with eager spirit, could 
 not blind eyes that had been trained here in Ame- 
 rica to the hard selfishness of the government of 
 Otho, and the fierce tyranny of Mohammed Ali and 
 his sons. 
 
 The condition of the Coptic Church in Egypt en- 
 gaged considerable attention, while at Cairo ; and a 
 painful picture of its miserable degradation is given 
 in the journal kept by Mr. May. The priests, he 
 learned, were utterly uneducated, taken in general 
 
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABROAD. 51 
 
 from the lowest classes of the people, and compelled 
 to serve, whether willing or unwilling, in the office 
 to which they were almost forcibly ordained ; the 
 only training of most of them for their work being 
 in mechanical repetition of the services. As might 
 naturally be expected in such circumstances, the 
 standard of religion and morality was low, the peo- 
 ple almost wholly untaught in the Gospel, and the 
 prospect of improvement from within the Church 
 extremely faint. The only solid hope of benefit 
 seemed, under God, to be in influences from with- 
 out, especially in the schools conducted for the Copts 
 by missionaries from the Church of England. 
 
 It had been intended, in this journey East, to go 
 from Egypt into Palestine. And it was a grievous 
 disappointment when, after every preparation for the 
 sacred pilgrimage was made, reports of the preva^ 
 lence of plague in Syria induced, at the last moment, 
 an abandonnaeht of their intention, and a precipitate 
 return to Greece' 
 
 Here, time enough was spent to allow considerable 
 examination, not only of the monuments of ancient 
 art, but also of the noble schools at Athens, con- 
 ducted as a Protestant Episcopal Church Mission by 
 the Rev. J. H. and Mrs. Hill. And so satisfied was 
 Mr. May, from this examination, of the beneficent 
 influence of this Mission on the Greeks, and the 
 general wisdom of the action of its managers, that 
 he remained from that time forward the steadfast 
 advocate of this great work. 
 
 A month at the Piraeus and in Athens, with views 
 of the mountains about Corinth, of Eleusis, of Sala- 
 mis, of Euboea, and of Marathon, sufficiently satis- 
 fied the curiosity of the travellers respecting East- 
 
52 
 
 ern Greece. Then, taking passage in tte steamer 
 for Trieste, a sight was had of the bare mountain 
 groups of the Morea, of the fine scenery around the 
 Gulf of Corinth, and of the islands of the "Western 
 Coast, green, rich, and fair, in comparison with the 
 stern rocks, which, for the most part, form the Cy- 
 clades. 
 
 They entered the harbor of Trieste, rejoicing to 
 find all around them ships from their own country, 
 and to see floating freely out upon the breeze the 
 familiar stars and stripes. 
 
 Prom Trieste to Vienna, from Vienna on to 
 Prague, from Prague to Dresden, from Dresden to 
 Berlin, gave them. a view of the fairest parts of Aus- 
 tria, of the scene of the ministry of Huss and Je- 
 rome in Bohemia, of the magnificent art galleries of 
 Saxony, and then of the points where Luther and 
 Melancthon labored and taught for Christ. To the 
 work of the Reformers, the heart and mind of the 
 two united travellers turned with ifitensest interest. 
 They had seen, lately, enough of the corruption of 
 the Roman and Greek Churches to understand, 
 better than ever previously, from what a depth of 
 evil these agents of God's goodness had rescued the 
 German Church. And when they came upon the 
 field where the standard-bearers in the work had 
 lifted up an ensign to the nations, they traced with 
 eager zest the points of start, the lines of march, and 
 the chief scenes of confiict in that great fight of 
 faith. The studies in which Luther and Melancthon 
 wrote, the University in which they taught, the pul- 
 pits from which they had preached the Gospel, the 
 church door upon which the famous theses had been 
 nailed, the spot on which the burning of the Papal 
 
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA AND ABROAD. 53 
 
 bull took place, and other memorials of the great 
 lives which were, almost throughout, one long, brave 
 battle for the truth, were gone over, with devout 
 thanksgiving to him who clothed the warriors with 
 their armor, and gave them glorious victory in the 
 war. 
 
 Then, after brief enjoyment in the capital of Prus- 
 sia, way was made again to England. And here the 
 cream of their whole European trip seems to have 
 been gathered up. They had in Italy, and on the 
 voyage north from Greece, met members of the 
 Christy, Braithwaite, Buxton, and Gurney families. 
 Congeniality of tastes and kindred Christian feeling 
 had drawn them towards each other, and a strong 
 mutual attachment and esteem was the result. And 
 when they came once more within the range of these 
 noble Christian people, of princely means and ad- 
 mirable spirit, they met with such a cordial welcome, 
 such a generous hospitality, such a hearty introduc- 
 tion to multitudes of like-minded followers of Christ, 
 that the time of the delighted travellers flew by on 
 golden wings. 
 
 There was only one thing to mar their happiness. 
 The health of Mr. May not having been restored, 
 although improved, and that of Mrs. May having 
 been considerably impaired, it was felt that the du- 
 ties of a city parish were beyond their strength. So, 
 once again, a resignation of the Rectorship in Phi- 
 ladelphia was sent, and, at the earnest solicitation of 
 Mr. May, was reluctantly accepted by the church in 
 May or June of 1840. 
 
 Freed thus from parochial engagement, but with- 
 out a home, the travellers came back from their long 
 
64 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 sojourn abroad, ricli in sweet memories, though un- 
 certain as to future settlement. 
 
 " Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; 
 The world was all before them, where to choose 
 Their place of rest, and Providence their guide." 
 
 Attended to the ship in England by the kind 
 friends whom they had learned most ardently to 
 love, they landed in New York, November 20, 1840, 
 and by that night were with dear relatives in Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 
 
 God never fails the souls that humbly trust him. 
 "When informed in England that his thrice offered 
 resignation of St. Paul's had been accepted, Mr. 
 May had written in his journal, " I am now adrift, 
 and must' trust the good providence of Uod to lead 
 me to some safe and happy mooring; may he give 
 me a heart to serve him, and then the place where I 
 shall serve, will be of slight account." The very 
 spirit of the record, shows that the heart for service 
 was actually his before the prayer. The place for it 
 came in its due time. Almost as soon as it was known 
 in the United States that he was disconnected from 
 St. Paul's, offers of other positions were presented. 
 Doubts of his strength for parish duty prevented 
 on his part, an immediate engagement. But when, 
 after a winter at the South, and yet another in re- 
 tirement, with intermediate testings of his voice, he 
 found sufficient evidences of recovery to warrant 
 entrance upon regular work, he accepted, in July of 
 1842, the offer of the Professorship of Church His- 
 tory in the Protestant Episcopal Theological Semi- 
 nary of Virginia. This was the school in which he had 
 commenced his early studies for the ministry. It had 
 grown considerably from its first beginning — had 
 taken up a new position on the heights, three miles 
 from Alexandria, and overlooking Washington — and 
 
 6 
 
56 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 with enlarged resources, ample buildings, and in- 
 creasing reputation, was gathering to itself the 
 greater portion of the students from the most evan- 
 gelical portion of the Church throughout the Union. 
 
 It was the very place for Mr. May. Its distance 
 from the town entirely suited his always indulged 
 taste for country life. Its elevated location insured, 
 for his now somewhat weakened constitution, the 
 pure airs that he required. Its position between Alex- 
 andria and "Washington afforded him facilities for 
 large literary, social, and religious intercourse. And 
 its comparatively light professorial duties, with only 
 one Sunday service that he wouldbe bound for, gave 
 opportunity for gradually recruiting his long over- 
 tasked and injured voice. 
 
 And as the place was just the one for him, so he 
 was the very person for the place. His thoroughly 
 sound scholarship and clear views of the Gospel, pe- 
 culiarly qualified him for instruction. His earnest 
 and pure piety adapted him for Christian influence 
 amongst the youthful students for the ministry. 
 His admirably good judgment made him such a 
 counsellor as was demanded for settlement of im- 
 portant questions about discipline. And his late long 
 residence in foreign lands had so enriched both his 
 memory and taste, as eminently to fit him for the 
 social intercourse of a Professorship, as well as for 
 illustration of the History he was to teach. 
 
 He entered on his duties in the Fall of 1842, his 
 Alma Mater conferring on him what he long pre- 
 viously had deserved, the degree of Doctor of Di- 
 Adnity. 
 
 His associates at the Seminary were all that he 
 could wish, Bishop Meade, one of the purest and 
 
PROFESSOKSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 67 
 
 most fearless advocates of Gospel truth in the whole 
 land, was, as Bishop of Virginia, ez officio the Presi- 
 dent ; and, though residing elsewhere, spent about a 
 month of every year in lecturing on Pastoral Theo- 
 logy. Dr. "William Sparrow, a noble theologian, 
 with mental powers of an unusually high order, and 
 piety that no one possibly could doubt, was in the 
 chair of Christian Evidences and Divinity. While 
 in the Professorship of Biblical Interpretation, was 
 Dr. Joseph Packard, not only accurate and rich in 
 scholarship, but also " a goo'd man, full of the Holy 
 Ghost and of faith." To these excellent men, the 
 two last with Christian families about them, like- 
 minded and like-hearted with themselves, were 
 joined, as near neighbors and companions, the Eev. 
 George A. Smith, of the Clarence Female Seminary, 
 and the Eev. William N. Pendleton, of the Virginia 
 High School, both evangelical and faithful minis- 
 ters. And, some time subsequently, the Et. Rev. 
 John Johns, D.D., elected, Assistant Bishop of Vir- 
 ginia, after a brief residence in Richmond and Wil- 
 liamsburg, erected for himself a house on " Semi- 
 nary Hill," adding his family to its choice society. 
 A more delightfully harmonious combination of fine 
 elements could hardly have been found in any 
 social circle on the globe ; and, of course, with such 
 companions, all full of the spirit of the Gospel, all 
 ardently devoted to the cause of Christ, time could 
 not but pass pleasantly. Then, too, there was much 
 congenial society, both clerical and lay, in Alexan- 
 dria, Washington, and Georgetown, as well as in the 
 adjoining districts of Virginia. And thus the seed 
 was sown for harvests of enjoyment, which in suc- 
 cessive years were fully reaped. 
 
58 
 
 Mrs. May was not able to accompany her husband 
 to the Seminary when he first went there. She re- 
 mained necessarily in Philadelphia, under medical 
 advice, during the winter, but went to Alexandria 
 the following spring, and spent the latter portion of 
 the Seminary term. In the fall of 1843 she was with 
 Dr. May in the professional mansion on the hill; and 
 then commenced the golden days of her husband's 
 Seminary residence. He had already come to be 
 familiar with his duties, and was prosecuting them 
 with earnest zeal. HiS presence, added to that of 
 the previous professors, was drawing the attention 
 of students to the school ; and, in its general manage- 
 ment and progress, all things were proceeding plea- 
 santly. When, therefore, the true help-meet God 
 had given, came to brighten up his dwelling with 
 her presence, his new-found Eden became really a 
 Paradise to his affectionately domestic tastes. He 
 had again, after six years of conscious want, a home. 
 And with their European observation of what went 
 to make home pleasant, added to their own personal 
 previous experience, they were together enabled to 
 make home as happy as delicate affection, cheerful 
 piety, cultivated taste, and generous sociality could 
 make it. 
 
 The professors and their families, first of all, were 
 made invariably and entirely welcome. A pleasant 
 social intercourse vdth these, making, as nearly as 
 possible, one Christian family of all, was habitually 
 invited and kept up ; and so kind and close became 
 the intimacies thus established, that if one member 
 suffered, all seemed to suffer with it; if one was 
 honored, all obviously rejoiced. 
 
 The students, too, found ready entertainment, 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 69 
 
 alike in the drawing-room and at the table, and were 
 encouraged to feel themselves thoroughly at home. 
 "With several, out of almost every class, such in- 
 fluence was gained, that they seemed measurably 
 members of the household, and periodically had 
 their places at family prayers and meals, the effort 
 being to make them understand that they were not 
 mere students, but loved Christian friends. Those 
 who are familiar with the Seminary history, will re- 
 member, here, such names as those of Albert Duy, 
 Dudley Tyng, Henry Messenger, Robert Smith, 
 "William Bryant, Henry Dennison, and J. A. Shan- 
 klin, — names written now in heaven, and fragrant 
 with blessed memories on earth. 
 
 Friends, too, from Alexandria, from Washington, 
 from Gi-eorgetown, from various other portions of 
 our country, and not unfrequently from foreign 
 lands, came, in successive years, to taste the sweets 
 of Christian fellowship within this happy model 
 dwelling, and never came too numerously or fre- 
 quently to find warm welcome, cordial entertain- 
 ment, and every delicate and kind attention that the 
 most cultivated, thorough hospitality could show. 
 
 And not the least among the welcomes and the 
 entertainments there, were those extended to the 
 missionaries of the Gospel, either before their depar- 
 ture for their work, or at their coming to recruit 
 themselves anew for it. For the foreign missions of 
 the Protestant Episcopal communion, the Seminary 
 in Virginia was the chief source of supply; and, 
 after the first three that went to Africa, the greater 
 part, both for that mission-field and China, went 
 out from beneath the teachings and influence of Dr. 
 May. Of course, in their history and work as mis- 
 
60 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 sionaries, such Christians as himself and Mrs. May 
 felt an affectionately earnest interest. "When they 
 were about to go forth to their labors, they were ex- 
 pected always to make a visit to " Maywood ;" and 
 when they came back, worn out with those labors, 
 to tell what God had wrought among the Gentiles 
 by them, a part at least of the time spent by them' 
 in America, was there regularly claimed, l^o en- 
 tertainment was thought too generous for those who 
 risked, thus, life or health for Jesus ; gave up their 
 home comforts and home friends for his sake ; and 
 labored amongst barbarous, unsympathizing people, 
 for the extension of his blessed cause. 
 
 Of the cordial feeling with which such were sent 
 forth, some idea may be formed from the following 
 letter to a valued student of the Seminary, who had 
 made up his own mind to go out to Africa, but had 
 feared that his family might possibly oppose his 
 views : 
 
 " April 3, 1848. 
 
 " Mt dear Friend : 
 
 " Mrs. May's heart is full with regard to the most 
 remarkable letter you have sent us from your sister, 
 but her hand is tied from her want of health and 
 strength. She cannot restrain, however, the utter- 
 ance of what she feels, and so uses my pen. We 
 could not command our nerves to read the letter 
 through at once. What can the grace of God do ? 
 Is it possible that a sister, who is so affectionate and 
 tender, can write as she does, to consign you to the 
 will of God ? Truly, the Lord shows his power, and 
 we magnify his grace in mother, son, and sister. The 
 tender spirit of your sister is the more remarkable 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 61 
 
 as it is strengthened to sustain what now it bears. 
 We already had loved her for your SEike ; we now 
 love her for the Lord's sake and for her own. Is it 
 not possible that, in some way, we may have the 
 happiness of seeing her and your mother ? "We can- 
 not but love them, and in them bless the Lord. 
 
 " And have you strength, my dear friend, while 
 feeling the power of such ties, to go forth ? The 
 Lord Grod of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,, our cove- 
 nant God, whose grace is unsearchable, and whose 
 truth is everlasting rock, go with you. To the love, 
 the exceeding tender love of mother and sister, will 
 be added the love of the Church, and of all that have 
 known you here. The prayers of all will be offered 
 for you and your work. Our gracious God give you 
 strength, and comfort you. It was hard for us at first 
 to give you up ; our hearts shrunk back ; but now we 
 can say nothing, since mother and sister say, ' God's 
 will be done.' As you are ready not to be bound, 
 only, but to die, if needful, for the name of the Lord 
 Jesus, we would not weep nor break your heart. 
 The richest grace of our most gracious God and Sa- 
 viour be ever yours. Mrs. May joins in an expres- 
 sion of Christian affection for you as a friend and 
 brother in a common Savioiir, and as now to be a 
 living sacrifice to him. 
 
 " Yours, ever, in Christ, 
 
 "James May." 
 
 And then this, to China, tells how his heart was 
 with the ones that had gone forth to their work, and 
 were laboring in foreign countries for the conver- 
 sion of the nations : 
 
62 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 "Theological Seminakt, 
 December 27, 1847. 
 
 " My dear Friend : 
 
 . " You would hardly believe how often, how very 
 often, we have talked of you and your great work, 
 and as often set times for writing to you. We have 
 not forgotten how you used to be with us, and how 
 welcome and gratifying to us were your visits, as 
 you stood by our triple cannon stove, and told us, 
 with a little shrug, of this and that thing relating to 
 your mission. About that same stove is still a warm 
 place for not only all our ordinary visitors, but our 
 friends abroad, and especially yourself and yours ; 
 the warm place for these last, being in our hearts as 
 well. 
 
 " We rejoice to hear of the Lord's favor to your 
 work. A great and effectual door seems to be opened 
 to you by his providence, and I trust his Spirit is not 
 wanting. 
 
 " My dear brother, I would that I could say a word 
 to aid in strengthening your spirit and that of Mrs. 
 S. Separated as you are from us by half the circum- 
 ference of the earth, you have with us a common in- 
 terest in a covenant God. His grace is of as full 
 sufficiency in China as in America. You may be 
 assured of the unimpaired sympathy and love of 
 those whom you have left on these shores ;■ and G-od 
 forbid that we should cease to pray for you. But 
 our sympathy and love, and even prayers, are not 
 your strength. That standeth in the name of the 
 Lord. "When we regard the vast field of unevan- 
 gelized nations, and the immense difficulties in the 
 way of subduing the hearts of men to Christ, it seems 
 hopeless to attempt the conversion of the world. 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 63 
 
 But ' before Zerubabel the great mountain shall 
 become a. plain;' for it is 'not by might nor by 
 power, but by my Spiritj-'saith the Lord of hosts.' 
 "With what ease does the Spirit subdue men ? To 
 him it is as easy to convert three millions in a day 
 as ' three thousand.' Why is not that Spirit given 
 in the measure needful ? Is it because Grod's cove- 
 nant forbids ? l^ay, is not the obstacle in the hearts 
 of Christians ? May God prepare the way in these, 
 and then come in great power, to give free course 
 and glory to his word. 
 
 " Give warmest love from Mrs. May and self to 
 Mrs. S. (in which you have equal share), and to 
 Bishop and Mrs. Boone. Do not make my misdo- 
 ings an apology for not writing. Anything about 
 your mission or your personal affairs will interest us, 
 even to your cats and mice, if there are such ani- 
 mals among the celestial antipodes. Give us a speci- 
 men of one day's routine. Omit nothing. Do you 
 eat beef, veal, pork, mutton, and fowls, hams, and 
 potatoes, as we do here ? Do you chew with your 
 teeth, like us? If you eat at all, do you eat thrice 
 a day, and then sleep ? Or, if you walk at all, do you 
 go on stilts or sabots? Or, in celestial regions, do 
 you go in the clouds ? Do tell us how it is. 
 " Your truly affectionate friend, 
 
 " James May." 
 
 And this, to Africa, in even tenderer spirit still : 
 
 "Theological Seminary, 
 January 14, 1850. 
 
 " Reverend and dear, very dear Brother : 
 
 " We bless the Lord. To him only the praise is 
 due. The Liberia packet brought such good news 
 
64 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 from you all, that our souls were lifted up in praise. 
 Your letter came to us on the Ist, giving us most 
 eminently a happy 'New Year. When we read, our 
 hearts were full, and overflowed. To hear that you 
 all were well and happy in your blessed work, and 
 that the Lord is with you, the source of these good 
 things, was too much for our hard hearts to resist. 
 We yielded, gave vent to our emotions, and wished 
 we were among you. Blessed be the Lord our God. 
 And blessings rich and many from his hand be on 
 you and the brethren with you, now -and evermore. 
 
 " Well, my dear brother, you have tried the work 
 in Africa, and found it good, and you are happy in 
 the midst of it. This is gladdening indeed. Be 
 still strong in the Lord, brother, and as you have 
 grace, strengthen the brethren. I trust we may be 
 strengthened together with you. We have as much 
 need of your prayers as you can have of ours. May 
 the Spirit given you be multiplied by being given to 
 us also. 
 
 " Your account of your surveying the ocean to get a 
 sight of the expected sail, interested us greatly. May 
 your eyes be often gladdened by such an object. 
 
 " Whatever you can say to us about your move- 
 ments, labors, fellow-laborers, and pupils, will inte- 
 rest us, and the more detail the better." 
 
 Then, after long details of news, " Our warmest 
 love for Brother Payne and his true-hearted wife. I 
 bless them in the name of the Lord, and bless the 
 Lord for them. Assure them that we love them. 
 Mrs. May joins in warmest Christian love to you. 
 
 " As ever, and may it be evermore, your affec- 
 tionate brother, 
 
 " James Mat." 
 
PKOFBSSOESHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 65 
 
 And, still later : 
 
 " I am mightily drawn towards your female asso- 
 ciates. Some I love from sight; for your own jewel, 
 andBrotherHening's,Ihave seen. ThenMrs. Payne, 
 (I must always stop to bless the admirable wife and 
 missionary sister), I have formed a high opinion of. 
 Her letters, her spirit, her readiness to make sacri- 
 fices, commend her to our judgments and our hearts. 
 Miss Williford we have become acquainted with 
 through the letters from Africa. G-o directly to her, 
 take her by the hand, bid her God speed in our name, 
 and give her our Christian and fraternal love. Give 
 her a good nosegay. I wish we could drop into it 
 an American rose, a lily, and a jessamine, all with 
 our cards." 
 
 And then, what interest was felt in news from 
 them, may be seen from this to the beloved Hoffman, 
 at Cape Palmas : 
 
 " Theological Seminakt, 
 April 19, 1853. 
 
 " My dear Brother Hoffman ; 
 
 " I send you and Mrs. Hoffman, and all our 
 brethren and sisters in Africa, greeting. We re- 
 joice at the last intelligence we had of you by Bro- 
 ther Rambo. ' G-ood news from a far country is like 
 cold water to a thirsty soul.' We drank, and were 
 refreshed. But our thirst is renewed. "We desire 
 to hear more. We multiplied the questions to Bro- 
 ther Rambo very diligently. We inquired about 
 you all, about your pupils, Christian villagers, and 
 the whole Grebo tribe ; and extended our inquiries 
 about matters all along the coast, and some distance 
 into the interior, — as far, at least, as Brother Rambo 
 
66 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 had travelled. Then, after a time. Brother Smith* 
 had letters from Brother Scott and wife, who had 
 reached Monrovia safely and in good hopes. After 
 Brother Rambo's visit, Mr. and Mrs. Hening, with 
 their daughter, passed two or three weeks with us, 
 Brother Hening delivering us most admirable ad- 
 dresses in the Chapel. Last week, most unexpect- 
 edly, came Bishop Boone, with a native Chinese 
 candidate for orders, Mr. Tong, the latter in full 
 native costume, a very interesting and intelligent 
 young man. Both made addresses to the students. 
 
 " After mentioning these facts, I must tell you 
 more particularly of a feast that we have had. Do 
 not suspect me of any desertion of the temperance 
 cause, when I write of a grand wine drinking, kept up 
 for weeks. It began at a tea-table. Brother Rambo 
 arrived at our door just before tea on a Friday even- 
 ing. He had hardly been seated in my study, when, 
 on looking out at the window, I discerned the figure 
 of a Y&Yj fratemal-\o6kSxig person" toiling up the hill, 
 towards our door. When I saw him put hand to 
 our gate, as if making his way to our parlor, I went 
 to the study door, and lo, it was Brother Callaway, 
 just arrived from Kansas. I called, ' Come, brother, 
 this is the right way, and here is the man you will 
 delight to meet.' And such delight ! Such shaking 
 of hands ! Such greeting ! How can I tell of it ? We 
 did everything but kiss, and, but that such mode of 
 holy greeting has passed away, we should probably 
 have fallen into it. Then came in Mrs. May, and 
 so more and long shaking of hands, and expressions 
 
 * R. Smith, who subsequently went to Africa himself, and 
 died there. 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 67 
 
 of joy and welcome. After a little, the tea-bell rang, 
 and we all went down, and then began the wine- 
 drinking. I ought to have said that Brothers Smith 
 and Wright, candidates for Africa, came also in to 
 tea. We all sat around the table, and all drank the 
 wine from one cup, and that cup Mr. Rambo min- 
 istered. Such, questioning ! Such calling for more 
 and more ! Brother Eambo, however, served us 
 well. Dear brother ! he was a little excited, his 
 nerves showed it. And there was good Brother 
 Callaway, he could not eat; and Brothers Smith and 
 Wright, too, lost their appetites. But we continued 
 to drink the wine, which Brother Rambo continued 
 to pour out. 
 
 " After tea, we pushed our chairs back, and sang 
 ' Rock of Ages,' and Brother Rambo prayed. I saw 
 no proof of intoxication, except some little redden- 
 ing and watering of the eyes. 
 
 " We kept the thing up after we were well started; 
 for, after Brother Rambo left us, came Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hening. They ministered more of the same wine, 
 and kept our cup full. Then Bishop Boone min- 
 istered the same. It occurred to us that whether , 
 Brothers Rambo and Hening ministered wine from 
 Africa, or Bishop Boone from Asia, it had the same 
 taste. Dear Brother Hoffman, it savored, we think, 
 of the wine of Eshcol, at any rate, of the promised 
 land. It was most precious. It refreshed, strength- 
 ened, cheered and gladdened us. We would have yet 
 more of the same." 
 
 The little bit of playful badinage which follows 
 this is too pleasant to be here omitted, illustrating, 
 as it does, the genial spirit and quaint humor 
 habitually indulged in his intercourse with chosen 
 
 1 
 
68 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 friends, thongli little suspected by more distant 
 ones: 
 
 " I give you a diagram of our feasting table wben 
 we drank the wine, as before described. . . . The 
 important post, Wo. 1, was occupied by one of the 
 class of beings such as, in Africa, are called ' angels.' 
 My house is blessed with one, to whom we give the 
 place of honor. In America, I may remark, we do 
 not generally call such beings ' angels.' "With us, 
 they are not quite so etherial as yours may be. Ours 
 appear among us in corporeal form, very lovely and 
 very comforting, but still not aerial nor winged. 
 When we speak affectionately, we call them ' dear;' 
 when with admiration ' the fair ;' when with forbear- 
 ing kindness, ' weaker vessels,' but not ' angels.' 
 Our desires are great (do not condemn our curiosity) 
 to see those happy angels in Africa who cheer your 
 tables and animate your domestic circles. Without 
 being willing to bend a knee before them, or make 
 any sign of adoration, I should be happy (if it were 
 not presumptuous) to reach forth my hand to them 
 for a salutation. Our 'fair' ones here smile very 
 sweetly on us (I mean such of us as are favored in our 
 approaches), and we offer them flowers, and by many 
 delicate acts and services endeavor to make sure of 
 their good graces. Just now we have the arbutus 
 from our woods ; and though we would not dare to 
 reach up to your ways, in Africa, of preparing and 
 . presenting tropical bouquets, we try to do according 
 to our measure. Do not despise our humble imi- 
 tations. 
 
 " My dear brother, we do not envy you your bless- 
 ings and your joys. We would they were multi- 
 pilied a hundred fold. Your sweet and cheering 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 69 
 
 associates, those angels, and your flowers, — do enjoy 
 them to the full. We pray that you may he hlessed, 
 also, with a presence which may ever stay you with 
 divine aid and comfort. Go on your way, and fulfil 
 your work cheerfully and hopefully. Do not always 
 walk in valleys and under clouds. Go sometimes 
 to the top of Pisgah, and look away into the Promised 
 Land. You have even now a foretaste of the precious 
 fruits of the Upper Canaan. Some grapes of Eshcol 
 are brought, and the good wine I spoke of. Let us 
 taste, drink, be cheered, take up staff and scrip, and 
 go onward. Hard hearts, blind and dull understand- 
 ings, you may find among your native pupils. But 
 sow patiently. The harvest shall come, through the 
 power and riches of the grace of Christ. Do not 
 faint ; in due season you shall reap. 
 
 " Your affectionate brother, 
 
 "Jambs May." 
 
 No wonder that Mr. Hoffman should have said, 
 on transmitting this and other kindred ones, " ISTo 
 letters ever comforted me more than these of the 
 dear departed one — so cheerful, so warm from his 
 very heai't of hearts !" And no wonder, that, with 
 such a spirit in the Seminary, the missionary zeal 
 amongst the students should have been always fresh 
 and ardent, and a constant flow of laborers for the 
 work have met the constantly recurring call for 
 them. 
 
 The domestic " angel" of his household was not 
 slow to aid in these his efforts to sustain the hearts 
 of missionaries. She loved them for their work's 
 sake, and for Jesus' sake, as he did — rejoiced to bid 
 them " God speed" at their departure, and cordial 
 
70 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 welcome upon their return — devised and executed 
 plans which sometimes brought in large sums for 
 the missions* — and when, at one time, there was 
 questioning what should be done with a young native 
 African, sent over to this country to be educated for 
 the ministry, she, with Dr. May, threw open their own 
 home to him, boarded and clothed him without any 
 thought of compensation, and, with the aid of some 
 among the students, affectionately and considerately 
 trained him for his work. As he was returning to 
 his place in Africa, she wrote to Mr. Hoffman, who 
 was to take him to his transatlantic home : 
 
 "MatwooD, Petruaryie, 1849. 
 
 " My dear Friend : 
 
 " Musu is about to leave us, and I cannot let him 
 go without a message to you. Allow me to express, 
 what I am sure you already know, our cordial and 
 heartfelt interest and sympathy, in reference to the 
 great work to which you have devoted your life. 
 
 " And I would ask, as a special favor, that you 
 would allow us to aid you in any plans you may 
 form for the good of the poor, benighted Africans. 
 Both Dr. May and myself, as well as my sister M., 
 will esteem it a kindness to be thus employed. If 
 you have another Musu to send to us, be assured he 
 shall be welcomed for his Master's sake, for yours, 
 and for his own. It would indeed be an honor to 
 aid, by the smallest effort, in bringing on that glorious 
 day, when ' the knowledge of the Lord shall cover 
 the earth, as the waters cover the sea.' 
 
 " And now, dear Christian friend and brother, to 
 
 * $800 were thus raised in one case for a school in Africa. 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 71 
 
 the watchfiil care, the unfailing kindness, the tender 
 sympathy of our covenant Grod, I would most affec- 
 tionately commend you. May he guard you from 
 the dangers of the deep, and bring you in safety to 
 the haven where you would be. And most earnestly 
 we will pray that he may bless abundantly every 
 effort you may make for the promotion of his glory. 
 May I ask that you will sometimes remember us in 
 your prayers, and believe me to be, with the sin- 
 cerity of Christiaij regard, 
 
 " Truly your friend, 
 
 "Ellen 8. May." 
 
 One other letter merits an insertion here, alike 
 for its historic interest and the light it sheds on the 
 general missionary feeling at the Seminary. It is 
 descriptive of the consecration of the Rev. John 
 Payne, D.D., as Bishop of Cape Palmas, on the coast 
 of Africa. 
 
 "Theological Sbminaky, 
 July 13tli, 1851. 
 
 " My dear Sister : 
 
 " We have had a good time. You ought to have 
 been here and had your tabernacle ; we said often, 
 how sister M. would have enjoyed it. 
 
 " As soon as we heard of Dr. Payne's arrival in 
 Baltimore, I mounted and went off" to Alexandria, 
 and sent notices by mail and telegraph to Boston, 
 ISTew York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, 
 Richmond, Petersburg, and Charleston. Bishop 
 Meade, who was on a visitation in the country, had 
 requested us not to wait to hear from him ; and in 
 order to have the consecration in our examination 
 week, no time was to be lost. It was a moment of 
 
 1* 
 
72 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 great interest when news of Dr. Payne having 
 landed reached us. There was quite a buzz in the 
 Seminary. On Saturday, the 5th, Dr. Payne and a 
 new G-rebo brother in Christ * (who in his native 
 tongue is named Wah, in English, G. T. Bedell) ar- 
 rived at our door. Our arms were vnde and our 
 hearts wider. "We could have given a good embrace 
 to the G-rebo with Brother Payne. Then, to see 
 Siah's greeting ! How he shook hands, and showed 
 his beautiful native ivory. Wa}^ and he were ac- 
 quaintances from childhood, and indeed distantly 
 related to each other. Brother Payne stayed with 
 us till last Friday, — nearly a week. "We talked all 
 the time, and got our hearts so wound round the 
 mission, and the brothers and sisters there, that I 
 doubt whether we shall get loose again. Dr. Payne 
 preached for us twice on Sunday, the 6th, and at 
 night gave an intensely interesting account of the 
 missions on the coast of Africa. But the great day 
 was Thursday. In the morning (the examination 
 being over), Messrs. Hawkins, Hubbard, Leacock, 
 were ordained deacons in our chapel, and Messrs, 
 Callaway and Keith, priests. Mr. Bedell, from New 
 York, preached the ordination sermon, a most 
 admirable discourse in all respects. The occasion 
 brought together a large number of our alumni. 
 In the afternoon, just after the diplomas were given, 
 Dr. Payne, as previously announced, made an ad- 
 dress to the students and alumni, and a large con- 
 gregation. It was a history of his missionary life. 
 
 * This was a third native African brought over to be educated 
 for the ministry, as Musu had been. Siah, a second, had been 
 for some time an inmate at the house of Dr. May, under training 
 for his work. 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 73 
 
 lie spoke of his connection with the Seminary, 
 which he called his Antioch, and alluded to those 
 once joined with him, who are now in the heavenly 
 Sanctuary. The Spirit was powerful in his words ; 
 all hearts were touched. A brother told me, after- 
 wards, that he could not restrain his tears, and 
 feared lest he might be alone in his feelings, till he 
 heard soba all around. He looked to Mr. Dalrym- 
 ple, who sat in the chancel (haAdng offered prayers), 
 and saw him bury his face in the sleeves of his sur- 
 plice. "We did cry outright, and have hardly done 
 crying yet. 
 
 " On Friday I took Dr. Payne to Alexandria be- 
 fore breakfast, to be ready for the consecration. A 
 large congregation met in St. Paul's Church, of cler- 
 gymen and others, atll o'clock. And what a scene ! 
 There were four Bishops (Meade, Johns, Eastburn, 
 and Lee), a committee of the Missionary Board from 
 ISTew York (Dr. Tyng, Mr. Bedell, and Mr. Cooke), 
 and many others from distant places. There stood 
 up, in a surplice, at the desk, the majestic figure of 
 Dr. Bull, and by his side Dr. Tyng, who were to 
 read the service. Outside of the chancel, in the 
 aisle, sat the well-beloved Bishop-elect. How we 
 blessed and prayed for him ! Up in the gallery, 
 over against the pulpit, were our two Grebo brothers, 
 witnesses for Africa and the mission. Their faces 
 seemed to shine as they looked on. When the ser- 
 vices were over, we greeted the Missionary Bishop, 
 and bade him God speed right heartily. 
 
 " At 6 P.M. there was a missionary meeting, and 
 addresses were made by Bishop Payne, Mr. Nelson 
 (missionary to China), and Dr. Tyng. A good spirit 
 was there. N'ow all is over. Bishop Payne went 
 
74 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 off on Saturday to Washington, to spend Sunday, 
 and was to go thence to Baltimore. He will spend 
 the winter in the West and South, and return to us 
 in the spring, when he expects to go back to his Af- 
 rican home. That African home he described in 
 one of his addresses as three hundred yards from 
 the sea-beach, surrounded by cocoa trees and beau- 
 tiful flowers, and opening on one side to the ocean. 
 There he expects to pass his life. Mrs. Payne is 
 not with him ; her health was good, and did not re- 
 quire her to leave home. She suffers, too, dreadful- 
 ly upon the sea. But, above all, duty to the mission 
 called her to stay there. All the missionaries but 
 herself being young in the work, and some of them 
 not acclimated, she thought she ought not to leave 
 them. 
 
 " Mrs. Hoffman fulfils all their expectations. She 
 is cheerful, devoted, and of sound judgment. Bishop 
 Payne thinks her uniform cheerfulness and hap- 
 piness of temper greatly favor her health in that 
 climate. 
 
 " Your affectionate brother, 
 
 "James Mat;" 
 
 !N"or was it missions to the heathen only, that en- 
 gaged attention thus. Missions were organized by 
 the students at the Seminary, for the sailors in the 
 port of Alexandria, for criminals and slaves con- 
 fined there in the jail, and for every poor country 
 neighborhood for miles around. And to all such 
 efforts to evangelize the region. Dr. May lent al- 
 ways his most hearty aid, — often accompanied the 
 students to their " stations,"— preached, as he had 
 done in his mission school-houses around Wilkes- 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 75 
 
 barre, searching, straightforward, simple addresses 
 to the heart — not failing, ere he left, to take each 
 humble hearer by the hand and address to him some 
 words of friendly interest. And if a clergyman in 
 either of the neighboring towns, or any of the vari- 
 ous country churches within reach, required assist- 
 ance, no winter wind or summer sun kept Dr. May 
 from answering the call for it, if his engagements 
 at the Seminary did not hinder. Mere personal 
 discomfort never seemed to be considered, where op- 
 portunities were thus presented of doing something 
 for the extension of Christ's Gospel, or for the help 
 of a burdened brother, in his need. 
 
 To k^ep alive among the students the missionary 
 spirit he thus cherished, a monthly meeting was 
 held regularly at the Seminary, of which he was the 
 ordinary president. At this was read intelligence 
 from every quarter of the world relating to the pro- 
 gress of the cause of the Eedeemer, prayers were 
 presented for the missionaries in the field, and cor- 
 respondence with other like organizations some- 
 times offered. Letters from missionaries, both in fo- 
 reign and domestic service, came in to animate the 
 exercises; and addresses from such as were either 
 going forth to labor, or had come home to recruit, 
 were secured as frequently as possible. 
 
 A society for rhetorical and intellectual improve- 
 ment had Dr. May also for its president, and held 
 its meetings every week. 
 
 And still another thing, with which those fami- 
 liar with the Seminary will most pleasantly connect 
 his memory, was what might be called the meeting 
 of the institution. This was a gathering of all the 
 students, presided over by the officers of the Semi- 
 
76 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 nary in rotation ; held every Thursday evening ; ad- 
 dressed by the several professors present, and known 
 as " the faculty meeting," from this cause. The 
 special object of it was to cultivate among the stu- 
 dents the earnest, practical, and loving piety becom- 
 ing those who were preparing for the ministry. The 
 clear intellect of Dr. Sparrow, the Biblical learning 
 of Dr. Packard, and the pure holiness and ministe- 
 rial experience of Dr. May, found here appropriate 
 and beautiful expression, combined themselves for 
 the improvement of the young men beneath their 
 charge, and poured forth such a Pactoloean stream 
 of rich instruction, that few could fail to gather up 
 some golden grains. Not a small numbef of the 
 former students of the Seminary look back to that 
 weekly meeting as one of the greatest of the privi- 
 leges of their lives; and feel that in the doctrinal, 
 experimental, practical addresses there delivered, 
 more useful preparation for their ministerial work 
 was gained, than even in the exercises of the lecture 
 and class-rooms. 
 
 In 1851, an association for the improvement of 
 the grounds and buildings of the Seminary was in- 
 augurated, and to this Dr. May lent cordially his 
 efforts, with his accustomed zeal and energy. The 
 issue of its operations, aided greatly by his correspon- 
 dence and exertions, was a great beautifying of the 
 grounds about the Institution, and, gradually, of en- 
 tirely new and noble buildings for its use. Of these, 
 " Si. George's Hall " was erected through a gift of 
 $5000 from members of St. George's Church, N'ew 
 York, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Tyng; 
 "AspinwaU Hall," through one of $20,000 from 
 "W". H. Aspinwall, Esq., of Ascension Church, I^Tew 
 
PROFESSORSHIP 'AT ALEXANDRIA. 77 
 
 York, under the pastorate of the Rev. G. T. Bedell ; 
 " Meade Hall," a wing to this, through a fund of 
 $10,000, given or raised hy the Alumni of the Semi- 
 nary; and '^ Bohlen Hall," another wing, through 
 a contribution of $10,000 from John Bohlen, Esq., 
 and sister, Philadelphia, these last two donors having 
 previously united equally with Bishop Meade in the 
 erection of a handsome building for the Library, at 
 a cost of $8000. The new buildings all were fin- 
 ished, as to their exterior, and most of them in use, 
 before the close of 1860, forming, in their substan- 
 tially elegant entireness, a glorious crown for the 
 Seminary Hill, and an apparently enduring scene of 
 noble Christian education for the ministry. Their 
 completion, to which Dr. May and his ever earnest 
 wife contributed much by their exertions, seemed 
 to him the culminating point of his happy residence 
 of nineteen years at the Seminary of Virginia. It 
 proved to be such. The brief remaining period of 
 his continuance there had broad shadows thrown 
 across its sunshine, and went gradually down to- 
 wards night. 
 
 The health of Mrs. May had been impaired by 
 the fatigues of their European journeys, and from 
 thenceforward she had often been subjected to much 
 suffering. ISTone would have suspected it who saw 
 her cheerfulness in company, or listened to the ring- 
 ing laugh that burst forth freely at a sally from a 
 friend. But still the suffering deepened gradually 
 in intensity, and by the time that the first of the 
 new buildings drew near completion, she had to 
 leave their pleasant home upon the hill, and give 
 herself entirely up to medical care in Philadelphia and 
 
78 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 Lancaster.* But no skill could stay the progress 
 of disease, which now was evidently deeply seated 
 in her system. Slowly, hut steadily, amidst pains 
 amounting oftentimes to agony^ her once vigorous 
 strength declined, though still her cheerful spirit 
 and her humhle trust in Christ shed constant bright^ 
 ness round her. Her husband spent vsdth her all 
 the time that could be spared from his duties at the 
 Seminary ; kept up an affectionate daily correspon- 
 dence in the intervals ; and hoped, though the hope 
 grew gradually fainter, that God might yet restore 
 her fully to him. But at the winter vacation of 
 1860-61, while visiting together different friends in 
 Philadelphia, a sudden access of disease became 
 alarming; anguishing pain, defying every remedy, 
 came on ; consciousness rapidly gave way ; and on 
 the 10th of January, 1861, her earnest, loving, beau- 
 tiful, and holy Christian life drew to its close. With 
 only power to speak one word expressive of her still 
 
 * The following letter refers sadly to this period : 
 "Mrs. May has been called to suffer. After I left her in Lan- 
 caster, I had such bad reports of her case, that I went back for a 
 few days. I left her somewhat better, and the Doctor flatters us 
 with the hope of relief. 
 
 " I am a boarder at the Seminary table, and a lodger at my own 
 lonely house. My quiet is not broken except by the tick of the 
 clock, making a hollow sound in my empty room. I cannot say 
 when Mrs. May will be able to join me. Certainly not before 
 Christmas. All depends on her health. I have been tried, sorely 
 tried ; but I trust the peaceable fruits of righteousness may follow. 
 I know 1 have had some profitable experience. I see more clearly 
 the truth of God's word. I am disposed to trust it more simply. 
 Oh ! that I could teach, preach, and live the Gospel more eflec- 
 tually. I fear we are not as fully committed to it as we ought 
 to be. Is it not a fire and a hammer that breaketh the rock in 
 pieces?" 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 79 
 
 strong faith in Christ, she passed from the society of 
 earth to that of heaven, — went to be with her Sa- 
 viour, — and her husband was alone. 
 
 So closely had the life of Dr. May been inter- 
 twined vdth that of Mrs. May, that it was hardly 
 thought by friends he could survive the breakage of 
 the ties which bound her to him. Indeed, it did ap- 
 pear, at first, as if he, too, must needs be swept off by 
 the blast that carried her away from him to eternity. 
 He said, subsequently, "Oh! what a storm of suffer- 
 ing rose in her last days. I myself was carried away 
 by its violence in a sort of delirium, not knowing 
 where I was." But God, according to his gracious 
 promise of strength proportioned to the exigencies 
 of the day, gave him such comfort, in the tender 
 sympathy of friends, as well as from his Christian 
 faith and hope, as enabled him to stand the shock of 
 his bereavement ; lifted his eye to the rest his wife 
 had reached ; pointed him forward to the glad re- 
 union to be hoped for; and induced unselfish rejoic- 
 ing at her gain, even though feeling unto agony his 
 own irreparable loss. His own words were, in view 
 of the condition of the country at the time, " What- 
 ever dangers or disasters may hang over us who 
 live, the Divine Guardian has taken her into a safe 
 shelter, and so I am comforted." " Tears for the de- 
 parted may be those of tenderness, as well as of 
 distress. I trust I do say, ' it is well with her,' and, so 
 far as the gracious purposes of God are concerned 
 in the separation, 'it is well with the survivor.* 
 But sorrow may fill the heart even where faith and 
 hope prevail, for there is a sorrow which is not with- 
 out hope." Thus strengthened by the Spirit, he 
 meekly bowed his will to the Divine ; checked all 
 
80 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 undue indulgence of his grief; went back, within 
 a fortnight, to his solitary dwelling; and, while 
 every object reminded him of the beloved dead, 
 braced himself resolutely for his still remaining 
 duties to the living.* 
 
 But the discipline of trial was not ended yet. The 
 clouds returned after the rain. While the pain of 
 one great grief was yet fresh in his bosom, the 
 threatenings of another, scarcely less afilictive, began 
 to gather round. On the 20th of December, 1860, 
 twenty days before the death of Mrs. May, South 
 Carolina passed her ordinance of secession from the 
 Union. The revolutionary feeling, of which this 
 was the token, swept, like a tornado, through the 
 whole slaveholding South ; involved rapidly within 
 its vortex all the States along the Gulf; thence, turn- 
 ing, spread up the Atlantic coast ; and almost before 
 the tears upon the grave of his departed wife were 
 dry. Dr. May found himself surrounded with the 
 signs of an approaching war. The pickets of the 
 insurrectionary South were pushed up to the lower 
 shore of the Potomac; the drum-beat of opposing 
 Union forces was heard from camps upon the other 
 
 * To an intimate and valued friend he wrote, January 26th : 
 "Annie W. (a niece) came with me from Philadelphia. We 
 entered in silence my now desolate house. There was no voice ; 
 but every door, and room, and article of furniture, had a meaning. 
 "My dear friend, I do now feel solitary. I have awaked to 
 my loneliness. I did not realize, till now, how much I leaned on 
 her, and how much I owed to her. Her sagacity, discernment, 
 and sound judgment, were immeasurahly important to me. Yet 
 I remember that the Lord is ever present. He does at times 
 answer 'by terrible things in righteousness.' But I know his 
 throne is a mercy-seat, and that we may draw nigh in full assu- 
 rance of faith." 
 
PROFESSORSHIP AT ALEXANDRIA. 81 
 
 side ; and everything appeared to indicate that im- 
 mediately around the Fairfax Seminary would occur 
 the first great field-fight of our fearful civil strife. 
 A further continuance of the exercises of the Semi- 
 nary became, in such circumstances, dangerous, if 
 not impossible. With heavy hearts, the ISTorthern 
 students were dismissed, — the Southern shortly fol- 
 lowing ; with heavier, hasty arrangements were in- 
 augurated for the breaking up of professorial homes ; 
 and when the Union troops, in May of '61, crossed 
 the Potomac, for the occupation of Alexandria and 
 the Virginia Heights, they found the halls and houses 
 on the hill vacant, and ready for their use. The 
 former became a hospital for soldiers; the latter 
 were appropriated as quarters for their officers ; and 
 in the rooms where Dr. May and wife had lived so 
 happily for nearly twenty years, the Medical De- 
 partment of " the Seminary Hospital" set up its 
 shelves. 
 
 He never returned there, even to look after his 
 effects, and rescue what remained of them. The 
 recollections of the agitating, painful last hours 
 spent amidst the scenes of former happiness, were 
 too sad for him to be willing to renew them. His 
 furniture, three hundred volumes of his library, 
 many interesting gatherings of their European tour, 
 and even portraits of himself and wife that hung 
 upon the walls, were thus left to the spoiler. And 
 all know what becomes of things abandoned thus, 
 where armies move. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 LAST DATS IN PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 Whither to turn, when thus the floods of civil 
 conflict rose, was, of course, a question that had 
 needed rapid settlement from Mr. May. His col- 
 leagues at the Seminary, swept by the influences of 
 the hour, were floating Southward. Should he drift 
 with them ? The principles and feelings of a life- 
 time all said, No. His nineteen years of Southern 
 residence had not affected in the least his early 
 views. 
 
 The training of his childhood had made slavery 
 distasteful to him. Long contact with it had left 
 that distaste unremoved. He never lent the institu- 
 tion any voluntary countenance ;* and though con- 
 tent to dwell amidst it quietly, as long as it might 
 be protected by the laws, he could not flnd it in his 
 heart to take its side, when, freely casting off that 
 shield, it undertook to do battle for its life. 
 
 He had always, too, been a devoted " Union 
 man;" and while he loved the people of the South, 
 enjoyed their hospitality, was grateful for their kind- 
 ness to him, and in the Christian fellowship of many 
 of them found a pure delight, he could not possibly 
 
 * In all his nineteen Seminary years, great as was sometimes 
 the difficulty of obtaining "help," he would not ovm, nor, if he 
 possibly could help it, hire a slave. 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 83 
 
 assent to their ideas as to the independent sove- 
 reignty of States. He held that, though a child of 
 Pennsylvania, and a dweller in Virginia, he was a 
 citizen of the United States, bound loyally to follow 
 the great central Government, in preference to that 
 of any minor part. And, painful as might be the 
 severance of social ties that had united him to valued 
 Southern friends, he could not doubt that when the 
 South seceded from the Union, he was called by his 
 duty as a citizen to secede from the South. 
 
 When, therefore, he perceived the advances of 
 secession, he gathered gradually about him such 
 fragments of his worldly substance as he could, and 
 prepared for what he saw was likely soon to come, 
 his own departure for the N"orth. Just before hear- 
 ing of the ordinance of the Virginia Convention, 
 passed April 17, he wrote to Philadelphia, " I do 
 not think of going on at once, but wait a little, to see 
 how affairs will turn. I confess, the sad state of mat- 
 ters in the country spoils my sleep. I wake in the 
 night, and cannot quiet myself again." And again, 
 about the same time, " I have just now come from 
 a lonely walk up the road beyond the High School. 
 In looking out on the beautiful landscape^ now sweet 
 and lovely in the youth of the year, I cannot but 
 ask, is it to be polluted with blood, the blood of 
 civil and fraternal strife? The good Lord deliver 
 us ! Yet we have called upon ourselves righteous 
 judgments, and have reason to be humbled and to 
 mourn." 
 
 On the 2d of May, he wrote, " I sent by Adams's 
 Express, to-day, my valise to Philadelphia. The clerk 
 told me it would have to be transported from Annapo- 
 
 8* 
 
84 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D, 
 
 lis Junction to Havre-de-Grace (80 miles) by wagon.* 
 I sent it in order to leave myself as light baggage as 
 possible, because I know not what difficulties I may 
 find on my way. The families at the Seminary are 
 all about to scatter. Many of the students are be- 
 coming restless. If they go off, we must suspend. 
 A few days will settle the matter. You all ask, why 
 do I not leave ? Simply because I do not think I ought 
 to be the direct occasion of injury to the Seminary with 
 which I have been so long connected. I may never see 
 it again, for who can tell what destruction may come ! 
 I took tea with Mrs. Packard, this evening, and then 
 bade farewell. Her tears fell heavily, and so did 
 those of all." 
 
 The next day, the prospect of a speedy close led 
 him to add, " Many of the students that have held 
 fast hitherto, are now packing up, and getting ready 
 for departure. The matron talks of going, on Mon- 
 day next, to Pennsylvania. If she goes, we must wind 
 up, and the question of the Seminary will be settled. 
 Shall we ever reassemble ? Shall we, who now sepa- 
 rate, ever meet again this side of death ? You can 
 imagine nothing so sweet and lovely as everything 
 in nature lopks. The new buildings are all just com- 
 pleted, the last work of the plasterers having been 
 done last week.f And they are now set off by a 
 thoroughly cleaned yard, all beautifully green, trees 
 in young leaf, with numberless flowers and blossoms. 
 The woods have been raked over and trimmed, and 
 look as neat as a garden. The birds seem wild with 
 
 * The railroad bridges between Baltimore and Havre-de-Grace 
 having been burned April 19. 
 
 f I. e., on Meade Hall, the east wing, the rest having been 
 finished for some time. 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 85 
 
 delight, and fill the air with song. Who knows how 
 soon everything here may be destroyed ? Though 
 the buildings and other outside improvements may 
 remain, the spirit that has filled them may be want- 
 ing. The wishes, hopes and aims of those who 
 founded and sustained the Seminary, are frustrated. 
 "We must, however, leave all with the Lord. All 
 Mr. Packard's family, except himself, a son, and 
 cook, went off this morning. Bishop Johns's chil- 
 dren started, also, for their sister's, in Amelia. Mrs. 
 Sparrow and F. may stay until next week. Poor 
 Dr. S. is pressed down in heart. He mourns for his 
 country, for the Seminary, for his family, and oh, 
 how deeply, for the dear afflicted one ! If the tears 
 shed on this hill, this week, were gathered, what an 
 amount would appear ! And yet, is not this but the 
 beginning of sorrows ?" 
 
 The next we hear of him, he was on his way to 
 Philadelphia, and the lengthened Southern residence 
 was at an end. 
 
 He bore a heavy heart away with him. The home 
 he was forsaking in such painful circumstances had 
 been, deservedly, extremely dear. It was pleasant 
 in its outward aspect, trees throwing their shadows 
 on its roof, flowers blooming on its walls, and 
 birds flitting and singing round its windows. It 
 had been hallowed by the daily prayers and services 
 of almost half an ordinary life. It was full of plea- 
 sant memories of the students he had taught, the 
 brethren he had been associated with, the mission- 
 aries he had welcomed, and the many friends that he 
 had entertained. All that his moderate means would 
 warrant of classic art, of simple elegance, of literary 
 apparatus, and of domestic comfort, had been gathered 
 
86 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 in it. And there was no prospect for him of another 
 like it upon earth. He was too far advanced in life, 
 by this time, to have the hope of setting up another 
 tabernacle, if even he had the heart to do so. To 
 all appearance, he was going off, to be a stranger 
 and sojourner from thenceforth. 
 
 And yet, in God's good providence, this sad up- 
 breaking was probably for his eventual good. Had 
 even the Seminary been continued, the home, with- 
 out the wife in it, must needs have been a perpetual 
 reminder of her absence from him, and his loss. He 
 had written from it, but a little while before he left, 
 " I do feel lonely. I cannot forget that last night, 
 from nine o'clock of January 9th to 2 a.m. of the 
 10th ; that face, so changed ; the last looks in silence ; 
 and now, the sealed lips in the grave. I find here kind 
 friends, exceedingly kind. But how many things, 
 in the house and out, remind me of the departed, — 
 the furniture of the rooms, the arrangement of it, 
 her handwriting on paper, and various memoranda. 
 Then the aspect of things outside, especially as spring 
 opens, all contribute to keep alive the memory of 
 what can never be again. Sometimes the pressure 
 seems too great to be endured." 
 
 Better to leave, than to continue in, a home whose 
 silent chambers thus constantly reminded him of 
 the beloved dead. For though he had prgcious Chris- 
 tian comfort in his loss ; knew where his wife was 
 gone; knew what a blessedness she was enjoying; 
 knew what a happy meeting with her he might hope 
 for ; the felt want of her society in scenes which her 
 sweet fellowship had rendered bright, must have 
 made long continuance there unbearable at last. 
 
 In Philadelphia, where he arrived May 9th, he 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 87 
 
 met a cordial welcome. Friends that well knew his 
 excellence, and loved him for his worth, rejoiced to 
 have him with them once again. And, almost im- 
 mediately, work accordant with his tastes was opened 
 to him. An humble parish at Providence, in the 
 Yalley of the Perkiomen, not very distant from his 
 early home, was then without a minister. A mem- 
 ber of the family on which it was dependent for its 
 services, met with Dr. May directly after his arrival 
 in the city, and at once engaged him to go up and 
 spend a Sunday there. The visit proved a pleasant 
 one to him and all, and led to others. And though 
 the field was very small, and the salary proportionately 
 so, he eventually became the pastor of the flock there 
 gathered. On the 18th of June, we find him writing 
 from "West Chester to the friend that first invited him, 
 " Since my own domestic ties have been broken, and 
 my place in the world has become a lonely one, the 
 kindness of friends outside of my own empty house 
 has become more valuable to me than ever. "Where 
 I find sympathy, my gratitude and tenderness bind 
 me. I would be, too, where the Lord is ; and I be- 
 lieve him to be with you. 
 
 '" If I can, on my visits to your house, be the 
 means of benefit in the way of preaching the Grospel 
 to your neighbors, the pleasure of association with 
 your family will be the greater on that account. 
 "Where there is a simple mind for the reception of the 
 word of God, the happiness of making it known is, 
 of course, the more decided." 
 
 Again, on the 8th of July, he writes from Phila- 
 delphia, " I keep in most pleasant remembrance my 
 visits to your house, and the opportunities there 
 given me for witnessing to the Gospel of Christ. 
 
88 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 When I accepted your first invitation to pass a Sun- 
 day with you, I supposed that the services of one 
 day would fill up the vacancy in the parish, and that 
 the place would then be supplied by some one, who, 
 as settled pastor, could regularly minister to the 
 people. And now, behold, I have been with you 
 not merely a duality, but a plurality, of Sundays. 
 Several considerations have moved me (shall I say 
 tempted me ?) to return thus to your interesting* 
 people. There seemed to be an opportunity of say- 
 ing something for the Master's cause to a people 
 ready to hear. 'Eo engagement of a more impera- 
 tive kind called me elsewhere. This door seemed 
 to be opened before me in a most unlooked-for way. 
 And, then, to my own feelings (suflfering from a 
 wound which the hand of Providence had infiicted, 
 the deepest and sorest of my whole life), I have 
 found a soothing influence in the quietness of the 
 country, and in the Christian associations and sym- 
 pathy of your household. 
 
 " I am tempted to wander from the line of my 
 letter. I meant only to record my remembrance of 
 your school-room and Sunday-school, of the evening 
 services, and of all that appertains to your establish- 
 ment. I am sure that while you are dedicating all 
 to God, he will overshadow all with his blessing." 
 
 The little flock thus taken under his instruction, 
 he continued to look after" to the last. Residing still 
 in Philadelphia, with nephews and nieces that had 
 
 * "Interesting," not from what most persons would have reck- 
 oned elements of interest, — cultivation, refinement, intelligence, 
 and the like ; hut from what hetter suited his unfastidious taste, — 
 their honest simplicity, and readiness to receive, with meekness, 
 the engrafted word. 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 89 
 
 bid him welcome to their home, he spent whatever 
 hohdays he could command, amongst the people, and 
 always went up on Saturday in time to see some of 
 them before the Sabbath came. His custom was to 
 ride to iN'orristown, eighteen miles, upon the rail- 
 way, and there take the stage for seven miles addi- 
 tional. Then, being on the border of the parish, he 
 would alight, and see as many of the families as 
 possible before he rested for the night. On Sunday 
 morning, service was held in a little place of wor- 
 ship, known as Union Church, before or after which 
 he generally contrived to have a friendly word with 
 almost every one. Then came a hasty dinner, and 
 after it a Sunday-school, in which he took a class of 
 boys ; and one that visited it said it was beautiful, 
 indeed, to see the Doctor of Divinity and Professor 
 of Church History sit meekly, in that quiet country 
 school, instructing the plain farmers' boys, their faces 
 bent on his with eager interest, and his beaming with 
 mild benevolence, tender feeling, or playful humor, 
 as he taught. School ended, he would be off along 
 the valley, or up among the hills, to inquire after any 
 that were sick, to comfort any that were sorrowing, 
 or to assist, with friendly guidance, any that were 
 endeavoring to come to Christ. Back to his resting- 
 place again, for brief refreshment; then an evening 
 service in a school-room, and so ended the labors of 
 the day. On Monday he was up in the early morn- 
 ing, often before light, and on his way to Phila- 
 delphia, in time to be present at a meeting of the 
 clergy, for devotional exercises and conversation 
 about pastoral work, held in the vestry-room of the 
 Church of the Epiphany, at noon. 
 Before he had been long in Philadelphia, he was 
 
90 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 spoken with in reference to another more important 
 field,* — a professorship in the Pennsylvania Train- 
 ing School for Students of Divinity, which had been 
 in operation under the auspices of Bishop Potter, 
 from the fall of 1857. The matter gradually took defi- 
 nite shape in his appointment as Professor of Church 
 History and Polity, and, -pro tempore, of Doctrinal 
 Theology. Dr. Gr. Emlen Hare was already in the 
 school as Professor of Scriptural Interpretation; Dr. 
 John A. Vaughan, of Pastoral Care; Dr. P. Van Pelt, 
 of the Languages of Scripture ; and other clergy- 
 men of Philadelphia, as instructors in various lines; 
 while Bishop Potter gave his personal attention to 
 exercises in the reading of the Liturgy. Dr. C. M. 
 Butler (who finally succeeded to the Chair of Dr. 
 May) brought, subsequently, his fine mental powers 
 and rich accomplishments, to add to those of all the 
 rest; Dr. Goodwin, Provost of the University of 
 Pennsylvania, became Instructor in the Evidences ; 
 and thus was formed a Faculty, such as, for piety, 
 high culture, varied learning, and sound wisdom, 
 probably no merely Diocesan Training School had 
 ever previously secured. 
 
 Dr. May commenced his duties at the School in 
 September, 1861 ; met his classes for instruction five 
 days in every week ; held, at the request of Bishop 
 Potter, a devotional meeting for the students, on the 
 Saturdays; and gave the Mondays, after the clerical 
 meeting previously referred to, to visiting and cor- 
 respondence with his many friends. God's provi- 
 
 * Overtures were also made to him respecting a connection 
 witli St. Ann's Church, Brooklyn, as an associate of the Eev. Dr. 
 Cutler ; but the professorship and country parish in conjunction, 
 overbore the city church. 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 91 
 
 dence had brought his floating bark to what seemed 
 a safe and pleasant anchorage ; and while the storms 
 of war swept almost everything to wreck about his 
 old Virginia resting-place, he lay here in such shel- 
 tered waters, that he hardly felt the rocking of the 
 waves. "With delightful coadjutors, with congenial 
 work, with ample opportunities for usefulness, and 
 with a quiet country parish to retire to for the Sun- 
 day, there was promise, once again, of happy hfe. 
 The Lord had not forgotten, nor forsaken, the faith- 
 ful servant of his Son. He was fuliilling to him 
 the great promise, " at evening time there shall be 
 light." And when, in 1862, the basis of the Train- 
 ing School was made a broader one, a charter as a 
 Divinity School was gotten for it from the Legisla- 
 ture, Dr. John S. Stone was added to its Faculty, and 
 a charming location was secured for it in "Western 
 Philadelphia (a rus in urbe, where the birds could sing 
 among the branches), his cup was made as full of the 
 ingredients of comfort as it could be for one that had 
 been so bereaved. 
 
 The wound he had sustained in his wife's death 
 was gradually being healed by balm froni heaven ; 
 but the deep scar still was tender, and sometimes 
 throbbed with pain. He wrote to Dr. Packard, 
 March 16, 1863, " I often feel very solitary. I find 
 kind friends ; but who can recall the past, or bring 
 back the departed ? I had much conflict in mind 
 before I could agree to remain here, and often fan- 
 cied it would accord better with my feelings to hide 
 myself in some retired country parish. To some 
 extent I have done so. I have a little corner in the 
 country, whei-e for a year and more I have spent 
 
 9 
 
92 LIFE ANB LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 Sundays, and yet continue to preach to a small hand- 
 ful of hearers." 
 
 Sorrow, however, did not make him selfish. He 
 knew too well God's sanctifying purpose in it, to 
 sit down and brood needlessly over his grief. He 
 neither wore a saddened countenance because of it, 
 nor sought to draw attention to it in his intercourse 
 with friends. It only led him to look more upwards, 
 more around, — to dwell more on the rest remaining 
 for Grod's people, — and to cherish tenderer feeling 
 for those chastened like himself. He sought out 
 sufferers, to speak to them those words of comfort 
 which had supported his own spirit. He sent to 
 distant friends, in their distresses, like words of 
 friendly cheer. An excellent young clergyman, that 
 was laid by from his work, and brought quite near 
 the grave, received from him this message of en- 
 couragement and counsel : 
 
 " In some aspects it may seem hard that, at your 
 early stage, you should be withdrawn from the ser- 
 vice to which you had given yourself for life. But 
 you are in the hands of one wiser than yourself. He 
 knows what is best for you, and best for his own 
 honor. In this time of trial, you are taught in his 
 school who calls us to ' learn of him, for he is meek 
 and lowly in heart.' You have learned his love, 
 grace, sovereignty, and power. You know his cross, 
 his blood, ' which speaketh better things than that 
 of Abel.' You may be, you are, daily sprinkled with 
 that blood. Jesus is, to you, 'wisdom and righte- 
 ousness, sanctification and redemption.' Think of 
 that most pregnant text, ' He hath made him to be 
 sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made 
 the righteousness of God in him.' We, sinners; 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 93 
 
 he, righteousness; he, sin (or a sin-oifering) for us; 
 we, righteousness in him. Most precious tidings ! 
 Hold fast that truth. 
 
 "Jesus is a personal, present, living Saviour, nigh 
 you, even in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, who 
 sheds abroad his love. Cleave to him. Rest on 
 him. Believe, and be sure that he is the Christ, the 
 Son of God, who has the words of eternal life. 
 Brother, hold fast your faith. Know that he, having 
 obtained the victory in his own person, will give 
 you also the victory in yours. 
 
 " You have a name and place in 'the blessed com- 
 pany of all faithful people.' The sympathy of breth- 
 ren will be with you to the end. But you have a 
 better fellowship than that with any earthly breth- 
 ren. Your fellowship is ' with the Father, and with 
 his Son, Jesus Christ.' Grace, mercy, and peace 
 from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ our 
 LorjJ, be multiplied to you. The God of Jacob be 
 your God and guide, keep and defend you to the 
 end, and then be your portion forever ! So I wish, 
 and so I pray." 
 
 A brother professor, too, whose son had died a 
 prisoner of war, the third in fifteen months, was thus 
 remembered : " Your son, Willie ! I recollect him 
 as he was, when, with his bright face, he used to 
 pass me on his way to school at Howard, or when 
 he came to my door, or I saw him at your house. 
 His face was always lighted mth a smile. 
 
 " I tenderly feel for you and his mother and family. 
 I read your letter with tears. What can we say ? 
 What, but 'Even so, Father!' We are sorrowfully 
 reminded that this is not our rest. I know how 
 closely our hearts cling to places, possessions, and 
 
94 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 friends here, and how hard to loose the grasp. But 
 God has given some very distinct and painful lessons, 
 during these late years. Hard, hard, indeed, to re- 
 ceive them ! But faith overcometh the world. The 
 victory is mighty, when achieved; but oh, how hard 
 the achievement! I have shed more tears within 
 the last three years than ever before. Now they 
 seem to be natural, and flow unbidden. - But why 
 talk of my own case ? How much sadder that of 
 you and Mrs. P. Let us, however, learn to sit at 
 the feet of Jesus, to bear his yoke and burden, yea, 
 his cross. There we may be comforted, and find his 
 grace sufficient for us. 
 
 " Assure Mrs. P. and daughters of our warmest 
 sympathy. I say, ours; for my nieces desire a very 
 particular participation in the message." 
 
 Many such letters flowed at this time from his 
 pen ; and he became, through them, " a son of conso- 
 lation" to not a few afflicted souls. One series of 
 such epistles, written to a sufierer that called forth 
 an especial sympathy, proved such a precious solace 
 to him in his sickness, and so greatly brightened for 
 him his passage to the grave, that, for the beneflt of 
 kindred sufferers, they are inserted as an appendix 
 to this work. 
 
 In other ways, too, he sought to be a comforter. 
 The discouraged student, or despondent minister, 
 were soon discerned by his ever watchful eye, and 
 generally had some affectionately friendly intima- 
 tion how their difficulties might be met and their 
 anxieties disposed of. The poor, too, had abundant 
 tokens of his care. A warm place in his heart was 
 always kept for them ; and often, at some humble fire- 
 side, the Professor of Theology might have been 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 95 
 
 found, distributing not gifts alone, but kind atten- 
 tions, which often go much further than all gifts. 
 And when the nights for weekly services arrived, 
 he would be up, as soon as tea was over, to wend 
 his way, not usually to the greater churches, where 
 wealth sits comfortably in its cushioned ease, but 
 rather to the little outskirt gatherings, where poverty 
 draws timidly near Jesus' messengers, to hear from 
 them the glad tidings of great joy. If asked to speak 
 at such places, he was always ready ; nothing pleased 
 him better than to " preach the Gospel to the poor." 
 If not a speaker, he would sit as meekly as the 
 humblest, to receive the message that was meant for 
 them. 
 
 !N"o wonder that a spirit so beautifully Christ-like 
 should have attracted notice from the Christian eyes 
 around. Jesus himself has said that " he that hum- 
 bleth himself shall be exalted." " Good Dr. May" 
 (as friends generally called him), shutting himself 
 up in his little country parish, or in the meetings 
 of the city poor, did not escape thus the admiring 
 gaze of those who love to see the Gospel thoroughly 
 lived up to. And when God took from Pennsylvania 
 her excellent Assistant Bishop, the B,t. Rev. Samuel 
 Bowman, D.D.,* the hearts of many, both of the 
 laity and clergy, turned instantly towards Dr. May 
 as a most fit successor to the office. They knew his 
 purity of spirit, his perfect uprightness of walk, his 
 admirable judgment, his fervent piety, and his en- 
 tire devotion to Christ's truth ; and it was thought 
 that it would be a blessing to the Diocese to send 
 
 * A brother-in-law of Dr. May, who died suddenly by the way- 
 side, August 3, 1861, as he was on a visitation in the western 
 portion of the State. 
 
96 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 out among its parishes so clear a preacher of the 
 Gospel, and so truly excellent and pure a man. He 
 did not know about the agitation of the matter, till 
 the Special Convention for the choice of an Assistant 
 Bishop met in October, '61. Then he became aware 
 of it, and wrote to the Rev. Dr. Vaughan the follow- 
 ing characteristic note, which shows how the ambi- 
 tion that he used to mourn over in his early journal 
 must have been crushed out. 
 
 "1520 Pine Street, October 23, 1861. 
 " Reverend and dear Brother : 
 
 " I was surprised and distressed by hearing (late 
 last evening) that brethren have thoughts of nomi- 
 nating me for election to the office of Assistant 
 Bishop. Very early wakefulness this morni^tig has 
 given me time for communing with my own heart. 
 I am confirmed in the purpose formed last evening, 
 at the moment of hearing the report, to request that 
 this should not be done. So long as there are diffi- , 
 culties enough on the threshold of the question, I 
 need not refer to those of want of faith and of the 
 Holy Ghost, which lie within. 
 
 " As to the Diocese, I have neither the physical 
 nor mental energy which the office demands, and 
 especially in these times, when ' men's hearts are 
 failing them for fear.' 
 
 " As to myself personally, temperament, and long 
 indulged taste for private life, and fixed domestic 
 habits, unfit me for a public position. The thought 
 of the cares and responsibilities of the office in 
 question, makes my spirit fail. Besides, the course 
 of Providence (as to me) seems to require, or at least 
 allow, more retirement now than ever. The hand 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 97 
 
 of God has touched me, and made me solitary ; and 
 while my delight is still ' to teach and to preach 
 Jesus Christ,' it is in such seclusion as is now given 
 me for Sunday duties. On this last point I should 
 like to speak freely, for my heart is in it. But the 
 occasion does not call for my doing so. 
 
 " I have now only to ask of you the favor to see 
 that my name he withdrawn, or, rather, that it he not 
 offered to the Convention. 
 
 "Your affectionate friend in Christ, 
 
 "James May." 
 
 Of course this put an end to the thought of nomi- 
 nating him; for although there were some ardent 
 friends, that still insisted upon urging his election, 
 and felt confident of carrying it, the greater part of 
 those who would have voted for it thought that it 
 ought not to be pressed against his will. Another 
 much respected Presbyter, of very eminent qualifi- 
 cations for the post, the Rev. William Bacon Stevens, 
 D.D., was therefore settled on and chosen; and Dr. 
 May wa§ suffered, as he wished, to keep the even 
 tenor of his way. 
 
 Beyond the inevitable occasional eixcitement oc- 
 curring in a state of civil war, there was no further 
 special agitation of his now usually quiet life, till 
 the fall of 1863. Then a question rose, which deeply 
 interested him. Bishop Hopkins, of Vermont, had 
 published, in the stirring times of 1860, a pamphlet 
 in defence of Slavery, designed to calm the commo- 
 tion of the public spirit at the North upon that 
 point. When the political elections of 1863 were 
 being prepared for, in Pennsylvania, certain gentle- 
 men upon the Democratic side asked leave of Bishop 
 
98 LIFE AJ!fD LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 Hopkins to reproduce and circulate his pamphlet. 
 He consented, and it was so circulated, to a very 
 large extent, throughout the State. Bishop Potter 
 thought that such a circulation in his Diocese might 
 lead to misconception of the position of the Protest- 
 ant Episcopal Church upon the subject, if the pam- 
 phlet were suffered to go thus abroad unnoticed. 
 Accordingly, a paper was prepared, signed by the 
 Bishop and the greater portion of his clergy, protest- 
 ing strongly against Bishop Hopkins's views, and 
 against this mode of spreading them. Bishop Hop- 
 kins met this with an indignant and severe reply. 
 The controversy excited considerable feeling ; and, 
 besides many pieces in the newspapers, several pam- 
 phlets, combating the main positions that had been 
 assumed by Bishop Hopkins, were issued. Dr. May 
 took no loud part in the discussion. He was not 
 wont to enter stormily into a debate of any kind. 
 But his feelings in this case were much engaged. 
 His long, close contact with the Slave system of the 
 South, had induced in him much thought upon the 
 theme. As he mused on it, at this time,, the fire 
 burned; and at last, in Ifovember, 1863, he put forth, 
 anonymously a pamphlet, headed, " Bemarks on 
 Bishop Hopkins's Letter on ' TheBihle View of Slavery.' " 
 It was a clear, calm, forcible review of the arg-uments 
 of Bishop Hopkins, and went more deeply into the 
 heart of the whole matter than anything else that 
 was published at the time. There was no important 
 point urged in the plea for Slavery, that was not 
 fully met and answered. In language perfectly 
 temperate and courteous (for he could use no other), 
 but burning with a grave and tender earnestness, 
 he spoke out, here, the long-suppressed and bridled 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 99 
 
 sentiments of his whole life, showing clearly that 
 the Bishop had assumed great points, requiring to be 
 proven ; had made serious mistakes in his Scriptural 
 interpretations ; had confounded, sadly, the warranto 
 able providence of God and unjust acts of man ; and 
 had really gone beyond the leading statesmen of the 
 South in his advocacy of their cause. And, finally, 
 speaking of the change in public sentiment which 
 the war had brought about, or>4ntensified with a 
 new ardor, he said, " The deep religious convictions 
 of honest minds (call them fanatical, if you please ; 
 the name does not aflect the truth) are not matters 
 of party or of policy. They arise from unchange- 
 able elements of our nature, wrought on by eternal 
 truth. They move onward, slowly it may be, but 
 with a steadiness and force which yields to no oppo- 
 sition. Persecution gives them the more distinct- 
 ness and power. "Woe to the party that sets itself 
 against them ! When Henry IV of France was, for 
 political reasons, trying to beat down the honest re- 
 ligious convictions of his subjects in Navarre, Beza 
 said to him, ' Sire, you strike an anvil which has 
 worn out many hammers.' " 
 
 The publication of this pamphlet was the last 
 public work of Dr. May. He had been enfeebled 
 in the summer by a violent attack of ague, while 
 visiting his still loved friends in Wilkesbarre. A 
 succession of unusually trying colds during the au- 
 tumn, with occasional recurrence of the chills, had 
 kept him weak. And though, as winter came, he 
 seemed to throw off the debilitating influence, and 
 regain the freshness of his ordinary health, there 
 probably was still a condition of the system unfavor- 
 able to resistance of disease. On Friday evening, 
 
100 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 the 11th of December, as he was preparing, with his 
 usual benevolence, although unwell, to hold service 
 for the rector of a distant church in Philadelphia, 
 he was struck with a sudden chill, which he supposed 
 to be a new development of ague ; rode home, un- 
 fortunately through a moist, penetrating, wintry- 
 air ; took immediately to his bed, and never rallied. 
 The most skilful medical attendance in the city was 
 invoked by anxious friends ; but the disease, which 
 proved to be the spotted fever, a malignant form of 
 typhus, was beyond arrest by any skill of man. And 
 as, according to its usual rule, it settled itself espe- 
 cially upon the brain, he was more or less delirious 
 from the beginning, and apparently unable to appre- 
 ciate the threatening aspect of his case. When told 
 by the physician that he was extremely ill, he would 
 answer, " Yes, they say so ;" but evidently as if it 
 related to some other person than himself. His mind 
 was actively at work, but incoherently, the thoughts 
 evolved being broken and incomplete. Friends still 
 were recognized with his accustomed, gentle smile, 
 and every little act of ordinary courtesy attended to; 
 but efforts to engage in connected conversation were 
 in vain. Even his broken thoughts had reference to 
 something good ; fragments of prayers, portions of 
 Scripture promises, directions as to duty, or intima- 
 tions of the conscientious spirit in which it should 
 be done, forming the staple of them ; but friends 
 mourned greatly that, in his case, as in that of Mrs. 
 May, the rich, clear, Scriptural faith which had been 
 cherished, could not give forth an intelligible final 
 utterance. As far as he was personally concerned, 
 however, none such was required. John Ifewton 
 used to say, " Tell me not how one died, but how 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 101 
 
 he lived." And Dr. May had Uved with heaven all 
 about him for so many years, in such intimate com- 
 munion with it, his life so truly " hidden in Christ 
 with God," that those who stood about his bed were 
 perfectly assured where faith would have reposed 
 and hope have looked, had a clear mind been 
 granted him. They knew what clinging arms would 
 have been thrown around the Cross ; what reverent 
 eyes would have been turned to Him who hung on 
 it as our surety ; and with what a full and childlike 
 trust the hand of faith would have been laid upon 
 the head of Christ, to transfer to that blessed " Lamb 
 of God" the sins of life, and receive, in merciful re- 
 turn, his righteousness. It was not for the sake of 
 the departing Christian, therefore, that they wanted 
 the outspoken words of faith, but only for their own 
 sake, that their hearts might thus be comforted, and 
 for the Church's sake, that it might have a blessing 
 from his testimony. It was not to be, however. 
 Slowly the lamp of life burnt low, and fitfully the 
 flashes of intelligence shot up from it, till, on Friday 
 A.M., December 18th, not a week from the time when 
 he was taken ill, the faithful servant of the Saviour, 
 vdthout ability to speak to those around him, rested, 
 
 " As one that wraps the drapery of his couch about him, 
 And lies down to pleasant dreams." 
 
 A momentary struggle, — a gentle stoppage of the 
 breath, — and then "asleep in Jesus," and "forever 
 with the Lord." 
 
 Thus ended, for this world, the course of one of 
 the most truly Christian spirits with which God has 
 blessed his Church. And thus went off to heaven 
 a soul that had so washed its robes and made them 
 
102 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 white in the blood of the Lamb, as to leave no doubt 
 behind it whither it was gone. " I would give all 
 that I am worth," said an excellent Christian, at the 
 funeral, " to have, in my own case, the assurance that 
 I have in his of full and glorious salvation." " He 
 had not far to go to reach the gate," wrote another, 
 in respect to him ; " for his conversation was in 
 heaven." " Dear Dr. May," was the testimony of a 
 third, " seemed to me more holy than any one I ever 
 knew." 
 
 " More holy !" That was the current conviction, 
 ih respect to him, among those that had the fullest 
 opportunities for knowing what his character had 
 been. And that was the secret of the love felt for 
 him, and the reverence cherished, in the wide circle 
 of his friends. Intellectually noble, mentally sub- 
 lime, it was not claimed that he was, more than 
 many others in the Church. With a naturally 
 vigorous intellect, industriously cultivated and en- 
 riched, he stood, in mental elevation, much above the 
 crowd. But that which more particularly marked 
 him was a goodness, piety, and purity that never 
 had been stained with a shadow of reproach ; induc- 
 ing, when he was withdrawn, the general feeling 
 that a bright light was extinguished ; that a living 
 exemplification of true Scriptural excellence was 
 lost ; and that, if Christ had abler servants left to 
 labor for his cause, none holier remained to link 
 this world to heaven. 
 
 He rests beside his wife in the churchyard of St. 
 Mary's Parish, West Philadelphia; and might well 
 have on his tombstone, for an epitaph, what the 
 Bishop said of him in his next address to the Con- 
 vention : " The Rev. Dr. May, long known and most 
 
LAST DATS IN PHILADELPHIA. 103 
 
 dearly beloved in Philadelphia and throughout the 
 Diocese, a man of singular purity, meekness, fervor, 
 and force." 
 
 When such a Christian passes from us to eternity, 
 we cannot but thank God for the example he has 
 left us. For though, as day-spring dims for us the 
 stars, Christ's coming glory may eclipse all virtues 
 of his saints, these are, at present, reflectors to us of 
 his brightness. "We steer our course, to some ex- 
 tent, by their direction. We follow them as they 
 have followed him. And seeing that the Christian 
 graces which they manifested were outflows from 
 the deep eternal fountain in himself, we render 
 praise that through his light in them we see light — 
 
 " Praise that from Earth resulting, as it ought, 
 To Earth's acknowledged sovereign, finds at once 
 Its only just proprietor in him." 
 
 Not for the honor of mere human virtue, there- 
 fore, but for the honor of the grace of Christ, we 
 turn now to review the character of him, whose life- 
 story has been briefly written. For such review we 
 depend mainly on the words of one that had such 
 opportunities for knowing him as are afforded by 
 close intimacy and near residence for years, the 
 Eev. Dr. Packard. He writes : 
 
 " I am glad to hear that a biography of Dr. May 
 is to be published, for I regard him as a model of 
 what a minister of Christ should be. I can truly 
 say that I have never met with so perfect a human 
 character. In an intimate intercourse with him of 
 twenty years, I cannot remember that I ever saw in 
 him any trace of anger, pride, selfishness, or ambi- 
 tion. Baxter has said that good men are not as 
 
 10 
 
104 LIFE AND LETTEKS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 good as he once thought they were, hut have more 
 imperfections ; and that nearer approach and fuller 
 trial makes the best appear more weak and faulty 
 than their admirers at a distance think. Dr. May 
 was an exception to this generally just remark. 
 His character bore close examination, and his ex- 
 ample of symmetrical and holy excellence was in- 
 valuable to all with whom he came in contact." 
 
 True piety was the fairest of the train of graces 
 with which Christ had beautified him by his Spirit. 
 No one could know him intimately, without observ- 
 ing that he had caught much of the spirit of his 
 Saviour, and that his life was fed continually from 
 the great well-spring of eternal life. His prayers, — 
 such prayers ! pure utterances of devout emotion, 
 expressive of a holy intimacy with his Lord, showed 
 plainly that his communion with an unseen, but 
 living Saviour, was most constant and confiding. 
 He came before the mercy-seat as one that evi- 
 dently knew the way to it, rejoiced in the privilege 
 of such approach, and found delight in intercourse 
 with the Redeemer. He seemed to feed upon the 
 very name of Christ, and often said that, as we need 
 daily bread for strengthening the body, so must we 
 have for spiritual nourishment continual communi- 
 cations of that bread of heaven which cometh down 
 and giveth life unto the world. 
 
 Sincere humility was another obvious trait. He was 
 singularly free from the uprisings of ambition, 
 seeming to look upon himself as an ordinary 
 preacher, and preferring to preach in the smallest 
 places, and to the smallest congregations. He re- 
 ceived calls to diflferent important churches, which 
 w6uld never have been known but through reports 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 105 
 
 of others, as he did not speak of them himself.* He 
 often inculcated it upon his students that they should 
 not be concerned about salary or position ; but do 
 their duty quietly in some humble corner of Christ's 
 vineyard, and if it pleased him, he would call them 
 to a wider field. And what he said in this respect, 
 he acted on ; never thrusting himself forward, never 
 seeking promotion for himself, but leaving it for 
 God to dispose of him as he would ; 
 
 " Content to fill a lowly place, 
 If Christ were glorified." 
 
 We have seen, thus, how he could decline a 
 bishopric, and give himself to a quiet country parish 
 in preference to an important city church. 
 
 And with his piety and his humility was joined 
 a ipUTe unworlMiness. His thorough deadness to all 
 anxious care about his circumstances in this present 
 life, was quite remarkable. "With full ability to en- 
 joy greatly earthly blessings and comforts, when 
 bestowed on him, he never seemed to give himself 
 the least concern about them — received them thank- 
 fully, if Grod's providence imparted them, but showed 
 no sign of wanting them, if it did not. Although, 
 from circumstances now unknown, his salary at one 
 time was very greatly in arrears, and he was driven 
 
 * Or if he did speak of them at all, it was to some intimate but 
 far off friend, when giving the details of home life that were de- 
 sired, as where, reciting to a brother off in China the circum- 
 stances of a call to Dr. Sparrow, he writes : " I have had a simi- 
 lar alarm, too, for myself; for I was called to succeed Dr. Stone 
 in Brooklyn. I have thought prudence the better part of valor, 
 and declined. It is said that somewhere in Italy is found upon a 
 tombstone this inscription : ' I was well, I wished to be better, and 
 am here.' It is important to know at what point to be satisfied." 
 
106 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 to a very close economy, he never either uttered a 
 complaint, or even went to urge a payment. And 
 at another time and place, a treasurer not being 
 wont to pay till called upon, examination showed 
 that upwards of two thousand dollars had run up to 
 the Doctor's credit, for which he had not even asked. 
 So truly, through his close and holy union with his 
 Saviour, had the world been crucified to him and he 
 unto the world. 
 
 His sympathetic spirit, too, was admirable. Though 
 not demonstrative in manner generally, he possessed 
 a warm and tender heart, and was thus able to be- 
 come a comforter to many. Much tried himself, 
 especially in later life, first by his own ill health, 
 and then by that of his beloved wife, he learned to 
 feel for others in their trials, and thus to follow him 
 who is a merciful as well as faithful High Priest to 
 us, touched with a feeling of our innocent infirmi- 
 ties, because in all points tried as we are, except in 
 the experience of sin. He could truly say, " Nm, 
 ignarus mali, miseris succurrere disco." Friends that 
 rejoiced felt sure of his rejoicing with them; and 
 those that wept, of his weeping also in their griefs. 
 His soul appeared to spring at once to render 
 comfort to a sufierer. He made the case of such his 
 own. And such as knew him went to him in their 
 troubles, with perfect confidence of finding sympar 
 thy and aid. 
 
 A graceful and unfailing Christian courtesy threw 
 also round all intercourse with him its charm. It 
 was the issue not of education, foreign travel, or de- 
 sire to please, alone, but, much more, of a humility 
 that never would prefer itself to others — of a charity 
 that never sought "its own" — and of a delicate and 
 
LAST DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. 107 
 
 tender consideration for men's feelings, that never 
 willingly would do anything to wound. 
 
 And yet, with all this, there was firm decision in 
 respect to principle. He never delayed doing what 
 he felt to be a duty, and never shrunk from it through 
 fear of consequences. He was no reed, to be shaken 
 by the wind. His view§ of truth were well settled 
 and defined, and were held to, when embraced, most 
 unchangeably and fixedly. He was a man, who, in 
 the old times of martyrdom, would have gone freely 
 to prison or the stake, before he would have yielded 
 any truth on which he was assured that God had set 
 his seal. Even in the' days of his first ministry in 
 "Wilkesbarre, when declared Evangelism was still 
 extensively unpopular, he never thought of covering 
 from view the great distinctive features of the Gos- 
 pel, but taught, with full and manly emphasis, our 
 fall in Adam, our recovery through Christ, our 
 thorough dependence on God's mercy in the Saviour, 
 our need of a complete renewal by the Spirit, and 
 then the perfect freeness of salvation, as Heaven's 
 sovereign gift of grace to all that take Christ to 
 their hearts and trust in him. And always, in his 
 more than thirty years of service, though not obtrud- 
 ing offensively his views, he was prepared to give 
 distinctly and decidedly a reason for the faith which 
 conscientiously he held. 
 
 This fixedness of principle gave its color to his 
 preaching. From deep conviction that the doctrines 
 of the Cross form the true nourishment of spiritual 
 life, he was determined to know nothing here but 
 Jesus Christ and him crucified. " The Sun of right- 
 eousness" must always be the central luminary in his 
 system — the Cross, the foremost constellation in his 
 
 10* 
 
108 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 sky. 'No wish for popular applause could induce 
 him to withhold his simple, clear, emphatic presen- 
 tation of salvation through a suffering, divine Re- 
 deemer. If people wanted to be treated to an en- 
 tertainment of splendid rhetoric, or brilliant fancy, 
 or profound philosophy, they must not go where he 
 was to officiate. But if they wished to hear of 
 Christ — Christ undertaking to be surety for our race ; 
 Christ coming to fulfil God's will in saving us; 
 Christ offering to the law his pure obedience in 
 place of our own sin ; Christ dying, rising, inter- 
 ceding for us at the mercy-seat, that he might tho- 
 roughly complete his saving work ; and then Christ 
 sending down his Spirit to give us individual and 
 personal interest in his salvation — they had but to 
 inquire where Dr. May would preach. Indeed, he 
 was, as preacher, almost the embodiment of Cow- 
 per's sketch of what a preacher ought to be : 
 
 " Simple, grave, sincere ; 
 
 In doctrine uncorrupt ; in language plain, 
 And plain in manner ; decent, solemn, chaste, 
 And natural in gesture ; mucli impressed 
 Himself, as conscious of Ms awful charge, 
 And anxious mainly that the flock he fed 
 Should feel it too : aflectionate in look. 
 And tender in address, as well becomes 
 A messenger of grace to guilty men." 
 
 The Church needs many such. God grant that 
 of those coming forward to the ministry, there may 
 at least be some, of such piety, such purity, such 
 zeal for Christ, and such unselfish devotion to his 
 cause, as may enable them to take the stand, to 
 emulate the course, and eventually fill the place of 
 Dr. May. 
 
REMINISCENCES BY DR. RIDDLE, 
 
 PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON COLLEGE, CANONSBTJRG, 
 
 My acquaintance with James May began in the. 
 autumn of 1822, the beginning of the collegiate year. 
 Dr. Matthew Brown had been chosen President in 
 September of that year. I had been in college one 
 session, (then of five months). May and I formed 
 part of the first senior class, taught by that well- 
 known preceptor. We were friends almost from 
 our first acquaintance. There was, to me, something 
 attractive, I might say, fascinating, in his first ap- 
 pearance. A shade of sadness, almost melancholy, 
 hung over his finely developed features, as if he had 
 felt some secret sorrow, or experienced some great 
 disappointment. I soon discovered, too, a very 
 marked tendency to the romantic or imaginative in 
 his composition. This, of course, was an additional 
 source of attraction to one of similar age and ten- 
 dencies. We had read and delighted in many of the 
 books which were my favorites in boyhood. One 
 poem, especially, I remember, was his special pet, 
 " Gertrude of Wyoming." The scenery and the 
 story seemed never to pall upon him. I can recall, 
 even after forty years, how his large eye would di- 
 late, and his voice tremble with emotion, in reciting 
 some of his favorite passages. 
 
110 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 He had fine taste for scenery, and enjoyed greatly 
 the walks about the hills, and the charming land- 
 scapes, seldom surpassed, which abound in the vi- 
 cinity of this village. I can recall his delight, too, 
 in cloud scenery in the autumnal evenings, after we 
 had passed our final examinations, and when we 
 used to stroll together through field and forest. The 
 sky scenery at night was also a source of joyous 
 emotion, when it was sombre and solemn, especially — 
 a type, I used to imagine, of his characteristic frame 
 of mind. 
 
 One of my strongest impressions of my friend at 
 the first, deepened by longer and intimate fellow- 
 ship, was, what I may convey by the term " noble." 
 I could never associate May, in my mind (nor could 
 any one who knew him even less intimately), with 
 an act of meanness, anything low or vulgar. He had 
 in him " the soul of honor," as my relations to him 
 enabled me to verify in more ways than one. In 
 one case, this was strikingly exemplified, the circum- 
 stances of which (known only to him and myself) 
 have descended with him to the grave, but which I 
 can recall as a silent tribute to his magnanimity. 
 
 Intellectually, May appeared to me then, in con- 
 trast with others and myself, to have breadth; a capa- 
 city for large views ; a fondness for principles rather 
 thandetails; a grasping after "the remoter relations," 
 as one of our class-mates used to say ; a prying into 
 the mysterious, " obstinate questionings," as Words- 
 worth styles them. This peculiarity gave an addi- 
 tional charm to our mutual studies and discussions, 
 and added to the strength of attachment in those 
 who were among his more intimate college friends. 
 This, too, greatly interested our preceptor (Dr. 
 
REMINISCENCES BY DK. RIDDLE. Ill 
 
 Brown), and led tim to anticipate much from his 
 after career as a scholar. In the aesthetic portion of 
 our curriculum he revelled with especial delight ; 
 and in the higher classics, taught by the President 
 at that time, his exquisite taste was manifested and 
 greatly developed. Since coming to this place, as 
 President, I have frequent reminders of my friend, 
 in the departments especially committed to me. 
 
 My friend's first religious impressions existed, no 
 doubt, to some extent, before coming to college. I 
 gathered this from our subsequent intercourse, which 
 was in the highest degree confidential on all points. 
 He and I occasionally attended the weekly prayer- 
 meeting, conducted by the President, for the benefit 
 of the students and villagers, on Thursday evenings, 
 during the first winter after we came to college. 
 Though always respectful, thoughtful, and eminently 
 moral and conscientious, no distinctively spiritual 
 feeling seemed to have been awakened in his heart, 
 till the summer of 1823. In the early part of the 
 summer session, several of the pious students, pre- 
 paring for the ministry, became deeply concerned 
 about their friends who were not Christians. They 
 agreed among themselves to select, each one, a 
 friend, for whom they resolved to pray, specially 
 and earnestly, till they were brought unto the King- 
 dom. Among these, was James May. Neither he, 
 nor any of us, was aware of this covenant. But 
 prayer was answered by the awakening influence of 
 the Holy Spirit, in his case and that of others. His 
 convictions were deep and thorough " of sin and 
 misery." He tarried longer in the valley of humilia- 
 tion than many others, though probably the most 
 upright and moral among the group of awakened 
 
112 LIFE AND LETTERS' OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 students. He had many doubts and great conflicts 
 of soul — was more like " Christian," in Bunyan's 
 Pilgrim's Progress, than " Hopeful." Even after he 
 was enabled to take hold of the Saviour, and gave 
 to others evidence of being truly converted, he 
 hesitated, and questioned the reality or thoroughness 
 of his change. "When he was examined and admit- 
 ted to the communion, these doubts continued, and 
 he hesitated, and feared to make a profession of his 
 faith. After his first communion, the cloud was par- 
 tially removed, but occasionally returned. Afte|r 
 seeming to enjoy great consolation in believing, " re- 
 joicing in hope," and, as we all thought, finally 
 established in faith, he would again and again open 
 the question, and have " the spirit of bondage again 
 to fear." No one doubted his conversion, but him- 
 self. Dr. Brown thought it a radical and sound 
 case, and spoke of him with more assurance than of 
 others who had more emotional enjoyment. Quite 
 a large number of students were at that time brought 
 into the Church. Indeed, the religious interest per- 
 vaded almost the entire college ; a large proportion 
 being already professing Christians, who were thus 
 greatly improved in Christian graces and fitness for 
 usefulness. The season was always spoken of, and is 
 to this day, by the older people of the village and 
 vicinity, and by ministers, then either converted or 
 revived, as " the revival of 1823." 
 
 After leaving college, May and I corresponded for 
 some time. I am sorry, now, that on leaving my 
 recent place of pastoral labor, I destroyed those lovely 
 memorials of our friendship. During the rest of his 
 life, we met only twice, once on my way to Prince- 
 ton, in Pottsville, and again, casually, in Philadel- 
 
REMINISCENCES BY DE. RIDDLE. 113 
 
 phia. He did not finally determine on being a 
 minister, till after lie had made some progress in 
 study for another profession. I watched with great 
 interest his subsequent career as a Pastor, in the 
 lovely Valley of Wyoming ; as a Professor, in Virginia ; 
 as a firm advocate of Evangelical truth ; as a martyr 
 to his devotion to the cause of the nation ; and then 
 hoped, with the Church, for his usefulness in the 
 sphere to which he was called in Philadelphia. 
 
 As I was not cognizant of his state of health, his 
 death was to me a surprise, as well as grief Of all 
 
 " Tte friends so linked together, 
 I've seen around me fall," 
 
 since my college days here, no one is remembered 
 so often and fondly as James May. While my rela- 
 tions and position have identified me with this place, 
 I think he has never been in Canonsburg since we 
 graduated together, September 25th, 1823. It was 
 natural for me to anticipate, on my coming here, 
 that he might be induced to come again to his Alma 
 Mater, and that we might together talk of the days 
 of " loTig ago." You may fancy how rich and sweet 
 would have been our mutual reminiscences of per- 
 sons and events. With all his gravity, he had a keen 
 sense of the ludicrous; and, like other colleges, ours 
 furnished materials which now are forgotten by all 
 but the actors. These he enjoyed at the time, and, 
 no doubt, would have relished when recalled. But 
 that now cannot be ; he is gone, with many others of 
 my class. Instead of wandering with him, once more, 
 over these hills, and recounting, here, the joys of 
 other days, the companions of our studies, the mazes 
 and mysteries of our different paths, I have only to 
 
114 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 anticipate the nobler and sweeter reunion above, on 
 the everlasting hills. Among the noble " spirits of 
 the just made perfect," there is a solemn joy in the 
 thought of meeting James May, as we used to say, 
 in the language of John Foster, " in the sunlight of 
 a brighter economy," " with a stormless sky, serenely 
 calm forever." 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 LETTERS OP COMPORT TO A CHRISTIAN SUPPERBR. 
 
 LETTER ON PRAYER-MEETINGS. 
 
 LETTER TO A YOUNG CHRISTIAN. 
 
 LETTER TO A CLERGYMAN. 
 
 LETTER ON ATTENDANCE AT CONVENTION. 
 
 11 
 
LETTERS OF COMFORT. 
 
 The letters which follow, to page 164, were addressed, by Dr. 
 May, to a suffering friend in Philadelphia. They proved so 
 great a comfort to him in his sickness, and contain in them so 
 much of the appropriate Scriptural consolation for like cases, 
 that it has been thought it would be a kindness to Christ's 
 troubled ones, to put these words of cheer within their reach. 
 
 Philabblphia, December 31, 1861. 
 My dear Fkiend : 
 
 Religious duties call me out of the city every 
 Saturday, and detain me till Monday. I shall not be 
 able, in the interval, to see you in your chamber. I 
 therefore substitute the pen for the tongue, in offer- 
 ing a few words of Christian and fraternal sym- 
 pathy. 
 
 Your condition of suffering has been much in my 
 mind since I saw you yesterday. I perceived, then, 
 how great was your distress, amounting to anguish; 
 and, though I spoke a word to comfort you, fe][t all 
 the time how weak and inadequate was all that I 
 could say. I would have the Lord speak to you. 
 And may we not have some word to you from his 
 mouth ? Let us read what is written : " Shall we 
 receive good at the Lord's hand, and shall we not 
 receive evil?" So we read in Job. And then, in 
 Isaiah, " I have chosen thee in the farnace of afflic- 
 tion." Observe, it is a ^^ furnace" of affliction, to 
 show its intensity. " For whom the Lord loveth, he 
 
118 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 chasteneth.." And " no chastening, for the present, 
 seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, 
 afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righ1> 
 eousness to them that are exercised thereby." And, 
 again, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou 
 shalt know hereafter." 
 
 You say you are a sinner before God. Most true, 
 my dear friend ; but " the blood of Jesus Christ 
 eleanseth from all sin." " God made him who knew 
 no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the 
 righteousness of God in him." What divinely 
 spoken words ! Christ takes our sins, bears them, 
 and atones for them by his blood, and gives to us, 
 through faith, his righteousness. Oh ! that glorious 
 righteousness, which is of God by faith ! How it is 
 fitted to the case, and adapted to all the wants of a 
 sinful, condemned man ! It is God's gift of grace. 
 We are to stretch forth the hand to receive it, and 
 it is ours. ISow, does not the Lord seem to say to 
 you, " Stretch forth thy hand," — i. e., the hand of 
 faith, — " and lay hold upon this righteousness ?" It 
 is a garment that will fully cover you ; a pure, white 
 raiment, in which you may be clothed, and no shame 
 of any sinful nakedness appear. 
 
 My dear friend, I know man cannot comfort you. 
 It is for God to do it. He tries your faith and pa- 
 tience for a time. But hold fast, hold fast to his 
 word. Say to him, as Jacob said, " I will not let 
 thee go, except thou bless me." Wrestle till break 
 of day. You shall see the dawn, and have joy in 
 the blessing. " All things are possible to him that 
 believeth." 
 
 Truly, your friend, 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
APPENDIX. 119 
 
 Philadelphia, March 25, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 My very heart feels for you in your sufferings, and 
 I earnestly pray for you and add an Amen to your 
 own prayers for relief. The good Lord deals with 
 you in wisdom ; but he does not open to our minds 
 the mystery of his dispensations. He leaves some- 
 thing for faith to trust him in. He calls on you to 
 walk in the dark ; but be assured of his presence. 
 He allows the frail body to be an instrument of suf- 
 fering; but the spirit within may be thereby dis- 
 ciplined, and prepared for the fulfilment of his 
 hidden counsels. David could sing, " The Lord is 
 my shepherd : I shall not want." " Though I walk 
 through the valley of the shadow of death, I will 
 fear no evil ; for thou art with me : thy rod and thy 
 staff, they comfort me." I believe the Lord is, in 
 like manner, your Shepherd, though you may not 
 perceive him. Job complained that he could not 
 realize his presence, going backward or forward, on 
 the right hand or on the left. And yet, added the 
 afflicted patriarch, " He knoweth the way that I 
 take : when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as 
 gold." 
 
 You have " a merciful and faithful High Priest, 
 who is touched with a feeling of your infirmities." 
 He has been in all points tempted like as you are. 
 He knows, consequently, how to feel for you. And 
 when you hear his gracious invitation, " Come unto 
 me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will 
 give you rest," you may strengthen yourself in the 
 Lord. Keep fast hold of this anchor, which entereth 
 into that within the veil, and thereby have a " strong 
 consolation." 
 
 11* 
 
120 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 I hope to see you very soon, and to hear from you 
 good words of faith, and hope, and joy. 
 Very sincerely, 
 
 Your friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Philadelphia, April 3, 1862. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 K I had the power of Aaron or St. Paul, I would 
 pronounce authoritatively the blessings of both the 
 Old Testament and the New, and say, " The Lord 
 bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face 
 to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The 
 Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give 
 thee peace;" and, also, " Grace, mercy, and peace, 
 from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 But, as I am neither Aaron nor St. Paul, I use the 
 words as a prayer, that so it may be with you. I 
 would it were the prayer of such strong faith as 
 might bid the mountain of your sufferings be re- 
 moved. If the mountain itself be not removed, we 
 may hope for such help as shall lift you above it ; 
 that you may rise out of the mists of the valley, and 
 look afar, even beyond the days of suffering, to the 
 better country. 
 
 There is one who can effectually help you. I 
 think he stands at the door, and knocks, ready to 
 sup with you. He appeared to Daniel in the lions' 
 den ; to the three who were cast into the burning, 
 fiery furnace ; to Stephen, when stoned ; to Peter, 
 when in prison; to Paul, in the castle of Antonis,; 
 and to the great cloud of witnesses, M^ho have, 
 through much tribulation, entered into the Kingdom 
 of God. He has laid a strong foundation for your 
 soul's rest, the ^ock of Ages. He has been under 
 
APPENDIX. 121 
 
 the curse ; has suffered .death, and tasted the bitter 
 cup of anguish for your sins. And he is now in 
 glory, with all power for the remission of sins. His 
 blood, — his precious blood, — cleanseth from all sin. 
 He is not simply a man in weakness, who cannot 
 help. He is "the Son of God;" "the Lord of 
 glory;" " God over all." He has the keys of death 
 and hell. He opens, and no man can shut; he 
 shuts, and none can open. Hear how majestically 
 he speaks : " Fear not, thou worm Jacob : I will 
 help thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the Holy 
 One of Israel." " I create the fruit of the lips : 
 peace, peace to him that is far off", and to him that 
 is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him." 
 
 My own words are weak, and I give you the 
 words of Jehovah. Jesus is Jehovah, our covenant 
 God. Trust him fully. Venture on him for peace, 
 hope, and joy. Yet remember that he does not 
 always consent to our wishes as to the time for the 
 bestowment of these gifts. "When the sisters of 
 Lazarus sent the message, " He whom thou lovest 
 is sick," " he abode still two days in the same 
 place," in seeming neglect of their affliction. But 
 when he did go, it was in the full divinity of grace 
 and power. " Your time," he said to his friends, 
 on one occasion, " is always ready. My time is not 
 yet full come." But his time did come. So shall it 
 be in your case. Commit your way unto him, and 
 he will bring it to pass. May he daily increase your 
 faith ; and may faith see his hands and his side, with 
 assurance that he died for you, and now lives for 
 you. May the joy of the Lord be your strength. 
 
 Truly, your friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
122 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 Philadelphia, April 14, 1862. 
 My dbak Friend : 
 
 Be assured I do not forget you, either in Chris- 
 tian sj'mpathy or prayer. Your sufl'erings are very 
 great, and it may seem to you, at times, that even 
 the attentions and sympathy of friends avail but 
 little for your relief and comfort. They cannot re- 
 lieve a body visited with such pains as yours, and 
 may be able to do very little tovrards comforting a 
 wearied mind. May we not, however, point you to 
 him who, having borne our sins and sicknesses, 
 knows what they are, in even their greatest weight, 
 and can feel for us and with us ; and who, having 
 overcome Satan and death, can minister relief with 
 divine sufficiency. You may say: 
 
 " On him I lean, who, not in vain. 
 Experienced every human pain. 
 He feels my griefs ; he sees my fears ; 
 And counts and treasures up my tears. ' ' 
 
 You know that he has said, "Only believe: all 
 things are possible to him that believeth." And 
 though you complain often of weakness of faith, you 
 can pray, " Lord, help mine unbelief" That prayer 
 was answered on a memorable occasion, and you 
 may find an answer in your ease. 
 
 Bodily sufferings we may not escape. Nor can 
 we always find a reason for them. We must rest 
 on the ground of simple faith; and, knowing that it 
 is Grod's will that we should suffer, endeavor to glo- 
 rify him in the fires. The writer of the seventy- 
 third Psalm was in most distressing perplexity, be- 
 cause of the sufferings of the servants of God, con- 
 trasted with the prosperity of the wicked. So long 
 
APPENDIX. 123 
 
 as he tried to reason about the matter, and to satisfy 
 his own understanding, he found no relief. It was 
 not till he "went into the sanctuary of God," that his 
 mind was brought to rest. In the sanctuary he 
 looked at the whole matter from the stand of faith. 
 Then he was ashamed of his former distrust and un- 
 belief, and he exclaimed, " Whom have I in heaven 
 but thee ? And there is none upon earth that I de- 
 sire besides thee ! My flesh and my heart faileth ; 
 but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion 
 forever." 
 
 The faithful under the Old Testament had to see 
 things in a figure or shadow, or through a veil. 
 And some of them failed to look through it to Christ, 
 who is " the end of the Law for righteousness to 
 every one that believeth." We now may see things 
 clearly, because, the sun having arisen and gone up 
 to the meridian, the shadows have been withdrawn, 
 and, the veil having been torn from top to bottom 
 at our Saviour's death, we can look in, yea, enter into 
 the Holiest, and see Jesus lifted on the cross for 
 our salvation, a full and perfect propitiation for our 
 sins. 
 
 It is true that even the New Testament leaves 
 much darkness on many things that we may wish to 
 know. It does not explain why some are left to 
 suffer such pains as you have suffered. But it does 
 show that God chastens " for our profit, that we 
 may be partakers of his holiness ;" and that our af- 
 flictions are designed to " work out for us a far more 
 exceeding and eternal weight of glory." And it 
 opens to us a mighty Redeemer, who, after dying 
 for our sins, is now seated in his glory, inviting our 
 full faith as conqueror over sin, Satan, and death. 
 
124 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 Behold, then, " this Lamb of God, that taketh away 
 the sin of the world." Look unto Jesus, expiring on 
 the cross, seated in glory, having all power in hea^ 
 ven and earth, " exalted to give repentance and re- 
 mission of sins." You may know thus not only the 
 power of his death, as an atonement for the sins of 
 the world, but " the power of his resurrection." " The 
 power of his resurrection !" Oh ! what a power that 
 is ! It broke through the bonds of death, which had 
 held all the dead from the time of Adam, and which 
 would, but for the might of Christ's resurrection, 
 have continued to hold them forever. " The power 
 of his resurrection" gives life to faith. If you had 
 to believe in one who died under the curse, and still 
 remained in death, how could your faith have vigor ? 
 But you believe in one who says, " I am he that was 
 dead and liveth, and behold I am alive forevermore, 
 and have the keys of hell and death." Look, then, 
 to him confidingly. Let your faith hold fast to a 
 living Saviour — one living in all the fulness of God. 
 " By death he has destroyed him that had the power 
 of death, that is the Devil, and delivered them, who, 
 through fear of death, were all their lifetime sub- 
 ject to bondage." Trust your body and soul to him, 
 thus glorious and mighty, and, contemplating him 
 in his resurrection, say, " death, where is thy 
 sting ? grave, where is thy victory ?" " Thanks 
 be to God who giveth us the victory through our 
 Lord Jesus Christ." Amen, and Amen. 
 
 Truly, your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
APPENDIX. 125 
 
 April 17, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 I wish that I could be to you a bearer of glad 
 tidings of peace and comfort. May I not be such, 
 in the words of God's own sending ? Has he not 
 sent to you these words : " Peace I leave with you ; 
 my peace I give unto you?" 
 
 You need not fear. It is your privilege to go 
 boldly to a throne of grace. " Open thy mouth wide," 
 he says, " and I will fill it." He has taught us that 
 " men ought always to pray, and not to faint." It 
 may seem to you that your prayers are not heard. 
 " But shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry 
 day and night unto him ? I tell you that he will 
 avenge them speedily." 
 
 He requires our faith, even while we are led in a 
 dark way. He leads the blind by a way that they 
 know not: but it is that he may make darkness 
 light before them, and crooked things straight. 
 However deep may be the darkness, he is in the 
 midst of it, and your faith may hear his call : " Fear 
 not, for I am with thee : be not dismayed, for I am 
 thy God." You know the Israelites were distressed 
 at the Red Sea, the hosts of Pharaoh pursuing 
 them behind, mountain heights on their right hand 
 and on their left, and the sea before them. Yet 
 how did the Lord show his presence in the pillar of 
 cloud and fire ; and how did he show the might of 
 his hand in cutting them a way through the waters ! 
 He did not desert his people then, and can you think 
 he will desert you now ? 
 
 You say you are a sinner. Most true. Saul of 
 Tarsus was, in his own estimate, "the chief" of 
 
126 LIFE AND LKTTEBS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 sinners. And yet the Lord showed him great 
 mercy, "for a pattern to all that should hereafter 
 believe." The thief on the cross was a great sinner. 
 Yet Jesus' blood cleansed him from all sin. Christ 
 was "made sin for us" — a sin-offering. "He bore 
 our sins in his own body on the tree." And who 
 can put limits to the efficacy of that offering? 
 " Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white 
 as snow." " "Where sin abounds, grace does much 
 more abound." If Jesus were mere man, you might 
 well fear to trust him ; for how can a mere man take 
 away sins ? But he is " the Son of G-od," and has 
 " all power in heaven and earth" — can save, there- 
 fore, " to the uttermost." 
 
 You say your faith is weak. But, though in 
 measure as a grain of mustard seed, it may remove 
 mountains. You can pray, "help mine unbelief." 
 You have to do with not only a faithful, but a mer- 
 ciful High Priest, who will not break the " bruised 
 reed, nor quench the smoking flax." " He will not 
 contend forever, neither will he be always wroth." 
 Look up, then, and lift up your head. Lift up your 
 heart to the Lord. Lay hold of his covenant. Fall 
 into his hands, for his mercies are great. " The 
 name of the Lord is a strong tower :" you may run 
 into it, and be safe. Be assured that Jesus, your 
 Redeemer, has, " through death, destroyed him that 
 had the power of death, that is the Devil ; and de- 
 livers them, who, through fear of death, were all 
 their lifetime subject to bondage." The sting of 
 death he has received in himself, and so deprived it 
 of its poison ; and you may meet the last enemy as 
 having no more power. He that believes in Jesus 
 
APPENDIX. 127 
 
 as hie Saviour, " shall never taste of death." Trust 
 him ; and trust him to the last. 
 
 Truly, your affectionate friend, 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, April 28, 1862. 
 My dear Feibhd : 
 
 I feel deeply for you in your sufferings. To whom 
 may we refer you for relief and comfort? Not to 
 man. We are but flesh, and our flesh but dust. 
 " We are crushed before the moth." But, " trust 
 ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is 
 everlasting strength." Isaiah writes, " Why sayest 
 thou, Jacob, and speakest, Israel, my way is hid 
 from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from 
 my God? Hast thou not known, hast thou not 
 heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Crea- 
 tor of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is 
 weary?" "He giveth power to the faint, and to 
 them that have no might, he increaseth strength. 
 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the 
 young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait 
 upon the Lord shall renew their strength — shall 
 run, and not be weaiy — shall walk, and not faint." 
 
 It is true, the Lord makes many of his promises to 
 the Church, as a body; but they belong equally to 
 each member of the body. We may appropriate them 
 as though addressed to ourselves privately and par- 
 ticularly. 
 
 He promises to " lead the blind by a way that 
 they knew not," and at the same time says, that he 
 " will not forsake them." He has thus been leading 
 you amidst the fires of suffering. But we believe 
 
 12 
 
128 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 that if we could look into the furnace, we should see 
 with you, in its scorching heat, " one like unto the 
 Son of God." So, walking through the fire, you 
 shall not be burned. God knows how hot to make 
 the furnace, in order to effectually purify the gold ; 
 and though he seem not to regard your cries and 
 tears, in the end you shall find, as Job did, that " the 
 Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." It 
 pleases him to keep his people in the dark awhile, 
 that the light may be the sweeter when he leads 
 them out of it. 
 
 You know how David complained, at times: 
 " Wby art thou cast down, my soul, and why art 
 thou disquieted within me?" and how he encour- 
 aged himself. " Hope thou in God, for I shaU yet 
 praise him." 
 
 Do you ask, how long before the comfort comes 
 that you are waiting for? So did the Psalmist; for, 
 to sufferers, the time seems long. But, "with the 
 Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand 
 years as one day." Still, " he is not slack concern- 
 ing his promises." " In due time we shall reap, if 
 we faint not." Do not distrust him. Take fast hold 
 of his promise, that he will not leave you comfort- 
 lessj but will come to you. Touch the hem of his 
 garment, that virtue may come forth to heal your 
 soul. " He will not contend forever." " He con- 
 sidereth your frame, he remembereth that you are 
 dust." However dark may seem his ways, when he 
 leads you into suffering, " he seeth the end from the 
 beginning." Say, then, as Job did, when he was 
 dealt with as you are, " Though he slay me, yet will 
 I trust in him," 
 
APPENDIX. 129 
 
 " Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, 
 
 But trust him for his grace; 
 Behind a frowning Providence 
 
 He hides a smiling face. 
 His purposes will ripen fast. 
 
 Unfolding every hour ; 
 The bud may have a bitter taste, 
 
 But sweet will be the flower." 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, May 3, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend: 
 
 I give you another token of remembrance. Ac- 
 cept it as a pledge of love in Christ. In Christ, I say, 
 for are you not in him ? Has he not redeemed you 
 with a great ransom, the price of his own precious 
 blood ? Has he not called you to him as his child 
 and friend ? And whom he calls, he justifies ; whom 
 he justifies, he glorifies. 
 
 Look up, my friend, to Jesus, Though now in 
 glory, he is not removed from faith. Look up ; and 
 though you may not see him, as St. Stephen did, your 
 faith may lay hold on him as able to save you, even 
 to the uttermost. Your soul may rest upon his pre- 
 cious promises Trust him, trust him fully. 
 
 He may often hide his face from you, but he will not 
 withdraw from you his hand. He will not leave you 
 nor forsake you. 
 
 A certain writer imagines that some of the ani- 
 mals in the ark with Noah were allowed to be in 
 the very bottom of the vessel, where they had almost 
 no light. And so some Christians, who are in the 
 Church of God, may be in a deep hold, whence they 
 cannot see the light coming from above, and may 
 
130 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 think that they are sinking in the dark waters.* But 
 if they are in the ark, they shall have a safe passage, 
 though it be a sad and dreary one. There is light, 
 there is safety in the ark, though you may not see 
 them or know whence they come. God is not to be - 
 called by us to account. He would have us " be 
 still, and know that he is God." " He chastens for 
 our profit." "And what son is he whom the father 
 chasten eth not ?" 
 
 Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you 
 from" God the Father and from Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May, 
 
 May 10, 1862. 
 My dear Friend: 
 
 I would hear from you a good word of faith and 
 hope. Can you not say, " I know whom I have be- 
 lieved, and am persuaded he is able to keep that 
 which I have committed to him against that day?" I 
 think there is a good word /or you. " As many as I 
 love, I rebuke and chasten." 
 
 Let me repeat a remark I heard last evening from 
 a friend to an acquaintance, who, in great distress of 
 mind and body, was praying to be delivered : "Per- 
 haps you are wrong in wishing to be relieved from 
 trials, because the Lord, in his wisdom, may see that 
 trials are best for you, and most wholesome. You 
 ought to pray rather for grace to bear the trials. 
 Grace being received to enable you to bear them, 
 the relief is found then in the inward strength im- 
 parted." The remark seems to me to be just. You 
 know, when St. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, the 
 
APPENDIX. 181 
 
 mesaengei; of Satan, sent to buffet him, lie prayed 
 thrice that it might be taken from him. His prayer, 
 in one sense, was not granted, for the thorn was left 
 still in the flesh. But, in another sense, it was re- 
 plied to, for he received the assurance, " My grace 
 is sufficient for thee." If I have a burden on my 
 shoulders which is beyond my strength to bear, I 
 may be relieved either by its being taken away, or 
 by having a stronger than myself come in to bear it 
 with me. Thus the Lord is ready to help you. 
 " Cast thy burden on the Lord," says the Psalmist, 
 " and he will sustain thee." If Jesus be with you 
 in the waters, they shall not overflow you ; and if 
 with you in the fire, it shall not consume you. Bet- 
 ter be chastened for our profit than to be without 
 chastisement, and thus without proof of a father's 
 love. 
 
 The Lord visits some of his children with more 
 chastisement than others. Why, he does not ex- 
 plain. Abraham and Isaac seem, for the most j)art, 
 to have led quiet and peaceable lives, while Job had 
 bitter trials. The Infinitely Wise had his own pur- 
 poses to serve, and does not allow us to know the 
 secrets of his counsels. It is enough to know that 
 love and mercy are at the bottom of them all. If 
 not tried on our own account, we may be for the 
 benefit of others, and for the glory of Grod. And, 
 should he require you to walk in the dark, even 
 such darkness that you may have to get down and 
 feel your way, the end will show that he is wise, 
 gracious, faithful, and full of love. Then you shall 
 rise to praise him. 
 
 Affectionately, yours. 
 
 Jambs May. 
 12* 
 
132 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D,D. 
 
 May 10, 1862. 
 
 My DEAR Friend : 
 
 "WTien I left my letter at your door this morning, 
 I hoped to be able to see you later in the day. Fear- 
 ing that I may be disappointed, I write again to say 
 that there is peace for you in Christ. He is himself 
 our peace. He left a legacy of peace to us. " My 
 peace I give (or bequeath) to you." I think he re- 
 membered you in that, his will. He remembers all 
 for whom he died, and whom he calls to faith in 
 him. And he has so called you. His words de- 
 scribe your case. " Come," he says, " all ye that 
 labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 
 Come to him, then, and trust in him. Look to him 
 and live. Let him do as he will with you, and, in 
 the conviction that he will make all work for good 
 to you, say, " ISTot my will, but thine be done." 
 "Let him do as seemeth to him good." Then, 
 " though weeping endure for a night, joy cometh in 
 the morning." 
 
 But I am giving you too much to read, and now 
 only add an assurance of the affectionate remem- 
 brance of 
 
 Your sincere friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 May 15, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 I heartily wish I could give you a word effectual 
 for your comfort, this morning. There are many, 
 drawn from the Bible, which, in themselves, have 
 all that is needful. Such are those sweet assurances, 
 that "whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth," — that 
 " he chastens for our profit, that we may be partakers 
 
APPENDIX. 133 
 
 of his iioliness." — and that, although "no chastening 
 for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, 
 nevertheless, afterward, it yieldeth the peaceable 
 fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised 
 thereby." I pray that you may find these so suited 
 to your case, that they may suffice to instruct, 
 strengthen, and comfort you. 
 
 God is leading you in a dark way, yet be assured 
 he is himself not far off. His hand holds you; and 
 if you listen, you may hear his voice, saying, "Fear 
 thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for 
 I am thy God." 
 
 You complain of sin. True, no man living can 
 be justified in his sight; but his mercies are great, 
 his loving-kindness infinite. Having given his Son 
 for our redemption, shall he not, with him, also 
 freely give us all things? Jesus, our Mediator, 
 Surety, High Priest, and Lamb of God, answers for 
 us, bears our sins, and takes them away. "With 
 them upon him, as our surety and propitiation, he 
 died, and was laid down in the grave. But, though 
 he carried them both to his death and burial, he did 
 not bring them up again, when he arose. He left 
 them in the grave, and went up in his glory. "When 
 he comes again, it will not be as a sin-bearer. For 
 the Apostle says, "He shall appear the second time 
 without sin, unto salvation.-" Sin having been atoned 
 for and buried with himself, he will appear again, 
 not as one humbled beneath the curse, but as one 
 glorified for our salvation. You may look to him, 
 therefore, not only as on the cross, bearing the agony 
 and shame of your transgressions, but also as in 
 glory, exalted to give repentance and remission of 
 sins. So looking to him, you may have peace. 
 
134 LIFE AND LBTTEKS OF JAMBS MAY, D.U. 
 
 Be assured that he remembers you. Some of his 
 followers sail on stormy seas, and seem to be driven 
 far from their course. Others are ever borne on 
 smooth waters. The same pilot directs both. You 
 shall find that, in the darkest night and stormiest 
 waves, he is present, though unseen. Trust him, 
 though you see him not. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 May 21, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 The longer I live, the more fully am I convinced 
 of the need of resting on the simple testimony of 
 the Bible. God's word liveth and abideth forever. 
 It is quick and powerful. It is the proper seed of 
 life. We can rest our souls on no word as we may 
 on this. And yet this blessed word has mysteries, 
 just as the course of Providence has mysteries, by 
 which our patience and our faith are tried. " Secret 
 things belong to the Lord our God; things that are 
 revealed, to us and to our children." He keeps it a 
 secret from us why some suffer, while others have 
 enjoyments; and why he does not answer prayer at 
 *the time and in the manner we desire. But some 
 things are made clear enough. Among these are, 
 our duty to hold fast by his word; to walk with him, 
 even though in the dark; and to be still, and know 
 that he is God. Sometimes our will may be un- 
 yielding. Then he may find it needful to press the 
 yoke on us more heavily. "We may not understand 
 it, for he is a God that hideth himself, and does not 
 allow his purpose to be known till the end comes. 
 " What I do," said our Saviour to Peter, " thou 
 
APPENDIX. 135 
 
 knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." 
 Abraham did not know the meaning of the com- 
 mand to offer Isaac for a burnt^offering, till the con- 
 clusion of the matter showed it. Jacob did not 
 know the meaning of his beloved Joseph being lost 
 to him, till more than twenty years had passed, 
 when it was made plain. Job could not explain the 
 mystery of his sufferings, till the issue made all 
 clear. You may find as much darkness in your 
 case as either of those mentioned, but it is no chance 
 which has happened to you. Our heavenly Father 
 does not let a sparrow fall to the ground without 
 him, and the very hairs of our heads are all num- 
 bered. Still, he does not permit us to question him 
 as to the reasons for his dealings with us. He re- 
 quires faith and patience, — faith in his kind pur- 
 poses ; patience to wait for their development. To 
 one of the sisters of Lazarus, who seemed almost 
 ready to complain because he did not come as soon 
 as sent for, he answered, " Said I not unto thee, that 
 if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory 
 of God ?" While to his mother, at the wedding 
 feast in Cana, and to his brethren, urging him to do 
 at once what they desired, he said, " My time is not 
 yet come." 
 
 His time for giving you relief is not yet fully come, 
 he seems to say. " Wait on the Lord," is now the 
 lesson. Trust him for all that is to be. When all 
 fails but himself, he will appear. He did not stay 
 Abraham's hand till Isaac was bound on the wood, 
 and the knife uplifted for the sacrifice. You may 
 ever pray, " Increase my faith," and also ask for 
 grace to bear what he puts on you, having assurance 
 that, in the end, you shall " see the glory of God." 
 
136 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 He who bore your sins, who was made a curse for 
 you, and offered his blood as an atonement, will not, 
 now that he lives for evermore in glory, leave you 
 to the enemy. Lift up your heart to him, and trust 
 him fully. That you may do so, prays 
 
 Tour affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Baltimoke, May 26, 1862. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 I trust that if you are still walking in the valley of 
 Baca, you find in it a well. It is true that there are 
 vast and dreary deserts on earth, and travellers do 
 at times find themselves in the midst of them, with- 
 out water. But you remember that when the chil- 
 dren of Israel were distressed from such a cause, 
 God, their God, showed himself able to provide. 
 Moses was commanded to smite the rock, and water 
 flowed from it abundantly. In the dry desert of this 
 world, a like refreshment is provided for yourself. 
 The spiritual Eock that has been smitten for you, 
 and for all poor travellers upon the way to Canaan, 
 pours forth its streams for you, and you are called 
 to drink. Love, mercy, grace, flow freely from the 
 great fountain in Christ Jesus. And it is not a hid- 
 den fountain. You do not have to look for Christ 
 in heights above, or in the depths beneath. He is 
 present to you by his word and Spirit ; and he is 
 strong enough to save you. He is true and faithful 
 to his promises to save. He is full of love and of 
 compassion, willing and free to save. 
 
 "All the fitness he requlreth, 
 Is to feel your need of him." 
 
 I had occasion, yesterday, to preach here (in Bal- 
 timore), from the text, " Behold, I lay in Zion a chief 
 
APPENDIX. 137 
 
 corner-stone, elect, precious : and he that believeth 
 on Mm shall not be confounded." That corner stone 
 is Jesus, and you may be assured of its sufficiency to 
 bear you up. To some, indeed, it becomes a stone 
 of stumbling, because they know not its qualities 
 nor its proper place. But you know where to put 
 Christ in your faith, that is, at the foundation. All 
 hope is to be built on him, all trust to repose on him. 
 He can abundantly sustain. In him you have re- 
 demption, and in him salvation, full and sure. He 
 who pardoned the thief dying on the cross, can par- 
 don you. You may pray, " Lord, remember me, 
 now thou art in thy kingdom," and he will hearken, 
 and deliver you. 
 
 Your affectionate friend. 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, May 31, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 " Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father 
 and the Lord Jesus Christ !" You have heard and 
 read of the exceeding grace of God to the chief of 
 sinners, and have been disposed to ask, is such grace 
 for you ? Yes, it abounds to you, as to all that are 
 called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. And are 
 you not called ? The table of the Gospel feast is 
 large; all things are ready; and the servants are 
 sent out to proclaim the fact. If you do not think 
 yourself one of the first called, perhaps you may be 
 willing to be classed among the poor, the maimed, 
 the halt, and blind, that were to be compelled to 
 come in. Is not the Lord using compulsion with 
 you ? Is he not pressing the call most urgently ; 
 laying a heavy hand upon you ; and, as in the case 
 of Lot, impelling you to go where he desires ? Thus 
 
138 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 powerfully are you called and pressed to come ; the 
 feast provided for you is abundant; and tliere is 
 room, and a wedding garment for you, too. You 
 cannot linger. You must yield, and take your seat 
 with the rejoicing guests at the marriage supper of 
 the Lamb, " thou of little faith, wherefore dost 
 thou doubt?" Jesus himself calls. He is himself 
 present. You are not ignorant of his person, of his 
 power, or of his grace. Exceeding riches of grace 
 they are. What a price is his blood paid for your 
 redemption. Is it not enough to ransom you, and 
 millions like you ? ISTo matter how many, nor how 
 great, your sins, " Come," he says, " come unto me, 
 and I will give you rest." 
 
 It may not please God to take away your suffer- 
 ings yet. You may need a little more of the far- 
 nace-fire to purify the gold. But you can pray for 
 faith, patience, and strength to bear. God allows us 
 to seek such graces. So let us pray and trust. To 
 all your prayers for such blessed fruits, I will say, 
 Amen and Amen. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Philadelphia, June 5, 1862. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 My writing you a few lines, as you request, from 
 time to time, is a very small contribution to the 
 means of relieving your wearisome hours. I gladly 
 undertake it, if it can give any variety to your daily 
 routine of sorrowful thoughts. " To write is" (I may 
 say) "to me not grievous." I would that I could add, 
 with St. Paul, " but for you it is safe." It must 
 always be safe, if we use the topics which the Scrip- 
 
APPENDIX. 139 
 
 tures give. There are two grand subjects they pre- 
 sent in contrast with each other : our own empti- 
 ness, and the fulness of our Lord. On one side is 
 sin, on the other side is righteousness ; on one side 
 Weakness, on the other power. Can there be a 
 transfer ? Does not St. Paul say (2 Cor. 5 : 21), 
 " He hath made him to be sin for us, that we might 
 be made the righteousness of God in him?" Our 
 sins are put to his account, he being our surety ; and 
 ills righteousness is put to our account, as though 
 we, in him, had fulfilled the law. " He has re- 
 deemed us from the curse of the law, being made a 
 curse for us." This grand truth of the Bible, that 
 Christ bore our sins, may well be seized and held 
 fast by our faith. He is able both to bear and an- 
 swer for them. And in his agony in Gethsemane, 
 in his death upon the cross, we see what it cost to 
 bear them. Well may the Apostle argue : "If, when 
 we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the 
 death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we 
 shall be saved by his life." " He ever liveth to make 
 intercession for us." And in the power of the end- 
 less life which he has in glory, he cannot be defeated. 
 He has begun to reign, and his enemies are falling 
 under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is 
 death. From this last enemy he has already taken 
 the sting, which is sin, and will eventually take 
 away even the power over our poor bodies. For 
 though death may turn them to dust, and seem to 
 have the mastery, the power thus exercised will be 
 destroyed at the resurrection. "What can we ask 
 more? 
 
 Your aifectionate friend. 
 
 Jambs Mat. 
 
 13 
 
140 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 Philadblphia, June 12, 1862. 
 Mt deak Friend : 
 
 The Master, when he sent forth his servants to 
 their work, said, " When ye enter into a house, say, 
 ' Peace be to this house.' " He assured them that 
 if the Son of Peace were there, their peace should 
 rest upon the household. Is there not to you a mes- 
 sage of peace ? In the legacy of the same Master he 
 says, " My peace I give unto you ; not as the world 
 giveth, give I unto you." The world would give 
 peace, in the sense of quiet as to all outward discom- 
 forts and distresses. ]^o so the Divine Master. He 
 bestows his gifts, often the most precious, in the 
 midst of painful sufferings. He chooses his people 
 " in the furnace of aflliction." Did he not so deal 
 with Israel in Egypt, with Job, and with the long 
 line of the faithful, who, before they " died in faith," 
 "were destitute, aflicted, tormented?" 
 
 In all such things the Lord does according to his 
 own good pleasure. Some seem born to suffer; 
 others, to have a peaceful pilgrimage to the promised 
 land. In all cases, however, wisdom and mercy 
 rule. The highest good of each individual is aimed 
 at, and all will see cause to praise and bless God in 
 the end. 
 
 You have been put on the rack, and made to pass 
 through the fire. But look and see what God has 
 done for you. Has he not led you thus far safely 
 through the wilderness ? Has he not borne you as 
 on eagles' wings ? Has he not sent his word and 
 Spirit, to call you to the knowledge of himself? Has 
 he not made himself known to you as your Re- 
 deemer, a covenant God, the Mighty One of Jacob ? 
 Has not his grace abounded to you ? In your suffer- 
 
APPENDIX. 141 
 
 ings, he has seemed to say, "What I do, thou 
 knowest not now ; but thou shalt know hereafter." 
 "We must be content to know that " he doth not 
 willingly afflict, nor grieve the children of men." 
 " He chastens for our profit." 
 
 It would be pleasant always to see his face shining 
 on us ; but it might not be profitable. A ceaseless 
 sunshine would parch the soil, and destroy all hope 
 of fruit. There must be clouds and storms, and 
 sometimes floods. The Son of God himself was 
 " made perfect through sufferings." On the cross 
 he cried, " My Grod, my God, why hast thou for- 
 saken me ?" Our God calls you to trust him ; to 
 trust even in the dark, and when his face is turned 
 away from you. Do your sins discourage you, and 
 make you fear ? The Redeemer has himself borne 
 them, and made full satisfaction for them by shedding 
 his own precious blood. That satisfaction has been 
 proved sufficient by its being accepted of the Father, 
 who has raised Christ from the dead, and set him at 
 his own right hand in heaven. You may, then, 
 fully rely on it. You may go to Christ's blood, day 
 by day, and wash, and be clean. You may look up 
 to him now in glory, and ask for the descent of the 
 Spirit into your heart, to be to you a spirit of adop- 
 tion, whereby you may cry, " Abba, Father." So 
 may it ever be. 
 
 I conclude as I began, " Peace be to your house." 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James Mat. 
 
142 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 June 17, 1862/ 
 
 My DEAR Friend : 
 
 I have occasion to be absent from the city to-day, 
 and may not be able to see you as usual. I write to 
 assure you that I do not forget you. But my re- 
 membrance of you is a small matter. Qod does not 
 forget you. He may seem to overlook your sor- 
 rovrs, but he has riches of goodness and love, and 
 dispenses them freely, though not according to our 
 rule. He sees through all time, and understands 
 what is best for us Avith reference to the distant 
 future, as well as the present hour. 
 
 To the child, the discipline of a restraining or 
 correcting parent may appear severe. But the pa- 
 rent, looking beyond the present pleasure of the 
 child, does, in this exercise of discipline, what is 
 best for the whole life and character. In after 
 years, the child himself will testily to the wisdom 
 and true kindness of the parent's course. You may 
 remember what is vsrritten : " 'Eo chastening for the 
 present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ; never- 
 theless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of 
 righteousness." 
 
 The Lord " doth not willingly afflict." Our good 
 is aimed at always. Our prayers are answered, too, 
 though sometimes it is " by terrible things in righi> 
 eousness." But his mercy is not far off". How 
 sweetly and how frequently does David sing, " His 
 mercy endureth forever." He requires of us confi- 
 dence in that mercy. " Only believe," is his voice 
 to us. The lesson of faith began to be learned at 
 the gate of Paradise ; for it was " by faith" that 
 " Abel offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice 
 than Cain." The long line of the faithful, from that 
 
APPENDIX. 143 
 
 point onward, who make up the " great cloud of 
 witnesses," did not live to " see the promises" {i. e., 
 the blessings promised), but "were persuaded of 
 them, and embraced them." We see their fulfil- 
 ment, for the promised one has come. The good 
 things formerly just shadowed forth, we have in sub- 
 stance. " "We are come .... to the blood of 
 sprinkling, which speaketh better things than that 
 of Abel." To the promises of mercy and redemp- 
 tion, thus fulfilled in Jesus, I commend you. May 
 you be persuaded of them, and embrace them, and 
 go onward in the strength and comfort of them in 
 your pilgrimage. If you think you, in your weak- 
 ness, need a staff, take the Divine assurance, " My 
 grace is sufficient for thee." Lean on it; and in fol- 
 lowing on to know the Lord, you shall be upheld, 
 and find that "he is merciful and gracious," and 
 that " his compassions fail not." Our prayers are 
 for your peace and joy in Grod. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, June 25, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 If to comfort you depended on resources in myself 
 I should have no use for my pen, for none but the 
 AU-sufiicient can avail for your peculiar need. And 
 hear him say, " Come unto me, all ye that labor and 
 are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." This is 
 the language of divine fulness, for who but one that 
 has infinite perfections can give assurance from him- 
 self of rest to all that suffer ? There are those whose 
 trials no mere human power can relieve. But 
 Jesus excepts none from the class to whom he offers 
 
 13* 
 
144 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 rest. lie heals the broken heart, binds up the 
 wounded spirit, casts out evil spirits, commands the 
 winds and the sea, " and they obey him." To him 
 I must commend you. 
 
 I know, you sometimes think your prayers, and 
 those of others for you, are not heard. But remem- 
 ber the words of the Prophet, " Why sayestthou, 
 Jacob, and speakest, Israel, my way is hid from 
 the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my 
 God ? Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, 
 that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of 
 the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? 
 There is no searching of his understanding." His 
 unsearchable understanding takes a view of things 
 which we cannot. He sees the end from the begin- 
 ning. We see the present process only, and are in 
 distress. Job suffered long, and knew not why. 
 He longed for the grave as the only place of rest. 
 But when the end came, and the curtain was lifted, 
 so as to reveal what was behind, the reason for his 
 trials was made evident. And we can now see in his 
 case that the Lord is wise and good in all his ways, 
 as well as "pitiful and of tender mercy." 
 
 When one is shut up in the dark, the world may 
 all seem dreary to him, however splendidly the sun 
 be shining in the outer sky. Your horizon, now 
 that you are in a gloomy valley (or, as you think, a 
 pit), may seem narrow, dark, and fearful. But, 
 could you rise to the hill-top near you, and look off 
 to the distant lines beyond, you might see light and 
 cheerful prospects, an(i all that can give hope and 
 comfort. Faith may do this. And, though your 
 faith may be but feeble now, yet I am sure that, on 
 your midnight sky, stars may be seen. Can you 
 
APPENDIX. 145 
 
 not look up, and see, and sing of, at least one, as 
 Kirke "WTiite did, when lie wrote : 
 
 ' ' Once on the raging seas I rode ; 
 
 The storm was loud, the night was dark ; 
 The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed 
 / The wind that tossed my found'ring bark. 
 
 Deep horror then my vitals froze ; 
 
 Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem ; 
 When, suddenly, a star arose, — 
 
 It was the star of Bethlehem. 
 It was my guide, my light, my all ; 
 
 It bade my dark forebodings cease ; 
 And through the storm and danger's thrall. 
 
 It led me to the port of peace." 
 
 That, in the language of the last verse, you may 
 sing, 
 
 " Now safely moored, my perils o'er, 
 I'll sing first in night's diadem, 
 Porever and forever more. 
 
 The star, the star of Bethlehem," 
 
 is the sincere prayer of your affectionate friend. 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, June 30, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Vacation having come, I am about to visit a brother 
 in the country, and shall not return to the city till 
 next week. 
 
 I am truly sorry to miss my visits to you for so 
 long. But you shall not be forgotten in sympathy 
 and prayer. Better than all, God does not forget you. 
 
 Look at " the Silent Comforter" hanging in your 
 chamber. Read therein words spoken as never man 
 spake. Read of Faith's victory. Faith overcomes 
 
146 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 not only the world, but death, and shouts the tri- 
 umph, " Death, where is thy sting ? Grave, 
 where is thy victory ?" 
 
 Death may have pains, but has no sting or poison 
 to those who are in Christ. The surgeon's knife 
 may cause great suffering, but is meant to cure, not 
 to destroy. And death, though it involve much an- 
 guish to the Christian, relieves, by its sharp surgery, 
 all earthly ills, and introduces to a perfect ease. 
 
 You know what takes away the sting of, death, 
 the blood of Jesus, which, taking sin away, deprives 
 death of its power to ruin us. The posture of the 
 sinner desirous to be saved is that of the Israelite in 
 the wilderness, who, when he was bitten by a fiery 
 serpent, looked to the serpent Crod caused to be 
 lifted up, and thus lived. So may you look to Christ, 
 and live. He says, " I am the Resurrection and the 
 Life;" and, " As Moses lifted up the serpent in the 
 wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted 
 up, that whosoever believeth in him should not 
 perish, but have eternal life." 
 
 To him and to his saving grace I now commend 
 you. Believe and live. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 War-wick Furnace, July 3, 1862. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 I must give you a pledge of remembrance, now 
 that I am beyond the lines of a visit to you. 
 
 I do trust you have a recess from your sufferings. 
 You find a mystery in their measure both of severity 
 and continuance. You often ask, when will your 
 Heavenly Father hear your call, and give you re- 
 
APPENDIX. 147 
 
 lief. " It is not for us to know the times or the sea- 
 sons which God hath put in his own power." "His 
 judgments are a great deep." "We cannot fathom 
 them. They are beyond our power of finding out, 
 partly because, for a trial of our faith, they are pur- 
 posely kept out of reach, and partly because, from 
 the nature of them, their absolute depth, they are 
 unfathomable. No human mind can sound them. 
 "We are too short-sighted to see into the depths of 
 the great profound beneath, or to the amplitudes of 
 the vast space above us. " God is in heaven, and we 
 upon earth." " His thoughts are not as our thoughts, 
 nor his ways as our ways." But we may confide in 
 his wisdom, pity, grace, and love. 
 
 His grace ! how full the riches of it ! How has it 
 abounded, and does yet abound to you ! You have 
 been led as the blind, by a way that you know not. 
 God has visited you, both in love and chastisement. 
 The latter, St. Paul shows, is one proof of the for- 
 mer. It is the evidence of a wise, paternal care. 
 " "Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, even as a 
 father the son in whom he delighteth." If we be 
 without chastisement, whereof all God's true chil- 
 dren are partakers, we lack one testimony of our 
 being really his children. Your sufferings are in- 
 tended as a medicine, a surgical remedy, the cure 
 from which will, in the end, repay you for the pain. 
 
 Keep your eye on him who was lifted up for the 
 life of the world. Look to him in the divine excel- 
 lency of his person, and the riches of his grace, espe- 
 cially as these are demonstrated in his sufferings. 
 Think of him as loving you till death, and dying 
 that your soul might live. And take hold of his 
 blessed word of promise, " Him that cometh unto 
 
148 LIFE AND LBTTEES OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 me, I will in no wise cast out." Our place is at his 
 feet, but he permits us to look to him. " Only be- 
 lieve : all things are possible to him thatbelieveth." 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Peekiombn, July 25, 1862. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 The Lord purposes that our whole term on earth 
 shall be a course of discipline and probation. In 
 such a course, we must expect, not enjoyments sim- 
 ply, but also trials, sometimes bitter ones. "With- 
 out these, there could not be probation. We are 
 apt to look on life, especially in early years, as given 
 for enjoyment. "We try to make our mountain strong. 
 We surround ourselves with friends and comforts. 
 But how easily can God overthrow our strongest 
 foundations ! He means that we shall not trust in 
 what we establish for ourselves. He would draw 
 our trust away from all that comes between himself 
 and us. He would make us see and own that h^ is 
 our refuge and strength. The lesson may be a hard 
 one for us, but we must learn it. And we learn 
 best in the school of experience, perhaps a painful 
 experience, too. But the pain shall not continue 
 always. " Heaviness may endure for a night, but 
 joy cometh in the morning." "We may sow in tears, 
 but it is to reap in joy. Medicine may be bitter, 
 but cure and health come from it. I have no 
 doubt that the Lord, who is dealing vsdth you through 
 bitter trials, has in store a blessing of peace and joy. 
 His grand purposes reach across ages — ^how much 
 more across the few years of life. It is not your 
 comfort for one or two years that he has regard to. 
 
APPENDIX. 149 
 
 but your sanctifieation through the whole endless 
 being of the soul. 
 
 The child may think the confinement and disci- 
 pline of school to be nothing but a hard and useless 
 appointment. But the father looks far into future 
 years, and constrains the child in its first days, in 
 order that mature life may have the advantage. The 
 grand lesson to be learned is faith in God's wise 
 ordering. If we can say, " It is the Lord, let him do 
 what seemeth him good," then all is well. Then 
 God comes nigh to us. "We see his gloiy in the face 
 of Jesus Christ. We perceive that his purposes are 
 full of love. And, trusting in him, we have peace. 
 So may it be with you. 
 
 Tour affectionate friend, 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, September 18, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Let me remind you that the Lord, not man, is 
 directing your steps. You would not have chosen 
 the wearisome, dark road through which you have 
 been led by his wise providence. He, for the accom- 
 plishment of his own purposes of love and goodness, 
 has chosen it for you. " Affliction cometh not forth 
 of the dust ; neither doth trouble spring out of the 
 ground." 
 
 Again, be reminded, that when God sends suffer- 
 ing, he always sends some alleviating circumstances. 
 " He stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east 
 wind." An apostle says, " He will not suffer us to 
 be tempted above what we are able to bear." He 
 will either temper for us the hot furnace, or give us 
 patience to endure it. 
 
150 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 Still further, let me recall his promise : " My 
 grace is sufficient for thee." If you do not realize 
 that sufficiency at present, you may pray for strength 
 that is fully according to your day, and it will not 
 be withheld. God may delay his answer, or answer 
 only with what seem to you crumbs of favor. But 
 be sure of his promises. Take fast hold of them. 
 Be as Israel, who would not let the heavenly wrest- 
 ler go, till a blessing was made sure to him. Trust 
 God in all circumstances. Trust him to the end. 
 
 Shall Satan be able to say, " Here was a man who 
 rested on God's promises, and yet was cast off with- 
 out mercy ?" ISTo, verily. " He that believeth shall 
 not be confounded." God will give the adversary 
 no such advantage. He is jealous for the honor of 
 his word and character, and you shall find in him 
 no failure. Remember, he has made a covenant 
 with his people, and confirmed it by an oath, " that 
 by two immutable things (the promise and the oath) 
 by which it is impossible for God to lie, we might 
 have strong consolation," in the double certificar 
 tion of his faithfulness. Such assurance may be an 
 anchor to your soul sure and steadfast. It may 
 keep you safe, both on the stormy sea of life, and 
 amidst the beating of the cold, dark waves of death. 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Philadelphia, October 7, 1862. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 There are good things enough in the word of 
 
 God to fill our memories and feed our souls till life 
 
 shall end. What better than God's covenant, as he 
 
 made it with Abraham, and through him, as father 
 
APPENDIX. 151 
 
 of the faithful, with all believers to the end of time ? 
 With the Patriarch it seemed to secure only tempo- 
 ral good, such as possession of the land of Canaan 
 for his descendants. But our Saviour teaches us 
 what is implied in Jehovah's declaring himself " the 
 God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob :" " He is 
 not the God of the dead, but of the living." "When 
 he made himself known to Moses thus, the patri- 
 archs had been dead inore than two hundred years ; 
 and yet he spoke of them as yet living ; living not 
 on earth, but in the city for which they had been 
 looking, the city that hath foundations. 
 
 What is implied in his being the God of Jacob, 
 we see in Jacob's history. He led the Patriarch 
 through life ; ordered his steps ; guided and watched 
 over him ; protected him in danger, angels ascend- 
 ing and descending to guard his way ; and, though 
 he left him in perplexity and doubt for more than 
 twenty years over his lost Joseph, he yet, at last, 
 showed him the same Joseph alive, and ruler over all 
 the land of Egypt, — the preserver of himself and all 
 his house from perishing by famine. 
 
 That is a faint illustration of what God is to those 
 with whom he has made his covenant. The cove- 
 nant embraces all things that are provided in Christ 
 for those whom he has redeemed. Has he not taken 
 you within the fold of that covenant ? Has he not 
 redeemed you, called you to faith in himself, led 
 you, chastened you, and showed that he treats you 
 as a son ? Has he not lifted the light of his counte- 
 nance upon you, and at times, at least, given you 
 his peace ? And will he now leave you ? ISTo. He 
 says, " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 
 Nothing can separate you from the love of God 
 
 14 
 
152 LIFE AND LETTBKS OF JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 whicli is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. "Weak faith he 
 reproves, but does not despise. " The bruised reed 
 he shall not break." At the very time when he re- 
 buked Peter, sinking in the waves, for his slight 
 faith in him, he stretched forth a mighty hand to 
 hold him up. And if your faith be weak, he will 
 not cast you out. He may reprove ; but oh ! how 
 graciously he teaches, trains, and nourishes you ! 
 You may not see his hand, nor hear his voice, yet 
 he is near to bless. Who saw him, when he guided 
 Joseph's steps, from the time he left his father's 
 house till he became governor over all the land of 
 Egypt? Yet, when his plans were perfected, his 
 guidance of his servant was made clear. Though 
 you see him not, and may appear to be in darkness, 
 he is guiding you. He would have you trust that 
 guidance, and feel that all your times are in his 
 hand. His judgments may be a great deep, but his 
 loving-kindnesses are infinite. Trust him at all times, 
 then. Be strong in faith, giving glory to God. 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, October 14, 1862. 
 My dear Feibnd : 
 
 Luther, it is said, used to remark that he was not 
 satisfied with an absolute God, — one whom he must 
 speak of simply as God, — but wanted one of whom 
 he could say. My God! — i. e., one in whom he had 
 an interest, and who demonstrated an interest in 
 him. The God of the Bible reveals himself as the 
 God of his redeemed people, saying, " They shall be 
 my people, and I will be their God." He has a pro- 
 perty in them, and they in him. He revealed him- 
 
APPENDIX. 153 
 
 self to Moses under the incommunicable name " I 
 Am," or "Jehovah;" but at the same time added, 
 " I am the Grod of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and 
 the God of Jacob ; this is my name forever, and this 
 is my memorial, throughout all generations." 
 
 This relationship, of being the God of his people, 
 grows out of his covenant, in which, while he chooses 
 and calls them to be his own, he pledges himself for 
 their redemption, and promises such good things as 
 could not have been otherwise conceived. He be- 
 comes their daily guide and preserver; supplies 
 them Avith his grace, comprehending all the gifts of 
 the Holy Spirit ; and then, in the end, becomes their 
 portion and everlasting possession. What he wants 
 from them, meanwhile, is simpletrust in him — trust, 
 even when he hides his counsels in deep darkness. 
 How dark his purpose, when he commanded Abra- 
 ham to offer Isaac for a burnt offering ! "So explana- 
 tion was given, yet Abraham was to trust his God, 
 to do his bidding, and wait the development of his 
 design. To yow, no explanation is given why you 
 suffer ; yet you are to acquiesce in the Divine will, 
 with the assurance that it is right, and that God 
 means it for your good. The discipline may be hard 
 and sore, but his good hand is in it. And you may 
 fiiUy trust him with the disposal of yourself. He 
 did not fail Abraham : he will not fail you. 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, October 21, 1862. 
 My dbae Friend : 
 
 You have observed, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, 
 how the sacred writer puts forward the divine Re- 
 
154 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 deemer. He calls attention both to his rank, as Son 
 of God, and to his office, as High Priest for man. 
 
 In the former, he is above Moses, above angels, 
 above all created things. In the latter, " it behooved 
 him to be made like unto his brethren." As Son of 
 God he prepared for us a great salvation ; offered 
 himself, through the Eternal Spirit, without spot, 
 unto the Father ; secured, thus, full propitiation for 
 our sins ; and now " ever liveth, to make intercession 
 for us." As Son of man, he was " made perfect 
 through sufferings," and gives us every reason to be- 
 lieve that he is " a High Priest who can be touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities." He is not sepa- 
 rated from us by such a difference of nature and of 
 rank as allows nothing in common between him and 
 us. He is one with us in nature, in infirmity, in 
 trials,* and in suffering, and so can feel with us. His 
 sympathy is true, deep, and abiding. 
 
 Come boldly, my dear friend, to this divine yet 
 human Saviour. There is nothing to keep you at a 
 distance. Coming to him, you may be sure of power 
 to help and save; for he has all power in heaven and 
 in earth. You may be sure of a sacrifice of expia- 
 tion; for "by one offering he has perfected forever 
 them that are sanctified." You may be sure of 
 grace ; for he encourages you to come and find grace 
 to help you in your time of need. You may be sure 
 of sympathy ; for he has had trial of infirmities and 
 sufferings, and thus knows how to feel for xis. And 
 you may be sure of never-failing advocacy of your 
 cause ; for he abideth a priest continually, living to 
 plead for us at the mercy-seat. 
 
 * Of course, excepting such as come from inward sin. 
 
APPENDIX. 155 
 
 Consider, then, this Apostle and High Priest of 
 our profession. Rely on him confidingly, and run 
 with patience the race set before you, looking unto 
 Jesus. He then will be with you to the end. He 
 will not leave you. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Philadelphia, November 4, 1862. 
 My dear Eriend : 
 
 Though-to you there may seem to be no speed in 
 God's interposition for your relief, " the Lord is not 
 slack concerning his promise, as some men count 
 slackness." It is well that " the times and seasons" 
 are not in our power. We should make but sad 
 work, if we should be allowed to say when his word 
 is to be fulfilled. Better to leave all in Grod's hands. 
 He takes his time for it ; but he delivers gloriously. 
 See how he made Job's sorrows end, and how he 
 brought to a glorious issue the troubles of Jacob, 
 who had said that he should go down to the grave 
 to his son mourning. " Our light afilictions, which 
 are but for a moment," says St. Paul, " work out 
 for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
 glory." Then, may they not be borne ? You feel 
 the burden of them greatly; but God is able to 
 make you stand. 
 
 In yourself, you may feel very weak. The more 
 you feel this, the better; for then you may be 
 " strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." 
 His strength, you know, is made perfect in weak- 
 ness. Rest, then, in the arms of God, your strength 
 and your Redeemer. Apart from him, you can have 
 no safety. In him, you are in a strong tower. Be 
 
 U* 
 
156 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 willing to walk in any darkness where lie leads. 
 He is not one that will forsake you. He extends 
 the hand of power and mercy for your guidance and 
 support. Trust him, then, even when you cannot 
 see ; for we must walk by faith, not by sight. His 
 presence and his mighty arm are ever at hand. 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James Mat. 
 
 Philadelphia, November 11, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend: 
 
 " If any man sin," — such is the testimony of an 
 apostle, — " we have an Advocate with the Father." 
 Read the words with emphasis: " If any man sin." 
 If you sin, and feel your sin a burden, you have an 
 Advocate with the Father, not a merely human 
 friend, but " Jesus Christ the righteous." He is the 
 Son of God, the all-sufficient Intercessor, divine as 
 weU as human in his nature, and fally commissioned 
 to do for you all that your case needs. You may 
 rely on him with full trust of soul. If you see your 
 sins as a great debt, which you can never pay, re- 
 member that he, as surety, and as the propitiation 
 for your sins, has made payment with his blood, 
 and the payment is complete. 
 
 Remember, too, he is not merely one who lived 
 on earth so many years ago, and then died, and was 
 buried. He liveth now, yea, ever liveth, to make in- 
 tercession for us. And he does not live merely in 
 the heavens. He says to his disciples, " I will come 
 to you, and make my abode with you." He is pre- 
 sent with you by his Spirit ; and that in power, in 
 love, and grace. Turn your mind towards him. Let 
 your faith take hold of him. By faith hold fast to 
 
APPENDIX. 157 
 
 him, as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins 
 of the world. He will be to you not only a propi- 
 tiation, but a comforter; comforter, because propi- 
 tiation, — a present help in time of need. He will 
 not leave you nor forsake you, and will give you 
 victory over sin and death. 
 
 Your affectionate friend. 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, November 25, 1862. 
 
 My dear Friend: 
 
 God's ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as 
 our thoughts. It pleases him to afflict and chasten 
 even those who most faithfully serve him. Why, in 
 particular cases, we cannot see. We may know 
 only, in a general way, that he means it for good, 
 and that he makes all "work for good" to those 
 that love him. "We must be content with his word 
 here, and leave it to him to unfold his purposes in 
 his own time. We may need discipline ourselves; and 
 it may come to wean us from the world, to bring us 
 nearer to our Saviour, and to make us long for 
 heaven; and if we do not need it for ourselves, God may 
 impose it on us for the benefit of others. Paul suffered 
 much for the advantage of the Churches which he 
 founded. And he suffered for his own advantage 
 also; for even he needed a thorn in the flesh, the 
 messenger of Satan, to buffet him, lest he should be 
 exalted above measure. It may be that extraordi- 
 nary marks of the divine regard need extraordinary 
 means of personal humiliation. The clear sun, at 
 its meridian, would dazzle us, were not a shade or 
 colored glass interposed between it and the eye. 
 Affliction may be the needed shade between, us and 
 
158 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 the otherwise blinding brightness of God's favor. 
 It teaches us our weakness; makes us often con- 
 scious of much sin; and thus helps to keep us in a 
 proper posture of humility. 
 
 There may be mystery in it; but God will make 
 all plain hereafter. If we could clear up every ob- 
 scurity and difficulty now, there would be no room 
 for trustful confidence in God. "We should, in such 
 case, walk by reason, by understanding, or by sight, 
 and not by faith. We must be schooled to trust God 
 as Abraham trusted him, when, at his call, he went 
 out, not knowing whither he went. You are now 
 being subjected to this schooling. You go forward 
 in the dark, not aware whither your sufferings tend, 
 nor what shall be the measure or the end of them. 
 You are to walk by faith here. Keep fast hold of 
 the promises. Though you see not the Divine pre- 
 sence, you may hear the voice that says, " Follow 
 me:" " Have faith in God." " All things are possi- 
 ble to him that believeth." Ever look unto Jesus, 
 with readiness to bear the cross and follow him. 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James Mat. 
 
 Philadelphia, December 3, 1862. 
 My dear Friend: 
 
 I pray daily that you may have peace in mind and 
 rest in body, and trust I may hear that the Lord 
 gives you both. -He does not, however, always see 
 fit to do so. David had sometimes to call to him 
 out of the depths. He speaks of being laid in dark- 
 ness, in the deep, as though in spirit he had to go 
 down to the grave. But his sorrows had their relief, 
 though not in every case at once. He had to wait 
 
APPENDIX. 159 
 
 and hope for light. Sometimes it came in glimpses, - 
 and then went out, and left him in the dark again ; 
 80 that he seemed to be sinking down below all light, 
 and trust, and hope. Still, he was not forsaken. 
 " Whom have I in heaven but thee," he says to 
 God, " and there is none upon earth that I desire 
 besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but 
 God is the strength of my heart, and my portion 
 forever." "Why art thou cast down, my soul? 
 and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou 
 in God : for I shall yet praise him, who is the health 
 of my countenance, and my God." 
 
 Now, may I not call on you to gird yourself, stand, 
 and make answer? Wherefore dost thou doubt? 
 Who art thou, that thovi shouldest be afraid of evils 
 which God, thy God, hath put beneath thy feet? 
 Dost thou tremble at the darkness of the valley 
 where the last great conflict must take place? Is 
 not thy God there with his rod and staff to guide, 
 protect, and comfort thee ? Dost thou not know his 
 loving kindness, yea, " the multitude of his mer- 
 cies ?" Is it said, you are a sinner ? Be it so. If you 
 were not such, you would need no Saviour and no 
 mercy. The Gospel would not be for you, for its 
 glad tidings is that "Jesus Christ came into the 
 world to save sinners." Now, let me call on you, 
 poor sinner as you are, down in the lower depths of 
 darkness, lift up your eyes, and see the light that is 
 already shining down into your pit of suffering. It 
 may seem only starlight, but it is the light of the 
 bright and morning star, the herald of the day. 
 Look up, and see it. "It is the star, the star of 
 Bethlehem;" your guide to Jesus, and the comfort 
 that there is in him. Arise and follow, and the Lord 
 
160 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 shall put a new song into your mouth, even praise 
 to our God; for he that followeth Jesus shall not 
 walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 
 Your affectionate friend. 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 Philadelphia, December 12, 1862. 
 My dear Friend: 
 
 I am unable to pay you my usual visit, to-day. 
 But if the Lord be vidth you, man's company and 
 help may well be spared. I trust that he is ever 
 with you. You know that he was with the lonely 
 Patriarch, when he lay down to sleep at Bethel with 
 a stone for his pillow, and the feeling that he was 
 alone. He may be with you, also, when you know 
 it not. His name is " Emmanuel, God with us." 
 'Eot only is he with us in the sense of having been 
 made flesh and dwelt among us, but in the sense of 
 being in us still. " Christ in you," says St. Paul, — 
 " the hope of glory." He travailed in the pains of 
 spiritual birth till Christ should be formed in the Ga- 
 latian saints to whom he wrote. Jesus himself told 
 his disciples that he would " come " to them, and 
 " make his abode with them." He abides with you, 
 too, although you may not always realize his pre- 
 sence. Mary at the sepulchre did not recognize him . 
 as he stopd by her, but supposed him to be the gar- 
 dener. You may mistake him, too, as when the dis- 
 ciples saw him walking on the sea ; supposed it was 
 a spirit ; and cried out for fear. You may be terrified 
 by his presence, even when that presence is in mer- 
 cy. Por he shows himself not always as we may 
 expect or wish. In aflictions and sufferings, he 
 meets us in love, but his aspect seems to us a strange 
 
APPENDIX. 161 
 
 one. Wlien Jacob wept, till he thought his gray- 
 hairs must go down under sorrow to the grave, the 
 Lord was leading him in tenderest love, and bring- 
 ing all things to a happy issue. And will you say, 
 " My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is 
 passed over from my Grod ?" ISTo ; though he may 
 try you sorely, you may be assured that there is 
 mercy behind. The worst storms, such as shake the 
 earth with thunder, and deluge everything with rain, 
 are yet followed by the bow set in the cloud. I am 
 sure you sometimes see that token of the covenant 
 of peace. Take a full view of it, and regard the 
 promise of never-failing mercy of which it is the 
 pledge. Thank God for it, and take courage. 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Philadelphia, December 18, 1862. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 The Saviour'sprayer of intercession for youmay not 
 embrace, among its objects, the deliverance of your- 
 self, or of his redeemed, from sufferings. Sufferings 
 he may allow as discipline, as fire to purify the gold. 
 But it may embrace the object of your being sancti- 
 fied through them. I believe that he remembers 
 you with reference to that end. The means to such 
 sanctificatiou may not be what you desire, but Grod 
 may be trusted for a wise arrangement of them. A 
 parent cannot consent to all a child's wishes, for a 
 child may ignorantly wish for what the parent knows 
 will do him harm. We must consent that G-od's 
 wisdom prevail over all our devices and desires. He 
 knows better than we what is for our good. You 
 are not permitted to see, beforehand, the way in 
 
162 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 which he proposes to lead you. You are as a man 
 travelling through the defiles of precipitous moun- 
 tains, in which the road turns suddenly, every few 
 paces, so that only a very short distance before one 
 can be seen. Still, every step forward brings another 
 space to view. You must proceed thus, step by step. 
 You must be led on your way; as, according to the 
 Lord's Prayer, we are to have our food, not by large 
 supplies, for years beforehand, but day by day our 
 daily bread. May you have faith so to walk, as by a 
 pace at a time, leaving the future to him who leads 
 the blind by a way that they know not, but always 
 safely, wisely, and in love. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James Mat. 
 
 Philadelphia, January 5, 1863. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 It might seem almost a mockery to give you the 
 greeting of " a happy new year." And yet the Lord 
 may have in store for you,'this year, good things be- 
 yond all you can allow yourself to hope for. It may 
 be that your place at the marriage supper of the 
 Lamb, and the wedding garment in which you may 
 appear at it, are ready, and only reserved till you 
 shall be called to go in to the marriage. 
 
 Trust your whole self in the hands of the glorious 
 Saviour. Trust and live. You need not fear any 
 evil. His rod and staff" shall comfort you. You may 
 lean on that staff" confidingly. You may be assured 
 of the presence of your G-od and Saviour. Do not 
 perplex yourself with misgivings as to what is yet 
 to come. " Sufficient unto the day is the evil there- 
 of." When the day of need comes, the grace that is 
 
APPENDIX. 163 
 
 • 
 
 needed will be given. You remember the beautiful 
 illustration of the groundlessness of many of our 
 fears in the Pilgrim's Progress. One of the Pilgrims, 
 who had gone on in advance of Christian, is met 
 running back in fright, because of lions which he 
 had seen in the way. But when Christian walks 
 onward, strong in faith, he finds the lions chained. 
 The lions which so often make afraid, I have no 
 doubt, you will find, when you come up to them, to 
 be chained. Take courage, then; and in simplicity 
 of heart, in simple trust in Grod's covenant care, go 
 onward, without fear. You may be tempted, but 
 the Lord will strengthen you. You may be per- 
 plexed, but he will guide you. 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 James May. 
 
 Philadelphia, January 12, 1863. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 You complained, when I saw you to-day, of want 
 of assurance as to your having part in Christ's re- 
 demption, and consequently of want of peace. 
 
 "It does not please God to give us, always, the full 
 shining of his favor. He sometimes draws a cloud 
 over his loving face, and sits in darkness, that we 
 may learn to trust him, even when we cannot see. 
 We must be taught to walk by faith ; to go onward 
 in his ways, with full confidence that he will not let 
 a soul that trusteth in him be confounded. He will 
 not contend forever. He will not cast off one that 
 comes to him. Though weeping may endure for a 
 
 15 
 
164 LIFE AND LBTTEES OP JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 • 
 
 night, joy cometli in tlie morning. Lift up your 
 head, then, for your redemption may be nigh. 
 Your affectionate friend. 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 The redemption was nearer than the writer proba- 
 bly supposed. On the 15th day of January, the suf- 
 ferer entered into rest. ISTo doubt was entertained, by 
 those who knew him, of his true piety and thorough 
 preparation for his end; although, perhaps from a 
 defective early training, perhaps from the clouding 
 influence of lengthened pain, he had not such clear 
 views of his acceptance in Christ Jesus as either 
 himself or his kind counsellor desired. There was 
 humble conscientiousness, sincere desire to do God's 
 will, entire dependence on his mercy, a recognition 
 of Christ's work as the only ground for the display of 
 it, but yet no joyful, continuous sense of personal in- 
 terest in the great salvation. Happily, this last is 
 not required in order to one's peace with God, and 
 perfect safety through the righteousness and blood 
 of Jesus. The light of everlasting love shines round 
 the soul that truly trusts in Christ, although the 
 dulled eye of disease and suffering may not perceive 
 it. And none who stood around this patient, pious, 
 trustful sufferer, doubted that, when the weakened 
 mortal framework fell, his spirit was enabled to re- 
 joice, at once, in the perfect assurance of God's favor. 
 His end, though not a joyous or triumphant one, 
 was still, according to the promise, peace. Exces- 
 sive suffering impeded expression of his feelings, but 
 what could be expressed, showed that the eye of faith 
 looked steadily to Jesus, and that hope was antici- 
 pating the bright morning of joy after the long night 
 
APPENDIX. 165 
 
 of weeping. "When asked as to Ms condition, there 
 were broken words and gestures, indicative of quiet- 
 ness of spirit amidst the anguish of great bodily dis- 
 tress. And when questioned further, the hand went 
 to the bosom, the fingers were formed into a cross, 
 and the eyes directed to the heavens, as much as 
 saying that his heart rested upon Christ's atonement, 
 and his trust was that he should be with him -in his 
 bliss. 
 
 Such cases must be trusted to the mercy of the 
 Saviour, who never casts out any soul that comes to 
 him, and in whom " whosoever believeth " shall not 
 be confounded. Precious in his sight is the death 
 of all his saints. The feeblest is as safe in him as 
 the strongest can be. And heavenly love will pre- 
 sent "faultless" in God's presence the weakest spirit 
 that reposes all its trust in Christ. 
 
166 LIFE AND LETTERS OP JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 LETTER TO A FRIEKD ON " PRAYER- 
 MEETmGS." 
 
 As you refer again, in your last letter, to the ques- 
 tion of the canonical propriety of the public prayer- 
 meetings in the Episcopal churches, in Philadelphia, 
 and ask my views, I give you a resumi of what I 
 have already written. I put it in the form of ques- 
 tions, 
 
 1. Are extemporaneous prayers in public, in any 
 circumstances, consistent with adherence to the prin- 
 ciple of Liturgical provisions for public worship? 
 Bishop Bowman, in his communication to the Com- 
 mittee of the House of Bishops on the Memorial 
 quoted before, says, "I have never considered my- 
 self at all bound by the Prayer-Book, when I have 
 found myself in a position for which, evidently, the 
 Prayer-Book has not provided. In all such emer- 
 gencies, I feel myself as free as a Methodist or a 
 Presbyterian." He expresses, in these words, the 
 minds of a large proportion of our clergy. He has 
 the usage of the Primitive Church and of the Church 
 of England with him. Some, I know, have objected 
 to extemporaneous prayers, even in the family and in 
 the closet. I myself heard the late Bishop Onder- 
 donk say he thought it proper that we should always 
 use a prescribed form of prayer, even in private. 
 But few would go so far as that ; at least, in making 
 that a rule. Bishop Bowman, you see, differs totally 
 from him ; and Bishop White differed almost as 
 much as Bishop Bowman. 
 
 2. Are extemporaneous prayers allowable on occa- 
 sions for lohieh our Prayer-Book has provided ? Bishop 
 
APPENDIX. 167 
 
 Bowman says, " Provided the opening services are 
 prescribed by authority, I see no unanswerable ob- 
 jection to allowing a freedom in the pulpit, if breth- 
 ren desire it." " If a clergyman desires it, and his 
 people desire it, I say, let him use his gift" {i. e., of 
 extemporaneous or free prayer). " My greatest ob- 
 jection to it has always been, that it was unauthorized 
 by law." Bishop Bowman here sees no unanswer- 
 able objection to the use of extemporaneous prayer, 
 even on occasions of public worship, for which the 
 Prayer-Book has provided, if " the opening services are 
 prescribed by authority." That is, a clergyman may 
 use extemporaneous prayers, on occasions of public 
 worship, for which the Prayer-Book makes provi- 
 sion, if those prayers come after the Prayer-Book 
 service. And that, though there is the objection 
 (the only one, in his view), that they are " un- 
 authorized by law." His language is most just. 
 We may do many things unauthorized by law, pro- 
 vided they be not intrinsically or morally wrong, or 
 not directly forbidden. A clergyman may wear a 
 cassock in his daily, unofficial life; a bishop may 
 wear an English Episcopal shovel hat, with a rosette 
 (Bishop Doane did so on his return from England), 
 and a short, black apron in front; though, with us, 
 these are " unauthorized by law." Each one, in 
 such matters, is to be governed by fashion, taste, or 
 usage. Indeed, our gown, surplice, and white cravat 
 are, among us, unauthorized by law, usage or taste 
 being the only rule ; neither rubric nor canon, among 
 us, prescribing anything, qf the kind, but, simply, 
 that the minister be "decently habited." Extem- 
 poraneous prayers after the service, as in the Prayer- 
 Book, though unauthorized by law, are not for- 
 
 15* 
 
168 LIFE AND LETTBBS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 bidden. Usage for centuries in England, and from 
 the outset (or certainly from an earlier day than my. 
 first recollection) among us, sanctions their use after 
 the regular service. In such case (that is, " if the 
 opening services are prescribed by authority"), there 
 is " no unanswerable objection to allowing freedom 
 (of extemporaneous prayer) in the pulpit." The gist 
 of the question, you observe, is the use of extempora- 
 neous prayers, after the prescribed use of the Prayer- 
 Book, on occasions of public worship. Bishop Bow- 
 man, Bishop Burgess (I name these two because 
 their communications on the subject are now before 
 me, in print), and hosts of other honest, judicious, 
 thoughtful persons, agree that extemporaneous 
 prayers may be used without violating any principle 
 or positive law, even on occasions of public worship, 
 provided the opening services be according to the 
 Prayer-Book. The canon, you remember, prescribes 
 that " every minister shall, before all sermons and 
 lectures, and on all other occasions of pubhc wor- 
 ship, use the Prayer-Book. And, in performing said 
 service, no other prayers shall be used," &c. But it 
 says nothing as to what may or may not be after the 
 sermon, and after the said service. And here is the 
 ground on which Bishop Bowman, and the others 
 referred to, say, and say justly, that they see no un- 
 answerable objection to freedom as to praying, after 
 the opening services shall have been performed ac- 
 cording to the Prayer-Book. 
 
 3. Are the prayer-meetings you refer to " occa^ 
 sions of public worship" such as the canon has in 
 view ? If so, then the opening services ought to be 
 according to the Prayer-Book (that is, regular morn- 
 ing or evening service) ; after which, " there is no un- 
 
APPENDIX." 169 
 
 answerable objection to freedom" in praying. If I 
 had been asked this 3d question, without reference 
 to any ground of judgment but my own understand- 
 ing, I should have promptly answered. Yes, and so 
 decided that the full proper morning or evening ser- 
 vice (according to the hour of the day) ought to be 
 used for the opening service ; «fter which might come 
 in the minister's " own gift." But here I encounter 
 the opinion of the Committee of the House of 
 Bishops, who, in their Report on the Memorial, say : 
 " On occasions or services other than regular morning 
 and evening prayer, in established congregations, 
 ministers may, at their discretion, itse such parts of 
 the Book of Common Prayer, and such lessons, as 
 shall, in their judgment, tend most to edification." 
 
 JS'ow, I sum up thus : If the prayer-meetings you 
 refer to put a minister " in a position for which the 
 Prayer-Book has evidently not provided," then, ac- 
 cording to Bishop Bowman's view, "he is as free as 
 a Methodist or a Presbyterian." 
 
 If those meetings are " occasions of public wor- 
 ship" in the sense of the canon (as I should have 
 said, in my original judgment, they are), then the 
 service prescribed in the Prayer-Book ought to be 
 used as the " opening service;" after which, as Bishop 
 Bowman says, " there is no unanswerable objection 
 to freedom" in praying. 
 
 If, however, though " occasions of public wor- 
 ship," they come' under the class of " occasions or 
 services other than regular morning and evening prayer," 
 as meant by the Committee of Bishops (Otey, Doane, 
 A. Potter, Burgess, and "Williams), then, in the opi- 
 nion of those Bishops, the fvM morning or evening 
 service need not be used, but "parts of the Book of 
 
170 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 Common Prayer" will suffice for an "opening ser- 
 vice." On neither supposition, are the prayers of 
 our Liturgy to be wholly laid aside. The opinion of 
 the Bishops (just quoted) may leave it an open ques- 
 tion, whether those meetings are of the class that re- 
 quire the whole service in the Prayer-Book, or of the 
 class " other than regular morning and evening 
 prayer," that require only^arte of the prayer to be 
 selected by the minister's discretion. In either case, 
 extemporaneous prayers may be allowed afterwards. 
 A minister is not, in my opinion, liable to a charge 
 of violating ordination vows, who, in those prayer- 
 meetings, sees that the opening service is either the 
 full service of the Prayer-Book, or prayers selected 
 from it, so long as the opinion of the Committee of 
 Bishops is regarded as worthy of respect enough to 
 make an open question. 
 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 James Mat. 
 
APPENDIX, 171 
 
 LETTER OF GUIDAI^CE TO A YOUNG 
 CHRISTIAN" RELATIVE. 
 
 March 20, 1859. 
 My dear a : 
 
 A very distinguished writer named the book 
 which first gave him reputation, " Saturday Even- 
 ing." The title, in that case, was figurative and 
 symbolical. If I call this present letter to you Sun- 
 day Evening, I shall use the title in the literal sense. 
 I am in my study, alone, on Sunday evening, and, 
 perhaps, may not misuse the hour, if I write you a 
 few lines on a topic, or topics, suited to the holy 
 time. I write not as having " dominion over your 
 faith, but as a helper of your joy." Joy you have, 
 doubtless; the joy which springs from the living 
 fountain of faith in Christ. Perhaps you may be 
 unwilling to speak with assurance as to your joy. 
 You may say you strive to do right, and to find the 
 peace and joy which spring from faith, but that your 
 faith is weak, and your graces generally not as lively 
 as you wish. " Joyfulness through hope" is no 
 mushroom. It does not necessarily spring up in a 
 night, though in some cases, as in that of the Jailer 
 at Philippi, it did so. But that which is to endure 
 through trials, and to last through life, requires, as a 
 general rule, time for being well rooted and strength- 
 ened. It springs wholly from faith in Christ. The 
 soul that is vitally joined to Christ by faith has the 
 source and element of joy within, but it may not at 
 first be very manifest. A seed has life in it, but it 
 may require a little time for the growth that will 
 make that life perceptible. I set out with the as- 
 
172 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D. 
 
 sumption that you have been joined to the Lord ; 
 that you have placed yourself at his feet ; that you 
 own him as your Redeemer ; and that you have de- 
 dicated yourself to him for life. The first stage is 
 simple. 
 
 You have been made to see that you are a sinner; 
 a fallen soul; involved in the common ruin of our 
 race ; under judgment of death ; bound as a slave 
 under sin. -In this condition, how can you have life? 
 Not by keeping the commandments, because under 
 those very commandments you are condemned as a 
 sinner. The prisoner in an iron cell, bound in 
 chains, hand and foot, under sentence of death, 
 cannot have life by keeping the law of the land. If 
 he had never committed a crime, then the keeping 
 of that law would have been his life. But now the 
 very same law is his death. " The commandment 
 which was ordained unto life," says St. Paul, " I 
 found to be unto death." Life must come, then, if 
 at all, from another quarter. Grace or mercy must 
 come in. The Gospel proclaims the Saviour the In- 
 carnate Son of God, who comes into our prison, 
 with all sufficiency in himself, and with all power in 
 heaven and earth to forgive sin and discharge from 
 death. The judgment unto death he has received 
 in his own person, borne the curse, and thus taken 
 away sin. Now he calls us to commit ourselves to 
 him ; that is, to believe on him ; and he, standing 
 for us and in our name, assures full pardon and life. 
 Pie takes our place under the law, so that, when we 
 are called upon to answer for our sins, he is there to 
 answer iu our name, and we (if in him, in the new 
 creation) are hid in him, and not to be found. The 
 law takes full satisfaction of him as surety and sub'- 
 
APPENDIX. 173 
 
 stitute, and we, in him, are safe. But we must be 
 in him, new creatures in Mm, having his Spirit, 
 living in him by faith. The early stage of this faith 
 may be one of feebleness. But it is susceptible of 
 growth. St. Paul speaks of those whose " faith 
 grew exceedingly." The growth is, of course, only 
 by the grace of the Spirit of God. 
 
 Let me now come to the grand means of growth : 
 I mean the Word of God. The knowledge of the 
 Scriptures, the feeding on their precious truths, and 
 digesting them, — this is to stand first. Without some 
 knowledge of the Word of God, there cannot be 
 even a beginning of faith. " Faith cometh by hear- 
 ing, and hearing by the Word of God." " Sanctify 
 them through thy truth," our Saviour prays ; " thy 
 Word is truth." You do well to attend a Bible- 
 class, — yea, to use any means for treasuring in your 
 mind the Word of God. Much of the Bible may 
 seem to have little application to your case. There 
 are the accounts of the misdoings of many in the 
 Old Testament history ; there are the minute details 
 of the Levitical institutions, and the obscure por- 
 tions of the prophecies. But all are useful; all have 
 their place and their end. You may seem to make 
 but little advancement from day to day. So does a 
 child at school, whose knowledge acquired in any 
 one day may hardly be appreciable. But " oh, the 
 power of littles !" says Dr. Chalmers. It is by littles 
 that we advance. It might be well to pursue a 
 regular course of reading the Bible from the begin- 
 ning, and, at the same time, to study particularly and 
 carefully a particular portion, such as a Gospel, or 
 the Acts, and especially an Epistle. You may find 
 
174 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 difficulties and obscurities, but they will become 
 plainer as you persevere. 
 
 "With all your reading the Scriptures, one most 
 important matter must be carefully observed ; you 
 must ask the Spirit of God to enlighten you. I be- 
 lieve the truths needful for our salvation are as 
 plainly put down in the text of the Bible as they 
 can be in language, but our understandings need to 
 be opened. All the expositions in the world, no 
 matter how just and authoritative, never can convey 
 the truth properly to the mind, without help from 
 above, for the simple reason that the grand difficulty 
 does not lie in the text of the Bible, as though the 
 meaning were hid for want of clearness and fulness 
 in it, but in the blinded understandings of men. 
 The Spirit of God al6ne can open the understand- 
 ing. His grace for this purpose is promised. "We 
 should ever pray for it. The good Spirit may lead 
 you, as the blind, by a way you know not. Some 
 things we must be taught by trials. A great Chris- 
 tian said : Two things are needful to make a strong 
 man in Christ, — ^temptation and prayer. "We need 
 not court nor ask for trials. They will come~Boon 
 enough, and be hard enough to bear when they 
 come. May the gracious Spirit ever teach and 
 guide you. 
 
 Your affectionate uncle, 
 
 James May. 
 
APPENDIX. 175 
 
 LETTER TO A MINISTER 
 
 IN AN IMPORTANT BUT SOMEWHAT TRYING SPHERE. 
 
 Thbological Seminary, March 24, 1851. 
 My dear Brother : 
 
 In my garden is a tree of great promise ; an apple- 
 tree ; a sapling full of wholesome juices, vigorous in 
 growth, and fruit-hearing. Looking on it one day, 
 with much complacency and bright hope, I thought 
 I saw dangers fi-om the violence of tempests. In- 
 deed, I had seen it seized by furious winds, which 
 made its branches whisk about as if sweeping the 
 air ; its trunk was violently writhed, and I began to 
 fear lest it might be wrenched from its roots and 
 borne away. To make it as sure as I could, I looked 
 about for a support, and found a hard, dry, and very 
 unsightly stake. This I carefully set against it. 
 Though the stake was in itself valueless, yet it aided 
 the tree, which now stands erect, awaiting the return 
 of the genial sun to bring out its blossoms and ripen 
 its fruit. My heart is gladdened. This account is 
 properly historical, and when you come again to 
 Maywood, you may behold the tree's Directive being. 
 But I recite the story for an allegory. The garden is 
 
 ; the youthful tree, rich in juices, and fruit-bear- 
 
 . ing, is my brother ; the tempests are the world- 
 
 liness, and flatteries, and gainsayings of the people; 
 the unsightly stake, dry and hard, and of no inherent 
 value, yet, in proper posture, fitted to give some aid 
 and support, is the present writer. Now, my brother, 
 let me speak freely, out of my heart's. fulness. My 
 heart is full; was made so, when I heard you (while 
 
 16 
 
176 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 here) speak of your position in , your trials, &c., 
 
 &c. I was ready to glorify God on your behalf 
 By grace we are saved. By the grace of God we 
 are what we are. As my heart went with your 
 heart, I thought of my tree and of the fury of tem- 
 pests. Then I bethought myself of being a stake, 
 to set up against you. The roughness and hardness 
 thereof, it seemed to me, would not be considered, 
 provided it served to give aid and support. With- 
 out assuming, in regard to my apple-tree, any pecu- 
 liar liability to be borne away, I knew it to be in the 
 nature of all trees, that they might be endangered 
 
 by storms. My brother in has stood well; God 
 
 has magnified his grace in sustaining him. Still, as 
 
 he is flesh, and as is, perhaps, quite as much 
 
 Satan's seat as was Pergamos, a brother's sympathy 
 may not be useless. My brother, I give way to my 
 sympathy for you ; you have run well ; you do run 
 well. Let not the Devil hinder you, whether he come 
 in the shape of sedulous friendship, taking you by 
 the arm, whispering soft flattery in your ears, and 
 proposing to set you on the pinnacle of the temple, 
 where you can have the gaze of a crowd while you 
 make a flight; or in the shape of denunciation, and 
 reproach, and calumny, as when he would charge 
 you with Puritanism, and cant, and narrowness of 
 mind, and propagate lies concerning you. Two 
 sources of danger are open to you ; one, that of di- 
 rect opposition and threats. Satan may hint a loss 
 of popularity, if you be too faithful, and will not 
 give way a little to the prejudices and deeply rooted 
 customs and habits of worldly men. Or he may try 
 to get into your heart by the door of vanity, by 
 means of his flattering tongue. He may tell you of 
 
APPENDIX. 177 
 
 the patronage of great men, whom a httle easiness of 
 doctrine and of disciphne may bring over by degrees. 
 He may show you your success, and insinuate that 
 you have builded this great Babylon; and so may 
 strive to puft" you up, and make you unsteady of 
 purpose, or unwatchful, while he prepares for an 
 effective attempt at your overthrow. You are not 
 ignorant of his devices. My object in writing is not 
 to instruct you, for I have need to be taught of you, 
 but to express sympathy and brotherly fellowship. 
 I cannot infuse into you life or spirit, or even give 
 you light. My stake does nothing of the kind to 
 my tree; the rich and living juices come from an- 
 other source, the genial influences of the heavens. 
 Yet the stake may not be useless. Kow, brother, 
 you, who have fought a good warfare, and occupy an 
 important fortress, be strong in the Lord. Keep 
 your position clear of all embarrassments. As you 
 have begun, so continue. Let the world see, and 
 let Satan see, and God will see, that you mean, by 
 divine grace, to be faithful. Remember, the true 
 weapon, whether for attack or defence, is the sword 
 of the Spirit, the Word of God, — the pure, simple 
 "Word of God. Preach and teach out of the Bible, 
 in the spirit of the Bible. The pure Gospel, to su- 
 perstitious, carnal Jews, a stumbling-block; and to 
 proud, rationalistic Greeks (the infidel or rationaliz- 
 ing man in high stations), foolishness, is the power 
 of God to all who believe. Let not the Cross be with- 
 out effect through too much wisdom of words. Be 
 thou an example to the flock, in these days of woi-ldly 
 wisdom, and worldly occupations, and amusements ; 
 of shallow religion, and of deep superstition, and cold 
 formality, in which Puseyism, and Popery, and a 
 
178 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D, 
 
 diluted Gospel are welcomed in so many quarters; 
 let it be seen tliat you mean to stand as you have 
 done; and while speaking in love, let it be the 
 speaking of the truth. Be Elijah before Ahab ; be 
 John Baptist before Herod; be Paul before Agrippa; 
 be Luther at "Worms; be Huss at Constance; be Eid- 
 ley at the stake. Give yourself wholly to the things 
 to which now God calls you. Make full proof of 
 your ministry. Your brethren look on, and a great 
 crowd of witnesses look on ; your own conscience, 
 and God, our Saviour and Lord, look on. Let the 
 vain, thoughtless, self-willed lovers of pleasure about 
 you, — the veterans in Satan's service, as well as the 
 raw recruits, — know distinctly what God s^ys, and 
 how he will judge. Let the truth and justice of God 
 speak in thunder from Sinai, and shake the whole 
 camp of idolatrous Israel. Then preach Christ cru- 
 cified; lift him up above all men and all men's pride, 
 and let him be seen, not merely the symbol, but the 
 actual living source, of life, and peace, and hope, to 
 men dying in sin and misery. Tell the seekers of 
 pleasure, who would have the world's favors, and at 
 the same time assume the name of followers of 
 Christ, that their Judge eternal cannot be mocked. 
 He sees through all their vain words and empty 
 forms of confessing his name. He will have none of 
 it. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon," says he. 
 To the souls of hollow, empty professors ojf his name, 
 he will say, " I never knew you; depart from me, ye 
 workers of iniquity." Those poor, self-deceived 
 souls, who think they can enjoy the pleasure of sia 
 during the week, and drink the Lord's cup on Sun- 
 day ; who can dance to Satan's music one day, and 
 with solemn gesture stand to chant the Lord's songs 
 
APPENDIX. 179 
 
 the next day, — tell them what the truth is. They 
 have their pains for nothing. It is useless to trou- 
 ble themselves vsath the bui-den of vp-orshipping the 
 Lord, or vs^aiting in his courts. He will have no 
 such sacrifices as they offer. Their incense is an 
 abomination. Call on Christians, also, to be faith- 
 ful; separate from the world; to let their light shine, 
 to bear a clear and distinct testimony for truth and 
 godliness. 
 
 In all, do not fear ; God can make you stand in all 
 storms. Be but faithfal in his word. Hold fast the 
 pure Grospel, and preach nothing but Christ and him 
 crucified. If sometimes you fall into trials for so 
 doing, remember it is said, "Blessed is the man that 
 endureth temptation." Hottest fires are best for 
 purifying gold. Now, while you have a brother's 
 sympathies and prayers, I trust you may ever have 
 what is of infinitely higher worth, — wisdom, and 
 strength, and life, from our Great Head. 
 
 You may think, perhaps, I am writing without a 
 call to do so ; that I am making an occasion which 
 does not properly exist for such an epistle. A bro- 
 ther's kindness and sympathy have sought an utter- 
 ance. If the utterance be out of place, or not 
 called for, I submit. I am not judge ; I only know 
 my own feelings, and in the matter am led by them. 
 I pretend to be nothing more than an old, unsightly 
 stake, set up as a prop for a young, vigorous, fruitful 
 tree. At all events, 
 
 Your affectionate brother. 
 
 Jambs May. 
 
 IG'' 
 
180 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAT, D.D, 
 
 LETTER EESPECTING ATTEm)A]SrCE AT 
 CONVENTION. 
 
 A LETTER written in the ttnreserved and open con- 
 fidence of private friendship must visnally be sacred. 
 But this which follows contains so clear a portrait 
 of himself, from Dr. May's own hand, that a memoir 
 of him would hardly be complete without it. It 
 came to hand from Virginia, after all else was in the 
 press. 
 
 Theoujgical Seminaky, May 14, 1854. 
 My d-bae Brother: 
 
 I am much obliged to you for your kind letter 
 from New York, and for your very Jion-" presump- 
 tuous advice" about going to Convention, I have a 
 very high opinion of Mrs, May's "rightness of 
 mind," a much higher one than any one else, and 
 for a better reason; and that is, because I know her 
 better than any one else. But it is the nature of 
 advice to be advisory, not judicial nor mandatory. 
 And so both she and I regard it. In itself, the 
 thing recommended is good, very good, moet excel- 
 lent. But, in generalibus latet dolus. "We cannot 
 govern ourselves, nor the world, by the literality of 
 general rules. For instance, the general rule foi-bids. 
 any manner of work on the Sabbath day ; and yet 
 we should err if thereby we shut ourselves out from 
 works of charity. The rule of going to Convention 
 
APPENDIX. 181 
 
 is most excellent, but particular persons on parti- 
 cular occasions naay be excepted. The general rule 
 that you should visit us every time you get as near 
 as Alexandria, and a good deal oftener, is good ; and 
 yet I do not know but that, by some means (as by a 
 " non-natural" sense put on the rule), you excuse 
 yourself, I hope I have demonstrated that there 
 may be cases in which one may be excused for not 
 going to Convention, Now, let me show that such 
 a case is mine. I must here make a preliminary re- 
 mark. You do not know me, if you suppose that I 
 do not enjoy meeting with brethren in the ministry. 
 I know of no greater joy on earth. It refreshes, 
 cheers, and strengthens me. It is the communion 
 of saints ; it is a heavenly feast ; it enkindles holy 
 fire ; it melts, heats, and promotes true unity by the 
 fusion of all into one ; it lifts hands that hang down, 
 and strengthens feeble knees; it is music in the 
 soul, such as may lift the emotions in rapture ; it is 
 heaven begun on earth. This I know from most 
 precious experience. It moves my soul to think of 
 it. I know I should rejoice in the company of 
 brethren in a Virginia Convention. God forbid 
 that I should, by any rule, be shut out from such a 
 privilege. I hope to see a day when I may again 
 enjoy it. 
 
 As I know of no special good I could do in going 
 to Convention this year, I had never allowed myself 
 to think of going, because of the distance, though 
 this is greatly reduced by railroad ; yet this I did 
 not anticipate when I allowed my mind to settle 
 down in the persuasion that it is best for me to re- 
 main at home. Some men are praised for being 
 
182 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMES MAY, D.D. 
 
 good listeners while others speak. Is there no praise 
 in being a good stayer-at-home ? Some must talk 
 and some must go from home, for business, office, 
 and high duty require it. I do not fall within that 
 category. My office and duty are here, unless some 
 call of Providence withdraws me. I trust I am ready 
 to obey such call. The time was when I was ambi- 
 tious. While a youth I had high aspirations and 
 schemes, and was agitated by restless desires for the 
 great things of this world. I think I may say that 
 spirit in me is broken. The Lord has led me by a 
 way that I knew not. I have been put under a yoke. 
 Oh ! how much I struggled ; yea, I may say, fought 
 and rebelled. I was as a bullock unaccustomed to 
 the yoke. Nature, poor fallen nature, was proud, 
 and vain, and stout, and selfish. It seemed as if 
 submission was out of the question. Convictions of 
 truth and duty, though clear and unquestionable, 
 seemed not of force to check an untamed spirit. 
 Many, many times has the contest cost me tears in 
 my chamber, and even in the public streets. I was 
 a great sinner, a wicked rebel. Years did not see 
 the end of this conflict ; nay, even twenty, or five 
 and twenty, did not count its time. But I trust it is 
 over. Whether it be by the mastery of grace, or by 
 the mere exhaustion of nature, the proud heart is 
 broken. T have seen enough of this world. I shrink 
 into quietness. The Gospel is sweet to my wounded 
 soul. It is a most precious balm. It is heavenly. 
 The truth that the Son of God, (not a creature, but) 
 the eternal Son of God, is the Saviour of poor lost 
 sinners such as I ; that he died under the burden of 
 our sins, and now lives in Divine power to give re- 
 
APPENDIX. 183 
 
 pentance and forgiveness, is the most glorious, the 
 most precious, the most quickening truth ever pro- 
 claimed in the hearing of men from the foundation 
 of the world. I have some hope for myself in that 
 blessed truth. When it comes to my spirit, oh ! it 
 is like living waters to a soul dying of thirst. To 
 preach this to others is to me, at times, unspeakably 
 joyful. My soul rises with the theme. It is refreshed 
 in the act of giving these living waters to others 
 who are thirsty. 
 
 Perhaps I err in pouring out to you thus my pri- 
 vate emotions. You may be led to presume that I 
 have had more experience in the good things of the 
 Gospel than I have had. I have been a dull, heavy, 
 reluctant, impatient learner. The point to which I 
 bring all I have said is, that I shrink from public 
 places. Whether it be weakness, or want of courage 
 and of energy, I do not know; but I confess to being 
 a conquered man. I yield and sink down. Many 
 schemes and hopes which, in my little sphere, 
 seemed big, are wholly gone, like dreams. I long 
 for quietness, and in quietness (if the Lord so favor 
 me) to preach Christ and Him crucified. Some of 
 my friends say I preach Christ too exclusively ; that 
 I lack variety, and do not dwell on other seasonable 
 or interesting topics. But I excuse myself. Others 
 do that thing (I mean touch on other topics), and in 
 more life than I can. My mission (if I have any) is 
 in quietness to preach Christ. 
 
 Now you may understand that if I stay at home, 
 it is from no want of interest in my brethren. Truly, 
 they are dear to me; dear for Christ's sake. But not 
 having now any call (so far as I see) to leave home, 
 
184 LIFE AND LETTERS OF JAMBS MAY, D.D. 
 
 may I not quietly attend to what concerns me here ? 
 As to the good to be done to the Seminary and the 
 Review* by my being at Convention, I have no per- 
 ception. According to your own showing, too, it is 
 no great matter. If I pray for you all, may I not do 
 something ? God forbid that I should cease to pray 
 for you. Some men are born to be legislators (as 
 we say, foeta nascitur, non fit). I was not. I shall 
 try to conserve the laws when made (reserving the 
 right of opinion about them, however). I do not 
 think I am a croaker. I believe the world is about 
 as good as it used to be, and I cannot but hope for 
 the happy progress of pure religion. But oh ! that 
 we could pray and look for the " pouring out of the 
 Spirit from on high." We may not be looking as 
 we ought for his coming upon us. We grieve him 
 by our pride and self-righteousness. We may make 
 canons till we fill volumes, such as the Corpus Juris 
 canonici and the Corpus Juris civilis put together. We 
 may fill the land with seminaries, and multiply 
 bishops like States, and build G-othic churches, and 
 practice all the little rules of ecclesiology ; but what 
 will all come to, if the Spirit of G-od be withheld ? We 
 shall have the clay figure, without the breath of life. 
 I am ashamed, for myself, when I think how little 
 the Spirit is sought for. My dear brother, you know 
 how vain are all attemps to promote life and unity 
 in the Church, without the living power of the Holy 
 Ghost. I fear we begin at the wrong side, that is 
 the outside, for true godliness is the Spirit dwelling 
 
 * The "Protestant Episcopal Review," which, during a large 
 part of its existence, was under the editorship of Dr. May. 
 
APPENDIX. 185 
 
 inwardly, as a well of living waters. "WTiat are all 
 attempts at unity, without his indwelling ? They are 
 iron bands around gnarled trunks, keeping together 
 an unsightly and useless mass, without life or growth. 
 I am ashamed of my letter ; and now, as I finish it, 
 have great scruples about sending it. It is so full 
 of myself that I fear you will think me incapable of 
 anything but egotism. Excuse me, and take a pledge 
 of love for yourself and all the brethren from your 
 brother, 
 
 James May. 
 

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