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MEMOIR 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. JOSEPH SANFORD,' A.M. 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 OP THE 
 
 REV. JOSEPH SANFORD, A.M. 
 
 PASTOR OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 BY ROBERT BAIRD. 
 
 " Soldier of Christ! well done ; 
 Praise be thy new employ ; 
 And while eternal ages run, 
 Rest in thy Saviour's joy." 
 
 J. MONTGOMERYt 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 HENRY PERKINS, CHESTNUT STREET. 
 BOSTOir: PERKINS & MARVIN. 
 
 1836. 
 
Entered according- to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by 
 Hexrt Perkixs, in the Clerk's Office of the District Coui-t of 
 the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 I. ASHMEAD AND CO. PHINTEHS. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It can scarcely be said that this volume is intended for 
 the public eye ; for it has been prepared especially, and al- 
 most exclusively, for the gratification and benefit of the nu- 
 merous friends of the subject of it. 
 
 It became known to several individuals, shortly after Mr. 
 Sanford's death, that he had left numerous letters and other 
 papers, which bear record of his uncommon piety; and 
 which, if published, might, with the blessing of God, be 
 instrumental in doing good. And a desire was expressed, 
 that the author should undertake the task of their selection 
 and arrangement. But incessant duties prevented his at- 
 tempting the work whilst he remained in America. And it 
 has only been by seizing the few hours of leisure which 
 other duties have allowed him, since his arrival in Europe, 
 that he has been able to accomplish the undertaking. He is 
 conscious that the work has been prepared under many dis- 
 advantages. With all its imperfections, however, he com- 
 mits it to the divine blessing, with the hope that it may con- 
 tribute to the promotion of that blessed kingdom which it 
 was so much the desire of the subject of it to advance, 
 whether living or dying. 
 
Vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To those who enjoyed the privilege of living under the 
 ministry of Mr. Sanford, and especially to those who were 
 connected to God, through his instrumentality, this Memoir 
 of their late excellent pastor is respectfully dedicated. That 
 it may be the means of forcibly reminding them of his 
 earnest and faithful sermons, and his unwearied efforts, on 
 their behalf, and of stirring them up to follow, with more 
 alacrity and constancy, the example of his faith and pa- 
 tience, is the prayer of, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Paris, March 7th, 1836. 
 
MEMOIR. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Sanford was born on the sixth day 
 of February, 1797. He was the youngest of three children. 
 His parents were originally from the town of Southbury, 
 Fairfield county, Connecticut. His father was the son of 
 Joseph and Ann Sanford. His mother was the daughter of 
 Thomas and Sarah Strong, all of Southbury, Connecticut. 
 It is believed that both his father and his grandfather were 
 soldiers in the memorable war which resulted in the estab- 
 lishment of the independence of our beloved country. His 
 parents, a few years after their marriage, removed from 
 Connecticut to Vermont, where the subject of these memoirs 
 was born. Shortly after that event they removed to Sara- 
 toga county, in the state of New York, where they continued 
 to reside until July 1816, when they again removed, and 
 settled in Cayuga county, in the same state. They were 
 both, there is good reason to believe, savingly acquainted 
 with the Lord Jesus Christ, and they carefully instructed 
 their children in the principles of the Christian religion. 
 His father died in the year 1826 ; his venerable mother is 
 still living. 
 
 The work of divine grace seems to have been commenced 
 in the heart of the subject of these memoirs at a very early 
 period. On this point he himself remarks, in some of his 
 writings — " From my earliest recollections I had always a 
 
 1 
 
2 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 peculiar veneration for serious persons and things." There 
 is reason to believe, that at the age of eight years his heart 
 had been renewed by the Spirit. His convictions of sin 
 were deep, and distressing, and long ; but he found peace 
 and hope through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He did 
 not, however, make a professioi^f religion, by uniting with 
 the visible church, until his thirteenth year. At the age of 
 fourteen he taught a district school, to the entire satisfaction 
 of his employers. 
 
 When in his eighteenth or nineteenth year, he began to 
 pursue classical studies, with the view of obtaining an edu- 
 cation at college, in order to qualify himself, so far as human 
 knowledge constitutes a qualification, for the holy ministry. 
 These preparatory studies seem to have been pursued chiefly 
 at the academies at Granville, in Washington county, and 
 Ballston, in Saratoga county, New York. Even at that 
 early period, it is the testimony of excellent men who resided 
 at that time in those villages, his piety had attained an un- 
 common degree of maturity. He was very active in every 
 effort which was made to do good. At the' request of the 
 proper persons, he took a prominent part in the prayer meet- 
 ings, and in the meetings for religious inquiry'. And decided 
 testimony is borne to the acceptableness and usefulness of 
 his exercises and labours on these occasions. The uncom- 
 mon talent for pfjpular addresses which he possessed in so 
 large a measure, and which he began even then to display, 
 rendered his exhortations at the small assemblages of the 
 people for religious purposes extremely acceptable. And 
 there is reason to believe, during this his earliest period of 
 preparation for preaching the everlasting gospel, he was the 
 instrument of great spiritual good to many persons. At the 
 same time it is abundantly shown, by testimony from the 
 most competent sources, that his diligence in study was un- 
 remitting and his success great. Both in Granville and 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 3 
 
 Ballston, as well as in the neighbourhood of Milton Academy, 
 where, when he was very young, he spent some time in 
 teaching the younger classes of that institution, his memory 
 is most atlectionately cherished by those who witnessed his 
 exemplary and Christian deportment, and his zealous and 
 discreet efforts to promote his Master's kingdom. 
 
 That Mr. Sanford, whilst labouring for the souls of others, 
 was not unmindful of his own soul, and its progress in grace, 
 is fully proved by the numerous memorials on that subject 
 which are to be found among his papers. To this class be- 
 long the striking and appropriate reflections which he was in 
 the habit of making at the juncture of the past and coming 
 year. The first record of these reflections which is to be 
 found among his papers, is that made of the last day of 1815 
 and the first of 1816. It is full of pious and solemn medi- 
 tations, befitting that interesting crisis. The succeeding one 
 is here subjoined, and cannot, we think, be read without 
 profit. 
 
 " Ballston, 31st Dec. 1816. 
 
 " This is truly an interesting moment. Another year is 
 just at its close. A few moments, and 'twill be numbered 
 with the years beyond the flood, and my account for it will 
 be sealed up to the judgment. My God, what an important 
 moment! How stand my accounts with God? Are my 
 sins repented of? Is the pardon for my transgressions 
 scaled? Have I given myself away to God? Am I Christ's 
 by the covenant of grace ? Is he mine, really mine — en- 
 tirely mine, eternally mine ; the Lord my righteousness, all 
 my salvation and all my desire? Am I clothed with his 
 righteousness, and have I been washed in his blood ? Have 
 I ever made an entire surrender of myself to God, soul and 
 body, for time and for eternity? Oh, eternal, unchangeable, 
 omnipotent, all-wise, all-holy, self-existent, uncaused, omni- 
 
4 t MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 scient, omnipresent, heart-searching, sin-hating, sin-avenging, 
 prayer- hearing, prayer-answering, sinner- pardoning God ! at 
 whose incommunicable name the devils tremble, and at whose 
 awful voice the earth quakes — by the breath of whose dis- 
 pleasure the wicked are slain, and the universe melted down 
 — from whose presence the heavens flee away, — wilt thou 
 be pleased, in and through Jesus Christ, to look down through 
 the confounding interval which lies between us, upon a sinful 
 worm, and behold mc in Christ with pity and compassion. 
 For Christ's sake alone wilt thou pardon my sins, blot them 
 from thy book, and fold down the leaf for an eternal con- 
 cealment when they are recorded. Enable me to give my- 
 self in a covenant to thee ; and here, on the evening of the 
 31st December, 1816, in the full exercise of all the powers 
 and faculties of my mind, desiring the assistance of thy 
 grace, do solemnly dedicate myself, soul and body, uncon- 
 ditionally and eternally to thee. 
 
 Thine would I live, thine would I die. 
 Be thine throug-h all eternity: 
 The vow is past, beyond repeal, 
 And now I set the solemn seal. 
 
 Ratify in heaven, oh ever-blessed and glorious Trinity, that 
 which has now been done upon earth. And oh, holy Father, 
 wilt thou be my reconciled Father and my covenant-keeping 
 God ! Oh, Jesus, Master, wilt thou be the Lord my righte- 
 ousness and the Lord my strength, all my salvation and nil 
 my desire! Oh, Holy Spirit, wilt thou be my sanctifier 
 and comforter ! And oh, mysterious union of persons, in- 
 comprehensible Jehovah God, wilt thou guide, guard, dii-cct 
 and protect me during the year upon which I now have en- 
 tered; and, if consistent with thy holy will, wilt thou spare 
 my life, continue my health, the use of my reason and my 
 limbs, and make me useful in my day and generation. But 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 5 
 
 prepare me for all thy will concerning me, and whether living 
 or dying may I be the Lord's. May God grant it for Christ's 
 sake. Amen. Jan. 1st, 1817." 
 
 On the 19th day of September, 1817, Mr. Sanford entered 
 the Sophomore class in Union College, Schenectady, New 
 York. Of the events of the three important years which he 
 spent in that excellent institution, and the spiritual blessings 
 which he enjoyed under its distinguished president and pro- 
 fessors, he has left the following memoranda. 
 
 First session. College duties arduous. No opportunity 
 for social intercourse. Few religious acquaintances. Spent 
 my few hours of relaxation in solitude and retirement, although 
 surrounded by a multitude. Find no congenial souls. Ac- 
 tuated by a sense of duty, I had the misfortune to offend my 
 class, by reciting, contrary to their wishes. A part of them 
 were, for awhile, very insolent ; some threatened violence ; 
 but I stood in silent, unheeding, self-approving confidence, 
 and the storm blew quickly over. Nothing of importance 
 took place. My health, which was poor when I entered, be- 
 gan to improve. I think that I had much joy and peace in 
 believing. Some hours, long to be remembered, in the still- 
 ness of midnight, when the noisy, thoughtless crowd were 
 locked in slumber, and through *' globe's dark solitude no 
 mortal wak'd but me." Then my soul seemed to stretch her 
 pinions for the heavens, and to hold communion with her Sa- 
 viour. Delightful seasons, oh, return ! Examination took 
 place on the 16th and 17th of December- Vacation of three 
 weeks. Spent it in Ballston very pleasantly- Returned to 
 Schenectady, January 9th. Roomed with Bishop.* Staid 
 
 • At present a very wortliy and devoted minister and mission- 
 ary in the Sandwich Islands. 
 
 1* 
 
6 ME3I0IR OF THE 
 
 at college four weeks ; returned to Ballston to spend the re- 
 mainder of the term. 
 
 TO Z. S. ESa., FORMERLY OF GRANVILLE, IV. Y. 
 
 ''Ballston, February dth, 1818. 
 
 *' MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 " Being very providentially in Ballston to spend the Sab- 
 bath, I had the happiness to hear from Granville by Mrs. O. 
 Believe me, my dear sir, it afforded me no ordinary degree 
 of satisfaction to learn that your esteemed family were well. 
 And although my last has not been answered, I cannot forego 
 the pleasure of forwarding a line ; and a line is all this mo- 
 mentary opportunity will allow. My health, since I last 
 saw you in Salem, has been good. I entered Union College 
 on the 19th of September last, where I have been mostly 
 since confined. And if God should spare my life, and con- 
 tinue my health, I shall not complete my collegiate course 
 until the April of 1820. But this period will soon be gone. 
 Time's mighty current rolls the wheel of man's existence ; 
 and the spring of childhood, the summer of youth, autumnal 
 manhood, and wintry age, are alike affected by the move- 
 ment. The little moments which compose our life, on wings 
 unnumbered flit away. Each pursues its predecessor, and 
 is swiftly pursued by its successor, and soon the last will fly. 
 Oh, to be wise to improve them ! ' Heaven's on the wing.' 
 Let us fix the citadel of our hopes far above the commotions 
 which agitate this lower world. 
 
 " I am very anxious to see you all, and speak face to face ; 
 but I cannot tell when I shall enjoy that happiness. A con- 
 veyance is hard to be obtained, and my studies are pressing. 
 I now expect to spend the remainder of the term in Ballston. 
 I can study here to advantage. It will be about six weeks. 
 Do let me hear from you. Give my best respects to your 
 family. May God throw around you the arms of his 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 7 
 
 protecting providence, and bless you with his free and rich 
 salvation." 
 
 March 9th. On account of an increasing debility laid 
 aside my studies. I am almost distracted with pain in my 
 head. 
 
 Went to New York about the last of March, and returned 
 the last of April ; but was advised by Dr. Nott and other 
 officers not to resume my studies. Spent May in Ballston. 
 Went west in June, and visited Geneva, Canandaigua, and 
 Rochester, and returned to Schenectady, on the Monday be- 
 fore commencement. Spent the succeeding vacation at Mil- 
 ton, and returned with improved health to college, September 
 18th, and recommenced my studies. Oh God, make me 
 grateful for past mercies ! 
 
 Junior year. Studies more agreeable. Was able to 
 pursue my studies far beyond my expectation. Had several 
 short seasons of illness, but they did not, in all, hinder me 
 more than ten days. Have abundant reason to adore the 
 goodness of Almighty God for the mercies I enjoy, numerous 
 as the moments of my existence, and rich with immortal 
 hopes. Examination took place, December 17th. Vacation 
 was spent in Ballston. 
 
 TO MR. U. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 " New York, October 2Ath, 1819. 
 " I can mingle my thanksgivings with yours, my dear 
 friend, that your health is so far restored that you have been 
 again up to the house of the Lord, and have renewed your 
 vows in his holy temple. Oh, may he grant you grace to 
 fulfil them. My soul can say with yours, ' that it is good 
 to be afflicted.' Oh, how it softens the heart, sweetens the 
 temper, revives the drooping graces of the Christian. It 
 improves his views of earthly and heavenly things, by re- 
 
8 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 moving the dust that collects around him, from being 'of the 
 earth — earthy,' and having so much to do with earthly things. 
 Oh, we not only know but feel that these very afflictions are 
 for our immediate good. The rod is a branch from the tree 
 of life, and it is in the hands of our Redeemer ; and we will 
 bless him for every stripe, and every smart ; we will kiss 
 the rod, and the hand that holds it, and endeavour by his 
 grace to say with David, ' Before I was afflicted I went 
 astray, but now have I kept thy word.' 
 
 " I have had some blessed seasons lately, some seasons when 
 I felt that God was near, that I could call him my Father- 
 Oh, what a privilege, to be admitted not only into the audi- 
 ence-chamber, but into the very banqueting-house of the 
 King of kings, to feed on children's, yes, on angel's food. 
 
 * Oh, to grace how great a debtor 
 Daily I'm consti-ained. to be,' 
 
 We are the King's soldiers, and if he permits us to sit at his 
 table, how faithful ought we to be. 
 
 " I have been through the New York hospital. The sight 
 was painfully interesting, to see so much poverty and wretch- 
 edness, and yet to see it rendered comparatively happy by 
 kindness and care. The lunatic department presented less 
 that was loathsome, but more that was afTectinc:. To see 
 persons in the vigour of life and health, with reason de- 
 throned, is an awful spectacle. Let age and disease crumble 
 down the body, it is not so difficult to be borne. But when 
 the immortal mind is in ruins, it is a more awful calamity, 
 it is of more tremendous import. But what amazing debts 
 of gratitude do we owe the Preserver of men, that we enjoy 
 the use of all the powers of the mind as well as the body. 
 How we should improve them ! To-morrow we may be the 
 prey of disease. Tiie air we breathe may contain the seeds 
 of death — some accident may derange the curious and com- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFOKD. 9 
 
 plicated mechanism of the body. The torch of reason, of 
 intellect, may be at once extinguished, and we may be vir- 
 tually blotted out from the records of the living ; and as to 
 all purposes of usefulness or enjoyment, be as though wc had 
 never been. Oh, let us seize the passing hour — improve 
 the moments as they fly." 
 
 December Z\st. In the enjoyment of blessings which I can 
 neither number nor name, I am brought near the close of 
 another year — a year commenced in the best of health, but 
 in the course of which I have been brought to contemplate 
 wasting disease and an opening sepulchre. It has witnessed 
 my prospects clouded, my hopes blighted, my studies inter- 
 rupted, my health declining, and all my highest, fondest 
 earthly expectations sinking to the earth. But the Lord Je- 
 hovah reigns, and reigns a God of consolation. And he is 
 as kind and compassionate, when mantled in more than 
 chaotic darkness, as when we behold him looking down upon 
 us in all the tenderness of suffering sympathy, and all the 
 ardour of a Saviour's love. Now, at the close of the year, 
 1 am enjoying health and happiness ; and a thousand argu- 
 ments combine to call forth heart-felt acknowledgments of 
 purest, warmest gratitude. Here will I raise my Ebenezer. 
 Lord, thou hast been my helper through all the dangers of 
 anotli r year. But in that year which is just ending I have 
 done nothing for thee, thou Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer 
 of men. Oh Jesus, Master, wash me afresh in thy blood ; 
 forgive all my sins ; forgive my coldness, my ingratitude. 
 May this year not bear testimony against me in the court of 
 heaven. Seal not up its report for the great day, but cancel 
 all my iniquities and my frailties with thy most precious 
 blood. And, oh God of eternity, have mercy upon me, a 
 poor sinful creature here, in time, and may I live to thy 
 
10 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 glory, and as one of thy children. In the course of this year 
 
 I have witnessed but the clock strikes — it is gone — hid 
 
 in the mighty caverns of the past. — Another to that eternity 
 which has gone by ! But I shall see this mighty volume all 
 unrolled — mighty volume, rolled hacTt, rolled onward! 
 Dreadful, delightful day ! Jesus, Jesus, be thou my friend I 
 
 Read Numbers xxi. 5 — 9, in connexion with Rev. v. 6 — 14. 
 John i. 29 : " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away 
 the sin of the world." The passage in numbers is all a type, 
 and Jesus Christ is the great antitype — looking on the brazen 
 serpent represents believing on Christ. He himself says, 
 *' As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so shall 
 the Son of Man be lifted up." 
 
 Returned to college January 18th, and recommenced 
 studies as usual. Roomed alone. Some seasons of serious 
 illness; lost as much as ten or twelve days during the term. 
 Examination early in April. Visited New York ; returned 
 and visited Salem, Granville, &c. Session began early in 
 May. Studies very agreeable. Health good .during the 
 first few weeks of the term, but declined with the approach 
 of wai*m weather. Discontinued study almost entirely three 
 weeks before the end of the term. Commencement on the 
 28th of July. Spent the vacation in visiting Albany, Water- 
 ford, Lansingburg, Cambridge, Salem, Granville, &ic. dec, 
 and returned to college in cood health. 
 
 Senior year — September 24th, 1819. The last year 
 placed me under tremendous obligations to devote myself to 
 God. What a mass of this world's population did it carry 
 from the earth, while I was left behind ! Oh, may I inscribe 
 '■'^ Jehovah Jirch" upon some monument of gratitude, and may 
 it appear on earth and in heaven that I was not spared in 
 vain. The weather is very fine, health very good, studies 
 agreeable. Have my dearest friend on earth, for a room- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 11 
 
 male. Dr. Nott's recitation interesting. Dr. M'Aulcy goes 
 to Malta to-day, to organize a church ; very flattering ap- 
 pearances of a revival of religion. 
 
 Dec. \bth. Went to Ballston and Malta, saw what won- 
 ders the Lord is doing, and, hlessed be God, hope that I felt 
 some of the celestial fire. Saw things new and glorious. A 
 communion season at Malta ; about thirty were added to the 
 church. Dr. M. seemed inspired, and spoke in strains more 
 than mortal. Attended anxious meetings, where from fifty 
 to one hundred and fifty were most deeply agitated under a 
 sense of sin. 
 
 Milton, Dec. Z\st. A few more hours, and another event- 
 ful year will have fled for ever ! I have enjoyed mercies 
 which I cannot enumerate. While death has made more 
 than ordinary ravages in the ranks of human society, my 
 unprofitable life has been spared. Oh, that there were a 
 heart in me to acknowledge God's goodness. Oh, that this 
 departing year might not leave me with my sins unrcpented 
 of, but that it might carry, along with its record of my mer- 
 cies and my crimes, my gratitude and my penitence. I have 
 been too cold and inactive in the cause of Christ; but, blessed 
 be God, I feel somewhat awake, not only to a sense of God's 
 goodness in sparing me- through another year, but of my 
 guilt in loving him no more and serving him no better. May 
 I never again become so stupid and so indiflerent in the cause 
 of my Master, and never so attached to a fleeting, fading 
 world. Several of my acquaintances and friends have gone 
 during the last year to eternity. Yesterday I saw L. M. ; 
 she appears to be going. A few days ago she was in health ; 
 now, a confirmed consumption has faded the rose on her 
 cheek, wasted her frame, blighted her hopes, blasted her 
 earthly prospects. May I have faith to present her case be- 
 fore the throne of grace, where Christ, the healer of the 
 Gentiles, sits to hear and save. What an affecting insignifi- 
 
12 MEMOIK OF THE 
 
 cance does such a providence stamp on all things below the 
 stars. Oh God, teach me how short my life is, and give me 
 grace to prepare for death, and to improve for eternity. If 
 consistent with thy most holy will, spare me through the 
 coming year, prepare me for the ministry of reconciliation. 
 Warm my heart, purify my motives, quicken my zeal, 
 strengthen my faith ; and may thy Spirit cherish all my 
 Christian graces, and lead me into all truth. Oh, do not 
 suffer me to be deceived ; but wilt thou search my heart, 
 and try my thoughts, and establish me on the rock of ages. 
 Accept my gratitude for the mercies of the past year, and 
 sissist me to commit the keeping of my frail body and my 
 immortal soul to thee for the time to come. Do thou accept 
 and bless me for Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 January I2th, 1820. Returned to college. Felt a de- 
 sire unusually ardent that God would pour out his spirit on 
 the college. Some of the brethren feel actually more en- 
 gaged. 
 
 February 2d. God has made an awful visit to us. Mr. 
 A. C. H. of Shaftsbury, Vermont, died suddenly after an 
 illness of only three days. Prayed that the mighty power 
 which dealt the blow would sanctify it to the good of souls. 
 The officers. Dr. M'Auley in particular, improved the provi- 
 dence. The corpse was carried into Dr. M'A.'s study-room, 
 who, in language more than mortal, urged those to repent- 
 ance who came in to see it. 
 
 God was pleased to bless these timely warnings, and to 
 awaken many to make the inquiry, " What shall I do to be 
 saved ?" Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his good- 
 ness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. 
 About the Iti.st of February the work was at its height. New 
 instances of awakening and conversion were heard of every 
 day. But unable to pursue my collegiate studies, and my 
 exertions, though feeble, being needed in other places, 1 left 
 
HEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 13 
 
 college and went to Saratoga county, where God was open- 
 ing the windows of heaven and raining down spiritual bless- 
 ings in overwhelming abundance. At the same time the 
 work was going on powerfully in Stillwater, Malta, Ballston, 
 Galway, Amsterdam, and Schenectady. 
 
 March. Spent some time in Galway, and witnessed 
 scenes never to be forgotten. Miss W. apparently near her 
 end. Made a short visit to Granville, returned and called 
 upon her for the last time, the day before she died. Found 
 her sweetly reposing her confidence on the arm and the 
 mercy of Jesus, and calmly waiting till her change come. 
 She died in peace : she sleeps in Jesus ; and her ransomed 
 spirit, released from its earthly prison, climbs unlettered the 
 heights of the celestial city, and mingles in the anthems of 
 eternity. 
 
 Passed immediately to New York — found my friends in 
 good health. Spent three or four days, and then, for the 
 first time, visited Princeton, N. J., in company with my 
 friend and benefactor, D. S. Lyon, Esq. While at Princeton 
 attended the ordination of Mr. Chapman, one of the mission- 
 aries to the Osage Indians. Mr. WoodhuU preached. Dr. 
 Miller gave the charge. Dr. Alexander made the conse- 
 crating prayer. Returned to New York. Preparations are 
 making to fit out the mission and family. Never did a 
 holier enthusiasm animate the minds of the good people of 
 New York. The mission family consists of 21 persons. 
 They met for the first time in the Middle Dutch Church, the 
 next evening in the Brick Church ; at both places appropri- 
 ate prayers and addresses were made. The next day, the 
 day of their departure, they met in the Consistory of the 
 Garden-street Church. From thence they went to the boat, 
 in waiting to receive them. Here parting hymns were sung, 
 parting hands were given, parting prayers were offered, and 
 they left their native land amid the supplications of thou- 
 2 
 
14 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 sands ; amid the shouts, no doubt of exulting angels, and the 
 smiles of approving heaven. 
 
 Spent a few days with the Rev. T. Osborne, at West 
 Farms. Returned to Schenectady to finish my collegiate 
 course. The session unusually pleasant. Lectures on 
 chemistry, &c. very interesting. The session ends July 
 26th. Verily, the Lord has been my helper. Oh, that my 
 future life may be more devoted to the service and glory of 
 God. Left Schenectady in less than two weeks after the 
 commencement, to visit my dear aged parents. Found them 
 in health, on the evening of the 8th of August, after an ab- 
 sence of more than two years. Passed through Geneva, 
 Canandaigua, to Rochester, and thence to Niagara Falls. 
 
 September. Took leave of my parents ; returned to Sche- 
 nectady ; spent about a week at Dr. M'Auley's, and came 
 to New York the last of the month. Spent the month of 
 October in the hospitable and dear family of Mr. L. Blessed 
 be God for some degree of deadness to the Morld. Oh, suf- 
 fer me never more to feel it to be my continuing city ; but 
 may I seek one to come, made without hands, where the in- 
 habitants shall never say " I am sick," and where friends 
 never part. Oh, may I there meet those friends who have 
 died in the Lord. A good work of grace seems to be begin- 
 ning in Dr. Spring's congregation. Attended some inter- 
 esting meetings. Really, God seems to be in the midst of 
 them. Conversed with some of the hopeful subjects of it. 
 Oh, how Christians speak the same language, have the same 
 hopes and fears, joys and sorrows and prospects. 
 
 November ^th. Left New York for Princeton, to com- 
 mence my theological studies- Oh God, wilt thou not go 
 with me and bless me ? else sufler mc not to go hence. I 
 rcnewedly cast myself upon thee. Through Jesus own mc 
 for a child, and may 1 be obedient and jealous for thine 
 honour. 
 
RTV. JOSEPH SANFOnn. 15 
 
 It is proper to remark hero, that Mr. Sanford maintained, 
 througliout his entire course at college, a high character lor 
 sound and ardent piety. He was greatly respected by the 
 members of the faculty of that college, and beloved by his 
 fellow students ; and although his studies were pursued un- 
 der some disadvantages arising from the want of continued 
 health, yet his standing in his class was very respectable. 
 
 After leaving college, Mr. S. addressed the following letter 
 to his friend, Mr. H. D., of Ballston, N. Y. 
 
 TO MR. ir. D. OF BALLSTON, JV. Y. 
 
 "iYeu' York, Sept. 2Sth, 162(). 
 
 " I was unable to obtain a seat at Schenectady on Tuesday, 
 and so could not leave until Wednesday morning at five — 
 and this morning, at half past six, arrived in this city- 
 
 " The state of the fever in Savannah has become less alarm- 
 ing, but it is still dangerous to visit those southern towns. 
 The Rev. Sylvester Larned, of New Orleans, is no more ; 
 he fell a victim to the fever about the 19th of September. 
 So pass away the hopes of men ! The remark is often made, 
 that genius is almost always short in its career. 
 
 " Where the mind is ardent, whatever may fire that ardour, 
 it will soon exhaust the body. Our bodies at best are de- 
 caying tabernacles, the tottering tenements of rebellious souls. 
 But while we can say by one part of our nature to ' cor- 
 ruption, thou art my father,' and to the ' worm, thou art my 
 mother, and my sister,' by another part of that nature we 
 are allied to angels, and if born again, are heirs to crown.s 
 and kingdoms. Not crowns that will fade, and kingdoms 
 that some ambitious and successful rival may take away, 
 but crowns of immortal glory, kingdoms of unfading gran- 
 deur and beauty, to which our title deed is the promise and 
 the oath of the everlasting God. Oh, how I pity the thought- 
 less worldling, who aims at no inheritance but his heaps of 
 
16 >iE>roin OF the 
 
 shining dust — dust, to be sure, of some relative value ; but 
 to him with that contracted heart, and with that sleepless, 
 grinding avarice, mere contemptible trash. Verily, a ' soul 
 immortal,' spending all her ' fires' about the paltry busi- 
 ness of the world, resembles 
 
 ' ocean into tempest tost, 
 
 To waft a feather or to drown a fly.' 
 
 " I had no design of giving yoii useful hints on the subject 
 of loving the world. I well know your ideas on that sub- 
 ject, and I highly approve them, and sincerely hope, that you 
 will not only practise upon such correct opinions, but endea- 
 vour to disseminate them, since there are so many excellent 
 men, who seem to think that ' to be rich' is the chief end 
 of man. 
 
 " But, blessed be God, we have higher and nobler aims. 
 We ho])C tliat we have tasted too often of the love of God, 
 to relish the husks of time and sense. In the course of the 
 last winter we often found ourselves in the banqueting-house 
 of the King of kings, while ' his banner over us was love.' 
 Have we not, my brother, been often fed with children's 
 food, while we were unworthy of the falling crumbs ! Verily, 
 the grace of God is so rich and so free, the love of God is so 
 deep and so broad, the arm of the Lord is so mighty, and 
 his favour so immutable, that when wc are satisfied that he, 
 with all his fulness, has become ours, and that we, in spite 
 of our unworthincss, have been made his, we may bid a bold 
 defiance to all the attacks of Satan, and the world without 
 and around us, and Satan and the flesh within us. Jesus 
 Christ is indeed a ' strong tower, to which the righteous flee 
 and are safe,' whatever may befall them. Satan may vent 
 his rage, the malice of men may seize and confine my body, 
 they cannot confine my soul from communion with God. 
 They may break my body on the wheel, susi)cnd it on the 
 
REV. JOSKPH SANFORl). 17 
 
 gibbet, burn it in the fire, and scatter my ashes to the winds 
 end the waves, I am safe, blessed Jesus, and my sleeping 
 dust is under the notice of thine eye, and its scattered par- 
 ticles arc safe under thy protecting care ; and whether it 
 flies in the air, floats in the ocean, or vegetates on the earth, 
 the voice, that voice that wakes the dead, will start it from 
 its slumbers, and, refined and purified by the resurrection, it 
 will bloom in immortal youth and beauty, a fit tenement for 
 a blood-washed spirit, and a fit inhabitant for the city of Zion. 
 Oh, my brother, let thoughts of God and glory fill our minds, 
 and animate us on our journey. Let the past time of our 
 lives more than suffice us to have lived in stupidity, for our 
 veriest zeal has been little less than stupidity. And while 
 here in this world, let us animate and provoke each other to 
 love and good works ; and if we are so happy as to meet 
 before the throne, we will emulate each other in swelling the 
 immortal anthems of eternity. 
 
 " Make my best and warmest wishes to my dear friends. 
 Since 1 tegan to write, the morning paper has been put in 
 my hands, and I learn that the fever at the south fs as violent 
 as ever. Mr. Larned died on the 19th of September, after 
 an illness of four days. Mrs. Larned has lost her mother, 
 brother and child, and now her husband, in less than twelve 
 months." 
 
 In tlic autumn of 1820 Mr. Sanford entered the Theologi- 
 cal Seminary at Princeton, N. J., with the view of prose- 
 cuting his studies for the holy ministry. In that distinguished 
 institution he remained three years, under the instruction of 
 its eminent professors. During this whole period he was 
 remarkably attentive to his duties as a student, preparing for 
 the high office which he had in view. He was most assi- 
 duous in his efforts to acquire the knowledge which the sa- 
 cred office demands, and which that institution so richly 
 
 2* 
 
18 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 furnishes. His time was most conscientiously devoted to 
 his studies. Nothing was slighted. The opinions and sug- 
 gestions of his beloved and venerated teachers were always 
 listened to by him with profound regard and consideration. 
 In this respect few men have passed through a theological 
 seminary with greater, if equal, propriety of deportment. 
 For although he was far from being deficient in self-respect 
 and independence of mind, yet he was modest, respectful, 
 and most dignified, in all his intercourse with his professors. 
 He went to the institution to learn. He had entire confi- 
 dence in the qualifications of his instructers ; and no man 
 ever left that institution more respected by those revered 
 teachers. He left it, giving abundant evidence that he had 
 well employed his time and opportunities. His standing as 
 a scholar was highly respectable. The essays which he 
 wrote, in compliance with requirements of the institution, 
 display a vigorous mind. On one or two occasions he was 
 chosen by his fellow students to perform the highest offices 
 which their associations prescribe. One of these was the 
 delivering of the annual or semi-annual oration before the 
 Society of Inquiry on the subject of Missions. 
 
 But, however respectable Mr. Sanford's standing was as a 
 student and a scholar, his ardent piety was far more promi- 
 nent. He was, during the whole period, distinguished for 
 his dignified, consistent, holy and devoted life. All who 
 knew him were deeply impressed with his serious and most 
 exemplary deportment. He was a man of much prayer. 
 He was solemn, habitually serious, but not morose. There 
 was a spirituality, a holy unction, pervading his conduct and 
 conversation, which made it manifest that he was a holy man, 
 conversant with the heavenly, the hidden life, — the life of God 
 in the soul of man. 
 
 Respecting this portion of Mr. Sanford's life the reader 
 will find ample and interesting details in the following ex- 
 tracts from his letters and journal. 
 
REV. JOSEPH S.VNFORD. 19 
 
 Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J. 
 November, 1820. 
 Here I desire to erect my Ebenezer. The Lord has in- 
 deed been my helper. When dilficulties and embarrassments 
 lay across my path, he has removed them. When danger 
 threatened, he has been my deliverer. When I have been 
 wasted by sickness, and brought nigh unto death, he has 
 been my healer. When I have been in darkness, he has 
 caused his face to shine. He has given me friends and bene- 
 factors ; he has fed and clothed me ; he has soothed my 
 sorrows, and wiped away my tears ; he has carried my bur- 
 dens ; he has chosen the changes, regulated the events, and 
 managed the little concerns of my hitherto useless life. Oh, 
 what was I, that he should watch over my childhood, when 
 my careless footsteps had not learned to run in the way of 
 his commandments? What was I that he should give me 
 pious parents, through whose tender care and instructions, 
 with the blessing of the Spirit, my mind was early called to 
 the business of preparation for death and improvement for 
 eternity? What was I that he should bear with the follies, 
 reclaim the wanderings, and restore the backslidings of my 
 earlier as well as my later years? What was I, that he 
 should early implant a desire in my heart to be employed in 
 the holy office of the Christian ministry, and that in spite of 
 my indigence and obscurity, he should aflbrd mo the means 
 of education, and place me now in this seat of sacred science, 
 thus granting one of my most ardent wishes? I am his by 
 every tie that can bind a creature to the throne of its Creator, 
 that can endear an unworthy, a rebellious child, to the kind- 
 est and best of Parents. And oh, thou Preserver of men, am 
 I indeed thine by a living and a life-giving faith, though the 
 most unworthy of thy children? It is all of grace, from first 
 to last. And wilt thou enable me to enter on a course of 
 immediate preparation for the gospel ministry ? Wilt thou 
 
20 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 grant mc thy special blessing in all my studies ? Wilt thou 
 dwell in me as a spirit of wisdom, of humility, of illumina- 
 tion, of sanctification, of consolation? Warm my heart, 
 purify my motives, and, if it might j)lcase thee, spare my 
 life, continue my health, and in thine own due time permit 
 me to enter the field clad in thy might, armed with the whole 
 armour of God ; and permit me to perform some humble 
 part in thy service in the glorious cause that thou art carry- 
 ing forward on earth ; and finally grant mc grace that I may 
 not disiionour thy cause in death, but may I depart in peace, 
 yea, in triumph. Take me in mercy under thy special care; 
 I desire to commit my way unto the Lord, and do thou direct 
 my paths; and whatever in thy providence may be in reserve 
 for me, whether prosperity or adversity, long life or early 
 death, I desire to rejoice only and continually in the assurance 
 that thou wilt do all things well. 
 
 TO MR. H. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 ''Princeton, Nov. IGlJt, 1820. 
 "Yours by Mr. G. came duly to hand in this place, where 
 I have already spent more than a week. To say that your 
 letter afil)rded me much pleasure would be useless, for you 
 know that already. But were I not selfish, I could not pos- 
 sibly find time to answer it so soon. My time here will be 
 completely occupied in performing the various duties that de- 
 volve upon me as a student of theology — a candidate for that 
 holy office, under the weight of whose responsibilities a man 
 or an angel would sink, without the supports of Ciod's grace. 
 Oh, I never before had such overwhelming views of that 
 sacred office! For an unworthy sinner like me, who have 
 been for more than twenty years a transgressor of God's 
 law; with a heart so vile, affections so earthly, faith so weak, 
 so much fear of the world and conformity to it, witli so much 
 impurity in my best motives, and so much imperfection in 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 21 
 
 my best services, — in a word, so very a wretch in the sight 
 of God, to think of speaking in his name! Ob, why does 
 he not make the confounding challenge, ' Who hath re- 
 quired this at your hands?' He is a God of matchless con- 
 descension, to suifer such rebels against his government to 
 live ; to devise a plan of salvation ; to come as the ' man of 
 sorrows ;' to redeem those that were under the law ; to suf- 
 fer in our name ; to pay the debt we owed to that law ; to 
 blot out the hand writing against us ; to come as the Holy 
 Spirit ; to raise us from death to life, from sin to grace; then 
 to give us grace for grace, change our state hereafter from 
 grace to glory, and then from glory to glory ! Oh, it is 
 compassion like a God, it is a theme too high for angels. 
 And when the ransomed of the Lord are gathered in, it will 
 be sounded in strains higher and nobler than ever rung from 
 a seraph's lyre. Oh, my brother, we will weep together 
 for our astonishing coldness and apathy ; but we will rejoice 
 together too, for such great and precious promises. We 
 will try in God's strength to live more to his glory. We 
 will think more and more of the scenes of Gethsemane and 
 Calvary, and clinging more closely to the bloody tree, will 
 cry to that Jesus who once hung thereon, but is now en- 
 throned on high, to keep us from falling, and to present us 
 at last as redeemed sinners, glorified before his Father and 
 our Father, his God and our God." 
 
 TO Z. S., ESQ. 
 
 ''Princeton, Dec. 1st, 1820. 
 " You once told me that I must not pass debtor and cre- 
 ditor with you on the scale of correspondence. I therefore 
 write as often as I can make it convenient. My letter from 
 Schenectady in Septemter last must have miscarried ; but 
 my only regret is, that I have been deprived of the pleasure 
 of your answers. When I call to mind the history of our 
 
22 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 fricndsliip, I almost pant for that state of being wlien it will 
 be consumnnatecl. 
 
 " My situation here is pccuharly pleasant, associated with 
 about seventy young men, all preparing for that sacred office 
 under the weight of whose responsibilities a man or an angel 
 would sink without the support of God's rich grace. Oh, 
 my dear friend, in your happiest moments, when you are in 
 the exercise of a lively faith — when the distance between 
 earth and heaven seems annihilated — when God is sensibly 
 near, and you feel him yours, and tell him all your wants 
 with the confidence and the fondness of a child, and are so 
 filled and melted with his love that you feel your heaven be- 
 gun, — oh then remember me, unworthy me. Pray that 
 God would enable me to live to his glory ; that lie would 
 arm me for the field of battle ; make me, sinner as I am, a 
 herald of the cross ; that I may be enabled to consecrate 
 every energy to his service, and be willing to sacrifice and 
 suffl'r all things, if it be necessary, for him ; to give myself 
 exclusively to him, that I may live in him, and in death not 
 dishonour him. Do not think that I have been disgusted 
 with the world; no, it is God's world, and although fallen, it 
 is not forsaken ; though abased, it is not abandoned. I am 
 too much attached to it ; yet I feel its emptiness when com- 
 pared with Jesus Christ. I desire to live above it, for other- 
 wise it will constantly mar my peace and interrupt me in a 
 divine life. 
 
 " God has been pleased to grant me some precious seasons 
 lately. 1 confess that this docs give me a disrelish for the 
 world which I wish I could always feel. But if the world, 
 and the flesh, and the adversary were overcome, where were 
 the warfare ? It is one of the articles of the new covenant 
 ' that we walk by faith, not by sight ;' so that although we 
 may enjoy seasons when faith is almost lost in vision, yet in 
 mercy to our frailty those seasons arc short. Flesh would 
 
HEY. JOSEPir SANFORD. '-I'd 
 
 sink — a walk of faith is best adai)tcd to our circumstances 
 and our duties." 
 
 Sabbath, December 'ilst, \f<2Q. This day brings with it 
 many manifestations of the love and goodness of God. He 
 has spared me almost through the events, and changes, and 
 desolations of another year. Oh, that 1 could begin and end 
 every year with a sabbath, and with a sacrament ! To-day 
 I hope to meet Jesus at his own tabic, and there, while I take 
 and taste the symbols of his body and his blood, may I have 
 such views of his fitness and fulness as I have never had 
 before. Jesus, Master, grant me the preparation of the 
 heart. May the world be left behind ; may no thought Ix; 
 suffered to wander to improper objects ; but do lliou jiossess 
 my heart and sway my affections.' — I have taken another 
 oath to be thine for ever. Oh, maintain thine empire in my 
 heart, thou blessed Spirit, and carry on the work of sanctifi- 
 cation. Subdue all the corruption of my nature. Take of 
 the things of Christ, and show them unto me. Set thy seal 
 upon my heart unto the day of redemption. Jesus, Master, 
 let me fly to thy bosom ; " hide me, oh my Saviour, hide me 
 l)eneath the shadow of thy wing." The year is almost gone: 
 many who coninicnccd it with fair prospects of longevity, 
 have been long sleeping beneath the clods of the valley. I 
 have seen my friends sinking in the arms of death, and so 
 read the loud admonition to be also ready. Oh, may I 
 not forget the impressions made upon my mind by death-bed 
 scenes. May I never again be attached to the world. May 
 I keep the end of my short journey in sight ; and when I 
 face the king of terrors, wilt thou stand by me to be my sup- 
 port ; and may I pillow my liead, my sinking head, upon 
 thy compassionate bosom, and sweetly sleep in thee ! 
 
 During the last year I have seen a glorious revival of re- 
 ligion, in which liundreds began their immortal song. Oh, 
 
34 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 my Saviour, carry on thy cause in my heart and throughout 
 the world. 
 
 Conversation this afternoon on the best method of closing 
 the year. Many good remarks were made on the subject of 
 humility, penitence, and new resolutions to live to God's 
 glory. My Father in heaven, make me humble, penitent; 
 and in thy strength may I live more to thy glory. May my 
 loins be girt about with truth, and my lamp be trimmed and 
 burning, so that I may always be ready for the coming of 
 the Son of Man. Oh, wilt thou blot out the sins of the 
 past year, before it shall be numbered with the years beyond 
 the flood, before it shall bear off in its flight my uncancelled 
 accounts to the day of judgment. Accept of my thanks- 
 givings for the signal mercies of the past year, which have 
 been more than I can name or number ; and while I adore 
 thee for the past, may I trust thee for the future, and thus 
 launch forth into the awful uncertainties of the time to come. 
 But whether I live, may I live to thee; or whether I die, may 
 I die to thee ; so that living or dying I may be thine. Grant 
 it. Lord, for Christ's sake. 
 
 Satin-day evening, January 6th, 1821. This evening 
 almost comi)Ictcs one week of the new year. I have been 
 already immersed in its cares and its duties. But in what- 
 ever circumstances I may be placed, oh my Saviour, keep 
 me near thee. I desire to live in thee and for thee. This 
 is a most tempestuous night, and how many poor travellers 
 are exposed to these wintry blasts, to this angry storm ! Oh 
 God, preserve them. Remember all the children of indi- 
 gence in this inclement season. Shelter them from the 
 storm, feed them and clothe them ; especially feed them with 
 the bread of life, and clothe them with a robe of righteous- 
 ness. How should I praise the Lord for the comforts that 
 surround me. Comfortable room and fire, lamp and closet. 
 May my closet bear witness to my gratitude, first to God 
 who is loading me with benefits, and next to those kind 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 25 
 
 friends to whom, under Ilim, I am indebted for all the com- 
 forts that surround mo. Oh, reward them for their faith and 
 labour of love ; and mtiy my life be such as becomes the re- 
 cipient of such distinguished mercies. 
 
 Sabbath morning, January 12th, 1821. Welcome, sweet 
 day of rest; sweet pledge of rest on high. Oh, my soul, 
 be awake to improve the sacred hours. Indulgent Father, 
 thy goodness has been still manifested on my account 
 during the past week, and I desire to praise thy name for 
 any degree of deadness to the world and engagedness in 
 thy service. Oh, may I spend this sacred day as becomes 
 an expectant of glory. Grant me fervour in devotion. 
 Tune my heart to sing thy praise. Enable me to come 
 near thee in communion, to draw large draughts from 
 the wells of salvation ; to cat of heavenly, spiritual manna, 
 and acquire a disrelish for what the men of the world call 
 pleasure. Oh, strengthen my faith. Wean me from the 
 world. Grant me that peace, and joy, and confidence in 
 Jesus, that will enable me to look on death with a tranquil 
 gaze. May I often dwell on the closing scene of my life. 
 Some of my dearest friends with whom I have often knelt 
 around the domestic altar, had sweet converse of our com- 
 mon hopes and fears, have often mingled hearts and voices 
 in songs of praise to thee, are this day swelling the anthems 
 of eternity around thy throne. Tliey are freed from sin, 
 they worship thee no longer in temples made with hands, 
 they no longer mingle tears of bitterness with the oflerings, 
 and sing thy praises with a faltering tongue. No, the temple 
 is made without hands, tears are for ever wiped away, their 
 songs know no discord and never end. No darkness comes 
 across the soul. No intervening cloud to hide the face of 
 Jesus. Oh, my Saviour, draw thine image on my heart. 
 Make the lines thereof deep and broad, that I may know that 
 I am thine. 
 
 3 
 
26 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Sabbath morning, Jan. 26th. Heard Dr. Miller from 
 1 Cor. XV. 55, " Oh death, where is thy sting?" His object 
 was, first, to show that death has a sting ; 2d, that Christ 
 takes away the sting of death, which is sin. Oh, that I 
 might habitually look upon death as having lost its sting. 
 Mr. Perkins in the evening spoke of spiritual life and spiritual 
 death from Eph. ii. 1: "And you hath he quickened who 
 were dead in trespasses and sins." 
 
 Sabbath evening, Feb. Uh. Thus far the Lord has led 
 me on, through dangers seen and unseen, by day and by 
 night, at home and abroad. Surely I may say with the 
 greatest propriety, " Goodness and mercy have followed me 
 all the days of my life." God has led me by a way I knew 
 not. Oh, what a mercy that the veil which conceals futurity 
 is impenetrable. While God sheds light upon my immediate 
 path, it is all I have need of, and even without that I can 
 walk by faith. But he does cast light upon my goings, and 
 the luminous path in which I now walk and rejoice, appeared 
 once dark and gloomy ; and while 1 adore my God for the 
 past I will trust him for the future. One day only remains 
 to me of twenty-four years. All have been crowned and 
 crowded with the mercies of my heavenly Father. If I 
 should or could count them, they are more in number than 
 the sands. 1 do bless my kind, and tender, and bountiful 
 Father, for the signal mercies of the past year, and especially 
 for the lessons he has taught me of the world's emptiness, of 
 life's uncertainty. How our brightest prospects may be 
 blighted, our fondest hopes disappointed. The scene of every 
 plan of happiness substantial must be laid beyond the grave. 
 Oh, my God and Father, there wilt thou enable me to build 
 my hopes where all is substantial and sure. Grant me more 
 deadness to the world, and may I live in thee and to thee, 
 and for thee alone. My heart is prone to search for some 
 earthly idol, but do thou take possession of my heart, and 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 27 
 
 reign without a rival there, and be the object of my warmest 
 affections and my most intense desires. 
 
 " Come, Heaven, and fill my vast desires. 
 My soul pui'sues the sovereign good ; 
 She was all made of heavenly fires, 
 Nor can she live on meaner food." 
 
 TO MR. H. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 ^'^ Princeton, February 6th, 1821. 
 
 " My situation here is still very pleasant ; health was 
 never better, and on the whole I tliink I never enjoyed myself 
 so well as it respects situation, prospects, employments, and 
 spiritual exercises, as since I came here. 
 
 " But truly my whole life appears worse than a blank. 
 I know of nothing that I have done for God. Ti^j, e is so 
 much that is unholy in our purest motives, when we are en- 
 gaged in the service of God, that it must at best be abomi- 
 nable to a being who sees and hates the very least sin. 
 
 " And oh, how much of our lives have run to waste ; and 
 should we be called suddenly to the bar of God, how could 
 we expect to hear said of us, ' Well done, good and faithful 
 servant?' When I think of this, I am impatient to finish my 
 studies, and to be engaged, soul and body, in the service of 
 the great Mead of the church. But then I think the inquiry 
 should rather be what is my duty here, where God has placed 
 me, and not what would it be in other circumstances ; and 
 so I feel convinced, that to apply my mind diligently to my 
 preparations for the gospel ministry is my present duty. 
 
 " Oh, what a resting place is the Rock of ages ! What a 
 support is the arm of Omnipotence ! What a master is the 
 King of kings ! What a prize is an immortal, unfading 
 crown ! And do we serve such a master, rest on such a 
 foundation, expect such an inheritance? ' What manner of 
 persons ought we to be !' 
 
28 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " There is a revival of religion about ten miles from this 
 place, in Trenton, where thirty or forty are already hopeful 
 subjects of it. But Princeton, highly favoured Princeton, is 
 cold and stupid ; the church is, I may say, asleep. God 
 grant it may not be the sleep of death. I have just heard 
 from Cayuga county, where my father lives. There, God 
 is working wonders of mercy in the salvation of sinners. 
 My letter stated, that ' the whole town seemed to be electri- 
 fied with the Spirit of God. In some respects, the work is 
 the most remarkable I have ever heard of since the days of 
 the apostles. Sinners are made to tremble, and saints to 
 rejoice.' " 
 
 February 22d. A day set apart for prayer and fasting, 
 by the leCmbers of the seminary. Oh, how much need of 
 humiliation before God ! on account of the low state of re- 
 ligion in our own souls, the hardness of our hearts, the 
 weakness of our faith, our earthly mindedness, our conform- 
 ity to the world. Oh, may we not wish to appear unto men 
 to fast ; but wilt thou grant us what is the object of fasting — 
 deep humility of heart, and a melting sense of our sins and 
 short comings in every duty, and, in some, of our failure 
 altogether. Oh, Redeemer of my soul, let the remaining 
 part of my life be spent more to thy glory. Accept of my 
 thanksgiving for any spiritual enjoyment, for any degree of 
 deadness to the world. Carry on thy work in my soul, and 
 make me a more ardent, fervent. Christian. 
 
 TO 3IR. n. D. OF BALLSTON, N. T. 
 
 ''March Sth, 1821. 
 
 " Your long and welcome letter came to hand on the 
 
 morning of the 22d ultimo. I shall not attempt to tell you 
 
 how much pleasure it afforded me. I did not really think 
 
 you had forgotten me ; but I felt lonely and forsaken, and 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 29 
 
 often thought of other days and distant friends, and sighed ; 
 and could not conjecture what could keep you so long silent; 
 and so my fancy and my apprehensions put it at the worst, 
 and my full heart, breathing out its melancholy, found par- 
 tial relief. I look upon the friends of my heart as so many 
 gifts from God, as such I love them, as such I make them a 
 subject of my morning and my midnight prayers. In my 
 thoughts by day, and in my dreams by night, I mingle in 
 their dear society, and feel their warm and fond embrace. 
 But when I wake, ' the vision is fled, mountains rise, and 
 billows roll between us.' But it is well we have something 
 always to remind us, what we all acknowledge, ' that this is 
 not our rest.' We are so earthly, so fettered to the world, 
 that even with all the providences and revelations of God, 
 and all the hard-earned lessons of sad experience, and all 
 the high hopes beyond the grave, we can scarce rise for a 
 moment above this earth. 
 
 " But, dear brother, I hope your poor unworthy friend is 
 learning, though slowly, to draw upon heaven and heavenly 
 things, for his substantial comforts. Oh, I hope, and trust, 
 I desire sincerely to bless and praise God, for weaning mc, 
 in some measure, from the world ; that he is enabling me to 
 lay the scene of my plans of happiness beyond the swellings 
 of Jordan; that every day seems to strcngthen my resolu- 
 tions to live for God, to God, and none other. I mention 
 these things because you were so kind as to inquire about 
 my spiritual affairs, and because I know you will rejoice 
 with me in the goodness of God. 
 
 " My brother, I hope we know something of the commu- 
 nion of saints, and these are certainly antcpasts of hea- 
 venly joy. We rejoice and weep together; we bear each 
 other's burdens, share each other's joys; and our prayers 
 mingle around the same throne. And what if we meet 
 there next 1 Should such a thought make us sad ? Should 
 
 3* 
 
30 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 it start a solitary tear 1 No, no. There is Jesus waiting to 
 receive us; the mansions are prepared, ' all things are 
 ready.' There, is the* church of the first-born ; there, are 
 our dear friends, who have died in the Lord, with whom we 
 have often knelt around the domestic altar ; with whom we 
 have walked to the house of God, and surrounded the table 
 of Christ's dying love ; with whom we have often held sweet 
 converse about heavenly things, and wept over our coldness 
 in the cause of Jesus. There, are no darkness and doubts ; 
 no bitter tears, no sins, no partings, no backslidings, but all 
 is perfect love, perfect worship, perfect happiness there! 
 Oh, is it possible ? There, we shall wear immortal, starry 
 crowns, and triumph in our Saviour's love for ever. Oh, 
 who would shun the hour that cuts from earth, and fear to 
 press the calm and peaceful pillow of the grave 1 Oh, God, 
 make us fit and willing to live, and may we not live in vain; 
 but may we perform our humble part in thy cause, and have 
 grace to live to thy glory. 
 
 " It afToi'ds me satisfaction to think I am remembered 
 when you make your nearest approaches to the throne of 
 grace. Oh, continue to pray that I may have grace and 
 strength to improve all the high privileges I enjoy, and that 
 I may at last, in God's time, enter the holy ministry, armed 
 with the whole armour of God, and that I may be an hum- 
 ble, but an undaunted, champion of the truth. 
 
 *' Dear brother, I wish to exhort you, and yours, and all 
 that love the Lord Jesus Christ, to be more engaged. We 
 have not yet the spirit of the times ; we want that zeal and 
 devotedness that fired confessors and martyrs, and mission- 
 aries. Oh, for the zeal and the tongue and the wings of an 
 angel, to herald the everlasting gospel round the world. 
 
 " If my health is spared, and circumstances unforeseen 
 do not prevent, I hope to visit Ballston in October next. But 
 that time is distant; thousands will sleep in death before it 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORI). 31 
 
 arrives, and we may be among the number. But let us live 
 to God; and rest assured that all the circumstances of our 
 lives and of our deaths will be regulated in the best possible 
 way. 
 
 " Last evening the Rev. Mr. Ward, missionary from Se- 
 rampore, in India, preached here. You know he is on a 
 visit to this country to collect funds for the college at Se- 
 rampore. He related many interesting facts of the mission, 
 and of the prevailing superstitions of the Hindoos. The 
 fact of his being an eye-witness gave his relations a peculiar 
 interest, although I had read the statement before. To-day 
 the Osage mission family is to pass through this village; so 
 that missionaries from the extremities of the globe will meet 
 in Christian fellowship, and sing and pray together." 
 
 March 9th. To-day the Osage mission family passed 
 through Princeton. We met in the church, sang two hymns, 
 and had two prayers; the first of which was ofiered by the 
 Rev. Mr. Ward, missionary of Serampore. At the close 
 of the service the mission family sang " Farewell my friends, 
 we must be gone." The whole service was inexpressibly 
 solemn. To see a family of nearly forty persons, devoted 
 soul and body completely and actively to God, and actually 
 on their way to the wilderness of the west, and to join in 
 prayer with a dear missionary from the east, a distance of 
 17,000 miles — I trust it made the subject of missions seem 
 real. Oh, God of grace, make it the means of exciting a 
 missionary spirit. May the wretchedness of those that know 
 not God lie continually upon our hearts, that we may cry 
 without ceasing to God for the extension of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom. May we all be willing and wishing to devote 
 ourselves exclusively to God, to be used when, and how, and 
 where he pleases. Verily, there is nothing worth living for 
 
82 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 but to serve and glorify God. Oh, God, I do desire to give 
 myself away renewedly to thee. Use me for thy glory. 
 Sabbath, 18th. 
 
 " Seasons and months and weeks and days 
 Demand successive song-s of praise." 
 
 I rejoice in the high privilege of uniting to-day with the 
 worshippers around the throne in praising God on this Sab- 
 bath of ours, and this eternal Sabbath of theirs. We will 
 sing the song of redeeming love in Christ. Oh, God, may 
 my sinful heart not be a discordant string to join the grand 
 chorus ; but attune my heart and my voice for thy worship, 
 and may I forget the world and the things of the world, and 
 spend the sacred day alone with thee. 
 
 March 25th. During the last week I have been reading 
 the lives of Samuel J. Mills and Henry Martyn, both emi- 
 nently devoted to God, and who are to-day praising him 
 around the throne in his immediate presence. Oh, for some 
 of that fervour that glowed so eminently in their bosoms. 
 They counted not their lives dear ; they acted nobly, con- 
 sistently. Fondly hope, I do feel something of the love 
 they felt, and I pray God to grant me more. I am sure 
 there is nothing worth living for but to serve God. That 
 man is certainly happiest who lives alone for God. It is 
 my reasonable duty to devote myself a " living sacrifice" to 
 God. Oh, what an expression — to live a dying life, and to 
 die a living death for God. To deny myself and take up 
 every cross and follow where my master leads, through good 
 report and bad report ; and by the assistance of his grace 
 this I will do ; this I am willing to do, if I can promote his 
 glory and the good of souls. It is but a little to lay down 
 all I have, even my life, for Christ, which, in this age of the 
 world, is scarcely possible. How worse than criminal to 
 withhold myself and all my time and power from God ! 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 33 
 
 Oh, grant mc grace to live to some purpose. To live for 
 thee, to live for eternity. Come, Holy Spirit, take posses- 
 sion of my heart and sway all my affections, and make them 
 holy. 
 
 ■ April 1st, 1821. Communion Sabi)ath. Thanks ever- 
 lasting be unto God for the institutions of his word, and for 
 the blessed privileges which this delightful day brings with 
 it. Oh, to be seated in the banqueting house of Zion's 
 King, to sit at his table, to sec the King in his beauty, to feel 
 his love ! We commemorate the death of the Friend of 
 sinners, that death that purchased everlasting life for us. 
 
 ** With joy we tell the scoffing- age. 
 He that was dead has left the tomb ; 
 
 He lives above their utmost rage. 
 And we are waiting- till he come." 
 
 We, yes I, even I, whose sins drove the nail, and pointed 
 the spear ; I, who have lived far from God, who have been 
 conformed to the world, a captive of Satan, and a willing 
 captive, brought nigh by the blood of Christ. " Oh, to grace 
 how great a debtor." Lord Jesus, bind my heart to thy 
 throne, clothe me with thy righteousness, be all my salva- 
 tion and desire. 
 
 TO MISS A. J. 
 
 " April 25tk, 1821. 
 
 *' Oh, I do love to come near, even to his seat, and call him 
 * Our Father,' yours and mine. He is kind, he has been 
 always kind; he has followed us with mercies; he has filled 
 our cup with blessings, and our souls with hopes of immor- 
 tal life and glory. And shall we receive these good things 
 at the hand of the Lord, and shall we shrink from his chas- 
 tising hand ? Especially, when we are sure that he chas- 
 tises those whom he loves, that the ' rod is a branch from 
 
34 MEMOIK OF THE 
 
 the tree of life,' and tliat it is in a Father's hand. Oh, no, 
 let us kiss the rod ; let us humble ourselves before God, im- 
 plore his Spirit to sanctify all his dealings, and to assist us 
 to live more to his glory while we live, be it longer or shorter, 
 and to prepare us for tliat blessed world ' where the inha-- 
 bitants shall no more say I am sick.' Whither all our dear 
 friends, w'ho have died in the Lord, have gone ; there, where 
 sin and death can never enter ; there, where the King of 
 Heaven holds his court; where Jesus intercedes and reigns; 
 where our ransomed souls shall be unclothed of this cum- 
 brous clay, and expand and expatiate, amid all the unclouded 
 splendours, and the unutterable glories of the New Jerusa- 
 lem ; there to see God without a veil, to bow down before 
 him ; to adore, with cherubim and seraphim ; to catch the 
 notes of Abel, and Adam, and Enoch, some of the first re- 
 deemed sinners that ever passed from earth to heaven, and 
 who have been stretching onward and onward, in their ca- 
 reer of rapture, for almost six thousand years ; there, to re- 
 view our pilgrimage below', to know that all the storms are 
 past, that all our tears are dried up for ever; to be filled 
 with all the fulness of God ; to see eternity opening before 
 us, an endless range of progressive blessedness, and no pos- 
 sibility of a change but from glory to glory ! Oh, God of 
 grace and glory, strengthen these desires after a holy heaven ! 
 How poor is human language to express the views which, 
 even here, we are permitted to entertain of the society and 
 employments and enjoyments of heaven. 
 
 " I did not think of saying half so much. You will not 
 think it ostentation. I am ashamed that my heart is so hard 
 and cold ; but when I meditate on this heavenly theme, I 
 seem to breathe another air. My soul struggles under con- 
 ceptions altogether unutterable. Oh, to be an angel, to have 
 the powers and the harp of an angel, when we dwell on this 
 theme of angels, this subject of eternal transport ! 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFOKI). 35 
 
 'When Gabriel speaks these mig-hty things, 
 lie lunes ami summons all his striiiijs.' " 
 
 April 8th. News from the Saiulwicli Islands. Blessed 
 be God for what he has dune by the might of his own arm. 
 That at a blow he has crushed the system of their idolatry 
 and opened the way for the gospel of God our Saviour. 
 That through the long, long wastes of waters and of wilder- 
 ness that lie between us and our heathen brethren there, the 
 cry is heard, " come over and help us." Oh, may it not 
 be heard in vain. Oh, Head of the church, work wonders 
 to-day in Zion. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''April—, 1821. 
 
 " But what a privilege to accompany the child of God in 
 the last day's journeyings of his earthly pilgrimage; to mark 
 the progress of disease ; to see the tenement of clay dis- 
 solve ; to mark the imprisoned blood-bought spirit struggling 
 to be free ; to see the value of religion ; to learn the insigni- 
 ficance of the world — these are some of the privileges you 
 were permitted to enjoy at the bed-side of your much-loved 
 uncle. 
 
 " I have often told you, the most profitable scenes I have 
 ever beheld, have been death-bed scenes. My soul would 
 ever hold them in warm rcmombrance. They come across 
 my mind with all the power of a charm ; and exert, 1 trust, 
 a holy, heavenly influence. They do not make me sad, but 
 they make me solemn. They check the ardour of youthful 
 enterprize, and assist me when 1 wish to pause and com- 
 mune with my own heart, and to think of the closing scene 
 of life, of the narrow house, and of heaven beyond it. 
 
 " You say, you read to your uncle, as he is able to bear it. 
 If you have not read the Obituary of Mrs. Poor, as contain- 
 
36 MEMOIR OF TUB 
 
 ed in the Missionary Herald for April, I wish you would 
 obtain it. It will refresh your soul ; and it is peculiarly 
 appropriate to such a case as your uncle's. ' Oh, how she 
 lonjTed to have her passport sealed and be released.' 
 
 " My dear A., what is the world ? It groans under its 
 Maker's curse. It is reserved unto tire. It is not our rest, 
 it is 'polluted.' It will be burnt up; the decree has gone 
 forth from the throne of God, ' Let us arise and depart,' 
 quit our hold upon the world, and lay hold on the hope set 
 before us. Let us cling to Jesus ; there is safety no where 
 else in the whole universe of God. And while we hope in 
 Christ, and feel our feet firmly placed upon the Rock of 
 Ages, let us strive, by our prayers, precepts and example, 
 to influence those whose feet stand on slippery places to be- 
 ware ! In our several spheres, and in various ways, we may 
 be useful to the church of Christ, in promoting the salvation 
 of our fellow creatures ; and when we come to lie on a bed 
 of death, and our career of activity is ended, the recollection 
 of earnest, honest endeavours to do good will be sweet to our 
 minds, while we lie in calm expectation of our departure. 
 
 " And in anticipation of that solemn, awful hour, let us be 
 more diligent ; let us give all diligence to have our work 
 done, and well done ; to be sure that our peace is made with 
 God, our heaven secure ; for clouds and darkness will be 
 unutterably dreadful in the ' swellings of Jordan.' " 
 
 May Ath, 1821. Praised be God that my life has been 
 spared and my health and comforts continued until now. 
 Thanks be unto his holy name for any degree of deadness 
 to the world, and for any sense of his presence, for any in- 
 creasing love to him, for any deeper and more humbling 
 views of my heart's corruptions, for any greater sense 
 of my unworthiness, weakness, and complete, entire depen- 
 dence. Oh, God, carry on thy work in my soul. Search 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 37 
 
 me and try me, cleanse my heart of all its abominations, 
 cleanse it and claim it, oh. Holy Spirit, and make it thine 
 abode. How dare I ask it ? Pardon my presumption ; I ask 
 it in my Saviour's name. 
 
 " Unworthy dwelling, glorious guest. 
 Favour astonishing, divine." 
 
 May I have an increasing love for thee, thou fairest among 
 ten thousand. May I obey thy precepts, imitate thy illus- 
 trious example, bear thine image on my heart, and may I 
 remain in time and through eternity a monument of the effi- 
 cacy of thy Gospel and a trophy of thy victorious grace. 
 Carry on thy cause in every part of the world. Employ 
 me to act some humble part in this cause. Saviour of sin- 
 ners, use me for thy glory. 
 
 May ISth. The last Sabbath of the session. It seems 
 scarcely possible that more than half the year has passed 
 since I became a member of the seminary. Verily, " time 
 rolls its ceaseless course," and I am insensibly, though ra- 
 pidly, borne along upon its wave. How it steals away the 
 moments of my life. How death is posting on. 
 
 '• Oh let me catch the transient hour, 
 Improve each moment as it flies." 
 
 Every day may I feel that I am acting for eternity, and 
 every day may I perform some business for eternity. " So 
 teach me to number my days, that I may apply my heart 
 unto wisdom." Grant me the wisdom that coiiios from thee. 
 
 June Sd. Three weeks have passed since I have made 
 any record of thy goodness. But how strikingly have those 
 weeks been marked with thy goodness. I trust I have felt 
 gratitude though my pen has failed to record it. 1 have 
 long endeavoured to commit my way unto thee, to ask coun- 
 sel of thee, and not to lean to my own understanding. I 
 
 4 
 
38 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 have been enabled to trust in thee, and now, blessed be thy 
 name, thou hast fulfilled thy promise and given me the de- 
 sire of my heart. Oh, grant me thy blessing in the enjoy- 
 ment of thy gifts ; may I never forget the source of all my 
 comforts, and may the richest, tenderest mercies, instead of 
 weaning my affections from thee by usurping thy place in 
 my heart, lead me constantly to love thee more and serve thee 
 belter. May I feel the increasing obligations which thy re- 
 peated and diversified favours involve, and henceforth may I 
 feel that I am doubly thine. Grant me more of thy love, 
 more love for souls, more zeal for thy cause, more deadness 
 to the world, more entire, sincere devotedness to thy cause 
 and kingdom. 
 
 June 2ith. Still thy mercies are repeated with every mo- 
 ment of my life. In my visit to New York thy goodness 
 has followed me at every step, and notwithstanding one dis- 
 appointment, unpleasant in itself, but which already works 
 for my good, every occurrence is calculated to fill me with 
 gratitude and humility. Oh, God, grant me humility. Let 
 not the honest but imprudent remarks of my friends make 
 me vain, or give me occasion to think of myself more highly 
 than I ought to think. May all my strength and influence 
 be consecrated to thy cause. May I lie low at the foot of 
 the cross. May I never desire the honour that comes from 
 men. Deliver me from a man-pleasing, a man-fearing, and 
 world-adoring spirit; but, oh, wilt thou purify my heart and 
 my motives, and enable me to perform some humble part 
 in thy cause. May I live nearer to thee, be more dead to 
 the world, and be making constant advances in a divine life, 
 bt^coming more and more devoted to thee and thy cause, 
 more heavenly minded. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 89 
 
 TO SIR. H. D. OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 ''May 15th, 1821. 
 
 " To-day our long session ends, and I can assure you I 
 am glad of an opportunity of relaxation. I wish I could go 
 to Ballston, and then ride to Granville, to spend part of my 
 time where God is pouring out his Spirit. I heard of the re- 
 vival when I was in New York about three weeks ago. Dr. 
 M'Auley told me it had commenced powerfully. About ten 
 days since I received a letter from R. Shepherd, Esq. giving 
 me further particulars. 
 
 " You will learn all the news from this region from the 
 brethren whom you will probably see in the course of the 
 vacation. I expect to leave the seminary only for a short 
 time, just to recruit my strength, and then to return to my 
 studies. There is so much before me to learn, and the time 
 is so short, that there is really not a moment to spare. 
 
 I wish to be remembered particularly to all my friends. I 
 should be happy to see them this vacation but cannot. I 
 hope to visit you in October. I long since learned a little 
 * ode to disappointment,' wh ch has often since been the best 
 language in which my feelings could be expressed. You 
 will see it in the first volume of Kirk White's Remains. You 
 know, my brother, how to be grateful for afflictions. 
 
 ' Trials make the promise sweet. 
 
 Trials g-ive new life to prayer; 
 Trials bring' me to his feet. 
 
 Lay me low, and keep me there.' 
 
 " Blessed be God, tribulation is a part of the legacy our 
 Saviour has left us. Oh, may we improve them, and all 
 our numerous blessings ; and live more to his glory." 
 
40 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 TO MISS A. J. OF TRENTON, N. J.* 
 
 ''Philadelphia, May l&th, 1821. 
 "my dear a — , 
 
 " You will doubtless be surprised to receive a letter from 
 me so soon, and especially vwhen I have the pleasing pros- 
 pect of seeing you in town in a few days. But I will not 
 attempt an apology. I regretted much that I came so early 
 to town, since there will be nothing that I am anxious to 
 hear or see in the Assembly until Monday. I presented the 
 letter your mother was so kind to give me to Mr. Henry, 
 but I have not yet become acquainted with the family." 
 ***** 
 
 " True, genuine affection, must always be founded upon 
 merit, solid merit, and is therefore as immutable as the prin- 
 ciple on which it depends. Circumstances may change, 
 summer friends may fail, the world may frown — but distance 
 of place, nor lapse of time, nor change of circumstances, can 
 break the tie that binds heart to heart, when human friend- 
 ships are sanctified by religion. 
 
 " But how important that we should be cultivating more 
 and more the spirit of the gospel, and be endeavouring to 
 live more and more to God. Oh, should any earthly object 
 come between our hearts and Jesus, he would remove it in 
 mercy to our souls. Let our high ambition be to lie at the 
 feet of Jesus. Let our most ardent wishes be to promote his 
 glory. And let us endeavour to do every thing with a re- 
 ference to eternity." 
 
 • This letter, and many of those which follow in this chapter, 
 was addressed to Miss Anna Jackson, of Trenton, who afterwards 
 became his wife. 
 
EEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 41 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Princeton, June 1st, 1821. 
 
 " Last evening I went to the office after ten o'clock for 
 your letter, just exactly in time to be caught in a tremendous 
 shower, that already blackened all the heavens when I left 
 the house. The earth was shaking with its thunders, and 
 my path was rendered luminous by its lightning. You may 
 perhaps think me rather romantic, but I can assure you it 
 was a stormy reality before I reached Dr. Alexander's : I 
 had engaged to spend the night there." * * * 
 
 " How much danger that our ' dearest joys and nearest 
 friends' will usurp the place that Christ Jesus ought to hold 
 in our affections. Let us guard against it and pray against it, 
 and by cultivating a keener relish for spiritual enjoyments 
 become more and more dead to the world. Our happiness 
 depends on the presence and favour of God, whether we wish 
 it or not. No matter whether we soar in honour or sink in 
 disgrace — no matter whether we roll in affluence or beg our 
 morsel from doer to door, the presence of God alone can 
 make us happy. And were I called on for a choice of con- 
 trasted miseries, I would much rather endure the misery of 
 the peasant than that of the prince. The wretchedness of 
 the cottage is far more tolerable than the wj-ctchedness of 
 courts. And so in proportion I would say of all the different 
 grades in life and classes of society. 
 
 ♦ When winds the mountain oak assail, 
 
 And lay its glories waste. 
 Content may slumber in the vale, 
 Unconscious of the bhist,' 
 
 " I do not know when 1 can see you, but intend to before 
 I go to New York. Thanks to your mother for the interest 
 
 4* 
 
42 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 she takes in my health. I hope Miss B. is improving in 
 health, and especially that she may experience the tender- 
 ness and skill of the Physician of souls. Let us live nearer 
 to God and more for his glory. Let us love our Saviour 
 more, and give ourselves no rest in his absence — no joy un- 
 til he return to bless and cheer our hearts by the light of his 
 countenance. Into his hands I commit you. May you be 
 blessed indeed. Live near to him and be happy." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " New York, June lAth, 1821. 
 " Arrived here at ten o'clock this morning;. Dr. 
 
 Neil, of Philadelphia, one of the passengers. 
 
 " Oh, let us cultivate more intercourse with heaven, and 
 endeavour to feel that our happiness depends on God's pre- 
 sence alone, even when we are surrounded by our dearest 
 friends. By what a ' precarious tenure' we hold them ! Let 
 us try to have our conversation in heaven, even while we 
 dwell upon the earth, and as much as possible hold ourselves 
 loose from the world. ' Lean not on earth.' Oh, how im- 
 portant the admonition. The freshest rose may wither on 
 its stem even before our eyes, and always has its thorns ; 
 the brightest morning may conceal a thunderbolt ; and the 
 stateliest oak is most in danger of being riven by the light- 
 ning. Oh, let our highest, noblest, fondest hopes be fixed 
 on God, and they will never disappoint us. 
 
 "I saw brother Chester, but he did not engage to attend 
 the meeting on Friday evening at your house. Possibly some 
 other members of the seminary may be there. I expect to 
 hear Mr. Somerville speak this afternoon in behalf of the 
 society for promoting the gospel among seamen." 
 
EEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 43 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 '' New York, Jvne IGtJi, 1821. 
 
 " May the present sabbath bring rest, and joy, 
 
 and peace, and strength to my soul. I expect to sit again 
 at the table of our dying, risen, reigning Redeemer, in Dr. 
 Romeyn's church. Oh, that I may see the King in his 
 beauty, and be feasted with the provisions of his house. 
 How much we stand in need of heavenly food. We are 
 daily careful to provide for the body, but how our souls 
 famish for the bread of life. What do we more than 
 others? What are we more than others? And then to 
 think what we ought to be. We, upon whom God has 
 lavished so many favours ; we, whom his providence has 
 lately so tenderly affected ; we, who profess to link our 
 earthly career with the cause of Christ, with the glory 
 of God ; we, who expect to spend our lives and to yield 
 up our breath in the promotion of Zion's interests, and for 
 the honour of Zion's King, — oh, what manner of persons 
 ought we to be ? Let us, in the strength of Jesus, break off 
 our fetters, and rise above the world, and live nobly inde- 
 pendent of its opinions and practices. Whatever others do 
 let us serve the Lord, with our life, our health, our comforts, 
 our influence, with all our talents, and with all our streno-th. 
 Wherever we are, let the light of our godly example shine. 
 Let us improve every opportunity of visiting the chamber of 
 sickness, of kneeling around the bed of the dying, of instruct- 
 ing the ignorant, of reclaiming the wanderer, and of soothing 
 the sufferer. 
 
 " While thus active in the cause of Christ, and endeavour- 
 ing to promote the everlasting welfare of others, let us not 
 neglect our own souls. Oh, let us dig deep, and be firmly 
 established on the Rock of ages. Let us cultivate more and 
 more communion with God, and learn the temper and dis- 
 
44 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 position of the heavens. Then we can enter with confidence 
 on the uncertainties of life, assured that God will do all things 
 well. Then death will only interrupt our songs for a night, 
 and we shall resume them with our immortal powers in a 
 bricrhler world, on that unchanging morning that ushers in 
 an everlasting day. Oh, to-day may we mingle our notes 
 with the notes of cherubim and seraphim, and with all the 
 armies of light, and all our friends who have died in the 
 Lord, around God's throne. May we catch something of 
 their ardour, and zeal, and love, and may we have large 
 antepasts of heavenly joy, and drink and refresh our souls 
 with the river of life that flows from the throne of God." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Princeton, July 2d, 1821. 
 
 " You are aware, my dear A., that I received your letter 
 directed to New York ; it came to hand on Thursday morn- 
 ino-, — We have not really commenced business yet, as this 
 is the first Monday of the month ; and as Wednesday will 
 be the anniversary of our country's independence, we shall 
 not do much until Thursday, i should go to Allentown and 
 Trenton, Tuesday evening and Wednesday, were it not for 
 an essay that calls imperiously for my attention. 
 
 " My health has improved since my return. I sincerely 
 think, as far as tranquillity of mind is concerned, I have 
 never been so well situated for application. Oh, to be as- 
 sured, (nay, I trust you are already assured,) and know, by 
 happy experience, that there is an unutterable sweetness in 
 feeling that you are in the hands of God, an omnipresent, 
 omnipotent God ; and that although he holds up the planets 
 and measures eternity, yet his arm never sinks down ex- 
 hausted, but directs and guards the meanest insect that 
 crawls upon his footstool. This God is our God, and we 
 
REV. JOSEPH SAJfPORD. 45 
 
 will praise him ; we will devote ourselves to his service, and 
 he will be our guide even unto death. 
 
 " AV' hat is fortune, and what is fame, when placed in the 
 scale against the Christian's duties, hopes, and prospects ! 
 How affecting, to see beings upon whose brow are drawn 
 traces of a mortal and an immortal nature, bestowing all 
 their thoughts and wishes upon trifles of a day, and making 
 no provision for eternity ! 
 
 " If we differ from such, it is by the grace of God we 
 are what we are. Let us manifest sincere gratitude to God 
 for his goodness to us, by endeavouring to persuade others 
 to become partakers of the same goodness and abounding 
 grace. 
 
 " In attempting to live more to the glory of God, we shall 
 do well to maintain an holy, hoirrly watchfulness over our 
 thoughts and afl^ections. By thinking more of heaven and 
 heavenly things, and by spending more time in self-exami- 
 nation and prayer, we shall, by the blessing of God our Fa- 
 ther, cultivate more of a holy, heavenly frame. Earth and 
 earthly things will sink in our estimation, and communica- 
 tions of heavenly joy and peace, frequent and abundant, will 
 flow into our souls, that will nourish them and invigorate 
 them for enduring all the trials of life, and at last for endur- 
 ing and enjoying the unveiled face of Him whom mortal eye 
 hath not seen. 
 
 " I shall not finish my sheet until after the Missionary 
 Society meets this afternoon, as there may bo some interest- 
 ing intelligence of battles fought and victories won for King 
 Immanuel. 
 
 " P. M., 4 o'clock. — There has been less intelligence than 
 I expected, and the most of it you have heard. One circum- 
 stance of a revival that commenced at a wedding, in a Bap- 
 tist church, and resulted in the conversion of several of the 
 guests. Brother H. Pratt returned while we were in the 
 
46 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Society, and gave a few interesting facts respecting his mis- 
 sionary labours this past vacation; and his brother gave me 
 some good news respecting Connecticut. 
 
 " The United Foreign Missionary Society has lately been 
 requested to find two missionaries, to go out with a colony 
 of two hundred or three hundred persons, at the expense and 
 under the protection of government, to settle at the mouth of 
 Columbia river, that empties into the Pacific, in latitude about 
 46° north ; and to be sent out in the course of next year. 
 And the Society itself wishes to send a missionary to take 
 charge of the mission among the Seneca Indians, near 
 Buffalo village. New York. Oh, this missionary cause is 
 a glorious cause, it is the cause of Christ, it will prevail. 
 The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, for 
 his mouth hath spoken it. Let us think, and pray, and then 
 we shall feel more on the subject ; and wherever in the church 
 of Christ we may spend our days, let us be missionaries in 
 earnest, determined to fight and to fall in our Master's cause. 
 
 " You said in one of your letters that I appear to have no 
 inward conflicts. You are mistaken. I only have not spoken 
 of them. 1 may tell you hereafter some, to convince you 
 that your trials are by no means peculiar." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''July 12th, 1821. 
 'f I wished to spend an hour with you last Sab- 
 
 bath evening. I had a delightful day, and no doubt my en- 
 joyment was heightened by the thought that you were seated 
 at the table of the Lord, even admitted into the banqueting- 
 housc of the King of kings. My wicked heart, hardened by 
 more than twenty years' transgression, was in some measure 
 softened ; and, with an eye of faith, I trust I beheld our Sa- 
 viour, looking down in all the tenderness of suffering sym- 
 pathy, and in all the ardour of his unchanging love, pitying 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 47 
 
 our weakness, healing our backslidings, and in his own name 
 presenting our petitions at the throne of his Father and our 
 Father, his God and our God. The language of my heart 
 
 was, 
 
 * Beg-one for ever mortal thing's, 
 Thou mighty molehill earth, farewell.' 
 
 Oh, the bliss of that moment, when we are enabled to rise 
 above the things of time, and mounting upward in commu- 
 nion, can leave the mists, clouds, and storms below, and 
 breathe the atmosphere of heaven ! But alas, one short hour 
 will often plunge us in gloom again. Yet notwithstandincr 
 my unfaithfulness, the week thus far his been a pleasant 
 one. Oh, to love God more and serve him better ! I hope 
 you are walking in the light of his countenance, and that in 
 the multitude of your thoughts his comforts are the delight 
 of your soul. 
 
 " I do not know when it will be in my power to see you» 
 My health is not good ; that is to say, I feel an un[)Ieasant 
 weakness when the days arc warm and duties arduous ; but 
 you need not apprehend illness when I am silent. I shall 
 always indulge the melancholy, painful pleasure, of tcllinor 
 you all my sorrows and my joys; and let our intercourse be 
 such that the review of it will be sweet, and will mingle with 
 the anguish that kneels at the grave the glorious hope that 
 triumphs in the resurrection. My warmest, highest esteem 
 for Mrs. II. I am glad you can beguile for her many a 
 lonely hour. Never indulge a melancholy that cankers every 
 comfort, but exhort her also to stay herself on God." 
 
 July 22d. Still the goodness of God is continued as the 
 moments of my life ; how many blessings he crowds into 
 my cup ! \Yhat do I deserve, and what do I want ? Surely 
 I deserve nothing but his displeasure and his unmingled 
 wrath ; and as for my wants, I can almost say I want no- 
 
48 MEMOin OF THE 
 
 thing but gratitude for his unnumbered mercies. I long for 
 more love, more zeal, more entire devotedness of heart to God. 
 With temporal comforts my cup runneth over, but oh how 
 much leanness in my soul. How little of my time do I en- 
 joy the sensible presence of God, and that burning zeal for 
 his honour and his cause which I so much desire. And I 
 will praise him, that he ever permits me to call him mine. 
 I will rejoice, that he affords me any evidence that I have 
 been born again, and grants me so many kind expressions of 
 his everlasting love. Oh, my soul, in his strength march 
 humbly but boldly on. I must walk by faith ; it is my hea- 
 venly Father's will. And if he is pleased to afford me some 
 occasional, transient glimpses of his face, I should not mur- 
 mur, but adore. Oh, blessed Jesus, throw around me thine 
 everlasting arms, and they will secure me from all the ills of 
 life and fears of death. Oh, Holy Spirit, be pleased to take 
 up thine abode in my heart, and sway all my affections, and 
 wean them from the world. I do feel grateful for diseases, 
 and infirmities, and providences, which admonish me to set 
 my house in order, for death may be near, and for faith 
 which points to a better, brighter world. 
 
 TO- MR. II. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 r* " Aii^^iist 17th, 1821. 
 
 " I received yours by Mr. G., and should have written 
 before this time, had I not supposed you were on your visit 
 to Beverly. I could not suppress the sympathetic tear, when 
 I learned the cause of your journey. Hut the fii-st thought, 
 ' it is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good,' silenced 
 every murmur. Oh, our heavenly Father is so kind, he 
 mingles so much mercy with the cup of sorrow, that we can 
 scarce taste its bitterness. • 
 
 " I did hope you might be induced to write me while on 
 your journey, but I am aware that the fatigue and necessary 
 
RF.V. JOSEPH SANFORD. 49 
 
 confusion of travelling unfits one for writing. I hope by 
 this time you have returned, with rich experience of the good- 
 ness and the sparing, healing mercy of God. We have a 
 safe retreat and a quiet resting place beneath the spreadings 
 of the covenant of grace, to lean on the bosom of our Saviour, 
 to cast all our cares upon him, to commit our dearest, mortal 
 and immortal concerns to his management. Oh, what a 
 blessed privilege! And then to call him our Saviour, in all 
 his fulness ! To feel the eternal Spirit influencing o>ir lives 
 and sanctifying our natures, dwelling in our sinful hearts — 
 to call God our Father, with the confidence, and affection, 
 and humihty of a child,-^h, these are some of the richest 
 blessings of the new covenant, earnests of coming glory. 
 
 " I know I am addressing one who can understand me, one 
 who is by no means a stranger to these exercises ; whose 
 heart still holds in warm remembranco many blessed seasons 
 when the rock within seemed to be completely melted, and 
 to pour itself out like water; when the sweet tears of peni- 
 tence could flow ; when the soul seemed to rise above the 
 fogs, and clouds, and storms of life, and to breathe the air of 
 paradise. Surely such a one will not, cannot murmur at the 
 afflictive hand of God. It is a blessed thing that we are ad- 
 monished of our frailty ; to feel the body, a frail tenement 
 of a rebellious soul, tottering to fall; to feel pains, and dis- 
 eases, and infirmities, pointing us to a better world, and 
 warning us to 'set our house in order;' to be called by 
 the death of friends to quit our hold upon the world, and to 
 be warned by the disappointment of our expectations and the 
 prostration of our hopes, that this is not our home, and thus 
 to be induced to lay up provision for passing over Jordan ; 
 to cultivate the disposition of the heavenly inhabitants ; to 
 learn the song of Moses and the Lamb, and have our hearts 
 and voices tuned to join that concert ; to plume, and spread, 
 and try our pinions, in preparation for our heavenward flight 
 
r>0 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 — these, these are our blessuigs and our privileges. Let us 
 listen to the voice that invites us home to glory. 
 
 " Excuse me for running on so long at random ; I was 
 not aware how much of my sheet I had occupied ; and please 
 take a hint from it to write on at random long enough to fill 
 your paper. I think the excellence of letter-writing is to 
 imagine we are in the society of our friends, and addressing 
 them orally. And now and then I am so fortunate as to 
 forget for some time to mail a letter, feeling that I have com- 
 municated all I have to say to my friend. 
 
 "^The weather is extremely warm ; the thermometer at 92^ 
 and 94° for several days. My health fails during the warm 
 season, as usual. Were it near the end of our session, I 
 would visit Ballston Spa for a few weeks. But our studies 
 are very important, and besides, fortunately, there is one 
 other impediment of a serious nature. However, I hope to 
 sec you all in health and happiness by the first of October, 
 or before ; and though 1 may be utterly unable to liquidate 
 any debt, yet I will endeavour to increase none but that of 
 gratitude. My kindest love to Mrs. D. and all friends, as 
 though named. May all the blessings of the new covenant 
 be yours ; and may Jesus, Jehovah, encircle you both and 
 all in his everlasting arms." 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF TRENTON, N. J. 
 
 ''At/gust ISth, 1821. 
 " May I never think so much of the creature that 
 
 (lod will see fit to remove it, to bring my affections to him- 
 self. Oh, that our esteem for each other, as it rises and 
 strengthens, may become more and more sanctified. That 
 we may keep constantly in view the object of our being, not 
 to live, and love, and enjoy domestic bliss, but to glorify God, 
 to live for God and to him, to devote ourselves to the gospel 
 of Christ Jesus, and through all the toils, hardships, poverty 
 
BEV. JOSKTII SAXFOKn. 51 
 
 and persecutions we may meet in our course, \vc must press 
 onward, fighting to fall, and falling to conquer. Study your 
 own heart in the light of God's word; cultivate more and 
 more intercourse with heaven ; study the precepts, promises, 
 doctrines of the Bible, and by all the means in your power 
 endeavour to prepare yourself to become the wife of one who 
 hopes and determines to know nothing but Jesus Christ and 
 him crucified ; who hopes to follow Jesus through good and 
 bad report; and who, drawing the sword to fight the battles 
 of the Lord, must throw away the scabbard and die on the 
 field. I trust you will be the means of strengthening my 
 hands, of encouraging my heart, of trimming the lamp of 
 domestic piety, of dividing the sorrows and increasing the 
 joys of life. See 1 Thess. v. 16 — 23." 
 
 September. The same unvaried course of blessings attend 
 me every step. God is good to me, who deserve no good at 
 his hand. Oh, were he as unmindful of me as I often am 
 of him, how soon should I fall and die ! The throbbing 
 heart, the heaving lungs, would cease to move ; the crimson 
 fluid would freeze in my veins ; all the functions of life would 
 at once be suspended, and this curious, complicated, frail 
 machine fall to ruin. And on a large scale of observation, 
 were the nice adjustment of all the elements of the atmosphere 
 to be neglected, how fatal to animal life ! Were the degi*ees 
 of heat in summer or cold in winter less nicely arranged and 
 apportioned, how miserable would they render the inhabitants 
 of the earth. Should he neglect, suspend, or abrogate the 
 laws by which the universe is governed, continents would bo 
 scorched or deluged, systems would be at once dismembered. 
 
 " Earth would, unbalanced, from her orbit fly. 
 Planets and suns run lawless through the sky, 
 And ruling' ant^els from their seats be hiirl'd, 
 Being on being wreck'd, and world on world." 
 
52 MEMOIK OF THE 
 
 But God reigns over all ; he made all by his power ; gov- 
 erns all by his providence; inspects it at a glance, and can 
 crush it at a word. But he overlooks not the meanest crea- 
 ture that crawls upon the earth ; and he upholds alike, by 
 his almighty power, the ephemera of a summer's morning 
 and the cherubim around his throne. Oh God, how good 
 art thou ! I am not overlooked nor forgotten, but all my 
 wants are supplied, my cup is filled with blessings, my days 
 are crowned with loving kindnesses. Oh, add to all thy 
 other gifts a grateful heart : that must come from thee. 
 Enable me to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, through 
 whom all these blessings are conferred ; and may he be in- 
 deed my Saviour. Oh, destroy the power of my indwelling 
 corruptions, and sanctify my nature, and be my covenant- 
 keeping God. 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF TREIS'TOX, N. J. 
 
 " September 3(7, 1821. 
 
 " It storms most tremendously ; the rain beats against my 
 window so that I can scarcely think of any thing. — All the 
 elements of nature are God's agents ; heaven, earth and hell 
 are distinct provinces of his empire; and if he is our Father 
 and our Friend, what have we to fear? 
 
 " Yesterday was a profitable Sabbath to my soul. I have 
 had much calmness and peace in believing, and the experi- 
 ence of every day strengthens my conviction, that the more 
 we draw our happiness from heavenly fountains, the richer 
 and the more constant and abundant will be our supply. 
 God can make his creatures happy, and he alone. Lodge 
 me in the darkest corner of the earth, on the loneliest island 
 of the sea ; tear away every thing that is dear to the human 
 Ijeart, and break off all the lenderest ligaments of the soul, 
 I can be happy in God, ' in whose presence is Ailness of joy, 
 and at whose right hand are pleasures for ever more !' And 
 
nKV. JOSEPH SANFORD. ijii 
 
 yet I can relish the society of those I love. Let us lay the scene 
 of all our schemes of happiness beyond the swellings of Jor- 
 dan, beyond its farthest surge-washed shore. In that happy 
 land where storms never beat, chilling winds never blow, 
 disease never spreads its ravages, distance never separates 
 beings closely entwined, where ])rospects are never blasted. 
 No intervening cloud hides the face of Jesus, but all is peace, 
 and joy, and heaven, and immortality. 
 
 " May we be as peculiarly pious as we arc peculiarly pri- 
 vileged ; and whether we arc to live long or short lives, fill 
 stations of eminent usefulness or to sink down into insignifi- 
 cance, let us cling to the cross of Jesus, cast our anchor 
 within the vale, and we shall outride all the storms of life 
 and make the port of peace. 
 
 " Amid this elemental strife how many miserable beings 
 may be struggling for life upon the wave, but the struggle 
 soon is over — the mountain billow dashes over them and 
 they are seen no more. Oh God, have mercy on the beings 
 thou hast made, especially those upon the mighty deep. And 
 may those ' whose home is on the mountain wave,' and who 
 see so many of thy wonders in the mighty waters, become 
 thine in the covenant of grace. 
 
 " What are you reading ? wish you could commit Prac- 
 tical Piety to memory." 
 
 TO MKS. J., OF TRENTON, X. J. 
 
 " Princeton, Sept. Hth, 1821. 
 " I take this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of 
 your kind, affectionate letter by Mr. H. It afforded me much 
 pleasure, although at th:it time I was expecting a line from 
 another hand. 
 
 " I sincerely thank you for all the important hints and 
 kind feelings your letter contained. And I hope I shall profit 
 by the one, and never become undeserving of the other. 
 
 5* 
 
54 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " Accustomed as I have boon to watch the leadings of a 
 kind providence from my very childhood, and sometimes 
 enabled to feel the sweet meltinfis of "ratitude to the God of 
 all my mercies, I cannot describe the sensations of my heart 
 when recollecting my first introduction to your family, and 
 especially when I thought I had found in its bosom that 
 friend for whom I oft had prayed, and in regard to whom 
 the confidence of my soul for years has been ' Jehovah Jireh,' 
 the Lord will provide. 
 
 " God be praised for all his goodness, and may the lives 
 that he has made his care be devoted entirely to him. We 
 are young adventurers, ere long to enter (should our lives be 
 spared) on the uncertain, tempestuous sea of active life. Oh, 
 to begin aright ! It is the desire of my soul that Jesus Christ 
 might reign in us and around us, over all our feelings and 
 affections, all our plans and projects, over our whole lives ; 
 and that he would enable us to glorify him in death, and 
 finally receive us to himself, there to recognise and consum- 
 mate that friendship in the heavens which in his providence, 
 and under his approbation, I trust we have been permitted to 
 commence on earth. 
 
 " I received the letter you mailed on Wednesday about ten 
 o'clock the same evening. 
 
 " Our session is drawing to a close, and we are reviewing 
 for examination, two weeks from Monday next. My health 
 is good, and I never hailed the approach of autumn with 
 more pleasure. The flight of time always associates melan- 
 choly ideas. Oh, to be always ready for the close of life, 
 that death may not surprise us. 
 
 "May God bless you abundantly, and all that are dear 
 to you." 
 
HEV. JOSEPU SAXFOKD. 5o 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF TRENTON, N. J. 
 
 ''Nciv York, Sept. 29th, 1821. 
 
 " Yon will receive this on the morning of the holy .Sab- 
 bath. Oh, that your sou! may have much peace in God, 
 and may be filled with the strong consolations of the gospel. 
 I expect to spend the Sabbath here. God grant it may in- 
 deed be a Sabbath. Oh, how important to keep up inter- 
 course with heaven. 
 
 . " On Thursday evening I attended Dr. Spring's lecture. 
 He spoke upon the subject of death, from these words, ' Death 
 hath passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.' He had 
 just seen the remains of a man committed to the earth who 
 only twenty-four hours before was in the vigour of life and 
 health. The same evening two cases of the yellow fever 
 had been reported ; and with all these circumstances to affect 
 the mind, he asked the solemn question, ' Are you prepared 
 to die ?' a question that ought to be settled before we sleep, 
 for our sleep may be the sleep of death, the sleep of ages. 
 
 " Oh, how fast the population of the earth is changing — 
 how fast the king of terrors carries on the work of desola- 
 tion ! How important to be always ready, since at such an 
 hour as we think not the Son of Man may come." 
 
 TO Z. S., ESQ. 
 
 " Philadelphia, Nov. \th, 1821. 
 
 " I am now spending a few days of relaxation in this city, 
 before the beginning of our winter session, and it affords me 
 the opportunity of resuming iny correspondence with you. 
 
 " It is a relief to suspend the routine of even important 
 duties, and hold intercourse with those we love, and wlkom 
 we hope, when the changes of life arc past and its duties 
 done, to meet in heaven and spend an everlasting Sabbath. 
 It will surely make our heaven the sweeter to enter upon its 
 
56 MEMOIR OP THE 
 
 glories after having struggled with temptation and our sj)i- 
 ritual foes, and with the duties of a life of active toil in the 
 cause of our Redeemer. 
 
 " You have often mentioned, in conversation and in your 
 communications, your dissatisfaction with the active duties 
 of your profession, even with much of the necessary inter- 
 course with men of the world. I am becoming more and 
 more convinced that we can carry our religion into every 
 situation in life, and into all our official duties. No doubt 
 we live far below our privileges, and are ourselves the means 
 of beclouding our sky and darkening our path. Oh, when 
 shall we learn to live near to God, and maintain a constant, 
 holy watchftdness, lest we should grieve away the Holy 
 Spirit by which we are sanctified ? It seems almost a year 
 since I heard from you last. How is your family ? Does 
 God continue to shed his rich spiritual blessings around you 
 with an unsparing hand 1 Is he giving you, now and then, 
 a glimpse of the promised land, refreshing you by a breeze 
 of the air of Paradise? Does your love to God flow in a 
 deeper, broader channel, and in a more pure, rapid and con- 
 stant stream? Oh, do you not long to climb the everlasting 
 hills, and there stand above this atmosphere of death, and 
 look down, with gratitude to your Deliverer, and with joy 
 for your deliverance, upon the world of sin and suHcring, of 
 darkness and storms you have left behind you, and upward 
 to an endless career of glory, of which, in this narrow ves- 
 tibule of our existence, we can form no conception ? Well, 
 the hour draws nigh, the journey shortens, the conflict will ere 
 long be over, the grave — the home of ages — will surrender 
 up its tenantry of dust, and the glorified body and the purified 
 ransomed spirit will enter on the bliss of heaven. But, Oh! 
 to be found in the attitude of faithfid servants when our 
 Lord shall come. To liave done something for God, some- 
 
REV JOSEPH SAXFORD. 57 
 
 thing for souls, something for the Redeemer's kingdom, and 
 then our epliemeral existence will not be spent in vain. 
 
 " I hope to hear from you soon. Have your sons given 
 up their studies for the ministry? I wish F. was prepared 
 to come to this seminary." 
 
 November llth, 1821. After an interval of several 
 weeks I am again permitted to return to this beloved institu- 
 tion with some sweet sense of God's goodness. He has 
 made my life his care. He has lengthened my span, filled 
 my cup with blessings, given me kind friends, and profitable 
 enemies, to confer favours which the partiality or the tender- 
 ness of my friends prevent them from conferring. Above 
 all, he has given me a Bible which is filled with the record 
 of a Saviour's love, and permitted me to hope that that Sa- 
 viour is mine; and all this for what? That my final con- 
 demnation may be aggravated, and that I should become 
 doubly a reprobate by sinning against all these mercies ? I 
 cannot think so, and yet it may be. Capernaum was exalted 
 high by privileges and cast down to hell for abusing them. 
 
 " Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Make 
 me wise unto salvation. 
 
 TO MR. H. n. OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 ''Princeton, Nov. 20th, 1821. 
 
 " I have been unable, ever since my return from Ballston, 
 to find a moment to devote to you. But this afternoon 1 
 studied myself into so violent a head-ache, that I feel it my 
 duty to stay out of recitation, and shall have to beg your 
 pardon for employing the exhausted energies of my mind 
 and body to discharge the duties and the delights of friend- 
 ship. 
 
 " As for my general health, it was never better than at 
 present, and my head-ache is only the temporary cftect of 
 
58 ME.MOIU OF THE 
 
 rather too close application. Indeed it is a season of unu- 
 sual health in the seminary. Your acquaintances and 
 friends are all well, and all are pursuing the arduous, though 
 interesting and important studies which, by the blessing of 
 our heavenly Father, will qualify them to preach the ever- 
 lasting Gospel of God our Saviour. My studies are more 
 pressing, as well as more important than they were last 
 year. But, ' I can do all things through Christ strength- 
 ening me.' Oh, that every thought, and every faculty of 
 my nature, may bear upon it, ' Holiness to the Lord.'' It af- 
 fords me much comfort and encouragement to know I have 
 so many praying friends. 
 
 " If my health be spared I do not now expect to visit you 
 again until I have finished my studies. And before that 
 time, you, and all that are dear to you, may have entered 
 into rest. Oh, what a changing, fleeting, dying world. A 
 few days ago we heard of the death of one of our brethren, 
 (M. Searle), in Indiana. This morning, by the Recorder, 
 we have heard of Mr. Newell's* death, and also Mrs. Poor's, 
 both useful in their different stations, and in their proper 
 spheres. But God is on the throne. The cause of missions 
 is his cause. It will prosper. Oh, pray that he would raise 
 up more missionaries, that he would pour out the spirit of 
 missions upon our churches, and that the full flood-tide of 
 salvation might bear off upon its waves the ignorance, the 
 darkness, the corruption, and the misery of the world. 
 
 " May you all grow in grace, in usefulness, and in mcet- 
 ncss for that world of glory. There, as ' sinners saredby 
 grace,'' may you meet your unworthy friend, and there, to- 
 gether, may we sing the songs of the redeemed, and triumph 
 in the fulness of God." 
 
 • A missionarv at Rombav. 
 
nrv. JOSEPH SANFORD. 59 
 
 TO Z. S., ESU. 
 
 " Princeton, Dec. 2d, 1821, 
 " You will pci'ceivc by the date of this letter that this is 
 I lie Sabbath of the Lord. How I should like to sit down 
 with you at your fire-side and talk of the goodness of our 
 kind heavenly Father. Such a subject would befit the sa- 
 credncss of this day, and indeed it should be the theme of 
 every day. 
 
 • When all thy mercies, O my God, 
 
 My rising soul surveys ; 
 Transported with the view, I'm lost 
 
 In wonder, love, and praise.' 
 
 "The whole hymn expresses the feelings of my soul, and 
 I have sometimes thought it might be one of the songs of the 
 upper temple hereafter. 
 
 " Tell me, my friend, if my experience is peculiar. Some- 
 times, when no other consideration will move me to think ol" 
 God's goodness, my base ingratitude will melt me down. 
 He has healed me when I have been sick, protected and de- 
 livered me when in danger. He has resolved my doubts, 
 sanctified my affections, supplied my wants, raised me up 
 kind friends, generous benefactors, profitable enemies. Af- 
 forded me the means of education and the prospect of some 
 usefulness. Oh, that 1 had a heart to love him more and 
 to serve him better. Hut he will give his Spirit to those who 
 desire it. Oh, that his renewing and transforming influences 
 might descend and rest upon me continually. I bless God 
 for praying friends. It is not an idle, fashionable request I 
 make when I desire to be remembered in their sui)[>lications. 
 No, far fix)m it. I do feel the need of their prayers now, 
 and shall need them, if possible, still more if I am spared to 
 complete my preparatory studies. 
 
60 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " We have upwards of seventy students here from vari- 
 ous parts of the Union. I hope the spirit of missions is in- 
 creasing here as well as in all our churches. Mr. Ward's 
 i-emark cannot be repeated too often. ' That the spirit of 
 missions must evangelize the church before the church can 
 evangelize the world.' If we think and pray more we shall 
 feel more on this subject. 
 
 " I regret to hear that Mrs. L. is in poor health. I had 
 hoped her residence at Saratoga would have been the means 
 of establishing her health. ' God seeth not as man seeth,' 
 and he will do what he please with his own, and blessed be 
 his holy name. Oh, for grace to inscribe ' holiness to the 
 Lord,' upon all we have, friends, health, comforts, privileges. 
 A line from your hand and heart is always like cool water 
 to a thirsty soul. I am, indeed, happy to reciprocate your 
 affection, and do believe it will be recognized and consum- 
 mated in eternity." 
 
 December 2d. Almost to the close of another year. How 
 is mercy written upon all the dealings of my God towards 
 me. The record of each succeeding day is only a renewal 
 and recapitulation of his goodness. 
 
 " Why is my heart so far from thcc, 
 
 My God, my chief delight? 
 Why are my thoug-hts no more wltli thee 
 
 By day, no more by night i"' 
 
 Oh, let quickening, sanctifying grace, come into m}' soul; 
 revive me by thy sacred influences. Strengthen the princi- 
 ple of spiritual life within me, if it has ever been planted 
 there. Warm and animate all that is cold; sanctify all 
 that is unholy ; cleanse all that is impure. Give me joy 
 and peace in believing, and keep me under thy renewing, 
 restraining power. Condescend to take up thine abode within 
 
HEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 61 
 
 me. Take of the things of the Father and show them unto 
 me. Rest upon me as a spirit of supplication, of illumina- 
 tion, of consolation, and may I cultivate more and more of 
 the spirit of the heavens, hold more intercourse with heaven, 
 have more deadness to the world, and a stronger, keener 
 relish for heavenly enjoyments. May I mortify the flesh 
 with its affections and lusts, and live soberly, righteously, 
 and godly in this present world. Redeeming the time, know- 
 ing that the days are kw and evil. 
 
 December 16tk. I desire this evening to record my grati- 
 tude, blessed Saviour, that thou didst hear my prayer and hast 
 manifested thyself to me, this day, in the breaking of bread; 
 and that, notwithstanding my unworthiness and wandering 
 thoughts and cold affections, thou, blessed Spirit, didst con- 
 descend, in mercy, to touch my heart. Oh, renew the im- 
 pression. Cleanse my heart, and then claim it ; and may 
 it be a temple for thee ; and may I live with a holy watchful- 
 ness lest 1 should grieve thee to depart. Oh, may rich, free, 
 sovereign, almighty grace keep me from falling, keep me in 
 the path of duty; and af\er thus solemnly renewing the oath 
 of my allegiance to thee, may I ever feel that I am wholly 
 thine ; and may I live for thee alone. 
 
 " Do tliou assist a feeble worm, 
 The great engagement to perform ; 
 Thy grace can full assistance lend. 
 And on that grace I dai-e depend." 
 
 TO MISS A. J. OF TRENTON, N. J. 
 
 " Princeton, Dec. 24<A, 1821. 
 
 '* I feel every day more and more that I am not my own, 
 but the Lord's ; and every thing must bend to his service 
 and to the great object before me. I have been thinking, 
 this morning, on the shortness of life. How soon all our 
 plans and projects will be interrupted by the King of Ter- 
 
 6 
 
62 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 rors ! How insignificant (comparatively) is every thing not 
 connected with the glory of God! Nothing here is worth 
 our attention but religion. 'Tis but a little while, and all 
 this busy, bustling race of beings that now occupy the the- 
 atre of life, will be sleeping beneath the clods of the valley. 
 All our arduous preparations for the gospel ministry, even 
 with the ordinary length of human life, will be only for the 
 exertions of a few years. Then death will end the strife, 
 close the warfare, and set the seal of eternity to our destinies 
 and our hopes. These little, fle-eting moments make up the 
 time in which heaven is to be secured ; in which God is to 
 be glorified by our activity and zeal ; in which sinners are 
 to be saved. 
 
 ' Then let us catch the transient hour, 
 
 Improve each moment as it flies ; 
 Life's a short summer, man a flower, 
 
 He dies! — alas! how soon he dies.' 
 
 " Present my particular regards to Miss S. I regret that 
 I cannot avail myself of this opportunity of seeing her. How- 
 ever, I will hope to see her in Philadelphia. Ever since you 
 informed me of the late loss Mr. N. has sustained, I am 
 more anxious than ever to visit Philadelphia. I know they 
 have the strong consolations and supports of the Gospel, and 
 fondly trust they have a blood-bought title to an inheritance 
 ' that never fades away' in heaven. 
 
 " Brother M. presents his best wishes to the family. 
 Please give my kind regards to all. We warmly express 
 the compliments of the season, though in anticipation, and 
 wish you all the happiness that flows from the sweet inter- 
 course of beloved Christian friends, with all the immortal 
 hopes that religion presents and secures. 
 
 " May God have you always in his holy keeping, and 
 prepare you for great usefulness." 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 63 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Princeton, Dec. 21th, 1821. 
 
 " I felt confident that you would have a happy little cir- 
 cle oa the 25th. 
 
 " You are aware that all your good Trenton people are 
 rather anti-Presbyterian for celebrating the 25th of Decem- 
 ber as the birthday of our blessed Redeemer. It is very 
 far from being certain that that is the day, so far that few 
 will speak with confidence on the subject. And, though I 
 highly approve of religious services, on almost all those 
 days that arc called holidays, yet I am not prepared to say 
 I would celebrate the 25th of December any more than I 
 would the 25lh of January, or the 4th of July, or the 1st of 
 January, as times pectiliarly sacred. 
 
 " Next Tuesday will commence the year, and the month 
 (of course) ; and, as it is a day when our society for inquiry 
 on the subject of missions has a regular meeting, and as I 
 hold the office of First Corresponding Secretary, and have 
 fiome reports to make, it will be my duty to be present. I 
 should be glad to begin the year with you ; but as that will 
 probably not be practicable, let us regard it as a day of re- 
 newed and special dedication of ourselves to God — adoring 
 and thanking him for the past, and solemnly giving ourselves 
 to him for the future. Let us thus enter upon another year, 
 big with the eternal destinies of thousands, and perhaps the 
 last year we are to number on the records of the living. 
 Soon our accounts for the expiring year will be closed, sealed 
 up for eternity- Oh, let us see well to it, that they are all 
 cancelled by the blood of Jesus, and that they carry no sin 
 unrcpented of to the court of heaven against us. And while 
 we stand upon the ' grave of the year,' and weep, and adore 
 at the recollections of the past, oh, let us remember, that in 
 that grave lie the mortal and immortal hopes of millions 
 
64 MEMOIR OF TUE 
 
 who entered upon the year with hopes as high, and pros- 
 pects as bright, and as precious as ours. And so let us 
 breathe a heart-directed prayer, that God would keep and 
 guide our feeble bark, while we launch it upon the ocean of 
 eternal scenes. And while we weep at the wrecks of hu- 
 man happiness and human hopes, that cover the ocean of the 
 past, let us maintain an unshaken trust in God, who sits in 
 high authority over all these desolations, and has brought 
 them about for his own glory; and who will be our God for 
 ever and ever, and our guide even unto death. Let Jesus be 
 our friend, our Saviour, and all will be well, all will be safe. 
 Then no matter how short or how tempestuous the voyage 
 of life; Jesus will be our pilot, and our port will be sure. 
 And though the next year should prove our last, though we 
 should not see another summer's sun, nor the flowerets 
 of another spring; nay, though the blasts of the present 
 winter should howl over the frozen clods that hide our ashes 
 from the world, yet we will hope in God. There is a world 
 that opens bright and glorious, beyond the darkness and the 
 gloom of the sepulchre; there is a voice sweeter than the 
 melody of angels that proclaims ' a rest for the people of 
 God.' May God give us grace to secure that rest, and to 
 his name shall be the- glory." 
 
 December 30<A. The last Sabbath of the year. The year 
 is almost gone. How have I misimproved every Sabbath, 
 sinned every hour, forgotten God, and loved and served the 
 creature; and still I have been spared; spared amidst un- 
 numbered wrecks of human hope, amidst groans and graves, 
 and " miseries that groan for the grave's shelter." Lord 
 reform my spared life ; may it be more entirely thine. May 
 I love to commit all the dark, unknown of futurity to thee. 
 Lord Jesus, grant me a stronger faith. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 65 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''Princeton, Jan. 3d, 1822. 
 " Your letter was peculiarly acceptable, as well as pecu- 
 liarly excellent, on Tuesday morning. Its length, though a 
 very considerable thing in its favour, was not the most en- 
 dearing characteristic. Nothing, dear A., affords me more 
 pleasure than indications of deeper spirituality, and more de- 
 votedness to God. Oh, that this new year, upon which we 
 have already entered, may be a year of much growth in 
 grace, much victory over sin, much increase in the know- 
 ledge of God's word and character, and much knowledge 
 of our own hearts and characters. And may every day 
 bring us nearer and nearer to God, raise us higher and 
 higher above the world, give us more and more energy in 
 our spiritual conflicts, and dispose us to sing from the heart, 
 
 • Oh, to grace how great a debtor,' 
 
 " We have a missionary meeting in the afternoon; some 
 cheering intelligence of the progress of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom. A letter was read from brother H. P., mentioning 
 the storm encountered at sea, on his passage from Balti- 
 more to Savannah, &c. 
 
 " Brother L. reached Charleston in four days from New 
 York, and is preaching to the blacks in the city. 
 
 " It would be grateful to my feelings, when the duties of 
 the day are over, to kneel with you before the dear domes- 
 tic altar, and offer to our kind and Heavenly Father, the 
 effusions of our grateful hearts. 
 
 " But God is making our lives his constant care, and 
 granting us many blessings, which we forget to acknow- 
 ledge — our lives, health, reason, kind friends, food and rai- 
 ment, the privileges of the Gospel and hopes full of immor- 
 tality. May he give us gratitude, and sanctify all our en 
 joyments and hopes, and use us for his service." 
 
 6» 
 
66 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 '^January l^th, 1822. 
 " My health was never better; and, without doubt, all the 
 better for my walk yesterday. I feel uneasy about Mr. 
 Armstrong's health. Oh, may God restore and long pre- 
 serve it. Oh, how many things to remind us that 
 
 * Our life is ever on the wing, 
 And death is ever nigh.' 
 
 " And he may now be filling his quiver with arrows to 
 destroy some life we hold most dear. Oh, that our lamps 
 might be ever trimmed, and burning, and we always ready." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''Princeton, Feb. IQth, 1^12. 
 " In the review of my last visit, the only thing I have to 
 regret is that wc did not take more time in the family, and 
 alone, to converse on a subject that ought to lie nearest our 
 hearts. Oh, it is more important than any thing else, that 
 the business of our souls be attended to ; for we know not 
 how soon, nor how suddenly, we may be called to the eter- 
 nal world. When I arrived here on Saturday, I found Mr. 
 T. extremely ill. He was taken on Friday with a severe 
 cholic, which continued for six or seven hours with the most 
 indescribable severity, and was followed by an inflammation; 
 and now it is thought that in a few hours he will be in eter- 
 nity. While I am writing these words I can hear the gasp 
 of death, although he is in another story of the building, as 
 
 his room is directly over the one that is adjoining to mine. 
 
 His convulsive groans pierce my very heart. 
 
 " Oh, to be always ready. To have our lamps trimmed, 
 
 lights burning, loins girt, work done ! Oh, God, may I be 
 
 prepared for that solemn hour. Mr. T. said, a little while 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFOUD. 67 
 
 ago, ' No father, no sister here.' His mother is not living; 
 and these are, probably, some of his keenest recollections, 
 that his friends are absent. Mr. Wilson, of the seminary, 
 is distantly connected with him by the marriage of some 
 of their friends. 
 
 " How important it is that such solemn warnings should 
 be improved. I have tried to imagine myself in his place. 
 " Have we not reason to be alarmed when our love to 
 God is growing cold, while the love of the creature is in- 
 tense and ardent? Let us humble ourselves in the dust 
 before him and confess our sinfulness; not that we love the 
 creature so much, but for loving him so little. 
 
 " It is a profitable exercise to take the holy law of God, 
 as it is admirably exhibited and illustrated in the Larger 
 Catechism, read it over with prayer to God for the influ- 
 ences of the Holy Spirit, that we may see more and more of 
 its extent and spirituality, feel how it condemns us, and let 
 it perform its oflice of driving us to Jesus Christ, who has 
 fulfilled its every precept, and suffered its heaviest penalty 
 *^for us;'' yes, for us, if we are Christians. Oh, that his 
 willingness to save may be a matter of faith, and not a mere 
 matter of opinion. That we may have a living, operating, 
 purifying faith on the blessed Redeemer, and that we may 
 feel sensibly the influences of the Holy Comforter and Sanc- 
 tifier in our souls, moulding every faculty, and every feel- 
 ing into subjection to his sacred will. 
 
 Wednesday morning. Mr. T. is still alive. His desire is 
 for more light, and more resignation to the will of God. 
 And that the ' rod and stajf"' of the ' Great Shepherd^ of 
 souls may comfort and support him through the ' dark val- 
 ley: 
 
 " I shall not close this letter until evening. Saturday 
 next is proposed as a day of special humiliation and prayer 
 
68 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 to God. It is usual to observe such a day about the middle 
 of the winter session. 
 
 " I still love to remember twelve o'clock. Sometimes, on 
 Saturdays and Wednesdays, our recitations interrupt ; but I 
 always remember the hour, and love to send up the desires 
 of my soul towards the throne of grace. 
 
 " Wednesday evening. There is no change in Mr. T. 
 for the better ; but Dr. V. C. thinks that if he should con- 
 tinue in this state for thirty-six hours longer, there will be 
 some hopes of his recovery. He has been in less pain all 
 day than he was last evening. Then his hiccough and 
 groans were enough to break almost any heart. Only a 
 few are permitted to attend him, and those, generally, his 
 particular friends. You will, doubtless, hear of the issue 
 of his disease in two or three days without my writing." 
 
 February 2^th, 1822. Almost two months of another 
 year have gone. How imperceptibly have they fled ; but, 
 oh, what events have they evolved. Death has removed one 
 of our number* to the eternal world ! " That conqueror 
 of conquerors" and lord of desolation has made a breach in 
 our ranks. Nothing can divert his aim; youth, health, sci- 
 ence, and even piety itself afford no security against his 
 shafts. Oh, God, who givest life and takcst it away, sanc- 
 tify to us this afflictive providence. Unless thou dost bless 
 it to us, we shall sink into a more awful stupidity, and be- 
 come the readier and riper for a severer blow. Oh, may it 
 be the means of arousing me to more activity. May the 
 death scene ever live in my lively recollection, and influence 
 all my future life. May 1 profit by the melting exhortations 
 of our departed brother — by living nearer to God, more in 
 constant preparation for death. I do desire to bless thee for 
 
 • Mr. Turner, from Kentucky. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 69 
 
 all that was consoling in the departure of our brother : that 
 his faith was firm, and although he did not, at all times, en- 
 joy as much light as he wished, yet that it pleased thee to 
 chase away the clouds, and that we were permitted to hear 
 his note of triumph and his shout of victory before his eyes 
 closed in death. Oh, God, may the solemn lessons and ex- 
 hortations he gave us, in his last moments, be the means of 
 more usefulness than his life could have accomplished; and, 
 as an individual, may I not only be quickened in duty, and 
 be led deeper than ever into my own heart, but live always 
 with my lamp trimmed and burning, loins girt, work done, 
 and be ready for the coming of the Lord. 
 
 Friday, March 1st. A day of special humiliation and 
 prayer. I have a long catalogue of sins to confess. Oh, 
 God, enable me to forsake them. Faith and repentance are 
 both thy gifts ; oh, bestow them upon me. I have reviewed, 
 and endeavoured to renew, my covenant engagements to be 
 tlie Lord's. One of a private nature, the other the public 
 formula, adopted by the church. I have broken them many 
 times! Oh, God, if thou shouldst strictly mark my iniquity 
 I must be condemned for ever. But, be pleased, through 
 Jesus Christ, to accept of. my imperfect and impure service, 
 and own it as a surrender of myself, renewedly, to thee. I 
 desire to be thine upon thine own terms; to accept of sal- 
 vation just as it is ofTered, freely, " without money and with- 
 out price." I desire to bless thy name that I am shut up to this 
 sweet necessity, that of myself "I have nothing to pay," 
 though " I owe ten thousand talents." Enable me to accept 
 thy salvation with all my heart, and may I exercise a living 
 faith upon a living Saviour; and may I find comfort in this 
 act of self-dedication while I live, and when I enter the 
 " swellings of Jordan." Oh, then may I feel the support 
 of thine everlasting arms, and thy blessed presence, Father, 
 Son and Holy Spirit. 
 
70 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 TO MISS A. J. OF TRENTON, N. J. 
 
 " March Atk, 1822. 
 
 " We had a solemn season, on Saturday, in following the 
 remains of our departed brother to the grave. It was judged 
 advisable to defer the day of fasting till Friday last, the first 
 day of the month. 
 
 " You have, probably, heard the particulars of brother 
 T.'s death. I cannot describe them to you now, if you have 
 not, as the hour has come for me to carry my letter to the 
 office. I can only say, he did not enjoy as much light and 
 assurance of the favour of Christ as he could wish, though 
 liis faith in the promises and faithfulness of God remained 
 firm to the last. We think, however, that the clouds cleared 
 away, and that he caught a glimpse of glory before he ex- 
 pired, for his countenance beamed with joy, and he exclaim- 
 ed, 'Glory,' and afterward, ' My Jesus,' quivered on his 
 dying lips. He gave us many solemn exhortations, and 
 took a most affectionate and affecting leave of Drs. Alexan- 
 der and Miller, Mr. Hodge and Dr. Vancleave. Dr. Miller 
 has prepared an obituary notice ; this you will probably 
 see. 
 
 " I hope and pray that this solemn providence may bo 
 blessed to us all. May we learn to work while the day 
 lasts, and to listen to the voice from the grave, that tells us 
 to set our house in order. And may our loins be girt, our 
 work done, and we be thus waiting and watching for the 
 coming of the Lord. 
 
 " Nothing could afford me sincerer pleasure than to know 
 that the candle of the Lord is shining brightly around you. 
 May it continue to shine, and may you become more and 
 more dead to the world, and more and more devoted to that 
 Saviour who, I fondly hope and trust, has loved you and 
 given himself for you. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. *71 
 
 " I think I can say, for one, I have been for several weeks 
 learning new lessons on the humiliating subject of the de- 
 pravity of my heart, its hardness and its unbelief; though I 
 could humbly hope, not without some sense of the greatness 
 of the love that has provided a Redeemer for sinful men. 
 
 • How glorious is that rig'hteousness, 
 That hides and cancels all our sins.' 
 
 " Oh, for more love to God, more faith in him, more ac- 
 tive devotedness to him, and for a more constant sense of his 
 presence. 
 
 " The bell is this moment ringing for prayer meeting. 'Tis 
 an interesting season. May this be Zion's favoured hour. 
 May God hear the cries of a prostrate church, and have 
 mercy upon Zion. May he enable us to prefer Zion to our 
 chief joy. 
 
 " There is a prospect of glorious things in New York. 
 If they continue to become more and more interesting I shall 
 hope to spend the most of the next vacation there, perhaps, 
 after the General Assembly. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''Princeton, March 19tk, 1822. 
 
 •* I already feel the benefits of my ride to Trenton, and 
 have quite got over all the unpleasant sensations it occa- 
 sioned. 
 
 " I presume you will have a call from Mr. M'N. and Mr. 
 C, two invalids of our class. 
 
 " I was interrupted in my presumptuous strain by com- 
 pany; and before my company retired, the horn was blown 
 for recitation. And now, in about thirty minutes, it will 
 blow again for prayers, (at five) ; then, in thirty minutes 
 again, for tea ; and then, again, in thirty minutes, for the 
 Theological Society (at six). This is the way our time goes 
 
72 MEMOIR OF TME 
 
 here. But every plnce has its peculiar interruptions. But 
 all, all we have to do, in any situation, is to fill up present 
 time with present duty, and in the midst of all the business 
 and the bustle of the day, I can find many sweet moments 
 to think of God. Oh, that I could improve them as I ought. 
 How much could I then grow in grace! How near could I 
 live to heaven ! How sweetly swift the hours would fly ! 
 Oh, to be able to say, even should I kneel in anguish over 
 the grave of my last earthly hope, ' My all is not laid here.' 
 
 " It is our glory, as well as our duty, to live for God, 
 whom angels worship, and who governs all worlds. 
 
 " In one week from next Sabbath, I expect to sit down 
 again at the table of the Lord. May it be such a season as 
 I have never enjoyed before — an antepast of the bliss of 
 heaven. And yet I have scarcely a right to pray for such 
 a season, I live so far below my privileges. God have mercy 
 upon me, and keep me near himself! 
 
 " I can give no interesting particularsof the state of things 
 here ; indeed appearances are so delusive. But God is able 
 to grant us all a blessing. New Haven is again gloriously 
 refreshed from on high. 
 
 " And how is it among you ? Oh, that I could hear the 
 glorious news of sinners born of God and for glory among 
 you. The work in New York is going on, though I have 
 heard no particulars." 
 
 May 5th. On such a morning, at this season, it is gra- 
 tifying to behold the heavens serene, and to see the sun 
 shining in his strength, and to hear the commingled melody 
 of all created nature — fields, floods and forests, with the notes 
 of birds of every wing, rising up in a sinless concert to the 
 great Eternal. On the contrary, the heavens are black with 
 showers, and nature, though in her greenest robes, seems 
 drenched in sorrow at the mute ingratitude of man. Oh, 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANPOIID. 73 
 
 how aptly does this picture represent the state of my heart. 
 On this blessed morning, when every bosom should be peace 
 and every thought should be praise, I find a load of sin press- 
 ing upon my conscience and drinking up my spirits ; and the 
 language of my soul seems to be, " Oh that my head were 
 waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears," that I might weep 
 day and night over a sense of my sinfulness and my ingrati* 
 tude. Oh, may the showers descend, and may they be floods 
 of genuine sorrow for sin. Let them wash away the dust of 
 sin and death that has settled upon my soul. Lord, may I 
 hold sweet intercourse with thee to-day ; let my heart and 
 hopes revive, let my devout affections rise and soar. Let 
 faith take stronger hold, let hope have brighter prospects. 
 Let the world recede from my contemplations, let earth sink 
 down into insignificance, let heavenly views and heavenly 
 glories pour in upon my soul, let the melody of angels and 
 of saints made perfect fall upon my delighted ear, and let my 
 heart be tuned to join the concert. Glory be to the Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost, for such high, such blessed hopes, 
 even in this world of sin and death. Father in heaven, glo- 
 rify thy name in my salvation, purchased by the Son, and 
 applied by the Spirit. Work great things to-day in Zion. 
 Give energy and efficacy to the preaching of thy word. Use 
 the earthen vessels to-day so that the excellency of the power 
 may appear to be of God and not of men. 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF TRENTON, N. J. 
 
 " New York, June 2d, 1822. 
 " I arrived here on Saturday at 11 o'clock, as I expected, 
 and am happy to be able to sit down and fulfil my engage- 
 ment of writing. I went in the carriage you saw me enter 
 to Princeton, and then took a seat in that which Dr. Rice 
 and company had left. Mr. Bethune was one of our com- 
 pany, and Mr. and Mrs. Fitch joined us. It was twelve be- 
 
 7 
 
74 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 fore wc reached New Brunswick. I was glad to keep still 
 on Saturday afternoon, as I was quite fatigued. 
 
 " Yesterday I heard Dr. Romeyn twice ; his discourses 
 were excellent, upon the second chapter of Acts, and on the 
 subject of revivals. I do believe he longs for a revival, pure 
 and powerful, free from improper feeling. I never saw ap- 
 pearances so flattering here in general, or in our church* in 
 particular. Called to-day at Mr. C.'s — he was not at home ; 
 saw Mrs. C. and Miss C. 
 
 " This evening we shall be allowed again to mingle our 
 prayers with many Christians at the throne of grace, for the 
 general outpouring of the Spirit for the conversion of the 
 world. Oh, may God give us the spirit of prayer in large 
 measure. 
 
 " Tuesday morning. I trust the prayers that ascended to 
 God during the last twenty-four hours, went up like a cloud 
 of acceptable incense, and will be had in remembrance before 
 God. The time will come when Jesus Christ shall reign 
 from sea to sea, and from shore to shore. 
 
 " There is a great want of rain in this city ; they had no 
 rain on Friday, when you were refreshed with showers. 
 But there is greater need of a rain of spiritual blessings, 
 and for the reign of righteousness ; for though there are 
 many children of God here, and many houses of public wor- 
 ship, yet here verily Satan has fixed his throne, and holds 
 his court, and sways a stern and cruel sceptre over thousands 
 of willing subjects. Oh God, break up these strong holds 
 of sin and Satan, and abolish these abodes of corruption and 
 crime. 
 
 " My health is better than it was before the vacation. I 
 still spend the morning of each day in my study, and go out 
 in the afternoon and evening. 
 
 • He was a member of Dr. Romcyn's church. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. lO 
 
 " I spent a happy Sabbath. I hope I enjoy something of 
 the presence of God, and that I feel his sustaining and direct- 
 inff hand upon me. May he use me in his service here, and 
 admit me to his blissful presence hereafter, and there may I 
 meet all that my heart holds dear." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " New York, June lOth, 1822. 
 
 " AVhen feeling prompts you to perform any ac- 
 tion, pause and inquire if the motive is God's glory. Actions 
 are well to be weighed, by considering the present effect, and 
 the ultimate or remote influence. I might pursue a course 
 of duty, or what should seem to be duty on a partial exami- 
 nation, with a pure desire to promote the kingdom of the Re- 
 deemer on the earth, and at the same time be undermining 
 my health slowly and insensibly, but certainly and fatally, 
 and so disqualifying myself for that sphere of usefulness to 
 which I trust God has called me, and in preparation for 
 which, seeking the direction of my Master, I must make 
 every principle, and every faculty, and every feeling bend. 
 
 " May God guide you and preserve you, and enable you 
 to let your light shine here below in the kingdom of iiis grace, 
 and hereafter may you shine as a star of the first magnitude 
 in the firmament of glory. 
 
 " Yesterday was another precious Sabbath to my soul. 
 I heard Dr. Spring in the morning from these words ; ' For 
 thy name's sake, oh Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.' 
 In the afternoon Dr. Romeyn, from * Behold the Lamb of 
 God, which taketh away the sin of the world.' And in the 
 evening an old gentleman, from ' Unto you, therefore, who 
 believe, he is precious.' You sec the subjects were well cal- 
 culated to refresh the soul, and truly I can say my soul was 
 refreshed. Between services we read the obituary of Mrs. 
 Poor. It is a precious morsel. Oh, how religion shines in 
 
76 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the * dark valley.' Let me live like the righteous and die 
 like the righteous. My health is very good. I have caught 
 a slight cold in the humid evening air, but shall know how 
 to guard against it in future. I am spending my time plea- 
 santly, and I hope profitably, with access to Mr. Lyon's 
 library, also to Dr. Romeyn's. I know not when I shall 
 leave the city," 
 
 TO TUE SAME. 
 
 " New York, June \lth, 1822. 
 " I have nothing new or interesting to write, my dear A., 
 this morning, except to record the continued mercies of God, 
 which are new every morning, and fresh every evening. 
 Every day I find more and more to interest my feelings and 
 heart in regard to God's work of grace in this city. I do 
 believe, should Dr. Romeyn and his elders go through the 
 congregation and deal faithfully with every soul, whether 
 professors or non-professors, God would own and honour 
 their efforts as the means of exciting this people to such a 
 state of engagedness as they have never seen or felt. Meet- 
 ings are well attended and solemn ; ten or fifteen are known 
 to be inquiring the way to Zion, weeping as they go ; and I 
 do believe many more are unusually thoughtful. Oh, that 
 God would visit this city in proportion to its inhabitants. If 
 God is angry with one sinner every day, and hates every 
 sinner, how, oh how must his long-suffering patience be tried 
 by the ten thousand abominations of this city ! Ilow must 
 he be insulted by the black cloud of incense that rises daily 
 from a thousand altars consecrated to the prince of darkness ! 
 But he is gathering in his chosen ones, here and there on 
 every side ; and when they are all gathered in, how soon 
 will the cloud of vengeance, red with uncommon wrath, pour 
 down its horrors upon this guilty population. ' The day of 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 77 
 
 their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon 
 them make haste.' 
 
 "Oh, to feel more deeply and constantly the worth of 
 souls, and to be more engaged for their salvation. 
 
 " I am glad to hear that Mr. A. has been assisted in his 
 present delicate state of health. I do believe he has suffered 
 his anxiety for his people to prey upon his health. Anxiety 
 may rise to a height that will make it sinful. But oh, may 
 God gratify the desires of your soul, and revive his work 
 among you. 
 
 " I saw brother Moore just before he left this for Albany. 
 Brother Chester called on me ; he is on his way home, whore 
 he will spend the summer, and return to Charleston in the 
 fall. — I expect to leave this for Princeton on Wednesday 
 next. I shall not go to Somerville nor Elizabethtown, the 
 vacation is so nearly spent. I must be in Princeton a few 
 days before our duties in the seminary commence." 
 
 June SOth. First Sabbath of the summer session. Nearly 
 two months have gone since I have made any record of thy 
 goodness, oh my kind and indulgent Father. Thou hast 
 followed me with thy kindness wherever I have been, and 
 thou hast permitted me to hope and to rejoice in thy mercy. 
 I have seen the traces of thy power, the influences of thy 
 spirit, the movements of thy mercy. I have seen the tro- 
 phies of thy grace, and would hope I have felt something of 
 thy presence and of thy love wherever I have been. Oh, I 
 desire to begin anew to serve thee, to love thee. Lord, 
 make me entirely thine, for ever thine. 
 
 " Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. 
 Prone to leave the God I love." 
 
 Oh, restrain my wandering feet, bind me to thy throne, fill 
 my soul with longings after thy blessed presence-— 
 
78 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " Constrain my soul thy sway to own, 
 Self-will, self-righteousness dethrone." 
 
 Lord, make the prayer sincere, and answer it for the sake of 
 Jesus, the sinner's hope, the sinner's friend. 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF TRENTON, N. J. 
 
 ''Princeton, July Isf, 1822. 
 
 " I have just returned from a meeting of the Missionary 
 Society ; and at this moment a fine shower is beginning to 
 fall, though like many other promising clouds, it may pass 
 with but little rain. 
 
 " The weather is intensely warm, every one seems ener- 
 vated. We have now, however, some thunder, which, with 
 the attendant shower, will greatly purify the air. Oh, that 
 we should think so little of the goodness of our heavenly 
 Father, who is so mindful of our weakness and our wants. 
 He is, in a very gracious manner, sending showers of spi- 
 ritual blessings to water the barren and thirsty parts of liis 
 vineyard. We have heard to-day of many revivals to the 
 north of us ; and indeed I have never known a time when 
 such a spirit seemed to be diffused, and is diffusing itself, 
 among those who profess to love the Saviour, and also among 
 those who are far from righteousness. Oh, that this encou- 
 raging influence may extend, until every town and hamlet 
 shall be plentifully watered by showers from on high, and 
 every abode of darkness and of death shall be demolished 
 from under the whole heavens, and our Redeemer be exalted 
 in all the earth. 
 
 " I have not time to give you the particulars of our mis- 
 sionary meeting. Brother P. gave us an interesting address, 
 and they have taken the liberty of electing your humble ser- 
 vant to deliver one at the beginning of the next session. 
 
EEV. JOSEPH SANFOKD. 79 
 
 Brother S. has just called — says he preached for Mr. A. yes- 
 terday. I hope you had a precious season. Dr. Alexander 
 gave us a very solemn discourse from these words, ' How 
 shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation !' 
 
 " Our conference was solemn ; we talked about revivals. 
 Mr. WoodhuU preached in the evening. 
 
 " I would love to be at your tea-table this evening, and 
 then go with you to the house of prayer, on the evening of 
 this day sacred to the cause of missions. I long to feel 
 more, and to see signs of more feeling in others, on this 
 course. Oh, may God warm our hearts and hear our 
 prayers." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''July Sth, 1822. 
 
 " I spent the w.hole day in my room. In the afternoon 
 wrote a good long letter to my dear aged parents. I have 
 received letters from my brother and sister both, since I saw 
 you : their families arc in health. My sister, you know, is 
 the only professor of religion among them.* My parents 
 are as happy as they can be under the infirmities of age, and 
 in a new country, where their religious privileges are of ne- 
 cessity few. But God can provide for his people a well in 
 the wilderne^ as well as in the land of Canaan. The pre- 
 sence of God makes a heaven any where. In the chamber 
 or on the bed of sickness — yes, in the chamber and on the 
 bed of death, in the dungeon or on the scaffold, in society or 
 in solitude, at home or abroad, wherever we are in the em- 
 pire of Jehovah, there is heaven to us if we are the children 
 of God. Oh, what a father is our heavenly Father! What 
 a gift is Jesus Christ ! \\'hat a companion is the Holy Spi- 
 rit, who dwells in the heart of believers I Let us be mind> 
 
 * His brother lias since made a profession. 
 
80 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 fill of our Christian privilegesj and be grateful to the God in 
 whom we live and breathe. 
 
 • May every hour be bliss divine. 
 And every thoug-ht be heaven.' " 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 "July 25th, 1822. 
 
 " It is religion that gives stability to purpose and 
 
 perpetuity to friendship, and stamps the seal of eternity upon 
 the bond that unites congenial souls. 
 
 " It gives me pleasure to know that you enjoy the light 
 of God's countenance. This will make you happy. — 
 You may be called to pass through darkness, but you will 
 feel the kind hand of your Redeemer leading you, and his 
 voice saying, ' this is the way ;' and, ' fear not, it is I, be 
 not afraid.' You may be greatly tried in the furnace of 
 affliction, ' but one like unto the Son of God' will walk with 
 you in the midst of the fire, that the flames shall not kindle 
 upon you. God is every where, and he is your Father, and 
 he will not be weary of hearing your cries ; he will not for- 
 sake you ; he will guide you through life, and up to glory. 
 
 • Oh then let us praise him, let us bow at his feet. 
 Oh give him the glory and his praises repeat.' 
 
 " We have had an interesting day. Mr. Goodcll is in 
 town, and this morning he addressed our Missionary Society. 
 You know he is an accepted missionary for Western Asia, 
 (Palestine.) He has lately visited the missionary stations 
 among the Indians of the south-west, and he gave a most 
 interesting account of them. After he closed his remarks. 
 Dr. Rice made a icw observations, and concluded with 
 prayer. We expect Mr. G. to lecture for us this evening. 
 I hope to be able to visit those missionary stations ; and while 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFOUI). 81 
 
 I live, and wherever I live, my best energies shall be sacix-d 
 to the cause of missions, the cause of Christ. Oh, that the 
 spirit of Mills, and Martyn, and Newell, and Parsons, might 
 animate every minister of the gospel, and every individual 
 that is a friend to man and the Redeemer of man. How 
 soon would the heralds of salvation be sent to every land, 
 the Bible be read in every language, and the gospel-trumpet 
 be sounded from pole to pole. Oh Lord, the work is thine ; 
 hasten it in its time. I trust you and I have much to do in 
 this great cause. Let us be watching and praying for op- 
 portunities to be useful, and for grace to improve them when 
 ofTered ; and though we may not live to see the fulfilment of 
 God's promises of mercy to Zion, and hear on earth the full 
 chorus of praise from an emancipated, converted world, yet 
 through grace we will look down from the top of the ever- 
 lasting hills, and rejoice in the full accomplishment of a work 
 in which we were permitted to labour on the earth." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Saturday evening, August 3d, 1822. 
 
 " I have been sitting alone by the light of the moon, (a 
 little while,) and while I gazed I could not avoid the thought 
 that perhaps your's is fixed too upon that bright orb. I was 
 not in haste to check the thought, and only wished I could 
 walk with you and talk of its brightness, and how it would 
 grow dim before the rising sun ; and how the sun, and moon, 
 and all created glories, fade and disappear before the Sun of 
 Righteousness. 
 
 *' It is delightful to gaze upon the works of God in all their 
 majesty and in all their minuteness — to see the touches of 
 his finger upon the skirts of every cloud, his agency in every 
 leaf that flutters in the wind, in every insect that floats in 
 the air or creeps upon the earth, every planet that rolls in 
 the heavens, every star that decorates our firmament, but that 
 
82 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 shines and radiates its effulgence in some far distant part of 
 Jehovali's empire — the centre and the sun of a retinue of 
 worlds. And then the littleness of man, with all his imagined 
 consequence and towering expectations, forces itself upon 
 the mind, and one can scarce repress the exclamation of the 
 psalmist, ' Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? 
 and the son of man, that thou visitest him ?' 
 
 " The week is almost gone ; its cares have passed away, 
 and some of its duties done and some undone. Brothers 
 Breckenridge and Baird have been licensed — brother M'Far- 
 lane ordained. I feel thankful for any favourable symptoms 
 in your mother's disease, and for all the goodness God is 
 causing to pass before you." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 *' Princeton, Augvst 1th, 1822. 
 
 " Your letter was duly received this morning. I heard 
 last evening that Dr. Richards was in town, and was at a 
 loss at first to conjecture the cause, but presently concluded 
 he must be a member of the committee of examination. 
 
 " It is quite needless for me to say I deeply sympathize 
 with you in every sorrow, and in every painful apprehension 
 of the issue of your dear mother's disease. It is known 
 only to God, and blessed be his name that his ways are often 
 hid by clouds and darkness from mortal vision ; and while 
 we lie still and submissive beneath the shadow of his throne, 
 we can rejoice in that righteousness that does all things well, 
 and all things in the tenderest manner for his children. How 
 willing we should be to resign those that are dearest to us at 
 our Saviour's call ! He is a better friend to them than we 
 can be. He knows better what they need than we can know, 
 and will certainly do what is best for them. Oh, I know it 
 is nature that struggles, but let us pray that God would give 
 grace the victory, that he would subdue our wills and enable 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 83 
 
 US to submit cheerfully to his government, and to know that 
 he is God. 
 
 " I know that these ideas have been revolved often in your 
 mind, and doubtless you feel that Jesus Christ, the same yes- 
 terday, to-day and for ever, is the rock you must cling to in 
 every storm, the great pole-star that will guide you in the 
 darkest night, and the precious, heavenly friend that will 
 never fail you. No, death may rage and spread its ravages, 
 disease may blast our dearest earthly prospects, and bury in 
 one common grave all that can render life desirable. Yet 
 our Redeemer lives, and can make up every loss, and even 
 turn our mourning into joy that shall never end. 
 
 " With such truths before us, let us away for ever with 
 such thoughts as ' being alone and friendless in the world,' 
 and pray God to forgive the unbelief that would admit them 
 for a moment. I hope your dear mother will be restored, 
 and be enabled to praise God in the land of the living — to 
 live for the happiness of her family, and especially for the 
 glory of God. But if he is about to send her his final sum- 
 mons, may the language of her heart and our hearts be, 
 ' Thy will be done.' And whether God has designed for 
 her a speedy departure, or a lingering disease, or a long life 
 of usefulness and happiness, this language equally becomes 
 us still." 
 
 TO MR. H. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 "Princeton, August 17th, 1822. 
 " I am really concerned when I recollect that your last 
 kind letter, of the third of June, remains unanswered. But 
 my apology is short. I wished to answer it in a manner 
 suitable to the solemn intelligence it brought me, and there- 
 fore laid it by for time to execute the intention, and though 
 on ten occasions I have been as much disengaged as the 
 present, yet I have not had one hour suitable for answering 
 
84 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 a letter of so dear a friend. Be not surprised at me, my 
 brother, for I have at this moment more than half a dozen 
 duties for the Seminary and for Presbytery that demand my 
 earnest attention, and you are aware how illy we are pre- 
 pared to do justice to our friends when the mind is jaded out 
 with incessant application. Our friend Smith has often told 
 me that the duties in the Seminary were very pressing, but 
 the amount is greatly augmented since he was a member of 
 the institution. 
 
 " By this time you have concluded how we are all em- 
 ployed, and that I am making up the length of my silence 
 by the length of my apology. 
 
 " But, my dear brother, your welfare for both worlds lies 
 as near my heart as it ever did, and in the midst of all my 
 hurry I can find time to pray for my friends, to pray for 
 Zion. Yes, for Zion's sake 1 will not rest, in Zion's cause I 
 will wear out my energies, for Zion's King I will lay down 
 my life, and in Zion's everlasting triumphs I will hope to 
 string a harp in heaven. There is nothing else worth living 
 for. What are the kw fleeting years of mortal life, but as 
 they allow us to work for God and prepare for heaven ? 
 What is learning ? what the dearest friends, but as they can 
 help us to glorify God 1 As an Immortal being, the salva- 
 tion of my soul is to me the great concern. What is the 
 whole universe besides 1 And if I am allowed to hope that 
 my peace is made with God and my heaven secure, some of 
 the principles upon which I build my hope of salvation will 
 send forth an unexlinguishable desire to promote God's glory 
 in the salvation of others. 
 
 " Away with that religion that sends not abroad its ardent 
 wishes and vigorous etlbrts for the extension of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom. Without the spirit of Christ I am none of his. 
 And what is the spirit of Christ? He came on a mission of 
 mercy to this ruined world, and made sacrifices, and endured 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 85 
 
 suffering, which no human arithmetic can calculate, to pur- 
 chase my salvation. And what, what have I done, what 
 can I do, ' for him that died to save my wretched soul ?' 
 
 " My brother, I know these are old thoughts with you, but 
 let me beg of you to ring them in the ears of God's people 
 wherever you find them. There are multitudes dying in 
 our land, and mighty multitudes in other lands, without hope 
 and without heaven ; and, with some individual exceptions, 
 our churches are asleep. Death is invading the missionary 
 and ministerial ranks, and who shall supply their places? 
 Our frontiers are extending their hands and directing their 
 cries to heaven, almost in despair of help from Christendom. 
 While one part of our earth is illuminated with science and 
 salvation, another part is sunk in darkness." 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF TRENTON, 3V. J. 
 
 " Augvst 27 tk, 1822. 
 
 " All things continue as they were in Princeton. I have 
 not seen Miss S. ; brother Myers saw her at Dr. Miller's 
 last evening, when our singing brethren were invited to en- 
 tertain the company. 
 
 " I rejoice that your uncle S. has visited you, and that he 
 speaks so favourably of your mother's situation as to think 
 that she is in no immediate danger. May God restore her, 
 and enable her at all times to have her house set in order, 
 and her lamp trimmed for her final departure. — Mrs. A. is 
 very anxious to visit you this week. 
 
 " Live near to God, he is a faithful friend — he stickeih 
 closer than a brother. May you ail enjoy much of his 
 presence." * * « * 
 
 " It rejoices my heart to know that you are casting your- 
 self into the arms of your heavenly Father. There you may 
 rest with confidence during every storm. There you may 
 fix your hope, and the convulsions of the world shall not 
 
 8 
 
86 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 shake it. Your dear Redeemer will hear every prayer, hush 
 every sigh, dry every tear, sooth every sorrow, make up 
 every loss, support you in every trying hour. Thither then 
 hetake yourself, cling to his promises, trust in his goodness ; 
 he will not forsake you. Let the language of your heart be, 
 
 ' Dear Father, if thy lifted rod 
 
 Resolve to scourge us here below. 
 Still will I lean upon my God, 
 
 His arm will bear me safely through.' 
 
 " May God bless you all, and give you to feel much of his 
 presence, support and guidance." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Princeton, Sept. 20th, 1822. 
 
 " I cannot resist the inclination to write though I have 
 nothing new or interesting to communicate. My spirits sunk 
 the day after I returned from Trenton — probably from hav- 
 ing been kept up so long by exciting circumstances. 
 
 " I cannot realize the mournful scene that passed before 
 our eyes while I was at Trenton. — It seems rather like the 
 recollections of a distressing dream. — But it is sober, solemn 
 reality. Your dear mother is gone ! She sleeps the sleep 
 of ages, and she sleeps in peace. No noise, no pain, inter- 
 rupts her slumbers. She sleeps in Jesus. But it is only 
 her dust that sleeps. Her immortal spirit lives, wakes, wor- 
 ships, soars and sings, in its Creator's, its Redeemer's pre- 
 sence. Yes, delightful thought, she is high in glory ; the 
 journey is ended, the conflict with sin and death is over ; the 
 victory is complete ; the ties of earth arc sund(>red ; the 
 swellings of Jordan are passed, and for the last week she 
 has been learning more of happiness, of God, of glory, than 
 she could have thought offer ages here bflow. You do not 
 wish lier back again. No ; you love her better. Then let 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 87 
 
 it be a part of the business of your life, while you cherish 
 her memory, to recollect her pious counsel, to follow her ex- 
 ample as she followed Christ. 
 
 " My heart has involuntarily dictated these thoughts be- 
 fore I was aware. You have them for what they are worth 
 to yourself, sisters and friends. 
 
 " I hope you have much of God's presence that makes 
 heaven of any place. The more you wish for communion 
 with him, the more you will enjoy it. 
 
 " We are half through with our examination ; or rather I 
 should say, I am. I shall probably finish to-morrow even- 
 ing. We expect to be dismissed, as usual, on Monday 
 evening. But as Mr. Hodge is to be inaugurated on Tuesday, 
 and Dr. M'Auley is expected to preach on the occasion, I 
 intend remaining here until Wednesday." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Trenton, October 3d, 1822. 
 
 " It would be needless to tell you how lonely and desolate 
 Trenton* seems. I reached here on Monday evening. 
 
 " But such is the mutability of all things earthly. We 
 cling to one spot of earth as though it possessed all the om- 
 nipotence of a charm that would last for ever. The slightest 
 accident can dissolve the charm, and leave the spot as un- 
 lovely as the rest of creation. 
 
 « Earthly things 
 Are but the transient pagents of an hour. 
 And earthly joys are but a passing flower.' 
 
 " We need not, however, spend much time in expatiating 
 on the nature of things beneath the skies, when wc have our 
 
 * After the death of Mrs. Jackson the family went lo Philadel- 
 phia. 
 
88 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 inheritance above them. Blessed be God we were made for 
 immortality. 
 
 • And that the good man's liope is fixed 
 
 Far, far beyond the surg-e of tempests, and the furious 
 
 Sweep of mortal desolation. He beholds, unapprehensive, 
 
 The gigantic stride of rampant ruin. 
 
 And the unstable waves of dark vicissitude. 
 
 Even in death 
 His hope forsook him not, for it exists 
 Beyond the narrow verge of the cold sepulchre.' 
 
 " Let the moments fly. When I can feel that Christ and 
 heaven are mine I will not regard their flight. The days of 
 our pilgrimage separate us from our Father's house. Let 
 the days become hours, the hours moments, and let the mo- 
 ments be no more, so that God's glory is secured and my 
 work for eternity done." 
 
 Sabbath evening, Oct. 6th, 1822. In the hurry and ar- 
 duous pursuits of another session, three months have passed 
 insensibly by. The mariner, hurried on by the gale, must 
 make his observations to ascertain the distance he has run, 
 and we mortals are carried on by a rapid current, but yet so 
 steady, that we are often surprised when we look back to 
 where we were a short time ago. But though the summer 
 is passed, and part of the autumn is already gone, they have 
 not passed without making new impressions of God's good- 
 ness on my mind. 
 
 And they have been replete with events altogether un- 
 looked for and painful in the extreme. I have been called 
 to attend the doath-bcd of a friend. Mrs. Rebecca Jackson 
 has sickened and died, and gone home to glory. Ilcr family 
 has been broken up in the short space of a few months. But 
 God does all things well ; blessed be his name. Every con- 
 solation, that religion can administer, has mingled with the 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANPORD. 89 
 
 cup of sorrow and allayed its bitterness. Though to live 
 was Christ, yet for her it was pre-eminently gain to die. 
 Oh, God, prepare her children to follow her when the duties 
 of life shall be done. They are orphans indeed ; but happy 
 are those orphans whose God is the Lord. Wilt thou ma- 
 nage all the circumstances of their lives ? May they live 
 near to thee, and so be happy. Sanctify this dispensation, 
 in all its bearings, to me. Oh, may I feel, more and more, 
 the shortness of life; and what I find to do, may I do quickly. 
 
 " Father, whate'er of earthly bliss, 
 
 Thy sovereig-n will denies; 
 Accepted at thy throne of grace, 
 
 Let this petition rise. 
 
 " Give me a calm, a thankful heart, 
 
 From every murmur free; 
 The blessing's of thy grace impart. 
 
 And let me live to thee. 
 
 " Let the sweet hope, that thou art mine. 
 
 My life and death attend; 
 Thy presence throug'h my journey shine. 
 
 And crown my journey's end." 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 ''New York, Oct. Uth, 182-2. 
 
 " I did not intend to address you from this city, but I could 
 not be released from Presbytery until yesterday, unless I 
 went without accomplishing all my business. I was not at 
 liberty early enough to take the evening boat. 
 
 " This day is set apart for those who fear God, as a day 
 of special humiliation and prayer, that lie would restore 
 health to this alllicted city, and sanctify all his frowning dis- 
 pensations, and pour out spiritual blessings. The day, how- 
 ever, will be but little regarded. The hum of business tills the 
 air as on other days ; the loud laugh of thoughtless mirth, 
 
 8* 
 
90 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the deep toned curses of infamy and crime are still heard in 
 this city, that should be clad in sackcloth and repentance. 
 There is much theoretical and practical infidelity that walks 
 the earth and defies the heavens, but still Jehovah reigns, 
 and has prepared a bottomless, eternal prison, for the de- 
 spisers of his power and the rejecters of his mercy. ' Oh, 
 that they were wise, that they understood this, that they 
 would consider their latter end.' " 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 (About the same date.) 
 
 " It is right for you to realize that you are an orphan. 
 But you will not forget that God is the orphan's Father. It 
 is right for you to realize that your dear parents ai-e gone! 
 But you will remember they arc gone to glory. I must cau- 
 tion you, however, from indulging painful thoughts respect- 
 ing your dear mother's illness. Rest assured, my dear A., 
 every circumstance was ordered by the Lord. All second 
 causes depend, both for their existence and their effect, upon 
 his most righteous will ; and, for any thing you can tell, 
 those very circumstances which you regret, were ordered in 
 mercy, in the place of others far more distressing. God 
 knows what he has done. He loved your mother better than 
 you could possibly love her. His was an everlasting love, 
 and was capable of seeing just what was best for the object 
 on which it was placed ; and then, of bringing it about. Be 
 not too anxious to desert this field of toil and conflict. Re- 
 member, the purest gold comes from the hottest furnace. 
 The battle must be fought before the prize is awarded ; and 
 while you desire patiently to wait until your change come, 
 let it be your constant aim to glorify God, and to tune your 
 heart for those everlasting anthems which your father and 
 mother are singing with all the redeemed from among men 
 around God's throne." 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 91 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''November 18th, 1822. 
 
 " Yesterday was a delightful, and, I trust, profitable day 
 for me. How sweet, in this wilderness of sin, to catch a 
 ray of light from heaven ; amid these clouds, and storms, 
 and frosts, to be warmed, and melted down, by the bright 
 sunbeams of a Saviour's love. These are some of the 
 ' angel visits' of his mercy, that sweeten human life, re- 
 lieve the toils of our journey, and strengthen us to renew 
 the conflict with our spiritual foes. 
 
 " We might enjoy such seasons oftener, were we more 
 faithful. But we are too content to live at a great distance 
 from God. And yet he is pleased, sometimes, in matchless 
 condescension, to surprise us by a refreshing breeze from the 
 air of Paradise. 
 
 " Next Lord's day the Lord's supper will be administered 
 in this place. Oh, for a heart prepared to meet the Master 
 of the feast ; to apprehend, and feed upon, Christ by faith. 
 
 " I rejoice that you enjoy the light of God's countenance; 
 and find delight in meditating upon his holy word. By the 
 assistance of the Holy Spirit, you may make your present 
 sickness one of the most profitable periods of your life. 
 While the ordinary business of life is suspended you may be 
 employed in transacting business for eternity. 
 
 " It would be an old story to tell you I have much busi- 
 ness on hand ; but yet it is as true as ever. I should feci 
 grateful to the preserver of my life, that I enjoy such excel- 
 lent health. Oh, that it may be improved to some good 
 purpose. 
 
 " No news to communicate. — I am very anxious to hear 
 from my father and mother. It is now two years and two 
 months since I saw them. They are aged and have consti- 
 
92 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 tutions shattered by disease and misfortunes, but I trust their 
 iniieritance is in heaven. 
 
 " To-morrow is the day appointed for the Sandwich mis- 
 sionaries to sail from New Haven. Oh, that the Lord of 
 missions would give the winds and the waves charge con- 
 cerning them. Make their voyage prosperous, and their 
 hves useful." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 « November 2lst, 1822. 
 
 " May you have grace to be reconciled to a protracted ill- 
 ness, if God, in his righteous providence, should so order it. 
 We should always remember that God's providence is but 
 the execution of his most holy purposes; and, as we hope 
 that our salvation and eternal life are comprehended in those 
 purposes, and the truth is revealed in God's word, that all 
 things work for the good of those who love God, ' who are 
 the called according to his purpose,' let us not shrink at any 
 of the providences of God, however they may destroy the 
 picture which our fancy may have sketched in its youthful 
 visions, or cut down some nursling of our fond expectations. 
 The more we look to God for patience and resignation the 
 lighter will be the crosses we have to bear in our pilgrimage. 
 
 " May the presence of your Saviour be better than even 
 vigorous health could be to you. May he mitigate every 
 pain, relieve every anxiety, by occupying every thought. 
 
 " One of our brethren, Wm. G. K., from the city of Phi- 
 ladelphia, is quite ill with the bilious fever. His friends are 
 expected to-day. His attack has been very severe. The 
 disease is not yet at its height, so that he must probably be 
 worse before he can be better, in the ordinary course of fe- 
 vers. Oh, may God interpose in his behalf, and restore 
 him to health and usefulness, and prevent death from making 
 any breach among us. 
 
^*' 
 
 REV. JOSEPH SANFOKD. 93 
 
 " How important to be always ready. ' In the midst of 
 life we are in death.' May he prepare us for all his will and 
 service here, and for the joys of his kingdom hereafter." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''November —, 1822. 
 
 " This day is very cold and stormy ; we scarcely go out 
 at all. Already the fields are covered with snow, which so 
 lately we saw covered with the beauty and verdure of sum- 
 mer. Oh, how rapid is the flow of time, and how it bears 
 upon its resistless tide the members of human society and 
 the monuments of human glory. How many wrecks of hu- 
 man hopes, and fragments of demolished grandeur, have 
 floated down the stream of time during the year that lias 
 almost elapsed. Oh, what agitated wanderers should we be, 
 were it not for the Rock of Ages. There let us cling; then 
 let the thunders roll, the tempest beat, the seasons revolve, 
 the world be convulsed, society be deprived of all its orna- 
 ments, and the grave be peopled with all that we hold dear. 
 Still, while we kneel at the grave of the last friend, and drop 
 our bitter tears alone, we will lean upon the arm of Jesus, 
 and rejoice that our Redeemer lives. 
 
 " Let us live nearer to God, strive more against the wick- 
 edness of our own hearts, endeavour to be more dead to the 
 world, more conformed to the image of our blessed Saviour, 
 so shall we be happy in sickness or health, life or death. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''November 25th, 1822. 
 " Yesterday was really, to me, a precious day. Dr. 
 Alexander spoke at the table with freedom and effect. Ge- 
 nerally, I do not approve of much speaking on such occa- 
 sions. But the remarks of Dr. A. fell in with my train of 
 thinking and tone of feeling, and so were the more profit- 
 
94 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 able. Oh, what a privilege to be again at the table of the 
 Lord. It is several months since I enjoyed the privilege 
 last. It was then in Dr. Ely's church, in May. To re- 
 new one's oath of allegiance to the Lord ; to take and taste 
 the symbols of a Saviour's blood and body; to feel him pre- 
 sent to melt and warm our hearts; to refresh our souls; to 
 make us humble by showing us our sins, and the fulness of 
 his salvation ; oh, it is an unspeakable privilege. 
 
 " Saturday had been observed as a day of special humi- 
 liation and prayer; partly on account of the dangerous ill- 
 ness of our dear brother, who still lingers on the very bor- 
 ders of the grave, and partly as a day of preparation for the 
 services of the Sabbath. In the evening of the Sabbath, 
 Dr. Alexander preached most inimitably from these words 
 of our Saviour to the penitent thief on the cross, ' Verily 
 I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.' 
 
 " Indeed, I must say I do feel as if I had really begun again 
 in the Christian course ; and with more vigour than I ever 
 felt before. But, oh, how impotent is man I How unable 
 to do anything aright ! In fact, all that is done aright, God 
 does for us. We need the aid and agency of the Holy Spirit 
 to make any of our attempts either profitable or acceptable. 
 May we have that Spirit for a constant resident in our hearts. 
 Then, and not till then, shall we be consistent Christians. 
 
 " Brother K. is but just alive. Ilis fever, though highly 
 bilious in its first attack, seems now to be quite typhus in 
 its character. Three physicians are in constant attendance, 
 and still have hope, because there is life, and for no other 
 reason. How it will terminate God only knows. At any 
 rate, it is a most solemn call of providence ' to be ready.' 
 It is not a year since brother Turner died. God seems to 
 have a controversy with us. Oh, may he teach us the 
 meaning of his providences, and quicken us all in duty, and 
 make us more diligent to do his will, and to prepare to meet 
 him than we have ever been before. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 95 
 
 "I had a letter on the 19th, from brother Bishop ; they 
 had just embarked amid the sympathies and prayers of as- 
 sembled thousands, on board the Thames. He has promised 
 to write me again soon; probably from the Cape de Verd 
 Islands." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 '' November 26th, 1822. 
 
 " I received your letter last evening, and as brother Myers 
 will accompany the body of our departed brother to the city, 
 I send you a line by him. I was requested to stand as one 
 of the committee of the brethren, to go down, but it was not 
 in my power to leave the seminary, as 1 have an exercise to 
 perform in the missionary society, on Monday next, if my 
 life and health be spared. 
 
 " I know you are in God's hands, and under his kind 
 care. Oh, for more faith to live near him under a constant 
 sense of his presence, and agency, and parental care. 
 
 " Let us look to him that he would sanctify all his deal- 
 ings, and wean us from the world. I met with the remark 
 lately, in Cecil's Remains, * That we should always record 
 our thoughts in alHiction, set up our marks, set up our Beth- 
 els, set up our Ebenezers, that we may recur to them in 
 health ; for then we are in other circumstances, and can 
 never recover our sick»bcd views.' 
 
 " May you be able to do so, and may this season of af- 
 fliction be rendered one of the most profitable seasons of 
 your life." 
 
 Dec. 1st, 1822. Last Sabbath I solemnly renewed my 
 covenant obligations to be the Lord's, and again received 
 the sacred symbols of his body and blood. I then, at his 
 table, resolved to live nearer to him all my days, and by his 
 grace assisting mc, never to consider any of my powers and 
 
96 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 faculties my own, or to use them, but for his glory. But, 
 alas! my resolutions are broken as soon as he leaves me. 
 I can do nothing, absolutely nothing, without divine aid. 
 Judgments will but harden me, ordinances will be barren ; 
 every service will be cold and frigid if God do not bless 
 them. 
 
 Again the seminary has had a solemn call from eternity 
 to prepare to die ; to work while the day lasts, is the import 
 of the summons to us all. One of our beloved brethren, 
 Wm. G. Krebs, in the very morning of life, and in the 
 bloom and vigour of health, was cut down in eight days. 
 Deprived of his reason, most of the time of his illness, he 
 said scarcely a word to inform us of the state of his mind. 
 Turner exhorted us, in a most solemn and affecting manner, 
 to live near to God, and to be active in our master's cause. 
 His words were full of meaning, and he had his reason and 
 speech till the last. But in the late visitation not a word was 
 spoken; but the mute eloquence of a solemn death-bed scene 
 seemed designed to enforce the same important lesson. Oh, 
 how loud the call to be also ready; to work while the day 
 lasts. May God impress every heart, and cause this afflic- 
 tion to work out fruits of righteousness. Lord, my spiritual 
 enemies are stronger than I; undertake for me. Subdue 
 my corruptions. Sanctify my heart, and enable me to fol- 
 low hard after thee, and to enjoy much of thy presence, 
 which is life ; and thy loving-kindness, which is better than 
 life. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 "December 2d, 1822. 
 
 " It is now nearly time for the monthly concert. The 
 missionary society, in the seminary, has just adjourned. 
 We have had some interesting intelligence, to-day, on the 
 state of religion. Oh. that we could feel more anxious for 
 
RKV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 97 
 
 the spread of the gospel ; for the salvation of sinners. This 
 evening, I trust, (hough confined to a sick chamber, your 
 soul will delight in God, and rise in ardent prayer for the 
 spread of the gospel. Oh, may God pour out upon his sup- 
 plicating Zion the spirit of prayer, and answer her cries for 
 the coming of the set time to favour her." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''Princeton, N.J. Dec. 12th, 1822. 
 " This has been a day of public prayer and thanksgiving, 
 appointed by the governor of New Jersey. The day has 
 been peculiarly solemn to me. It is just about a year since 
 brother Myers and myself rode to Trenton, to attend the 
 service on thanksgiving-day. Many changes we have seen 
 since that day. But God has ordered them all. No event 
 takes place without his permission. Oh, to feel it more and 
 more, and to feel also that we are his, soul and body ; and to 
 rejoice to have him do with us and by us as seemeth good 
 in his sight." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 '' December 20t.h, 1822. 
 
 " I have deferred writing until qiiite the last of the week, 
 and even now I have nothing of special interest to communi- 
 cate. The days of our lives which are least eventful are 
 always marked by an uninterrupted series of mercies which 
 gives opportunity to admire and adore. Though, alas, we 
 too frequently become accustomed to our blessings, and then 
 forget that they are the gifts of our heavenly Father. Hence 
 the necessity of quickening our apprehensions by providences 
 that seem atHictive and corrective, for none of the trials of 
 God's people are of a penal nature. 
 
 " I rejoice that you view your present sickness as a salu- 
 tary dispensation of your best, your almighty friend, design- 
 
 9 
 
98 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 ed to di-aw you nearer to himself, to facilitate the work of 
 sanctification. If this is the effect, you will say of it, Happy 
 sickness, sent in mercy, sanctified by grace, overruled for 
 God's glory and my soul's good. 
 
 " The truths contained in the sacred Scriptures are well 
 adapted to hush every thought that would rebel against his 
 righteous government. Oh, to feel, in the midst of the most 
 terrific storm, 'My Father is at the helm;' to feel, whilst 
 smarting under the rod, ' My Father deals the blow ;' to 
 feel, when clouds and darkness are round about him, that 
 righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne; 
 to feel, while on the rough sea of life, as we are dashed from 
 billow to billow, ' Jesus is my pilot.' 
 
 " Heaven is the port where every believing voyager lands, 
 and in the strength of Jesus I will mingle my praises with 
 the tempest that ends my toils. 
 
 " I know not, my dear A., what God has in store for you 
 in this world. Perhaps these trials are only preparatory to 
 greater and more trying ones. Bui I do trust he has some- 
 thing in reserve for you, that will in heaven show you cause 
 to raise higher and higher your notes of thanksgiving and 
 praise for eternity." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 '' December 25th, 1822. 
 
 " May God perfect his begun goodness and restore you to 
 perfect health, and enable you to come forth from this furnace 
 like gold well refined, and hereafter to shine and reflect much 
 of the loveliness of the Christian religion on earth ; and when 
 all the will of your kind heavenly Father is done below, that 
 you may shine in the kingdom of his glory, like the bright- 
 ness of the firmament, or like a star for ever and ever ! 
 
 " I have felt for some time that my proud heart must be 
 softened and bowed by afflictions, and I have sometimes 
 
RP;v. JOSEPH SANFORD. 99 
 
 thought that the illness of , and the temporary inter- 
 ruption of my own studies, are perhaps the commencement of 
 a series of chastisements designed by my heavenly Father 
 to bring me to a deeper sense of my dependence upon him, 
 to make me more spiritual, more dead to the world, more 
 entirely devoted to him, and tlius the better prepared to glo- 
 rify his name among men, and to preach the richness of his 
 salvation to others, when I am cut off from every other source 
 of hope and consolation myself. I am well aware, however, 
 that the book of providence is a mysterious volume, and is 
 most legible when read backwards, and I would by no means 
 wish to read my history were it in my power. Only 
 
 • Let the sweet hope that Christ is mine, 
 Through all my life attend, 
 His presence through my journey shine. 
 And crown my journey's end' — 
 
 and I shall be happy, whatever may befall me in this ' vale 
 of tears.' It is important for me to learn effectually the les- 
 son, ' Lean not on earth.' Let God be the portion of my 
 soul, ' my all-sufficient good,' Euid then I shall never be dis- 
 appointed." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 "■December 31s<, 1822. 
 *' There is something in the solemnity of the last day of 
 any yjarticular period of time, especially of a year, that in- 
 vites to contemplation, and brings to our thoughts the memory 
 of joys that are past, of friends that are now no more, and 
 that disposes us to hold converse with those whom our hearts 
 hold dear. There is much, doubtless, in the associations of 
 our ideas that gives interest to the close and the commence-^ 
 ment of a year. In the days of our childhood, ' when all 
 was new and life was in its spring,' the thoughtless gaiety. 
 
100 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the festivities unalloyed by bitter disappointment, the youth- 
 ful pleasures which marked the flight of time, all combine to 
 throw a charm around the ' grave of the year,' which the 
 experience of a kw more years, and all the sad reality of 
 wo's wide empire, have now conspired to dissipate. 
 
 " We now associate the lapse of time with the career of 
 our immortal being, with the progress of our preparation for 
 the eternal world ; and we find much cause for deep repent- 
 ance in the review of our departed hours, and much cause 
 for thankfulness to God for the patience that has spared us, 
 and the goodness that has followed us, in the midst of our 
 ingratitude and sinfulness. 
 
 " We have been led in a way that we knew not, a way 
 scattered over with thorns, overhung with darkness, but led 
 by a Father's hand ; and may we not humbly hope in the 
 way to glory? Stripes have been administered, but they 
 were the stripes of a Father, wlio corrects his wayward chil- 
 dren for their good, and sanctifies the smart. Whatever 
 view we take of the past, whether of the mercies we have 
 received or of God's forbearance, of our temporal or spiritual 
 blessings, of our sorrows and afflictions, or of our joys, and 
 hopes, and consolations, we find cause for fresh gratitude 
 and new dedication of ourselves to God. Is it not interesting 
 to stand on this seeming boundary between what was and 
 what is to be, and devote all to God, soul and body, time, 
 talents and influence, for both worlds? Adoring him for the 
 supply of our wants, trusting him confidently for all that is 
 to come, imploring his pardoning mercy for the misspent 
 past of our lives, relying on his grace for the unknown future 
 of our being. Oh, it is but a little while and every change 
 will be over, every tear will be dry ; time will be exchanged 
 for eternity, earth for heaven, if we are so happy as to be 
 the children of God. 
 
 " Ere this reaches you we will be in another year. And 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 101 
 
 suppose we should not live to sec its close ; su|)pose, before 
 half its months are numbered, we should either* or both of 
 us be summoned away from these revolutions of time, and 
 have tuned our voices to the melody of angels, strung our 
 golden harps to the symphonies of heaven, and tried our 
 unshackled energies in our Redeemer's praise, among higher 
 intelligences who have never sinned. Oh yes, and suppose 
 we shall have been greeted by some kindred spirits who were 
 dear to us on earth, who were called before us to heaven, 
 and who have been often sent on errands of love to suard 
 our steps, to prevent our falling, to watch our repose, to warn 
 us of danger, — who have watched with holy solicitude all 
 the windings of our pilgrimage, and who now rejoice at our 
 safe arrival, when our journey is ended and our victory com- 
 plete. Oh, should we wish us back to earth again ? When 
 we look back upon the valley of death, and see it all lumin- 
 ous with glory, we shall wonder at the clouds and darkness 
 that awed us as we entered it. 
 
 ' 'Tis but a path that must be trod. 
 If ever we would go to God.' 
 
 " Accept the compliments of the season, and may the grace 
 and the presence of God make it to you emphatically a happy 
 new year.'''' 
 
 TO MISS M. J., OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 " Princeton, Dec. 20th, 1822. 
 
 " I hope that the cares that devolve upon you this winter 
 will not prevent your attending, more earnestly than ever, 
 to that solemn work of preparation for a sick and dying bed, 
 and an approaching day of judgment, which we all have in 
 near prospect, whether now in sickness or health. I have 
 
 • To her it proved the last. 
 9* 
 
102 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 little expectation that your sister will be able to leave her 
 room this winter. But God will do all things in the best 
 manner — to him let us commit her and ourselves. 
 
 " Death is always near, my dear M., and you have within- 
 a (ew months seen much to remind you of the importance of 
 thorough preparation. Our friends contribute to our com- 
 fort while we are in this world, but when the dying hour 
 arrives, they can only stand helpless and agonized spectators 
 of our departing struggles. You have many dear friends, 
 who long for your present and future happiness, but you are 
 sufficiently sensible of the desirableness of having God for 
 your friend. Other friends may fail us, death chills the 
 hearts that were warm with affection, paralyzes the hands 
 that were often stretched out for our comfort, closes the eyes 
 that beamed with tenderness for us, and consigns to the dark- 
 ness, and dust, and putrefaction of the grave, the forms of 
 those we fondly love. But, blessed be the God of the Bible, 
 he is a friend that never fails. Oh, may he be yours, my 
 dearest M., and then whatever catastrophe may dismember 
 human society and convulse the world, you will be safe, 
 safe amid groans and graves, safe amid the conflagration of 
 all things, and certain of enjoying the society of all that was 
 dearest to you on earth around God's throne of glory. 
 
 " I hope you will believe these wishes sincere, for 1 can 
 assure you, my dear friend, they arc dictated by a tender 
 regard for your best interests, and the sincerest friendship." 
 
 January 1st, 1823. Already I have entered upon a new 
 year. It is profitable to pause here and look back upon the 
 past. 
 
 " 'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours, 
 And ask them what report they bore to heaven." 
 
 There is much to be grateful for and much to mourn over 
 
REV. JOSEPH SAXFORD. 103 
 
 in reviewing the past. Oh, to be deeply penitent for past 
 transgressions and shortcomings, and to have more grace, 
 and spirituality, and humility, and zeal, for the future. God 
 knows the history of my immortal spirit, and the influence 
 these passing periods exert upon my future prospects and 
 eternal destiny. Oh, thou author of my mortal and immor- 
 tal nature, enable me here, on this solemn boundary between 
 the misspent past and all the unknown future of my being, 
 to dedicate myself to thee. Thou art still the same, amid 
 all the vicissitudes of time and the circling ages of eternity. 
 Thou hast made me capable of loving, serving, and enjoying 
 thee, and hast implanted in my soul a desire for this high 
 and holy exercise, and wilt thou not by thy grace satisfy that 
 desire? Use me in thy service here, and admit me to the 
 enjoyment of thy presence hereafter, only for Christ's sake. 
 Thy goodness I will record upon a review of the events of 
 the past year, " amid changing scenes and dying friends." 
 Thou hast followed me with thy tender mercies ; and oh, my 
 God, whatever may be in reserve for me during the year to 
 come, let me have a firm faith on thee and a sense of thy 
 favour, and all will be eternally well. 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 " Princeton, Jan. 6th, 1823. 
 
 " I trust I can reciprocate, and respond to your expres- 
 sions of gratitude to God for all his goodness, and hope I 
 feel, and may always feel, the glow of ardent love and de- 
 vout acknowledgment which your letter expresses (in view 
 of returning health.) But you have learnt enough of your 
 own heart to be certain that you will lose all these delightful 
 exercises, and relapse again into lukewarmness and love of 
 the world, without the special aid of the Holy Spirit. May 
 he take up his abode in your soul, and then all will be well. 
 
104 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " I hope you are thinking and praying for the heathen 
 to-day. This is a high day in Zion. May her King hear 
 her cries, extend her borders, and give efficacy to every 
 
 means adopted for the spreading of the gospel. Mr. T , 
 
 of the Mariner's church in New York, preached here last 
 evening, and took up a collection for the benefit of seamen. 
 He mentioned some affecting truths respecting the deplorable 
 condition of that class of men — their profanity, profligacy, 
 impiety, ignorance, intemperance, and these in connexion 
 with the fact, which was his text, that the sea is to give up 
 the dead that are in it, and they are to be judged every man 
 according to their works. Christians should pray for them. 
 
 " I received a letter from Dr. M'Auley a few days since, 
 in answer to one I had written him, inquiring whether 1 could 
 have a mission for next vacation. He thinks it highly probable, 
 though somewhat uncertain, as the society complains much 
 for want of funds just now. ' But,' says he, ' get your 
 license, and there is a glorious field for you somewhere. If 
 I know you at all, you have no need to take any thought 
 for the morrow. God will give you ground, and seed, and 
 wages' (many souls.) He has just commenced his labours 
 in New York." 
 
 February 23(Z. " My soul cleaveth unto the dust ; quicken 
 thou me according to thy word." This is my sad complaint, 
 and this my constant prayer. Lord, hear me, and quicken 
 me, and give me strength to rise. I have every day new 
 mercies to acknowledge, new sins to confess. I have lately 
 completed the twenty-sixth year of my life. Alas, 
 
 " Much of my time has run to waste, 
 And I, pei-haps, am near my home." 
 
 Oh God, may the work of sanctification advance with t'le 
 progressive periods of my being, and every day may I grow 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 105 
 
 in grace, and have some success in the warfare with my in- 
 ward foes. Oh, do thou, my dear Saviour, undertake for me 
 and perform tlie work, and take the g'ory which is thine for 
 ever. As the time draws near for me to enter upon the sa- 
 cred and awful work of the gospel ministry, cause earth and 
 men, and the things of eartli and all temporal things to sink 
 down in my estimation to their proper insignificance ; and 
 may eternity, and God, and heaven, and the worth of souls, 
 and all the importance which three wurlds can attach to hu- 
 man character and conduct, occupy my thoughts continually. 
 Oh, may I be sincerely desirous to be disposed of in the way, 
 whatever it may be, that shall best subserve the interests of 
 the Redeemer's kingdom. May I be willing to sacrifice my 
 private wishes and plans, the love of ease and retirement, 
 and every study, and whatever else the cause of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ may require. May the path of duty be plain, 
 and no matter how difficult, or dangerous, or disgraceful, 
 only grant me thy grace, the guidance of thy spirit, the light 
 of thy countenance, the supports of thine almighty arm, and 
 all will be well. Oh, bring down every high thought, every 
 lofty imagination. Deliver me from the ensnaring influence 
 of pride and popular opinion. Enable me to preach Christ 
 crucified in simplicity and godly sincerity, as one who feels 
 the worth of souls, and must give account to God for all the 
 motives with which he acts in his service. 
 
 Sabboth morning, March 9th. This is a delightful 
 morning — it looks like spring; and, blessed be God, it seems 
 something like spring-time with my soul. Oh God, may 
 the event prove that my long, long winter is past and gone. 
 
 " Great Sun of Rig^hteoiisness, arise — 
 Bless my dark soul witli licavenly light." 
 
 Oh, grant me to-day something of the ardour, and the love, 
 and the purity, that animate the angels, and living creatures, 
 
106 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 and the elders who worship around thy throne. What con- 
 descension it is in thee to notice the worship of sinners upon 
 the earth ; yet so it is, and glory be to thy name for ever. 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 "Princeton, March 12th, 1823. 
 
 " I am pleased, my dear A., to find you distrusting your 
 own heart, and disposed to be watchful lest the creature gain 
 the supremacy over your heart's affections. It should make 
 us humble, and alarm us, when we find any thing occupy- 
 ing more of our thoughts than God, who preserves us, and 
 who is jealous of his honour. He will not share our hearts 
 with idols. If he has taken up his abode in our hearts, he 
 will crush the idols down, or he will blast it with his breath, 
 or remove it in mercy. 
 
 " It is all-important that we settle the question you pro- 
 pose on the subject of^ evidences of our adoption. I presume 
 you do not expect me to go over them for you, as you can 
 find them in God's word, whence I should draw them were 
 I to mention them. 1 John iii. 3, 7 — 14: Matt. v. 3: xvi. 24, 
 &c. &c. 
 
 " May God direct your inquiries, and grant you clcir evi- 
 dences that you are his, and that he is yours, the beloved of 
 your soul, all your salvation and all your desire — Jehovah, 
 your justifying righteousness, and Jehovah, your Redeemer." 
 
 April ISth, 1823. I have been endeavouring to dedicate 
 myself to God, and to examine again my motives in seeking 
 the holy ministry. I am sure there is much that is impure 
 in every thing I do, but I do humbly hope the ruling desire 
 of my soul to be the glory of God, though I feel conscious 
 of other things mingled in my mind and with my motives. 
 But oh, thou searcher of hearts, thou knowest me altogether, 
 and if thou hast not called me to serve thee in the gospel 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 107 
 
 ministry, I pray thee to set me aside. Suffer me not to run 
 unsent. Carry me not up hence unless thou go with me. 
 Oh, leave me not to myself, to my own strength and wis- 
 dom, and to my own wicked heart and sinful inclinations. 
 Leave me not to the influence of worldly principles and 
 worldly motives, but sanctify my heart and purify my mo- 
 tives, and guide me by thy counsel in every path of duty. 
 I desire now to commit my way to the Lord. I desire to 
 commit myself, soul and body, to the Lord. O, God the 
 Father, for the sake of God the Son, do thou accept of me, 
 and sanctify and save me by the powerful agency of God 
 the Holy Spirit. Take me under thy peculiar care; lead 
 me wherever I should go, and be on my right and left hand ; 
 defend me from every danger by land and by water. Assist 
 me in every duty, and enable me to glorify thy most holy 
 name, to recommend religion and to do good to souls. If it 
 should please thee to arrest me by sickness and sudden 
 death, let the covenant of grace be my security, and let me 
 have a sweet sense of thy presence. And finally admit me, 
 through Jesus Christ, my dear Saviour, into thy heavenly 
 kingdom. 
 
 TO MR. H. D. OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 " New York, April 22d, 1823. 
 
 " I have waited to hear from you until I am discouraged. 
 And have concluded to remind you that I have the inclina- 
 tion and the strength to urge my claim, not upon your purse, 
 nor patience, but upon your time and attention. My health 
 has been much as usual, for the last few months. 
 
 " I expect to leave this city this week, or the first of next, 
 for the north. I hope to pass through Ballston on my re- 
 turn from the west in June. I expect to s|X'nd two or tliree 
 weeks in Montreal, U. C. And from thence proceed up the 
 St. Lawrence and the lake, as far as Gennesee river and 
 
108 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Rochester, to visit my parents once more, and return to 
 Princeton to spend the summer. It is possible I may find a 
 field for usefijlness in Montreal that may induce me to re- 
 turn there in October next. I have been here about one 
 week. I was licensed to preach the gospel on Friday last. 
 I should like to have a long interview with you, and speak of 
 the duties and the dangers of the gospel ministry. But I 
 have only time to say, at present, I have had many misgiv- 
 ings. My heart has often sunk within me ; but, ' through 
 Christ strengthening, I can do all things.' " 
 
 " Steamboat Phenix, Lake Champlain, 
 " April 2dth, 1823. 
 
 " You will perceive by the date of this what progress I 
 am making in my journey. I have been disappointed seve- 
 ral times, and misinformed, which has occasioned me some 
 delay ; but to detail it all would be uninteresting, and not 
 worth using time or paper for. 
 
 " My health is quite good. I have just recovered from a 
 severe cold, caught in New York, as usual. I spent the 
 Sabbath in Watcrford, where I only preached once, thinking 
 it would not be prudent, on account of my cold. For this 
 reason, also, I declined lecturing for Dr. M'Auley, on 
 Wednesday last. This is to let you know that I am careful 
 of my lungs when it is necessary. 
 
 " We have but few passengers, as the season for travelling 
 has not commenced. The boat is a very pleasant one, and 
 captain S. much of a gentleman. This lake seems like a 
 kind of inactive or sluggish river, between the hills, or ra- 
 ther mountains, which present their steep and rugged, frown- 
 ing and rocky bulwarks on each side, leaving often scarcely 
 room for the management of the boat. 
 
 " I am now going on deck to see the remains of the cele- 
 brated fort Ticonderoga. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 109 
 
 "The ruins of the old fortification are very interesting; 
 and the grounds around them, which have so often swarmed 
 with embattled hosts, who have long since mingled with 
 the dust, even yet inspire sentiments of awe and melan- 
 choly. 
 
 " Montreal, May 1st. I have at last arrived at this place 
 after a pleasant passage to St. Johns, and then rather a 
 rough one to La Prairie ; from thence we came last evening, 
 in an open boat, to this place. I had the pleasure of hear- 
 ing the Canadian Boat Song in reality. It was interesting 
 and beguiled much of the time in crossing the St. Lawrence. 
 
 " I had scarcely seated myself in the City Tavern, before 
 several gentlemen called upon me, giving me a most cordial 
 welcome. This morning others. They are much engaged. 
 I do hope God will send them one to lead them and guide 
 them, and to dispense to them his holy word and ordinances. 
 
 Of course I can say nothing of my feelings or prospects. 
 My mind is perfectly at ease on the subject. 
 
 " I am now at Mr. B.'s. I shall probably remain with 
 him. Montreal is rather more pleasant than I expected to 
 find it; and the field that is open here for ministerial activity 
 and usefulness is very wide, and seems to be ripe, judging 
 from what I have heard. 
 
 " My cold is better. It is possible I may spend the whole 
 of this month here, though at present I do not intend it." 
 
 In April, of this year, Mr. Sanford was licensed to preach 
 the everlasting gospel, by the Presbytery of New York. 
 Immediately after that important event, he went to Montreal 
 in Lower Canada, and spent several weeks in preaching to 
 the American Presbyterian Church in that city. In this 
 first scene of his ministerial labours he won, to an uncom- 
 
 10 
 
110 MKMOIR OF THE 
 
 mon degree, the affections of the interesting band of Chris- 
 tians who fornfied that church. They were then destitute of 
 a pastor, and, ahhough Mr. Sanford spent but a few Sab- 
 baths with them, they gave him a unanimous call to become 
 their spiritual teacher. It will be seen, from the following 
 letters and extracts from his journal, that after having deli- 
 berated much on that call, and seeking, by consultation with 
 judicious friends, and, above all, by prayer, for direction, he 
 came to the conclusion that it was his duty to decline the ac- 
 ceptance of that call. But although he did not feel it to be 
 his duly to settle in Montreal, he never ceased to feel a very 
 deep interest in that important city, as well as the important 
 country in which it is situated. He correctly appreciated 
 the natural advantages of the Canadas, and deeply felt that 
 they constitute a great field for the labours of faithful minis- 
 ters of the gospel. 
 
 Montreal, May llth, 1823. I have preached seven times 
 since I was licensed, and I know not that any one is the 
 better for it. Oh, how impotent is man. Paul or Apollos 
 may labour in vain unless God give the blessing. How 
 should this reconcile me, unworthy, sinful me, to labour in 
 faith and then to leave the event entirely with God. O God, 
 warm my heart and enkindle in my soul more love for sin- 
 ners ; more love for souls ; more love for the kingdom of 
 the Redeemer. Wilt thou use me for thy glory in any way 
 and at any time. My life, my attainments, the talents thou 
 hast given me ; all, all I would devote to ihcc. 
 
 TO MISS A. J., OF PHILADELrHIA. 
 
 " Ogdcnsburg, May 2M, 1823. 
 "I left Montreal, as I expected, on the 19th inst. I ar- 
 rived here this morning, after various fatigues and perils, 
 which I have no time to recount. There is not a man here 
 
REV. JOSEPU SANFORD. Ill 
 
 that I ever saw before; and not only am I a stranger in a 
 strange land, but there is scarcely a possibility of my leav- 
 ing the place unless I go back to Montreal. There are no 
 stages from this village to any place. The roads, too, are 
 very bad. 
 
 " I begin this letter calculating to continue it as I have 
 time and inclination. And to send it, or deliver it myself, 
 when convenient. I expect to preach here this evening, and 
 to ride near seventy miles to-morrow. 
 
 " Auburn, May 2dth. I have just arrived here ; and, hav- 
 ing taken tea, will proceed to give you some account of my 
 journey since I wrote last, as you see above. 
 
 " I left Ogdensburg on Saturday last, and rode fifty miles, 
 roads very bad. Staid all night at a place called the Great 
 Bend. It is ten miles from Watertown. Found a fine, hos- 
 pitable family. We had prayers in the evening, and I gave 
 them some tracts. Rose at five and rode to Watertown. It 
 was wet — I was completely drenched. Preached at Water- 
 town twice. Rode to Brownville and attended a conference 
 in the evening. Rode to Utica in two days (Monday and 
 Tuesday.) Rode from Utica to Skeneatelas yesterday. 
 Went to see my sister last evening. Returned from Skene- 
 atelas to-day in time to take the stage for this place, (eight 
 miles.) I leave this in the morning, at 3 o'clock, for Canan- 
 daigua (forty miles) where I expect to dine. 
 
 " 3[anlitis, June llth, I am nearly 150 miles on my 
 way to New York. It is almost two months since I have 
 heard a word from you. At Rochester I expected a letter. 
 
 " Princeton, June 2Gth. I have arrived here at last, and 
 have just put my hand to this old sheet again ; have con- 
 cluded to fill it up and send it on, for I think it is yours by 
 right. 
 
 " My health is good, and I am rejoiced to find myself in 
 my own dear room again, enjoying something of that tran- 
 
112 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 quillify and retirement for which the seminary is so cele- 
 brated. 
 
 I have conversed with both of the professors, and they 
 are at present of different opinions on the subject of my go- 
 ing to the north. However, I hope to see them again in the 
 course of the day, and to find them agreed to advise me to 
 go. Yes — to go to Montreal. But I am not yet decided in 
 my own mind. My heart must bleed in any decision. I 
 cannot give the call from Montreal a negative without the 
 keenest regret. I remember their anxiety. I remember the 
 tears that glistened in so many eyes, when I told them I must 
 go. I remember their entreaties that I would not forget 
 them. And all this has been in a measure acted over in 
 Brooklyn. I did hope to write this evening, and give a de- 
 cided answer, but I cannot. I shall write, however, and tell 
 them I am undecided. Let our united prayers ascend to God 
 for his guidance and direction." 
 
 TO THE SA3IE. 
 
 ''Princeton, June 28th, 182.3. 
 
 " The remarks you may hear of Montreal or Brooklyn 
 I hope you will not regard. 
 
 " Whatever people may say upon the subject, my mind 
 has been most completely balanced. It is still so. 
 
 " The professors still have different opinions on the sub- 
 ject, and say ' they can well imagine my mind should be in 
 great doubt and uncertainty, as to the path of duty,' and 
 this is actually the case. And I can assure you, this moment, 
 I think it quite as likely that I shall decide to go to Brook- 
 lyn as to Montreal." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''Jiihj 2d, 182.3. 
 " You may be a little disappointed when I tell you I have 
 concluded to go to Brooklyn. After considering tlie subject 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 113 
 
 as deliberately and as solemnly as I am able; and after 
 seeking divine guidance, and committing my way unto the 
 Lord, I have come to the conclusion that, according to pre- 
 sent circumstances and appearances, 1 may hope to do more, 
 by God's blessing, for the church and the world by settling 
 at Brooklyn, than by going to Montreal. Still, however, at 
 this moment I would gladly go to Montreal, if there was any 
 man who would exactly suit the people at Brooklyn. 
 
 " Should my hopes be disappointed, of being useful, I 
 trust I shall have the confidence and comfort of feeling that 
 it has all been ordered by the Lord. 
 
 " I do not expect to be ordained until October, probably 
 about the middle of the month." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Princeton, 
 
 " To-day have I been seated at the table of our dying, 
 risen Redeemer ; and feeling disposed to speak of his good- 
 ness, to whom would 1 so gladly enter upon the interesting 
 theme as to you ? 
 
 " My mind was peculiarly exercised this morning with 
 desires stronger than usual, to meet the Master of the feast 
 at his own table : to see the King in his beauty : to have 
 Jesus Christ make himself known to me in the breaking of 
 bread. And I humbly trust, he heard and answered my 
 prayer. I can surely say that I have never had so precious 
 a communion-season in Princeton before. 
 
 " To go to the table of the Lord is the most solemn trans- 
 action a creature can perform this side eternity. 
 
 " The Lord's Supper commemorates an event, to the ac- 
 complishment of which all the providences of God for four 
 thousand years had almost an exclusive reference ; an event 
 the most awful and stupendous that any world can ever wit- 
 ness. The God of nature sullering on a cross by the hands 
 10" 
 
114 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 of his sinful creatures! And it exhibits an assembly of 
 those creatures, sitting at a feast of their risen Lord, ransom- 
 ed from eternal misery by the very blood they spilled, and 
 professing their faith upon that once crucified, but now as- 
 cended Saviour, who is now seated upon his eternal throne 
 of glory, which he had left, for a while, to become the man 
 of sorrows, and redeem a race of rebels from the conse- 
 quences'^f their rebellion. And, oh, the amazing love of 
 Christ ! the Babe of Bethlehem — the neglected carpenter's 
 son — the houseless wanderer, who had not where to lay his 
 head — the agonizing, supplicating sufferer of Gethsemane — 
 the bleeding, dying victim of Calvary — the tenant of the 
 rock of Joseph — the rising, conquering, and now reigning, 
 inierceding Redeemer. Oh, these are subjects for the an- 
 thems of eternity! These are themes for an everlasting 
 song ! The everlasting song of blood-bought sinners saved 
 by grace divine ! 
 
 " And the consideration that increases our wonder is, that 
 with all our hopes of salvation, thus purchased, we can be- 
 come so insensible and indifferent to a Saviour's love. That 
 we can continue in sin ! Oh, what a time to mourn over 
 our sins, when we stand in sight of Calvary. Oiu" love of 
 sin, of the world, of self; our apathy, and coldness, and 
 formality in the duties of religion ; our conformity to the 
 irreligious opinions and pi'actices of society; our forgetful- 
 ness of God ; our neglect of duty ; our mockery in prayer; 
 our idolatrous love of the creature ; our want of zeal for 
 the s{)read of the Gospel ; our indifference to the misery of 
 perishing millions — alas, for us, the long, humiliating cata- 
 logue rises, black and awful, before us ! Oh, God of mercy, 
 may it drive us to the Saviour, ' whose blood cleanseth from 
 all sin.' Blessed, for ever blessed, be the name of our co- 
 venant-keeping God, ' that he so loved the world as to give 
 his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him 
 
REV. JOSEPH SAXFORD. 115 
 
 should not perish, but have everlasting life' Oh, let us go 
 to him anew, if we have ever done it. And in a manner 
 more solemn and unreserved dedicate ourselves to God. It 
 is a work to be done in time, but it is for eternity. Oh, may 
 God have mercy upon us, and establish us upon the Rock 
 of ages." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Pijinceton, July l%th, 1823. 
 
 " I would have written to you yesterday, but a gentleman 
 from Montreal called to see me, and spent the afternoon and 
 evening, until near 10 o'clock, when he took the mail for 
 New York. 
 
 " Before I gave the Montreal congregation a final answer, 
 and while my mind was labouring, and distressed, and 
 doubtful on the subject, I wrote to my friend, Jacob De W., 
 Esq. As I had expressed myself doubtfully on the subject 
 of coming among them they concluded it very improbable. 
 Mr. De W. was selected by the congregation, and prevailed 
 on to come immediately to the United States and see me, 
 before I should decide, hoping that his efforts would secure 
 a favourable decision. He was detained, however, nearly 
 a week. Before he left, the final decision was received. 
 However, as he had some other business in the United States, 
 he came to New York on Tuesday last, and arrived here in 
 the evening. He came, as he expressed himself, ' not to 
 unsettle my mind, or to distress me, but to see me as a dear 
 friend, whom he tenderly loved, and who, he had fondly, 
 humbly, hoped, would be the means of leading him, and all 
 that are dear to him, to Christ and to glory.' I can assure 
 you, when he described the effect of my first letter upon the 
 people, though it was by no means decided in its character, 
 I felt as if my own heart would burst, and that I would give 
 
•« 
 
 116 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 all the world, were it mine, could I see the path of duty lead- 
 ing me to Montreal. 
 
 " But for the present, I feel it my duty to go to Brooklyn. 
 I say, for the present, because I feel satisfied as to present 
 duty ; and that is all one should be anxious about. A long 
 career in the gospel ministry has never entered into my fond- 
 est anticipations. The length of the race is a trifle, com- 
 pared with the manner in which it is run. Oh, may God 
 enable me, while I live, to live to his glory, and to be active 
 in his service. And when (through strength derived from 
 God) his work is done, whether it be done pooner or later, 
 may I be prepared to enter into his heavenly kingdom. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " My prayer is, that you may be useful in the church of 
 Christ. There are many females (I mean wives of clergy- 
 men) who seem to content themselves with making their 
 husbands happy. Now this is well, as far as it goes. But 
 I could not be contented to have a wife a mere satellite. I 
 would have her shine with her own light, in all the mild 
 glory of female excellence, and with the reflected rays of 
 the Sun of righteousness. 
 
 " The relation a female stands in to her husband, changes 
 not her relation to the head of the church, and she is still to 
 feel it her duty, as far as may be consistent with duties which 
 arise out of the social relation, to exert herself for God and 
 his cause; and indeed the glory of God should be the mo- 
 tive of evBry action. 
 
 " Let us keep it constantly before our minds that our steps 
 are ordered by the Lord. He will dispose of us in his own 
 time and for his own glory. Besides, it may be possible 
 that he may never design us to enjoy much of each other's 
 society.* We hold all our comforts at his pleasure. And 
 
 * How very prophetic ! 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 117 
 
 he often frustrates the fondest schemes of his dearest chil- 
 dren. We know not what is best for us." 
 
 Princeton, August \lth, 1823. By the absorbing tide 
 of business, though sustained every moment by the hand of 
 God, I have been hurried through several months to the pre- 
 sent time. I have been led through various exercises and 
 anxieties. My Hfe has been preserved when it was in dan- 
 ger. My wants have been suppHed. Every cup has been 
 filled- with blessing. Every hour has been marked by some 
 kind token of the Almighty's care. " Blessed be the Lord 
 God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things ; 
 and blessed be his glorious name for ever and ever ; and let 
 the whole earth be filled with his glory." I desire, with my 
 own hand, to subscribe to the goodness of God. I am un- 
 grateful and sinful, prone to wander from him. Unworthy 
 of the least mercy, deserving of every frown and the fiercest 
 displeasure, ruined and helpless, but still rebellious. Oh 
 God, why am I spared, spared in the midst of so many pro- 
 vocations ; spared in the enjoyment of so many blessings, 
 and privileges, and hopes ! I desire to be thine. I desire to 
 accept of the offers of mercy, through Jesus Christ, and to 
 know, by a more distinct and satisfactory experience, the 
 richness and the suitableness of that salvation which it is 
 my business to preach to others. I desire to be united to 
 Jesus Christ by a living faith ; to be really in him, and thus 
 free from condemnation. To feel the purifying influences of 
 that spirit of adoption which dwells in the believer's soul ; 
 to feel the power of sin growing weaker, and love to God 
 and holiness growing stronger every day ; to be convinced 
 more and more deeply of my native sinfulness and misery, 
 and to cast myself upon Jesus Christ for wisdom, righteous- 
 ness, sanctification and redemption. 
 
 This work, O God, thou alone canst perform. O wilt 
 
118 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 thou work mig;htily in me and for me, and show me thy 
 salvation and thy glory. 
 
 Avgxist 21st. This day to be observed as a day of spe- 
 cial humiliation and prayer. I have been endeavouring to 
 confess my sins, and humble myself before God; but, alas, 
 there is so little sensibility, so little deep repentance, so much 
 languor and coldness, so hard a heart, such vagrant feelings 
 and thoughts, and such barrenness of soul as to make me 
 apprehensive that I have never tasted the love of God. I 
 have endeavoured, however, to feel my sinfulness and help- 
 lessness, and to give myself away to God my Saviour, to 
 be saved in his way and upon the ground of his finished 
 work and perfect righteousness. My only hope is in the 
 friend of sinners. If I fail here I fail for ever. O Jesus 
 Jehovah, I am resolved to rely upon thee alone. It is a 
 faithful saying, that thou didst come into the world to save 
 sinners. O make me a subject of mercy and a trophy of 
 thy rich grace. 
 
 Sabbath morning, Sept. 7th. To-day I expect to go 
 again to the Lord's table. Oh Saviour of sinners, soften 
 and sanctify my heart. May I feel more humble, and come 
 to thy throne of grace sensible that all my help must come 
 from thee. I would spread all my wants before thee. I 
 would dedicate myself to thee. I would be thine, and thine 
 for ever; draw me to thyself; bind me to thy throne; take 
 possession of this soul of mine, oh Holy Spirit, and make 
 it thy temple. 
 
 With the month of September Mr. Sanford ended his happy 
 residence in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, and bid 
 adieu to that beloved institution and its many privileges. 
 On the 25th of that month he was married to Miss Anna 
 Jackson, then of Philadelphia, but formerly of Trenton, N.J. 
 Immediately after his marriage he went to Brooklyn, to take 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 119 
 
 charge of the First Presbyterian Church in that city, to which 
 he had received a call in the early part of the preceding 
 summer. In that important and rapidly growing cily he 
 laboured with great faithfulness during more than five years. 
 In this sphere his labours were eminently useful. His let- 
 ters and journal will inform the reader through what over- 
 whelming trials he was speedily called to pass. They will 
 also show the progress which his own soul made in holiness, 
 as well the success which attended his labours. It may 
 not be improper to remark, that the mournful and almost 
 instantaneous death of his wife was occasioned by a surgical 
 operation. That her death produced a very deep, and last- 
 ing, and sanctified effect upon the heart of her bereaved hus- 
 band, is evident from what he lias written. She was a 
 woman of eminent piety and loveliness, and possessed un- 
 common qualifications for the sphere into which she had but 
 just entered when she was called away by death. 
 
 In the death of his excellent wife Mr. Sanford found great 
 and merited sympathy in many Christian hearts, which hast- 
 ened to offer their consoling tribute. Among the many let- 
 ters which were addressed to him at this afllictive crisis, that 
 of the Board of Trustees of his church, and those of the 
 Rev. Drs. Romeyn, Miller, and Richards; that of Alexan- 
 der Henry, Esq., as well as those of the Rev. Messrs. Ham- 
 ner, Hall, Myers and Bishop, who had been his fellow stu- 
 dents at the Theological Seminary at Princeton, may be 
 mentioned as remarkably excellent. The last named of 
 these young brethren and his wife, addressed to him a very 
 dear letter from the Sandwich Islands, where they were 
 labouring as missionaries. A Pow of these letters are here 
 submitted to the reader. 
 
120 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 "Brooklyn, Dec. l6th,lS2S. 
 "dear sir, 
 
 " The Board of Trustees, under a deep sense of the 
 afflictive providence which has deprived their beloved pastor 
 of a partner, and feeling as they do that the ties which sub- 
 sist between man and wife are the most tender and the 
 strongest that bind the human family together, the severance 
 of them therefore cannot but be the most distressing. We 
 will not presume to say what our feelings were at the heart- 
 rending distress which you must have felt at so unexpected 
 a disappointment of your temporal bliss. But, dear sir, per- 
 mit us to say, we felt and do feel sincerely the distress which 
 has fallen on our teacher, who, we trust, under providence, 
 has come amongst us for our spiritual benefit. 
 
 " We beg leave to tender to you our warmest sympathies, 
 and the assurance of our affection and condolence as indi- 
 viduals ; and we are assured we are correct when we say, 
 the aifection the whole congregation feel towards you is 
 almost unbounded. 
 
 " We have been directed by the Board of Trustees to ex- 
 press to you their desire, in their official capacity, to do all 
 that is in their power for the advancement of your personal 
 comfort and happiness ; and if there be any thing in which 
 they can give effect to this desire at the present time, they 
 would be glad to receive an intimation of your wishes on 
 the subject. 
 
 "In behalf of the Board of Trustees, we remain your sin- 
 cere friends, 
 
 " Elkanah Doolittle, Pres. 
 
 " Silas Butler, Clerk.''^ 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 121 
 
 *• MY DEAR BROTHER, 
 
 " Permit me to mingle my tears with yours. You have 
 indeed been called, at an early period, to suffering of the 
 most acute kind and its consequence deep and prostrating 
 sorrow. May your covenant God support you with the 
 consolations of that covenant, and cause you Xo feel that he 
 is your God and Father in Christ Jesus his Son. I com- 
 mend you to him and to his blessing on this occasion, know- 
 ing full well that if you are his, as I am persuaded, he will 
 support and comfort you in this the hour of your affliction. 
 The Lord God of his church be with you and bless you — 
 enable you to carry out in your ministerial deportment the 
 evidences of mediatorial fidelity to Ms own promises, who is 
 our Jehovah, in righteousness and sanctification. 
 
 " Your sympathizing brother in the common salvation, 
 
 " J. B. ROMEYN." 
 
 '■'Princeton, Dec, 19th, 1823. 
 
 " MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 " I received, ten days ago, with unfeigned sympathy, the 
 intelligence of the heavy bereavement with which it has 
 pleased an infinitely wise and sovereign God to visit you. 
 Be assured you have not been forgotten in those approaches 
 to the throne of grace which my companion and myself are 
 in the habit of jointly making ; and I should have taken an 
 opportunity of expressing to you our kind remembrance, had 
 not a variety of circumstances, and among the rest a tem- 
 porary interruption of health, prevented my enjoying a mo- 
 ment's leisure until this time. 
 
 " We little thought, eight weeks ago, when we saw you 
 and your excellent companion going to New York together, 
 that she would so soon take her flight to a better world. 
 But it is all well — infinitely for the best. God has been 
 
 11 
 
122 HEMOIR OF THE 
 
 pleased, indeed, in your case, to sever the tenderest ties that 
 human nature knows — and, of course, to lay upon you one 
 of the heaviest earthly calamities. But, oh how much mercy 
 is mingled with the affliction ! How seldom is it that sur- 
 viving friends have so much evidence of the safe and happy 
 departure of any one, as in the case of your beloved, and 
 now, we doubt not, glorified partner ! For this you have 
 reason evermore to bless God, and to have his praise conti- 
 nually in your mouth. The Lord grant that while your 
 heart is wrung with that anguish which such an event ovght, 
 in some respects, to produce, you may be enabled more than 
 ever to rejoice in God your Saviour, and to praise him for 
 the great mercies attending this dispensation ! May He who 
 has inflicted the stroke send the balm of consolation, and en- 
 able you to say. It is good for me to be afflicted ! 
 
 " My dear young brother, perhaps the Lord, by thus early 
 trying you in the furnace of affliction, intends to prepare you 
 for a course of peculiar devotedness to his cause, and of 
 peculiar usefulness. If so, will you not have reason for 
 ever to praise him for it? If so, will not one of the most 
 mysterious dispensations that has lately come to my know- 
 ledge, prove to be full of light, and mercy, and joy, in the 
 end? 
 
 " I am unexpectedly cut short in my letter by an inter- 
 ruption, and have only time to add, again, the assurance of 
 afiectionate remembrance in our prayers, that the God of all 
 grace may bless and comfort you. 
 
 " I am, my dear sir, with cordial sympathy, your friend 
 and brother, v'" 
 
 " Samuel Miller. 
 
 " Rev. Mr. Sanford." 
 
BEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 123 
 
 " Auburn, Dec. 19<A, 1823. 
 
 " MY DEAli VOUNG FRIEND, 
 
 " Your letter, conveying the mournful tidings of the sud- 
 den departure of your dear wife and our very dear friend, 
 our beloved child I may say, has filled us with astonishment 
 and grief. How marvellous are trod's ways, even towards 
 his own children, and often how dark and distressing. My 
 dear sir, our hearts bleed with your heart under this sudden 
 stroke, and with the hearts of the dear sisters. Poor things! 
 how desolate ai-e they made by this unexpected change, as 
 well as you. Anna was mother, sister, all to them ; they 
 looked to her and depended upon her for every thing. I 
 never saw such maternal care and tenderness on one part, 
 and such affectionate confidence on the other, among sisters 
 But the tenderest relations, and the most distinguished vir 
 tues, present no barrier to the unwelcome tread of death 
 He marches through the thickest ranks, and lays our proud 
 est hopes in the dust, just where and when he receives com 
 mand. God however is upon the throne, and nothing, blessed 
 be his name, falls out beyond or aside from his counsels. 
 The darkest dispensations of his providence are all light to him, 
 and to us they will one day appear as bright as the noontide 
 sun. But what shall we do in the meantime, while clouds 
 and darkness are round about him, and his paths are in the 
 mighty deep? We can only bow at his feet, and say, 
 Righteous art thou, O Lord, when thou speakest, and clear 
 when thov judgest. This we know to be our duty, and that 
 our happiness is connected with it ; but often it is not easy to 
 take this position, and to bring our hearts to this state of 
 humble and cheerful acquiescence. Passion rebels, while 
 reason says, be still. I have found, my dear brother, that in 
 very trying conjunctures it was in vain to reason ; that the 
 tempest was too strong to be resisted by such feeble means ; 
 that Almighty grace alone could be resorted to as furnishing 
 
124 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the adequate relief. Thanks to the God of all the earth that 
 a way has been opened to his throne, and that there, in the 
 name of our great advocate, we may come with all our wants 
 and woes, with the kind assurance that we shall not be sent 
 empty away. I need not tell you that in prayer you will 
 find the truest support, and the only satisfactory pledge of a 
 happy issue to this trial. You must not be surprised, if, 
 while it is dark without, it is dark within also. When God 
 hides his face in the external administration of his providence, 
 it is not uncommon for him to withdraw the inward tokens 
 of his favour. It was so in the case of Job, and often so 
 with David, as the history of their trials clearly evinces. 
 This indeed makes the cloud of affliction doubly dark, but by 
 no means less salutary. It is especially calculated to bring 
 sin to remembrance, and to lay us more effectually in the 
 dust. 
 
 Your situation has greatly affected me, and continues to 
 occupy my thoughts. After my feeble manner, I do not 
 cease to remember you and the dear sisters in my prayers. 
 Some good thing no doubt God intends to accomplish by this 
 surprising visitation. Perhaps it is to bring some of the ac- 
 quaintance and the relatives of the dear departed saint to the 
 knowledge of the truth ; perhaps to make you a more holy 
 man and a better minister. I pray God to sanctify it to 
 us all, by keeping us more awake to our frailty, more active 
 in his cause, and more perfectly ready for our last sum- 
 mons. 
 
 " We had anticipated much pleasure in seeing you and 
 your dear friend next summer at Auburn ; but how little do 
 we know what a day may bring forth. Where any of us 
 shall be then is known only to him who holds our destiny in 
 his hand. Still let me hope that I shall see you here before 
 many months shall have past. * * * 
 
 " Mrs. R. and my sons desire an affectionate remembrance 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 125 
 
 to you. They all tenderly sympathize with you in this great 
 trial, and feel with myself that we have sustained a great 
 loss. 
 
 " Very sincerely and affectionately yours, 
 
 " James Richards. 
 " Rev. J. Sanford." 
 
 " Philadelphia, Dec. 8th, 1823. 
 
 " REVEREND A]VD DEAR SIR, 
 
 " It is with a trembling hand and sympathizing heart I 
 take up my pen. Nothing in nature could be more unex- 
 pected to me than the doleful intelligence your letter conveys. 
 May the Lord grant his blessing to this heavy affliction. 
 Often, my dear friend, I have thought of you and your dear 
 companion. Every view I took of your prospects cheered 
 my heart. Our beloved friend had a large share of my 
 affections, indeed more like a parental than any other cha- 
 racter, and I rejoiced in her prospects ; moreover, I had be- 
 lieved that she had been effectually relieved from the painful 
 local complaint. Think, then, my astonishment, when I 
 learned the cause of her death was a surgical operation. 
 The will of the Lord be done. I have, my dear friend, con- 
 veyed the dreadful intelligence to poor M., her sister, and 
 the family in which they reside, with all the care and ten- 
 derness in my power ; but cannot say that it has been re- 
 ceived even with tolerable resignation. Indeed, poor M. is 
 overwhelmed ; till this moment she will hear nothing that is 
 said. I trust, however, she will soon become more calm, 
 and then it will be both the duty and the pleasure of Chris- 
 tian friends to endeavour to promote a sanctified use of the 
 affliction. 
 
 " Heart-breaking as it must have been to you to communi- 
 cate the facts, I am rejoiced to have them from yourself, and 
 still more for the mercy that is extended to you. It does, 
 
 11* 
 
126 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 my dear friend, rejoice my heart that you still trust in the 
 Lord. May his right hand sustain you ; may he open to you 
 the riches of his grace ; may you be made ever to rejoice. 
 And why not, my dear sir, rejoice ? Your Anna, much as 
 she loved you, is infinitely more happy than she ever could 
 be with you. Dark and mysterious as this dispensation is, 
 ere long you will see infinite wisdom and mercy in it. I am 
 unwilling to let a mail return without a line from me, but 
 really I am not in a situation to write. You shall not be 
 forgotten, my dear friend, nor will my attention to my dear 
 children here be omitted. I wish, however, for your own 
 sake, and their sake, you would come on as soon as you 
 can. 
 
 " Very aifectionately yours, 
 
 " Alexander Henry.'' 
 
 Brooklyn, Dec. 7th, 182S. Alas! how short-sighted is 
 man ! How little did I suspect what God had in reserve for 
 me when I wrote last in this journal. How little did I ap- 
 prehend that while this book was mislaid and no other re- 
 cord made for three months, events of such deep, everlast- 
 ing and mournful consequences would take place. My mar- 
 riage, ordination, and the death of my beloved wife ! 
 
 Oh God, thou art on the throne. Thou turnest man to 
 destruction. My dearest comforts are thy gifts, and thou 
 hast a right to recall them. Thy will be done, O righteous 
 God. Though my heart bleeds, it is thine holy hand that 
 has inflicted the blow. O pour in the balm of Gilead. O 
 sanctify me, pardon and support me till I have done and 
 suffered all thy will, and then receive me to thy kingdom to 
 behold thy glory, and there to meet my dear, dear Anna, from 
 whom I have been so unexpectedly, so mournfully separated 
 on earth. May we meet to praise thee together. 
 
BEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 127 
 
 Oh God, my God, let me fly to thee for strength and 
 comfort under this severe stroke which thou hast inflicted. 
 Oh, how little did I think, when I made the last record of 
 thy goodness, that such a furnace of afliiction was preparing 
 for me. But why should I weep? She is high in glory to- 
 day, and is engaged in a nobler worship than she ever Con- 
 ceived below. Yet while I do weep and mourn I would not 
 murmur. Oh God, I thank thee that I loved her and en- 
 joyed her society so long. I thank thee for all the assurances 
 her life has given that she was united by faith to the Saviour 
 of sinners. I feel that I needed such a blow. However in- 
 sensibly, I do feel that she was the idol of my heart ; that in 
 the enjoyment of one of thy best gifts I had, in a degree, 
 forgotten the giver. I am sure there was a silent, secret 
 alienation of heart from thee. Oh Gocl, draw me to thy- 
 self. Show me thyself May I feel the joys of thy salva- 
 tion. I feel an alarming coldness and barrenness. My 
 heart does not melt although it bleeds ; and even while it 
 bleeds 1 cannot realize that my dear, dear Anna is gone for 
 ever. She is not here, but she seems to be absent but a little 
 while, and that she will soon return. Oh God, may I feel 
 that she is sleeping the sleep of ages beneath the cold clods 
 of the valley. May I have that heartfelt reconciliation to 
 the high decisions of thy will that shall enable me to say, 
 " Sleep on, dear dust ; the spirit that once animated thee is 
 now in glory: I would not call it away from its glorious em- 
 ployment and the glories that surround it, if it were even in 
 my power to do so." 
 
 Oh God, sanctify this tremendous blow to me, and make 
 it the means of preparing me more efli'ctually for the work 
 to which thou hast called me, than her life, and company, 
 and assistance could have done. I do believe it is for her 
 good, and I pray that it may be for my good. She was in 
 danger of loving me too much, and of making me her idol. 
 
128 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Besides, she had the seeds of a disorder that, in all probabi- 
 lity, would have caused her great bodily suffering, and on 
 these accounts it was good for her to go ; and, as much as 
 she loved me, much as her heart would have bled, had she 
 anticipated such a separation, I believe that though now, 
 from the heights of Zion, she may remenjber me on earth, 
 and the painful circumstances in which she left me, it will 
 give her no pain, it will not alloy the bliss of heaven, and 
 that she would not for the world return to earth. Her work 
 is done, her course is ended, her conflict is over, her victory 
 over sin and death is complete, her harp is strung in glory, 
 and she has already engaged in the everlasting songs of 
 eternity. 
 
 Oh God, forbid that this providence should be in vain ; 
 may it be the mearls of bringing me more humbly to thy 
 feet, and enabling me to serve thee with my whole heart. I 
 have often prayed that 
 
 " The dearest idol I have known, 
 "Whate'er that idol be," 
 
 might be torn from thy throne, that I might worship only 
 thee. But how little did I suppose that my wife was that 
 idol ! How little did I think that the dear partner of my 
 joys and sorrows, the dear friend I looked upon as one of 
 God's most distinguished gifts, as one of the tokens of his 
 love to me, was, in any way, a hinderanceto me, or that she 
 was occupying the place in my affections which belonged to 
 her Saviour. It would have made her heart bleed to think 
 so. I believe she would rather have died. But she was not 
 called upon to make the painful decision. She was not made 
 acquainted with the painful truth. I do not think she was at 
 all conscious of the approach of death. I do believe she 
 found herself in eternity, welcomed by the Saviour she loved. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 129 
 
 to the joys of Paradise, before she was conscious of having 
 left her body, and pain, and disease, and sin behind. 
 
 I do beHeve, O my God, that this providence is what I 
 should rejoice in, could I see the whole case in all its causes 
 and consequences. I know that it is right. I desire to feel 
 more heart-submission ; not the mere submission of neces- 
 sity to a thing which I cannot control, or to a decision which 
 I cannot reverse, but the submission of filial affection that 
 rejoices to know a father's will, and feels that it is best. Oh 
 God, grant me this filial submission. O let not this affect- 
 ing call of thy providence be unheard or unheeded. But 
 may I learn what it is designed to teach me. May I repent 
 of the sins of heart and life, for which it is a severe but 
 righteous chastisement. May I arise, and in the strength of 
 the Lord, go about the work in which it admonishes me to 
 be up and doing and to be faithful. Oh may I give all dili- 
 gence to prepare for that eternity which is so near. May 
 her dear orphan sisters be supported and directed to the or- 
 phan's father. O may they now at last lean upon thine 
 arm, when their last earthly prop is broken down. God of 
 mercy pity them, pardon them, sanctify them, and prepare 
 them, when their race is run, to follow her to glory. 
 
 May this church and congregation hear the voice from the 
 grave and from eternity, that calls most affectingly to them 
 to improve the time, to prepare to die, to be reconciled to 
 God. 
 
 December 9. And, oh my God, from the very grave of 
 my dear departed wife, may I set out to serve thee. Oh 
 forgive my past unfaithfulness, unbelief and sluggishness : 
 forgive my inordinate love of the creature and my forgetful- 
 ness of thee. O heal the aching, bleeding wound in my heart 
 by the comforts of thy salvation. I desire to bid earthly 
 things a last farewell. 1 desire to live alone for God. I de- 
 sire to choose thee for the portion of my soul. To draw my 
 
130 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 joys and consolations from the heavens. To serve the Lord 
 with all my powers, and love him with all my soul. May 
 this be the business of my days. Oh God, may I have a 
 livelier sense of tby presence. May I not be disappointed 
 of thy favour. I desire to rely upon thy mercy, and to live 
 by faith upon the Son of God in the faithful performance of 
 every duty. 
 
 Towards the close of this year Mr. Sanford received a 
 second call to the American Presbyterian Church and So- 
 ciety in Montreal. This call was accompanied with many 
 pressing letters from some of the most influential men in that 
 congregation, earnestly entreating his acceptance of it. 
 Among the gentlemen who wrote to him on this occasion, 
 were Messrs. De Witt, Bigelow, H. Gates and the Rev. Mr. 
 Purkis. These letters attest the very deep affection which 
 was cherished for Mr. Sanford, in that city, and the high 
 opinion which was entertained of his qualifications as a mi- 
 nister of Jesus Christ. But after mature and prayerful de- 
 liberation, he felt it to be his duty to continue in the field of 
 labour upon which he had just entered. 
 
 January Ath, 1824. Sabbath evening. After a day of 
 laborious exertion, O my God, my supporter, I would com- 
 mit all my duties, my preaching, prayers, with my soul and 
 body to thy mercy and grace, to be purified by the blood of 
 Jesus, and to be blest. O God, sanctify me, forgive me for 
 dwelling so much upon the dying scenes and mouldering 
 dust of my dear, departed, glorified wife. O God, sanctify 
 me ; may I be ready to follow her, but not be impatient. 
 May I serve thee faithfully and successfully while I live. 
 Oh bless the people of my charge. Though I speak to them 
 in great simplicity, that all may understand, yet they will 
 not without thy blessing. Bless the word and ordinances. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 131 
 
 Awaken sinners to a sense of their awful danger while out 
 of Christ; and may they be converted unto God. Prosper 
 thy cause every where. Much good seed has been sown 
 to-day. 
 
 January 25th. Once more I have been allowed to speak 
 in thy name, O God. Wilt thou own thy word, however 
 feebly spoken. I have been dwelling on the glorious truth, 
 that there is " no condemnation to those who are in Christ 
 Jesus." May thy people learn to appreciate their spiritual 
 privileges, and to honour him with soul and body, who ha* 
 freed them from the curse of the law. 
 
 May sinners seek such a union to Jesus Christ as shall 
 entitle them to the strong consolations of those who have 
 fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them in the 
 gospel. Oh God, may I have more of that faith in the Sa- 
 viour which I recommend to others. May I understand the 
 plan of salvation better, and love it more and more. May 
 I be more weaned from the world, and never again place 
 my affections upon it. May I be excited by the sudden 
 death of my dear, dear wife, to be always at work, and to 
 be always ready for the summons that shall soon call me 
 home. 
 
 February 6, 1824. This day I enter upon the twenty- 
 eighth year of my life. God only knows when, or in what 
 circumstances, I shall end it. The last year of my life has 
 been more eventful than all the rest. It is to-day two months 
 since my dear, dear Anna, my life's loved companion, 
 breathed her last. Oh death, thou art indeed a conqueror 
 commissioned to destroy. Oh my God, support me under 
 the heavy hand of thy righteous chastisements. Be pleased 
 to sanctify the stroke that has cloven down my earthly stay 
 and comforter; and left me in desolate grief to toil through 
 life's pilgrimage. May I lean upon thine arm. May thy 
 presence more than make amends for the absence of my 
 
132 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 dearest earthly friend ; and by the application of the blood 
 of Jesus, may I be prepared to follow her to that world of 
 unmingled peace, and purity, and holiness, and joy, where, 
 I trust, she is now celebrating the wisdom of thy providence, 
 the wonders of thy love, and the riches of thy grace. 
 
 Sabbath, March 6th. Three months, to-day, since the 
 dear wife of my bosom fell asleep in Jesus. Her dear dust 
 is mingling with its kindred dust, but it shall rise again. It 
 shall be raised incorruptible ; it shall be fashioned into a 
 glorious body to lodge and accommodate the spirit that once 
 inhabited it, and, together, freed from every imperfection, 
 they shall dwell for ever in the house not made with hands. 
 
 Oh happy Anna ! I can sometimes rejoice that you are at 
 rest in glory. When I think of my loss my heart bleeds 
 afresh; but when I recollect what your gain is, what your 
 blessedness is, I am satisfied to spend my days on earth in 
 sadness, deprived of your dear enlivening society, and to 
 toil on alone in the narrow, rugged, thorny path that leads to 
 the hill of Zion. What tribulations and conflicts you have 
 been spared; how much sorrow would have agitated that 
 dear bosom; how many tejirs would have gushed from those 
 eyes of tenderness and aflfection ; how many nights of sleep- 
 less anguish and pain ; how many struggles with sin and 
 Satan have you been spared ! How much your " dear, 
 dear husband" might have hindered you in your heaven- 
 ward course by engrossing so much of your time and your 
 affections ; and how much he might have suffered in spirit 
 by continuing to love you too, too fondly, by allowing you 
 to occupy a place in his heart's affections which no creature 
 ought to fill. O my God and Father, sanctify me wholly, 
 and guide me in every duty, and sustain me in every con- 
 flict, and finally receive me to thyself. 
 
 Sabbath evening, March l^th. Another sacred day is 
 gone. Another week of my life is gone. I am nearer to 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 133 
 
 eternity by so many days. My dear Anna has been ano- 
 llier week n glory. O God, my heart and my thoughts 
 continue to follow her thither. May I be growing in grace 
 and ripening for glory. Guide me, O thou groat Jehovah. 
 Assist me in deciding the question now before me, in such a 
 way as will be for thy glory. O God, I desire to know 
 thy will, and I think I desire and feel ready and willing to 
 do it. O guide me ; suffer me not to wander from the path 
 of duty. Bless both congregations ; may they be supplied 
 with the faithful preaching of the gospel. 
 
 April 11th. Last Sabbath we had a precious season, and 
 much to encourage us, at the Lord's table ; but how soon do 
 we lose good impressions. On Wednesday evening, the 
 service was unusually solemn; but to-day the weather has 
 been so unfavourable that very few have attended the courts 
 of the Lord, and I know not whether any seriousness re- 
 mains after all our recent solemnities. But, O God, the 
 cause is thine ; the work_ is thine, the subjects and instru- 
 ments are all thine. Thy people shall be willing in a day 
 of thy power. Come, and let sinners be awakened in the 
 midst of us. Lord, revive thy work. May I be more en- 
 gaged. May I feel more for souls. O forgive all my feel- 
 ings which are still so prone to murmur at the mysterious 
 dispensations of thy providence. I would not, for the world, 
 forget my dear, departed Anna, but I desire to cherish the 
 warm remembrance of her love and her piety, with com- 
 plete resignation as to the time and the manner of her re- 
 moval. It was arranged by thy wisdom, and I desire to be 
 still and submissive. 
 
 Sabbath evening, May 2Sd. Had it bc«n for thy glory, 
 O my God, I had still enjoyed the society of my dear de- 
 parted wife, and had it in my power to review, v ith her, the 
 duties and enjoyments of the day that is just closed, and 
 converse on the subject of our common salvation, and sing 
 12 
 
1 34 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 thy praises, and bow the knee in prayer. But it has pleased 
 thee to remove her. O sanctify the loss. May I turn away 
 from earthly things and think more of heavenly things, of 
 communion with God ; and hold more converse with myself. 
 O Lord, make me a better Christian and a better minister of 
 Jesus Christ, by this awful stroke of thy providence. I de- 
 sire to finish my work, to do and suffer all thy will con- 
 cerning me, to be made holy, and then to be away to thine 
 own heavenly kingdom, and there, among the ranks of blood- 
 washed sinners, and with my much loved Anna, to adore 
 and praise thee even for this severe stroke of thy providence, 
 which I think I can never cease to mourn over while I live. 
 
 God forgive and sanctify me, support me, and finally 
 bring me home. Be pleased to follow with thy blessing my 
 humble efforts to dispense thy truth to-day. O suffer not my 
 unworthiness, and weakness, and ignorance to prevent a 
 blessing on saints and sinners. 
 
 TO MR. H. D. OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 ''Steamboat, Aug. 27th, 1824. 
 / " I left Ballston last evening, not without great regret that 
 
 1 could not see you. Since last I met you the hand of the 
 Lord has been heavy upon me, and my heart still bleeds 
 with the wound, and mourns over the desolation it has lefl 
 behind it. The revolution of eight months, and almost nine, 
 has left me if possible more awfully sensible of the nature 
 and the sad reality of my loss, than I have ever been before. 
 But I know who hath done it. I do wish to bow to his mys- 
 terious, righteous will, to do and suffer all he assigns me ; 
 by it to be prepared for meeting my departed wife, and saints, 
 and angels, and then to be away." 
 
 Saturday, Sept. 25th. This is the anniversary of my 
 marriage. It is one year since I was permitted to consum- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 135 
 
 mate one of the purest, fondest of earthly friendships, and to 
 become the happy husband of my beloved Anna. Ah, on 
 that day that joined our hands, how little did I think of being 
 so soon called to close her eyes. That within not more than 
 three-fourths of the first year after our union, my dear wife 
 would be sleeping the sleep of ages ! It was a righteous 
 providence that dashed my earthly hopes to the dust, and I 
 desire to be very humble under the hand of the Lord. But, 
 oh God, let light, peace, and heavenly joy be poured into my 
 desolated heart. I do not pray to have the vvound immedi- 
 ately healed : no, let it bleed, let my heart break and melt ; 
 but let the love of Jesus warm it ; let the love of God fill 
 it ; let heavenly joys and glories attract it ; let spiritual 
 duties occupy my attention and my best energies ; let me 
 do something to glorify God while I remain on earth; 
 let me have bright evidence of adoption into the family of 
 God ; more clear and convincing evidence of an interest in 
 Jesus; an unshaken confidence in the promises of God, 
 deeper hatred of sin in all its forms, and sweeter tokens of 
 the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, an earnest of the joys 
 above. Grant it, O Lord of my salvation, for the sake of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 TO MR. H. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 « Brooklyn, Oct. Utk, 1824. 
 
 " I received your kind letter in the regular course of the 
 mail, and was glad to hear of your safe return. I hope you 
 were all benefited by the journey, and that you found your 
 excursion (what I seldom find one to be) spiritually profit- 
 able, and that you arc now endeavouring, with new resolu- 
 tions §nd deeper sense of your weakness, to live for God and 
 to God. Oh, press toward the mark, for the prize of your 
 high calling in Christ Jesus. 
 
136 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 "It might, my dear brother, have afforded me a momen- 
 tary though melancholy satisfaction, to have recounted God's 
 dealings with me since I had the pleasure of bowing with 
 you before the throne of grace, God has bestowed many 
 rich blessings upon me. But such is the greatness of my 
 ingratitude, that I am continually forgetting God's mercies, 
 under the absorbing, withering, tremendous stroke that has 
 desolated my heart of all that gave life its charms. I feel 
 at this moment as if my earthly prospects and hopes were 
 dashed for ever. Time wears away the first transports of 
 grief, and of convulsive, sleepless, and almost tearless agony 
 — but it heals not the wound, it calls not the affections home 
 that love to cling around the grave, where the fond com- 
 panion of one's bosom sleeps the sleep of ages ; it repairs 
 not the awful desolations which the hand of death has made. 
 
 " It is one of my heart's warmest and most constant wishes, 
 that seems to gain strength with every passing month, to do 
 the work my Master has assigned me — to prepare for his 
 kingdom, and then to be away. 
 
 " Excuse me for saying so much of myself and my feel- 
 ings. I have felt that I was writing to a friend. 
 
 " I have nothing in particular to communicate respecting 
 the state of religion in my congregation. Indeed, I dare not 
 tell what I hope for ; but this I may say, I believe we have 
 some who are ' waiting for the consolation of Israel.' There 
 is more attention than usual in several congregations in the 
 city. ' Oh Lord, revive thy work.' " 
 
 Sabbath evening, Oct. llth. This day completes one 
 year of my ministry. Alas, how unfaithful ! That God 
 has been so near to me by his afflicting providence, and that 
 I have had so little of his gracious presence ! Lord, forgive 
 all my unfaithfulness, prevent the injury of all my errors. 
 Bless the word of life that I have preached. Suffer not my 
 imperfections to prevent thy blessing ; but. Lord, bless thy 
 
BEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 137 
 
 word and ordinances, the means of thine own appointment. 
 May I feel more for souls, more for God's glory. Enable 
 me at all times to address sinners of every class as those who 
 are soon to be in eternity, and for whom I have to render an 
 awful account if they perish through my neglect. Grant 
 me wisdom from above, which is profitable to direct both 
 how to understand and how to divide to others the word of 
 God. May I not shrink nor be disheartened at difficulties 
 and discouragements, but committing my way to the Lord, 
 and relying on his guidance and his blessing, may I go for- 
 ward in every duty. Oh, may I live near to thee by medita- 
 tion, and constant, fervent prayer, and enjoy more of the light 
 of thy countenance and the joys of thy salvation. 
 
 November 28th. Oh, God of providence, it is not quite 
 one year since thy righteous hand dashed my earthly pros- 
 pects. Twelve months ago this evening, my dear Anna sat by 
 my side, and we reviewed the duties, the delights, the imper- 
 fections of the day. She had been detained by indisposition 
 from the sanctuary, but her last exhortation to me as I went 
 out to perform my duties was, " Be faithful" Oh God, 
 bless her exhortations and her example, and may I profit by 
 her fall. Sanctify, " Oh thou who driest the mourner's 
 tear," sanctify the severe providence. 
 
 Sabbath, February 6th, 1825. Another anniversary of 
 my birth. Another year of my life gone for ever, a year of 
 sorrow it has indeed been to me. I pursue my solitary path, 
 thinking perhaps too much " of joys departed never to re- 
 turn," and too little, much too little, of joys in future pros- 
 pect, bright and glorious, never to expire. Oh, my unbe- 
 lieving, rebellious heart, how much it rejects the consolations 
 which the gospel offers. Saviour of sinners, apply thy blood, 
 cleanse me from all sin, assist me in every duty, support me 
 under every trial, prepare me for heaven. May my future 
 life be spent more for thy glory. 
 12* 
 
188 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Tuesday evening, 22d. Have just heard of the death of 
 my former pastor, the Rev. Dr. Romeyn, who died suddenly 
 this morning, after a short illness. Oh how loud and af- 
 fecting the call, " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it 
 with all thy might." 
 
 Thursday, 2^th. Attended Dr. Romeyn's funeral. Oh 
 that I may profit by the warning, and be also ready. May 
 I work while it is day, as the night cometh when no man 
 can work. 
 
 Sabbath, 27th. Day stormy and unfavourable, church 
 thin — all things looked cold and dreary. 
 
 28th. As usual, visited the sick. Met a kw inquirers 
 in the evening. 
 
 March 1st. Spent the day in parochial visiting ; found 
 some things interesting, especially this afternoon. This 
 evening, at ten o'clock, visited a sick woman in a very happy 
 state of mind. Oh that on my death bed I may be as calm 
 and confident, upon clear, scriptural grounds. 
 
 Saturday, 5th. An unpleasant day ; heart cold, mind 
 melancholy and bewildered ; little comfort in prayer, and 
 little success in study. 
 
 6th. Felt unfit and unworthy to stand as God's ambas- 
 sador to a congregation of sinners. Preached with a degree 
 of feeling and tenderness from Balaam's wish, " Let me die," 
 &c. — P.M. Brother Nettleton from Rev. xxii. 17: "And 
 whosoever will, let," &c. — In the evening, from " The Son 
 of Man came to seek and save that which was lost." May 
 the Lord bless his word and revive his work. 
 
 7th. Visited the sick this morning. Bible class at two 
 P. M. Prayer meeting of the Board of Missions at four. 
 Missionary Society of Brooklyn at seven. Lord, hear the 
 prayers of thy Zion for her prosperity and the extension of 
 her borders. May thy kingdom come, O King of kings. 
 Wednesday, 9th. Visited a careless sinner, who is draw- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANPORD. 139 
 
 ing near to eternity. Oh the hardening, blinding, stnplfy- 
 ing nature of sin ! Unable to lecture in the evening on ac- 
 count of a severe cold ; spoke a little on the supreme love 
 which Christ requires, and the earnestness with which sin- 
 ners should seek his mercy. 
 
 April 3cl. Disappointed to-day in my expectation of 
 commemorating the Lord's Supper. Morning very stormy 
 — postponed the service. Had a good time in preaching to 
 a thin house, on seeking first the kingdom of God, &c. But 
 not so much freedom this afternoon : Rom. iii. 28, " For all 
 have sinned," &c. 
 
 April 10th. Lord's Supper celebrated ; a precious season, 
 solemn and silent. Oh that good may be done — that sin- 
 ners may be awakened, saints encouraged and strengthened. 
 
 June 30th. Have felt very feeble and languid for several 
 weeks, so as to have little comfort in any duty. But the 
 Lord has been gracious ; some few sinners have been added, 
 I hope, to the Lord, and some others are anxious for their 
 souls. Some are about to name Christ before the world. 
 Lord, search and try them. Felt much freedom last night 
 m prayer for a revival, and in addressing the people from 
 Ps. Ixxx. 14, " Return, we beseech thee, O God of Hosts : 
 look down from heaven, and behold and visit this vine." 
 May the Lord revive us, and grant us all the blessings of 
 his grace. 
 
 Friday evening. Preached a preparatory lecture on 
 hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and the blessings 
 of it. 
 
 Sabbath, July Sd. Though very weak, and scarcely able 
 to go through with the exercises, preached from Solomon's 
 Song ii. 10 — 13 : " Rise, my love, my fair one come away." 
 Urged Christians to the duty of activity and faithfulness in 
 God's service, from their particularly favourable circum- 
 stances and blessings. Was assisted at the table by Dr. 
 
140 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 M'Auley, very opportunely and ably. May the Lord reward 
 him, and bless the whole solemnity. Oh to feel more spi- 
 ritual life — to work as for eternity, now so near ! 
 
 August \Qth. Returned after an absence of several weeks. 
 My health but little improved. Lord, strengthen me for thy 
 service. May I live and labour like a dying man commis- 
 sioned to publish salvation to dying men. Oh Lord, revive 
 thy work. 
 
 August 21st. Preached this afternoon from 2 Cor. iv. 3: 
 " But if our gospel be hid," &c., with much feeling and com- 
 fort. In the morning, from 2 Cor. iv. 1 3: " We also be- 
 lieve, and therefore speak." Had but little freedom. Felt 
 very deeply the importance of the subject before service, but 
 as on similar occasions before, my thoughts and utterance 
 confined and inadequate. The Lord bless his own word, 
 however feebly delivered. 
 
 28th. To-day resumed the consideration of the moral 
 law : preached all day from the third commandment, with 
 tolerable freedom and comfort. But more in some desultory 
 remarks in the evening on Christ as an advocate, and the 
 importance of the cause we have to commit to him. 
 
 Wednesday evening. Lectured with some degree of feel- 
 ing on Ps. ciii. 11,12. O Lord, teach me the greatness of 
 thy mercy, and may I know by sweet experience that it is 
 great, and high, and glorious, as the arch' of heaven. 
 
 Sept. 4th. Preached to-day on the fourth commandment, 
 on the subject of its permanent authority, as appears from 
 the situation and authority of the text. The general tenour 
 of sacred scripture in relation to it. The circumstances of 
 the original institution, Gen. ii. 3. From its indispensable 
 importance to human society, and families, and individuals. 
 
 25th. This day 1 have completed the discourses on thd 
 fourth commandment, by attempting to show how the Sab- 
 bath is to be improved in God's service. 
 
UEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 141 
 
 This day completes two years since I was married. My 
 heart still bleeds. O God, bind it up. I am not so much 
 in danger of forgetting this desolating stroke, as of misim- 
 proving it. Oh may it be the means of weaning me more 
 completely from this world, and of quickening me in prepa- 
 ration for eternity. Oh that the language of my heart might 
 be, " Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none 
 that I desire on earth but thee." May I be more faithful in 
 my duties, more engaged in prayer for myself and my dear 
 congregation, and may thy Spirit be sent down upon us to 
 revive us. Follow the services of this day with thy special 
 blessing. 
 
 October 2d, 1825. This has been another day of high 
 spiritual privileges — a sacramental sabbath. I attempted 
 this morning to show the meaning of Rom. x. 10. Re- 
 marked at the table on the erecting a spiritual monument in 
 honour of Jesus Christ, and on the use of the sacramental 
 supper to the faith of Christians. Presented subjects of the 
 best kind for contemplation — God, eternity, heaven, hell — 
 to teach the insignificance of the world, and that this is not 
 our rest; and that our Lord will come again in grandeur 
 and great glory. This evening presented the subject of 
 Simeon's embracing the infant Redeemer, as the foundation 
 of some practical remarks on the importance, the nature, and 
 the effects of looking to Christ. Oh God, accept of all my 
 feeble and polluted services ; forgive all my coldness, igno- 
 rance and unfaithfulness ; accept also of my sinful self, 
 cleanse me with the blood of sprinkling, and fit me for nobler 
 services above. 
 
 October 9th. To-day endeavoured to present the duty of 
 children to obey and honour their parents, and of all who 
 have living parents to honour and comfort them, and be 
 grateful for their kindnesses. Oh that for myself I could 
 do more to repay my dear mother and father for their days 
 
142 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 and nights of anxiety and toil for me. My God, bless them 
 with the richest of thy blessings, even life for evermore. 
 The congregation really appears solemn and very attentive. 
 Oh, may they be doers of the word, and not hearers only, 
 deceiving themselves. In the evening a peculiar stillness 
 seemed to mark the whole assembly, when I was discoursing 
 on the importance of the present moment of time as the start- 
 ing point in a career of glory or of wo ! Oh God, come and 
 revive us, and bless thy word — make thy truth effectual. 
 
 Monday, lOth. I feel an indescribable languor upon my 
 frame, and depression of spirit. Oh how little have I done 
 for God — how much of my time has run to waste. How 
 little do I feel for the condition of sinners, compared with 
 what I ought to feel. How low my attainments in holiness. 
 God of mercy and grace, quicken me in every duty, and 
 suffer not my unworthiness to prevent thy blessing. Oh 
 Lord, revive thy work in the congregation, and especially 
 in my own soul. 
 
 October \Qth. This day completes the second year of 
 my ministry in this place. Here have I laboured two years 
 for the glory of God, the good of souls — with what fidelity, 
 and zeal, and prayer, and singleness of heart, oh God, thou 
 knowest. I have reason to blush and be humbled before 
 thee, that I have been so unfaithful — that I have done so 
 little of what I should do, and so little as I should do it. The 
 world, and probably my congregation, do, on the whole, ap- 
 prove my ministry, yet I have reason to fear that the church 
 will give me credit for more, much more than I deserve. 
 The success with which thou hast blessed my labours is not 
 owing to my faithfulness or purity of motive, but it is to be 
 ascribed to thee alone. Thou dost employ the most unwor- 
 thy instruments to perform thy work, and I would fly to thee, 
 oh my Saviour, for forgiveness for all my sins, and for the 
 purification of all my services. I do delight in thy service ; 
 
REV. JOSEPH SAXFOKD. 143 
 
 I do rejoice to tell sinners of the grace and glory of the gos- 
 pel, and to see them repent and turn to thee. Oh may I 
 have more zeal, and love, and faith, and he enabled to be 
 more diligent in business and fervent in spirit in all that re- 
 mains of my mortal career, and at last be called liome to 
 glory.. 
 
 Janvary \st, 1826. A new year has already commenced 
 and the last has fled for ever, and borne with it the record 
 of my life. What awaits me in the present year I know 
 not — but one thing I desire to know, that the Lord Jesus 
 Christ is mine — O let me but be sure of this and I will smile 
 at the rapidity of the flight of time. 
 
 Sabbath evening, 8th. The Lord's supper, which was 
 postponed last Sabbath, has been celebrated to-day, and I 
 hope it has been a profitable season to many souls. I preach- 
 ed a second sermon on Luke, xxiv. 26, but felt astonishingly 
 cold in meditating on the sufferings of Christ. I ascribe it, 
 in part, to indisposition, but more to an alarming and dis- 
 tressing degree of spiritual barrenness and deadness. O 
 God, revive thy work in my soul. Forbid that after preach- 
 ing to others I should myself be cast away. Create within 
 me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 
 
 " The rocks can rend, the earth can quake. 
 The sea can roar, the mountains shake; 
 Of fcelinp all thinps show some sig^n, 
 But this unfeeling heart of mine. 
 
 " To hear the sorrow tliou hast felt, 
 Dear Lord, an adamant would melt? 
 But I can read each moving line. 
 And nothing melt tliis heart of mine." 
 
 Felt more animated, this afternoon, in administering the 
 holy supper; received fourteen persons on examination, and 
 eleven by certificate. O that they may all walk worthy of 
 
144 MEMOIK OP THE 
 
 the vocation wherewith they are called, and belong to the 
 invisible family of the Redeemer. Lord, watch over the 
 sheep of thy pasture and the lambs of thy flock. 
 ■ February 5th. To-day I have been once more permitted 
 to publish God's message from Mai. iii. 10, and John, vi. 44, 
 and to apply them both in an exhortation with some degree 
 of freedom this evening ; but oh how little feeling I Alas, 
 my barrenness. I tell others of their danger, and duty, and 
 unfaithfulness, when 1 only describe, in the latter, my own 
 history ! Oh God, if I have ever been convicted by the 
 Spirit of God and drawn to Jesus Christ, may I have more 
 sensible tokens of his love. But this I cannot expect while 
 I am so unfaithful and cold in my religious duties. If I am 
 yet unregenerate, oh God, may I become trul}^ and alarm- 
 ingly sensible of my state and danger, lest after preaching 
 to others I be cast off for ever myself. 
 
 I think my own unfaithfulness is a sufficient reason why 
 God does not bless my congregation with a revival. 
 
 Monday, Feb. 6fh. This day is the twenty-ninth anni- 
 versary of my birth. Retired last night exhausted by the 
 services of the day, and was very restless in the night, though 
 I feel mercifully refreshed this morning, and have, as usual, 
 been visiting some of the sick in the congregation. But, 
 beside my usual pastoral duties, I have to begin a new year 
 to-day. Oh how the past has fled I How little done for 
 God; how little for eternity! How little have I lived and 
 laboured like a dying man. How little have I ever done for 
 the years of my life that have gone by. The half of a long 
 life — and my life may not be long — and then it is almost 
 spent. Oh that I may begin to redeem time, as the be- 
 nighted traveller mends his pace as evening advances. Lord 
 I would devote myself to thee. I would feel more spiritual 
 life. I do not enjoy the world, but I fear my disrelish is 
 ever occasioned by the stroke of God's providence that has 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 145 
 
 cloven down my comforts and withered the tenderest sensi- 
 bilities of my heart, and carried them down into the very 
 grave. 
 
 Sabbath evening, 12th. This day I have been preaching 
 of the rich, worldling, both parts of the day, with some de- 
 gree of feeling. Feel somewhat tender in prayer this even- 
 ing,, in view of the awful duties of my sacred office. Oh to 
 have the spirit of it, and to be faithful in it. May the Lord 
 bless the message of his truth. O may every worldling in 
 the congregation be brought to feel his danger and fear his 
 doom ; and do thou speak to them this night, not to summon 
 them to eternity, but to call them to repentance, convince 
 them of sin, and lead them to Jesus Christ. 
 
 February 26/A. I wish to have enough of the gospel in 
 every sermon to lead the sinner to the Saviour. Last Sab- 
 bath preached on the incompatibility of the love of the 
 world and the love of God. 1 John, ii. 15. " If any man," 
 &c. In the afternoon, from Zech. xiii. 1. O precious 
 truth ! The day has dawned, the prediction is fulfilled, the 
 fountain is opened " for sin" to take away its guilt, " for un- 
 cleanness" to remove its pollution. 
 
 To-day I have been showing the case of the young ruler, 
 Matt. xix. — as an example of the influence of the love of 
 the world and the consequence of wanting love to God. O 
 fearful price he pays for the enjoyments of the world. This 
 afternoon spoke of the cities of refuge and the law that re- 
 lates to them as illustrating the guilt, danger and remedy of 
 sinners. This evening have been speaking of the suitable- 
 ness of the law to prepare man for the gospel ; and that if 
 so amiable and moral a man as the young ruler was lost, 
 because he had no love to God, what should those think who 
 are, perhaps, less moral, &c. Oh God, do thou own thine 
 own truth and bless it as dispensed to-day. May my whole 
 
 13 
 
146 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 soul be bathed in the blood of Jesus, and may much more of 
 his Spirit rest upon me at all tinr>es and in all duties. 
 
 Tuesday, 28th. Heard to-day of the death of the Rev. 
 Dr. WoodhuU. This is a season of unusual mortality. I 
 am conversant every day with sickness and death. Now 
 the infirm old man, whose existence was a burden to himself 
 and to those around him, on account of the loathsomeness 
 of his disease. Now a wife and mother, in the morning of 
 life. Now an infant whose eyes have just opened upon the 
 world. And now the minister of Jesus, in the vigour of his 
 days — all this within one week. Such, O death, are thy 
 ravages ! O God, give me a just sense of the solemnity of 
 my circumstances, and the importance of my duties as a 
 man and as a minister. 
 
 March 1th. This evening attended Mr. S. in his last 
 moments. He expressed a firm hope in the divine mercy, 
 through Jesus Christ, and has, during the day, been anxious 
 to depart. Has given some comfortable evidence, during 
 the last week, that his heart has been renewed. Has spoken 
 repeatedly of the preciousness of Jesus, and of loathing 
 himself on account of his sins. But, alas, how little, how 
 little dependence should we place on such appearances in a 
 man of health, unless attended by a holy life. All things 
 are in God's hands, and it is righteous and wise in him to 
 allow those who have not served him in health to leave the 
 world without those triumphant evidences and assurances 
 with which he sometimes blesses his tried and experienced 
 followers. May none take occasion, from this providence, 
 to delay the work of preparation for eternity till the hour of 
 death. 
 
EEV. JOSEPH SANFOED. 147 
 
 TO MR. H. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 " Brooklyn, March 9th, 1826. 
 " Yours of the 13th ult. was duly received. I had long 
 looked for a line from you. I have heard, in general, of the 
 course of events in B., but nothing of my friend D. I had 
 hoped, however, that you were pursuing the march of your 
 pilgrimage to glory, with a firm, and more accelerated speed, 
 feeling the attraction that binds body and soul to the earth 
 sensibly diminishing, and the flame of the love of Jesus 
 rising higher, and brighter, and purer, to waft your soul 
 upward towards his throne. May the Lord speed you on 
 your way, and fit you and all that are most dear to you, for 
 the society and the songs of heaven. * * » 
 
 ***** 
 
 " I have nothing to say of the state of religion here that 
 is interesting. My congregation is becoming quite large 
 enough, and the demands upon my time quite oppressive. 
 My health is good at present, though it has been a season of 
 much sickness and mortality, in the midst of us, and, indeed, 
 throughout the country." 
 
 March 26th. To-day have been reviewing the subject of 
 the creation, to show that it is very good, and this afternoon 
 from Rom. i. 18, have been striving to impress upon the 
 minds of the people, and my own, that God hates sin, and 
 hats given many expressions of his hatred of it. Visited a 
 djHng woman in the interval of public worship, who has 
 since expired. Thus the work of Grod goes on. I have 
 reason to bless him that I felt somewhat tender in my ser- 
 vices to-day, and strong desires to have the message of God 
 blessed. Send thy blessing, O God, and then the word will 
 be effectual. 
 
148 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 "When thy g-ood Spirit deigns to breathe, 
 Life spreads through all these realms of death; 
 Dry bones attend thy powerful voice, 
 They move, they waken, they rejoice." 
 
 Sabbath evening, April — , 1826, 11 o'clock, P. M. 
 Auburn, N. Y. I have thought, as the stage is to go at 
 12, it is not best to retire, but to wait and be in readiness for 
 the summons. 
 
 Now, O my soul, learn a lesson of the greatest impor- 
 tance. Did I expect the coming of the Son of Man at " mid- 
 night," am I ready? Should the cry be made to me at 
 midnight, " Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to 
 meet him,^^ is my lamp lighted, furnished, trimmed ? Oh 
 God, may I henceforth make it my great concern to be pre- 
 pared for the hour of my final " departure," that so, when 
 the period arrives, I may feel no more alarm than I now 
 feel, when I am called to pursue my journey ; but that I may 
 have the humble, holy hope and joy of a sinner saved by 
 grace, who is just entering through the gates into the celes- 
 tial city. 
 
 April 20th. This is the second Sabbath since my return 
 from a journey. I came home with desires to be more faith- 
 ful in my private and official duties; but, alas, a great de- 
 gree of deadness prevails; and I have reason to fear that I 
 have none of the right spirit of preaching. I am sure that 
 God sometimes makes use of wicked men to accomplish his 
 work ; but none can calculate upon his blessing here or 
 hereafter, but those who are full of the Holy Ghost and of 
 faith ; and I am sure this is not my condition. I think, 
 sometimes, that I do truly and ardently desire the salvation 
 of sinners, and the prosperity of the cause of Christ ; not 
 for the credit and reputation of being a successful minister, 
 but that his name may be glorified. But these desires are 
 too cold and transient. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 149 
 
 I have been preaching this morning on the history of the 
 fall of man. This afternoon on the subject contained in 
 Luke, xiv. 31, 32; and this evening, in the lecture room, 
 on the grand test of Christian character, which consists in 
 loving Christ more than any thing else. Have felt some de- 
 gree of freedom and solemnity. Oh God, search and try me 
 and thy people, and revive us. 
 
 May l^th. Our interesting anniversaries have just been 
 celebrated, and to-day three of my brethren, from different 
 sections of the country, have supplied my pulpit. It is truly 
 gratifying to see the union of so many hands and hearts in 
 the benevolent enterprises of the day, and to exchange feel- 
 ings and sentiments and sympathies veith the ministers of 
 Jesus Christ of different denominations. Oh may this union 
 of hearts be more complete, and this system of Christian 
 exertion be more extended and more efficient. 
 
 2lst. To-day have completed my discourses on the fall 
 of man, by considering its effects upon the human family. 
 Alas, how sad is the condition, and how dreadful is the cha- 
 racter of human nature ! Soul and body under sentence of 
 death ; and both destined to an eternity of misery, unless 
 rescued in time by the sovereign grace of God ! 
 
 " My God, I feel this dreadful scene, 
 My bowels yearn o'er dying- men, 
 And fain my pity would reclaim 
 And snatch the firebrand from the flame. 
 But feeble my compassion proves, 
 And can but weep, where most it loves." 
 
 May 22d. To-day I have heard of the sudden death of 
 my dear father. I cannot realize it. Only a few weeks 
 ago I lefl him in health, and with the big tear in his eye, 
 while I wished him, for the future, to be free from the op- 
 pressive weight of worldly cares, and to spend the evening 
 13* 
 
150 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 of his life in religious duties and enjoyments. But he is 
 gone, and I was not with him to make any suggestion from 
 the word of God, that might refresh and strengthen him for 
 the last conflict, and to remind him of the precious promises 
 of Jesus, suited to a dying hour. But I do believe that he 
 loved the Saviour, and conscientiously endeavoured to per- 
 form his duties to God and man ; and that his hopes for eter- 
 nity have long been fixed on the " Rock of Ages ;" and so 
 I am confident that Christ was near him. He might not 
 have been aware of his approaching dissolution, but I be- 
 lieve he was safe in the hands of a covenant-keeping God, 
 and that he is now in glory. The storms of life have often 
 beat upon him, but they are over. His aged frame, so often 
 w^earied by the hardest toil of husbandry, is now at rest. 
 He had a treasure in heaven, and is now enjoying it. O may 
 God, the widow's God, support, and bless, and sanctify my 
 aged mother under this most desolating stroke ; and may 
 brothers and sister, and their companions and children, be 
 everlastingly benefited by this solemn providence. 
 
 June Sth. I have just returned from visiting my mother. 
 I left her very feeble, though, probably, convalescent. The 
 shock was almost too much for her feeble frame to bear ; 
 but I hope that the God of the widow will sustain her. She 
 bears the stroke like a Christian, though her grief is most 
 deep, and awful, and heart rending. O God, compose her 
 mind by thine own, power and grace, and let her find the 
 promises of thy word, and the blessedness of thy presence 
 able to console and comfort her. When those who have 
 walked on so many years, and who have reached the even- 
 ing of life together, are suddenly separated, it seems to be 
 attended by more than ordinary sorrow. May he who can 
 dry the mourner's tear, and who understands the wido>v's 
 woes, be ever with her. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 151 
 
 I left the following inscription for the small, neat stone 
 that is to mark the spot where my father's ashes repose. 
 
 "In memory of Mr. Joseph Sanford, who ' fell asleep' on 
 the 14th of May, 1826, aged 63 years, 10 months, 5 days. 
 
 • The trump shall sound, the dead shall rise, 
 From the cold grave the slumb'rers spring-, 
 The saints, with joy, shall mount the skies, 
 To hail the coming Judge — their King.' " 
 
 June Wth. Preached to-day from the 21st verse of 
 Rom. V. Oh that the glorious subject of the reign of grace 
 might warm my heart, and may I be one of its certain tro- 
 phies. 
 
 P. M. Mr. Waterbury, from Hebrews. " How shall we 
 escape," &c. We both addressed the people in the evening, 
 when the audience appeared to be particularly solemn. Lord 
 may there be a great shaking in this valley of dry bones. 
 
 SEAMEN. 
 
 " To give them the gospel is like giving it to the winds of 
 heaven, to carry round the world. 
 
 "Ah, they are indeed like the winds of heaven ; and as 
 they fly round the world, under God, it depends upon 
 you to say, whether they shall resemble a moral pestilence, 
 that shall spread contagion and death in its course ; or like 
 the breezes of Paradise, to revive, and cheer, and bless the 
 nations. 
 
 "The sailor is eminently the son of song; amidst whistling 
 winds, and pelting storms, and yawning waves, he pours 
 forth his wild notes in defiance of the tempest. But teach 
 him the songs of Zion, and while he yokes the winds to his 
 car, and rides upon the mountain waves, his notes shall be 
 heard and approved, amid the thunders of the ocean, by him 
 who directs the storm and makes the clouds his chariot." 
 
152 ME3I0IR OF THE 
 
 June 25th. To-day had the assistance of a dear brother 
 who gave us an interesting discourse on letting our light 
 shine. O may God reward him, and make his superior ta- 
 lents eminently useful to the church of Christ. Save him 
 from his own sinful heart, and from the idolatry and ap- 
 plauses of his friends. May all ministers of Jesus keep 
 behind the cross ; and while they glory in the cross, may 
 they be able to add, " by whom the world is crucified unto 
 me and I unto the world." I preached this afternoon, though 
 oppressed with severe indisposition, from Gen. v. 24, on the 
 history of Enoch; but was too unwell to enter into it and 
 enjoy it myself, and of course did not make it very interest- 
 ing to others. O God, give me Enoch's faith that embraced 
 the distant promise, and enable me to walk with God, and to 
 obtain some comfortable evidence that God has accepted me 
 and will accept my poor, meagre services, on account of 
 Christ alone. 
 
 July 2d. Unable to preach — sacramental service post- 
 poned — 
 
 " Lord, what a feeble piece 
 Is this our mortal frame." 
 
 May I learn to improve health better when I enjoy it. 
 
 RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. 
 
 " One of the solemn considerations which give so much 
 importance to religious instruction is, that it exerts an influ- 
 ence for eternity. The influence will be felt while being 
 lasts. The principles of truth, which are implanted in the 
 mind, can never die, can never be annihilated. The good 
 seed will remain. It will be warmed into life and useful- 
 ness by the Spirit of God, and grow into an immortal tree 
 of righteousness, the planting of the Lord." 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 153 
 
 Jrily 9th. Communion service. Morning, preached on 
 the jubilee. Sacrament in the afternoon. I felt too feeble 
 to enjoy it, and the exercise rather too much for my strength. 
 
 God, prepare me for that service where the worshippers 
 shall never grow weary. 
 
 July SOth. History of Noah the subject of one discourse, 
 and Heb. xii. 14, the other; the latter in the morning. Oh 
 Saviour of sinners, own thine own word and bless it. Felt 
 in somewhat of a comfortable frame to-day, but desire more 
 light, love, faith and every grace. 
 
 August ISth. This day presented the solemn truth that 
 none of us liveth to himself. O God, may I live indeed to 
 thee. Much of my time has run to waste. Enable me to 
 redeem the time. To improve it more diligently for God 
 and for eternity. May the influence of Christians be holy 
 and heavenly. 
 
 21th. To-day considered the calling of Abraham. May 
 
 1 really forsake all for God. Believe and obey him, how- 
 ever trying the circumstances. 
 
 September Sd. Preached this morning from Ps. Ixxiii. 
 14, and this afternoon on the character of Melchisedec. 
 This evening spoke on the subject of the 17th Ps. " What 
 sinners value, I resign," &c., in connexion with the morning 
 subject. O God, revive thy work. 
 
 17th. To-day have been considering the destruction of 
 Sodom. Lord, may all who heard, learn the awful lesson, 
 and take warning and not venture, like Lot, to sacrifice spi- 
 ritual for temporal advantages ; nor, like his wife, dare to 
 disobey his commandments ; nor, like the guilty inhabitants 
 of Sodom, reject the last message of mercy, and sufier the 
 vengeance of eternal fire. 
 
 This evening urged the sentiment, that we are on a steady 
 march to the grave. O God, in whom all our hope is to be 
 fixed, be pleased to awaken sinners here ; and may they 
 
154 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 live like those who expect to die, and who really believe that 
 after death comes the day of judtrment. 
 
 October 1st. To-day preached from Luke, xxiv. 26, last 
 clause. Considered two particulars of Christ's exaltation, 
 his resurrection and ascension ; and administered the sacra- 
 ment in the afternoon, half past three o'clock. Had but 
 little comfort, but felt really desirous to serve Christ better 
 and to love him more. O Lord, revive thy work ; revive 
 my own soul. May Christ be more precious to my own 
 soul, so that I may have better evidence of being really a 
 disciple, and of growing in grace and holiness. Addressed 
 communicants, previously to the celebration of the supper, 
 on the importance of inquiring " Lord, is it /?" 
 
 November 5th. Concluded the subject of the command- 
 ed offering of Isaac, as a burnt sacrifice, and preached this 
 afternoon from Mai. iv. 2. " But unto you that fear my 
 name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise," &c. Improved 
 and applied this subject this evening in an exhortation. Some 
 may suppose I perform an excess of public duty; and it is 
 indeed a heavy draft on my strength. But I do feel anxious 
 for the souls of my congregation. O to feel more so, and 
 continually 1 To be more faithful, not only in preaching to 
 them, but in praying for them. 
 
 December 6th, 1826. The third anniversary of the death 
 of my beloved Anna. Another year has she been in the 
 presence of Jesus, and like him, in some humble measure. 
 I do not wish her back again, though I seem to need her as 
 the companion of my pilgrimage. But God, my Father, 
 knows bestj and he has given his unalterable decision. He 
 took her from me when I just began to appreciate her worth, 
 and to realize her usefulness as the wife of a minister of 
 Jesus. But I am conscious that my heart loved her too 
 fondly. It had already begun to lose sight of God. The 
 creature was engrossing and absorbing its affections. The 
 
REV. JOSEPH SAXFORD. 155 
 
 Lord saw it, and in dreadful, mysterious mercy to us both, 
 called her home to heaven. Father, not my will, but thine 
 be done. 
 
 December 1th. The day appointed for public prayer and 
 thanksgiving. Have been preaching from Ps. xcvii. 1. 
 " The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice." 
 
 This doctrine certainly affords a ground of joy to the 
 earth and its inhabitants, as all the mercies we receive flow 
 to us as specimens of the goodness with which he is supply- 
 ing the wants of the subjects of his government. It affords 
 refuge for the mind under the ills of life. And even my 
 bleeding heart may find a balm of consolation in this inter- 
 esting truth. It was a sovereign God who dashed my hopes; 
 and on this day, which commemorates the wreck and ruin 
 of all that gave life its loveliness, I will bow in silent sub- 
 mission at his awful throne. And may I feel what the 
 psalmist expresses, and to which my understanding responds: 
 " Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his 
 throne." 
 
 Sabbath evening, Dec, 10th. To-day have resumed the 
 subject, Ps. xcvii. 1. And have applied the expression to 
 Jesus Christ in his mediatorial character. Have considered 
 the nature and extent of his kingdom. Its subjects ; reve- 
 nue ; blessings. Its prime minister, the Holy Ghost. The 
 retinue of the Prince. His laws. The privileges of his 
 subjects. And this may justify the joy of earth and its in- 
 habitants. 
 
 Evening, in lecture room, spoke of the " chief end of 
 man." Follow with thy blessing, O God, the services of 
 the day. Bless thine own word, and accomplish thine own 
 work, in thine own way and time. 
 
 January, 1827. We are already in another year. The 
 past is indeed gone for ever. How many of its hours have 
 passed without improvement. How many sins committed. 
 
156 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 How many duties neglected or carelessly perforated. Lord, 
 with the new year, may I begin anew for God. Renewing 
 the act by which I have professed to surrender myself to 
 God, may I regard soul and body as consecrated to the 
 Lord ; as not my own, and not to be used or employed but 
 for his glory. 
 
 February 6th. This is the first day of my thirtieth year. 
 
 God, I am a monument of thy rich mercy. Why am I 
 not a monument of thy righteous wrath ? I have completed 
 twenty-nine years of my mortal pilgrimage. Alas, they 
 have been so many years of " wanderings." Oh how far 
 
 1 have strayed from God. O God, I would thank thee for 
 any evidence that when my wanderings are ended I shall be 
 safely conducted through Jordan and enter the promised 
 land — that land, of which Canaan was such a lively em- 
 blem. 
 
 May I, in imitation of my divine master, who entered 
 upon his public work, when " he began to be about thirty 
 years of age," feel that I have a work to perform, and feel 
 straitened till it be accomplished j and may I enter with such 
 holy zeal upon the duties of my sacred office, that it shall 
 seem Uke the beginning of my course. 
 
 "Teach me the measure of my days, 
 Thou Maker of my frame," 
 
 so that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. That I may 
 work while the day lasts, and prepare for the night that is 
 approaching, and the day that is to follow it. " Great day, 
 for which all other days were made." 
 
 March 25th. To-day finished a series of sermons on the 
 divine origin and authority of sacred Scriptures, by summing 
 up the several subjects of discussion. This evening made 
 an appeal (to myself solemn) on the subject of the insensi- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 157 
 
 bllity of sinners ; their danger and duty requiring theni to 
 awake and call upon God. 
 
 April nth. The fourth anniversary of my licensure to 
 preach the gospel. For four whole years, with very little 
 interruptions, I have been engaged in this interesting work; 
 with what faithfulness, and with what success, the judgment 
 day will disclose ! May the Lord prepare me for that day, 
 and cleanse me with the blood of Jesus Christ. 
 
 TO MR. H. D., OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 ''Brooklyn, July 2d, 1827. 
 
 " Mr. S. gave me reason to expect a call from him this 
 morning, previous to his leaving the village, and I take this 
 opportunity to send you a line, though I have nothing of 
 special interest to communicate, except the goodness and 
 mercy of God, which are exercised continually. 
 
 " Our religious assemblies are well attended ; but that is 
 all, and is to be connected with the tremendous fact, that 
 the word of God is always ' a savour of life unto life, or of 
 death unto death.' 
 
 " Our house of worship is so nearly full that unless we 
 can lake measures for enlarging it, I shall consider my 
 sphere of usefulness too narrow to be satisfactory. I saw 
 your brother in Philadelphia, at the General Assembly, 
 though I had no opportunity of conversing with him. 
 
 " I am expecting to spend a few weeks at the springs, in 
 the course of this month, and will try to give you a caH. 
 My health suffered a little this summer from a slight attack 
 of pleurisy in Philadelphia, but my general health, through 
 the last winter and spring, has been good. 
 
 " I have heard that Mr. Henry was expected to go to Og- 
 densburg, but Mr. S. said, yesterday, he thought not. I 
 hope you will not be led again without a pastor. Make my 
 best regard to P., and I should add. Christian regards to all 
 
 14 
 
158 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 who inquire. I am informed that many of my acquaintances 
 have died. Death is doing his work, and is on his way* 
 Oh to live continually with our lamps trimmed, and burn- 
 ing, and ready to obey the summons of the Son of Man." 
 
 October \Qth. The fourth anniversary of my ordination 
 and installation as the pastor of this church and congrega- 
 tion. Alas, that the visible success of my ministry has been 
 so small. The congregation has increased, and are under 
 the necessity of providing more extensive accommodations. 
 But how little life and spirituality among us, in proportion to 
 our duties and hopes ! I am sure my own soul is deplorably 
 barren. My spirits flag — heart fails — hands fail. Eternal 
 Spirit, improve my animal and moral vigour, and fill my 
 soul with the love of God. 
 
 December 6th. Ah, this is also an anniversary, sad in- 
 deed to me. And why cannot I hail the return of the day 
 which emancipated my life's loved companion from earth 
 and sin, and introduced her to the perfection and bliss of 
 heaven ? I will enter it as a day of thanksgiving on the 
 calendar of time. A wife in glory ! 
 
 TO MR. H. D. OF BALLSTON, N. Y. 
 
 " Brooklyn, Dec. 26th, 1827. 
 
 " I have been long intending to write you, to say I do 
 wish you would come to Brooklyn ; I mean, to live and do 
 good, to serve your generation, and to finish your course. 
 
 " This is a place of much importance, and it is rapidly 
 increasing; and there is much for active, intelligent Chris- 
 tians to do, and but few to do it. You need not embark in 
 business, which will exhaust your time or strength, nor con- 
 sume or risk your capital. My object is not to invite you 
 into the whirlpool of mercantile speculation, to make a for- 
 tune, but in!o the very centre of religious influence in our 
 
REV. JOSEPH SAMFORD. 159 
 
 land, to promote the Master's glory. Every man has influ- 
 ence, and every good man should endeavour to make his 
 precious time and his influence bear upon the greatest amount 
 of human minds. We should try to do good on the largest 
 possible scale. I have much to say on this subject, but have 
 not time to-day to write it. But I do sincerely wish you 
 would come and see, and ask, ' Lord, what wilt thou have 
 me to do V 
 
 " ft is months since 1 began to think on this subject, and 
 to pray over it. I would not write to you at first, for I was 
 afraid to trust my first feelings and impressions. But at 
 last I have felt it my duty to write, and leave the event with 
 God. 
 
 " I wish you could spend the first Sabbath in January 
 with us. It will, by the leave of divine providence, be our 
 communion Sabbath ; and there is no friend on earth whose 
 presence I think would gratify me more." 
 
 " A gleam of light breaks through the darkness, and re- 
 vives the guilty soul of man. Let me stand a monument of 
 thy grace on earth, and bring me a trophy of thy victory in 
 heaven. When this clog of earth that weighs down my soul 
 shall be shook off in the dust, and my imprisoned spirit dis- 
 entangled from its clay, let the wings of love direct my flight 
 to the heaven where thou art. 
 
 " Whilst I spend the moments of existence allotted me in 
 this world, though distant from earthly friends, may I not be 
 distant from thee ; but with thee ever find my joy and hope. 
 From the never-failing fountain of divine consolation may all 
 my wants be supplied. May I find consolation at all times 
 in the word ' Jesus,' the dearest, greatest, and sweetest name 
 that heaven and earth afford. Join me in mystic union to 
 thyself, that I may be separated from the pollutions of the 
 world, and follow the Lamb of God whithersoever he may 
 
160 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 lead me. From the tabernacles of thy grace on earth, may 
 my soul mount up. to the tabernacles of glory in heaven. 
 Oh that with tears I might bedew those deadly nail-prints, 
 that tell at once my crime and my forgiveness. Lord, help 
 me to enter into the ark of safety ; let pardoning love fasten 
 the door against an accusing conscience and a condemning 
 law ; let thy faithfulness and truth be as a brazen wall around 
 me, that none of my fears may break through, none of my 
 sins destroy me." 
 
 MAN IS A SINNER. 
 
 " Look upon the being God has made in his own image 
 and for his own glory. He walks erect, his face is set to- 
 wards the heavens ; he is capable of knowing God, he is 
 capable of endless progression in knowledge. He can ex- 
 plain the laws which bind the world and elements together ; 
 he can measure, and number, and name the orbs of heaven. 
 He is the lord of this world, and made to be heir to a crown 
 and a kingdom on high. Is he not worthy of the Being from 
 whose hands he came, worthy of the heaven for which his 
 Creator made him ? 
 
 " But look again. — In all the rounds of life he never thinks 
 of God, he never thinks of heaven. Earth, earth is his home 
 and portion — mammon, mammon is the idol to which he 
 bows; to gratify the appetites of the body is his aim; and 
 he walks abroad as seemingly unconscious of the immortal 
 principle in his bosom as though he was kindred, in every 
 part of his nature, to the brutal tribes around him. 
 
 " His heaven-directed visage bends to the earth ; the as- 
 pirings of his immortal spirit are checked, degraded, extin- 
 guished. Is he not fallen ? ' Has not the gold become dim?' 
 Has he not suffered some awful shipwreck in the voyage of 
 his being?" 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 161 
 
 THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL. 
 
 " I may refer you to your own experience, to your obser- 
 vation, to your most vivid and painful recollections, for the 
 evidence of this. Have you not heard, and seen, and felt, 
 that all below is transient. Is there nothing within you that 
 responds to this affecting sentiment? Did you never feel, in 
 the midst of all your worldly possessions and prosperity, 
 that it was all vanity, all fading and unsubstantial ? Or, if 
 so just a conviction was never forced upon your mind in the 
 day of prosperity, have you felt it in the day of adversity? 
 Has some worldly loss or disappointment taught you these 
 interesting lessons ? When you saw your darling child upon 
 a dying bed, tossing in agonies which it was not in the power 
 of man to mitigate or relieve, and perhaps crying in vain to 
 you for help, did you not then feel the nothingness of earth? 
 When you saw the husband or the wife of your bosom torn 
 away by the strong and resistless hand of death, and saw 
 the grave close upon your mutual hopes, and returned to 
 your desolated dwelling, and had time to feel the anguish of 
 an aching and bleeding heart, did you not conclude that the 
 world was incapable of blessing you ? Have you never seri- 
 ously considered how short is the longest probable term of 
 your earthly existence, and how much shorter than this your 
 life may possibly be? How certain is the event of your dis- 
 solution, and how solemn the consequences of that event ! 
 How Httle the whole world will avail you in your final con- 
 flict with the king of terrors ! How your soul, with all its 
 capacities for suffering or enjoyment, is to outlive all the ob- 
 jects upon which it is accustomed to depend for its happiness ! 
 You have surely seen the circumstances of those around you 
 changed by sickness and misfortunes — you have seen one 
 calamity follow another in a most fearful succession. Some- 
 times a circle of friends gives life its principal attraction, 
 14* 
 
162 'memoir of the 
 
 and every blessing of nature and of providence is more than 
 doubled in their participation and in their society. But death 
 invades this circle of kindred spirits, and its first and loveliest 
 members fall beneath his stroke, and break the charm that 
 bound the survivors to the vi'orld. 
 
 ' For who would not follow when friendships decay, 
 And from life's shining' circle the gems drop away; 
 When true hearts lie withered and fond ones have flown, 
 O who would inhabit this bleak world alone?' 
 
 Earthly possessions are as uncertain and as transient as 
 earthly friendships. You may be in affluence to-day, and 
 surrounded by every comfort and luxury that wealth can 
 procure or heart desire, but to-morrow a revolution of the 
 wheel of providence may bring you down while it exalts 
 another. Nay, events may be already in train, without 
 your knowledge or agency, which shall reduce you to poverty 
 and to want. The imprudence or dishonesty of another, or 
 some of the elements of destruction, may entirely sweep 
 away your possessions and your hopes. You may boast 
 perhaps of an unsullied reputation, but what security have 
 you that you shall escape the blasting breath of slander? 
 But yours may be a character that can defy the shafts of 
 calumny ; and you may occupy, what few attain, the envied 
 eminence where superior talents, and tried and acknowledged 
 patriotism and philanthropy, and even popular applause, can 
 place you, and fame may blow her trumpet, and swell her 
 loudest, longest blast ; but alas, how soon she wreathes the 
 melancholy cypress for the brow of her favourite sons ! 
 
 " You have seen the beloved and revered chief magistrate 
 of this most important section of the Union, from the very 
 summit of his greatness, and in the very noon of his useful- 
 ness and his fame, cut down by the stroke of death, without 
 the warning of a moment ! The statesman of unrivalled 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 163 
 
 talents, the best representation of his country's greatness, the 
 pride and boast of his native state, the acknowledged patriot 
 and philanthropist, the efficient patron of science and benevo- 
 lence, the public benefactor, the high minded and virtuous 
 citizen, the exemplary husband and father, has fallen before 
 the universal conqueror, and is in the dust ! One week ago, 
 who that had not learned a noble ambition from the Bible 
 would not have coveted the talents and the fame of Clin- 
 ton? But this bright western star has set. His fame may 
 live in the recollections of ages, and will be even identified 
 with the glory of his noble state. But what is this to Clin- 
 ton now — and what are the splendours of his public career? 
 What the success of his projects of internal improvement ? 
 What the merited tribute which his political friends and foes 
 are eager to pay to his memory ? What a proof of the va- 
 nity of earth ! 
 
 " If the fall of such a man, which is an awful public ca- 
 lamity, and which clothes a whole community in mourning, 
 might be the means of leading men of all classes to improve 
 life, his death would produce effects more valuable than all 
 his public services." 
 
 January ls<, 1828. This day we enter on a new year. 
 I would begin anew for God, adoring him for the past, and 
 trusting him for the future. Oh that I may feel more and 
 more deeply that important sentiment which I have endea- 
 voured to impress upon the minds of the Sabbath-school 
 children this morning, " That the way to be happy is to be 
 holy," and that with more zeal for God and more love for 
 holiness, I may enter upon the duties of the new year. The 
 mercies of God have been still abundantly continued. Oh 
 that they may not be lost upon me, so as to leave me only a 
 " cumberer of the ground." I have been prevented by in- 
 disposition from entering my pulpit one Sabbath only in the 
 
164 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 year, though I have been absent three other Sabbaths on 
 business. But of the other forty-eight Sabbaths what have 
 been the benefits? The last great day will disclose. I 
 would labour for God more faithfully and prayerfully. My 
 church and congregation are both increasing — the attend- 
 ance upon the means of grace encouraging ; but why are the 
 special influences of the Holy Spirit withheld ? Lord, thou 
 knowest. 
 
 February 6th. This day I enter upon my thirty-first 
 year. I can scarcely realize that so many years are num- 
 bered and gone for ever. They are indeed gone, and yet I 
 have a solemn relation to them. They are not gone as the 
 clouds that curtained my infant sky, or the flowers that 
 strewed my infant path. Oh it is a solemn truth, that upon 
 every moment of my existence God has enstamped account- 
 ability. May I ever feel it and act under its influence, and 
 thus act for eternity. I cannot expect to see thirty years 
 more this side of the grave. It is more than probable that 
 within that period I shall be in my eternal state of bliss or 
 wo ! I would daily review life in reference to the great end 
 for which it is given, and inquire to what purpose have I 
 lived ? What good have 1 been the means or the instrument 
 of accomplishing ? How have I glorified God in heart and 
 life? And should I pass suddenly to my last account, what 
 could I expect at the hands of tiie righteous sovereign of the 
 world ? My only hope is in Christ Jesus, the friend of sin- 
 ners — he is precious to my soul. Oh may he become more 
 and more so, and may I serve him more faithfully. 
 
 March 2d. A sudden death of one of the members of 
 the church, and one who I believe received her first religious 
 impressions under my ministry. Her illness was very short 
 and distressing, unable to collect her thoughts until about 
 two hours before her departure. But during that season, as 
 far as the severity of her disease would permit, she express- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 
 
 165 
 
 ed a most gratifying sense of the presence and the prccious- 
 ness of Jesus, and desired him to hasten the wheels of his 
 chariot to come and take her. " She thought she was will- 
 ino- and ready to die." Endeavoured to improve this solemn 
 providence this morning, by considering the exhortation and 
 the argument of our Lord, Matt. xxiv. 44: "Be ye also 
 ready," &c. O God, may this afflictive event be improved by 
 us. May the church feel it and awake. May this call from 
 eternity be heard and never forgotten. Three weeks ago our 
 dear sister joined with us in the songs and services of the 
 sanctuary — to-day we trust she worships in the upper temple, 
 and mingles her voice in a nobler choir and in sweeter melo- 
 dies ! Jesus, Master, come and comfort us with thy pre- 
 sence and spirit. 
 
 TO HIS MOTHER. 
 
 " Brooklyn, Feb. 19th, 1828. 
 
 " I have postponed writing to you much longer than I in- 
 tended. But I hope you have been satisfied that I have had 
 nothing special to communicate, and that my official duties 
 have occupied my whole time. Indeed, a clergyman who 
 will faithfully perform his duties, can have no time to spare. 
 I have usually three services on the Lord's day, two Bible 
 classes on Monday, a lecture in the church on Wednesday 
 evening, and a church prayer meeting on Friday evening, 
 which I am always to attend. Besides, the sick are to be 
 visited, and all the congregation as often as practicable, and 
 all the members of the church according to their circum- 
 stances and wants. And then every minister, more than 
 any other person, requires time to attend to his own soul's 
 interests and to the improvement of his mind. Thus you 
 see, my dear mother, how my time is disposed of, though I 
 have been so long silent. 
 
166 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " I hope you receive the New York Observer regularly, 
 and from that you will learn all the religious intelligence of 
 the day — and much of it will rejoice your heart. The king- 
 dom of our Lord is advancing, and you, my dear mother, by 
 your prayers may do much to speed its progress. 
 
 " Mr. H. was in Brooklyn a few weeks ago ; he expects 
 to visit Galway in April, and says he shall by all means try 
 to see you. His wife is in a feeble state of health. His son, 
 that was insane, is now restored. His eldest daughter has a 
 school in this village, and 1 think will make a profession of 
 religion at our next communion." 
 
 April ISth. To-day our earthly temple is closed for the 
 purpose of an enlargement ; while my health is such as to 
 render it unsafe for me to go out in the storm of snow and 
 hail that has been falling all day. Who would have thought 
 five years ago that this infant congregation, which was then 
 scarcely organized, would so soon require more extensive 
 accommodations. God has indeed blessed my ministry far 
 beyond what I could have expected. Some I hope have been 
 born from above, and have become heirs of glory, through 
 my unworthy instrumentality in dispensing the good seed of 
 the word. A church of more than three hundred members 
 has been collected, besides thirty or forty who have been 
 called away by providence and by death. I have reason to 
 be amazed and humbled at what God hath wrought, though 
 the special influences of the Holy Spirit have been withdrawn. 
 May the Lord take care of his flock while they are now to 
 be for several weeks dispersed ; may we at length meet in 
 our enlarged sanctuary ; and may the windows of heaven be 
 opened, and may God pour out blessings so that there shall 
 not be room enough to receive them. 
 
REVi JOSEPH SANFORD. 167 
 
 THE SAFETY OF GOd's ISRAEL. 
 
 " * The Lord will preserve thee from all evil.' There is but 
 one idea more awful than the atheistical opinion that there is 
 no God, and that is, to have this God for our enemy! These 
 words were addressed to a peculiar people, and this is im- 
 portant in the outset to prevent all mistake. The psalmist 
 seems to have had a primary reference to the nation that 
 went up to Jerusalem to worship. ' I will lift up mine eyes 
 unto the hills,' &c. The Israelites looked with much delight 
 to Mount Zion, where was the house of God, and all the 
 visible tokens and symbols of his presence, where he was 
 wont to hear their prayers. God saves his people from all 
 evil, that is, from every thing which would not work for their 
 good ; from every thing that would destroy them ; from the 
 ruinous evil of sin into which they have fallen- 
 
 " 1. He saves them from dangerous, soul-destroying 
 errors. Men are in great danger of this. Draw the line 
 between truth and error where you will, some errors are 
 damning. External advantages and cultivated minds are 
 not secure against this. 
 
 " 2. He saves his people from falling under condemna' 
 tion. They are justified, but Christ constantly applies his 
 blood. 
 
 " 3. He saves his people from apostacy. The righteous 
 are ' scarcely saved ;' they come very near being lost ; they 
 are prone to fall, often tempted, often straying, but he saves 
 them. Think of the safety and happiness of such. Think 
 of the love of God in Christ Jesus towards sinners. Unlike 
 the love of men, it sees nothing lovely in its object. 
 
 " Dismiss your fears then. Christian — doubting, trembling 
 Christian. You are safe. All is well. Be grateful for 
 such a mercy." 
 
IbO MEMOIR OP THE 
 
 June 15th. This day entered our house for worship, 
 with its enlarged accommodations. Preached all day from 
 Ex. XX. 24. " In all places where I record my name I will 
 come unto thee and bless thee." Considered the presence 
 and the blessing promised. O God, grant them both in 
 mercy, and take possession of our sacred edifice. 
 
 " Enter with all thy g-lorious train, 
 Thy Spirit and thy word: 
 All that the ark did once contain. 
 Could no such grace afford." 
 
 The congregation appears to have enlarged with the build- 
 ing. Open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of thy 
 law. Open our hearts to receive thy grace ; and open our 
 lips to speak forth thy praise. 
 
 TO HIS MOTHER. 
 
 « Brooklyn, August 7th, 1828. 
 
 " Ihave just received a letter from Mrs. Howe, informing 
 me you are in Brutus. I hope you received the letter I wrote 
 by Mr. K. I should have visited you in July, if you had 
 staid in Galway ; but the opportunity of going with Mr. K. 
 was too good to neglect. I am glad you embraced it. Mrs. 
 H. did not mention how you endured the journey ; but I 
 concluded it did not injure you, or she would have mentioned 
 it. It is true, my dear mother, I would feel better satisfied 
 could you feel contented to live in Galway, because I could 
 see you oftener, and you could have greater religious privi- 
 leges. But if you prefer, on the whole, to live in C. you 
 have my entire approbation. I wish you, by all means, to 
 do that which will make you most comfortable. 
 
 *' If I can leave Brooklyn this fall, I will try to go out to 
 C. to see you, in the course of September or October. But 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 169 
 
 it is extremely difficult for me to be absent from my congre- 
 gation long enough for such a journey. I am anxious to 
 see brother E., to know what are his prospects, &c. My 
 health, this summer, has been better than usual ; and my la- 
 bours are such as to require all my time and strength. Men- 
 tion my respects to all friends. It is doubtful whether I shall 
 be able to stop in B., should I go to the west. It would re- 
 quire one whole day ; and my time is precious, and not my 
 own. May the blessing of the Lord descend upon you, and 
 his presence cheer and fill your desolated heart." 
 
 August 24. Detained from the house of God to-day by 
 indisposition. Taken ill last evening, and too much enfee- 
 bled to-day even to attend the preaching which, by the kind 
 providence of God, my congregation are favoured with. 
 " Lord, what a feeble piece," &c. A few hours' sickness 
 prostrates this frail tabernacle, and bends it towards its na- 
 tive dust. O to live with an assured confidence of a build- 
 ing of God, ready to receive me when this earthly house is 
 dissolved ; and to work in the vineyard of the Lord every 
 day, as though I expected to be laid aside to-morrow. 
 
 In the month of September, of this year, Mr. Sanford re- 
 ceived a call from the Second Presbyterian Church, in the 
 city of Philadelphia, to become their pastor. This call was 
 given with almost entire unanimity. This large and impor- 
 tant church had become vacant by the resignation of the 
 Rev. Dr. Janeway, who had been appointed Professor of 
 Theology in the Western Theological Seminary, which 
 was then about to be opened, at Alleghenytown, near Pitts- 
 burg. That a call from such a church — one of the most 
 respectable in the United States — which embraced a large 
 number of men of distinguished usefulness, and which had 
 been blessed with a succession of able pastors — should be 
 15 
 
170 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 considered with great attention by Mr. San ford, is what all 
 would be ready to pronounce an obvious and imperative duty. 
 
 This call was long and prayerfully considered by Mr. 
 Sanford. The advice of the best and most judicious friends 
 was sought. He consulted such men as the Rev. Drs. Green, 
 Miller, Alexander and M'Auley. From them he obtained 
 most appropriate counsel. All of these excellent fathers and 
 brethren in the church expressed to him the great happiness 
 which it would give them to see him settled in that church, 
 if he should find it to be his duly to accept the call. 
 
 On the other hand, his large and beloved church in Brook- 
 lyn, was greatly opposed to his leaving them. And what 
 served to increase the perplexity of his situation, was a third, 
 unanimous call from the American Presbyterian Church 
 in Montreal. The unanimity of this call, after two pre- 
 vious failures, the interesting state of that church and con- 
 gregation, and the prospect of great usefulness, not only 
 in that important city, but also in the entire province, were 
 reasons for serious and just consideration of this important 
 call. Indeed it would not be possible for any one to read 
 the letters which Mr. Sanford received, on this subject, from 
 Messrs. De Witt, Dickinson, and Bigelow, on the part of the 
 church in Montreal, without being struck both with the im- 
 portance of that post and of the high and long-cherished opi- 
 nion which that people entertained of Mr. Sanford's eminent 
 qualifications for that place. It does not comport with the 
 object of this small work to give that correspondence, but it 
 may not be improper to insert, here, two letters which Mr. 
 Sanford received, in relation to this call. The first is from 
 the Rev. Mr. Iloyt ; and the second is from the Rev. Dr. 
 Nott, President of Union College. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SAXFOBD. 171 
 
 " Montreal, Jan. 19<A, 1829. 
 
 *' REV. AND DEAR SIR, 
 
 " Though a stranger, yet you will permit mc to address 
 you on a subject in which my own feelings are deeply inter- 
 ested. I refer to your anticipated removal to this city. I 
 have been supplying the American Presbyterian Church, in 
 this place, for a few weeks past ; and I have had a fair op- 
 portunity of observing, on the spot, what, I have no doubt, 
 are facts relative to the importance of this post. And, for 
 what I have here witnessed, and for the knowledge I had 
 previously acquired, I have no hesitation in expressing my 
 firm belief that Montreal presents one of the most prominent 
 and inviting fields of evangelical labour in North America. 
 I cannot conceive how, by any impartial and enlightened 
 mind, it can be viewed otherwise. Were this city only to 
 be taken into account such would be the fact. But it is not. 
 This whole district of country is materially affected, and 
 will be thus affected, by the moral atmosphere inhaled in 
 Montreal. The light of eternity only can disclose the amount 
 of good which, under God, an able, judicious, humble, de- 
 voted minister of the gospel may here effect. 
 
 " I am i^ersuaded that brother Christmas will always re- 
 joice in view of his connexion with this people and region. 
 But I have no doubt that Mr. Bigelow has presented before 
 you, fairly and fully, the imperious claims of this part of the 
 heritage of Zion. 
 
 " What I want to say, brother, is that you are the man 
 for Montreal. Yes, the very man to come and labour in 
 this vast field, already ripe for the harvest. 
 
 " I know that you have the esteem, and confidence, and 
 affection, to as great an extent as any man should have, of 
 those who have invited you to come. Their eyes are fixed 
 upon you with intense anxiety. If they are disappointed 
 the shock will be no ordinary one. It will be very difRcult 
 
172 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 for them to be fully united in any other man. And there is 
 a fair prospect of the society being at once, and to a consi- 
 derable extent, enlarged, should you come. 
 
 " I have no interest in this subject, only what regards the 
 general prosperity of the church. I leave here to-morrow 
 morning. As I have an opportunity of sending directly to 
 New York, I have been constrained to drop you a line on 
 this subject. I pray that the Great Head of the church will 
 be with you, and guide you to such a result as shall be most 
 for his glory and your eternal well being. In haste, 
 " Yours affectionately, 
 
 « Otto S. Hoyt." 
 
 " DEAR SIR, 
 
 " Nothing but a sense of duty could induce me to address 
 you on a subject that seems, by a decision you have already 
 made, to have been put at rest. But circumstances have 
 come to my knowledge, that lead me to apprehend that the 
 contemplated church in Montreal will either expire or go 
 into the hands of dangerous crrorists, unless measures are 
 taken to prevent this. That those measures involve your 
 removal to that place ; and that there has been a change of 
 circumstances and a development of facts, since you were 
 there, that not only justify, but call for your solemn and de- 
 liberate review of the whole case. And to induce you to do 
 this is the sole object of this letter. The facts and circum- 
 stances alluded to, will be presented from another source. I 
 am aware that you arc pleasantly settled, and that an ad- 
 dress of this sort may appear like an intrusion on your peace, 
 and on the peace of your society. I respect both ; but nei- 
 ther are to be put in competition with the great and extensive 
 interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. God, in his provi- 
 dence, has opened a door for the Presbyterian Church to 
 make a lodgement in that land, not only of want but of de- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 173 
 
 lusion. If that lodgement is made, other posts may soon be 
 taken possession of. A Presbytery may soon be formed 
 there — from this, other Presbyteries may arise — so that, in 
 a single generation, the Bible Society, the Missionary Socie- 
 ty, and the Sunday School Society, together with all our 
 other moral machinery, may be extended over a country, 
 which will not only be redeemed itself, but, in the end, react 
 and pour its contributions into that treasury consecrated to 
 the conversion of the world. To my mind, the object has 
 an importance that would justify the taking of any pastor 
 from any church in the United States, that might be deemed 
 peculiarly fitted therefor. And the continued attachment of 
 the congregation there — their continuing to hope against hope, 
 seems to be an indication of Providence, with respect to the 
 individual so fitted. If the friends of vital piety will not take 
 possession of this field, the enemies will ; and agents of error 
 and of evil will occupy the region, which, we might have oc- 
 cupied ; and generations pass away before another oppor- 
 tunity, equally favourable, will offer for adding this province 
 to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. I am aware that you will 
 be pressed by friends, whom it will be painful to deny, to de- 
 cline the reconsideration of this subject. But you will call 
 to mind that you are not the master of your own labours ; 
 and that the question is one that respects the present and the 
 future interests of the Saviour's kingdom. It is a question, 
 to be sure, on which, when the whole circumstances are be- 
 fore you, you must judge ; and must not, and ought not, to 
 be governed by the opinion of others. All that I wish to 
 do, is, to bespeak your prayerful and solemn reconsideration 
 of the whole case — the present situation, the future pros- 
 pects of Canada — and see whether the prospect of useful- 
 ness and range of action, there, be not far, and decidedly 
 greater than that of the place you at present occupy. See, 
 also, whether the evil of refusal be not likely to be lar greater 
 15* 
 
174 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 in extent, and lasting in duration, to that province, than any 
 probable evil that can befall your present charge in conse- 
 quence of your resignation thereof. 
 
 " It may be that I am in error — that the time has not 
 come to plant the gospel in that land, so long overshadowed 
 with darkness. Be this as it may, a door is opened to make 
 the attempt. Success would be glorious ; and it would be 
 glorious too, even to fail in such an undertaking. I will not 
 add more ; perhaps I have already said too much. I do not 
 wish to prejudge your judgment ; but merely to urge you 
 to reconsider and review the whole case, and decide accord- 
 mg to the light which God, in his providence, may afford 
 you. 
 
 " Wishing you the guidance of his Spirit, I am, in very 
 great haste, and with esteem, 
 
 " Your's sincerely, 
 
 " Eliph. Nott." 
 
 Notwithstanding the powerful appeal which was made in 
 behalf of Montreal, Mr. Sanford, after long, and anxious, 
 and prayerful deliberation, decided in favour of Philadelphia. 
 At first his Presbytery were opposed to his removal ; but, 
 upon consideration of the subject, they yielded to what he 
 believed to be the call of duty, and of the Great Head of 
 the Church. 
 
 The following extracts from his journal and letters will 
 show with what spirit he considered this call, and finally 
 went to his new field of labour, where much usefulness and 
 many trials awaited him; and where, in less than three years, 
 he ended his days on earth. 
 
 October 1st. This day received notice of a call from the 
 Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, to become 
 their pastor. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFOKD. 176 
 
 May the Lord give me wisdom to discern, and grace to 
 perform, my duty. May I be enabled to decide this impor- 
 tant question in the light of eternity. Lord, what wouldst 
 thou have me to do? Lord, direct my paths and make my 
 duty plain. 
 
 October l^th. This day completes five years of my 
 ministry. Preached this afternoon from Eph. iii. 8, and en- 
 deavoured to call the attention of my congregation to the 
 inquiry, What have been the results of my ministry with 
 them, as individuals ; and whether, if they should be called 
 to-night, to their final account, they would bless or curse 
 God, through eternity, for the message of his mercy ! 
 
 Oh God, the future is all unknown to me. " Guide me, 
 oh thou great Jehovah." Enable me to take such views of 
 the subject that now occupies my mind, that I may judge 
 impartially, and in the fear of God, and in fear of nothing 
 else. I would acknowledge thee in all my ways ; wilt thou 
 direct my paths. I would not confer with flesh and blood. 
 I desire to know what the will of the Lord is, and what the 
 interests of Zion require. 
 
 November 2d. Preached this morning from Heb. iv. 1, 
 and called my congregation to consider the fact, " that a 
 promise of entering into rest is actually made to us ;" that 
 many fall short of it. Christ has taught it, and our own 
 observation justifies his teaching on this subject. Urged the 
 apostle's exhortation upon all. This afternoon spoke with 
 tolerable freedom and comfoi-t, from Ps. xxxiv. 15 : " The 
 eyes of the Lord," &c. Oh that I may desire, more than 
 all things else, to secure God's approbation ; and that X may 
 act as in his presence, and avail myself of the blessed pri- 
 vilege of spreading out all my wants before him whose ear 
 is ever open. Truly I need this at this time especially. How 
 shall I dispose of this call from Philadelphia? " Lord, what 
 wouldst thou have me to do ?" 
 
176 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 On the 6th of November, of this year, Mr. Sanford was 
 united in marriage with Miss Margaret H. Boardman, of Al- 
 bany ; a young lady of devoted piety, and of whom he justly 
 speaks, in his journal, as " a friend, congenial, sympathiz- 
 ing and suitable to be the companion of a minister of Jesus 
 Christ." After their marriage they visited Rochester and 
 several other places in that part of the state of New York, 
 and returned to Brooklyn towards the end of the month. 
 
 December ^th. Reached Brooklyn, after many delays, 
 fatigues and perils. This is the day of public prayer and 
 thanksgiving. O who has greater cause for thankfulness 
 than I? 
 
 December 25th. To-day Presbytery met to consider the 
 call from Philadelphia. Though the thought of separation 
 from my dear congregation is painful, I do feel that God 
 calls me to make the sacrifice. I gave this answer. The 
 business postponed until to-morrow. 
 
 26th. The commissioners have been heard. My brethren 
 all think I ought not to remove. I am sure they have not 
 examined the subject as I have done. They decide as I ex- 
 pected. They adjourn till Tuesday next, to give me time to 
 consider their advice. may the Lord guide me under 
 these accumulating responsibilities. May he give me wis- 
 dom from above. Lord, I would commit my way unto thee. 
 Do thou direct my path. 
 
 Tuesday moridng, Dec. ^Oth. To-day the question must 
 be finally settled, and I do feel that I must Ibllow my own 
 convictions of duty, though against the opinion and advice 
 of my dear brethren. Oh God, in thy sight, I wish to act 
 for eternity. Let me have the presence of thy Holy Spirit 
 to-day. Suffer me not to mistake my duty. I would com- 
 mit my way to thee. O my God. direct my paths. May I 
 not misinterpret thy providence and mistake thy will. Nor 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 177 
 
 make a decision which I shall hereafter regret. Thou art 
 the King of Zion: rule then in every heart, and in mine to- 
 day. May I perceive and perform my duty, and leave con- 
 sequences in thy hands. 
 
 January Ath, 1829. To-day administered the Lord's 
 supper to this dear church, which I am so soon to leave. 
 The day very cold, snowy and unfavourable — but few of the 
 church attended. The season, however, was solemn. May 
 k be profitable. Never can I expect to meet this whole 
 church, to which I have so often dispensed the word and sa- 
 craments, till we meet in judgment. O may we meet to 
 bless God for the relation which we have sustained. 
 
 January 11th. To-day have taken leave of my congre- 
 gation. Preached this morning from Ps. Ixxxvii. 3. " Glo- 
 rious things are spoken of thee, O city of God." Spoke of 
 the extension, prosperity, perpetuity and coming glory of the 
 church of God. May we all become citizens of Zion, and 
 meet in heaven. Preached this afternoon from the words of 
 Paul, in his farewell address to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. xiii. 
 11. "Finally, brethren," &c. Had difficulty in command- 
 ing my feelings so far as to be capable of utterance ; but the 
 Lord assisted me. Oh may these familiar exhortations be 
 improved to the good of many souls. Into thy hands, my 
 dear Lord and Master, I have resigned my charge of this 
 people. Many, many imperfections have marred my ser- 
 vices ; and yet, I hope I have laboured in sincerity and truth. 
 I have my unfaithfulness to deplore in thy sight ; but I trust 
 I am clear of their blood. O bless this people. Send them 
 a pastor whose ministrations thou wilt own and bless ; and 
 build up this people, and dwell among them continually. 
 And do thou take me under thy gracious care and guidance. 
 I have desired to act for the love of Jesus, the good of souls, 
 the prosperity of Zion, and the glory of Zion's King. May 
 I now renew my covenant engagements to be thine ; and do 
 
178 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 thou employ nie in the place and under the circumstances 
 where I can do most for the kingdom ot' Jesus, and ripen 
 most rapidly for the services and the society of the church 
 triumphant. May I have clearer evidences of my love to 
 God and his love to me. May all my graces be in pivsross 
 and in exercise, and the work of sanctilication be evidently 
 advancing. Prepare me for all that awaits me, of joy or 
 sorrow, prosperity or adversity, sickness or health. And 
 may I run with patience the race set before me, with my 
 faith and hope tLxed on Jesus. 
 
 The following extracts are given from the excellent vale- 
 dictory discourse which Mr. Sanford delivered to his dear 
 people on this aiiecting occasion. It is replete with the best 
 advice, and is worthy of a careful perusal by all. 
 
 '• My dear hearers : This day my official labours among 
 you are to close. After a deliberate, and prayerful, and 
 certainly painful attention to all the recent indications of the 
 providence of God, I have judged that the Head of the church 
 requires my removal to another part of his vineyard. 
 
 " For upwaixls of five years I have been with you at all 
 seasons, in sickness, in health, in joy, and in sorrow ; in 
 prosperity and iu adversity. I have wished to lie instant in 
 season and out of season, to declare the whole counsel of 
 Grod according to my best judgment of your capacities and 
 wants : to keep back nothing that would be profitable to you, 
 for fear of losing your confidence, or wounding your feelings ; 
 to teach you publicly, and, as far as practicable, from house 
 to house ; and to present to you, in a manner that should 
 not offend the most cultivated mind, while it aimed to become 
 intelligible to the humblest capacity, all the fulness of the 
 blessing of the gospel of peace. And I wish to take you all 
 to record this day, that while I am conscious of great weak- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 179 
 
 ness and imperfection in the performance of my duties, I feel 
 pure from the blood of your souls. 
 
 " Perhaps I owe it to you, as well as to myself, to state 
 publicly to all, what I have often said privately to many, 
 that it would have been unspeakably gratifying to my feel- 
 ings, and would have been most accordant with my sincere 
 and ardent attachment to this church and congregation, and 
 with my dehberate preference of this place to any with 
 which I am acquainted, and with my personal and profes- 
 sional comfort, to have finished my ministerial course in the 
 place where I commenced it. It would have been most 
 grateful to every affection of my heart, to have led this dear 
 flock in the way of holiness and heaven ; to have been the 
 honoured instrument of training them for glory; to have at- 
 tended those who might be called home before me, on the 
 bed of death, and to the verge of heaven ; to have slept the 
 sleep of ages among their sepulchres; to have risen with 
 them when the judgment trumpet shall wake the dead; and to 
 have entered with them into the joys of our comnK)n Lord ! 
 But such a course, though it would be agreeable to the wishes 
 you have so unanimously expressed ; agreeably to the opi- 
 nions and advice of many of my most valued brethren and 
 friends ; and most compatible, as all have acknowledged, 
 with my personal ease and enjoyment ; most gratifying to 
 those feelings of exalted Christian friendship, which several 
 years of pastoral intercourse are so well calculated to form, 
 and fix, and strengthen, and refine — my own solemn con- 
 victions of duty have not permitted me to pursue. I yield, 
 therefore, and make the sacrifice which involves mv feelings 
 as well as your feelings and wishes, not, I trust, your friend- 
 ship ; and I should be unworthy of your confidence as a 
 minister of Jesus Christ, if I could refuse to make it. 
 
 " But the sacrifice is made, I humbly hope and trust, for the 
 love of Jesus, for the good of souls, for the prosperity of 
 
180 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Zion, and for the glory of Zion's King. It is in the belief 
 that such high considerations as these have turned the scale, 
 and ought to turn it, that by the blessing of God I may hope 
 to be more extensively useful to the church of Christ, that I 
 have regarded the divine will as indicated by the providence 
 of God, and that will, as far as we can satisfactorily ascer- 
 tain it, ought to outweigh a world that would oppose it. 
 
 " My bi'ethren have permitted me to follow my own views 
 of duty, and this day concludes my ministerial services. 
 
 " And now, before we separate, could I present the sub- 
 stance of all the truth which has been here delivered in the 
 course of my ministry — all the array of motives and argu- 
 ments by which I have endeavoured to show you your condi- 
 tion and your duty, and to lead you to Jesus and to glory, in 
 a ^e\v sentences that should be lucid with the light of eternity, 
 and impressive as the voice and authority of God, and that 
 should fasten conviction upon your hearts, and make you 
 wise unto salvation, how gladly would I do it ! But it can- 
 not be, and 1 have only to ask your attention to a few familiar 
 words of affectionate exhortation, such as the Apostle Paul 
 addressed to the church of Corinth, when he closed his last 
 epistle to them : ' Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one 
 mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be 
 with you.' 
 
 " 1. One of the first objects of the gospel ministry is the 
 perfection of the saints. The word signifies to compact, 
 settle, mature, and complete. Thus it is used by the apostle: 
 * And he gave some apostles, and prophets, and evangelists, 
 and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the 
 saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the 
 body of Christ.' Eph. iv. 11, 12. And again in the epistle 
 to the Hebrews, xiii. 20, 21 : ' Now the God of peace, 
 that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 make you perfect in every good work to do his will,' 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 181 
 
 &c. Many of you have only entered upon your Christian 
 course, and are only babes and children in the knowledge of 
 God, and the duties of religion. ' I have fed you with milk, 
 and not with meat, for hitherto ye were not able to bear it ; 
 neither yet now are ye able.' You are attending to the very 
 alphabet of the language of Canaan ; to the rudiments of the 
 science of salvation. And this exhortation is that you should 
 grow in grace, and in the knowledge of God. The know- 
 ledge of God is the foundation of all the graces, and is to be 
 attained by an attentive examination of the sacred Scriptures, 
 and the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Make yourselves well 
 acquainted with the evidences of the divine authority and 
 origin of the Bible, and then study its contents, and become 
 familiar with its precepts, its promises, its history, its biogra- 
 phy. Strive to learn well the first principles of the dcxitrines 
 of grace, and then to pass on to the more deep, and difficult, 
 and sublime communications of the will of God. The simple 
 milk of the word is suited to the condition and wants of the 
 infant believer ; but the inspired volume contains aliment for 
 the disciple of greatest age, and largest attainments in the 
 school of Jesus Christ. The wayfaring man, though com- 
 paratively a fool, may here learn his duty ; and the man of 
 the loftiest intellect may find room enough for the exercise 
 of his most cultivated powers. God's truth is the appointed 
 means of your spiritual progress and prosperity, and it is to 
 furnish you with your principles, and rules, and motives of 
 action. The more you study the word of God, under the 
 influence of the Spirit that inspired it, the more you will see 
 of your guilt and misery by nature and by practice ; the 
 more you will see of the loveliness and the richness of the 
 grace of the gospel ; the more you will learn of the charac- 
 ter of God, as it is most completely and gloriously manifested 
 in the cross of Jesus ; the more you will crucify the flesh 
 with its affections and lusts ; the more you will glorify God 
 
 16 
 
182 MEMOIR OP THE 
 
 by your lives and conversation ; the more rapidly will you 
 make your preparation for the perfect and perpetual society 
 and services of the upper world. 
 
 " And it may well be remembered, as a consideration that 
 should at once humble and animate you, that after all your 
 efforts and advantages, it is but a little you ever learn of God 
 below. Though the dispensation of shadows has expired ; 
 though all its glory has passed away, like the mists of the 
 morning before the brightness of noon, yet even now, under 
 the gospel dispensation, you see but ' through, a glass darkly,'' 
 and under the most favourable circumstances, with your field 
 of observation widened, and your vision strengthened by 
 God's completed Revelation, you will ' ktiow but in part.'' 
 But the brightest light you here enjoy, is only the twilight 
 of what you may anticipate. ' When that which is in part 
 shall be done away, and that which is perfect is come ;' 
 when your faculties are completely emancipated from the in- 
 fluence and the imperfections of sin, and you come to take 
 your places among the disciples of a higher school, the perfec- 
 tions of Jehovah's character, and the operations of his hand, 
 shall spread out their ample pages, and invite your inves- 
 tigation ; and there shall be heights, and depths, and lengths, 
 and breadths of his wisdom, and goodness, and righteous- 
 ness, and grace, and glory, that shall exercise, and elevate, 
 and delight your immortal and untiring energies through 
 everlasting ages. 
 
 " But the apostle's exhortation includes progress and per- 
 fection in grace, as well as knowledge. The child of God 
 is compared to a tree of the Lord's planting, standing by 
 rivers of water, whose leaf never withers, whose fruit never 
 fails. The Holy Spirit dwells in his heart, and the fruits of 
 the Spirit are manifest in his life. These are ' love, joy, 
 peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, 
 temperance.' Gal. v. 22, 23. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANPORD. 188 
 
 " Every disciple of Christ is required to ' abound in fruits 
 of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise 
 and glory of God.' Christ is the author and finisher of his 
 faith, and faith may be regarded as the parent of the graces. 
 The existence of these fruits of the Spirit will be an unequi- 
 vocal evidence of the soundness of your religion, and the 
 safety of your condition. By these you will glorify God, 
 and by their growth and prosperity you will evince your 
 progress towards the perfection of your Christian character, 
 and your preparation for the world of glory. 
 
 " Your progress in knowledge and grace will incline you 
 to persevere in every good word and work, which is the 
 other branch of your Christian perfection. This was the 
 apostle's prayer for the Hebrews, that they might be perfect 
 in every good work to do the will of God. Heb. xiii. 21. 
 You will be anxious to learn how you can most successfully 
 and efficiently glorify God ; you will make the cause of God 
 your own, and think nothing too good or too dear to sacri- 
 fice in promoting it ; you will regard yourselves as servants, 
 and strive to do the work of your Master — as soldiers, and 
 feel that earth is a field of battle, and that heaven is the home 
 of your repose ; and however humble your circumstances or 
 obscure your condition, while you can cast a mite into God's 
 treasury, or ofTer a prayer at his mercy seat, you will not 
 cease to strive for the coming of his kingdom, and the com- 
 plete establishment of the empire of truth and righteousness 
 throughout the world. 
 
 " When the members of the church, in their individual 
 capacities, comply with the apostle's exhortation, then will 
 the church itself, in its organized capacity, as a branch of 
 the family of God, (1 Pet. v. 10.) be compacted, and settled, 
 and established, and thus matured and perfected in the faith 
 and obedience of the gospel. 
 
 " 2. But the Corinthians were exhorted to 'be of good 
 comfort.^ 
 
184 3IEM0IR OF THE 
 
 " I should do great injustice to the very numerous and 
 gratifying expressions of affection, I have so long and so 
 lately heard, were I to doubt that many souls are sorrowful 
 in the prospect of our separation. I have anticipated, my 
 hearers, and I have felt the anguish it is to cost ; I have 
 already told you that my feelings and strong affections all 
 inclined me to ' pray to he excused,^ when I began to be- 
 lieve the Lord was calling me away. I have prayed over 
 this subject, and have wept over it, and have tried to examine 
 it in the light of eternity, in the fear of God, and in no other 
 fear. And I trust I am not mistaken, when I say, the love 
 of Christ constrains me. That love, my Christian friends, 
 is the principle of the exhortation I would now address you. 
 Comfoi't yourselves in God your Saviour. He abides with 
 his church for ever, by the person and influence of the Holy 
 Spirit. He manifests his presence and dispenses his grace 
 in the ordinances of his house and service. Your souls are 
 the witnesses of his love and mercy. Let your faith renew 
 its hold on the cross of Jesus. Live at the mercy seat of 
 God. Believe and obey the responses of the sacred oracle, 
 and the light of God's countenance shall shine upon you, and 
 the spirit of consolation shall make your hearts his perpetual 
 abode. 
 
 " 3. ^ Be of one mind,'' or mind the same thing. Let the 
 glory of God and the good of Zion be the object of your 
 common anxieties and efforts. This you will all profess, 
 and I hope all will strive to pursue it. A good degree of 
 unity has hitherto prevailed. Strive to keep the unity of the 
 spirit in the bond of peace, and this will be easily done if you 
 have in view your common interest and prosperity. 
 
 " I wish to urge this duty in relation to the choice of your 
 future pastor, which I most earnestly hope may be made as 
 speedily as possible. If the church needs a man of peculiar 
 qualifications, and such a man can be found, let that be the 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 185 
 
 man of your choice, though your own taste may not be ex- 
 actly gratified. Say not in the spirit of unaccommodating 
 partiality, I am for Paul, and I for Apollos, and I for Peter, 
 but he all for Christ, and unite in sucli measures as pro- 
 mise most for his glory, and the prosperity of the church. 
 
 " 4. ' Live in peace.'' This will be the determination of 
 all who really love our Lord and Saviour. There may be, 
 and there always will be, some diversity of opinion in this 
 world of ignorance and error. But still you may live in un- 
 interrupted harmony. Having the same grand objects in 
 view, though you may differ in opinion as to the best methods 
 of attaining them, yet there will be no unfriendly interference 
 or opposition that will interrupt each other's peace, or retard 
 each other's progress, or check the growth of the church and 
 congregation. 
 
 " When the professed friends of Jesus Christ evince a 
 Htigious and contentious spirit, the very reverse of that for- 
 bearance and forgiveness which the gospel teaches, they do 
 an injury to the cause of religion which they never can re- 
 pair ; and bring a stain upon it, which all their tears of re- 
 pentance can never wash away. Labour then, my dear 
 hearers, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall 
 prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and pros- 
 perity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' 
 sakes, I will now say, peace be within thee. Psalm cxxii. 6,8. 
 
 " 5. When the preceding directions are complied with, you 
 may take the encouragement which the promise or the pro- 
 phetic declaration of the text is so well calculated to afford, 
 ' And the God of love and peace shall he with yov.'' This 
 will secure your happiness and best prosperity. ' God is 
 love,' and it is the amazing revelation of himself as such, to 
 a world of sinners, that constitutes the glory of the gosj)el j 
 and it is his love that caused the proclamation of peace to be 
 made among a race of rebels, when the prince of peace be- 
 16* 
 
1 86 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 came incarnate for their salvation. It is his love that carries 
 forward the plan of mercy in our world, by which f)eace is 
 produced between man and his Maker, as well as man and 
 his fellow man. It is the love of God that subdues the sin- 
 ner to the obedience of the gospel, and teaches him to love 
 God with all his heart, and his neighbour as himself, and 
 thus through Christ to fulfil the law of God. And it is love 
 that has promised the blessed comforter to continue with the 
 church for ever. 
 
 " It is the presence of the God of love and peace that you 
 now especially need, and which I would urge you most earn- 
 estly to supplicate. 
 
 " I fondly hope and believe that the Head of the church 
 has rich blessings in store for you. 
 
 " For several years the incorruptible seed has been sown 
 among you, and it is according to God's frequent mode of 
 operation to appoint another to come and reap of the harvest. 
 
 " Whoever is the favoured instrument, by whose agency 
 the harvest of souls is to be gathered in, no one will rejoice 
 more sincerely, my hearers, than your late pastor. If you 
 can enjoy a ' time of refreshing from the presence of the 
 Lord,' such as God gives in answer to the prayers of his 
 people, and such as he is now affording to many of the 
 churches, you will see the grace and the glory of the gospel, 
 as you have never seen them before, and regard it as a new 
 and most glorious era in the history of this congregation. 
 
 " If the God of love and peace \\ill come and dwell among 
 you, he will guide you through all the wanderings of the 
 wilderness, and feed you with the heavenly manna, and 
 refresh you from the river of life, and conduct you on- 
 ward from grace to grace, till grace shall be exchanged for 
 glory. 
 
 " I am unwilling to close this discourse, witiiout a few 
 suggestions to several classes of persons in this assembly. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 187 
 
 *' My affections and anxieties are first directed to the mem- 
 bers of this communion. My dear Christian brethren and 
 sisters, you are aware of your high character and profession, 
 and of the duties incumbent on those who name the name of 
 Jesus. You are here the hving representatives of the church 
 of God. The world will form its opinion of religion from 
 your lives and conversation. If you strive to exemplify all 
 its power and loveliness at all times, and under all circum- 
 stances, God will be glorified, and his truth be honoured. 
 You are living epistles, to be known and read of all men, 
 and let me exhort you to beware of misrepresenting the gos- 
 pel of God our Saviour. Let it be evident from the whole 
 course of your lives, that you verily believe the truth you 
 profess respecting the sinner's danger, and never allow your 
 friends who arc out of Christ, to find in your calmness and 
 apathy and unconcern respecting their salvation, an excuse 
 for their impenitence, and an argument for disbelieving the 
 messengers and the word of Jesus Christ, which warn them 
 of the impending wrath of heaven, and beseech them, with- 
 out delay, to become reconciled to God. Strive to be blame- 
 less and harmless, and to prove yourselves the sons of God, 
 without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse na- 
 tion, among whom ye shine as lights in the world ; holding 
 forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, 
 that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Phil. ii. 
 12, 16. 
 
 " To the young communicants, I may say with the apostle, 
 ' Ye are my joy and crown.' You have but entered on your 
 Christian course, and have yet to learn that the path is often 
 rough and thorny. I would most affectionately exhort you 
 to settle it as a principle of action, that you must enjoy some 
 tender sense of the presence of Jesus every day, and pro- 
 gress in the knowledge of God, and in the grace of the 
 gospel. 
 
188 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " ' I have no greater joy than to hear that my children 
 walk in the truth.' ' Only let your conversation be, as it 
 becomelh the gospel of Christ ; that whether I come and 
 see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye 
 stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for 
 the faith of the gospel.' ' Be thou faithful unto death, and 
 the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give thee a crown of 
 life.' 
 
 " To sinners in this assembly, who have hitherto refused 
 the calls and offers of the gospel, what shall I say? How 
 can I say farewell ? When I bid adieu to those who love 
 the Saviour, I hope to meet them at his right hand, in the 
 day of judgment, if not before. But when I take my leave 
 of you, I tremble. Oh my friends, you know how gladly I 
 would have led you to the Saviour. I have honestly be- 
 lieved the truth I have so often addressed to you, that you 
 are all lost by nature, and the children of wrath — actually 
 under condemnation ; that Jesus Christ has come into the 
 world to save sinners ; that if you will believe in him, and 
 accept of him, he will save you ; but that if you refuse and 
 reject him, he will cast you off for ever I 
 
 " Must I appear as a swift witness against you, when we 
 meet you at the bar of God ? Must a ministry of five years, 
 which many have improved to their everlasting joy, be only 
 cast into the scale of your condemnation ? Must the doc- 
 trine of Christ crucified, which will swell on the air of hea- 
 ven in the loftiest, sweetest songs of the saints redeemed, be 
 heard mingled with the eternal wailiugs of your damnation? 
 And now I exhort you to believe and obey the gospel. Be- 
 hold, now is the accepted time ; behold, now is the day of 
 salvation. 
 
 " To those who conduct the music of this congregation, 
 and who perform a service so important and acceptable in 
 the worship of God, I will mention not only the pleasure I 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 189 
 
 have felt, to observe your zeal and success in this delightful 
 exercise, but the pain it has occasioned to see the choir di- 
 vided and broken up, when the table of the Lord is spread, 
 and so many of you stand at a distance, when the friends of 
 Jesus approach to commemorate his dying love. Will any 
 of you be satisfied to sing the songs of Zion here, and to 
 have no part in the anthems of eternity ? Shall those pow- 
 ers God has given, and which are so practised and employed 
 in the melodies of earth, be lost and unattuned to the melo- 
 dies of heaven 1 Will you aid and edify the worshippers of 
 Jesus here in the sanctuary, when they are preparing for 
 their future joys, and then be shut out at last when the 
 Church of the First Born shall assemble, and the everlasting 
 song shall begin 1 May God forbid it, and by his grace pre- 
 vent it. May you all feel the love of Jesus inspiring your 
 notes of praise, and enabling you to sing with the spirit and 
 with the understanding, making melody in your hearts as 
 well as with your voices, unto the Lord; and then may you 
 hope to see his face, and to sing around his throne ; * To 
 reach that blissful station, and to give him nobler praise.' 
 
 " I desire on this occasion, to return, thanks for the uni- 
 form courtesy and kindness with which I have been received 
 among you. P'or the punctuality and the liberality with 
 which you have fulfilled your engagement for my worldly 
 maintenance. For the readiness and tenderness with which 
 you have rejoiced with me in my joys, and mourned with 
 me in my sorrows. For all the indulgence and attention 
 with which you have listened to my ministry. O that that 
 ministry, notwithstanding all its imperfections, may be more 
 abundantly blessed to you. May you so remember it, and 
 so improve it, that when it is reviewed in the light of eter- 
 nity, you may bless God for ever, that you have enjoyed it. 
 
 " And now, my dear hearers, I must say, farewell. < Be 
 perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace ; 
 
190 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 and the God of love and peace be with you.' To him I re- 
 sign my charge. He is able to keep you from falling, and 
 to present you faultless before the presence of his glory, 
 with exceeding joy. To his paternal, and providential, and 
 gracious care I commit you, while I bid you all an aifection- 
 ate — Farewell." 
 
 January 2\st. Installed pastor of the Second Presbyte- 
 rian Church of Philadelphia. The constitution of this new 
 relation involves, of course, new responsibilities. It is to 
 influence the immortal destiny of multitudes. May the Lord 
 give me wisdom, and strength, and' grace to perform my 
 duties so as to glorify his name, and to promote the salva- 
 tion of immortal souls. 
 
 TO MRS. s. 
 " Philadelphia, Jan. 2lst, 1829. 
 
 " By the kind care of our heavenly Father, I arrived 
 here last evening, after 10 o'clock, in health and safety. 
 The roads were bad. I came in the steamboat to Amboy. 
 
 " Mr. H.'s family are well. They were much disappoint- 
 ed that you did not come with me. 
 
 " The installation is expected to take place this evening. 
 The door appears to be wide and open. May the Lord 
 come and aid me in labouring for him. 
 
 " I learn that the last days of Dr. Chester* were pecu- 
 liarly calm, peaceful and happy. The last night before he 
 died he slept soundly and sweetly. He awoke much refresh- 
 ed, spoke much in words of consolation and hope ; and died 
 at 5 o'clock. His death has been expected for weeks, and 
 every mind was made up for the event, to him so joyful and 
 glorious ! 
 
 • Mrs. Sanford was a member of his chiu'ch. 
 
EEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 191 
 
 ' *Tis clone — and now he's happy, 
 And the glad soul has not a wish uncrowned.' 
 
 " Mrs. Chester is quite well, and bears her bereavement 
 with great calmness and resignation. The Lord will sus- 
 tain her. How loud the admonition, my dear wife, to live 
 for God and for heaven. The night cometh ; let us work 
 while the day lasts, and as if every day might be the last. 
 
 " It is uncertain on what day I may reach Brooklyn ; pro- 
 bably Tuesday next. As yet I have not met the session, 
 congregation, nor the Presbytery. 
 
 " Make your arrangements so as to be ready to leave 
 Brooklyn in a few days after my return. Unless the roads 
 should improve, we had better take two days to come here. 
 Perhaps the boats may be running on the Delaware, which 
 will make the journey easier. 
 
 " Love to all friends — and may the light of God's coun- 
 tenance rest upon your soul ; and the sweet sense of his pre- 
 sence make you completely happy." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Philadelphia, Jan. 22d, 1829. 
 
 " I wished to write you by the mail, to-day, but could not, 
 with any satisfaction, for want of time ; and, as I have no- 
 thing very special to communicate, I thought better to wait 
 for the mail to-morrow. 
 
 " Last evening I was installed pastor of the Second Pres- 
 byterian Church in this city. The house was quite crowded. 
 Services solemn and interesting. And oh, what conse- 
 quences depend on this connexion ! The pastoral relation 
 here formed, will be remembered both in heaven and hell! 
 May God grant the wisdom and grace necessary for the 
 faithful and successful performance of every duty. May we 
 both be enabled to adorn our profession and our station. 
 
193 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Many inquiries, of the most gratifying character, are made 
 after you every day. And I believe we shall be received by 
 the whole congregation with open arms. I am persuaded, 
 that, when you come here, and see this affectionate people, 
 your fears and anxieties will be dissipated in a moment. 
 The causes of anxiety have appeared to you like so many 
 mountains ; but they will become mere molehills, when you 
 come nearer and see them as they really are. I hope you 
 will seek daily, and earnestly, the qualifications and strength 
 necessary for you. I do believe you will soon find yourself 
 as much at home, and among as kind and generous friends 
 as in Brooklyn. 
 
 " I am much pleased with all I hear and see of this con- 
 gregation ; and believe that my prospects for usefulness, 
 and comfort too, are flattering. All hearts are in the hands 
 of God." 
 
 January 25th. Endeavoured to exhibit the apostle's 
 commission, Matt, xxviii. 19, 20, and to urge the exhorta- 
 tion of the apostle to the Thessalonians, 2, iii. 1. May the 
 Lord give us all the spirit of prayer, that shall be prevalent 
 for his blessing to attend his word. 
 
 February 15th. Quite unwell, but preached all day from 
 Luke, xii. 8, 9, and attended a prayer meeting in the lecture 
 room in the evening. 
 
 19th. Mrs. S. worse — expectorates blood. My prepara- 
 tory service performed by Mr. How. My Lord fulfil thy 
 promise: " My grace is sufficient for thee." 
 
 21st. Attended the prayer meeting. Announced to the 
 church the postponement of our communion, in consequence 
 of the alarming illness of Mrs. S. Had a solemn season. 
 
 O my God, teach me to pray as my dear Redeemer did 
 in the night of his agony. " Father, if it be possible, let 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 193 
 
 this cvp pass from me; nevertheless., not my will, but thine 
 be done.^'' 
 
 March &th. Lord's supper administered. Congregation 
 appeared solemn. May God add his blessing, and give a 
 new impulse to his cause in the midst of us. Lord, may I 
 commit my mortal and immortal all into thy hands and be 
 at peace, and wait with silent submission to the decisions of 
 thy most holy will. 
 
 25th. What claims to gratitude and love for all the mer- 
 cies of my heavenly Father, and especially for such encou- 
 raging prospects of the recovery of my dear wife. 
 
 April, 8th. This evening addressed my congregation 
 from John viii. 36. " If the Son shall make you free," &c. 
 Oh that I may be made free from the condemnation, pollu- 
 tion and misery of sin ; and know, by sweet experience, the 
 whole amount of gospel liberty. 
 
 TO MRS. S. 
 
 " Philadelphia, April 15th, 1829. 
 
 " Under the care of a kind providence I reached the city 
 this evening before 7 o'clock ; called at Mr. H.'s, and took a 
 cup of coffee ; learned that the Rev. Mr. R. was engaged to 
 lecture for me, and feeling fatigued, concluded to come home 
 instead of going to the lecture room. 
 
 " I should like to know how you are now situated, and 
 how you feel ; presume you are on board the Constitution, 
 on your passage for Albany. May the Lord have you in 
 his holy keeping, and comfort you with his perpetual pre- 
 sence. I desire to commit you into the hands of Jesus, and 
 leave you there, believing, that in his keeping you will be 
 safe." 
 
 17 
 
194 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 "April 17th, 1829. 
 " Nothing has occurred of any special interest, but the 
 daily recurrence of the blessings of our covenant God and 
 Father, " new every morning and fresh every evening." 
 Oh that they may draw our hearts nearer to him, and fix 
 our thoughts more upon him. Let us aim at more spiritu- 
 ality ; this will be the safest way to obtain more peace and 
 
 joy- 
 
 " I was interrupted, while writing the last sentence, by 
 a call from Mr. R. ; his family are well, I presume, as I in- 
 quired in general, and respecting Mrs. C. in particular." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 ''April 20th, 1829. 
 
 " The hour of our appointment* was in some measure in- 
 terrupted this morning, still I had a few moments of sweet 
 communion with God, and I hope we may both enjoy more 
 of his presence. 
 
 " The services were, I hope, solemn and profitable yes- 
 terday. I preached, in the morning, from the exhortation of 
 Joshua : ' Choose ye this day whom ye will serve ;' and in 
 the afternoon presented the resolution, ' As for me and my 
 house, we will serve the Lord.' Evening exercises as usual 
 — may God add his blessing. 
 
 " I have commenced visiting ; and have visited, in all, up- 
 wards of forty families. Expect to attend the meeting of 
 Presbytery, this week, at Frankford." 
 
 May 24:th. All the pleasures, privileges, and distractions 
 
 * A prayer-meeting', composed of pastors, in Philadelphia, 
 which Mr. S. attended. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 195 
 
 of the General Assembly. May they all be improved. Ser- 
 mons delivered to-day by three clergymen to the congrega- 
 tion. O Lord, bless thy word and work. 
 
 June 2lst. Sacramental Sabbath. Once more we have 
 been " showing" the Lord's death ; may we bear it about 
 with us, and thus make the life of Jesus manifest in our lives 
 continually. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. M. 
 
 " September Wth, 1829. 
 
 " I could not make arrangements to see you this summer. 
 I wished to visit my aged mother, but while on my summer 
 excursion I found so much to do in Montreal, officially, for 
 a congregation which I am deeply interested in, that I felt 
 constrained to relinquish a visit to my only surviving parent 
 in Clarendon. 
 
 " On my return through Lake Champlain I saw your 
 brother Peter on the wharf, at Plattsburg, for one moment. 
 He was there on account of the dangerous sickness of your 
 mother. He feared she would not recover: he has doubtless 
 written you, and the result will be arranged by a wisdom 
 that never errs. May we always feel it, and learn to im- 
 prove all the changes and sorrows of life to the glory of 
 God, and to our own spiritual and eternal advantage. 
 
 *' Mrs. S. has been greatly benefited by our journey to 
 Quebec, and unites with me in affectionate regards. I ob- 
 serve Henry's Commentary is now completed. If you are 
 not yet supplied with a copy I can furnish you with one, 
 which can be forwarded as you direct. Allow me to hear 
 from you soon, and tell me your plans and prospects." 
 
196 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " October ISth, 1829. 
 
 " I am a little surprised that I hear nothing from you re- 
 specting Henry's Commentary, or any thing else. 1 know 
 there are many ways in which you may have been prevented, 
 but the length of time since I have heard a word from you 
 gives me some uneasiness ; and the subjects of my letters, 
 too, have been such as to make your silence the more mys- 
 terious. 
 
 " I have just received a line from my brother Edwin, in- 
 forming me that my mother is dangerously sick. Will you 
 inquire of Dr. Elliott, who probably attends her, how she 
 is, and write me immediately ? My letters to my brother 
 are always delayed, or lie long in the office. 
 
 " I feel anxious to learn from you if any thing has been 
 done for the Biblical Repertory. We must sustain it, or we 
 may as well give up the Presbyterian cause at once. There 
 is a prospect of obtaining Dr. R., eventually, as the sole 
 editor of the work, though this is not for the public at pre- 
 sent. In the mean time we may, and ought, to do some- 
 thing to extend, the cii-culation of it. * * 
 * # * * * 
 
 " I may see you this fall. It will depend, under God, 
 upon my mother's health. Should she not be better, I shall 
 come, if the Lord will." 
 
 Syracuse, N. Y., Oct. 25th, 1829. Arrived at a late 
 hour last evening, much to my regret and disappointment ; 
 but have had some refreshing rest, and do hope to enjoy a 
 profitable Sabbath, far from my ordinary labours, and far 
 away from all my heart holds dear, except Jesus the beloved 
 of my soul 1 I do rejoice that he is omnipresent. Blessed 
 Saviour, may I feel thy presence to-day. The loneliness of a 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 197 
 
 Stranger's feelings and circumstances are favourable to reli- 
 gious duties, and tend to lead the mind to its only source of 
 permanent enjoyment. In the circle of our friends, and our 
 ordinary duties, there are other things to divert and distract 
 the mind ; and, alas, how frequently do they draw the 
 thoughts from God. O may this day be rendered memora- 
 ble by the manifested presence of the God I love. 
 
 Tuesday, 27th. Reached Clarendon and found my mo- 
 ther convalescent. Blessed be God that she is yet an inha- 
 bitant of this world. Her sickness has been very severe and 
 alarming. 
 
 Wednesday, 28th. Left my brother's. Lectured for Mr. 
 M. at Brockport, in the evening, and urged a little company 
 of sinners " to strive to enter in at the strait gate," &c. 
 Meeting solemn. May the Lord bless his word, his cause 
 and his people. 
 
 29th. Took the boat for Rochester. Friends well. Nearly 
 one year ago detained here several days, by the illness of 
 my dear wife. Since then how many mercies 1 O for more 
 gratitude. 
 
 TO MRS. s. 
 ^'Packet-boat, near Utica, Oct. 2Ath, 1829. 
 " We are now near Utica, and I take a few moments to 
 tell you I am well. I reached Schenectady in time for the 
 boat, and had the pleasure to find a pious captain, and very 
 agreeable Christian company. I never had a more pleasant 
 passage on the canal. We had worship last evening, and 
 the due acknowledgment of God's care and goodness at our 
 meals. 
 
 " It is a sweet privilege to devote these moments to you 
 
 while all the rest of the pa«sengers are on deck or on shore; 
 
 and sweeter still to devote you anew to the hands and the 
 
 care of a covenant-keeping God, whose tender mercies are 
 
 17* 
 
198 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 over all his works, and who exercises a paternal care over 
 the least and humblest of his children." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Syracuse, Oct. 25th, 1829. 
 
 " This holy morning finds me far away from the scenes 
 and services, and the friends, and the peculiar privileges, and 
 joys, and sorrows of ministerial life. But, blessed be God, 
 we live not far from his presence and his throne. 
 
 " We reached this place at a late hour in consequence of 
 some unexpected delays. But I have been mercifully re- 
 freshed by sleep, and feel that it is the Sabbath of the Lord. 
 Some truly plaintive and touching airs were played by the 
 boatmen, who were getting under weigh at an early hour; 
 and, notwithstanding my grief that this day is here so dread- 
 fully violated, I did enjoy the thrilling notes of the bugle, as 
 they brought home to my mind some of the most tender and 
 impressive sentiments which I used to sing with my sister in 
 the days of other years, before the providence of God had 
 separated us from the scenes of our childhood for ever, and 
 from the society of each other. 
 
 " It is now the hour for public worship, and I expect to 
 hear Mr. A., the brother of the one who travelled with us 
 last fall. May we both be fed by the provisions of God's 
 house this day. 
 
 " Sabbath evening. I have heard Mr. A. twice. In the 
 morning, on the divinity of our Lord ; and in the afternoon, 
 his object was to show why the church regards Christ as 
 the ' chief among ten thousands, and the one altogether 
 lovely.'" 
 
 November \st. Sabbath, Auburn. Dr. P. preached. I 
 assisted in the administration of the Lord's supper, in the 
 afternoon. How good to be thus refreshed in one's pilgrim- 
 
REV. JOSEPII SANFORD. 199 
 
 age. Occupied a room in which I have several times spent 
 a Sabbath. How wise to recall the events of life, and look 
 back to the past and forward to the future. Strengthen me, 
 Lord, for every duty, every trial, every change. 
 
 2d. Left at an early hour for Utica, where we arrived at 
 too late an hour for the monthly concert. Hear the cries of 
 thy supplicating church. Send forth thy light and truth to 
 fill the whole earth. 
 
 3d. Left early in the canal-boat for Schenectady. How 
 different the company and conversation from what we had 
 on the other line. Pamphlets in favour of Sabbath-mails 
 and amusements circulated. 
 
 Reached Schenectady the next morning and took the 
 stage for Albany, where we arrived at 12 o'clock. Found 
 my dear wife well, and the family preparing for a marriage 
 service in the evening. Company large and gay. Performed 
 the service at 8 o'clock, and soon after retired with a clerical 
 brother to another room, and had a pleasant and pi'ofitable 
 interview. 
 
 5th. Left for New York. 
 
 6th. Visited a few Bi'ooklyn friends. Dear is the scene 
 of my first ministerial labours and trials. The scene of my 
 first domestic joys and sorrows. 
 
 7th. Left for Philadelphia. The day stormy. But the 
 Lord preserved ns, and we arrived in safety. 
 
 January 1st, 1830. Another year is gone. May thy 
 grace, O God, be given in measures and forms suited to my 
 situation. Much of my life is passed, and, alas, I have done 
 but little for eternity. Oh may I redeem the time and im- 
 prove it for God and for souls. 
 
 4/A. Monthly concert for prayer. Send down thy Spirit, 
 O God, to bless thy word, to prosper thy cause, and to en- 
 lighten the nations. May the representatives of the great 
 republican family, in Congress assembled, be disposed to 
 
200 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 legislate in the fear of God. May wisdom from above guide 
 them ; may no sectional jealousy, no political or personal 
 animosity prevent the enactment of such laws as thou wilt 
 approve and bless. May they individually and officially 
 sanctify thy holy Sabbath, and instead of legalizing its pub- 
 lic profanation, may they repeal every statute which is incon- 
 sistent with the law of God and the dictates of every enlight- 
 ened conscience, and thus promote their own and their coun- 
 try's interests, by preserving the day of sacred rest and the 
 institutions of religion from unhallowed invasion. And in 
 legislating for the people of these United States, may they 
 remember that the rich and the poor, the bond and the 
 free, the wise and ignorant, the weak and powerful, the red 
 man and the white man, are all by nature free and equal, 
 and have equal claims to the protection of those who have 
 the keeping of the nation's faith and the nation's fame, and 
 who, under God, have charge of the nation's destiny. May 
 all our rulers and all our people be guided in the way of 
 righteousness which is the only way of permanent national 
 prosperity. 
 
 TO THE EEV. J. M. 
 
 ''January VMh, 1830. 
 
 " Accept for yourself and your dear companion the com- 
 pliments of the season. May the Lord afford you his pre- 
 sence, and then the new year will be a happy one, and you 
 will be making evident preparations for a state of happiness 
 which circling years and ages shall never wear away. 
 
 " But while I have daily occasion, and, I hope, desire to 
 bless God for his unspeakable gift, I have also reason to 
 thank him daily for many other blessings, of a temporal na- 
 ture, which that gift procures. 
 
 " I received a letter a lew days since from brother G. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 201 
 
 Mrs. G. is in delicate health. Brother G. is not satisfied 
 where he is, and wishes, as soon as his engagement expires, 
 to recede farther from the North Pole, and to come this side 
 of the Green Mountains. 
 
 " Dr. M'Auley has entered on his official labours with very 
 gratifying prospects. May the Lord prosper him, and make 
 him a blessing to this city of moral death and dcadncss. 
 
 " May the blessing of Abraham, which comes on the 
 Gentiles through Jesus Christ, be your present and eternal 
 portion." 
 
 2^th. Sabbath. Confined at home by sickness. O Lord, 
 how frail is man ! Impress this lesson on my heart. Aid 
 me and direct me in the way of holiness, and of arduous and 
 faithful duty ; and give me such measures of success as may 
 best promote thy glory and the good of Zion here. Teach 
 me how to preach and how to live, so that Jesus may be 
 honoured and sinners saved. Bless the congregation to 
 which I am called to minister ; may the message delivered 
 to-day be more abundantly blessed than mine would have 
 been ; and may I desire to have thy cause prosper, though that 
 prosperity should sink me into insignificance, and even into 
 mortal infamy. But if it might please thee, bless thy word 
 as administered by me, and let me seek thy salvation. 
 
 February 6th. This day is the anniversary of my birth. 
 The time flies as on eagles' wings, as the archer's arrow, as 
 the swift ships, as the weaver's shuttle ; and whither am I 
 borne by these winged moments of a brief and fugitive exist- 
 ence? Well may I cry out at this terrific career of mortal 
 things. Read this morning at family worship 90th psalm ; 
 Hope my heart responded to the prayer, " So teach us to 
 number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wis- 
 dom." May I be brought now to understand and answer 
 the interesting question, upon which, I have been meditating 
 
202 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 as the theme of an address to my congregation : " Lord, 
 what wilt thou have me to do ?" 
 
 March 1th. Again under the necessity of remaining at 
 home in consequence of a severe cold. I think I feel an in- 
 creasing solicitude for Zion. O thou King of Zion, feed the 
 flame of love in my heart, and make it more intense and 
 consuming. O Lord, revive thy vv^ork in the midst of us, 
 and leave us not to incurable deadness and declension. Take 
 away all our iniquities, and receive us graciously, prosper 
 thine own cause, and glorify thy name. 
 
 March 18th. Day of special humiliation and prayer. I 
 rejoice in the appointment of a season for sorrow and sup- 
 plication. Oh grant me true humility of heart and deep re- 
 pentance. Enable me to look to Christ, and mourn over all 
 my transgressions. As a sinner, as a husband, as a minister 
 of Jesus Christ ; aid me in the exercises of this day, and 
 accept and bless me. 
 
 Accept, great Head of the church, the services in which 
 thy people have been engaged this morning. May they 
 learn to esteem others better than themselves. Oh may we 
 be brought, by thy Spirit, into the place and the state in which 
 thou wilt meet us in mercy. I would dedicate myself anew 
 to God. How often have I attempted it — how often have I 
 failed — broken my most solemn engagements ! Lord, bind 
 my thoughts and affections to thy throne, and may all my 
 heart and all my days be thine alone. 
 
 Preparatory lecture this evening on the examination of 
 those who would worthily approach the Lord's table, as to 
 knowledge, faith and life. Leading aim to honour Christ. 
 Alas, Lord, how deficient even while I point out the path of 
 duty. May I understand the service which is expected of me 
 as a minister of Jesus- Bestow divine assistance in perform- 
 ing it, so that thy name may be glorified, thy people edified, 
 thy cause promoted. But oh, may my soul be refreshed, 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 203 
 
 may a holy impulse be felt, may I act more in the view of 
 eternity. Saviour of sinners, 1 do desire to fly to thee for 
 quickening grace. Sprinkle me with thy blood. Grant me 
 such divine teachings that I can lead others in the way of 
 holiness. " Oh for a closer walk with God." May thy 
 presence be continually felt. Oh take not thy Holy Spirit 
 from me, though I have often grieved him. May there be 
 more piety in my intercourse with my ministerial brethren. 
 Enable me to be more watchful over myself in this par- 
 ticular. 
 
 21st. Administered the Lord's supper. Preached in the 
 morning from Song of Solomon ii. 4 : "He brought me," &c. 
 Endeavoured to show how the sovereign grace of God is ex- 
 ercised in bringing sinners to taste the delights of communion 
 with him in his word and ordinances, and the rich provi- 
 sions of his house on which he feasts them. 
 
 Had a solemn day at the table ; urged the necessity of 
 professing the name of Christ. Oh may we renew our formal 
 and sincere dedication to God. May we renew our strength 
 by waiting on him. 
 
 2Ath. Lectured this evening on Matt. iii. 16, in hope of 
 enabling professors to ascertain their characters. How im- 
 portant that we should judge of the tree by its fruit, and not 
 by its location, height, size, age, or any other circumstance. 
 Lord, grant me grace to do this in my own case, and may 
 I abound in fruits of righteousness. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. M. 
 
 ''March 6th, 1830. 
 "Yours of the 26th of January was duly received on the 
 2d of February. And I have waited thus long, in the hope 
 of saying something definite respecting a loan for your con- 
 gregation. I do not see any prospect of effecting it, unless 
 one of my favourite enterprises succeeds. Every year there 
 
204 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 are thousands of dollars given for building churches, and 
 many of the applications descend to be turned civilly out of 
 doors. I wish the friends and patrons of church building to 
 organize and act upon the principle of loaning, giving only 
 at discretion, and in cases of peculiar urgency. The benefits 
 of such a systenn would be incalculable in general to all the 
 parties. I have some hope of succeeding in this, though like 
 others I am often defeated, perhaps mercifully, in my plans 
 for doing good. If we succeed, your loan can easily be 
 effected; if not, you might perhaps personally negotiate it. 
 
 " Mrs. S. is in tolerable health, desires her affectionate 
 remembrance to Mrs. M., and would be happy to see her 
 with you in May, should the Lord spare us. My mother 
 also is well, and much more contented than I dared to ex- 
 pect. 
 
 " This is a desolate part of Zion, my dear brother, and 
 what God intends to do with his churches here, and with 
 ours in particular, I know not. I cannot but hope he will 
 sift, and winnow, and otherwise purify it, and visit us in 
 mercy. We have the spiritual desolations of many genera- 
 tions. May the Lord repair them. We have resolved on a 
 day of special humiliation and prayer. May the Holy Spirit 
 come in the midst of us, and bring us down to the state and 
 in the place in which he will meet us with a blessing. 
 
 " We have lately and silently organized a ' Presbyterian 
 Tract Society,' to furnish such Tracts as our churches need, 
 and as the American Tract Society cannot supply. The 
 measure will doubtless be censured, but I hope it will be so 
 far patronised as to secure a supply of Tracts on the Consti- 
 tution and Discipline of the Church, Duty of Ruling Elders 
 and Deacons, &c., by the meeting of the Assembly in May. 
 
 " March 8th. My letter was not finished in time for the 
 mail on Saturday. I was unable to preach yesterday in 
 consequence of a cold and hoarseness. Last night we had 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 205 
 
 a fine tliunder shower, and the fog that has hovered over us 
 is gone, and all the snow with it. 
 
 ' As yet the trembling' year is unconfirm'd. 
 And winter oft at eve resumes the breeze.' 
 
 " Love to Mrs. M. and Anna."* 
 
 April 1st. Verily, the time is short. Oh how swiftly 
 time flies away. Divine Redeemer, fill me with thy love ; 
 make me, 
 
 1. More attentive and devout in reading the sacred scrip- 
 tures. 
 
 2. More constant, fervent, and prevalent in prayer. 
 
 3. More particular in confession of sin. 
 
 4. More watchful over my thoughts. 
 
 5. More circumspect in all my deportment. 
 
 6. More spiritual in ministerial intercourse. 
 
 7. More faithful and tender in official duties. 
 
 8. More economical of my time. 
 
 " Then shall I love thy gospel more, 
 And ne'er forget thy word; 
 When I have felt its quickening power 
 To draw me near the Lord." 
 
 TO MR. L., OF BROOKLYN. 
 
 [An answer to Mr. L.'s letter, which was addressed to Mr. 
 Sanford immediately after his conversion.] 
 
 " Philadelphia, April SOth, 1830. 
 " Your favour of the 26th came duly to hand, and no one 
 can understand the emotions of gratitude and joy it produced 
 
 • A little daughter of tlie Rev. Mr. M., who bore the name of 
 Anna Sanford, (in memory of Mr. S.'s first wife,) who also is now 
 deceased. 
 
 18 
 
206 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 without knowing all the friendship and affection of a brother's 
 heart, and all the intense solicitude, the sleepless anxiety, the 
 tender concern, and the solemn responsibility of the minister 
 and the pastor. I do rejoice with you and your dear com- 
 panion, for all the goodness and the mercy with which the 
 Lord has visited your soul. I desire to unite with you here, 
 and hereafter, in ascribing to him all the glory. My heart 
 responds an earnest ' JLmera' to the prayer that you ' may be 
 a sincere, devout, and humble Christian,' and that you may 
 be enabled to testify your love to Jesus by keeping his com- 
 mandments ; and that you may glorify God, who has called 
 you out of darkness into his marvellous light, by exemplify- 
 ing the power and loveliness of the gospel of Christ, in a life 
 of consistent and sincere obedience. 
 
 " It would be a most grateful exercise to comply with your 
 request, by addressing you ' a long letter' on the great duties 
 of the Christian life, which, I trust, you have just commenced. 
 Indeed, my dear brother, I have many things to say to you, 
 but I cannot say them now. I have much fraternal counsel 
 to give you, which I could not well communicate in one letter, 
 though it should prove ' a long one.' But I will endeavour 
 to comply with the spirit of your request, by sending you 
 often in short letters, at such times as my pressing official 
 duties will permit, and which may, by the blessing of God, 
 afford you some useful hints respecting your Christian 
 course. 
 
 "You have already, I trust, learned something of the duty 
 of ' looking to Jesus.' It was in this way you first found 
 peace and comfort to your troubled spirit. You found him 
 a loving, fife-giving Saviour. And now were I to tell you on 
 my responsibility to God, and for eternity, what is your first 
 duty as a Christian, I would say, ' look to Jesus ;' what the 
 last duty, ' look to Jesus ;' what the main duty, it would be 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 207 
 
 the same. ' As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so 
 walk ye in him,' is an apostle's direction. 
 
 " If the hope you now cherish should grow dim, and dark- 
 ness and doubt should surround you, ' look to Jesus' — ho is 
 the sun of righteousness, and all that is cheering and illumi- 
 nating must come from him. If your faith, in this season 
 of its infant exercise, should seem to fail, and your fears 
 should rush in upon your soul again, and the dreadful appre- 
 hension should arise that all the past has been but a fond 
 delusion, and that it cannot be possible you are a Christian, 
 ' look to Jesus,' the author and the finisher of faith, and cry 
 unto him, ' Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief And 
 sutfer not the adversary of souls to tempt you to question the 
 veracity of God, or to distrust his grace. 
 
 " Your heart is now tenderly impressed with a sense of the 
 goodness of God, so that you want a thousand tongues to 
 praise him. It melts with penitence when you think how 
 your sins have pierced the Saviour; and how long you have 
 rejected his mercy and resisted his spirit. It overflows with 
 gratitude, when you think of the love that would assume your 
 guilt and take your chains. But should you ever feel it 
 otherwise — should you find your heart still hard and insen- 
 sible — should you have occasion to bewail your ingratitude 
 and impenitence — should you feel the load of guilt again 
 upon your conscience, and enough to sink you down for ever 
 — should you lose the sweet sense of God's presence and 
 favour, and be tempted to give up all for lost, * look to Jesus ;' 
 look to him for a renewed sense of pardon, for penitence, for 
 gratitude, for peace, for all that is necessary to enable you 
 to live to him here, and qualify you for his presence above. 
 Keep your eye steadily upon Jesus, and your vision shall 
 improve, your grace flourish, your example shine to the 
 glory of God and the good of men, and you shall rise at last 
 
208 BIEMOIR OF THE 
 
 to see him as he is, without a cloud, or glass, or doubt, for 
 ever. 
 
 " My dear wife unites with me in an affectionate and grate- 
 ful remembrance to Mrs. L. and Mrs. S. ; indeed, to all 
 Brooklyn friends beloved in the Lord. It will give me much 
 pleasure to hear from you at your convenience, and to write 
 you as often as my other duties permit, and without ceasing 
 to mention you in my prayers." 
 
 May 2d. Unable to attend the house of God. Pulpit 
 supplied in the morning, church closed in the afternoon. 
 Oh how important to have one's work always done, or ready 
 to be left. How little I expected to be prevented from per- 
 forming my ordinary services. But may the Lord feed his 
 own flock, and carry on his own cause. Another month has 
 passed away, and brought on the season of Zion's festivals. 
 May my soul be filled with more love t'br God and for souls. 
 
 Qth. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Presented 
 this inquiry to my congregation, as a theme for our mutual 
 consideration. May I thus submit my all to the control and 
 direction of the holy will and wise direction of God. Found 
 my cold so oppressive that 1 could not go on with the sub- 
 ject in the afternoon. 
 
 TO MRS. S. 
 
 " Princeton, May \Uh, 1830. 
 
 " I arrived here a little after eleven this morning. The 
 weather was fine, the country delightful. The examination 
 had been in progress some time. I dined to-day at Dr. M.'s, 
 and now write according to promise, to set your mind at 
 rest. 
 
 " May the presence of Jesus bless and comfort you. It is 
 that, my dear wife, more than any thing else, that can make 
 you happy. Let your most ardent aspirations rise to him. 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 209 
 
 Endeavour to make his service more and more the business 
 of your life, and he will provide for every want. I feel con- 
 demned that worldly cares are allowed to exert such an in- 
 fluence upon my mind. I wish it were otherwise, and that 
 I had more firmness of faith — that my soul might be stayed 
 on God, and my mind thus kept in perfect peace. May you 
 enjoy such a peace, and then you can perform the work of 
 life with comfort and success. Love to all, and supplications 
 for the presence of God to rest upon you." 
 
 nth. Monday. In my address to the students of the Semi- 
 nary at Princeton, urged the importance of more piety. O 
 God, make the schools of the prophets more eminently holy. 
 
 20th. General Assembly opened. O thou King of Zion, 
 preside in the Assembly, pervade it with thy presence, direct 
 all its deliberations and its decisions for thy glory and Zion's 
 prosperity. 
 
 26th. This day observed as a season of special prayer 
 by the Assembly. May the throne of God be peculiarly 
 accessible, and the cries of thy children reach the ears of the 
 divine Majesty, and prevail for the best of blessings. 
 
 June 21th. Lord's supper having been postponed for one 
 week, was this day celebrated. Preparatory exercises on 
 renewing covenant with God. Sermon, Luke ii. 14, consi- 
 dered the good will of God at the very foundation of the plan 
 of mercy. Had a comfortable season. God's presence was 
 felt. O Lord, revive us all. 
 
 ''May 26th, 1830, 
 " Your favour of the 1 1th instant was duly received, and 
 relieved my mind from a long suspense, in whicli your 
 silence had left me. I rejoice to hear that Mrs. M. is better. 
 May the Lord in mercy spare her to you, your children, and 
 the church. My dear brother, I desire to feel more and 
 
 18* 
 
210 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 more how feeble our hold is on life, and all life's dearest 
 comforts, and to live daily for heaven. 
 
 " The Assembly is now in session. Little has been done 
 yet. Yesterday was the anniversary of the American Sun- 
 day-School Union. One resolution contemplates planting a 
 Sunday-school in every district in the valley of the Missis- 
 sippi, where there is a population willing to patronise it, with- 
 in two years, in reliance upon divine aid. A. Tappan, of 
 New York, and S. Allen, of this city, have offered each four 
 thousand dollars towards the accomplishment of this object. 
 
 " To-day the Assembly engages in special devotional ex- 
 ercises; to-morrow business will begin in earnest. 
 
 " We are in usual health. I want more gratitude for my 
 many mercies, and grace to be more faithful in the service 
 of God. Mrs. S. and my mother unite in affectionate re- 
 gards to Mrs. M. and yourself May the Head of the church 
 bless your labours, my dear brother." 
 
 J^tly 5th. Yesterday presented the claims of the Ameri- 
 can Colonization Society to my congregation, and made 
 some mention of our duties in relation to the coloured 
 population of our country. In the afternoon met the chil- 
 dren of the congregation for catechetical instruction. O 
 God of Zion, look on this lovely flock, and take these dear 
 immortals under thy immediate care, and train them for thy- 
 self To-day the sons of freedom celebrate their indepen- 
 dence. Forbid that they should remain the slaves of Satan, 
 Avear his chains and perform his drudgery. To-day the 
 church of God raises the voice of her supplications for bless- 
 ings upon a world lying in wickedness. Oh may many 
 prayers rise unto God for the preservation of our country's 
 liberties. May the influences of the Holy Spirit descend 
 upon us as a people and a nation, and may we become a 
 people whose God is Jehovah. 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 211 
 
 TO MRS. S. 
 
 « Atsion, Jvhj 30/A, 1830. 
 
 " Wc have just arrived, after a vtry pleasant ride, and 
 find this interesting family in good health. My head has 
 not suffered from the ride; and I do hope my visit, which 
 must be short, will be useful to me. The driver returns this 
 afternoon, and by him I send this line, simply to tell you that 
 we have arrived in safety. Surely God is loading us with 
 his benefits, and calling upon us to love and serve him more. 
 
 " The young ladies, S., E. and k., send their love, and 
 desire me to thank you for your letter." 
 
 August 1st. In the country, quite disabled by the unusu- 
 ally oppressive heat of the summer. Preached in a small 
 house of worship. May the Lord bless the exercise, and 
 make the day profitable to me and to my congregation, at 
 home, who will have one sermon in my absence. O how 
 important to work while the day lasts. 
 
 3d. Returned and found my dear wife and family in com- 
 fortable health. Bless the Lord, O my soul. May I begin 
 with new zeal to serve him. Holy Spirit, take possession of 
 my heart. 
 
 22(1. Preached, to-day, from Ps. xxvii. 4. " One thing 
 have I desired of the Lord," &c. Had been unable to write 
 or even think much, on the subject, in consequence of a 
 nervous affection of the head ; but the Lord assisted me. 
 Have been injured by too close attention to the Psalms and 
 Hymns, which have been committed to me to prepare for 
 the press.* I hope they may aid the devotions and promote 
 
 • Mr. Sanford was a member of the committee appointed for 
 that subject. 
 
212 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the sanctification of the people of God long after I shall have 
 joined the worshippers above. 
 
 August 29th. Urged, to-day, the duty of repentance and 
 the encouragement, Ez. xviii. 30. Why will sinners refuse 
 to forsake their sins and come to Christ? They need not 
 die. Christ is willing to save them ; and if they will turn 
 unto God, and set their hearts to seek him, as they set them 
 on worldly enterprises, they will find him and he will bless 
 them. 
 
 September 5th. Oppressed with a cold which rendered 
 preaching extremely difficult, yet was enabled to preach 
 once, to carry on the series of subjects on hand, from John 
 viii. 21. "Ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins." 
 This awful prediction has been fulfilled in relation to the 
 Hebrews. God's curse is threatened, Deut. xxviii. ; and if we 
 change the future tense to the past, the chapter will give us 
 the history of the execution of it. It is not less true of the 
 hearers of the gospel. O may 1 attend to this awful sub- 
 ject, both as a sinner and a minister. Alas, how much dead- 
 ness in religion; how much am I absorbed in worldly cares. 
 " My soul lies cleaving to the dust." O Lord, revive me, 
 give me life divine. In this season of domestic solicitude 
 help me to fix my mind more on God, and may my fondest 
 expectations be from him. 
 
 Sept. Qth. My dear wife a joyful, grateful mother ; and 
 her unworthy, and, alas, too ungrateful husband, a father. 
 Will the Lord grant us grace to praise and glorify him. O 
 to fulfil our new duties in his fear. May our child be spared 
 to be a blessing, and may its spared life be made a blessing 
 to us and to the world. Lord, we would bring up this child 
 for thee, and thee alone. The Lord lias dealt in great mercy 
 with us, and more than realized our fondest hopes. 
 
 8th. My dear wife and babe apparently doing well. Bless 
 the Lord, O my soul. Rainy this evening, changed the 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 213 
 
 evening lecture to a prayer meeting. Feel it good to look 
 to Christ and cast every care on him. 
 
 12th. Preached this morning on quenching the Spirit, and 
 followed up the subject in the evening. Rev. Mr. S. kindly 
 aided me in the afternoon. O that we may enjoy the Spi- 
 rit's presence in the church and congregation. 
 
 My dear M. is better. O may the very shaking of the 
 rod prove sufficient, by thy grace, to bring us nearer to the 
 cross. Preached a preparatory lecture this evening, 1 Pet. 
 i. 16. O may we, as a church, strive for more evident at- 
 tainments in holiness, and may all thy providences and or- 
 dinances be blessed and improved to this end. 
 
 19^. Sabbath. Sacramental occasion. Preached this 
 morning from Luke xxiv. 26, the last of a series of sacra- 
 mental discourses, on the necessity and nature of the suf- 
 ferings of Christ, and on his exaltation. Lord's supper. 
 Had some enjoyment. Felt Clirist's nearness and precious- 
 ness. O to be more devoted to him and his cause. 
 
 2etk. Sabbath. Preached from Heb. ii. 3. " How shall 
 we escape if we neglect so great salvation .'"' Met the chil- 
 dren in the afternoon, and held the usual exercises in the 
 evening. Bless thy word, O God, and revive thy work. 
 
 October Sd. Sick with a cold, and detained from the 
 house of God. The Rev. Mr. How supplied the pulpit. 
 Lord restore me, if thou hast work for me to do. Revive 
 the drooping graces of my soul. 
 
 6th. Still unable to go out on the evening of my lecture. 
 May the supply, providentially sent, be blessed to the people. 
 May the recollections of this day of the month warm my 
 heart with gratitude. 
 
 10th. Attended the sanctuary; but afraid to trust myself 
 in the public exercises of so large a house and congrega- 
 tion. Have high hopes of resuming my official duties this 
 week : cough abated, though still troublesome. Lord, give 
 
214 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 me strength and zeal to labour for thee and for souls. How- 
 much of my life is already gone ! How little have I accom- 
 plished for God and for eternity ! 
 
 13th. Lecture this evening on Hab. iii. 2. " O Lord, re- 
 vive," &c. Considered the import of the prophet's prayer; 
 what is involved in a willingness to offer it ; and the result 
 that may be expected from such an exercise. May we all 
 desire it. O Lord, revive us. 
 
 TO HIS BROTHER, ON THE DEATH OF HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER. 
 
 ''Philadelphia, Oct. 20th, 1830. 
 
 " The death of a child, at such an age, will have a ten- 
 dency to lead to serious reflection on the course pursued, on 
 government and education. 
 
 " It should lead you, the parents of your children, to in- 
 quire what you are now doing to bring up your children for 
 eternity and heaven. 
 
 " I have often written you on this subject ; and, perhaps, 
 you may sometimes feel as if I thought too much about your 
 children. But, in the course of my ofiicial duties, I see in- 
 stances in which parents wholly neglect the souls of their 
 children, and treat them like animals merely. And I see 
 other instances where parents are training up their offspring 
 in the fear of the Lord. 
 
 Oh that you and your wife may so improve the provi- 
 dence that has called you to mourn, that you may be more 
 faithful to your surviving children. My wife and child, as 
 well as our dear mother, are now in a comfortable state of 
 health. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Netv York, April Uth, 1830. 
 " None can be either comfortable or happy, until they 
 give their hearts to God, and endeavour to make his ser- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 215 
 
 vice and his glory the great end and object of their lives. 
 We must make religion our chief business. We must study 
 the word of God, and pray over it, for instruction. Every 
 day we must forsake all sin, and turn to God, and he will 
 own and bless us. It is true, God is a sovereign, and he 
 gives grace to whom he will ; and so he is just as much a 
 sovereign in dispensing the bounties of providence. He 
 gives health and prosperity to one and not another. But yet, 
 if the means are neglected, the end will not be realized. If 
 the farmer does not prepare the earth, and sow the seed, and 
 fence the field, he cannot expect a harvest. If he does this, 
 he may justly expect a crop, and he will rarely be disap- 
 pointed. And so, if a sinner does not read, believe, and obey 
 the word of God, he cannot expect to be saved. If he does 
 this, he will be saved, he will not be disappointed. (See 
 Isaiah, Iv. ; John iii. 14, 15, 16, &c.) And now, my dear 
 brother, seek first the kingdom of God, and all its blessings 
 will be yours. 
 
 " May the Lord bless you all." 
 
 November 6th. The second anniversary of -my second 
 marriage ; my infant son two months old. With how many 
 benefits art thou loading us, O God of my salvation ! Every 
 day adds to their number and to their value. Former bless- 
 ings continued ; new ones bestowed. When shall my soul 
 be all on fire with love and gratitude, and my life show forth 
 thy praise continually? 
 
 November 11th. A day recommended by the General As- 
 sembly to be spent in fasting, humiliation and prayer, in 
 view of the sin of Sabbath breaking, which prevails through 
 the church and nation. 
 
 May thy people truly humble themselves in thy sight, and 
 repent and find mercy. May my soul make progress in her 
 
216 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 own work for eternity. Preached this morning, Jer. xvii. 27, 
 and continued the subject in the evening. 
 
 WRITTEN IN A YOUNG LADy's ALBUM. 
 
 " November 2M, 18^0. 
 
 " My dear A. — While friendship and flattery, piety and 
 genius bring their various offerings to fill up the pages of 
 this volume, another book is preparing which contains a 
 faithful history of your life. The present volume you may 
 peruse with various emotions when every hand that has 
 written it shall be in the dust ; but the other, you shall exa- 
 mine after you are no longer numbered among the living. 
 
 " It is preserved, as well as written, on high ; and it con- 
 tains all the facts and the evidence by which the Judge of all 
 the earth will decide when he fixes your abode and your 
 companions for eternity. In the exercise of memory you 
 can now peruse its principal pages, though many may have 
 become, to you, illegible from the lapse of time. 
 
 " As I contemplated the book my mind was arrested and 
 pained by such broken sentences as ' Neglected the Sa- 
 viour.'' ' Received the grace of God in vain.'' 
 
 " Another sentence met my observation : ' She was often 
 warned, urged, entreated to accept the blood-bought mercies 
 of the Son of God, but' 
 
 " It was left unfinished, and it is for you to make out the 
 remaining clause. How would you wish to have it stand ? 
 It is important soon to decide ; for as the recording angel 
 laid down the pen, another arose. The book will soon be 
 completed. The record will stand for ever! Whatever 
 you desire to add to the history, previous to the day of final 
 reckoning — add it to-day — to-day — to-day ! 
 
 " My young friend will excuse a subject at once so grave 
 and so personal, and which will lose none of its importance 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 217 
 
 when the heart which has dictated this effusion, and the hand 
 that has recorded it shall be cold and still. 
 
 " J. S." 
 
 December 6th. Day never to be forgotten. What hold 
 is this which the mind retains on objects out of sight ? On 
 beings no longer known among the living? On friends, 
 from whom death has separated us? Owe shall meet again. 
 Fond idea to my fond and bleeding heart. Those we have 
 loved on earth shall be loved in heaven. There, they shall 
 shine in the glory of God, and be like the Saviour, to whose 
 grace they owe and ascribe their bliss. And why should 
 not our affection for them be cherished? " Prepare me. Lord, 
 for thy right hand; then come the joyful day." Lord, sanc- 
 tify my heart. 
 
 December 31st, 1830. Here I make my last record for 
 the closing year. It has been a year of the goodness of the 
 Lord ; but of the ingratitude of men. I am nearer eternity 
 than ever. Much, very much, of my time has run to waste. 
 O Lord, quicken me to live and act for thee. To feel that 
 the time is short, and strive to redeem it. May the view I 
 now take of the time past, influence me in improving more 
 diligently the time that may remain to me. May all (he 
 hours of the coming year appear as valuable as the remain- 
 ing hours of this. And may I wait the close of life as calmly 
 as I expect the striking of the midnight hour, that shall an- 
 nounce that the year 1830 is gone for ever, and the year 
 18.31 has commenced. 
 
 January 1, 1831. Already I am in another year. God 
 of my life, thou art the same for ever. " Teach me to num- 
 ber my days, so as to apply my heart to wisdom." Much 
 of my life is gone. How little may remain to me is known 
 only to him who holds my time in his hand. God of these 
 changing seasons, grant thy grace to aid me in duty, in liv- 
 19 
 
218 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 ing to thy glory, to improve every moment as it flies to eter- 
 nity, in preparing for my own departure. 
 
 January 2d. " The time is short," was the theme of my 
 discourse, this morning, considered in relation to the dura- 
 tion of the world, the whole term of human life, and the 
 sinner's day of grace. 
 
 January 28th. Day for special prayer, with humiliation 
 and fasting, in the Presbyterian churches in the city. Have 
 felt some sense of the presence of God. O Lord, repeat 
 and prolong the gracious visit. May my soul be truly and 
 deeply humbled, and then raised up and revived. 
 
 " 'Tis thine to cleanse the heart, to sanctify the soul, 
 To pour fresh life in every part, and new create the whole." 
 
 O deliver me from this dreadful spiritual deadness ; grant 
 me a melting view of the cross and the love of Christ — deeper 
 repentance of my sins ; give me faith to lay hold of the hope 
 set before me in the gospel. 
 
 February. My birthday. How solemn the recollections 
 of this day. One year nearer the end of my mortal career. 
 Thirty-four years I have already numbered. The mercy of 
 God has contumally attended me. How kindly has he cared 
 for me. How condescendingly has he employed me in his 
 service. Oh Lord, I have been an unfaithful servant. How 
 little have I done for God, the great husbandman, whose 
 field I have occupied, and whose bounty has sustained me ! 
 May I renew my soul's engagements to be the Lord's. Alas, 
 how often have I renewed them, and as often violated them. 
 Jesus, my divine, dishonoured master, bind my wandering 
 heart to thee. May I now arise to new zeal and fidelity in 
 thy service. Enable me to live, henceforth, with my con- 
 versation in heaven. 
 
 February I2th. An eclipse of the sun. O how this event, 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 219 
 
 which is so intelligible to every cultivated mind, but which 
 fills the benighted heathen with such a superstitious awe, is 
 calculated to remind us of the time when the sun shall be 
 darkened in the heavens, not because an intervening orb 
 sends a dark shadow on the earth, which is quickly gone, 
 but because the God that made it shall arrest it in its course 
 and quench its glory. O my soul, prepare for that dread 
 day. 
 
 2Sd. Special prayer and conference in the church ; some 
 melting among God's people ; deepening impressions of past 
 unfaithfulness. May it prove to be a day long to be remem- 
 bered. O Lord, revive thy work in my soul. 
 
 Feb. 27th. Addressed my congregation, all day, from 
 Ez. xxxiii. 11. Strange that sinners should be willing to 
 die, since it is not desirable, nor necessary ; since God does 
 not desire it, nor his glory demand it. 
 
 March 6th. " Behold, now is the accepted time," &c. 
 Felt, in preaching to-day, on this subject, as if it is an ac- 
 cepted time, and a day of salvation indeed. Many things 
 concur to make it a most favourable time to seek the Lord. 
 His Spirit is descending on some parts of the city, and on 
 many parts of the land. Glory be to his name. 
 
 March 17 th. Day of voluntary prayer for the revival of 
 God's work in the city. Had some sense of God's presence. 
 My own mind rather uneasy on account of the indisposition 
 of my child. Lord, I would commit him to thee without 
 reserve. Help me to do so. 
 
 I8th. This evening had a narrative of the work of grace 
 in Rochester. O that Christians would wake up to do the 
 work of God and plead for his blessing. 
 
 20th. Preached this morning, on the necessity of the ex- 
 altation of Christ. 
 
 P. M. Lord's supper ; Dr. Green assisted. Had some- 
 thing of God's presence. The day profitable to some of 
 
220 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 God's people. May it be tlie beginning of good things in 
 the congregation. 
 
 27th. Addressed the church on Is. Ix. 1. " Arise, shine," 
 considered as a call to prosperity, and joy, and activity, and 
 duty. O that we might arise to do the work of God. Spirit 
 of light and truth, quicken and enlighten us. 
 
 April Sd. Concluded the subject on Is. Ix. 1. Oh God, 
 may thy set time to favour us come ; or is there no time ? 
 Hast thou determined to leave this people in their deadness ? 
 Lord, my unbelief is enough to bring thy curse on the flock, 
 blasting on the heritage. The deadness has existed long 
 before my unfaithfulness could produce it ; and thou canst 
 glorify thy name by affording, even to me, more spiritual 
 life, and success in the gospel of thy Son. Paul might plant 
 and Apollos water, but it would be in vain without thy bless- 
 ing. O Lord, revive thy work. 
 
 April 19th. Meeting of Presbytery. Alas, how little of 
 the spirit of Jesus Christ ! And these the ministers of the 
 gospel of peace ! Are they animated by the love of God ? 
 Actuated by unmingled zeal for his glory, and the prosperity 
 of the church? O thou Spirit of peace, thou Spirit of truth, 
 shed thy light into all of our hearts, and fill them with love, 
 that we may glorify thy name, and strengthen the hands, 
 and rejoice in the labours of all who love Jesus Christ in 
 sincerity. 
 
 21st. Presbytery still in session, and no time yet to attend 
 to the spiritual condition of the churches and the state of 
 religion. O when shall the power of religion be deemed 
 more important than the mere, form of it? When shall thy 
 people and thy ministers give more evidence of spiritual life, 
 and feel less jealous of those who are not contented with a 
 name to labour ? May the means suggested to raise the 
 tone of feeling, and rouse the professed friends of Christ to 
 activity, be blessed of God ? 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 221 
 
 Wednesday, May llth. Special prayer for more feeling 
 and faith in my own soul, and in the church. My inmost 
 spirit mourns in view of the desolations of Zion ! How long, 
 how mournful ! When shall they be built up ? O that thy 
 people might begin to take pleasure in the dust and ruins of 
 Jerusalem here. O that we might be convinced that we 
 have wandered far, and fallen low ; and that with one ac- 
 cord we might arise and return to our Father. Same ten- 
 derness in our evening exercises. 
 
 Trenton, N. J. May llth. How many and how tender 
 the recollections fondly cherished concerning scenes that 
 have passed in this city. Visited the dear spot where Mrs. 
 Jackson lived and died; where I found and loved my A. 
 How precious to my heart is the remembrance of these now 
 citizens of Zion. The house and the garden remain as they 
 were ; but, O, how changed the inhabitants ! How often 
 have I entered that hall where the arms of loved ones were 
 spread out to embrace me ; their voices spoke a welcome 
 which sent gladness to my soul. But now all is still ; they 
 are gone ; those voices, attuned to the immortal melodies of 
 heaven. I visited the grave of Mrs. J. ; the green sod co- 
 vers it ; read the precious text selected by my A. " Blessed 
 are the dead," &c. My gratitude arose that the father and 
 mother of my dear A. had welcomed their daughter to the 
 bliss of heaven. May M. and S. and myself, and all who 
 were dear to them, prepare to follow and join them. 
 
 O God, may I live more for eternity, and may the dear 
 partner of my joys and sorrows, and the dear babe thou hast 
 given us, rise, and shine, and sing in that world where all 
 the loved ones, who have died in Jesus, now Inherit the pro- 
 mises. 
 
 18^/t. This evening prayer for the blessing of God on the 
 General Assembly now convening, that their visit to our city 
 may be blessed to them and to us. O what an influence 
 
 19* 
 
222 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 might be exerted through the united prayers of God's mi- 
 nisters and people, on the city, on our whole church, and on 
 the world. O thou prayer-hearing God, listen to the cries 
 of thy children, and visit us in mercy. 
 
 22d. Dr. Miller, Mr. Proudfit and Dr. Spring, preached 
 for us. May the Lord bless his word and his servants. 
 Evening exercise peculiarly impressive. Oh how wide is 
 the gate, how broad is the way, and what a multitude of 
 travellers ! Lord, may I be led in the right way. 
 
 22d. Reports of the work of God's grace in the churches. 
 O how rich the grace. What hath God wrought ! May the 
 divine Spirit pervade the Assembly, and give character to 
 all their proceedings; and, through them, exert such an in- 
 fluence on the United States as shall make the reports pre- 
 sented next year more glorious still. O Lord, revive thy 
 work. 
 
 24<A. Anniversary of the American Sunday School Union. 
 Attempted to call the attention of the friends of Sabbath 
 schools to the true object of Sabbath school instruction, 
 and urged the necessity of a higher standard for the quali- 
 fications of teachers, the importance of parental co-opera- 
 tion, of united and unceasing prayer to God for his blessing. 
 
 29th. Dr. M'Cartee, Dr. Herron and Mr. Kirk preached. 
 
 ''June 13th, 1831. 
 " My dear A. — I hoped to see you and your friend E. to- 
 day, but it has not been in my power. And, as I leave the 
 city in the morning, I wish to suggest to you both the inquiry. 
 Why will yofi not own and honour Christ? What more can 
 he do to deserve your confidence, and to fix your warmest 
 affections upon himself? Are you making a decision now, 
 which you will approve on a dying bed, and review with 
 pleasure at the judgment bar ? You will pardon (and may 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SAXFOUD. 223 
 
 I hope, improve ?) this affectionate warning from your friend 
 
 and pastor. 
 
 " J. S." 
 
 During the preceding month Mr. Sanford received a unani- 
 mous invitation from the M'Cord Church in Lexington, Ken- 
 tucky, to become their pastor. The following is a copy of 
 a letter addressed to him by many members of that church 
 and congreo-ation, on that occasion. 
 
 '' Lexington, May 11th, 1821. 
 
 " REV. AND DEAR SIR, 
 
 " We enclose you, under sanction of Presbytery, which is 
 attached, the call of the M'Cord Church, a copy of which, 
 without waiting the meeting of the Presbytery, we took early 
 occasion to send under cover of our letter on 30th April. 
 
 " In performing our duty in transmitting this call, we 
 seize the occasion to renew briefly the expression of the 
 earnest desires we feel on the subject. The more we have 
 revolved it over in our minds, the more anxious have we be- 
 come that success should attend our application. The more, 
 dear sir, we have heard of your personal character and 
 ministerial qualifications, and of their peculiar importance 
 and suitableness to the present wants of our church, town, 
 and state, the more ardent and desirous are we to hear of 
 your favourable answer ; for the persuasions and convictions 
 on this subject are so vivid and solemn in our minds — with- 
 out knowing what particular causes might interfere to pre- 
 vent it — we are ready to persuade ourselves that our heavenly 
 Father will direct you to us ; and in anticipation we see rising 
 already from your early labours among us the richest fruits 
 and most grateful returns : in your timely presence, and ac- 
 companied by His blessing, without whose aid all human 
 
224 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 effort is fruitless, our little Zion, no longer in dust and ashes, 
 will be more than renewed in its beauty ; and the moral wil- 
 derness around us shall be made glad, and our deserts, 
 hitherto barren or growing with weeds, shall blossom as the 
 rose. 
 
 " Not only from our solemn conviction of your eminent 
 suitableness to the field of labour which we deem invitingly 
 open here, but from the weekly, the constant experience of 
 our necessities and wants, and of those which religion bewails 
 in our town and country at large, are we anxious and urgent. 
 For we are solemnly impressed with the opinion, that there 
 are few situations any where in our widely extended country, 
 including the most populous cities of the seaboard, where the 
 devout and able minister of God may plant himself with bet- 
 ter hope of reaping a higher and more enduring reward. 
 Most of the reasons for this opinion we have glanced at in 
 our first letter — we should be glad they were fully before 
 you as we conceive them — but the limits of this letter forbid 
 us to enlarge upon them. To our friend Mr. R. J. Breck- 
 enridge, a member of the General Assembly, who has pro- 
 mised us to wait upon you, we would respectfully and confi- 
 dently refer for much information that you might find it 
 interesting to be possessed of: and Mr. Abraham T. Skill- 
 man, one of our elders, we hope has made it his business to 
 see you ; he left Lexington a kw days only before the call 
 was made, but if we mistake not was aware of the intention 
 of the congregation, and has been apprised by letter of their 
 united act and effort. 
 
 " The fact of a hearty unanimity and desire on the part 
 of the church and congregation, we think a matter worth 
 repeating to you with some emphasis in this letter ; we feel 
 it in this instance cause of particular gratification and joy. 
 And we deem it proper in this place to say, that the subject 
 of your election and call as our pastor has been much spoken 
 
KEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 225 
 
 of in Lexington since the day it was made, and much desire 
 is felt and expressed on the part of the Christian community, 
 as well as by friends of religion, that it might be accepted. 
 We feel it would not be going too far to say, that an ex- 
 tensive and general desire is felt upon the subject, which 
 we rejoice to think would do much to prepare the way for 
 a prosperous and harmonious career of ministerial duty. 
 
 " Should our solicitations receive your favourable regard, 
 and our divine Master direct your steps to labour here, we 
 offer you our most affectionate greetings, and shall joyfully 
 welcome your approacli. Wc give you the assurance of our 
 willingness to co-operate with you to the utmost of our abili- 
 ties in the work of the Lord, and that we shall be happy to 
 see that you want for nothing in our power to render your 
 situation easy and comfortable among us. 
 
 " We pray you may be relieved from any difficulty in 
 this case, and that you may be permitted to see the way clear 
 before you where our adorable Head calls you to work— 
 and we cannot but have a full reliance on the issue. That 
 he may of his infinite goodness grant you the long enjoy- 
 ment of health, and abundantly prosper your exertions in his 
 cause, in whatever part of his vineyard you may labour, is 
 the devout wish of, 
 
 " Rev. and dear sir, your friends." 
 
 To this call Mr. Sanford felt it to be his duty to give the 
 following reply, in which he assigned the reasons which in- 
 duced him to decline its acceptance. 
 
 " Philadelphia, June 6tky 1831. 
 
 *' WM. A. LEAVY, ESQ., 
 
 " My dear sir — Through 5'^ou, as the only individual of 
 the congregation worshipping in the M'Cord Church whom 
 
226 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 I know, I wish to reply to the communications of the 30th of 
 April and 11th of May, which came duly to hand. 
 
 " On the interesting subject they present, I have carefully 
 perused the representation of your letters, have conversed 
 with several gentlemen members of the Assembly and others, 
 who are well acquainted with Lexington and its inhabitants, 
 its wants, and prospects, and its commanding situation in the 
 bosom of the great valley of the west, and especially have I 
 endeavoured to look up to the great Head of the church, to 
 ask, ' Lord, what wilt thou have me to do V and now set 
 down to write you the result of my deliberations and prayers. 
 
 " My previous opinions, formed on general representations 
 concerning Lexington and the M'Cord Church, have been 
 more than confirmed. I am persuaded there are few if any 
 situations west of the mountains, more important and de- 
 sirable ; and I do not hesitate to say, that were I disengaged, 
 or could I feel that the Head of the church actually called 
 me to disengage myself from all my Atlantic associations, I 
 should cheerfully set my face toward the setting sun. 
 
 " My heart's fondest desires have long been to preach the 
 gospel, either personally or instrumentally, to every creature. 
 And that post of duty, whatever be the difficulty or danger 
 attending it, which will enable me to act most efficiently for 
 this object, is the post I choose. 
 
 " It was such a prospect as this that brought me to this 
 city, against every dictate of worldly interest and personal 
 comfort, and indeed when every earthly consideration urged 
 me to remain. I left a people who were to me all that a 
 pastor's heart could desire, and a place, which, from its pe- 
 culiar situation, and the circumstances attending my resi- 
 dence in it, dearer to my heart than any spot on earth. 
 
 " An imperious sense of duty influenced me to the step, 
 and the hope of doing more to attain the favourite object of 
 my heart, and to accomplish which I trust will ever be the 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 227 
 
 ruling purpose of my life, animated me while I took it, in the 
 midst of many regrets and many tears. 
 
 " Until I consider the experiment here as fairly tried, and 
 the Head of the church as clearly directing me to a field of 
 wider usefulness and higher promise, nothing could induce 
 me to remove. 
 
 " The situation of our Atlantic churches in general, and 
 of those in this city especially, is such at the present time, 
 that in my own opinion, and in the estimation of every man 
 I have consulted, it would be highly inexpedient to disturb 
 my present connexion. Your friends who have been in the 
 Assembly will be better able to appreciate this subject, than 
 those who have not been on the ground. They can see the 
 relation which these churches sustain to the cause of religion 
 in our country, and the cause of missions throughout the 
 world. 
 
 " Long and profoundly have they slumbered over the last 
 command of the risen Redeemer, and over the present and 
 the prospective wretchedness of millions of the human race. 
 But here and there a sentinel on the heights of Zion is begin- 
 ning to awake, and to sound the Master's signal to activity 
 and duty ; and some pastors and congregations do already 
 begin to move. In this work I shall be happy to bear some 
 humble part ; and if this, or any kindred object, should lead 
 me across the mountains, I shall feel a peculiar pleasure in 
 visiting Lexington, and shall hope to find all the pulpits sup- 
 plied with preachers, 
 
 ' Such as Paul, 
 Were he on earth, would hear, approve, and own.' 
 
 " May the Lord speedily supply you, and may the Shep- 
 herd of Israel take charge of his flock, and gather you, and 
 all of your children, into the fold of his mercy." 
 
228 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 June 15th. Returned from Brooklyn, where I left my 
 dear wife and babe this morning. O Lord, may I see him 
 and his dear mother soon in health. Take them under thy 
 care, O Shepherd of Israel, and carry them in thine ever- 
 lasting arms. 
 
 O great Physician, restore and preserve the health of our 
 child ; and may he be a rich blessing to thy church, and to 
 the poor, unworthy parents who have loved him too well ; 
 who have loved the great Giver too little. Lord, I am con- 
 vinced, and have long felt, that this is the case. Lord, for- 
 give, and grant repentance, and may it not become necessary 
 in correcting us, to take away our child. 
 
 18th. Letter informs me, to-day, that my child is really 
 sick. A physician has been called : active medicines resorted 
 to ; and appearances encouraging. To whom can I go but 
 unto thee, O God. Lord, help me, help me to confide in thee, 
 and to commit all to thee. Lord, forgive ; he is thine, but 
 my faint and fearful heart would fondly cling to this dear, 
 alas, too dear, object of my affections and hopes. O my 
 God, raise him up, if it may consist with thy holy purposes; 
 or help me and my dear companion to bear the bereaving 
 stroke like Christians, supported by thy kind hand. Lord, 
 spare him and bless him for Jesus' sake. 
 
 19th. Lord's day. God of the Sabbath, meet my soul 
 in mercy to-day. May I be stayed on God, and be aided in 
 my arduous duties. May this day be rendered memorable 
 by thy displays of mercy. My mind much distressed re- 
 specting my child. Tried to cast him on the arms of the 
 Lord. For life and death may he be thine. The day was 
 solemn and the audience attentive. Lord, revive thy work 
 and bless thy heritage. Give it not to a perpetual reproach. 
 
 20th. Left the city at 6, for Brooklyn, to see my dear 
 child. Lord, give me true submission to thy will. Arrived 
 at 7 o'clock, and found the child better. Bless the Lord, O 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 229 
 
 my soul, for all his benefits. May I regard the child as the 
 Lord's entirely and for ever. May he live to praise thee, O 
 God. 
 
 26th. Our little charge more comfortable. God of the 
 Sabbath, receive the gratitude of our hearts. Bless to the 
 people of my charge the message of thy grace this day, and 
 make the day thy Zion's favoured hour. 
 
 [In consequence of the illness of our dear babe, Dr. 
 Mitchell desired our journeying with him. My husband 
 accompanied me as far as Albany, and wrote the following 
 letter during his passage in the steamboat to New York, re- 
 turning to the city of Philadelphia.] 
 
 TO MRS. S. 
 
 " Steamboat New Philadelphia, June 28M,1831. 
 
 " The rain has descended in torrents for some time, but 
 we make good progress, ' dragging at each remove a length- 
 ened chain.' I have left all my earthly treasures behind — 
 wife and only child. May the Lord have you under his 
 kindest care. It is trying to be separated ; but I regard it as 
 the will of the master I serve, and he is a good master. He 
 gives us all our friends and comforts, and has a right to re- 
 quire us to leave them all to serve him. Oh could we feel 
 more ready to do this, how much higher and purer would 
 our joys become ! We should enjoy our friends better, and 
 love them more ; and yet Christ would be dearer to us than 
 all, and every other friend would be regarded as some faint 
 reflection of his love and goodness. 
 
 " Since I came on board, I have been reading a few pages 
 of Bickersteth's Christian Student. He takes an interesting 
 view of the grounds on which false hopes are built ; he speaks 
 of a dead faith, excited feelings ; acts of obedience, religious 
 services and works of benevolence; the mercy of God icith- 
 
 20 
 
230 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 out respect to the merits of Christ; our own goodness, con- 
 joined with the merits of Christ, as among the most com- 
 mon and the most fatal ; and which will all be swept away 
 by the flood of divine wrath. And then proceeds to state, 
 with much sweetness, that ' Christ crucified is the founda- 
 tion of the sinnerh hope, Christ on the mediatorial throne 
 is the sovereign of the redeemed. Christ, by his word and 
 spirit, in the heart, is the believer's life. Christ, in glory, 
 is the elevating object of the saints' expectation.' 
 
 " Oh, my dear M., may Christ be onr foundation, sove- 
 reign, life, our hope, and our eternal portion. 
 
 " I will hope to finish this line to-morrow, if the Lord 
 will, and mail it at Princeton — perhaps send it by the boat 
 in the morning. May the God of Israel keep you and your 
 dear little one, this night, in safety and health." 
 
 29th. Left Albany for the field of my official duties, leav- 
 ing my wife and child, my earthly all, behind. Great Shep- 
 herd of Israel, carry him in thy bosom. 
 
 Jult/ 5th, Sabbath. Let me enjoy thy presence this day, 
 O God of my salvation ; and may my wife and child be 
 kept in the hollow of thy hand. Preached from the words, 
 " Stand fast," &c. Gal. v. 1. May I know the liberty of 
 the gospel, and stand forth an example and friend of it. 
 
 " Philadelphia, July loth, 1831. 
 " My dear young friends, — Mrs. S. attempted to write 
 you yesterday, to express her deep sense of the obligations 
 imposed by your constant, delicate and most gratifying ex- 
 pressions of kindness ; but was compelled, in a few moments, 
 to lay down the pen, which she could no longer guide or see. 
 She is better this morning, but unable to write, and has re- 
 quested me to say, for her, that she will write when able ; 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANPORD. 231 
 
 that she loves you, appreciates your kindnesses, and tries to 
 remember you at the mercy-seat of God. 
 
 " Having now executed my commission, I may take the 
 liberty of saying a few words on my own account ; or ra- 
 ther, much rather, on the account of that Saviour whom I 
 desire and endeavour to serve ; but whom my dear young 
 friends have never publicly acknowledged. Perhaps he re- 
 gards you as his friends. If so, how must he estimate your 
 public, practical denial of him and his salvation ? And, if 
 you indeed love him, how do you estimate it ? If either of 
 you had, in some hapless and unguarded moment, wounded 
 the feelings and disobeyed the most reasonable injunctions of 
 the best and kindest of parents, would not the recollection 
 of it plant thorns in your midnight pillow, and bathe it with 
 your bitterest tears? And would you go on satisfied and 
 happy? Would not every favour, lavished upon you by 
 parental tenderness, awaken a more poignant sense of your 
 guilt and ingratitude ? 
 
 " Now, is not God your Father? Is he not loading you 
 with blessings, which you know not how to appreciate, be- 
 cause you have never known the want of them ? Is he 
 making the most reasonable requisitions on your hearts and 
 lives? And are you refusing to comply ? 
 
 "Pause, ponder well, my dear friends, before you answer. 
 And if you have reason to believe that you have been with- 
 holding the very offering God requires ; the only one you are 
 capable of making, that he will accept ; will you still refuse 
 to make it ? 
 
 " Will you squander on a creature, or on all creation, that 
 which belongs to God ? Oh ! if a brother's affection, and 
 a brother's importunity could lead you all, and unreservedly, 
 to Jesus, and bless you with all the hopes and joys of the 
 gospel, the duty should be done, and the consolations should 
 be yours for ever. 
 
232 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 "But there is one above all others, who stoops from hea- 
 ven to be your friend. May his Spirit incline and enable 
 you to accept his proposals. 
 
 " Remember me, most affectionately, to your parents, and 
 believe me, my dear young friends, most fraternally, your 
 friend and pastor. 
 
 " J. S." 
 
 Galway, N. Y. Aug. 1st, 1831. Here, as a last resort, 
 under Divine Providence, we have come to try the benefit of 
 the air of the country for our dear babe. O God of life, bless 
 these means for his recovery. He appears somewhat revived, 
 notwithstanding the fatigue of the journey. May these en- 
 couraging symptoms continue. Our Father in heaven, thou 
 art our only hope. Kindly interpose thy hand. 
 
 Wednesday, 2d. Yesterday was cold and rainy. An 
 invisible hand can sustain and raise up the little sufferer ; 
 and without this he evidently must sink soon into the sleep 
 of death, Jesus, Saviour, let thy blood cleanse his soul of 
 its native defilement and fit it for thy presence and glory. 
 What evidence these sufferings give of God's abhorrence of 
 sin ! Were it in my power, how soon I should relieve them. 
 But it is in God's power; he is far more compassionate 
 than I, and yet he permits them. 
 
 Avgust 4:th. O God, teach me submission. I cannot un- 
 derstand why an infant should suffer thus. It cannot atone 
 for sin, nor produce penitence, nor exercise patience. Is it 
 not for the sake of others, that they may learn to hate sin 
 and forsake it? I am sure I need thy correcting rod ; and 
 though I would rather suffer, personally, than see my child 
 in agony, yet the Judge of all the earth will do right, 
 and I dare not prescribe the method nor the measure of his 
 paternal stripes. 
 
 P. M. 5 o'clock. Our dear babe seems to be revived. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 233 
 
 " Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the 
 child may live?" 2 Sam. xii. 22. O thou that hearest prayer, 
 be entreated to say to this disease, " Thus far and no far- 
 ther." Thou canst glorify thy name ; humble me in the 
 dust ; bring me nearer to thee ; quicken me in duty in this 
 way, as well as by removing him. But, Lord, teach me to 
 say thy will, not mine, be done. 
 
 Friday, 5th. Nearer and nearer our dear lamb seems to 
 be approaching the last scene. O how fondly his parents' 
 arms would cling to him and detain him ; but other arms, I 
 trust, are open to receive, and welcome, and bless him. 
 Lord, may I have a more vivid impression of thy presence, 
 and realize the assurance of the acceptance and bliss of my 
 dear babe, through Jesus Christ. Enable me to give him up, 
 actually, at thy call, as readily as I have tried to give him 
 to thee in acts of dedication. He is thine, O Lord, may 
 no rebellious feeling dispute thy right or resist thy claim. 
 
 TO M. L. B., ESQ., OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 ^^ Galway, August 5th, 1831. 
 " I came to this place, on Monday last, as a last resort, 
 under God, for our dear babe. We had intended to go down 
 the river, to New York, but learning of our friends in Al- 
 bany, that many instances had occurred here of the reco- 
 very of children, more reduced than ours, we were induced 
 to try the experiment. We are in the family of a skilful 
 physician, and have the benefit of the purest air. But all 
 will not do. Our little one is sinking, I fear, to the grave. 
 He took a relapse the very day before I left Philadelphia ; 
 and, with some days of comparative improvement, has been, 
 I now believe, regularly and rapidly declining. He is now 
 very low, and I should not be surprised to be summoned, at 
 any moment, to see him expire. Yet J know the Lord can 
 20* 
 
234 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 interpose, and will do it, if it is best; and if it is not best, 
 in the view of infinite wisdom, I should not desire it. 
 
 " By this time I hoped to mention the time of my return. 
 But I cannot leave my dying child. It seems impossible that 
 he should continue longer in his present state. A change, 
 yes, a decisive change, may now be hourly expected. Chil- 
 dren have been raised after being brought as low as ours. 
 But the cases are rare, and though we shall hope as long as 
 he breathes, yet all the probabilities are against his recovery. 
 Oh ! what an act was that, which has exposed all the mil- 
 lions of our race, to the dreadful consequences of sin ! How 
 deadly the energy of that contagion which, after travelling 
 down the stream of ages, pollutes, and poisons, and destroys 
 such multitudes of beings, who have never committed one 
 actual transgression ! 
 
 " How wonderful and rich the grace of God, and the 
 blood of Jesus, that can make our children the heirs of im- 
 mortal glory, when they are incapable of faith, or penitence, 
 or prayer for niercy ! How high the transports of those 
 who only look out upon life's stormy ocean, and are then 
 embosomed by the good Shepherd ; who learn the history 
 of their fall and their recovery together; and who are taught 
 the causes of their sufferings and death when every pang is 
 over, and every tear wiped away ! « * * 
 
 " I am sure I never felt so keenly the depravity of my 
 nature as when T have stooped in agony to change the posi- 
 tion of my suffering child ; and the imploring, despairing 
 look which he casts upon us, when no mortal hand can re- 
 lieve him, is enough to strike daggers through the soul. 
 Methinks it would afford consolation, which I could give a 
 world to purchase, had I a world at command, to be able to 
 tell my child why he sniffers; and to speak to him of Jesus, 
 who is willing and ready to receive him when these days and 
 nights of anguish shall be ended. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 235 
 
 " But these lessons he cannot learn fronn a father's lips. 
 He will know it all in heaven ; and, probably, know it soon. 
 I will write you soon. Mrs. S. unites with me in affection- 
 ate regards to the family and friends. 
 
 " Truly yours, in the gospel, 
 
 " J. S." 
 
 12th. Still we have to sing of mercy. O that we might 
 lie low at the mercy-seat, and live nearer to God. May 
 health be restored to our babe, and a sweet sense of a fa- 
 ther's love be given back to our souls ; and may he, and we 
 his parents, be conformed entirely to the will of God, and 
 be changed into his image and brought into, his presence. O 
 to stand, and shine, and sing in his kingdom, monuments of 
 his glory, reflecting his light and proclaiming his love to a 
 wondering universe. 
 
 Sabbath, lAth. Preached this day in the church where I 
 was baptised in childhood; and where, at the age of thirteen, 
 I made a public profession of religion, from Phil. ii. 16. 
 " Holding forth the word of life." Felt some tenderness and 
 comfort in stirring up God's people by way of remembrance. 
 
 16th. Attended the meeting of the opening Presbytery 
 of Albany. Mr. Kirk preached from Paul's theme to the 
 Corinthians, " Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ," 
 &c. 
 
 THE THINGS WHICH ARE UNSEEN ARE ETERNAL. 
 
 " The man who desires his happiness from communion 
 with God has an object worthy of his love, and suited to his 
 spiritual and immortal nature. The soul holds high and de- 
 lightful intercourse with infinite mind, and with the lofty in- 
 telligences of congenial purity and ardour, that throng the 
 Creator's courts, and worship in his presence. To discover 
 more and more of his character and perfections, to watch 
 
236 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the evolution of his eternal counsels; to be changed into his 
 divine image, from glory to glory ; to trace the wisdom and 
 the righteousness of his darkest dispensations; to dwell in 
 God's immediate presence ; to behold his glory without a 
 glass or cloud to intervene; to make new discoveries of the 
 wonders of his love; the depth of his condescension; the 
 riches of his grace ; to find the river of life for ever becom- 
 ing deeper and broader as it rolls ; to stand in the ranks of 
 redeemed sinners, and to swell the everlasting song ; to find 
 the powers of the mind for ever strengthening, and room for 
 their highest exercises ; the capacity for enjoyment for ever 
 enlarging and for ever full. These are some of the things 
 above, which claim the affections, and are suited to the na- 
 ture of the soul." 
 
 19th. Returned from the country, after an absence of se- 
 veral weeks of great anxiety. Our child has been danger- 
 ously ill, but the Lord has interposed, and, for a few days, 
 we have had high hopes of his recovery. O may I be ready 
 to resign him at any moment ; and yet be enabled to bring 
 him up for God. Sustain, guide and sanctify me, and make 
 me more faithful to do and suffer all thy will. 
 
 21st. Preached from Phil. iii. 8. "Yea, doubtless; and I 
 count all things but loss," &c. May I imitate the apostle, 
 and become savingly acquainted with Jesus Christ. In the 
 afternoon from 1 John ii. 3. " Hereby we know that we 
 know him," &c. Could only give an analysis of the ser- 
 mon, on account of cold and hoarseness. May I know that 
 I know Jesus Christ, and may the word be made quick and 
 powerful among us. 
 
 Sabbath, 28th. Read two sermons to-day, unwilling to 
 tax, or even trust my feelings, under the trying circumstances 
 in which I am placed. 
 
 Monday, 2dth. Unfavourable news from my child ; he is 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 237 
 
 much worse again. I fondly hoped his health was improv- 
 ing, but it seems to be far otherwise. Great Physician, un- 
 dertake for him; heal him; and, especially, renew and sanc- 
 tify him. Teach me true submission to thy holy will. " I 
 know thy judgments, Lord, are right, though they may 
 seem severe." Give me brighter evidence of thy covenant 
 love, and all will be well. Subdue and sanctify my heart. 
 Sabbath, Sept. 5th. Preached with some freedom to-day, 
 from Rom. ii. 3, and Prov. xxviii. 13. O that sinners 
 might give up their delusive expectations of happiness while 
 they neglect the gospel, and be induced to confess and for- 
 sake their sins, and then may they find mercy. Lord, may 
 I practise the duties and embrace the offers I recommend, 
 and feel more of thy presence. 
 
 " DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OP ME." 
 
 " We are accustomed to regard with peculiar sacredness 
 the last expressions of expiring friendship. When the heart 
 has been desolated of all that responded to its throbbings ; 
 when the sun of our prosperity has set, and the bright bow 
 of hope and of promise has faded from the clouds that darken 
 our horizon; when a friend sleeps in death, from whose pre- 
 sence the world borrowed its loveliness, and the path of 
 life its flowers, it is the part and the employment of busy 
 memory to recall the looks, the actions, the words of ten- 
 derness, and especially the farewell wishes and exhortations 
 of the friend we mourn. Nay, so universal, so deeply seated 
 is this principle of human nature, so constant in its opera- 
 tions, where any thing like sensibility is found, that enlight- 
 ened communities, not only bow to its influence, but have 
 reared around it, the safeguard of civil law. It is to this 
 principle of our nature that these words are directly ad- 
 dressed. 
 
 " The disciples had left all to follow Christ : they had 
 
238 MEJIOIR OF THE 
 
 been his constant companions for several years ; they had 
 seen his miracles ; they had heard his words ; they had 
 tasted of his love ; they had espoused his cause ,- they had 
 embraced him as their Lord and Master. He had pitied 
 their blindness and ignorance ; he had borne with their un- 
 belief and their erroneous opinions respecting himself, and 
 the nature of his kingdom. He had adopted them into his 
 family, and loved them as his own. 
 
 " They were now assembled in an upper room in Jeru- 
 salem, to celebrate the last paschal supper. He was soon to 
 be parted from them, and was desirous of leaving them some 
 dying token of his love, some memento of suffering sym- 
 pathy; something to cherish in their bosoms the warm re- 
 membrance of the object and the accomplishment of his 
 mission to our world. 
 
 " But besides the fact of the words being spoken under 
 such interesting circumstances, which give them the charm 
 of a most tender and perpetual obligation, they present 
 themselves to our contemplation, and our faith, and our obe- 
 dience, in all the majesty of God's authority ; in all the un- 
 compromising righteousness of God's requisitions." 
 
 " Human life is often compared to the ocean ; and the 
 sons of men are voyagers to eternity. Their successive ge- 
 nerations, like the mountain billows, are driven onward by 
 the same agency, and dashed upon the same shore ; and the 
 various characters, and circumstances of men, may find 
 some striking illustration in the various states and aspects of 
 the mighty deep." 
 
 lltk. Preached once to-day; had some tenderness, and 
 was enabled to rise above the circumstances of the congre- 
 gation, and to speak in the name and by the authority of the 
 Mediator. Numb. xvi. 48, the text. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 239 
 
 Sabbath, I8th. Lord's supper. Had some precious views 
 of my Lord at his table to-day. Endeavoured, in the morn- 
 ing, to fix all minds on him as the " Wonderful.^'' Isa. ix. 6. 
 At his table, in the afternoon, felt him near and dear to my 
 soul. O for an abiding sense of his love ! How it would 
 smooth every path and sweeten every cup. 
 
 25th. Preached this morning from Ps. Ixxxvii. 3. " Glo- 
 rious things," &c. May the Lord perform, in his good time, 
 the things he has promised to Zion. Was mercifully assisted 
 in the services. Lord, stand by me, and hold thou me up, 
 and I shall not fall. Give me a forgiving spirit towards 
 those who have risen up against me. May my mind be 
 stayed on thee, and all my goings ordered by thee. 
 
 Nov. 2d. Lectured this evening from 1 Sam. xxx. 6. 
 " But David encouraged himself," &c. O may I be enabled 
 to imitate him in the trying circumstances in which I am 
 placed. O God, be my God in covenant, and grant me the 
 tokens of thy love. 
 
 Sd. This day I was to have been in Boston, but the pro- 
 vidence of God has prevented me. He will take care of the 
 Sabbath School cause. 
 
 Dec. \th. Almost all my Sabbaths are days of anxiety 
 and toil, rather than holy rest and enjoyment. May I be 
 enabled, by a more judicious and more successful attention 
 to my duties, to secure time for my own spiritual improve- 
 ment. To-morrow, the session of Congress opens ; and the 
 day after, the Legislature of this state. O God, may their 
 deliberations promote thy glory and the good of Zion. 
 
 Friday evening, 9th. Had unusually tender and fervent 
 affections in the prayer-meeting this evening ; some enlarge- 
 ment in prayer. Lord, inflame me with a more ardent love 
 for souls and thee. 
 
 llth. Sabbath. Sick with the influenza, and could not 
 preach. Mr. R. preached for the Board of Missions in the 
 
240 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 morning; church closed in the afternoon; much sickness 
 prevailing. Lord, be our physician, and keep us in the hol- 
 low of thy hand, and keep our souls in health. 
 
 \2th. Visited the sick. Baptized a child of Mr. G. O 
 how precious the hopes of the gospel ! How rich the cove- 
 nant of mercy which includes us and our children ! My 
 gracious Master, smile on the little one I have this day bap- 
 tized in thy name, and make her a monument of thy sparing 
 mercy and renewing grace. 
 
 But one more record was made by Mr. San ford, in his 
 journal, and that was a very brief one. It is of the date of 
 the succeeding day, December 13th, and is as follows: 
 
 " Our babe is quite sick. Called a physician. Lord, bless 
 the prescription. In many trying hours thou hast spared 
 and upheld him. Do it now, if it is best for him, for us, 
 and for thy dear cause." 
 
 But now the time was at hand when it pleased his Lord 
 and Master to remove him from his service on earth to his 
 service and enjoyment in heaven. In the course of a few 
 days afterwards, he caught a violent cold, which brought on 
 a raging fever. His final illness was not of long duration, 
 but was exceedingly severe and distressing. The unremit- 
 ted services of two of the most distinguished physicians in 
 Philadelphia were rendered in vain. There was no arrest- 
 ins of the disease. 
 
 o 
 
 During the last five or six days Mr. Sanford's mind was 
 greatly affected by the sufferings of his body. But, during 
 the few lucid moments which intervened, his thoughts were 
 evidently fixed on heavenly things, and displayed what had 
 long been the habitual state of his soul. 
 
 During this time of suffering he had the heart-felt sympa- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 241 
 
 thy of many Christians of his own congregation, as well as 
 of the other churches in the city. Many prayers were of- 
 fereH up in his behalf. And many of his dear flock, as well 
 as of other congregations, hastened to proffer any services 
 which they could render. 
 
 But although it was distressing to friends not to be allowed 
 to converse with this devoted servant of the Lord, and hear 
 his abundant testimony to the value of the religion of Christ, 
 in a dying hour, yet they had enough to satisfy any mind. 
 They had the testimony of a life of more than twenty years 
 of consistent, devoted piety to assure them that he was pre- 
 pared to die. Nor were there wanting very sweet and cheer- 
 ing evidences of his eminent preparednej-? for death, even in 
 that tremendous process of dissolution which seemed, within 
 a few days, to prostrate body and mind in complete ruin. 
 During the Cew lucid moments which intervened, Jesus and 
 his salvation, were the theme on which he delighted to dwell. 
 One morning he asked Mrs. S. to read to him the thirty- 
 fourth Psalm ; and when she had done so, he directed her 
 attention to the following hymn, of which he had been very 
 fond when in health. 
 
 Jerusalem! my happy home! 
 
 Name ever dear to me ! 
 When shall my labours have an end. 
 
 In joy, and peace, and thee? 
 
 "When shall these eyes thy heaven-built walls 
 
 And pearly gates behold? 
 Thy bulwarks, with salvation strong". 
 
 And streets of shining gold? 
 
 O when, thou city of my God, 
 
 Shall I thy courts ascend, 
 Where congregations ne'er break up. 
 
 And Sabbaths have no end? 
 21 
 
242 MEMOIR OP THE 
 
 There happier bowers than Eden's bloom, 
 
 Nor sin nor sorrow know; 
 Blest seats ! through rude and stormy scenes, 
 
 I onward press to you. 
 
 Why should I shrink at pain and wo? 
 
 Or feel, at death, dismay ? 
 I've Canaan's goodly land in view. 
 
 And realms of endless day. 
 
 Apostles, martyrs, prophets there, 
 
 Around my Saviour stand; 
 And soon my friends in Christ below. 
 
 Will join the glorious band. 
 
 Jerusalem! my happy home! 
 
 My soul still pants for thee; 
 Then shall my labours have an end, 
 
 When I thy joys shall see. 
 
 When asked whether he felt heaven to be his home, he 
 replied, with an upward look of the deepest interest, " O 
 yes, I feel it to be my happy home." At another time, in 
 answer to the inquiry whether Christ was precious to his 
 soul, he replied, " Yes, he is the chiefest among ten thou- 
 sand, and altogether lovely ;" and, as well as can be recol- 
 lected, he added, " I commit my all into his hands, and he 
 will keep that which I commit to him." 
 
 On another occasion he was asked whether he felt much 
 Joy. He replied, " My joy arises not so much from a sense 
 of Christ's presence, or my personal union to him, as from 
 a view of the extension of Christ's kingdom in the world." 
 At one time he was overheard repeating those words, so 
 precious to him in health, 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 243 
 
 " Jesus, lover of my soul, 
 Let me to thy bosom fly." 
 
 He was very partial to hymns, and was accustomed, for 
 years, to spend the moments of twilight, after the labours of 
 the day were closed, in repeating his favourite ones, when 
 it often seemed as if his soul mounted upwards on the wings 
 of faith, and caught something of that ardour and love 
 which animate the happy worshippers above. 
 
 During his seasons of delirium, which were protracted 
 and very violent, the state of his church and congregation 
 was the absorbing and painful theme, on which his distract- 
 ed mind continually dwelt; and his exclamations in regard 
 to that subject were truly heart-rending. 
 
 But why should we dwell on this mournful point? Death 
 soon did his appointed work ; and this devoted servant of 
 the Lord was released from his sufferings, and entered into 
 rest ! The manner of his death is a matter of comparatively 
 little importance. He was prepared to die. What if his dis- 
 ease was painful ; and the mind, under its violent influence, 
 deprived of the use of the faculty of reason ? The ever- 
 blessed God has no where, in his word, assured us that his 
 children, whom he most tenderly loves, shall not die of the 
 same diseases as other men ; and of such diseases, too, as 
 their physical constitution and temperament, or their situation 
 in life, may expose them to. Let it te enough for us that 
 the Lord has done it. What more does the heart that is 
 filled with faith and love desire? 
 
 Mr. Sanford died on the morning of the 25th of Decem- 
 ber, 1831. On the 28th, the funeral solemnities were per- 
 formed. A numerous procession of ministers and other citi- 
 zens moved from his late residence to the church of which 
 he had been the pastor. The corpse was deposited in front 
 of the pulpit ; and the house was filled with deeply solemn 
 
244 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 auditors. The Rev. Dr. M'Auley, after having conducted 
 the introductory services, delivered an appropriate address 
 from Revelation xiv. 13 : " And I heard a voice from hea- 
 ven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die 
 in the Lord from henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they 
 may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow 
 them." After the services had been terminated by prayer, 
 by tlie Rev. John Breckinridge, the corpse was deposited in 
 the family vault of Alexander Henry, Esq., where it remain- 
 ed until it was taken to Brooklyn, and deposited by the side 
 of the remains of his first wife. On which occasion an ap- 
 propriate sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Carroll, 
 which was afterwards published. 
 
 Thus ended the mortal career of this servant of God, be- 
 fore he had completed his thirty-fourth year. It now re- 
 mains that we give some brief notices of his character, his 
 attainments, his labours, together with some facts which 
 could not well be introduced into the foregoing portion of the 
 volume. 
 
 1st. Mr. Sanforcfs taleiits were of a very respectable 
 order. We speak here of the qualities of his mind. These 
 qualities were not so brilliant as substantial. His judgment 
 was uncommonly sound and discriminating. His perception 
 was sufficiently ready. His memory was good ; and his 
 taste was refined. His mind was well balanced ; propor- 
 tioned, if we may so speak, and disciplined. 
 
 2d. His attainments in knowledge were highly credita- 
 ble. His situation, during the greater portion of his youth, 
 was not favourable to the acquisition of knowledge. But 
 although he did not begin his classical studies until he had 
 nearly entered the period of manhood, yet by means of such 
 
HEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 245 
 
 application to study as a state of health, never very vigor- 
 ous, enabled him to make, he obtained a very respectable 
 standing in his class at college, in almost every branch of 
 study. The same remark may also be applied to his theo- 
 logical education. He always maintained an honourable 
 standing among his fellow-students in the Theological Semi- 
 nary at Princeton. And many of the themes which he com- 
 posed whilst there, as well as during his college course, dis- 
 play very considerable attainments, united with a sound 
 judgment. We are not aware that he published, over his 
 own name, any thmg more than one sermon, addressed to 
 his church at Brooklyn, when called to leave them ; extracts 
 from which have been given in another part of this volume.* 
 He wrote a considerable number of anonymous articles for 
 the religious journals and reviews. He had made some pro- 
 gress in the preparation of a Catechism on the Evidences and 
 Divine Authority of the Christian Religion, when death put 
 an end to his earthly labours. This work was intended to 
 embrace the substance of a course of lectures which he had 
 delivered on this subject, and was in preparation for the be- 
 nefit of Bible Classes and Sunday Schools. Indeed, his la- 
 bours as a pastor, to which he most assiduously devoted 
 himself, allowed him little time for writing works for publi- 
 cation. 
 
 It was, at fiist, intended to give a few of his sermons in 
 this volume ; but this part of the plan was found impracti- 
 cable, inasmuch as it would have increased its size too much. 
 
 Sd. Mr. Sanford^s manners were eminently those of a 
 Christian gentleman. No one could have known him, we 
 think, without being struck with the dignity of his appear- 
 ance, and his habitual freedom from every thing resembling 
 an unbecoming levity. His whole demeanour was marked 
 by that seriousness which ought to characterize a minister 
 of Jesus Christ. And yet it was not studied, or acquired as 
 21* 
 
246 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 a habit. He was far from being morose. In his intercourse 
 with his fellow men he was habitually calm, self-possessed, 
 cheerful and agreeable. " His spirit," said Dr. M'Auley, 
 in his address at his funeral, " was eminently a spirit of 
 great meekness. I can freely say that I never heard from 
 his lips one unkind word, one harsh epithet, one unbrotherly 
 expression, nor imputation of any motives not avowed by 
 their authors. His meekness, and charity, and innocence 
 were so blended and triumphant, that the accuser stood forth 
 the culprit, and the accused desired no advantage, and seem- 
 ed unconscious of the generous feelings and graces which 
 he exercised. Of his brethren in the ministry, he always 
 l^poke as brethren ; some of them, indeed, not perfect as yet, 
 but brethren still ; whose name and reputation were sacred ; 
 whose character, precious ; whose influence, vastly impor- 
 tant, and not to be diminished. Of his brethren, in his own 
 session, he always spoke with perfect respect, and generally 
 called them venerable fathers. Of his people he spoke as 
 his dear people; and as a man should, who knows he must 
 give an account of his flock, of which God has made him 
 overseer, of which he is a servant for Jesus' sake, but of 
 which he neither is nor may be, hireling, slave, or syco- 
 phant." 
 
 In a word, Mr. Sanford's whole deportment was pene- 
 trated by a spirit of benevolence, purity, and propriety, 
 which impressed, in the most favourable manner, all with 
 whom he came in contact. He was an example of that 
 " sober-mindedness" which an apostle enjoins, and which is 
 so becoming those who profess godliness, and especially 
 those who minister at the altar. 
 
 Ath. In the various intimate relations of life, Mr. San- 
 ford was emphatically exemplary. Those pages bear wit- 
 ness to the truth of this assertion. As a son, how bright is 
 the example which he set ! For his father, he cherished 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 247 
 
 and manifested, so long as that parent lived, the most pro- 
 found and truly filial respect, which was indicated by ac- 
 tions on all proper occasions. To his venerable mother, 
 who survives him, he was all that a dutiful and affectionate 
 son could be. He spared no pains to render her situation 
 as comfortable as it was in his power to do ; and he was in- 
 deed a source of great comfort to her in the lonely period of 
 her widowhood, so long as God spared him to her. 
 
 As a brother, he was all that could be desired in that en- 
 deared relation ; and his affection will never be forgotten by 
 his brother and sister. He felt a very deep interest in their 
 spiritual interests, and rejoiced greatly in seeing his pniyers 
 answered in regard to them. 
 
 As a husband, it would hardly seem necessary to say a 
 word in addition to what his letters and his journal have so 
 abundantly uttered. He was one of the most devoted and 
 excellent of husbands. Such conduct as his gives a dignity 
 and happiness to married life, which the Author of marriage 
 designed to attach to that tender, affectionate and exalted 
 union. 
 
 There is no lesson which this volume is more calculated 
 to give than that of the beauty, purity, affection, and happi- 
 ness of married life, when pervaded and governed by the 
 genuine spirit of Christianity. 
 
 As a father, his letters and his journal bear testimony 
 to the deep parental solicitude which he felt for his infant 
 son. Indeed a large portion of his journal, after the birth 
 of that son, is nothing else than a series of recorded prayers 
 on his behalf. And the last sentence which he wrote was 
 the record of an invocation of the divine favour over its in- 
 fant head. May these earnest and heart-felt prayers prove 
 indeed to be a richer legacy than all that wealth and worldly 
 greatness could bequeath I 
 
 As a friend, many among the living can bear testimo- 
 
248 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 ny to his excellence in this respect. Mr. Sanford was not 
 hasty in forming friendships. He was naturally reserved. 
 If he had a prominent fault it was that of too great reserve. 
 But he was not cold-hearted. He was not a doubtful friend. 
 Where his affections were once enlisted, they were perma- 
 nent, ardent, faithful. There was, with him, however, no 
 empty profession of friendship. His was the silent, deep, 
 lasting feeling of the heart, and was displayed in acts rather 
 than in words, though there were not wanting times in which 
 he gave way to the spontaneous gush of ardent affection in 
 his letters to his chosen, his bosom friends. 
 
 5th. Mr. Sanford was a man of eminent piety. This 
 was his crowning excellence. His piety was early, uniformly 
 progressive, enlightened, consistent, beautifully symmetrical, 
 and fruitful. He was a man of far more than ordinary piety. 
 He was a very holy man. His conversation and deport- 
 ment invariably made this impression on the minds of those 
 who became acquainted with him. In all situations, and 
 under all circumstances, he was the same holy, devoted 
 man. His very look mdicated that he was a man conver- 
 sant with eternal things. 
 
 He was a man of much prayer. He evidently spent 
 much time in his closet. This was the secret of his remark- 
 able gift of prayer ; or, rather, of the gitl and grace of it 
 united. His prayers, in public, possessed great fervour, 
 propriety of expression, solemnity, unction. They were 
 the prayers of a man of a most devout spirit — of one who 
 was familiar with the blessed, the solemn work of address- 
 ing God. His life seemed to be truly what archbishop 
 Leighton calls the heavenly life — that of ascending to hea- 
 ven by prayer, to obtain s|)iritual blessings, and descending 
 to the earth to scatter them among his fellow mortals. 
 
 We have said that Mr. Sanford's piety was symmetrical. 
 It was emphatically so. His piety was uncommonly per- 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 249 
 
 feet, in this, the scriptural sense of the word perfect. It 
 shed its hallowed influence on all his actions. It was a holy 
 principle which pervaded every thing which he did. He 
 carried his religion with him, wherever he went. It was 
 this which rendered him a conscientious man, and fearless 
 too, in the discharge of ascertained duty. During the last 
 two years of his life, his conscientious adherence to princi- 
 ple, and to what he deemed to be duty, was often put to a 
 severe test, especially in the distressing discussions and acts 
 of the ecclesiastical bodies of which he was a member. Act- 
 uated, as he felt himself to be, by principle, he was not 
 slow, however, to admit that those who were opposed to his 
 views of duty might be influenced by just as conscientious a 
 regard for duty as himself. 
 
 Mr. Sanford's piety was evidently progressive. From the 
 outset in the divine life, he seemed to advance steadily, and 
 was a striking illustration of the truth of (he divine declara- 
 tion, that the " path of the just is as the shining light, which 
 shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 
 
 " During his last illness," remarks Dr. M'Auley, in the 
 discourse to which we have already referred, " and as he 
 rapidly.ap{)roached the melancholy catastrophe, in all the 
 agonies and wanderings of a mind overwhelmed with trou- 
 ble, not a murmuring, nor unkind, nor harsh expression 
 escaped his lips. Instead of this, his prayers were constant, 
 and painfully interesting, for grace, and mercy, and peace 
 upon all his congregation; his church-members, especially 
 the lambs of his flock ; his friends, his brethren, and his 
 very dear family. There was scarcely any wandering here. 
 The living oracles of God were lively in his heart, and, in 
 every lucid moment, came with life from his dying lips. 
 Heaven seemed let down to earth, and filled the privileged 
 chamber where the good man yielded up the ghost." 
 
 Gth. Mr, Sanford possessed unco?nmon advantages as a 
 
250 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 public speaker. Few men are capable of producing so 
 deep an impression on the minds of a public assembly. To 
 the possession of an uncommonly melodious voice, were 
 united a commanding person, a serious but agreeable coun- 
 tenance, perfect self-possession, and a vigorous but chastened 
 imagination. He had cultivated, with considerable care, the 
 whole art of public speaking, and few men of his age were 
 his equals in it. Those who sat under his ministry will 
 never forget the powerful appeals of his eloquence. Nor 
 will those who heard his occasional addresses at the annual 
 meetings of the American Bible Society, and other religious 
 and benevolent assemblies of New York; or at those of the 
 American Sunday School Union, and other societies of Phi- 
 ladelphia, soon forget the deep and holy impression of his 
 eloquence on those occasions. He spoke emphatically with 
 the view of doing good, of giving proper views of duty, of 
 exciting to holier and higher resolutions, and to a determi- 
 nation, in reliance on divine grace, to execute them. There 
 was, with him, no speaking for mere effect. It was always 
 a conscientious and prayerful effort to advance the glory of 
 God and the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. And unless 
 he believed that there was a reasonable prospect of accom- 
 plishing this great end, he declined accepting the invitation 
 to make a public address on such occasions. He was also 
 very distinguished for his speeches in the Presbytery and 
 other ecclesiastical bodies of which he was, from lime to 
 time, a member. He did not ordinarily speak very oflen ; 
 but it was seldom that he did speak without producing a ma- 
 nifest effect. 
 
 Ith The work of the ministry u-as the sphere in which 
 3Ir. Sanford delighted to move. This was his chosen, his 
 appropriate field of labour. To preach the gospel from the 
 pulpit, and to perform the work of pastoral visitation, was 
 the highest enjoyment which earth could yield him. No 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 251 
 
 Other employment, however interesting, or however useful it 
 might be, could be compared with that of directly labouring 
 to convert souls, and to assist them to prepare for a holy 
 heaven. To fit himself for the work of the ministry, he 
 had spent several years of preparation. And when, in the 
 good providence of God, he was allowed to be " put in trust 
 of this ministry," he entered upon his work with a deep 
 sense of its solemn importance and responsibility, and also 
 with great delight. Even long before the completion of his 
 college studies, he had commenced labouring, as opportunity 
 was afforded, for the salvation of men. Many of the churches 
 around Schenectady will long remember his visits of love 
 during that signal outpouring of the Spirit, in the years of 
 1819 and 1820. And when he entered upon his office, as 
 an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Brooklyn, he 
 consecrated himself wholly to the work. This engrossed 
 his soul. His studies all had a direct bearing upon it. No- 
 thing was pursued which did not have this great end in view. 
 He " preached the word in season, and out of season." And 
 he was among his people as an overseer who watched for 
 their souls ; as one who " sought not theirs, but them." 
 And his ministry there was eminently successful. Under his 
 ministrations, the church increased very greatly. Within 
 the period of five years and three months, during which he 
 was pastor of their church, nearly four hundred persons 
 were added to its communion. And, during the time of his 
 pastoral labours in the Second Presbyterian Church, in Phi- 
 ladelphia, which was less than three years, upwards of one 
 Ijundred and fifty persons were added to the number of its 
 members. Thus, exclusive of the good which he did by 
 occasional labours in other places, more than five hundred 
 persons were brought to the knowledge of the Saviour in 
 the two congregations to which he ministered as pastor. 
 
252 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 during a period of little more than eight years. This fact 
 demonstrates that his ministry was a successful one. 
 
 Mr. Sanford was an affectionate, faithful pastor. He vi- 
 sited his people much, and was especially attentive to the 
 poor and the sick. To the afflicted he was a most suitable 
 minister. He could truly say, 
 
 "Haud ignara mail miserls succurre disco."* 
 
 The couch of the afflicted was a spot which had many at- 
 tractions for his sympathising heart. He hasted thither as 
 often as his other duties permitted. To the young of his 
 flock, and especially to the young converts, he was greatly 
 attached. He watched over them with more than parental 
 solicitude, counselled them, shared their joys and their sor- 
 rows, and helped them, by every means in his power, in their 
 upward journey to the skies. Nor did he cease to feel an 
 interest in a people because he ceased to be their pastor. 
 He frequently revisited Brooklyn, after his removal to Phi- 
 ladelphia, and laboured, as he had opportunity, for the bene- 
 fit of the people of his former charge, and witnessed with 
 delight the successful labours of his successor. 
 
 That such a pastor should be loved, dearly loved, by a 
 people in whom he took so lively an interest, and to many 
 of whom he had been, under God's blessing, an instrument 
 of the highest spiritual blessings, is not wonderful. This 
 affection he shared until the day of his death. We select 
 two or three letters, from among many, which he received 
 from members of his former charge, at Brooklyn, written to 
 him at Philadelphia, and which show how highly that people 
 valued him. The first is from a gentleman in that congre- 
 gation, in whom Mr. Sanford had long felt a very deep in- 
 
 • Having' myself experienced misfortune, I have learned to 
 help the miserable. 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 253 
 
 terest, but who had not become a decided Christian when he 
 removed to Philadelphia. During one of the visits which 
 he made to Brooklyn he sought an interview with this gen- 
 tleman, and had a faithful conversation with him, which, 
 with the divine blessing, was the means of leading him to 
 decision on the subject of religion, and to the Saviour. Soon 
 after he had found peace in believing he addressed the fol- 
 lowing letter to his former pastor, to inform him of the 
 happy change which he had experienced. The second is 
 from a young lady who had received much benefit from his 
 instructions. The third is from an excellent Christian in 
 that church, who has long been a blessing to it, and to the 
 church of Christ throughout our country, by his beneficence. 
 
 " Brooklyn, April 26th, 1830. 
 
 " REV. AND DEAR SIR, 
 
 " You will be reminded by this, of the request you made 
 me to write you. Although I felt, then, as though I should 
 like to write, still did not believe I should. 
 
 " I, however, bless God that I am now, not only enabled 
 to discharge a duty which ought long since to have been ac- 
 knowledged and performed, but experience a pleasure in 
 communicating the goodness and mercy of God to my soul. 
 If you were not well acquainted with my former views and 
 feelings on religious subjects, and had not heard me recently 
 express them, I should be particular in the relation of them; 
 but you have too well and too long known them to make it 
 either necessary or interesting. Suffice it to say, that I be-» 
 lieve the interview at my house was, under God, the moans 
 of leading me to the Saviour; and, while I sincerely thank 
 you for that short visit, I desire to render to God all the clorv 
 of my salvation. 
 
 22 
 
2r)4 MEMOIR OP THE 
 
 " I shall never forget the expression you then made use 
 of, ' Look to Jesus, look and live.'' Nor the manner you 
 pointed that finger to him. I was convinced, by your re- 
 marks, that my then state of mind was the effect of the 
 strivings of the Holy Spirit- And, as I was convinced of 
 sin, I had but ' to look and live.'' And these thoughts were 
 so impressed on my mind, that the day you left us, I 
 was enabled to believe, and see, and feel, that although I 
 had been a great sinner, yet the blood of Christ was suffi- 
 cient to cleanse me, even me, and on that alone I rested, and 
 desire to rest, my only hope of salvation. 
 
 " Oh, my dear sir, I know not how to thank God as I 
 ought for his long-suffering kindness and forbearance to me. 
 You, too, well know the many mercies and bounties of Di- 
 vine Providence, which have literally been heaped upon me. 
 You know, too, how often, under your ministry, I was con- 
 vinced of sin, and yet how often I grieved the Spirit and 
 said, ' Go thy way for this time.' 
 
 " If I am not deceiving myself (and I verily believe I 
 am not) I pray that I may be a sincere, devout, humble 
 Christian, rejoicing with trembling, and showing to the world, 
 by my walk and conversation, that I love Jesus my Saviour, 
 and desire the salvation of all mankind. 
 
 " As you feel a lively interest in the spiritual concerns of 
 your late, and, I trust, still dearly beloved people, I will say 
 that the day you left, there was a meeting at the house of 
 Mr. Carroll for those under conviction of sin, and who wei-e 
 anxious about the salvation of their souls. There were then 
 twenty present, under different degrees of conviction ; some 
 of whom are now rejoicing in the hope of a glorious immor- 
 tality, others halting, waiting, perhaps, for the same reasons 
 that I did ; and others, I fear, have lost their serious impres- 
 sions. At the next meeting there were, in addition to the 
 former number, five others ; and, as far as I can judge, from 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 255 
 
 their solemnity, and what I learn of their views, they have 
 set their faces Zionward. Surely the Spirit of God is in our 
 midst, and I hope for a great harvest of souls as the fruit of 
 your, and your brother Carroll's sowing. 
 
 " I have been enabled (not in my own strength) to erect 
 a family altar, and, morning and evening, to call my family 
 around it, and there offer up my thanks to the Almighty for 
 the manifestations of his great goodness, and supplicate his 
 continued blessings. 
 
 " I now desire to thank you, in the Lord, for your faith- 
 fulness and kindness to me and my family, and to request, 
 as a further obligation, on my part, that you would soon 
 write me a long letter, and give me that Christian advice 
 which your own experience so well qualifies you to do. 
 And do not forget to pray for me. I desire to be affection- 
 ately remembered to your wife, and then unite with my wife 
 and sister, in testifying our love and esteem, both towards 
 you and yours. 
 
 " That the Lord may prosper and bless you abundantly, 
 in that whereunto he hath called you, is my sincere prayer." 
 
 " Brooklyn, Jan. Gth, 1830. 
 
 " The kind congratulations of my dear pastor* were re- 
 ceived on the morning of the new year, and excited emo- 
 tions which I know not how to describe. 
 
 " I was musing upon days and scenes for ever fled, and my 
 heart felt sad indeed, when your unexpected favour was 
 handed me, and in a measure dispelled the gloom, although 
 it brought the past more vividly to remembrance. 
 
 " How painful the retrospect of seasons misemployed. 
 Oh my pastor, the view is an overwhelming one ! What 
 
 * Thus she always addressed him. 
 
256 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 cause have I for gratitude, that I have not been cut off in the 
 midst of my unfaithfulness. I am permitted to behold the 
 opening of another year. May the wish expressed in your 
 dear letter be answered, that ' God would make it a happy 
 year by granting his presence and the light of his counte- 
 nance.' Will you not frequently put up this petition for me 
 at the throne of grace, for my days of darkness are many." 
 
 " Deprived of the privilege of attending the sanctuary, 
 this evening, I will devote it to answering the affectionate in- 
 quiries of my much loved pastor. You express the hope 
 that I am living in the light of God's countenance, and re- 
 joicing to see his work prospering around us. Moments, 
 sweet and precious, are granted, during which I am enabled 
 to say, My Father, with an unfaltering tongue. These 
 are green spots in my pilgrimage through this wilderness, 
 and demand my warmest gratitude. 
 
 " I trust I do rejoice to see those around me enjoying the 
 presence of God ; and there is much cause for rejoicing at 
 present. Many are inquiring the way to Zion, and some 
 have submitted to the Saviour. The little cloud, we trust, 
 is increasing still. Yes, my dear pastor, the seed you have 
 sown we trust is now springing up, and will yield an abun- 
 dant harvest. Our meetings are all well attended. At the 
 prayer-meeting, on Friday evening last, every seat in the 
 lecture room was occupied, and several around me were in 
 tears. I had thought Mr. C. too sanguine in his expecta- 
 tions ; but was now led to exclaim, ' The Lord is in the 
 midst of us, and I knew it not.' Mr. C. has an inquiry- 
 meeting every week : the number present at the last I do not 
 recollect. 
 
 " If the professed followers of the Lamb will be united 
 and unceasing in their petitions at a throne of grace, I do 
 
BKV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 257 
 
 think we shall experience a season of refreshing from the 
 presence of the Lord. 
 
 " My dear pastor, I do wish you could be with us, that 
 both the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. 
 
 " Your request shall certainly be complied with ; but do 
 not imagine that you are forgotten. O no, there are those 
 who oft present you in the arms of their affection, at a throne 
 of grace, and whose earnest prayer is, that your present la- 
 bours may be abundantly blessed. 
 
 " When shall we be permitted to welcome you at Brook- 
 lyn ? Do you not intend coming this spring ? That you 
 may have your heart encouraged and revived by seeing the 
 work of the Lord prospering under your present ministra- 
 tions, is the ardent prayer of your affectionate friend." 
 
 " Brooklyn, April lUh, 1831. 
 
 " REV. AND DEAR SIR, 
 
 " Knowing that you feel deeply interested in all the con- 
 cerns of our church, I hasten to communicate some of the 
 particulars with which our hearts were cheered yesterday. 
 It was the communion Sabbath, (session having, on a for- 
 mer occasion, found it inexpedient to celebrate that ordi- 
 nance on the Jirst Sabbath, by a permanent regulation, have 
 substituted the second.) Before the appointed hour, -3 o'clock, 
 the church was filled to overflowing ; benches and chairs 
 were placed in the aisles, and were all occupied. One hun- 
 dred and three names were then called off; the Confession 
 of Faith, penned by yourself, was then read and assented to. 
 Thirty-two individuals were baptized; and the covenant, ac- 
 cording to the form you left with us, was then solemnly en- 
 tered into. The whole body of the church, except the part 
 immediately under the front gallery, had been reserved for 
 the communicants, and every seat was crowded. A com- 
 22* 
 
258 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 mittee, consisting of three deacons, had been appointed to 
 superintend the seating and accommodating the various 
 classes of communicants and visiters. The galleries, filled 
 beyond any former occasion, maintained the most profound 
 silence ; and, although the exercises took up more than two 
 hours, no impatience whatever was manifested, but every 
 thing was done with decency and order. I could delight in 
 describing this scene, but the outline must suffice. I know 
 you can fill up all that is necessary to bring the spectacle 
 before you. Your mind's eye will discern many counte- 
 nances that have, in times past, been fixed on yours, when 
 imparting the tidings of salvation, and inviting them to close 
 with the offers of mercy — at length they have yielded. 
 
 " To God's rich, and free, and sovereign grace, through 
 the gift of his dear Son, and the influences of his Holy Spirit, 
 we would ascribe all the praise. The human instrumental- 
 ity employed in this work, has been the incessant labour of 
 our beloved pastor, somewhat more engagedness on the part 
 of the elders and deacons, and of individual Christians ; 
 and of the assembling together of the congregation for 
 morning prayer. This was begun on Monday, the 28th of 
 February, at 6 o'clock, and continued -precisely one hour. 
 The experiment was tried for holding these meetings every 
 other morning, for one week, but the plan was abandoned. 
 It was found the best to meet every morning. These meet- 
 ings continue to be well attended. The lecture room has, 
 at some periods, been crowded ; and this morning, although 
 the weather was cold, and the hour of meeting half past five, 
 the room was nearly full. On Friday, the 11th, and Satur- 
 day, the 12th of February, public services were held in our 
 church, at which some of the clergy from the city, attended. 
 These we have every reason to believe were attended with 
 beneficial effects, I have only to add, that our brethren of 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 259 
 
 the Dutch, Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist churches, are 
 more or less stirred up at this time. 
 
 " Mr. M'llvaine (now bishop of Ohio) has regular meet- 
 ings for religious conversation, and is much encouraged in 
 his labours. There is a most excellent state of feeling 
 amongst the respective denominations of this place. Our 
 morning prayer meeting has been attended by individuals of 
 all these several persuasions ; and it is a delightful circum- 
 stance, that the voice of prayer has ascended in our lecture 
 room from the Episcopalian, the Dutch Reformed, the Bap- 
 tist, the Methodist, as well as the Presbyterian." 
 
 But not only was Mr. Sanford greatly beloved b}' his 
 people in Brooklyn, he had many warm friends wherever he 
 was known. In Philadelphia, there were not a few by 
 whom he was greatly beloved. The following is one out of 
 many letters addressed to him by members of his church, 
 in that city, which exhibit the great affection entertained for 
 him. It was written by a person who is every way quali- 
 fied to form an opinion of what constitutes profitable preach- 
 ing. 
 
 " Pardon me, dear sir, for so long retaining the book you 
 kindly lent me last summer, which I read with peculiar in- 
 terest ; and, I hope, with profit. The doctrines it presents 
 to view are the only foundation on which my soul can rest 
 with confidence of pardon and acceptance before God. They 
 are well calculated to bring relief to the conscience labour- 
 ing under a sense of guilt, and feeling the necessity of a 
 better righteousness than sinful human nature can possibly 
 render. 
 
 " I cannot deny myself the gratification afforded by this 
 opportunity, of expressing, though it be but feebly, our grate. 
 
260 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 ful sense of the kindness you have evinced toward us, under 
 the severe afflictions through which we have been called to 
 pass. You have been truly the minister of consolation to 
 us ; and though we have experienced much of the loving- 
 kindness of our heavenly Father in sustaining us, while suf- 
 fering beneath the righteous inflictions of his hand, we have 
 especially felt our faith confirmed, our hopes excited, and 
 our wounded spirits soothed and elevated while we accom- 
 panied you in your fervent addresses to the throne of grace, 
 and poured out our prayers and our sorrows, where only we 
 could obtain relief and support. 
 
 " I pray God that the consolations wherewith you have 
 been enabled to comfort others may be abundantly adminis- 
 tered by his gracious Spirit to your own heart, in your pre- 
 sent 'painful circumstances. I have most sincerely sympa- 
 thized in the varied afflictions you have been called to en- 
 dure ; and my constant, earnest prayer has been that you 
 might be sustained and comforted, guided and blessed by 
 him, to whom having, in faith, committed your way, you 
 have his certain promise that he will direct your steps. 
 
 " Ever since, in the providence of God, I was first per- 
 mitted to attend upon your ministry, 1 have found your 
 mode of presenting divine truth peculiarly adapted, if I may 
 be allowed the expression, to my spiritual taste ; and, if not 
 deceived in the humble hope I indulge, that I have been 
 brought into the way of life and peace, I feel that I am 
 greatly indebted to your instrumentality for any progress I 
 may have since made in the divine life, any measure of 
 comfort or edification I have experienced. Your faithful 
 admonitions have frequently been brought home with resist- 
 less energy to my heart, and, through the divine blessing, 
 which, I trust, has attended your ministrations, I have been 
 instructed, reproved, humbled, and animated to greater dili- 
 gence in Christian duty by the message of his grace, wliich 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFOKD. 261 
 
 I doubt not God has commissioned you to deliver. My lan- 
 guid affections have often received a new and upward im- 
 pulse, while influenced by his Spirit, in your prayers you 
 have led us into the immediate presence of God. 
 
 " Forgive me for dwelling so long on the expression of 
 my own feelings. But to a heart in some degree sensible 
 of its obligations, there is pleasure in acknowledging a debt 
 of gratitude which it feels it can never discharge. And 
 among the richest blessings which God confers, the privi- 
 lege of receiving the instructions of a faithful pastor is one 
 which claims our most fervent thanks. 
 
 " Assure Mrs. S. of my affectionate remembrance. I 
 rejoice to hear that her health is in so great a degree re- 
 stored. Remember me with sincere respect to your mother. 
 " With sentiments of most grateful esteem, 
 
 " Yours." 
 
 Nor was the circle of those who loved him, and who con- 
 sulted him, confined to his own church, or even his own de- 
 nomination. The following two letters were addressed to 
 him by persons who occasionally frequented his lectures. 
 The first is from a gentleman belonging to the Episcopal 
 church. The second is from a most estimable individual, 
 who was then under the awakening influences of the Spirit, 
 and whose case needed that judicious advice which the spi- 
 ritual and experienced teacher, whom she consulted, knew 
 so well how to administer. 
 
 " Sunday night. 
 
 " May God bless you, my dear sir, by making you the 
 means of turning many to righteousness ! 
 
 " Your sermon, this evening, was exactly what I wished 
 
262 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 for my dear wife. The doctrine of God's sovereignty, as 
 she has understood it — and understood it so lont;, that I fear 
 it will be very difficult to eradicate it from her mind — has 
 been lying as an impassable barrier before her ; and had 
 been, (so far as I could see) the cause of the gradual decay 
 of her earnestness, and the origin of an apathy the most 
 dreadful. 
 
 " It is to no purpose that God's vi^ord, so full, so univer- 
 sal in its offers, is preached to her by me, or by any one 
 whom she has been accustomed to consider heterodox upon 
 the point of predestination. I have assured her that I dif- 
 fered, upon that subject, with the teachers to whom she has 
 been accustomed, only in so much that I considered them to 
 waste their time, and to confound their hearers, by prying 
 into what must, from the nature of the human mind, be dark 
 to us, while in the present state of being. I have assured 
 her that, practically, there was no difference among the 
 mass of Christians. Some are more metaphysical than 
 others — and metaphysics are not intelligible to any congre- 
 gation. It really does appear to me that injury is done, 
 whenever a sermon of that kind is preached. 
 
 " Excuse me, dear sir, my only object in enlarging upon 
 this point is, to testify to the correctness of your apprehen- 
 sions upon the extent of the impediment which it was, to- 
 night, your object to remove. 
 
 " Come and see us whenever you can, and I confidently 
 look for the blessing of God to my wife and sister, through 
 your hands. 
 
 " I am anxious to be better acquainted with you; and I 
 shall be glad, whenever you can make useful to yourself the 
 gratitude and confidence of 
 
 " Your friend." 
 
BEV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 263 
 
 " Sunday night. 
 
 " You have, to-night, dear sir, expressed a wish that any 
 of your congregation who wished to consult their pastor 
 concerning their eternal interests, would call upon you to- 
 morrow. 
 
 " Not having a claim upon you as one of your flock, I do 
 not feel at liberty to intrude upon you at that time ; but, 
 feeling a strong desire to have some communication with you, 
 I have chosen this method. But first let me state, as some 
 excuse for encroaching upon your time, that I am one of 
 Dr. W.'s congregation, and, of course, have no pastor, at 
 present, to whom I could apply. 
 
 " My complaint is hardness of heart, and an utter indif- 
 ference oi feeling, to the things of most importance. Hav- 
 ing sat under Dr. W.'s preaching, during my whole life, I 
 have never, for a moment, had the excuse of ignorance of duty 
 to plead ; but have gone on, from my earliest recollection, to 
 the age of twenty-eight, deliberately sinning against my own 
 conscience. I think I never have laboured under any self-delu- 
 sion in this respect. I do not remember ever having persuaded 
 myselfthat what 1 was doing was right. Indeed I do not remem- 
 ber having ever attempted it; but, having seen right and wrong 
 clearly set before me, have calmly, and without trembling, 
 chosen the evil — have deliberately turned away my thoughts 
 from sacred things and turned them unto sin. All my life 
 long I remember seasons when my reason would so strongly 
 represent the irrationality of pursuing a course which would 
 so certainly eventuate in misery, that I would make a few 
 faint efforts to free myself, but evil habits were too strong 
 upon me, and I willingly yielded to Satan's powerful influ- 
 ence. After a while, I found that his service, even the ser- 
 vice I had chosen, was, indeed, bondage ; but every failure 
 to release myself only made my bonds stronger. I have 
 
264 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 found by actual experience, what reason had always told 
 me, that even without reference to a hereafter, a pure and 
 holy life, with all its self-denial, must be infinitely happier 
 than living in sin. I think that, for some time past, it heis 
 not been so much the pleasure of sin, as the force of power- 
 ful habits, long indulged — too powerful for any but Almighty 
 force to overcome, that has kept me in bondage. My un- 
 derstanding has lately felt this slavery so much, and the 
 consequences to be so inevitable, that I have been making 
 my heart also affected with the subject. In this I have as 
 yet failed. 1 know that no power can effect a change but 
 the Spirit of God ; but I also know that it will be a certain 
 evidence that I have not this Spirit if I sit down to wait for 
 it without making any effort. I have prayed — how weakly, 
 and, no doubt, wickedly, God knows — still I have never en- 
 tirely given it up ; for it would be deliberately dropping the 
 only hold I have, however insecure a one. My difficulty is, 
 that I am in no distress of mind ; or, rather, in no distress 
 of heart. I set in array before me the attributes of a holy 
 God; but my.heai't is deadened by long indulgence in sin, 
 and the contemplation produces no awe, no emotion. I, 
 therefore, though perfectly conscious of sin so great that 
 only his restraining hand has prevented me from being the 
 worst of actual transgressors, have no feeling of the inex- 
 pressible guilt of sin, as committed against a pure and per- 
 fect being. As a consequence of this, I do not feel my need 
 of a Saviour, though perfectly conscious that I can do no- 
 thing of myself; and, of course, cannot see the excellence 
 and all-sufficiency of Christ, as a Saviour. 
 
 " Your representation of the love of Christ, to-night, I 
 found had no effect upon my hard and stony heart. The 
 most trivial things will turn my thoughts away from these 
 all-important subjects; and it requires a constant effort of the 
 mind to pay what little attention I do. And yet I cannot be 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 265 
 
 content to give the matter up. I think I can say that I have 
 not the slightest expectation of ever gaining the least ad- 
 vantage by any righteousness of my own. I am fully con- 
 scious of my own utter inability to raise myself from the 
 depths wherein I am sunk. And, I think, also, that I have 
 none of the pride of heart which would make me object to 
 owe all to Christ. I think, as far as I have any command 
 over my own feelings, that I am perfectly willing to submit, 
 but I find that I cannot repent and believe. I know that the 
 obstacles have been created by myself; and that, therefore, 
 I have no right to any assistance. But, as God has promisedt 
 that he will give bread, and not a stone, to those that ask 
 him, I cannot but entertain some faint hope that he may 
 grant me his Iloly Spirit to enlighten and warm my heart. 
 In the meantime I know that I must ' stretch forth the 
 withered arm.' — But how to do this ! 
 
 " I have generally attended on your preaching on Sun- 
 day and Wednesday evenings, for some weeks past, and have 
 found that what I heard from you tended, more than any 
 other preaching, to keep alive the faint determinations which 
 I had formed. I know that God has given us, in the Scrip- 
 tures, a full revelation of the way of life ; but as my heart 
 seems closed against the truth contained therein, he may, 
 perhaps, bless some explanation or advice which you can 
 sive me." 
 
 Even strangers were indebted to him for his faithful in- 
 structions in the journeys which he made. The following 
 extracts from a letter, written by a young lady who had 
 heard from his lips " a word in season," state an instance 
 of this sort. 
 
 " Tn the year 182G, my dear mother consented that I 
 should visit New York for the first time. My feelings, on 
 23 
 
266 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 leaving home, were rather sad. This first excited the at- 
 tention of a lady on board, who entered into conversation 
 with me. In hoi)es of diverting my thoughts from self, and 
 those I was leaving behind, she made remarks on the indi- 
 viduals around us. Your dearly beloved, and much lamented 
 husband was one among them. He had, at that time, been 
 to visit his parents ; and, if I mistake not, to attend the last 
 mournful rites of a beloved father. This circumstance, with 
 others mentioned, excited in me a deep interest for one so 
 afflicted. 
 
 ' " After a short time, a gentleman, with whom I had a 
 slight acquaintance in Albany, came and took a seat by me. 
 He made many remarks on serious subjects, somewhat de- 
 ridingly ; and at last concluded by saying, ' Well, if there 
 is any hereafter,' &c. In reply to this, I said, ' Could I 
 believe in annihilation I should be comparatively happy.' 
 This remark did not escape the observation of your bus- 
 band, who was engaged at that moment in conversation 
 with a gentleman very near me. They had no sooner 
 finished, than, turning to me, he inquired: ' Did I rightly 
 
 understand you. Miss , in saying that you believed in 
 
 annihilation V ' I said, if I could believe in it, I should be 
 comparatively happy.' ' You are not happy, then,' replied 
 Mr. S., and immediately commenced a conversation of the 
 deepest interest. First, by general remarks ; then, by de- 
 grees, more and more pointed, until personal feelings were 
 spoken of. Being made somewhat acquainted with my his- 
 tory, from myself, he alluded to the death of my father ; 
 the promises made to the orphan, and a heavenly Father's 
 care. The mercies of a suffering Saviour. Particular pro- 
 vidences. The various calls of sinners. The astonishing 
 forbearance of God in sparing them, and granting them op- 
 portunities to turn and live, &c. He then adverted to the 
 pleasures of New York ; the many temptations that would 
 
REV. JOSEPH SANFOKD. 267 
 
 surround me on all sides; entreated me to consider this, and 
 see if I could resist all these allurements. I replied, that 1 
 hoped that duty to my mother would not be so far forgotten 
 as to allow me to do any thing out of her presence which 
 she could not sanction at home. Ilius ended this interview 
 for that day. It was resumed as we came in siglit of New 
 York, the following morning ; after which, in the most so- 
 lemn and impressive manner, Mr. S. bade me farewell. 
 
 " What an effort I then found it to appear cheerful ! 1 
 was determined, at that time, never to let any one know 
 what fires raged within. Af\er my arrival in the city, having 
 a letter of introduction to a most pious, and, afterwards, in- 
 timate friend, I was in a measure shielded from many tempta- 
 tions. This friend improved every opportunity to warn and 
 admonish me ; and is now, no doubt, reaping the reward 
 promised to the faithful amid the heavenly host. 
 
 " Could Christians only feel more that it was their privi- 
 lege, as well as duty, to seek out opportunities for doing 
 good, we cannot say what blessed results would follow. 
 
 " I staid in New York five weeks. During that time, 
 heard Mr. Sanford preach once. I desired much to see him ; 
 he took my address before parting at the wharf, with the 
 intention of calling on me ; but I afterwards learned indis- 
 position prevented him until the very day I left the city for 
 home. 
 
 " On arriving at Albany I found the church, of which 
 my mother was a member, awakened to a sense of their ob- 
 ligations, and inquiring meetings were established. The first 
 was held on Tuesday evening — one of deep interest to me. 
 Many of my intimate friends were present. All of them 
 since united with the church militant. 
 
 " I have not, even in a faint manner, done justice to an 
 event which, to me, was one of so much moment. Oh that 
 I could give you to understand the manner in which all was 
 
268 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOSEPH SANFORD. 
 
 said ; but I should fail did I make the attempt. I can only, 
 therefore, say it was the spirit of Jesus that spoke to me 
 through him." 
 
 If it were proper, or necessary, to give the letters of con. 
 dolence which his family received, upon his death, every 
 reader would say that he was greatly beloved. But we must 
 close these remarks. 
 
 Such was the Rev. Joseph Sanford — a man of God ; a 
 faithful ambassador of Jesus Christ. May the contempla- 
 tion of his life, of his faith, his example, of his usefulness, 
 be rendered profitable, through the divine blessing, to all 
 who read this volume ; and to God alone shall be the praise. 
 
 THE END. 
 

 DATE DUE 
 
 
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 jlA.:^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CAYLORO 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U S A.