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EM




THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
AND
M INISTERIAL LIFE
OF
THE REV. JOHN JOHNSTON, D.D.
EDITED AND COMPILED BY
THE REV. JAMES CA RNAHAN, D.D.,
LATE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY.
290dRrw Aid an 3ppentbx
NEW YORK:
M. W. DODD, 59 CHAMBERS STREET...~x




Entered acc6'rdi'g' Ab-t: tifohieejf, in the year 18586,
By W. M. DODD,
I ih6 I'lerks OffiCe of'the Dis'trict Cdi ut of the Un'te'd StateiSfir tie
BSothern District of New York.
B. OBMU[U AD, PRINrLD,
S Vea sereet, Newt Yor.




PREFACE.
Tmu late i Rev.:-Dr. A,. A:xapnE~, a:;nin fdllof;.good
deeds,,proposedat;.the,Board-of Tru.teeQs  of; the:.Clege.of
IoewJersey,:ta: ha-tlblanki book -be provided, ian.d that,a
brief notice of  Graduates of  the  Collegetbe reorda therein.'This proposition was adopted, and thebook:w; committed to;the mover:of.~the ~esolutiog,.and,he dfild one
hundred, and., ten i:large f  olio. pages  i.th;.notices o:f.dfferent
Aluni.of:the. College, chiefly;frm;,his.ow i.knowledge
After the decease of Dr. Alexander, this book was placed
in the'hands of the subscriber,.,With..a.request,,that the
notices:be.,continued.
With.a view to.prepare a; brief  account; ofithe  late:.Rev,
John Johnston,:DD.,; a! Graduate and;.Trustee of.the: College, an inspection,;of sueh papers.as,contained information
touching:. the subjeet,:was:,asked.zand kindly: granted by the
fa mily of:the; deceased.:On.examinatiot,. these, papers;.were found  to contain
some account of himself: and of:he churches with.which he
had been, qoieoted), written for the gratification of his
friends. These documents exhibit the character of a good
mans worthy i'n1 m'iny respects of imitation) and also a fuller




iv                   PIEFACE.
account of the origin and progress of a portion of the Presbyterian Church than is elsewhere to be found. The original design of recording a brief account -of the individual
was abandoned, and the papers were arranged, and are
now printed, together with. such information as came
within the knowledge of the Editor. Such is the origin of
the following work. It is right to state, that in noting
some things respecting himself, Dr. Johnston had not the
most remote idea that the narrative would be read in any
other form than in his manuscript by his intimate friends.
His modesty would have shrunk from the idea of exhibiting
himself before the public as worthy of notice. Yet his biography is not less interesting and instructive because it was
intended only for the gratification of his intimate friends.
His long ministerial life is so interwoven with the history
of the Presbyterian Church in the region between the
cities of New York and Albany, that the one cannot be
understood Without a knowledge of the other. It is with
a view of rescuing from oblivion important facts respecting
that section of the Presbyte~rian Church, as well as of testifying our respect for the memory of a good and useful man,
that we present this small book to the Christian reader,
believing he will find in the perusal instruction and encouragement in the performance of his duty.
JAMES CARNAHAN,




CONTENTS.
C HAPTER I.
HIis -parentage-His  baptism —Early  reminiscencesDutch parsonage-Death of Colonel Barber —Small-pox
-Removal to a farm-Going to school-The Bible read
in school-Farming-Placed in a store-Conversation
with his father respecting an occupation-Chooses an
education-CommencesiLatin' under his pastor, the Rev.
J. Freeman —Advice given by his father-Goes to school
in Montgomery —Removed to Kingston Academy-The
death of his father-Makes arrangement to enter college-Drives cattle to market-Conversation of two
little boys respecting God-Recognises one of these
boys forty-five years afterwards....................... 9
CH APTER  II.
Journey to Princeton-No steamboats or railroads-The
first steamboat —Enters college —The faculty-The
want of class-books —His class-mates-College lifeThe state of religion in the college-Journey home in
vacation-The death of General Washington-Anxiety
after commencement-Thinks of the gospel ministryConsults the Rev. A. King-Admitted to the c'ommu



vi                    CONTENTS.
nion of the church-Determines to prepare for the ministry-Returns to Princeton, to study under the direction of Dr. Smith-The burning of the college-Students scattered.........25.....  O.. -....25
CHAPTER III.
Determines to cross the mou:ntains, and to study under
the Rev. Dr. MeMillan-Travels on horsebacksPennsylvania waggons —Mountain  scenery -Goitre, and
causes thereof-The country west of the miountainsThe houses-Arrives at'Canonsburg-Meets Dr. McMib
lan; —His personal appearance-His preaching-Joins
the theological class —Attends an ordination, in company with Dr. McMillan —Passes through PittsburgThe course of,st dy-An account of a remarkable revival of religion, attended with b4odily afffetions........ 8i:HAP.ER   ItV.
Determines to:return east of the mountains. to teach
in a privste family-:n account of his: journey  Passes
through Baltimore and Annapolis-Crosses; the Chesapeake-Finds the place engaged pre-occupied-Disappointment andgreat perplexity-$ueeeeds in obtaining
another place-,Incidents in Maryland —Leaves Maryland-Returns through Phadildephia to Orange county-Returns to Princeton, and studies under Dr. H. Kollock-Appointed tutor in the college- -Incidents in that
office-The Osage Indians........9...................59
CHRAPTER V.
Resigns tutorship-Licensed,to.preache-Returns to
Orange county-.Supplies yvcaht congregationis, under
the direction of -the presbytery of Hudson-Accepts a
call from.the congregations of New Windsor and Newburgh —Historyg sofi the church of New Windsor and




CONTeNTs.                   vii
Newbuigh-His -marriage —His ordination-Commences
housekeeping —Resigns thecharge of New Windsor, and
gives his whole time to Newburgh-The origin of the
church in Newburgh-The ministers who' preceded
him-The extent'of is charge-An infidel club in Newburgh-Ignorance of the religious' state.of Newburgh
-Opposition'of friends to his location..................
CHAPTER VI.
His first discourses.after ordination —The way he treated
infidelity, and the results-'Pastoral duties during the
first years of his ministry-Catechetical instruction,
and Bible classes-Weekly lecture-Revivals'in 181218, in 1815-16, in 1819-20, in 1824-25,'in 1831 —New
measures —Division of the synod into old and- new
school —The effect on vital piety-Revival in 1843The reasons why the number of church members did
not increase-Dismissions to other churches given when 
asked..9'  8';:CH.A-PTER  VI-I.,The means used to,wateh.over the,members,of his  church,
and to keep himself acquainted with the state of his
congregation-Emmonism-Change of views.and'practice in baptizing children aind.adults-Re-baptizing'Roman Catholics-Efforts to educate young men.for the
gospel ministry-The Wills of Robert and Marion Hall,
and Gilbert King, establishing theEd and' King Scholarship in the'Theological Seminary of Princeton —
Ministers' wives —Church music.............. 129
CHAPTER VIII.
Efforts to- organize a Second Presbyterian church in Newburgh-Extract of an address on that subject-The
result —The Second church becomes New School, and




Viii                  CONTENTS.
is dissolved-The increase of churches in NewburghImprovement in morals-Drs. Brown and McCarrollThe extent of the original Presbytery of Hudson-Vacant congregations and supplies-Hudson Presbytery
divided, and North River Presbytery formed-Bedford Presbytery formed from North River Presbytery-Two. New  School Presbyteries formed from
these-Increase of ministers-Punctuality in attending
Presbytery and other judicatories of the church-Fourteen times a Commissioner to the General Assembly-A
delegate to the General Association of Connecticut and
of Massachussets —A delegate to the General Association of New Hampshire and General Convention of Vermont-Biography of 140 ministers-Records of the
Presbytery of Dutchess-Elected a Trustee of the College of New Jersey —The degree of Doctor in Divinity
conferred........................................148
CHAPT ER IX.
Review of his Ministry —Seven Discourses-His last illness-Noble Resolution of his Congregation-The Visit
of Two Friends —Partial Recovery-Attends Commencement at Princeton-His Death-Funeral Services....  171
CHAPTER X.
Concluding Summary....................... 181
APPENDIX.......   




A UT O B I 0GRA P I Y.
CHAPTER I.'His parentage-His baptism-Early reminiscences-Dutch
parsonage-Death  of Colonel Barber-Small-pox-Removal to a farm-Going to school-The Bible read in
school-Farming-Placed in a store-Conversation with
his father respecting an occupation-Chooses, an education
-Commences Latin under his pastor, the Rev. J. FreemanAdvice given by his father-Goes to school in Montgomery
-Removed to Kingston Academy —The death of his father
— Makes arrangement to enter college-Drives cattle to
market-Conversation of two little boys respecting GodRecognises one of these boys forty-five years afterwards.
To profit myself, and to gratify my friends, I
have determined to note a few  things respecting myself, from my birth to the present time.
My parents were from  the north of Ireland.
2




10            AUTOBIOGRAPIIY.
My father from the county of Cavan,, and my
mother from Longford.
My fatrier, the youngest of thirteen children,
was often -heard to say, that his great-grandfather came from England, in connexion with
the army under King William, and fought in
the battle of the Boyne, July 1st, 1690. When
the army was disbanded he remained in Ireland, and settled in the county of Cavan.
There my father was born, December 1st, 1743,
his parents being in connexion with the Episcopal church. In 1774 he emigrated to this
country, and located himself in the province
of New York, intending to return to his native
land at the end of seven years. In the year
1775 my mother, Jane Moncriff, in company
with- her brother Charles, arrived in this country, and tarried with a distant relative, in the
neighborhood where -my father resided. Although in the old country my father and mother had no knowledge of each other, their
common origin on the Emerald Isle led to an
acquaintance, which terminated in marriage in
1777.




PARENTAGE.              11
On the 28th of January, 1778, I was born, in
the township of M[ontgomery and county of
Ulster, but now(18s51) township of Crawford
and county of Orange, State of New York. I
was named John, the name of my paternal
grandfather. My constitution appeared to be
feeble, and it was thought by my parents and
their neighbors that my days would probably
be but few. M~y father's intention of returning
to Ireland was frustrated by- the revolutionary
war, which commenced soon after his arrival in
this country; and before the close of the war
his marriage and family connexions were such
as precluded the hope of returning to the home
of his ancestors.
I have heard my parents say, that when the
frame of the Presbyterian church in Hopewell
was erecting I was laid on a blanket under the
shade of a tree. This was probably in the
summer of 1778. My father had a better edncation than many of the immigrants from Ireland, and he was employed nearly seven years
in one neighborhood in teaching school. In
the spring of 1779 my parents removed into the




12'AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
parsonage  house of the  Reforined  Datch
church; and by a minister of that church I
was baptized, although at that time neither my
father nor my mother were members, in full
communion, in any church. My father was
educated in the Episcopal cllurch, and my
motheir was brought up in connexion with -the
Presbyterian church in Ireland.  She afterwards became a member, in full communion, in
the- Presbyterian -church of EIopewell, and
remained such until her death. My father was
as;actively engaged in the support of the Presbyterian church in Hopewell, as if he had been a
member in full communion. He was one of
the trustees, did whatever writing was necessary, and kept the accounts of the congregation.
I have a distinct recollection of several things
which occurred during, the revolutionary war.
I remember the erection of liberty poles, and
thie death of Colonel Barber, a particular friend
of my father. The colonel was killed by the
falling of a tree, on Saturday, and the report of
his death was brought on Sabbath morning, by




SMALL-POX.             13
persons coming to public worship. My father
was greatly affected, and shed tears. This
arrested my attention, and was so deeply impressed on my mind that I ihave at this day a
distinct recollection of the event, although it
occurred when I was not more than five years
old.
At that time tlere was no little prejudice
against inoculation, and the inhabitants of the
neighborhood generally dreaded the spread of
the small-pox. And as the parsonage was considered common property, it was resolved to
make it a hospital, for the accommodation ofall
who thloughlt proper to submit themselves, or
the members of their families, to inoculation.
Some forty or fifty persons, most of them children, came together and were packed away in
one of the rooms, and the doctor and his attendants were in another. Then came the general
performance. The patients came in singly, with
a cloth saturated with whiskey applied to the
nose, and with eves turned away from  the
doctor held out the arm that had been made
bare, and after a breathless silence of a minute




14            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
or two the patient made way for another, and
so on until the whole had undergone.the inoculating proqess. I ought to have stated, that we
had previously been together for a few days
undergoing the preparatory process-living on
mush without salt, and no meat of any kind.
Medicine was given- in abundance, and- as it
was administered in molasses it created in me
such a disgust that I have loathed molasses ever
since. The whole terminated favorably, and
generally without leaving a pit or mark.
In the spring of 1783 our family removed
from the Dutch parsonage to the western part
of the town of Montgomery, now known as the
town or township of Crawford. And althoulgh
the distance was only three miles, the common
remark was, that Master Johnston (so called as
having been a school teacher) and his family
had removed back into the woods. It was then
an unsettled part of the town, and yet in about
thirty-five years that same neighborhood in
which my parents were the pioneers was considered the most highly cultivated part of the
county.  Four farmers in that neighborhood




FARMING.               15took the premium for five successive years for
having the best cultivated farms in the county.
The distance we lived from the school was more
than two miles, and when I was scarce nine
years old I, and a sister younger than myself,
travelled that distance on foot, day after day,
summer and winter. The principal book read
in the school was the Bible, and I can to this
day repeat with readiness passages which I
then committed to memory; and I recollect,
with precision, the history of the deluge, of
Joseph, and Moses, and Sampson, and David,
and Goliah, and others which arrested my attention. This single fact has convinced me of
tlhe importance of a careful and constant use of
the Holy Scriptures in every system of common
school education.
I was engaged- on the farm as soon as I was
able to work, and have reason to believe that
the active life I was compelled to live strengthened my constitution, naturally feeble, and
enabled me to estimate what might reasonably
be expected from a laboring man when employed in my service, and also taught -me how




16            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
to use and take care of animals. I can remember days of labor and work performed
which woitld now be thought unreasonable if
exacted from a youth of similar age. I have
many a day followed the plough from morning
to night.  I have oftentimes had to obtain
assistance to relieve the plough fastened under
a root or stone.'
In the fall of 1794: I went to remain for the
winter in the store of a man who lived three
miles distant. In the spring, when, on a Monday morning, I was preparing to return to the
store, my father told me to sit down, that he
wished to have a conversation with me; and
he went on to say, that it was time I began to
think what I would wish to be employed in for
life; that he had been thinking, that if I preferred farming he would purchase a farm which
was for sale, and it would be ready by the time
I would want it; or, if I wished to be a merchant, I must complete my clerkship, and, he
would try to help me in commencing business;
or, if I chose an education, I should have that.
" Take time," said he, "to consider these pro



COMMENCES LATIN.           17
positions, and when you have made up your
mind let me know, and my conduct shall be
regulated accordingly. But remember, when
you decide it must, be a final decision; I will
have no change."
I replied, "Father, I am ready."
He tried to dissuade me firom an immediate
decision.  But I replied that I was as ready
to decide now as I would'ever be.
" And what," said he, "is your decision?"
I said, " Give me the books."
"Well," said lie, "go and bring home your
effects from the store, and you must remain
with me on the farm until the fall harvest is
gathered in, and then you shall have' your discharge."
I did as directed; and I do not know that
Jacob served his time more cheerfully, in view
of obtaining Rachel, than I labored through
the summer, in the prospect' of obtaining an
education.
On the 14th of December, 1795, I entered
upon a course of study, under the direction ol
the Rev. Jonathan Freeman, pastor of the con2*




18            AUTOBIOGRAPaY.
gregation of Hopewell. There were also three
others,- sons of farmers belong"ing to'the pastoral
charge of IMr. Freeman, who commenced study
with myself.- One of them is a wealthy farmer,
still living; the other two are dead. One of
them  became a ministeir of the gospel, and,:after thirty years of usefulness, died in the
midst of his people, in the hope of a blessed
immortality;'the other, after spending much
money to no'valuable purpose, died in early
life.
My father used to counsel me in reference to
certain places and practices, which made a deep
impression on my mind, and which has been of
great service to me all my life. So impressed
was I with his counsels, that I cannot to this
day remain long in'a tavern without feeling
condemned. The old gentleman was a deadly
enemy to theatres; and such was the effect
of his admonitions on the subject, that I have
never been inside of a theatre, or attended
a public ball in my life. As to Free-masonry,
he lived and died in the full belief that Freemasons had dealings with the devil; and erro



GOES TO SCHOOL IN MONTGOMERY.    19
neous as this opinion may have been, his counsels on the subject have had the effect of preventing me entering a lodge, and I an not conscious that I have ever had a desire to know
what the mysteries of Masonry are. I-Ie was
always ready to explain to children the reasons
why he performed any act. I remember, when
I was about ten years of age, asking him why
he cut the upper -end of a stake which he was
going to drive into the ground, square or even,
and he replied, that he might drive it into the
ground with the poll of the axe. This simple
act, and'the reason assigned for doing it, suggested to me the importance of forethought, and
of adopting means suited to accomplish an end
in view. Truly we know not what the result of
a single act, or a single word, may be. Parents
and instructors should always be ready to explain to children the reasons of what they do.
Beneficial impressions may be made when least
expected.
In the spring of 1797 the Rev. Mr. Freeman
was preparing to remove and take charge of the
colngregation of Bethlehem, fifteen or twenty




20            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
miles distant, and it became necessary to seek
another instructor. My father procured boarding for me rn the village of Montgomery, about
a mile from the academy under the direction
of Mr. Reuben Neely. I returned to my father's
house every Saturday afternoon, and back to
the school, eight miles  distant, on Monday
morning. Here I remained for two years, until
Mr. IN'eely relinquished the charge of the academy. I was removed to an academy in IKingston, under the direction of Mr. Timothy Smith,
who afterwards was appointed Professor of
Ancient Languages in Union College. I remained in Kingston until the last day of September, when about sundown two men came to
take me home, informing me that my father
had died suddenly the preceding night.  I
arrived in time to see his corpse before its
removal, and then followed his remains to the
burying-ground connected with the church of
" Goodwill."
This was a solemn providence; not only in
the loss of an intelligent, affectionate, -and devoted parent, but as it presented an insuperable




DRIVES" CATTLE TO MARKET.     21
obstacle (in my apprehension) to the completion
of my education.  It produced a train ofthought solemn and trying, and I was often led
to inquire, "What shall I do-what is best to
be done?'" Various plans presented themselves,
and no -sooner were they considered than they —
were abandoned.. While some schemes would
promise self-advantage, the comfort and happiness of- my mother, and the; rest of the family,
would be overlooked. After some days were
spent in this sad state of mind, my mother suggested that it would be best for me to go' to
college, and she would endeavor to keep the
family together, and provide for me the means
of completing my education. The- subject was
considered and talked of for several days, and
finally it was agreed that I should enter college.
As money would be wanted, it was proposed to
dispose of some of the stock that could be
spared. In company with a neighbor, who was
in the habit of driving cattle into the counties
of Dutchess and Westchester, I became a
drover.  This was a new business, but I engaged in it with alacrity, inasmuch as the result




22            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
was to -be for my benefit. After crossing the
river, at Newburgh, we visited Fishkill and Philipstown, and on the second day passed below
Yorktown in Westchester. As sales had been
made of a sufficient number of cattle to furnish
me with money enough- for my immediate
wants, it was thought advisable that I should
return.
Leaving the drov-       3 rest of the company, I returned as far as Yorktown, and
took lodgings for the night. This was the first
time in my life that I felt myself to be in a
lonely situation. I was far from friends, and
knew not that there was any individual near
me that had ever heard. of me, -or cared for me.
With these feelings I retired to rest, and in the
morning, about daylight, I was waked by two
little boys, in a trundle-bed at the foot of the
bed in which I was, talking about God-wondering if God could see them  could he see
them in the dark? could he see them if they
covered heads with the blanket  and similar
questions.  Their, conversation arrested my
attention, and left-an impression which I have




RECOGNITIONs.            23
never forgotten, and which has frequently occurred to me during the whole of my life. Ir
this connexion I would remark, that some forty
five years after the occasion above stated I wa,
brought to recognise one of these little boys, ir
the following manner: —During the meeting o:
our synod, in the'city of New York, I was
invited, with some twenty others, ministers and
ruling elders, to dine with the Rev. Dr. Potts.
At table the conversation turned- on what has
frequently occurred, viz. that great events often
arose from apparently trivial circumstancesthat the course of a man's life ofttimnes was
determined by a word dropped in conversation,
or by a contingency over which the individual
has no control. Reference was made to incidents in the life of George Whitefield, Dr.
Rogers, Dr. McWhlorter, and others. I was
reminded of what occurred to myself at Yorktown, and I repeated the conversation of the
two little boys, above stated, and remarked that
that incident determined the course of my
future life, and was the cause, under God, of my
becoming a maillister of the gospel, and a meim



24            AUTOBIOGRAPHIY.
ber of the synod of New York. A gentleman
at the foot of the table inquired when, and
where, and at whose house, that which I had
related occurred. I answered, it was in the
month of October, 1799, in Yorktown, at the
house of Mr. Purdy, opposite the Presbyterian
church. The gentleman, With quivering lips,
and tears in his eyes, said, " I am one of those
two little boys, and am here as a ruling elder in
the Presbyterian church."  " "Woso is wise,
and will observe these things, even thiey skall'understand the louing kindness of the Lord."
I returned in safety to my mother's house,
and in a few days began to prepare to visit
Princeton. I ought here to remark, that I was
the oldest of five children,- and it might reasonably have been expected that I would have
remained at home to take charge of the family;
but my dear mother was willing to submit to all
the toil and care of supporting the family, and
of providing for me while pursuing my studies
in the college.




JOURNEY TO PRINCETON.              25
CHAPTER II.
Journey' to Princeton —No steamboats or railroads-The first
steamboat-Enters college —The  faculty-The want of
class-books —His class-mates-College life-The state of
religion in the college-Journey home in vacation —The
death of General Washington —Anxiety after commeneement-Thinks of the gospel ministry-Consults the Rev. A.
King-Admitted to the communion of the church-Determines to prepare for the'ministry-Returns to Princeton,
to study under the direction of Dr. Smith-The burning' of
the college-Students scattered.
IN the latter part of October, 1799, before daylight, I left my mother's house, about twenty
miiles west of Newburgh, and I did not reach
Princeton until the next Saturday week, progressing  as fast as the  public  conveyances
would carry us. The easiest and most expeditious way was on board of a sloop, and two
days and two nights in reaching New  York
was considered a good passage; and four or
five days, and even more, as in my case, was




26            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
not uncommon. From New York to Princeton
the journey by stage was equally tedious.
In the fall of 1807 the first steamboat came
up the river-the wheels unprotected, and
exposed to public view. A  form  on cross
beams, like that of a saw-mill, moving up and
down, and the boat creeping along at the rate
of three or four miles an hour. A real curiosity! the wonder of the country! People
would come twenty or thirty miles, to see the
boat on the day she was to make her trip.
Then came an improved boat, such as would
accommodate passengers, but it was a very
different thing from  the floating palaces in
which we may now go at the rate of fifteen or
twenty miles an hour, with lodging and fare
equal to the best city hotels. There was no
landing at the dock; the boat lay in the river,
and we had to- be rowed out in a small boat.
I have been dragged in one of these row-boats
until we were opposite New Windsor, in a dark
night, before I ascended the steamer, and then
could find no convenient place to sit, or stand,
or lie; perhaps it was raining; nothing to eat,




ENTERS COLLEGE.           27
and I was glad to be let off at New York, after
paying three and a half dollars for the passage.
Railroads now extend in all directions. And
on the east side of the Hudson you may go
under mountains, through water, along the
crooked margin of the river, with a rapidity
outstripping the speed of the racehorse, moved
by the old blaclk horse that never tires. A trip
to Princeton may now be made in half the
number of hours that I was days on the way in
my first visit, at less than half the expense!
After arriving at Princeton I was admitted to
the Junior Class: The Faculty consisted of the
Rev. Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, Dr. John
McLean-father of the Rev. Dr. John MacleanHenry Kollock and Frederic Beasley.  The
whole' number of students was\ not more than
seventy-five or eighty, and even all these were
not in full standing. It was at that time the custom to permit students not acquainted with Latin
or Greek, especially Greek, to attend to English
and scientific studies with the regular students,
and at the end -of their course to give them a
certificate, and not a regular diploma, specifying




28            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
the studies to which they had attended. Hence
the classes at that period in the triennial catalogue are small, not containing more than twothirds, and in some cases one half of those in
actual attendance. Text books at that time were
not so easily obtained as they are now. Dr.
Smith's lectures on ioral Philosophy, which
were voluminous, had to be copied; and also a
syllabus of Dr. Maclean's Lectures on Chemistry.
Neither my roomn-mlate nor myself could obtain
in New York or Philadelphia a copy of Simpson's Algebra, the text book used. We adopted
the plan of borrowing a book the day before
that study was'required, and when the day for
algebra came, we were prepared., The consequence was that we were offered bools by the
lazy part of-the class, who, in return for the use
of their books, received from  us instruction
without the labor of study. Teaching others,
made us so familiar with the subject, that at the
close of the term, or year, we had the honor of
being named among the best scholars in the
class, so far as algebra was concerned.
Amolng my class-mates were several indivi



COLLEGE LIFE.            29
duals who became distinguished and useful men
i-n after life, such as ~Nicholas Biddlie of Philadelphia, Dr. John E. Cook of Virginia, since Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in
the University of Transylvania, IKy.; the Rev.
Dr. John M6Dowell, now  of Philadelphia,
Henry E. Watkins, Edward D. Watts, and John
G, Gamble of Virginia.
I became a member of the American Whig
Society in the College, and I felt an interest and
zeal in its honor and prosperity, which the lapse
of half a century has not extinguished.
HIaving been accustomed all my previous life
to mingle freely with the society of male and
female, and to enjoy the sociality of the domestic
circle, I found it rather tough, especially during
the first term of nearly six months, to be excluded
from those I loved, and to confine my attention
to angles and triangles, and algebraic surds and
equations. We had monthly holidays, and I
found some relief froih the monotony of college
life, in visiting on these occasions the family of
Andrew McDowell, a relative of my room-mate,
who resided about nine miles from the college.




30             AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
The sociability of that agreeable and hospitable
family restored in some measure the elasticity of
my spirits, and caused me to anticipate the pleasure I should enjoy on returning in the approaching vacation to the social circle of my early
days.
The state of religion was lamentably low in the
college. Among the students there were only
three or four who made any preten'sions to piety.
The only means of grace.enjoyed the first session
was morning and evening prayers in the chapel,
a sermon in the forenoon on the Sabbath, and.
prayer meeting in the evening of the same day,
at which none except the tutors and three or
four students attended. I usually: attended, but
took no active part in conducting the services,
which consisted in prayer and reading a sermon,
for. none who attended were skilled in music or
were able to sing. The following summer term
or session of the college, Mr. H. Kollock, who
still remained a tutor, was licensed to preach,
and he usually occupied the pulpit in the village
church on the Sabbath afternoons. So eloquent
and popular was he, that nearly all the students




JOURNEY ItOMTE IN VACATION.     31
voluntarily attended, and many persons from
neighboring congregations came, and the' hluse
was crowded with attentive hearers.
At the close of my first college term, in cornpany with three other students, I hastened to the
public-house to wait the arrival of the mail- stage
for New York. When it arrived, there were in
it four sailors, just landed from a- distant voyage.
The rule was that not more than six passengers
could have a seat within the stage unless with
the consent of those already in. Two of the
students immediately rushed into'the stage. I
was one of two without a seat. We begged to be
admitted; the driver said "'no!" except with
the unanimous consent of those occupying the
seats.' At last Jack.cried out to me, "come
in, my hammock will hold us both."  The'othter
student took a seat with' thie- coachman on the
box, and we were soonon oir way. The roads
were in a sad state. The stage was often so
sunk in- the mud, that four horses could not
extricate it, and we w]vere under the necessity, as
Jack said, of going-' "on shore." "The craft had
grounded."  It appeared to me that every sea




32            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
term used by every sailor throughout the length
and breadth of the land and ocean was in constant use.  One of the sailors lost his hat overboard,-and when we carne to Newark, he landed,
and pounded at the door of a hatter, until he
was supplied.
On another occasion, returning home, we took
sloop at New Brunswick, and when we reached
Amboy, the tide and wind were against us, and
it was proposed to have asupper of oysters.
And although I had often tried, I had heretofore
failed to eat oysters; but as my companions
were going to have an oyster supper, I concluded
to go with them. I ordered what I thought to
be sufficient for myself to be shucked and fried.
These were brought forward first, and in a
minute or two they were all gone. Then came
the roasted; and as I saw my shipmates eating
heartily, I thought it was too bad to pay fifty
cents for a single cup of, coffee: " I'll try and eat
two or three little ones."  I did so; and I continued until I had as large a pile of shells as any
one at the table.; Thus commenced my fondness for
oysters, and it has continued to the present time.




DEATH OF WASHINGTON.         33
Shortly after I entered college, the public
learned the melancholy fact, that on the 14th
day of December, 1799, General Washington
died, at his residence on the banks of the
Potomac. At the request of citizens of Trenton,
Dr. Smith, president of the college, consented
to deliver, on the 14th of January, 1800, in the
city of Trenton, an oration, commemorative of
the virtues and services of that great and good
man. On the day appointed a large number of
the students, the greater part on foot, repaired
to Trenton. So great was the throng, that the
students and many others had to stand on their
feet. After the eulogy, which Dr. Smith delivered in his most elegant and impressive manner, the military proceeded to inter a coffin,
according to the honors of war; Governor
Howell, who had been with Washington in the
battle of Monmouth, following the hearse as
chief mourner.  When the ceremonies were
closed, we made our way back to the college.
To walk ten miles going and ten miles returning, and to stand on our feet nearly three hours,
was not a small day's labor. It- will be be3




34            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
lieved, that when we reached the college we
were excessively fatigued and hungry, for we
had no opportunity to get anything to eat
during the day.
I have frequently seated myself under the tree,
and, after it was cut down, on the stump, where
General Mercer was reported to lie mortally
wounded, at the battle of Princeton. I have
also gazed, with wet eyes, at the.painting suspended in. the college chapel, which represents
a surgeon bending over Mercer expiring, and
Washington, full size, standing near, with
drawn, sword.
When I told my father that I wished to have
an education, I had no particular occupation or
profession in view; but when I drew near to
the close of my college course I became extremely anxious.  I could not endure the idea
of law or medicine. -I felt, that I had not the
piety which I deemed indispensable in a minister of the gospel. From  the time I had
heard the two little boys talk about God seeing
them in the dark, and covered with a blanket, I
had serious reflections; but the gayeties and




RETURNS TO PRINCETON.        35
follies of the world soon caused theom to pass
away.  As the time of commencement drew
near my serious thloughts became more deep
and lasting. On my way home I felt miserable, as the time had now come when I must
decide as to-my future course. When I thought
of anything but the ministry I was wretched.
When I thought of that a calm state of mind
ensued. The subject was constantly before my
nind, either in prayer or meditation. And the
more I thought of the gospel ministry the more
my thoughts were drawn towards it, and I hope
at last with a fixed purpose to direct my studies
towards a work in which I might-glorify God
and benefit my fellow men. I' asked the advice of the Rev. Andrew  King.  And, after
several interviews, I was admitted a member of
the church of Goodwill, in the fall of 1801, a
few weeks after I had received the degree of
Bachelor of Arts.
My mind became settled, and I returned to
Princeton to study divinity, under Dr. Smith.
He prescribed a course of study; but I do not
recollect that I ever recited to him on any




36             AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
branch of study. On the 6th of March following (1802) the college building was burned, the
library destroyed, and the theological students
scattered.




RESOLVES TO CROSS THE MOUNTAINS.    37
CHAPTER III.
Determines to cross the mountains, and to study under the
Rev. Dr. MacMillan —Travels on horseback-Pennsylvania
waggons —Mountain scenery-Goitre, and causes thereofThe country west of the mountains —The houses-Arrives
at Canonsburg-Meets Dr. McMillan-His personal appearance-His preaching-Joins the theological class-Attends
an.,ordination, in company with Dr. McMillan-Passes
through Pittsburg-The, course of study-An account of a
remarkable revival of religion, attended with bodily affections.
IT then became a serious inquiry, what I should
do.  I had read and heard much of revivals of
religion, but I had never witnessed one. As
Dr. McMillan, in the western part of Pennsylvania, was spoken of as a minister whose labors
had been blessed with several revivals, and as
he was also an instructor in theology, I resolved
to  cross the mountains, and to prosecute my
studies under his direction. I returned to my
mother's house, in order to prepare to go to the




388           AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
waters of the Ohio. In April, 1802, I set out
on my journey.  My wardrobe was the saddlebags on which I rode. My horse was not the
finest in appearance, but sufficiently able to
carry me over the Alleghany mountains.  I
took Princeton on my way, and having taken
leave of my friends, I passed through Philadelphia, Lancaster, Columbia, and Yorktown,
and rested on the Sabbath at Chambersburg.
On Monday I proceeded on my-journey,, and
passed through McConnell's Town, Bedford,
and Somerset, crossing mountains and some
small hills, one of which (Laurel hill) was only
nine miles from foot to foot. On my journey,
the large Pennsylvania waggons which I every
day saw arrested my attention. They were of
great size, and drawn by from four to eight
horses, much larger than any I had ever seen.
Sometimes they were harnessed two and two
abreast, sometimes they were strung along
single, one after the other.'The leader walked
majestically, with head reined up, as if he had
nothing to do except to guide the procession.
The shaft horse was content with holding back




MOUNTAIN SCENERY.          39
when going down hill, and then all his energies
were called into action. The greater part of
the commerce of western Pennsylvania, western
Virginia, Ohio, aId Kentucky, was carried on
by means of these large waggons. They moved
at the average rate of twelve miles each day,
so that they were about three weeks making a
trip from  Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.  The
drivers were generally of the roughest class;
their home was on the road summer and winter.
They knew no Sabbath, lodging in their waggons in summer, and on the bar-room floor in
winter. They were civil, and even obliging, to.
other travellers, if not molested, but showed
themselves- lords of the road if their rights, were:
infringed. Woe be to the man in a light carriage who ordered them to give the road in a
narrow pass in the mountains!
As I passed the mountains, the wildness and
grandeur, and sometimes the beauty, of the
scenery arrested my attention,  Especially at
the rising and setting of the sun, the prospect
was sublime and glorious. The brilliant rays
of the morning and evening sun, reflected from




40            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
immense rocks on the summits of the inountains, the dark shades of the pines where his
beams hadnot reached, and the fogs resting on
the valleys, giving them  the appearance of
lakes and rivers, with rocks and leafless trees
here and there projecting, was a panorama
which filled my soul with wonder and amazement, and caused me to exclaim, " Great and
marvellous are -thy works, Lord God Almighty,
in wisdom thou hast made them all!"
The prospect, in looking back from the summit of the first mountain west of Chambersburg,
presenting to view the great fertile valley which
extends through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and
Virginia, was beautiful and enchanting. Nor
was that from the west side of the same mountain, which overlooks -the extensive plain on
which McConnell's Town is situated, less so.
The wild and precipitous descent to the Juniata,
and the immense piles of rock, on which a shrub
can scarcely find a foothold, near Bedford, are
still, after a lapse of half a century, vividly before
my mind.
On the summit of the Alleghany MlIountains, I




GOITRE.               41
lodged at the sign of-the Whitehorse, and I was
kept awake part of the night lest I should be
robbed of what little cash I had by a fellow who
slept in the same room with me. Perhaps my
fears were groundless. Rough-looking men are
not always rogues, nor are:smooth-looking men
always honest. At the foot of the Laurel IIiil,
where I. had stopped to feed my horse, a woman,
with an nncommnonly long neck, came into the
room in which I was, and slle had a frightfully
large tumor in front of her throat; and she
breathed with so much difficulty that I feared
she would fall down suffocated. This was the
first case I had ever seen of the goitre. But I
found that disease was very common west of the
mountains. In Switzerland it is accounted for,
from the water used for drlink being melted snow.
In western Pennsylvania, some suppose the
cause to be the use of water filtering through
the strata of bituminous coal that underlies the
face of the country. Other causes are assigned,
such as the decomposition-of vegetable matter
in connexion with the coal formation in the country. Others, again, think it arises from the want




42             AUTOBIOGlRAPHY.
Of salted marine-fish, and remark that this malady is usually foiund in regions remote from the
seaboard;-and that fish-skins applied to the
throat, externally, is one of the best remedies;
and the theory is favored by the fact that this
disease is much less fiequent since the means of
conveyance have.so improved, that salted fish
are carried bevond the mountains.
Th'e face of the country west of the mountains
is very uneven; the hills do not run in parallel
ranges, but, like a seal-skin, the risings and
depressions are without any order. -The land is
fertile, with very few stones or rocks visible on
the surface. Wheat, rye, and grass grow luxuriantly on the top and sides of hills, so steep,
that the plough is used with difficulty. -The
whole country seems to be bedded with bituminous coal. Sd plenty was that article, that we,
had it laid at our door, ready for use, for two
and a half cents a bushel.
The houses in the mountains built for the
accommodation of travellers, and, indeed, many
on farms and in villages west of the mountains,
were constructed of logs, notched together at the




MEETS DR. M'MILLAN.        43
corners, and the chinks between filled with
billets of wood, and mortar made. of clay..
I arrived, about the last of May, at Canonsburg, situated twenty miles south of Pittsburg,
and seven miles north of Washington, the capital of the county of the same name. Jefferson
College, located there, was then in its infancy,
with John Watson, whose history is full of interest, at its head. As I drew near to the village,
I met a large country-looking man with a little
stoop in his broad shoulders, a long nose and long
neck, and head projecting forward more than
usual, and in his hand he had an uncomrmonly
large walking-stick.  From  the description I
had heard of him, I concluded it was the Apostle
of the West; but I could not command confidence enough to speak to him.- The next day,
when he rose in the pulpit to commence public
worship, I perceived that my conjectures were
well founded. It swas the veritable John McdMillan. I heard him- preach with no little attention; and the opinion I then, and afterwards,
formed, I believe to be correct, that he analysed
and brought to light the secret workings of the




44            AU TOBIOGROAPHY.
deceitful human heart, beyond any man I ever
heard preach. His preaching was with power,
apd he had many souls as seals of his ministry,
and crowns of rejoicing in the day of the Lord
Jesus. Mr. Andrew Thompson, who had been
my class-mate from the commencement of my
classical studies until we finished our college
course, on being informed of my arrival, was
soon with me, and conducted me to the house of
Mrs. Whiteside, with whom I boarded about
a; year. Mr. Thompson had gone to Canonsburg six months before me-having set out for
the West soon after commencement-I was soon
introduced to Father MeMillan and his family.
The first Sabbath I attended public worship I
was forcibly struck with the multitude of voices
engaged in singing. If a stranger did not sing,
he was noticed and spoken of as the man who
did not sing. And although the music was not
of the most correct and scientific kind, it was
hearty, impressive, and devout, and had a most
thrilling and solemn effect, especially-when the
worship was in the open air, under the shade of
the native trees, as was usually the case in the




ATTENDS AN ORDINATION.          45
summer season. I could not; but feel that God
was among the people with his gracious presence. I took my place in the theological class,
and, as nearly as I can recollect, I was the
twenty-seventh person who had studied theology
under Dr. McMillan.  lie had a manuscript
system of questions and answers, of which we
could have a copy if we would take the labor of
transcribing. The system was plain and didactic rather than polemic. It was modelled after
the plan of the old Puritan divines, particula~rly
Flavel and Boston, and those of a kindred character and spirit. Very little attention was paid
to the languages in which the sacred Scriptures
were originally written, or to church lhistory
after the comining of Christ; Biblical history, the
sacraments, and didactic theology, were the
principal studies. There were seven or eight in
the class, who in turn read or delivered discourses. To tell the truth, there was very little
study, especially after the month of September.
About four weeks after I colnmenced study, I
went with Dr.' McMillan to attend an ordination, west of the Alleghany river, above Pitts



46            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
burg. When we reached the top of the immense hill overlooking Pittsburg, and south of
the Monongahela, I was amazed at the sight of
the beautiful plain lying far below us, on which
Pittsburg is situated. It was not then, as now,
covered with dwelling-houses, and factories of
various kinds, and overshadowed with a dense
cloud of smoke, sent from the coal used to impel
the machinery. We could see the clear blue
water of the Alleghany coming from the northeast, and the turbid waters of the Monongahela
coming from the south, meeting each other at
the point where once stood Fort Duquesne,
forming the beautiful Ohio, flowing towards the
south-west between the surrounding hills. Little
did I think, when enjoying the delightful prospect, that I was standing on an immense strata
of bituminous coal; and perhaps there were
miners at that moment beneath my feet, using
the pick and shovel.
We lodged in Pittsburg, and the following day
crossed the Alleghany about four miles above,
and then went seven or eight miles into the
woods, attended the ordination and returned to




THE LORD'S SUPPER.        47
Pittsburg.  By appointment previously made,
Dr. McMillan preached in the evening one of his
thundering sermons, calculated to alarm impenitent sinners. A very large part of our time as
students was spent in complying with a practice
which prevailed in that part of the country.
The Lord's Supper was administered only twice
a year in each congregation; but the custom was
for three or four churches to come together on
these occasions. Thursday was a fast day-in
some places there was preaching on Friday-on
Saturday there were itwo public services, and
prayer meetings in the evening. On the Sabbath the services were often continued from ten
o'clock in the morning until near sunset, and
then prayer meetings at private houses in the
evening. On MIonday there was preaching in
the morning,- and sometimes in the afternoon.
Theological students were expected to attend
these sacramental occasions, far and near. So
great was the concourse, that sometimes the men
had to lodge in a barn or hay-mow.- I have
often attended a hay-mow prayer meeting in the
dark. A hymn would be repeated from memory




48            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
and slng, a prayer offered, and Singing, and prayer
would be repeated several times, or religiousconversation or exhortation would take place. I
have attended several sacramental seasons at the
distance of seven, fifteen, and one twenty-seven
miles, and generally on foot. At this time I can
call to mind the impressive and solemn exercises
of inind which I had on these occasions. Returning from one of these blessed seasons, I distinctly
remember retiring into the woods, and by the
side of,a fallen tree, I had such a view of my sinfulness, especially the depravity of my heart, as
exceeded anything I had ever experienced before,
and which caused the way of salvation through
the atonement of the Lord' Jesus Christ to be
precious, and the -only way in which I desired
salvation. At the remembrance thereof, I can
use the language of Job,- and say: "'oh, that it
were with me as iil days that are past."
In October, 1802, the Synod of the same name
met in Pittsburg. My room-mate, who had
been- there, returned on Friday evening, and
gave an account of a revival of religion which
had commenced in the congregations of the Rev.




REMARKA-BLE REVIVAL.        49
Elisha McCurdy. The subjects-in the beginning
of the awakening were generally exercised with
great bodily agitations.  There was no one
characteristic mark of this bodily exercise.
Sometimes it would so affect the person, that a
stranger, ignorant of the cause, would be ready
to conclude that the person affected, had epilepsy, or was dying.  Sometimes convulsions
were so violent that it would require two or
three persons not affected, to prevent injury.
Sometimes a cramp would pervade the whole
body, and an attempt to part the fingers would
require considerable effort, and when the force
applied was suddenly suspended, the fingers
would return to their original position, like a
bent bow, when relieved from the force which.
drew it aside from its natural position. Some
would remain for hours in an apparent state of
insensibility, and yet, when relieved, they could
mention the prayers that had been made, the
hymns that had been sung, or the sermon that
had been delivered, while they were in this
apparent stupor.  Sometimes the same person
would fall again and again for several months,
others would have only a single fall.




0             AAUTOBIOGRAPHY.
In one instance, a minister fell in his pulpit,
and in another, an elder, while distributing the
elements on a sacramental occasion. Sometimes
the stoutest and hardiest men would be seized,
while the weak and feeble of their own families
would be exempt. -Sometimes those affected,
would say, after they recovered, that they were
not conscious of any mental excitement at the
time they became powerless.  The general
declaration was, that their minds were agitated
in view of their own guilt, or by sympathy withthose around them. Sometimes a person would
be taken when entirely alone and without being
able to assign any cause. The greater part,
however, became affected under religious feeling, when alone, or in their family, or in prayer
meeting, orin the house of God. Sometimes the
appearance would indicate to a spectator, that
bodily affection was about to take place. Sometimes it would occur suddenly, when the countenance appeared calhn and unmoved. Sometimes
it was evident that sympathy was the exciting
cause. A word or two would be followed by
bodily affection in a single instance, and then
another and another, until standing in a cornm



REMARKABLE REVIVAL. -        51
mnon sized room, I could touch with my cane at
least -one dozen prostrate on the floor at the same
time —and perhaps no two of them affected in
the same way-some praying, some silent, and
others crying out in tones approaching shrieking.
Some would remain a shorter and some a longer
time in this state.
Sometimes those who had been frequently
seized with bodily convulsions, would free themselves from mental distress, and their bodily affections would leave them, and they would become
worse than they had ever been —scoffers at religion-ridiculers of those, who like themselves
had been fools enough to suffer themselves to be
wrought on in this ridiculous way. Many were
bodily affected who never obtained a hope of an
interest in. Christ; and many, during this wonderful excitement, obtained a good hope who
never were bodily affected. The same kind of
bodily agitation extended through all the congregations belonging to the Presbytery of Ohio,
and as nearly as I can recollect, thirteen or fourteen hundred were added to the communion of
the churches. Many of the subjects of this




52;AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
extraordinary religious excitement have become
faithful and useful preachers of the gospel.
Though theie were several things connected with
that revival which I did not then, nor do I now
understand, nor do I think essential to true religion, I have no more doubt that it was a
genuine revival than I have that I am now writing
with a pen ma'de of a goose-quill. I verily
believe that the proportion of those bodily
affected, and who gave, evidence of a change of
heart, will not suffer in comparison with those
only mentally affected in ordinary revivals of
religion. God, for wise purposes, saw fit to permit this bodily affection (in which there was no
piety) to accompany the saving influences of the
Holy Spirit. }Ministers were very careful in
their preaching to distinguish between what
were, and what were not, the gracious operations of the Holy Ghost.
One thing which then caused me much
thought, and which was the subject of conversation with many of us, was the apparent coldness of ministers and good old elders, who had
been praying for years for this blessed outpour



REMARKABLE REVIVAL.          53
ing of the Holy Spirit.  I well recollect that
these were ourthoulghts respecting Drs. McMillan, and Ralston, and Mr. Marquis and others,
whose praise is in all the churches. Had not
these men been cautious, and rather checked
than added fuel to the heat of the day, there
would have been a flame that would' have
scorched, if not burned up the church in that
region. From  President Edwards's narrative,
and other sources, we learn that there were similar bodily affections in New England, Cambuslang in Scotland, and elsewhere, a hundred years
ago. Ministers in Western Pensylvannia were
aware of these facts, and were not surprised at
these extraordinary manifestations, and they did
not abstain in public and in private, from teaching that there was no genuine piety in bodily
exercises.
I never was bodily affected during the whole
of the revivals, although I was actively engaged
in conducting religioqs worship in several congregations.  It was agreed to have a general
meeting, to be continued several days, including
the Sabbath following. I was present. From




54            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
twelve to fifteen -ministers attended, and the
number of communicants on the Lord's Day was
more than qne thousand-a, large number, considering the sparseness of the population. Two
weeks after this, there was another general meeting, and then, all the theological students went
to be actively engaged in carrying on the work
of the Lord. These were pentecostal seasons, in
which many were pricked to the heart and hopefully brought to embrace the Lord Jesus as thbir
Saviour. Yet there were those who were ready to
say: "these men, if not full of new wine," are
beside themselves; and among them were professors of, religion, and even ministers of the
gospel. Days of fasting and prayer were held, to
beseech God that they might not fall into the
fatal delusion which possessed the people.
I distinctly recollect several cases of remarkable conversions, one or two of which I will
mention: Dr. Hare, a man of strong mind, and
of an uncommonly athletic frame of body-I
think he had been a surgeon in the Revolntionary army-had been exposed to great danger and had witnessed many scenes of blood




REMARKABLE REVIVAL.         5.5
and carnage. He; had been sceptical, and professed'to be an atheist-and yet even this man
was prostrated on aSabbath evening. A minister,
an old acquaintance, spoke to him, reminding
him of his dependence on God, urging him to
obey God and accept the salvation of the gospel.
He raised himself up, and said: "There is a
God! I feel there is a God; but to me he is an
angry God." The early part of the evening he
attended public and social worship. When-the
congregation came together on Monday, the Doctor was missing, and from the agony in which
he was on the preceding evening, it was feared
he had chosen strangling rather than life.  But
he came out of the woods, where he had been
praying, and took his seat in the congregation. He left the place in great distress, and
several weeks elapsed before he found peace
in believing. I saw him on several sacramental
occasions afterwards, and his custom was to speak
to the young people, and to sing and pray with
them.' By his life and conversation he gave practical evidence to his, dying day,-which occurred
several years after, that he: was a new creature in
Christ Jes'us.




56            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Another remarkable case occurs to my mind.
It is that of an old waggoner's wife. She was a
woman of notoriously bad character-.-apparently
as far from the kingdom of God as any one could
be-she was greatly affected, and she was generally avoided on account of her known infamous
character.  Mrs. McMillan, the wife of Dr.
lMcMillan, and myself, went and supported her
when she was not able to support herself.  She
was very ignorant as well as wicked. We presented to her the simple truths of the gospel,
telling her that Jesus Christ came into the world
to save sinners, and that he could save to the
uttermost, all who came to God through him,
even the chief of sinners. She fell again and
again, and did- not find peace to her soul for
many months after I left the country. While
men and women avoided her, the Holy Spirit
was striving with her, and she became hopefully
pious, as I have learned, by letters, and manifested a change of heart by a life of holy obedience,
until her death, which occurred several years
afterwards.
It is not to'be thought that only the ignorant




REMARrKABLE RE':IVAL.
and profine were subject to bodily exercises.
Some of the  mosj moral and exemplary, and
even some,, whose piety, before' and after, was
unquestioned, were unable to control their musc ar powers.
The image of god6d old James Edgar, an elder
in the Presbyteriai9:eliurch, as he sat on a flatted
log forta seat, hold-ig an interesting little girl on
his arm, praying and dropping a tear on her
face, is still vividly- before me. When she rose
up, and spoke of Jesus as her precious savior, the
old gentleman remarked with tears in his eyes,
that God had honored his arms as the birthplace
of one of his children. This Mr. Edgar was a
remarkable man for intelligence, prudence, and
exemplary piety. TFor many years he was one
of the Associate Judges in the County of Washington; had frequently represented his district
in the Legislature, and had been a member of
the convention which formed the constitution of
Pennsylvania. He also had great influence in
restraining the violence of the people, and in
quelling the insurrection of 1794, in the western
counties. During this revival, I must have visited
4




58            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
not less than ten or twelve congregations, and I
was made acquainted with -the ministers who
conducted. it; and a more pious, devoted and
self-denying set of men I never knew. Their
preaching had much to do with the heart, the
temptations of the devil, the helplessness of the
sinner, the necessity of a change of heart by
the power of the Holy Spirit, of immediately
ceasing to fight against God, of believing in
Christ, whose righteousness alone was adequate
to the demands of the divine law.** See Appendix A.




TEACHNG.                   59CHAPTER IV.
Determines to return east of the mountains, to teach in a
private family-An account of his journey —Passes through
Baltimore and Annapolis —Crosses the Chesapeake-Finds
the place engaged pre-occupied-Disappointment and great
perplexity-Succeeds in obtaining another place-Incidents
in Maryland-Leaves Maryland-Returns through Philadelphia to Orange county-Returns to Princeton, and studies under Dr. H. Kollock-Appointed tutor in the college
-Incidents in that office-The Osage Indians.
IN the summer of 1803 I was taken under the
care of the Presbytery of Ohio, as a candidate
for the gospel ministry.  And I was strongly
urged  to take license, and to engage in the
work of a missionary.  This I could not conscientiously do.  And as my means of support
were nearly exhausted I determined to suspend
study for some time, and to engage in teaching.
I wrote to a friend on the subject, laid my plan
before him, and he- loaned me one hundred
dollars, to enable,me to pay my debts, and to




60            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
return to the east side of the mountains. My
plan was opposed by good old Dr. McM3illan.
He- went sp far as to say, it was a temptation of
the devil, and that if I persisted in attempting
to flee- from my duty the hand of the Lord'would arrest me, as it did Jonah in a similar
case; and hereafter, although I might be saved
as by fire,, I would suffer loss. And although
his warning caused me many serious. thoughts,
and no little prayer- I felt constrained to do as
I'had proposed. When it was known that I
would go, a prayer-meeting.was held at Dr.
McMillan's house, where I boarded, and with
much feeling I was commended to the care and
keeping of Almighty God.
About the 1st of December, 1803, I took my
leave of that region of country, endeared to me
by many considerations.  There I Shope I
learned more of myself and of my Saviour than
I had ever known before; there I had become
acquainted with many with whom I hope to
be associated in another and a better world;
there I left behind' me those who would not
cease to pray for me; and there, I verily




THE JOURNEY.             61
believe, were many of God's dear children- with
whom I had taken sweet counsel, and gone up
to the courts of the Lord's house. My heart
was full, and my eyes overflowed, as I turned
away from  them, and' set out, solitary and
alone, to travel about four hundred miles, and
to reside among strangers. My old saddle-bag
again became my wardrobe, and, mounted on a
small, iron-grey, young mare, spirited, tough,
and ready to contend for her rights, I directed
my-course to the mountains. The first night I
lodged at the same hXouse with two gentlemen
who were to travel about two hundred miles
the same road with myself. But in the morning they proceeded at such a rate that I could
not consistently follow, remembering that "a
righteous man regardeth the life of his beast."
But before night they found that they had
travelled too fast, especially at the commencement of a long journey, and I overtook them,
and we proceeded together for several days.
In recrossing the mountains I noticed considerable im'provement in the accommodations
since I had passed them; but still not so good




62            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
as they are at the present time. You had to
see that your horse received what you ordered,
and what you paid for.  My mare was ever
ready to take care of herself when she had a
chance, and see that her rights were not invaded with impunity.  On one occasion, oats
were placed before her in a trough before the
door.  I remarked to the landlord that he
had better cause his fowls to be driven away, or
they might be injured. He laughed, and said
he would risk the fowls if I would risk the oats.
These remarks were scarcely made when my
filly snapped at a rooster in the mangerj retaining the head in her mouth, and causing the
body to fly several feet.. I paid for the oats,
and left " mine host" and his headless rooster.
On the east side of the mountains I parted
with my fellow travellers. They directed their
course towards Philadelphia, *and I towards
Baltimore. I had made arrangements to teach
in a gentleman's family on the eastern shore of
Maryland. I lodged one night in Baltimore,
and as I sat part of the evening in the public
parlor I heard some men, who from their dress




DISAPPOINTMENT.           63
might have passed for gentlemen (one of them
was sheriff of the county), conversing respecting
scenes which had been acted in the city, and in
which they had been engaged, that filled me
with horror, and I felt as if I was called on to
flee out of that city, lest the wrath of God
should be poured upon me and all that dwelt
therein.
I passed through Annapolis, crossed the
Chesapeake Bay, and was landed on Kent
Island. I remember that my feelings were
interested for a poor black man who ferried me
over a small branch that separates the island
from  the eastern shore. I lodged at Easton,
and when I arrived at the house of the gentleman with whom I expected to reside, I found a
young man from New England already engaged
as a teacher. I, had delayed beyond the time
appointed, and the services of another who
offered had been secured. I was directed to
another gentleman who wanted a teacher in his
family, and I called to see him, and I found
that he had made arrangements with a young
man from Yale College. Thus disappointed I




64            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
returned to the house of the gentleman in whose
family I had expected to be employed, and
remained for the night. The next day was the
Sabbath, and it rained excessively. On Monday,
after breakfast, I proceeded towards the State of
New York, taking: Easton in my way, near
which place the second gentleman resided in,
whose family I had applied to be employed.
The rain fell in torrents, and I was engaged in
thinking on my unpleasant situation; I had
borrowed one hundred dollars, and had no prospect of employment. I was miserable, and, I may
say, almost desperate. I saw no way of repaying
the money which I had borrowed. And as I
rode along I came to the conclusion, that I
would go to Baltimore, sell my horse, saddle,
and bridle,- and ship myself on board the first
vessel leaving the port, whether for the east,
west, north, or south. This idea was dwelt on
for some time, as a relief from the uncertainty
before me. But the thought occurred to my
mind, What will -—, the young lady to whom
I was engaged to be married, think?   My
* Thus God, in his adorable providence, makes use of




UNEXPECTED EMPLOYMENT.         65
plans were arrested, and my tears flowed, and I
scarcely knew what I thought or what I' did. I
came to the house of my friend, and determined
to remain with him for the night, and in the
morning to proceed towards the State of New
York, not knowing what I would do, or what
would become of me.
After the ladies had retired in the evening and
the gentleman and myself were left alone in the
parlor —' Out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh"-I was led to give a short history of myself,'and in return he also gave me a
short history of himself. He also had had trials
and sorrows. We found ourselves in tears and so
retired to bed. In the morning I prepared to
go on my way, and after breakfast ordered my
horse. IHe said, " that I must not go yet." I
remained'an hour or more, and again ordered
my horse. IHe replied, " he had concluded to
employ me in his family, and that I must stay
with him."? This was unexpected, and I objected,
saying that the young man in Connecticut exaatural affection to restrain from evil his erring children,
when a sense of duty is too feeble.-ED.
A4*




66            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
pected to come, and I did not wish any human
being subjected to the same feelings I had expe -
rienced by disappointment.  "But," said lhe,
"you must stay; I have made up my mind, if he
comes, to pay his expenses coming and returning, and you Inust stay." I did so, and I remained in his family a year and a half. There I became acquainted with some of the leading -men
in the State, the Tilghmans and Lloyds, Goldsboroughs, Smiths and others.
With Mr. Henry Nichols I remained until
May, 1805, at a salary of three hundred dollars
a year, with boarding and washing and my horse
kept. I had the charge of his children, and' the
children of his sister, who had been married to a
MIr. DeComsey. A son of Dr. More and daughter'of Lawyer Buttel, were also my pupils'; likewise
the son of Thomas Hayward, whose father had
been Attorney-General of the State of Maryland.
I endeavored to teach them, not only to become
acquainted with human science, but to know
him whom to know aright is life eternal.
Mr. Nichols, the gentleman with whom I
lived, was an episcopalian, and with him and his




HIGH LIFE.              67
family I attended the episcopal church during
my residence in Maryland. Our family was intimate with the Goldsboroughs, the Tilghmans,
the Kerrs, the Chamberlains, the Lloyds, the Nelsons and others.  On one occasion I went with
the family to a dining party; I saw high life indeed, and it was the only time that I attended.
The families of the Nichols and the Haywards
were in the habit of visiting each other on Saturdays, and then the blacks would draw the seine,
and the, ladies with their maids would cook the
fish, crabs, lobsters, oysters, crocus, yellow perch,
and once in a while a sheepshead.
It was the practice of the gentlemen to loosen
the seine if it became entangled on a stone or
root in the bottom of the bay. When the tide
was low in the Chesapeake, the gentlemen who
wished to amuse themselves, would each mount
a horse, with spear in hand, and watch the motion of the rock-fish or sea-bass, pursue, pierce
him with the spear, and hand him to the cook to
prepare for dinner. Mr. Nichols was a pious
man, and his house was the clerical hotel. The
Rev. Mr. Claggett, then Bishop of Maryland,




68            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
spent a night with us, and I heard him relate the
effect which a sermon of the Rev. Geo.- Whitefield had on-him while a member of the Senior
Class ill Princeton College. That sermon, he
said, determined him to enter the ministry. In
company with Mr. Nichols and several of the
children, I visited one of his plantations, on the
banks of the great Choptank, and there I saw
beds of shells several feet deep, and some of them
of a most curious formation. I have often regretted that I did not preserve specimens, which
might have been of service in the study of conchology.
While at Easton, I visited Baltimore, and had
a great fright on the Chesapeake and the Patapsco river.  It was a regular squall, such as often
occurs in the Chesapeake. We reached the dock
without damage.
After remaining with Mr. Nichols a year and
a half, I intimated my intention of returning to
Princeton.:He objected, and proposed giving
me four hundred dollars a year for any number
of years, with boarding and -horse-keeping.  I
replied, "No! if you gave me four thousand




A HEEPSAKE.              69
dollars-a year'I could not stay; I came to you
because I was poor, and necessity compelled me
to relinquish my studies for a time; I am now in
a condition that will enable me to complete my
studies. I am pleased with you and your family,
and I shall always reflect with pleasure on the
relations which we have: sustained; but my
heart is fixed upon the ministry, and I cannot
consent to continue with  you any longer."'
Having procured for him a successor, I prepared
to direct my steps to the North. He rode with -me
nine miles, to two plantations, which he had obtained-with his wife, and when we parted, he put
into my hand a keepsake, which I found to be a
pair of gold sleeve-buttons. IHe had purchased
them when he was married, twenty-two years before, and I have worn them'to the present time,
(1852.) I received them in May, 1805, so that
they have been in use sixty-nine years, and they
are at this time in good condition.  The family
are now nearly all dead, or removed, as I last
summer learned from: Dr. More, one, of my
pupils in Easton, who now resides in Philadelphia.




70            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
I have many pleasant recollections connected
with my residence near Easton, in Talbot county,
on the eastern shore of Maryland.
In May I left that hospitable family in coinpany with a number of Friends, who were on
their way to attend their yearly meeting in Philadelphia. I was treated- as a friend, though I
was not a Friend. We parted at Philadelphia,
and I proceeded to Princeton, and there tarried a
week waiting for the meeting of the Presbytery.
I was taken under the care of the Presbytery
and entered the class of theological students,
under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Kollock,
Professor of Theology in the College of New Jersey. Having a few weeks before the Session commenced I made a visit to my mother and family;
on my way I called to see her to whom I was
engaged, and who afterwards became my wife.
The interview was affecting; we had not seen
each other for three years and one week. I
found my mother and family well; and although
suffering-from two teeth broken below the gum
in attempting to extract them, I was happy in
seeing once more the place of my nativity, and




RETURNS TO PRINCETON.        71
the faces of many still familiar to me, though I
had not seen them for years.
In a few weeks I returned to Princeton, and
commenced my theological studies, in the
spring of 1805. The class consisted of Williams,< Chapman, Campbell,, and myself.
We ate at the common table in the refectory.
In the fall, at the meeting of the trustees of the
college at commencement, I was appointed
tutor of the-Sophomore class in. the college.
The other tutor was M/[r. Isaac V. Brown.
We together had charge of the interior of the
college, conducted morning worship in the
chapel, and presided -at the table in the refectory. One part of our duty was to visit every
room twice a day, viz. at two o'clock P. M., and
at nine o'clock P. m.
The compensation was a room, fuel, and
light, and two hundred dollars a year. And
although we were required to remain three
hours each day in the recitation room with the
Freshman and Sophomore classes, yet we found
full as much time for our studies as if we had
had no duties to perform in the college. When




72            AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
the bell rang it was a signal for company to
depart, or for us to say, " Please excuse us, our
class is waiting."  The faculty consisted of, Dr.
S. S. Smitl, President; John Maclean, M.D.,
Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry; Dr. H. Kdllock, Professor of Theology;
William  Thompson, Professor of Latin and
Greek languages; the Rev. Andrew IHauter,
Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy;;John
Johnston, and Isaac V. Brown, Tutors. The
faculty were harmonious, with very few -exceptions.
In general the students were orderly and
attentive to their studies. Occasionally there
were proceedings such as are common among
lads thus, congregated. I recollect that on one
night I heard a movement in a certain room,
which led me to infer that all was not right.
With a light in my hand I went to the roomrn
found the door locked, and was refused adlnittance. But on announcing my official title,
and threatening to break the door unless it was
opened, the lights in the room  were extinguished, and the door was opened, those within




'THE STUDENTS.           73
intending to rush out in the dark; but, to their
astonishment, I stood before them with a lantern burning. They retreated back, I followed,
and having ascertained who they were I advised them to retire to their rooms, and bade
them good night. Early in the morning some
of them called on me, manifesting considerable
uneasiness respecting what they apprehended
would be the result. I gave no opinion, but
requested all concerned to meet me in one of
their rooms immediately after breakfast.  I
spoke to them respecting the end to which such
a course of conduct would lead, and the feelings
of their parents and friends if made acquainted
with the proceedings of the preceding night.
I stated that no one had heard from me one word
connected with the subject, and if they would
pledge themselves to me that they would abstain from all such conduct in coming time the
matter should end. They gave me their word,
and I gave each one of-them my hand, in token
of satisfaction and confidence. The result was:far better than if I had reported them to the
faculty, and subjected them to the discipline of




74            AUTOBIOGEAPHY.
the college. We often took walks for recreation
and health, and on our way we often spent a
pleasant hour with Mrs. Dr. Vanclive and her
sister, Mliss Houston, who afterwards becawme
the wife of my colleague, Mr. Brown.
We were also in the habit of calling to see a
pious aged lady, whom we familiarly called
"' Mother Knox,", who said she had heard every
one who had been president of the college
preach. While she spoke in high terms of all
the presidents, the Rev. Samuel Davies was her
favorite preacher. - Her eyes would brighten on
the mention of the name of Davies. Her house
was the resort of pious students in the college,
and there they would frequently have prayermeetings, and hear something respecting the
interests of religion.  There are; many still
living (1852) that love to remind each other of
what they saw and heard in the humble dwelling of M~ther Knox.
In connexion with my duties as tutor I acted
as.assistant librarian. Dr. Kollock and I exchanged the works of the learned Chillingworth
for -a copy of Guyse's " Paraphrase on the New




THE OSAGE INDIANS.         75
Testament," of which there were duplicates in
the college library. I also added to my little
library King on "The Creed," and Stackhouse's
"History of the Bible," purchased from a farmer
in the neighborhood.
One evening, while at the head of the table
in the refectory, I received a note from Dr.
Smith, saying, that two stage loads of Indians
had just arrived, and he would introduce them
to the students, provided we would keep our
seats. In a few minutes they came following
the president. - They were taken to the library
and chapel, and Dr. Maclean showed them
drawings of Indians in Cook's " Voyages round
the World," and it was amusing to see them
run to each other, and then point to the drawings which had some resemblance to one of
their company. After a short talk between the
president and one of the chiefs, they proceeded
through the Campus towards the public house.
It was dark, and there were few lights in the
windows on the street. Suddenly they raised
the warwhoop, and instantly disappeared. Some
lay flat on the ground, some concealed them



76-            AIUTOBIOGRAPIY.
selves behind trees, others at the corners of the
houses. After a few minutes they returned to
their former station, and commenced a war song
as they proceeded to their quarters. It was the
most awful and soul-thrilling sound I ever
heard. It rang in my ears almost constantly
for months, and even now, as I write, I -feel a
mental agitation. Day after day many of-the
old and young, black and white, inhabitants of
Princeton were endeavoring to act over again
the transactions of that evening. The Indians
returned to the tavern to sleep, not on a bed
but on the floor. The chief of the Little Osage
tribe was the most perfect specimen of the
human form  that I ever saw. He was above
six feet high, and in every respect of such proportion as filled the eye with pleasure.




MINISTERIAL LIFE.               77
CIIAPTER. V.
Resigns tutorship-Licensed to preach-Returns to Orange
county —Supplies vacant congregations, under the direction
of the presbytery of Hudson-Accepts a call from the congregations of New Windsor and Neawburgh —History of the
church of New Windsor and Newburgh —His marriage —
His ordination-Commences housekeeping-Resigns the: harge of New Windsor, and gives his whole time to'Newburgh-The origin of the church in Newburgh —The ministers who preceded him-The extent of his charge —An
infidel club in Newburgh-Ignorance of the religious state
of Newburgh-Opposition of friends to his location.
THUS -far we have given the autobiography of
Mr. Johnston as he has left it, with a few omissions of no importance.  iHe has continued the
narrative much further, but it is almost a daily
account of his engagements and labors.  It is
sufficient to know, that he resigned his office of
tutor in the college on the last Wednesday in
September, 1806, and that he was licensed to
preach the gospel by the presbytery of New




s78          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
Brunswick, in the city of Trenton, on the 8th of
October of the same year; that he returned to
his native place in Orange county, State of New
York; that he received appointments from the
presbytery of Hudson to preach in Newburgh,
New Windsor, Florida, and Pleasant Valley,
all of which congregations were then vacant.
In Pleasant Valley there- was considerable
excitement on the subject of religion, and in a.
few cases he saw bodily agitations similar to
those he had previously witnessed in western
Pennsylvania.
He had taken with him only two prepared
sermons, intended for the two Sabbaths which
by appointment he was to spend in that place.
But after the first sermon he found that an
appointment was made for him to preach a
funeral sermon. And such was the anxiety of
the people to hear that he had to- preach almost
every day, so that he preached thirteen times
during the thirteen days that he remained
there, besides giving exhortations, or short
addresses, at prayer-meetings.
From all the vacant congregations where he




MARRIAGE.              79
had preached he received invitations to locate
himself with them  as their pastor. But, for
reasons Which then appeared to him satisfactory,
he refused to permit the congregations of Florida and Pleasant Valley to make out for him
formal and regular calls, determined to accept
the invitation from the united churches of New
Windsor and Newburgh.
When he saw there was a fair prospect of
settlement, and of the means of supporting a
family, the marriage between himself and Mary
Bull, daughter of Daniel Bull, of Orange
county, was consummated on the 27th day of
January, 1807. They had been born and
brought up in the same neighborhood, and an
early and mutual attachment had taken place,
and they had promised several years before the
event occurred to form the relation of husband
and wife when, in the providence of God, it
might appear to be their duty.  Here the
strength of Christian principle was manifest,
not only in adhering to their sacred vows, -but
also in that which was more difficult, in not
permitting an ardent affection to interfere with




80             MINISTERIAL LIFE.
the great object in view-preparation for the
gospel ministry.  During  the  long  interval
between tieir engagement and marriage they
were separated from  each other, and at one
time they had not seen each other for more than
three years. This union was long and happy.
It was one of those  "few: happy matches''
which, as Dr. Watts expresses it, "were made
in heaven.". Their natural temperament or
disposition was different; not altogether such as
Milton alleges between'Adam and Eve:
"Though both
Not equal, as their sex not, equal seemed:
For contemplation he and valor formed;
For softness she and sweet attractive grace."
But their natural qualities were such as were
exactly suited to each other. The one possessed
what the other lacked.  He'was lively, active,
easily moved to, mirthfulness or tears, subject to
abrupt changes from the highest elevation to
the deepest depression.  She was calm, sedate,
cheerful,' not easily thrown from  her serene
equanimity, not over. joyous in prosperity, nor




HIS ORDINATION.           81
discouraged in adversity; she'"kept the noiseless tenor of her way."  She was such a wife as
Mr. Johnston needed to soothe him in moments
of dejection, and to control the exuberance of
his feelings in the hours of joy. She was also a
helpmate to him in his ministerial work, and
contributed largely to his success and usefulness
among his people during forty-eight years, as
we shall see in the sequel.
Mr. Johnston- had preached several times in
Newburgh and New Windsor at the close of
1806 and the beginning of 1807. On the 1st of
April he began his regular service, although he
was not ordained and installed until the 5th of
August, 1807. The ordination and installation
took place at New Windsor, and the Presbyterial services were performed as follows;:
The Rev. Andrew King presided, and made
the ordaining prayer; the Rev. Isaac Lewis
preached, Col. iii. 11.; the Rev. Methuselah
Baldwin delivered the charge to the pastor; and
the Rev. Ebenezer Grant made an address to
the people of the united congregations. They
are all gone to their rest.




82           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
-Mr. Johnston located himself and his- companion in Newburgh, occupying a small house in
what was then called" the Old Town," in May,
1807, " enjoying," as he records, " in our-humble
abode as much domestic happiness as falls to the
lot of any young clergyman and his companion."
In 1813 he had a plain and convenient house
erected, on a lot which he had previously
purchased, situated in a high and commanding
position, from which there is a view of the noble
Hudson, the vessels passing and repassing, the elevated range of mountains east of the river, New
Windsor, and West Point.- He removed into
his new dwelling in December, 1813, and
resided in the same house until his death.
Shortly before his death he remarked, that he
knew no family in Newburgh that had occupied the same house:so long a time.. The congregations of Newburgh and New Windsor
were each to have an equal part of his labors,
and they engaged each to pay him three hundred and twenty-five dollars a year for his
support, making his annual salary six hundred
and fifty dollars.




PAROCHLAL DUTY.           83
At first-he attempted to preach one sermon in
each place on the Sabbath, but finding this
arrangement on many accounts inconvenient,
he afterwards preached' a whole Sabbath alternately in Newburgh and New Windsor. As
the places of worship were only two miles apart
a large part of both congregations attended
both services. This arrangement wvas continued
until April, 1810, about three years after his
ordination, when, with the consent of both congregations, he was released from the charge of
New Windsor, the congregation of Newburgh
having presented, through the presbytery, a
call for the whole of his services, promising him
one hundred dollars more than he had received
from both congregations. There he continued
to labor until his death.
The life of a settled pastor, especially if he
continues to serve the same people for many
years, is so uniform and monotonous that it Contains few landmarks to variegate and enliven
the scenery. Week after week, and year after
year, there is the same unvaried routine of
parochial duty to be performed, and.the same




84           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
pulpit to be occupied. As with the husbandman, year after year rolls round, each bringing
with it the.same cares and labors performed in
the preceding year. Some seasons are propitious, causing the earth refreshed by rains
from heaven, and stimulated by the genial rays
of the sun, to produce abundantly.  Other
seasons, parched with drought`. or chilled with
untimely frosts,, are barren "and unproductive,
when perhaps equal care. and labori were expended. If you wish to know whether a farmer
has been industrious, and managed his concerns
with prudence, or otherwise, you must view his
grounds when he first commenced his labors,
and- at the close of a laborious life notice the
improvements he has made, the houses and
barns he has built, the rocks and trees he has
removed, and the worn out fields he-has renovated.
We-adopt a similar method in reviewing the
ministerial life of Mr. JohnstonTHE FIELD AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF HIS LABORS.
The gospel had been preached in New Wind



SPIRITUAL CHILDREN.         85
sor at an early period.  In his journal the Rev.
George Whitefield mentions that he crossed the
Hudson and preached at New Windsor. "At
the time of my settlement," says Mr. Johnston, " I
found two aged females, who considered themselves as the spiritual children of Whitefield. I
attended their mortal remains to the grave, ithe
one aged ninety-five and the other ninety-seven.
They retained their mental faculties to the close
of life, and to their dying day a cheerful smile
would play upon their countenance as soon as
the name of Whitefield-was pronounced." The
tradition is, that the Rev. Francis Peppard was
the first minister who regularly preached in New
Windsor.  We have no account that he was
installed pastor of that church.  During his
ministry, a church was organized September 5th,
1766, consisting of eighteen members, by the
Rev. Dr. Timothy Johnes, of Morristown, New
Jersey.  He was called Dr. Johnes, because he
practised medicine as well as preached the gospel. This was a common practice with several
ministers at that time in East Jersey. The Rev.
Jacob Green of Hanover, the Rev. Samuel Ken



86           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
nedy of Baskenridge, and others, sustained the
relation of pastor and physician at the same time.
From 1773 to 1796, including the trying period
of the Revolutionary War, the Rev. John Close
preached in New'Windsor and in the neighboruing places, although he was not installed pastor
of the church.
The early records of the church in New
Windsor were so imperfectly kept that we
do not know what was the success of his ministry; but as it was the harassing time of the
Revolution, we are led to believe that the increase of the church was very small. Yet, Mr.
Johnston testifies that he found there some aged
persons- eminent for their piety, but not one
young or middle-aged person either in' New
Windsor or Newburgh, who was a member of the
church.  These congregations were for some
years under the care of the Presbytery of New
York. The congregation of Newburgh was incorporated under the statute of New York in 1784,
but no church was organized until 1796, or
perhaps 1798, the precise time cannot be ascertained. Before that time, the members of the




ISAAC LEWIS; JONATHAN FREEMAN. - 8
church living, in Newburgh and its vicinity, be-'longed to: the church of New Win'dsor. The
first record which we have of a meeting of the
session in Newburgh, was the26th of April, 1799,
at which the Rev. Isaac Lewis presided, and
William Lawrence, Abel Belknap, Gilbert Jones,
Daniel Birdsall, and Thomas Cooper are named
as elders present.
The Rev. Isaac Lewis -was stated supply of
these congregations about two year's, and during
that period only one member was added to.the
church, and that was the wife of Mr. Lewis; and
yet Mr. Lewis was a faithful, laborious, and
successfil preacher in other locations in after
life.
The Rev. Jonathan Freeman, the first installed pastor,-labored in the congregations of Newburgh and New Windsor from the 5th of May,
1801, to the i25tl of April, 1804, nearly three
years, and during his ministry thirteen members
were added to, the church. He was an able
theologian of more than common talents, of determined character, sometimes suffering himself
to act from the impulse of his feelings rather




88           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
than from deliberate judgment. He engaged in
a newspaper controversy which embittered the
feelings of.many of the congregation. Imprudent
in the management of domestic and secular concerns, he became involved in debt, and this led
to his sudden removal. Several pieces which he
published show the character of his mind, and
the determined course which he was wont to
pursue. Hoe was succeeded in the pastoral office
in Newburgh and New Windsor by the Rev.
Eliezer Burnet, ordained the 20th of November,
1805, and he departed this life on the 22nd day
of November the year following, so that his
pastoral office continued only one year and two
days. He was an amiable, pious, and devoted
man, of a feeble constitution. He labored under
pulmonary disease at the time of his ordination,
and a few months after his settlement he was
compelled to travel, and he closed his days on
earth at the house of a friend in New Brunswick.
Six members, three on examination, and three
on certificate, were received as members of the
church during his pastorate. As above stated,
Mr. Johnston succeeded Mr. Burnet in the




EXTENT OF HIS CHARGE.       89
charge of the congregations of Newburgh and
New Windsor.
These congregations, or rather the people who
worshipped in New Windsor and Newburgh,
were scattered over a large extent of country,
bounded on the north by Balmville and Foster
Town, by Gardner Town and the Square on the
west, by Cornwall and Canterbury on the south,
and by the Hudson on the east, including New
Windsor and Newburgh, as well as the villages
above named.  In all that region, at least
eight miles in length and-five in breadth, there
were only five worshipping assemblies, viz.
two Presbyterian, one at New Windsor and one
at Newburgh; the Associate Reformed, under
the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Schrimgeour,
worshipping in a building in the south part of
Newburgh; and two Methodist, one meeting in
the academy, and the other near the turnpike,
west of New Windsor. None of these congregations were large, although there were many
within the bounds who attended public worship
nowhere. In the church in Newburgh there
never had been more than sixty-three members.
5*,




90-         MINISTERIAL LIFE.
A few aged persons among these were eminently
pious, and mourned over the desolations of Zion.
None of the young and unmarried part of the
congregations made any pretensions to piety. In
Newburgh there were-only three places of worship-the Presbyterian, the Associate tneform-,
ed, and the Methodist-and no minister residing
there.  Mr. Schrimgeour, who preached part of
his time in Newburgh, resided in New Windsor.
In Newburgh there was the frame of a small
house, on the same lot where the Presbyterian
church now stands, and without galleries or pulpit-the minister having to stand on a carpenter's
bench placed on one-end of the building.  The
professors of religion were not only few in numnber, but the minds of a large portion of the
inhabitants were poisoned with infidel sentiments.
At the close of the last century and the beginning of the present there was in Newburgh
a regularly. organized society of infidels, who
met weekly for the purpose of ridiculing the
Bible, and of confirming each other in unbelief.
They assumed the name of "The Druid So



INFIDEL CLUB.           91
ciety," and were, in fact, a club associated
together in imitation of the societies of the Illuminati, at that time common in Germany and
France. They invited to Newburgh a blind
man, of the name of Elihu Palmer, and led him
to the academy, to deliver to them weekly lectures in opposition to the Bible. This Pallner
was an apostate Congregational or Presbyterian
minister. - He had been educated at Dartmouth
college by charity, with a view to the gospel
ministry. He preached some time in Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, and then removed to Newtown,
Long Island; from thence he went to- Philadelphia, preached universal salvation, and next
gave a weekly lecture on Druidism, and finally,
he — preached deism, or atheism, or anything
which, in his opinion, would bring the Bible
and its teachings into contempt. This man was
brought to Newburgh under a promise of an
annual salary, to detail from Sabbath to Sabbath the opinions of Voltaire, Paine, Rousseau,
Godwin, and others of the same stamp. A
weekly infidel paper was also published in
Newburgh.  Paine's "Age of Reason," Tynr.




92           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
dal's "Christianity as Old as Creation," and
other books of the same kind, were reprinted,
and circulated with all diligence. These, and
similar boo'ks, were found in every tavern, or
shop, or private house fiom which they were
not positively excluded. These men had also
rooms, where obscene prints and pictures were
exhibited; and young persons, and even children, were invited and decoyed to view these
drawings, which were generally intended to
throw ridicule on some portion of sacred history. So bold and outrageous had these infatuated men become, that on a Sabbath after the
Lord's Supper had been administered, they collected'at a spring near the place of public worship, and, in mockery of what had been done in
the church, gave a piece of bread and some
water to a dog, using the words of our blessed
Redeemer, when he instituted the holy supper.
It ought to be known, that the principal actor
in this impious transaction did not long survive.
On the following Sabbath evening he was found
in his room, with the door ldcked, apparently
in a fit. The door was forced, and he was seen




BRUTAL ATTACK.            93
lying on the floor, convulsed with awful spasms,
and he expired without being able to utter a
word. Whether ke had taken anything with a
view to self-destruction, or whether it was the
immediate act of God, without his voluntary
agency, we know not. True, a good man may
die suddenly, without being able to say a word
to surrounding friends; but the proximity of the
sudden and awful death of this man to the impious transaction of the preceding Sabbath leads
the mind into fearful conjectures.  This occurred in July, 1799. In the graveyard in
Newburgh there is the following inscription"The Tomb of      -, who died July
2d, in the Year of the Christian Era 1799, Aged
34 Years."
On another occasion, a clergyman, after
preaching, was attacked by a fierce dog, set on
by  several persons belonging to the Druid
society. For a time it seemed as if these infatuated men had determined that there should
not remain in Newburgh and its vicinity a vestige of Christianity; and they employed every
means in their power to accomplish their




94          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
object. But God, in mercy, brought to naught
their wicked counsels.*
This society embraced the largest number,
and made the most vigorous efforts to propagate its doctrines, between the years 1799 and
1804, but many of its members were still living
in 1806, when Mr. Johnston began to preach in
INewburgh; and the poison which had been administered in various ways was rankling in the
minds of the young, and of many who did not
profess to belong to the Druid society. The
means which had been used to check the influence of these infidel principles were not judicious, and tended rather to increase than to
diminish the evil.  There were two weekly
papers printed in KNewburgh, one called " The
Temple of Reason," filled with sarcasms, ridicule, and ribaldry, intended to bring Christianity into contempt; the other a political
paper, but willing to publish pieces in defence
of Christianity. Two or three writers occupied
the -columns of this paper for several weeks.; See Appendix B.




INFIDELITY.             95
Bnt, however sound and able the arguments,
these essays seemed to add fuel to the unhallowed flame issuing from  "The Temple of
Reason."  Ministers who occasionally preached
in Newburgh, understanding that infidel sentiments were prevalent in that place, thought
they ought to give a prominence to that subject
in their, discourses, supposing that if they said
nothing on the subject it would be an indication
of cowardice. Infidel objections to divine revelation were stated in a few words, and a long
and, in the opinion of the speakers, satisfactory
answer was given. The result was, that the
brief objections were remembered, and the
labored answers forgotten; and the' hearers
would retire with the objections fixed in their
minds. While these discourses and this process
was going on Mr. Johnston was absent in New
j ersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, making
only a- few brief visits to his friends in Orange
county, twenty miles distant from Newburgh,
and of course he was, in a great measure, ignorant of the real state of things in Newburgh
when he concluded to fix his residence in that




MINISTERIAL LIFE.
place. His friends, who were better acquainted
than he was with the irreligious condition of the
place, were greatly distressed when informed
that he intended to accept a call from New
Windsor and'Newburgh. His aged mother
wept, and besought him not to locate himself in
that wicked place. But although he had not
accepted a formal call, he had placed himself
in such a position that he thought he could not,
without a dereliction of duty, recede. The only
word of approbation which he received from
any friend was from Daniel Bull, the father of
Mrs. Johnston.
In view of the irreligious state of Newburgh,
and against the remonstrances of friends, it was
a sore trial to adhere to the pledge he had
given, and to sacrifice himself in what now
appeared a hopeless undertaking. But he dared
not to draw back. -He has often been heard to
say, that if he had known the irreligious condition of the place before he had given encouragement to the people to present a call, his
heart would have failed him.
It is thus that the Lord often conceals from




UNPROMISING FIELD.          97
his servants the difficulties and dangers of a
work to which he calls them, lest their fears
should prevent them from entering the field of
labor designed for them. Such was the unpromising field in which Mr. Johnston was called
to commence his ministry. It was not from
any confidence in his own talents or acquirements that he determined to go forward and
meet the gigantic foe. But in an armor as
-simple and, in human view, as inadequate as
that with which David met the Philistine who
defied the -armies of the-living God, he coinmenced the contest, "not against flesh and
blood" only, " but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places."




98               MINISTERIAL LIFE.
CHAPTER VI.
His first discourses after ordination-The way he treated infidelity, and the results —Pastoral duties during the first
years of his ministry-Catechetical instruction, and Bible
classes-Weekly lecture-Revivals in 1812-13, in 1815-16,
in 1819-20, in 1824-25, in 1831-New measures: —Division
of the synod into old and new school-The effect on vital
piety-Revival in 1843-The reasons why the number of
church members did not increase-Dismissions to other
churches given when asked.
THE portions of sacred Scripture with which Mr.
Johnston began his ministry in Newburgh indicate his feelings, and the source from which he
hoped for success,, and also the means which he
determined to employ in the work before him.
Ilis first discourse after his ordination  was
founded on these words: " Brethren, pray for
us that the word of the Lord may have free
course, and be glorified among you."  Implying
that he had no confidence in his own strength,




TREATMENT OF INFIDELITY.       -99
that his help must come from God, and that
prayer was the means by which that help was
to be obtained. The subject of the second discourse was, "I determined to know nothing
among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified;" implying that his fixed purpose was to
preach the simple and plain  truths of the
gospel, leaving out of view everything extraneous to salvation, through the merits and mediation of a crucified Redeemer. To this purpose
we can say that he strictly adhered, through a
long, laborious, and successful ministry of fortyeight years.
It may be asked," Did he not, in tile circumstances in which he was placed, feel it to be his
duty to combat and refute, by solid, anid convincing arguments, the gross infidelity with
which he was surrounded.?" Not at all. From
the beginning he determined not to mention, in
the pulpit, the words deist, or atheist, or sceptic,
or druid, or free-thinker, or any other name by
which the enemies of Jesus Christ and his
gospel are designated; but to preach -Jesus
Christ and him  crucified, a balm  for every




1[00         MINISTERIAL LIFE..
wound,' an antidote for every error. He remembered that John Newton had somewhere
said, that." the best way to prevent an empty
cask from being filled with bad liquor is to fill
it with that which is good."  And "to overcome error you must keep the attention of the
hearer directed to the truth."
MIr. Johnston believed, that " the gospel is its
own witness;" that its plain and simple truths
find a response in every human heart; that
every man who reflects feels that he is a sinner,
and that no remedy except that presented in
the gospel is adequate to tile wants of his soul.
He was right. There is a correspondence between the truths revealed in the Bible and
the testimony of every man's conscience who
gives the subject a serious consideration, more
convincing and satisfactory than all logical
arguments.  This internal evidence, as it is
justly called, has in many instances been effectual in convincing and converting infidels, when
arguments derived from  other sources have
utterly failed.  Ply a man with arguments
addressed to his intellect, and he will find some




TREATMENT -OF INFIDELITY.      101
way to elude their force; but let his conscience
speak, and tell him that he is guilty, and he
cannot escape from its verdict. He is self-condemned, and he can devise no subterfuge; he
is then prepared to listen to the annunciation
that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save
sinners."'Far be it from us to condemn or undervalue
arguments derived from the fulfilment of prophecies, from miracles, from  the testimony of
martyrs, from the triumphs of the gospel over
paganism, over the fury of the populace, and
the power of the civil magistrate.  Infidels
ought to be, and they have often been ably,
refuted by arguments, derived from these and
similar sources.  But in the pulpit, when the
speaker addresses a promiscuous'audience, arguments requiring much  reading and deep
reflection to be appreciated, are seldom of any
avail. In an ordinary congregation, not more
than three or four, or at most half a dozen;:- of
the hearers have the capacity or learning sufficient to follow a long train of argument. But
the simple truths of the gospel are intelligible,




102         -MINISTERIAL LIFE.
both to the learned and the unlearned. Both
the educated and the uneducated have a heart
and a conscience, and they can understand and.feel when God, in his word, speaks to them as
accountable beings, responsible to him for their
thoughts as well as for their words and actions.
All fair and honest objections which may arise
in the minds of a few reflecting hearers ought
to be removed. But this can be more effectually done by private conversation, or by
placing in their hands books treating of subjects
respecting which they want information. Those
few who require their intellect to be satisfied
need as much as others the gospel, in its public
ministrations, to be brought home to the heart
and conscience.  And unless it be thus brou'ght
home, a mere historical belief that the Bible
contains a revelation from God is of little avail.
And what was the result of the course pursued by the pastor in Newburgh?  It was soon
known that he said nothing inl the pulpit respecting deists, or atheists, or Druids, or their
doctrines; that he preached the doctrines and
precepts which he found in the Bible. " Well,"




THE RESULTS.            103
said these free-thinkers, "as we shall not be
abused and held up to public odium we will go
and hear what he las to say." And the greater
part of them did occasionally attend public
worship; and all of them except two, paid the
rent of pews for the accommodation of their
families, and so contributed to the support of
the gospel ministry. And this is not all; the
wives, and children, and descendants of several
of these bitter enemies of Jesus Christ and his
gospel in course of time became hopefully pious,
and adorned the doctrine of God their Saviour
by holy and exemplary lives. The lives of these
men were generally short, and the few who lived
to the ordinary age of man were quiet, and said
nothing and did nothing to propagate their pernicious principles.  There may yet be a few
who privately entertain infidel principles, and
who read infidel books, but they make no noise,
and attract no attention. WVe may confidently
affirm, thatnow and for several years past there
are fewer professed infidels in lNewburgh than
in any town of equal population in the United
States.




104          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
We return to the consideration of the pastoral
duties of Mr. Johnston. During the first two or
three.years. after his settlement he did nothing
more than attend to the ordinary duties of
the pastoral office, and no remarkable effects
attended his labors. He preached twice on the
Sabbath, visited the sick, attended funerals, and,
as had been usual, administered the Lord's Supper twice in the year. After some time he commenced a course of lectures on the Shorter Catechism, and after that, on the Confession of Faith
of the Presbyterian Church. These lectures had
a salutary effect on himself, and also on his people. They were led to compare the doctrines
taught in these symbols with the teachings of the
Bible, and excited to inquire on the subject of
religion. He also had catechetical and Bible
classes, and he encouraged those who attended to
ask for explanations of difficult passages, and if
prepared, he gave the explanation at the time,
and if not prepared, he postponed an answer until the next meeting. These exercises were continued, and were well attended until Sabbath
schools were introduced, and then the attendance




FIRST REVIVAL IN. NEWBURGH.    105
gradually diminished, and finally the Bible and
catechetical classes were broken up, and the reason assigned was, tlhat preparation for the Sabbath school and attendance required so much
time that both could not be attended. Although
he valued the services of the teachers in the Sabbath schools, he regretted that their instructions
prevented him from having a direct influence on
the young people of his charge. At first, he had
no religious services, except on the Sabbath.
After he was released from the congregation at
New Windsor, he commenced a prayer meeting
in Newburgh on Thursday evenings, which he
continued until the close of his ministry. It
was at first held in private houses, and in a short
time was so numerously attended, that two or
three rooms were fully occupied. A lecture room
was provided, and it was very soon filled with
anxious worshippers; and in the,latter part of
1812, nearly six years after his settlement, the
first revival ever witnessed in Newburgh commenced. A spirit of prayer was poured out,
and an unusual solemnity attended those social
weekly meetings. This was the first of seven
6




106         IMINISTERIAL LIFE.
distinct revivals, which it was the, privilege of
Mr. Johnston, during his ministry, to witness
among the people of his charge. It was the intention of MLr. Johnston to write a full account
of those revivals; but it was not accomplished:.
WVe shall give the brief notices of these times of
refreshing, which we find in various parts-of his
manuscripts, nearly in his own words. Speaking
of the imeetings in the session room, he says,
"something unusual seemed about to take place.
The faith of the people of God was a little
strengthened, and'some hopes of a revival of religion entertained.  As far as I could learn, such
a season had never been witnessed in this congregation. Revivals of religion had been heard
of, but few among the people had ever witnessed
one.  Some feared that a revival would take
place, others that it would not. A few additions
had been made to the members of the church at
every communion season, but nothing remarkable had occurred. Our fears and our hopes
were alternately excited. At length it was evident in the latter part of 1812 and the beginning
of 1813, that the spirit of the Lord was present




REVIVALS.             107
in his convicting, converting, and' comforting
influences. The people of God were quickened;
a spirit of prayer mras felt. It was not then
deemed a hardship to go in the shades of the
evening to meet for prayer, though there was
not then a paved or flagged sidewalk in the
whole village. Mud ancle deep was not deemed,a sufficient excuse for absence from the prayer
meeting. The remembrance of these delightful
evenings is still pleasant. They are gone; but
the sweet savor they have left excites feelings of
joy in the past and desire for a repetition in
time to come. Preceding this revival season, one
member of the church had turned-his attention
towards the gospel ministry, and was prosecuting
his preparatory studies; and during this revival, another, who'is now (1854) actively engaged in proclaiming the unsearchable riches of
Christ,.resolved to devote himself to the work of
the Lord.  Another brought into the church at
this period, became the wife of a missionary
among the aborigines of our own country. And
two of the converts of this revival were afterwards set apart to the office of ruling elders in




108           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
the church. Surely we have just cause of gratitude to God for his loving kindness." 
"In tie winter of-1815-16, another pleasant
season was witnessed. The attention began in:the neighborhood of'the Square,' in the southwest part of the congregation, and gently extended to other parts. For nearly a year, after
preaching twice in Newburgh, I had a third service on the Sabbath, and also a lecture on'
Wednesday evening in the neighborhood of
the Square.' Persons from several miles around
attended, and the largest dwelling house in the
neighborhood was not sufficient to accommodate
those who assembled. I well remember the visible and real interest taken-the frequent conversations with individuals after the regular exercises-the psalms. and hymns and spiritual
songs, accompanied with sobs and tears while
sung. Then was a time of love, of pra.yer, and
of holy joy. The inquiry,'what shall I do to be
saved,' was succeeded by'-Come all ye that fear
the Lord, and I will declare what he hath done
for my soul.'  While one said,'Come let us
go up to the courts of the Lord,' another said,




REVIVAL OF 1819.          109'I will go also.' The meetings were often continued until a late hour, and yet I found no
inconvenience in returning home alone, five
miles, the coldest nights in winter. It was a
precious season; the remembrance thereof rejoiceth my soul. We lad an addition of between
forty and fifty to the church. One of those
called from the world, at this time, is a preacher
of the gospel, and another a ruling elder."
" Nothing special," continues the record, "occurred during the four succeeding years. About
the close of 1819 and the beginning of 1820, the
gracious influence of the Holy Spirit was again
manifested in the conviction and conversion of
sinners.  In some respects, that was a season
of peculiar interest. There seemed to be a general movement among the dry-bones, and there
stood up* as the result of this reviving time
sixty-four into whom the Holy Spirit had
breathed the breath of spiritual life, accompanied
by twenty-two received on certificate from other
churches. Two of the hopeful converts became
* See Appendix C




110          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
ministers of the gospel, and one a ruling elder in
a neighboring church.
" A season of spiritual dearth succeeded this
copious stlower. In the fall of 1824 I obtained
permission to preach in the schoolhouse near the
New Mill on the afternoons of the Lord's Day.
It soon became evident that the word preached
was accompanied with the influence of the Holy
Spirit.  The interest excited, led several to ask'what shall we do to be saved?' This special,meeting was continued until the 25th of February, 1825, when thirteen were added to the
church.  Twelve -of the thirteen were from
the little group of houses near the schoolhouse.
Had the awakening been as general throughout
the congregation as around the New Mill, more
than a hundred would have been pricked to the
heart. The sovereignty of God was manifested
in confining the work of grace to the small circle
around the schoolhouse. But it- was a glorious
sovereignty, showing how God can accomplish
his purposes of mercy towards the church. One
of the dozen became a preacher of the gospel,
and is now a distinguished minister in the Dutch




REVIVAL OF 1831.          111
Reformed Church. How- mysterious and glorious
are the dealings of the Lord! ikTe Lord reigns,
let the earth rejoice."
"The year 1831 #as distinguished among the
churches of almost all evangelical denominations
for revivals of religion.  In conducting them
several things took place, and several innovations
wvere made in preaching and in practice, so that
this period became proverbial for' new measures,'
some of which might be practised and somemight not. Such was the state of public opinion
in reference to the proper method of conducting
revivals, that it became necessary to comply to a
certain extent with prevailing ideas. Compliance
on our part, so far as we went, proved a blessing,
for which we can never be sufficiently thankful. The subject was laid before the session, and
after consultation it was determined to have a
four days' meeting, and to invite the attendance
and assistance of several ministers, whose labors
had been blessed. Special prayer was made and
continued several days preceding the meeting.
The clergymen who were invited took a deep
and lively interest in the welfare of the congre



112          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
gation. We had preaching in the church three
times every day, preceded by a prayer meeting
of one hour immediately before entering the
house of public worship.  The morning was
ushered in with the voice of prayer. The word
was plainly, faithfully, and judiciously preached,
and it became quick and powerful-sharper than
a two-edged sword, and many of the hearers
were pricked to the heart. An awfully- solemn
stillness prevailed, and the deepest anxiety was
felt for the result —it seemed like a week of Sab —
baths. Never can I forget the feelings I had
when one of the preachers, at the close of one of
his sermons, requested all those who had a desire
to have conversation respecting their soul's salvation to remain after the blessing was pronounced.
The inquiry in my mind was,'will any remain?''who will remain?' The blessing waspronounceda separation began to take place-some remained
— yea many remained., The spirit of the Lord was
operating on the minds of the people generally.
While many remained in their seats, the majority
left the house of God. We have reason to fear that
some grieved away the Holy Spirit, and compel



REVIVAL OF 1831.          113
led him to depart, never again to return.- Methinks I can yet see the agitation, the struggle to
overcome the convictions of the Holy Spirit, and
an acceptance of Christ and the blessings of his
salvation-struggles of some who remained as to
the result on their friends who left the place.' "Then was literally repeated what took place
in the days of Malachi, thousands of years
before-' They that feared the Lord spake often
one to another.'  Then was the spirit poured
forth, and the work of the Lord prospered.
Then it was- easy to preach, and then there were
attentive hearers.  Solemnity rested on the
minds of the greater part of the hearers, and
very few were found to call in question the
reality of the work, or to say they were not
affected. God was carrying on his work, and
man was compelled to say,'Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty.'
The fruit of this revival was eighty-three additions to our church on examination, and twentytwo on certificate. And several additions were
made to-other churches, whence they had come
to see and hear, and went away to rejoice, and
64




114          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
to engage in the service of the- Lord. Of those
who united with our church this year two
became ministers of the gospel-one a Presbyterian, the other a Methodist. Another commenced studying with a view to the gospel
ministry, and his health failing engaged in
teaching, and is now at the head of a flourishing female school, in which there is now (1854)
a glorious revival of religion. Another young
man, received on certificate, after spending a
year and a half in the theological seminary at
Princeton, apostatized,.and was excommunicated. One became a ruling elder; and one a
deacon. Of the females who united with our
church in 1831 five became the wives of ministers of the gospel.
"The records of the session,":Mr. Johnston
continues,' show a goodly number of additions
to the churchi at every succeeding communion
season, but nothing special occurred for'three
years. At the communion season in 1834: there
was an addition of seventeen; seven of these
were received on examination, and ten on certificate. This fact led to the inquiry,',Why is




NEW MEASURiES.          115
it that this church owes her increase more to
the piety of other churches than to her own 2'
There must be a cause. This conviction led to
self-examination, to greater humility and engagedness in prayer, and to an endeavor to stir
up one another to a sense of our situation and
duty. In the month of March it was resolved
that we would attempt another series of religious exercises, in order to awaken a greater
attention to-the subject of religion. To provide
ministerial assistance I went to New York and
Brooklyn, and secured the co-operation of two
or three of my brethren. The time for their
coming was fixed. Meetings for prayer were
appointed, and they continued every evening
for a week; and the attendance was greater
than usual.
"At the time appointed the congregation assembled; but no clerical brother was present.
I felt awfully solemn, in the view of having to
attempt preaching myself.  If I ever realized
my dependence on God it was at that moment.
Like minister like people. We all felt solemn,
and prayed, and we have reason to believe that




11-t6         MINISTERIAL LIFE.
God heard and answered the prayers that were
then made,' for while we were yet praying the
brethren, who had been detained by an unforeseen event, entered the house. Our unbelief
was rebuked; our faith was strengthened; our
efforts increased. The brethren went to work,
and that for several days. We had sermons
and prayers morning, noon, and night. If occasionally public service was omitted, it was to
afford an opportunity for conversation with
those who desired it, while at the same time'
prayer was made by the church. Conversion
followed conversion, and a precious number
were able to speak of the wonderful displays of
God's mercy and grace to them, and in due
time to take up their cross, and publicly to
own Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
This was an interesting season, and ought to be
remembered with gratitude, and greater diligence
and zeal in the service of our blessed Lord and
master manifested. Forty-one were received as
members of our church-twenty-three on examination; and eighteen on certificate from other
churches.  Of'these one is a minister of the
gospiel, and two iruling elders.




DIVISION OF THE SYNOD.'
" But such again was the state of the church,
that from February, 1835, to November, 1836,
only seven were received on examination, and
fortv-two on certificate. One of the seven was
only thirteen years and fourteen days old, and
he is now a minister of the gospel.
" Te years of 1837 and 1838 -were years of
great agitation, not only in Newburgh but in
the Presbyterian church throughouit the -length
and breadth of the United States. In 1837 the
church was divided, at a meeting of the General
Assembly, into what has since been called "the
Old School'- and "the New School," although
the separation did not actually take place with
us until the meeting of the synod of New York,
in October, 1838. At this meeting it became
necessary that each one should decide to which
division he would belong. It should be remarked, that in the summer of 1838 a second
Presbyterian'church had -been formed in. Newburgh, consisting of twenty-nine members dismissed from the first church, with the cordial
approbation of the session and members of the
church. When the separation into the Old and




118          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
New School took -place, the second church went
with the New School. This was trying to our
feelings, and also to the feelings of several
belonging to that church; and at our next communion we had applications from several to be
reinstated to their former standing among us.
"When the synod of New York in this place
was, divided there was great agitation, not only
among the members of that body, but- also
among the people of the congregation. When
the. vbte was taken there was a death-like stillness. Eighty-seven voted to go with the Old
School, and forty-one with the New  School,
and forty-three declined to vote; so that the
Old School had three more votes than both the
other two sections.' While these divisions, each claiming to be
the synod of New York, were in -session, there
was a- constant passing and repassing of the
people from one place of meeting to the other.
Curiosity -was excited and gratified, but the
H-ioly Spirit was grieved. In some angry passions were roused; in others sorrowful and
depressed feelings prevailed, and vital piety




REVIVAL N -1843.         119
languished. The result of the unhappy division
in the Presbyterian church was felt for several
years. Although we were comparatively free
from agitation among ourselves, yet the periodical publications of the day made us acquainted
with the unpleasant state of feeling on the subject-in other places, and led us to feel, and in
some things to speak.and to act, perhaps, unadvisedly; and, in the end, led us and others to
mourn. But my object is to state facts, and not,
to make comments, and I dismiss the sltbject.
"In 1838 one was received as a member who
is now a missionary in Northern India. Three
were received who became elders in other
churches. In 1839 several additions were made
to the church on examination and certificate.
One, who was afterwards chosen as a ruling
elder, but died before the time appointed for
his ordination.  Two became elders in the
church  in Newburgh, and one an elder in a
church in the city of-New York. Two became
preachers of the gospel-one a Presbyterian,
located in Pennsylvania; one (a colored man) a
Methodist.




120          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
"In 1840-41-42, several additions were made
to our church membership. One, aided by our
funds in the theological seminary at Princeton, and licensed by our presbytery, is now a
distinguished preacher in one of our cities.
Another, received and treated in the same way,
has been several years a pastor of a Presbyterian church in western New York." One an
elder in -this church, and one an elder- in the
city of New York.
"In consequence of the division," continues
Mr. Johnston, "of the Presbyterian  church
into the Old and New  School, the organization
of the second church, and its subsequent secession, the passing and repassing of members
from the Old to the New School, and from the
New to the Old School, the removal of several
families from their connexion with our church
to another in the village, and the death of one
of our most active elders, my mind was greatly
depressed, and the state of religion was low.
Pastor and people were discouraged; their
hands hung down, and their knees were feeble.
Truly I can say it was to me a day of darkness




DAY OF PRAYER.            121
and distress. Although I am not conscious of
diminishing, the number -of religious services
usually performed, yet these services were
attended with air indescribable depression of
spirits.  Feelings can neither be weiglied nor
measured, but- he who made man well knew
that under- a smiling countenance and cheerful
appearance there lay concealed a bowed down,
broken, and distressed heart, which'none but
God knew or can know. - Such was our state in
1842.'Iin reviewing the state- of the church in
1843 we find an addition to the church of sixty
imembers -forty-eight on  examination, and
twelve on certificate. We are- naturally led to
inquire,'What means were used previous -to
this large increase.?'In the time of their
affliction,' saith the Lord,'they will seek me
early'? and we found it so. We were made to
feel our dependence on God,'and we: sought his
aid: by prayer, in the closet, in the social circle,
and in public assembly.
" In the month of February we observed the
day appointed for prayer in behalf of colleges,




122          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
and academies, and schools, in order that more
of our educated youth might be prepared and
disposed to engage in the gospel ministry. The
Rev. N. S. Prime, D.D., was with us, and
greatly aided in the services of the day, and in
the ministerial labors which followed. The
season was solemn. The session agreed that a
season of special prayer should be observed,
and our meetings in the session room  continued, with only two or three intermissions, for
more than seven weeks. Sometimes we met for
prayer, sometimes for conversation, and generally to mingle our sympathies and our joys for
what the Lord was doing among us, and to
encourage each other' to perseverance and
Christian duty..When the stated tirne for the
communion drew near, I inrvited Dr. Prime to
be partaker of those festival joys which he had
been instrumental in producing. IHe came, and
had his own soul comforted, while he was
enabled. to comfort others with the comfort
wherewith he had been comforted of God.
Thus the church was strengtllened to trust in
the Lord; our weak faith was rebuked; and




GRATIFYING RESULTS.         123
our benevolent feelings increased and extended
to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, whether
they belong to us or to others. Two of those
then brought into the church have since been
chosen and set apart to the office of, ruling
elders in this church, and others are occupying
important stations in other churches.
"Two or three years after this awakening a
particular friend of the church inquired,' What
was the Christian conduct of those who were
brought into the church in 1843' This inquiry
led me to sit down, with the list of the names
before me, and I was enabled to make such a
reply to the inquiry as was highly gratifying to
my friend and myself. Perhaps as few, if not
fewer, cases were found requiring the interference of the session as among an equal number
brought into the church on any former occasion. The church was, at the close of this
revival, in a pleasant, peaceful, and united
state."
Here we cannot withhold the remark, that
Mr. Johnston often spoke of this revival with
peculiar interest. It came at a time when it




124           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
was greatly needed to cheer the desponding
heart of the pastor, and of his praying people.
He had the co-operation and able assistance of
his tried and fast fiiend, the Rev. Dr. Primes
lately gone to.join his brother, where prayer,
and.-faith, and preaching are not needed, to
rejoice together in the retrospect of their mutual labors, and to enjoy the approving smiles
of their blessed Redeemer.
"The youngest member admitted to the
church was nine years and three months and
twenty-three days.  The oldest eighty years.
And the exercises of their minds were various.
In general there was a- deep conviction of sin,
commencing, perhaps, with a view of some particular sin, and extending to others, and finally
leading to a view of the depravity of the heart
and a consciousness of entire helplessness and
dependence on the sovereign mercy of God.
Sometimes there was terror, and apprehension
of divine wrath; sometimes there was no fear,
but merely a sense of sinfulness in the sight of
God, and of hardness of heart andt distress
because they were not alarmed. The work of




BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS.    125
conviction continued a longer or a shorter time,
and some, under remorse of conscience, never
obtained peace by. accepting of a free salvation,
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. One
young woman was greatly distressed because
she had no conviction of sin.
"In the year 1844 nineteen were added to
the church-one half on examination, and the
other half on. certificates from other churches.
Since 1843 there has been no. special movement
or ingathering into the church worthy to' be
denominated a revival. But there have been
additions on examination at almost every comImunion season, though the greater part have
been on certificates from other churches. There
has also been a uniform and respectable attendance on public worship in the house of the
Lord. We6 have enjoyed peace and quietness
among ourselves, and with Christians of other'denominations.  We may add that we have
done something, though less than we ought to
have done, for, the glory of God, by contributing of our worldly means to send the gospel to
the destitute in our own and in foreign lands,




126          -MISTERIAL LIFE.
as well as aiding  various other benevolent
objects."
Such is a brief account of the revivals with
which the Lord blessed the labors of his servant
in Newburgh, selected from various parts of his
manuscripts.* Atthe time of the-separation of the
church of Newburgh from that of New Windsor
there were only thirty-seven communicants in the
church of Newburgh. The number added to that
church during his ministry we have not been able
satisfactorily to ascertain.  It must have been
large. From statistical reports to the general assembly it appears there were sometimes as many
as four hundred communicants. In late years
there have been only between two hundred and
fifty and three hundred. This diminution in
numbers did not arise (as is evident from the
additions yearly made) from a decline in piety,
but from the migratory character of the inhabitants. There was a time when the trade of
the fertile counties of Orange, Ulster,-Delaware,
and Sullivan centred in Newburgh, or passed
* Some things peculiar, respecting members of the church,
will be found in Appendix F.




DISMISSALS GRANTED.       127
through it to New York.  Since the opening
of railroads and- canals, a great change has
taken place in the course of business. Some,
who did: not succeed according to their expectations, removed to new settlements; others,
who had increased their capital, passed down to
the city of New York,; thie great emporium of
trade; some, for want of accommodations in
the Presbyterian church, went to other churches
in Newburgh, and others were dismissed to
form  a second Presbyterian church.  These
movements diminished the number of communicants and impaired the strength and efficiency of
the Presbyterian church in Newburgh. But
these changes were probably the means of promoting the general interests of the Redeemer's
kingdom. The dismissed members carried with
them the previous zeal which they had imbibed
in Newburgh, and formed the nuclei around
which other churches were collected.  Such
facts were more than once brought to the knowledge of their former pastor, and rejoiced his
heart-and in the spirit of the forerunner of our
Lord, he could say: "HIe must increase, but I
mu$st decrease." It seems to be the order of th 




128          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
divine government, that Christians should not be
collected together in one place, but be scattered
abroad over the face of the earth as the husbandman sows his seed. The first converts to Christianity were not permitted to remain long in
Jerusalem, but driven by persecution to various
places, they conveyed with them the good tidings
of salvation.
It may as well be remarked in this connexion,
as elsewhere, that the Session of the Presbyterian
church in Newburgh, gave-without hesitation, a
dismission to any member in good standing who
requested it, to unite with any other church in
the place. This liberal policy was reciprocated
by all the churches in Newburgh, except the
Episcopal. On the first application for a dismission from that church, to join the Presbyterian,
the applicant was informed that a certificate of
dismission was in such cases never given, and if
any member chose to leave the Episcopal church
on his own responsibility his name would be removed from the roll of communicants without
farther censure. After this announcement, no
certificate was asked from persons coming from
that church.




THE LORD'S SUPPER.              129
CHAPTER VII.
The means used to watch over the members of his church, and
to keep himself acquainted with the state of his congregation
-Emmonism-Change of views and practice in baptizing
children and adults —Re-baptizing Roman Catholics-Efforts
to educate young men for the gospel ministry-The Wills of
Robert and Marion Hall, and Gilbert King, establishing the
Ed and King Scholarship in the Theological Seminary of
Princeton-Ministers' wives-Church music.
MiR. Johnson did not labor to increase the members of his church, and then leave them to be
governed and edified by the general instructions
given in public ministrations of the word and
ordinances.  Like a good shepherd, he watched
over his flock, and applied to individuals such
attention as their wants required.'His predecessors had been in the habit of administering the
Lord's Supper only twice a year; this custom he
saw cause to change, and he administered this
ordinance four times in the year, once on a fixed




130          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
day in every quarter, so that those in the remote
parts of the congregation who fromu age or infirmity, or'any other cause, could not attend public worship every Sabbath, might know the season
of communion and make arrangements to be
present.
Before each communion, the Session met, and
the roll of the members was read over, and if
any of the elders knew any member whose conduct or state of mind required particular attention, it was made known to the pastor, and in.this way he was kept acquainted with the wants
and circumstances of every member of his
church, and was prepared to administer such consolations or reproofs as each case demanded.
This was done by private conversation, in which
he was peculiarly happy, or by placing in the
hands of individuals such tracts or books as were
suited to the case. lIe made frequent use ofthe
publications of the Assembly's Board, and he
often spoke of these books as an inestimable
blessing to his people: and they manifested their
estimation of the value of the work by liberal
annuml contributions to sustain it.




EMMONISM.             131
The same occasions were also improved-to
ascertain the state of mind or conduct of those
belonging to the congregation who were not
members of the church, so that in his parochial
visits and preaching the pastor might accommodate his conversation and preaching to the condition of the people. This practice, when conducted with prudence, cannot be too highly recommended.  It excites the elders. to vigilance and
carej and enables the pastor to adapt his instructions to the wants of his charge.
At one. period, the mlind of Mr. Johnston
was greatly annoyed and perplexed by the peculiar doctrines of Dr. Emmons. In his congregation-there was one man of considerable intelligence, who had fully embraced the views of Emmons, and he was zealous in propagating them
byy conversation and by circulating books on the
subject. He urged with great importunity on
the pastor himself these sentiments. 3fr. J. was
compelled to give the subject a full examination,
with a determination to follow the truths of the
Bible to whatever conclusions they might lead
him; at the same time, as he had given his




132           MINISTERIAL -LIFE.
assenft to the doctrines contained in the confession of faith of the Presbyterian church, he resolved that lhe would preach nothing contrary to
that standard as long as he remained a minister
in that church, and if he found the doctrines in
which he had been educated, erroneous, he would
withdraw fromn the Presbyterian church. Such
was the ingenuity of the reasoning of -Dr. Emmons, that, admitting his premises, it was difficult to resist the conclusion. After stating his
perplexities, Mlr. J. adds, " I have reason to be
thankful that Dr; Emmons was the man who relieved me from my perplexities and led me to
a settled peace, which has never been disturbed
from that time.  In the 14th sermon of one of
his volumes- on this text-' Be it known unto
you men and brethren, that through this man is
preached the forgiveness of sins,' he proposes to
show-1st. What is forgiveness; 2d. What is
forgiveness for Christ's sake; and 3d. That forgiveness is the only blessing we receive for
Christ's sake.  This last head he labors at great
length, and then proceeds to infer that forgiveness is the only blessing, we receive for Christ's




sake; that sinners are not justified for Ctrist's
sake; also, that it is wrong for ministers to direct
sinners to Christ foB faith;, repentance, &c. As I
read, the thought flashed on my mind-is- not
Christ exalted to give repentance as well as the
remission of sins? Did not one say.-' Lord, I
believe; help thou my unbelief.' Are we not
justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus? I will believe God,
and I was at rest, and was never afterwards disturbed by the subtleties of Dr. Emmons or any
of his followers."
On the subject of baptism, the practice of Mr.
J. underwent a change.: We give a statement
on this subject in his own words.''  When," says
he, "I was introduced into the ministry, I had
no settled principle regpecting the proper subjects of baptism.  In ghe congregation where I
was located, it was usual to admit persons of
adult years to baptism, who refused or neglected
to come to the Table of the Lord. It was also
the custom  for parents to have their children
baptized when neither of them were in full communion with the church. My pastor in the days




134         MINISTERIAL LIFE.
of my childhood, the minister who admitted me
to: the communion of the church, and the professors under.whom I studied theology, all practised
on what in New England is called the'half-way
covenant.' I commenced and continued my
ministry in the same way, until I was invited to
baptize in a private way the child of parents
who I was well persuaded were not only imnmoral, but grossly immoral, though it was not
known to the public. My conscience condemned
me, and I resolved I would not do the like again.
To fortify myself before my people, I preached
several sermons on the nature of the engagements, into which persons who offered their
children in baptism entered, and the force of
these obligations.  In conclusion, I informed
my people of the change my own sentiments had
undergone-that hereafter -I would baptize no
adutlt who was not prepared to become a member
of the church in full communion; and that I
would baptize. no child unless one or both of
the parents were members of the church in full
communion. I moreover stated that I wished
every one carefully to examine the subject, and




BAPTISM.             135
if any one after examination was still of the opinion that the former practice was right, I was
willing to exchange with any brother minister
who thought it right to practise as we had heretofore done.  I do not recollect that I ever
had-a serious application from any of my people
to depart from my determination. In one or
two cases another minister came, and without my
knowledge administered baptism to a few children. The parents honored my candor and took
no offence." Whether this change in sentiment
and practice was right or wrong, it manifested
great:tenderness of conscience, and also Christian
prudence in making the change in such a way
as not to alienate the minds and affections of his
people.
In another particular touching baptism Mr.
Johnston differed from the usage of many in the
Presbyterian church, and from the decision of
the General Assembly in the following way: —
A missionary under the care of thePresbytery
of Hudson, located in Buenos Ayres, wrote to
his Presbytery to direct him  what to do.in
the case of persons entering the Protestant from




136          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
the Roman Catholic church. The Presbytery
was divided in- opinion, and referred the subject
to the Synod of New York. The Synod, after discussing the subject two days, referred it to thee
General Assembly, and the General Assembly
decided that such persons ought not to be re-baptized-chiefly on the ground that, although that
church was grossly corrupt in doctrine and practice, it still maintained some fundamental doctrines of the gospel, and had in its communion
many pious persons, and ought to be regarded as
a church of Christ. Mr. Johnston viewed that
church in a different light; and great as his
respect: was for the decisions of the General Assembly, he re-baptized in several cases persons
coming from the Roman church and entering the
Presbyterian.
The great object which occupied the mind and
interested the heart of this good man, next to the
spiritual welfare of his people, was the preparation of young men for the gospel ministry. He
believed thlat if he could be the means of bringing forward young men of piety and talents, and
of preparing them for -the -work of the Lord, he




YovgN MEN.             137
would do more good than he could do in any
other way; and we are happy to say that in this
respect his efforts.were eminently suc-cessful.
Whenever he found a young man in his churcli
of piety and promising talents, lie talked to him
on the subject, and if he was doubtful respecting
the talents of any one who was desirous of devoting himself to the work of the ministry, he made
trial of his gifts and capacity to receive mental
culture by giving him instruction for a short
time, and when he came to a favorable conclusion he encouraged his pupil to commence a
regular course of study. Some of tlie young
men who studied, were able, through the means
of their parents and friends, to pay the expenses
of their own education; others  were poor, and
had no means of support except the labor of
their hands.  In the latter case their pastor
assured them that means would be provided if
they showed -themselves worthy of support. tHe
did what he could himself, and his good people
were not slow to follow his example.  The
females of his charge were induced to form cent
societies, and sewing soeti*s, and reading sociew7*




138          MINISTiDRIA  L-IFE.
ties, an.d from these little circles clothing was
provided, and money collected to pay-for tuition,
and -perhaps boarding was furnished by parents
while:feirsons were preparing to enter college.
[By'the aid of the; Assembly's Board of Education, and otherl societies,'Mr. Johnston devised
ways and means to support several through- a
fi'll course of collegial and theological studies.
In one' case it is known to us that Mr. J., with a
family of ten children of his own, took the son of
a poor man who had-removed to the West, boarded, and clothed, and- paid tuition bills, until thei
youth was fitted for college, receiving from the
B3oad of Education only sixty-five dollars a year.
Among his manuscripts We find te: names and
a brief history of twenty-two members of his
church, who became ministers of the gospel, and
some of themn missionaries in heathen and foreign
lands. Others are occupying places of usefulness
in our own country. Q-'Of all who were encouraged to prepaMe for the gospel ministry, only
one turned out'badly.  This young man -had
been received on certificate from another church,
and was only a short' time'a member of the




THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.       139
Presbyterian church of Newburgh. That so few
disappointed the hopes of their patron, is a proof
of a sound judgment in making the selection.;Before the time of Mr. J., not one young man in the
congregations of Newburgh and New Windsor
had turned his attention to the ministry; indeed,
there was no unmarried person, male or female,
belonging to either of these churches when he
took charge of them. So fully was our departed
brother convinced of the importance of a
thorough education, that he encouraged no one
to seek the ministry who had not determined to
take' a full course of literary and theological
studies.. When a proposition was sent down
from the General Assembly to the Presbyteries
to ascertain whether or not it was their wish to
establish a theological seminary, every member
of his Presbytery, except himself, voted against
the-. proposal. IIe saw the importance of such
an institution, and he advocated it, and from
that day until his death he was -its firm and
zealous supporter. Through his instrumentality
two scholarships, of twenty-five hundred dollars
each, were founded in the seminary at Prince.




140          MINMYT]RIAL LIFE.
ton, and the nomination of those who should
have the benefit of these scllholar ships was vested
in the Sessign of the First Presbyterian church
in Newburgh. So that when a young inan, a
member of that church, was prepared to enter
the Seminary, provision was ready for his support.  In this way, several useful and some
distinguished ministers of the gospel have been
carried through a full course of theological
study; and as the interest only of the scholarships is expended, the same process may be continued until it shall not be necessary for " one to
say unto another know the Lord, for all shall
know him from the greatest to the least."
— One of these scholarships was founded by
Robert Hall and his sister Marion. They were
natives of Scotland, had been brought up under
the ministry of the Rev. John Brown of Haddington, and had been employed a great part of their
lives in teaching in Scotland and in this country.
When Mr. Johnston, of whose church they were
members, understood they wished to dispose of
their property for the education of pious young
men for the gospel ministry,'he suggested




SCHOLARSHIPS.           141
establishing a scholarship in the theological
seminary at Princeton; -and it was done, and
the money was paid by the executors to the
treasurer of the General Assembly. As there is
something peculiar in their Will, we give the
following extract. "We give and bequeathe
twenty-five hundred dollars to the Rev. John
Johnston, the Rev. Joseph McCarroll, Mr. John
Forsyth, and -Mr. John Beveridge, all of the
town of Newburgh, county of Orange, and state
of New York, the survivor or survivors of them,
their heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns,
for ever for the use of and in trust for the trustees
of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
church in the United States to be applied to the
benefit of the theological seminary of the said
church, and now located at Princeton, in. the
state of New Jersey. Further'it is our will that
this sum of twenty-five hundred dollars be funded
by the trustees of the General Assembly, and
that the interest'alone be annually expended.
And whertas. after a- life of-,nearly four score
years (much of which has been spent in examining the word of God) we are fully;satisfied of




142. MINISTERIAL LIFE.
the correctness' of the doctrines of religion as laid
down in the confession of faith, the larger-and
shorter catechisms drawn up by-the Westminster
Assembly of Divines, and as held by the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States, we desire that the scholarship
which is endowed by this bequest of $2500, shall
be called the Ed*" Scholarship, as a witness between us and the theological seminary, that the
Lord he is God agreeably to said confession of
faith and catechisms.  Further it is our will
that the professors in said seminary be- carefulthat no person holding sentiments inconsistent
with the- confession of faith, larger and shorter
catechisns, be ever admitted to the benefit of
said scholarship.  And further it is our will that
the sessiBn of the first Presbyterian church in
Newburgh, county of Orange, anid state of New
York, possess the right of naming the student
who shall enjoy the benefit of said scholarship,
provided  he be received into the seminary
agreeably to the restrictions of the former para* Joshua xxii. 34.




SCHOLARSHIPS.           143
graph."  It was a subject of pleasure to these
pious people to think on their deathbed that
their property would be aiding in educating
ministers after they were dead and gone. They
are interred side by side in the common burying ground in Newburgh. The old lady said,
if anything was put upon' her head-stone, it
should be, "To, know as I am known; I know
not-: but I am ganging to know."
Mr. Gilbert King, a member of the church in
Newburgh, at the suggestion of his pastor, also
endowed a scholarship in the seminary at Princeton, giving the Session of the Presbyterian church
in Newburgh the right of naming the beneficiaries. This scholarship became productive in 1837.
Mr. King came from Long Island to Orange
county, New York, and for many years followed
the business of shoemaking. Having sold a small
farm on which he lived in the country, he came
to Newburgh that he might enjoy the privileges
of: the gospel. IHe became a member of the
Presbyterian church, and spent the evening of
his days in communion with God and his people.




1-44          MINISTERIAL- LIFE.
His remains are interred in the old church graveyard in Newburgh.
From the.commencement of the Theological
Seminary at Princeton, until his death, Mr.
Johnston's whole heart was engaged for its
interests, and throughl his influence his people
contributed liberally every year for the support
of the professors, before professorships were endowed, as well as for other wants of the institution. In 1817, he was chosen a director, and he
continued a director until his death, being, reelected every third year. He punctually attended the meetings of that Board, and'was often one
of the examining committee-at the close of the
sessions.
Believing that the Christian training of young
females was not less important than that of
young men, Mr. Johnston took special care to
give their minds such a direction as would prepare them for usefulness in the church of God.
And it is a remarkable fact and worthy of notice,
that eighteen members of his church were married to ministers of the gospel, and three of-that
number went as missionaries to heathen lands.




CHRISTIAN. TRAINING.      145
In the memoranda before us, we have the names
and azbrief history of the eighteen females who
were intimately connected with the interests of
the church.  Where, we may ask, has any
church under the ministry of one man furnished
so, many laborers in the Lord's vineyard?
Mr. Johnston had a taste for music, and he
considered singing one of the most delightful and
profitable parts of-public worship. His own
children had fine voices, and he took care that
they should be cultivated in tlhe best manner.
In his daily family worship the singing was
charming, and his daughters aided greatly in the
music of the public sanctuary. We give his own
account of this part of worship, when he came to
Newburgh, and of its improvement:-" When,"
says he, "I took charge -of the congregation, an
old gentleman, one of the elders, was leader;
he had neither voice nor taste, was ignorant of
all the rules of music, and his performance was
sufficient evidence of all this. A music teacher
was afterwards employed, and he led the music
during his continuance. When he left we were
as ill off as ever, nay worse; for some began to




146          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
see and feel the necessity of cultivating church
music, and began to complain of its performance
in public worship. A bass-viol was presented by
a member of the church, on condition it would be
used in public worship. A choir was formed, and
the viol was used, and the congregation was well
pleased.  Unfbrtunately, however, a good old
Scotch woman, who had been delighted with the
music for several Sabbaths, one day going out of
the church, happened: to see the bass-viol, and
was horrified. She came to see me on Monday
morning, complimented me for my sermon, but,
said she, all the good impressions it made were
driven out of my head by the vile thing I saw in the
gallery-and then with much feeling she exclaimed:-' Oh! Mister Johnston, did I think I would
ever live to see a fiddle in the house of God?.'
She took her departure, and she never again
united with us in public worship. The bass-viol
was continued for several years in connexion
with the choir. At length the viol was dropped,
and the choir leads the music to the present
time (1852), and I have no hesitation in saying
we have the best performance in church music




CHURCH MUSIC.          147
of any congregation in the circle of my acquaintance. And this also has been the testimony of
clergymen and otkers who have worshipped
with us."




148             IMINISTERIAL LIFE.
CHAPTER VIII.
Efforts to organize a Second Presbyterian church in Newburgh
-Extract of an address on that subject-The result-Thele
Second church becomes New School, and is dissolved
-The increase of churches in Newburgh —Improvement in
morals —Drs. Brown. and McCarroll-The extent of the original Presbytery of Hudson-Vacant congregations and
supplies-Hudson Presbytery divided, and North River
Presbytery formed-Bedford Presbytery formed from North
River Presbytery —Two New School Presbyteries formed
from these-Increase of ministers-Punctuality in attending
Presbytery and other judicatories of the church-Fourteen- times a Commissioner to the General Assembly-A delegate to. the General Association of Connecticut and of.
Massachussets-A delegate to the General Association of New
Hampshire and General Convention of Vermont-Biography of 140 ministers-Records of the Presbytery of Dutchess
-Elected a Trustee of the College of New Jersey —The degree of Doctor in Divinity conferred.
AN  extract from  a  discourse delivered to his
people  early in  1838, will show  the  state  of
things and the wishes of the pastor:-" Permit
me to call your attention to a particular subject,




A SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.   149
and which has long pressed heavily on my mind
— I mean the organization of a Second- Presbyterian church.  Op- this subject I have often
spoken in public and in private, and I have as
oftenamet with objections and a backwardness to
engage in the work. The consequence has been,
that while other congregations have arisen and increased, ours has remained stationary: I do
therefore beg leave once more to state my views,
and to solicit your candid attention.
"In the first place I premise that I am not
conscious of being actuated in this matter by
any ill-will towards any Christian denomination
in this place; I can honestly say that I wish
them all well, and it gives me pleasure to learn
that God is glorified in these different churches,
in the purity, prosperity, and increase of their
members. But I am a Presbyterian, and as such,
I have a partiality towards the Presbyterian
church, and in saying so, I express towards her
the feeling of others towards the church of their
choice. Their:preference is seen in the course
pursued-, and so should mine and yours be also.
Let us now look at a few facts. When I came




150         MINISTERIAL LIFE.
to this place thirty-one years ago, our house of
public' worship had no gallery, and was not so
large as it now is, and of course it could not accommodate as many as it now does. I very
well remember, that in the summer after I came,
benches had to be introduced into the aisles to
accommodate the hearers. The number of hearers
increased so, that the second year a gallery was
erected, and the house was finished, and the congregation,then called for the whole of my time.
The year following I was released from the congregation of New Windsor, and the house was
again filled; and I appeal to some of the aged if
they do not remember the numerous congregation that was in attendance from Sabbath to
Sabbath. The Episcopal church then went aup,
and this took away our surplus menibers; and
it was only a year or two before we found our
want -of seats. Then the Associate Reformed
church was erected in the place where it now
stands, and several of our congregation went
there, as accommodation could not be had with
us. The Covenanter church went up, and took
firom us several of our number.: Our church ad



A SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.   151
mitted of being enlarged and altered, so as to
accommodate a larger audience than heretofore.
This enlargement was made; and when the seats
were disposed of, there were fourteen families
that were not. accommodated.  Some of these
found- places by sharing a pew with others, and
some left the congregation. This occurred ten
years ago; the consequence has been that no increase in the congregation could take place, for
if a famlily came in another must go out. Thus,
for want of room, many who gave a preference
to the Presbyterian church, were compelled to
go to places of worship where they had not
intended to go. This is a difficulty- which has
prevented people from making Newburgh their
residence., I could name a very respectable
man, who, in conversation with me, assigned this
very thing as the reason of not locating his
family in this village. I do verily believe that
several churches in this place have received additions, and have, to a considerable extent, been
built up of materials that wished to remain
Presbyterian. I have known families to remain
for years without forming a connexion with




152          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
other churches, and afterwards were disappointed in their wishes. Applications are still made
fiom time to time, without success. Only think
of this congregation, the same now as to numbers that it was twenty-nine years ago, while the
population of the- place has increased more than
three-fold. Churches of other denominations are
springing up and multiplying, and the Presbyterian remains the same. Now, other denominations are not to be blamed; they are to be
commended-the fault is ours; we are the sufferers.' We have not the same stimulating causes
to urge us forward; exertions are not made to
bring in those who do not attend any place of
worship; and if they were made where can you
offer them a seat? Individuals may feel anxious
to enlarge our borders, but in order to success
there must be concert and union. Again, look
at the effect on the young and rising generation.
They are not called to activity and exertion in
the cause of Christ, and they grow up in ignorance of their privileges and duties; and if stirred
to do something they must seek some other
place. While an opportunity is given them to




FAMILY TRANSITIONS.         153
exert themselves in other enterprises, none is
firnished for exertion to build up the church of
God, unless they go out from  their father's
house.
" There is another evil arising out of our supineness. We are insensibly changing the ecclesiastical relation of our families. Here is a parent
with a rising family sufficiently numerous to fill
his seat; a son is married, and no place is found
for his accommodation. He has been accustomed to attend public worship-(for, my hearers,
this is a church-going people) but where shall he
go? He must leave the house in which he was
brought up, and the mode of worship that he prefers, and unite with another people.  In due
time another member of the family is in the
same situation, and after awhile the entire family
is gone. I could name families where this process is going on, and where the result before long
will probably be as we have stated. The wealth
of this congregation is greater than that of any
other in the place, and enough could be spared
without any inconvenience to establish another
congregation on a foundation that would promise




154          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
permanence and usefulness. Moreover, there is
talent and capacity for usefulness beyond what
is demanded in one congregation, and which
needs only to be brought into operation to be
useful. Furnish the opportunity, and the result
will rejoice your hearts. But it is one thing to
urge the accomplishment of an object, and another to point out how it can be done. Before I
proceed, permit me to say, after a pastoral relation of thirty-one years, I can here bear testimony to your kindness, and the expressions of
that kindness both to myself and to my family;
and while I desire ever to feel a deep sense of
your kindness, I am not conscious of a wish to
be disconnected from any family in the congregation. If it be the will of God that my usefulness may continue as long as I remain on the
earth, I desire to live and die with you; but if
the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom require it, I am ready to part with any number of
families that may choose to,withdraw and unite
in building up a second Presbyterian church.
With these remarks I submit my plan. Let
there be encouragement given to the younger




GLORIOUS RIVALSHIIP.      155
part of-the congregation to engage in this noble
enterprise. IIere are young men commencing
the business of life —they are young, active, and
enterprising; let thein have an opportunity of
exerting themselves in laying up durable treasures in helping forward the kingdom of Christ.
Here are rich individuals who have sons, or
nephews, or'friends; say to them:-' subscribe
a thousand or five hundred dollars, or any other
handsome sum, and I will pay it. What I want
is, that you take an active part in building up a
second Presbyterian church and congregation.'
Oh! how do you know, but that God will make
this the means of enlisting the energies of your
sons in the noblest work, and of leading them to
the Saviour? Thus you may prepare the way
for them to do good, while you remain where
you -are.  But it may be said, those churches
will become rivals. Rivals! What a glorious
rivalship-sons endeavoring to outdo -their
fathers in building up the kingdom  of the
blessed Redeemer! Relatives vieing with each
other for the honor of bringing the greatest number of souls to a saving and eternal relationship




1 56          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Here it seems to me
are a great many young men who are waiting
for an opportunity of engaging in the work of
the Lord. Now it will not do to say to children
and young persons, go!-but we must say, here
is a portion of the goods which I intend for you,
and it is my wish, that the first fruits of my
bestowni-ent should be consecrated to the Lord.
Oh! my friends, it will afford you satisfaction in
a dying hour, to reflect that a part of the property
which the Lord has given you, has been thus
consecrated to his service. Should such an enterprise be now  attempted, I hope to see a
young man settled as a co-presbyter, and I shall
look for aid from him in building up the church
of God. Let me say, I greatly desire to see another Presbyterian church in this place before I
go hence. This subject was under consideration
last year, and approved by the officers and such:of the congregation as were present at the meeting  for consultation, yet nothing was done.
Let us try once more."
This was a noble and effective address,
worthy the occasion, and characteristic of




THE RESULT.             157
the  man whom delivered it.  He utters no
expression  of envy or jealousy on account
of the increase and success of other churches, but rather of congratulation.  He indicates no narrow, selfish desire to retain as large a
number of hearers and supporters as possible.
He is willing and desirous to resign the young
and hopeful part of his charge, provided the
kingdom of Jesus Christ be extended and built
up according to the doctrine and discipline
which he believes is most in harmony with the
word of God. The result of this effort was, that
a second Presbyterian congregation was organized, and twenty-nine members of the old church
were dismissed to form the-beginning of the new.
As has been already stated, a majority of this
church and congregation after,the division of the
Synod into the Old and New schools at Newburgh, voted to connect themselves with the latter. Some, dissatisfied with this arrangement,
returned to their former place, and some went to
other churches. The first pastor of the second
church was the Rev. William  Hill, installed
October the 19th, 1841, and he was deposed in




158           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
1844, by his Presbytery, for strenuously maintaining that perfection in holiness was attainable,
and was actually attained by believers in this
life. The Rev. John Gray succeeded as a stated
supply, and after three or four years, left. The
congregation was involved in a heavy debt, and
their house of worship was sold, and is now occupied by the Second Methodist Society. Since
the time of Mr. Johnston's settlement, the number of places of public worship in Newburgh has
increased four-fold, and there has been a corresponding- improvement in morals and piety.
There are very few families in the place that are
not nominally connected with some religious society. The Sabbath is decently observed. The
streets are, quiet, and the people generally attend
some place of public worship. The taverns are
better regulated than in many places; respectable hotel keepers refuse to sell intoxicating
drinks to inhabitants of the place on any day in
the week, consequently there is no lounging in
the bar-rooms and carousing at night, disturbing
the rest of travellers and boarders. Open infidelity has disappeared. Universalists, Unitarians,




IMPROVEMENT IN MORALS.       159
IMormons, and similar sects, have no foothold in
Newburgh; and if it were not for the Roman
Catholics, who came to the place to labor on
railroads, and at the wharves, very little profane
swearing would be heard in the streets. The
people of Newburgh are a church-going and a
moral people; such -was formerly not the fact.
Infidel publications were scattered there broadcast; intemperance, and drinking to intoxication)
even at funerals, was not uncommon; the Lord's
Day not regarded, and children without instruction or restraint permitted to run in the streets
on that sacred day. We are far from claiming
for any one man, the honor of this reformation
and increase of piety. To M1r. Johnston belongs
the honor of commencing the work, and of continuing longer in the field than any other. Able
and, faithful coadjutors of other denominations,
in the progress of time, came to his aid, and
labored with him harmoniously and successfully
in pulling down the strongholds of Satan,
and in building up the kingdom of Christ.*
More than fifty Protestant ministers preached a
* See Appendix D.




160          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
longer or a shorter time in Newburgh during the
ministry of Mr. Johnston, and he never had a
quarrel or angry word with one of them. Towards the close of life, he often spoke of the uninterrupted harmony and friendship that existed
between himself and the Rev. Dr. John Brown,
of the Episcopal church, and the Rev. Dr.
Joseph McCarroll, of the Associate Reformed
church.* With the former he lived and preached
in the same village thirty-nine years, and with
the latter thirty-three years.
We have seen the progress of piety and good
morals in the first Presbyterian church, and also
in the village of Newburgh; - l't us -look at the
Presbytery of Hudson; and the region over which
it extended. This Presbytery, at the time Mr.
Johnston became a member, extended from the
bounds of the Presbytery of Albany on the
north to Manhattan island on the south, and
from the border of Connecticut on the east to the
Delaware river on the west. In this extensive
region, in 1807, there were only six settled Presbyterian ministers, and two superannuated without
charge; and there were a large number of small
* See Appendix E.




PUNCTUALITY.            161
congregations vacant. The Presbytery had no
licensed preachers under its care; these congregations must be left without hearing the gospel,
or ministers who had charges of their own must
occasionally leave their people and -preach in
these destitute places. At the semi-annual meeting of Presbytery, as many as two or three appointments were made for each minister, and he
was required to report at the next meeting
wvhether or not he had fulfilled them. M-r. Johnstonl seldom failed-not long before his death
he recorded that in forty-eight years he had not
three times disappointed the people to whom he
had promised to preach. Frequently he had to
go on horseback through rain and snow, a considerable distance, to fulfil these appointments.
Sometimes he was absent four or five days in fulfilling all appointment.
In 1812, he was sent by his -Presbytery as a
missionary to spend three or four weeks, near
what was called the Cook-house, now Port Deposit. After travelling sixty miles he came to
the Delaware, at Coshocton, crossed the river,
and rode aup the river forty or fifty miles, and
8*




162          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
preached in  several places.  The country
through which he passed was wild and dreary.
In one place he went twelve miles through the
woods without seeing a house or the mark of an
axe. He felt-gloomy; but when he came to the
place where Brainard had preached to the
-Indians, his heart revived, when he compared
the privations and labors of that devoted man
with his own. On his way up, he lodged with a
widow lady, with whom he had an interesting
conversation.*  During his journey, it rained incessantly for two days,- yet he proceeded and fulfilled his appointments.  On his
return he put his horse on a raft of timber prepared for the Philadelphia market, and came
with great rapidity forty miles down the river
near to the place where he had crossed going up.
This journey, he remarked, gave him some idea
of the hardships and sufferings of those who commence settlements in new countries of a missionary life.
Returning from  this excursion and from
preaching in other destitute places, he usually
* See Appendix Q.




PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON.       163
felt dejected, believing his labor was all lost.
He seemed like a man who scattered good seed
in an uncultivated forest, and who left it to rot,
or to be picked up by birds, or to be choked by
surrounding vegetation. But his unbelief was
rebuked by learning before he left the world
that happy results had followed in a few cases
where no success was anticipated. And it is not
improbable that many more of the same kind
will be ascertained where he is now gone.*
In 1819, the Presbytery of Hudson had so increased that a division was thought necessary.
The Hudson river was to form the general
boundary. But in order to make the parts more
equal, three ministers (of which Mllr. Johnston
was one) and three congregations on the west
side of the river were connected with the eastern
division called "The North River Presbytery."
A few years after the Presbytery of Bedford was
formed from the southern part of the Presbytery
of the North River. When the division into the
Old School and New School in 1838 took place,
two New School Presbyteries were formed withS* e Appendix H.




16:4         ~nSIqISTERI:AL LIFE.
in the bounds of the original Hudson Presbytery.
And instead of six or eight ministers, as was the
case, in 1807, there were in 1854 eighty-nine
settled niinisters or stated supplies. And within the bounds of the "' North River Presbytery"
there were no vacate congregations. How great
the change during the miniisterial life of one
man! In attending the meetings of Presbytery
and other judicatures of the church, Mr. Johnston was a model of punctuality. At an' early
period he was appointed stated clerk of the Presbytery, and he seldom failed to be present at
the hour appointed, bringing the records of the
Presbytery with him. lie was fourteen times a
comnissioner to the General Assembly of:the
Presbyterian church, and he never failed to
attend, and we find among his manuscripts a record of the transactions of that body.
jIn 1814-, he was chosen by the General Assembly a delegate to attend the General Association
of Massachuisetts; and again, in 1826, he was
appointed by the same body a delegate to the
General Association of New H-ampshire, and the
General Convention of Vermont. In both cases




AID — TO -MISSIONARIES.    165
he,travelled on horseback, called-on many distinguished clergymen, and visited the principal
towns and. cities in New England. He left a
journal of these tou rs, in which many interesting
facts are recorded.
The large heart of this good man was not confined to the limits of his own congregation or
Presbytery, or even General Assembly of the
Presbyterian  church.  His benevolence embraced the whole family of man. He was the
ardent friend of foreign and domestic missions;
within his appropriate sphere he successfully
labored to promote them, whether conducted by
his own or other denominations.  When the
American Board of Commissioners of Foreign
Missions commenced sending the gospel to
foreign and heathen lands, Mr. Johnston brought
the subject before his people, and secured their
liberal and efficient aid. IIe did the same also
in regard to the American Education Society.
At one time he entertained for several days, and
lodged in his garret (the spare rooms in his house
being occupied by other guests), five or six
Indians on their way from their homes in the




166           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
wilderness to a school established for them in
Cornwall, Connecticut.
In several cases missionary families, under
the direction of the A. B. C. of Foreign Missions, were entertained and helped forward on
their way by the liberality of his congregation.
Through the contributions of his congregation,
and of individuals belonging to it, he received
more than a dozen of certificates of life membership in different benevolent religious societies.
By the same means his name is enrolled as a life
member of all the boards in the Presbyterian
church. Besides these contributions for objects
of general interest; agents for colleges, academies,
and churches frequently visited Newburgh, and
always received more or less. If every congregation in the Presbyterian church, through the
influence of its pastor, would contribute as liberally as did the congregation of Newburgh, there
would be no need of agents going from- place to
place to stir up the people to the performance
of their duty. - The treasury of our boards would
be full, and the demands of our growing popula



INTERESTING MEMORANDA.      161
tion supplied. In connexion with contributions
for domestic and foreign missions, the monthly
concert of prayer was regularly observed by the
church in Newburgh, believing that prayer and
giving the means of sending the gospel to the
destitute, should always be connected-that the
one without the other was of little avail.
At home and abroad, Mr. Johnston made notes
of passing events, so that from his memoranda
dates of many- events otherwise not to be found
might be ascertained. Some of these memoranda we shall insert in the Appendix (I). Among
his manuscripts we find a book of one hundred
and thirty-three closely written pages containing
an account of one hundred and forty ministers,
with some of whom he had been pnnected in
Presbytery. Few of them were alive at the time
of his death, and the greater part of them had
changed their location, some of them more than
once. And every congregation in his Presbytery
had changed their minister, some of them four
or five times. At the time of his death, it is believed, there was no Presbyterian minister, nor,
perhaps, of any denomination, in the State of




168          "MINISTERIAL LIFE.
New York who had preached so long to the
same people.
Thle minutes of the Presbytery of Dutchess,
extending from 1762 to 1795, after its dissolution
were providentially found and rescued from
oblivion by Mr. Johnston. These records ought
to be in the hands of the Historical Society of
the Presbyterian Church.  From these records,
and from other authentic sources, Mr. Johnston
has written a brief account of several ministers
connected with the Presbytery of Dutchess.
Vid. specimen in Appendix I.
In 1840, the subject of this notice, unexpectedly and greatly to his surprise, was elected a
trustee of the college of New Jersey. He had
not sought bnor anticipated the honor of so responsible an office. It was alnusing to hear him
tell with child-like simplicity his astonishment
on reading in the well known handwriting of the
clerk of the Board, the announcement of this appointment.  "I could not," said he, "believe
my own eyes.  Is it possible that I who was
once a poor ploughboy, am  invited to be a
guardian of that venerable institution, which has




DOCTOR OF DIVINITrrY.      169
educated some of the most distinguished men,
whose names adorn the annals of our country?"
Those who knew the man will not say that this
was affected humility. It was an honest expression of what he really and truly felt. Afterwards,
when he took his seat at the Board, the same
feelings attended him. "I have often," said he,
" looked round, and saw myself surrounded with
some of the most distinguished men of the state
and neighboring cities, the governor, the judges
of the Supreme Court, the lawyers, the professors
of the theological seminary, the ministers of the
gospel: and I have covered my face, and shed
tears at the thought of my unworthiness of such
a seat."   -
As an evidence of the estimation in which he
was held by the community, La Fayette College
in 1848 conferred on this unassuming man, the
honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity.  It is
not known whether he ever accepted or -declined
this honor. Certain it is, that he who recorded
very minute occurrences in his life, has left no
written notice of this event. It is believed, that
this title never sat easy on him. He did not




1O0           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
think himself possessed of those splendid talents
and profound erudition which merit this high
distinction, It is true, he had ordinary talents,
was a good mathematician - could read Latin and
Greek, was well acquainted with the teachings of
the Sacred-Scriptures, and studied the Westminster Confession of Faith, including tle Shorter
and Longer Catechisms.- We have looked over
several hundred- pages of his manuscripts, and
we are free to- say, we have not noticed more
than two words incorrectly spelled; and this is
saying more than can be said of some brethren
of the cloth, who display at the ends of their
names, two large "semilunar fardels."  Our
friend had more substantial honors.




REVIEW OF HIS MNISTRY.          171
CHAPTER IX.
Review of his Ministry-Seven Discourses-His last illnessNoble Resolution of his Congregation-The Visit of Two
Friends-Partial Recovery-Attends Commencement at
Princeton-His Death-Funeral Services.
IN the summer of 1854, Mr. Johnston commenced
a series of lectures, which he called a review of
his ministry.  We do not know that he had any
presentiment that his ministry was so near a
close. He was in good health, and able to preach
and perform all the duties of his office without
exhaustion.  It is probable, he thought, that as
lie was approaching four-score years, the end of
his ministry could not be far off, and that he
would look back and lead his people to look
back on what was past, and forward to what
would shortly come.
As the foundation of these discourses, he chose
the following words: —" Unto him- be glory in




172           MINISTERIAL LIFE.
the church by Jesus Christ, throughout all ages,
world without end.  Amen!"-Ephesians iii.
chap., 21st verse. Ile undertook to show what
the Church is-the different forms it has assumed
under different dispensations-that God loves
the church-the ways in which he has manifested his love-the future prospects of the -church
-its universality and final triumphs -the end
for which it was instituted-the manifestation of
the glory of God through Jesus Christ-that the
church universal, including believers of all-ages
and of all nations-every particular church, and
everly member of that church, always had
brought, and always will, in ages to come and
throughout eternity, bring glory to Godthat  it is the duty -of the church, in all its
branches, and in all its members, to ain at this
end-the ways in which it is to be accomplished
-that it is through the preaching of the gospel,
accompanied by the prayers and holy example
of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, that the
church is to'be collected and edified, and prepared to ascribe glory to God-" throughout all
ages, world without end. Amen!" With the




ATTACK OF RRHEUMATISM.       173
discussion of these and similar topics, IMr. Johnston interspersed  statements  respecting the
churches of Newbprgh and New Windsor —
relating what God had done for themn —what
they had done and what they had left undoneand what it was their duty to do in time to come.
From this course of lectures chiefly we have
collected the fragments of history given in the
preceding pages relating to the churches of
Newburgh- and New Windsor, and the Presbyteries with which they were connected.  It
is to be regretted that these discourses are
not written out in full.  If they had been
left in a state fit to be published they would
have been an inestimable legacy to the people
of his charge, and to the church at large. In
this series he had delivered seven discourses, and
it was in his mind- to prepare and deliver two
more. But his work in the pulpit was done.
The last discourse was delivered on the 14th of
January, 1855, and he was laid prostrate so that
he did not leave his bed chamber for six weeks.
He had, in December preceding, an attack of
rheumatism, yet he had been able to attend a




174         MINISTERIAL LIFE.
meeting of the trustees of the college at Princeton, a few days before Christmas. As soon as he
was unable to appear in the pulpit, before there
was any apprehension that his life was so near a
close, a committee waited upon him and requested him to feel no anxiety respecting the
services of the pulpit, that the congregation
would have it supplied, and that his usual salary
would be continued to him  during life. This
was a just and honorable movement —a high testimonial of his people's estimate of his character,
and of their gratitude for his long and faithful
services. Dr. Johnston wrote to Princeton, in a
scrawling hand, scarcely legible, for a young
-man to fill his pulpit, and he came, and the good
man's mind was at rest on that subject. Of all
the maladies to which the human frame is liable,
perhaps the rheumatism is the most difficult to
be endured with patience. Sickness and pain
was a new thing to the patient; through a long
life he had enjoyed health and the power of
bodily action-now to be confined to a chamber
and bed of pain was a severe trial. But, whatever expressions of impatience may have escaped




OOMMENCEMENT AT PRINCETON.    17S
his lips, it is believed that his soul was at rest.
His heart was stayed on God, and he remembered
with gratitude the agonies of a dying Saviour.
He also often expressed his gratitude for the
comforts that surrounded him amidst his pains
and sufferings —a sympathizing and grateful
people-an affectionate wife-kind and attentive
children.  The writer of this tribute to the
memory of a long tried friend, in company with
another friend, made him a visit in the month of
April, and found him in his cushioned chairtears and not words expressed his joy.  After a
short interval of silence, conversation commenced, and he resumed his wonted vivacity and
cheerfulness. It was Saturday afternoon; we
passed the Sabbath in Newburgh, and had the
pleasure of seeing our friend come down with
assistance into the parlor, and we spent -a pleasant and profitable day. Having expressed a
strong desire to meet once more with the Trustees
of the College of New Jersey, he was invited to
come a week before Commencement and recruit
his health.  He came, accompanied by a
daughter to take care of him, and although




176          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
feeble, seemed to enjoy the visit. Attending the
meeting of the Board of Trustees, and participating inr their deliberations, was the last public
duty he performed.
The day after Commencement, the 27th of
June, no persuasions could induce him to remain
longer. The heat and dust in the crowded cars
was too' much for his feeble frame yet he reached New York, passed over to Staten Island, and
spent the night in the- family of a friend, and the
following day returned to Newburgh. Through
the month of July, there was no mitigation in
his pains, and about the first of August another
excruciating disease commenced, which terminated his sufferings on the twenty-third of that
month. "There is one event," says Solomon,
"to the righteous and to the wicked."  They
must both die; and they may die in the same
manner as to their bodily sufferings; but there
is a vast difference in the peace of the soul, in
which happiness chiefly consists. There is an
immeasurable difference in what follows. The
one may pass from a bed of agony to a state of
bliss unspeakable and full of glory. The other




THE FUNERAL SERVICES.       177
may go without apparent pain to unending -woe.
On the 26th, the funeral services were conducted
with great simplicity. And-he who, according
to his own estimate, had presided and preached
at the funerals of at least twenty-five hundred
persons, was carried to his grave. Before the
removal of the corpse from the house, the Rev.
Dr. Brown, of the Episcopal church, read the 15;th
chapter of 1 Corinthians, and the Rev. Souther
Peck, of the Methodist Episcopal church, offered
an appropriate prayer. At two o'clock.P. Mr.,
the whole population of Newburgh seemed to
assemble at the church. The clergy of all the
Protestant denominations in Newburgh, ministers from the surrounding country, and nume:
rous friends from distant parts of Orange county,
were there. The services were introduced by,
the Rev. Samuel H. McMullen, invoking the
divine blessing, and reading the.90th Psalm.
After the singing of an appropriate hymn, ihe
Rev. James Scott, pastor of the Baptist. church,
Newbirgh, offered a devout and solemn prayer,
which was followed by an able and impressive
sermon from the Rev. Dr. Potts, of the city of
9 




178        - IMNMISTERIAL LIEE.
New York, who. was providentially in the place.
The object of the preacher was to show the
extensive and lasting influence for good or for
evil which a single man may have, and often
has had, on the community in which, he lives,'and on the world. He said only a few words
respecting the deceased; but the influence which
the good man exerts in life, and frequently after
his body is'in the grave, so well and so eloquently exhibited, the audience could not avoid applying to the brother recently departed. They
thought of the reformation in morals, and of the
numerous souls converted in Newburgh, of the
ministers of the gospel brought forward and
trained, of the scholarships established for educating others, of the funds contributed for missionary and other benevolent purposes, through
the instrumentality of this one man.  They
looked forward to the results which may follow
in distant ages from a single impulse given by a
feeble arm —results which, like the waves produced by a pebble cast on the bosom of a placid
lake, spread wider and wider until they reach
the distant shores; that a single convert may be




MOVA~t~~btrt   SILMOE.. 
the means of training a pious family, and each
of these another and another; that every minister transplanted from this nursery may be the
means of propagating others, and they others;
that thie missionaries sent forth and sustained in
heathen lands by the contributions of this people,
may, combined with the efforts of other churches
in our own and in other Christian lands, spread
the truth asit is in Jesus until "'the knowledge
of the Lord shall cover the earth" as the waters
cover the bosom of the great deep.
After the services in the church, the wide and
long procession, chiefly on foot, without any
formal order, followed the corpse to its restingplace. We do not know that business was stopped or shops closed by order of the municipal
authority, but there was silence, and no one was
seen moving as far as the eye could reach, except
those in the procession. It was a beautiful
serene summer afternoon, not oppressively hot.
The body was deposited in a lot purchased by
Mr. Edward R. Johnes, a member of the congregation, and presented to the family, in a new
cemetery, delightfully situated a quarter of a




180          MINISTERIAL LIFE.
mile south-west of the village, and from which
there is a picturesque view of the noble Hudson
and the surrounding highlands. A few fitting
words were said at-the grave by the Rev. Dr.
McLaren, of the Reformed Dutch church, and
the body was committed to the earth, there to
rest until the morning of the resurrection. The
solemn rites were closed by singing the Christian
doxology, and by the apostolic benediction.








NOTICE.
THE  accompanying Lithograph, the design of a monument about to be erected to the memory of Dr. Johnston,
was handed to the Publisher after the work had been
printed, and was in the hands of the binder. We have
delayed the binding.to have it inserted in the book. As
the inscription on thne monument indicates, it is another
testimonial of the community in which he lived, and a
lasting memorial of their kindness and veneration for his
memory.
The reduced proportions of the monument, as shown in
the Engraving, require the inscription on the entablature
to be given in such small characters as to be illegible; we
therefore repeat it below in a more distinct form.
Tian PtrsmImnsR.




, (, ~j,-            proposedtobe erected'>!i'~                               In mnemory  of
rThe late Rev, D:John Johnston.
1856.,:f i
HE',A S        0 S RS      i',MON'TGOMJ R. 1H -Y. 2  8 JA  M.1??8. G AAD0 UATE0 AT5 H E COLLE  aF' NEW  J  ERSEY  P'RINC:TON  I.01  ORDAJNEO, NO  INSTALLEb
TH00U  SH ALT CO,,,.E TO  TH            H GRIVE  Io o -     ULGL,AGE  Li  (o.. AS  A  S  H  OC, K  0  F R   COl s[TH I;  I N
HIS  SEASO          JOB  v. 26.
0 1ECIT0 ZEN0        OHF  NEWBURGH   CHERISHING  AN  AFFE.CIiOHA'VEN ERATION   FORo  NE0 WHO   Fo                           R NEARLY HALF A CENTURY
ADORNED  HIS SACRED  OF ICEOY HBy             S  PuRITY  A0 F10:IT.'Y  ANI   IN  EVERY  RELATION HFIFUE             COMMANO0 EO  THERESPECTOFALL
HII4H0O  NEW. HIM/ HI AVE   NITE   IN    ECTiN      tHIS   OUMNT  TO,HIS  MEMORY.
ISOIO!ii     lurol oilCAIuiO^Ho11,5tA.LIOpAT.                                            SI I  Y








GOOD HLEALTH.           181
CHAPTER X.
Concluding Summary.
THE general character of the deceased will be
sufficiently understood-from the preceding narrative. A few peculiarities seem to be worthy
of a more distinct notice. In infancy and boyhood his frame was so delicate that a short life
was anticipated. By walking a considerable
distance to school, by working on a farm, by
long journeys in Pennsylvania and Maryland,
by visiting an extensive parish, and supplying
vacant congregations soon after his ordination,
and all on horseback, his constitution was so
strengthened that he enjoyed remarkable health
during a long life. The lot also on which his
house stood, containing about half an acre, was
partly planted with vines and fruit trees, and
partly cultivated in vegetables, all worked chiefly




182          MNISIT..IAI. LIF9.
with his own hands, afforded him exercise and
profit. At the age of seventy-six he remarked
that he was then probably enjoying the benefit
of work done in his garden forty years before.
In stature he was about the medium  height,
slender, and at no time inclined to corpulency.
His diet was chiefly vegetables, milk and bread,
abstaining through his whole life from animal
food, Hence he recorded his learning to eat
oysters at Amboy, returning home from college,
as a remarkable event. His abstinence from
animal food was not from any religious scruples,
nor from a regard to health, but simply because
he had no relish for it, Of intoxicating drinks,
as a beverage, he made no use. Notwithstanding
his spare diet, his slender frame was capable of
enduring great labor. Active, wiry, elastic,
when bent down by the labors of the day, it rose
again erect after a night's rest. After preaching
three times on Sabbath, and returning home-late
at night in cold weather from a weekly lecture,
he was seldom hoarse, and his voice never failed.
His disposition was naturally cheerful and buoyant, aot; subject to permanent gloom and melau



PLEASING ADDRES&S;        183
choly. He had, it is true, hours of deep depression, but these arose from moral causes, and not
from a morbid and.diseased body, as is frequently the case with some good and pious men.
When the cause was removed, he resumed his
wonted cheerfulness. In social intercourse with
his family and friends he took great delight. In
conversation he indulged in pleasantry and. a
hearty laugh. He had an acute perception of
the ridiculous.  Hence the ready replies and
spontaneous wit of the native Irish, even when
at his own expense, gave him great amusement.*
He had a peculiar facility of introducing conversation with strangers in-such a way as not
to be regarded as impertinent and obtrusive.
His simple and easy address secured at once the
confidence, and opened the lips of the most reserved and taciturn. In travelling in steamboats,
or stages, or railroad cars, or elsewhere, he
formed new acquaintances which oftentimes
terminated in lasting friendships.  There was a
simplicity, an openness, a candor about the man,
* See Appendix K.




184         MINISTERIAL LIFE.
which disarmed suspicion and inspired confidence
in what he'said or did. This confidence was
never abused. Nlo man was further from finesse.
He despised artifice and trick.  He abhorred
management and art in accomplishing even a
good object. He always came out openly, and
avowed the end which he wished to obtain. He
was no politician in church or in state. You
always knew where he was and what he was.
Another trait of character which we rejoice
to say does not belong to him exclusively, was
economy in managing his domestic concerns,
and freedom from a sordid and worldly spirit.
A man whose income is small and limited, must
be economical if he wishes to avoid worldly cares
and embarrassment. He began housekeeping
poor, and he did not by marriage obtain a fortune; yet he fed, and clothed, and educated ten
children, four sons and six daughters, on a small
salary. H ie engaged in no speculation in houses
or lands or stocks-he did not farm, nor teach,
nor employ himself in mechanical arts to increase
his worldly substance. He devoted, his whole
time to the spiritual benefit of his people; yet on




DOMESTIC  ELtATTIONS.       185
a salary of less than, one-third of what is usual in
the City of New Ybri,' he Supported his family,
maintained a liberal hospitality, and contributed
to various-benevolent objects. It should be remembered, that in' consequence of easy and daily
communication the expense of the necessaries of
life is nearly the same in Newburgh as in the
city. In doing this, it required the concurrence
and aid of his wife. Indeed, it was to her industry and economy that we are to attribute his success in avoiding embarrassment. We know not
what Dr. Johnston may have said to others, but
in a frequent intercourse of more than thirty
years,- when we spoke freely on almost every
subject, the writer never heard him complain of
the straitness of his circumstances, or express a
fear that at his decease he would leave his family
destitute; but more than once we have heard
him speak of the goodness of God, and the kindness of his people" towards himself- and his
family. And no husband or father was more
affectionate or more desirous of the welfare of
his wife'and children. His maxim was, "do
-your duty and the Lord will provide."
9*




186. MNi5T:I..Ag...
For tenidernes of conscience he was very
remarkable; so that when he lhad done anything
amiss, or neglected his duty, he had no peace or
rest until he had made humble and penitent confession. Of many cases that might be mentioned,
let one suffice;:   On board of a steamboat, we
think it was, he made the acquaintance of the
Austrian Consul. The conversation turned on
mineralogy, a science in which the baron (for
-that was his title) was greatly interested. It was
agreed that they would explore the mines in the
Highlands for specimens. At the time appointed,
the baron called very early in the morning at
-the house of Dr. Johnston. The latter'had not
had family prayers, and he was afraid it would
not be agreeable to the baron, as perhaps he
was a freethinker or a bigoted Roman Catholic,
and he would omit family worship. Through
the whole day he was miserable. — On his
return home, he went to his chamber, fell on
his knees, confessed his sin, and promised the Lord
that if forgiven he would not do so again. The explorations were not finished, and the following
morning the baron came again early; Dr. John



GREAT INFLUENCE.         187
ston informed him that he had not had family
worship and requested him to wait until he had
performed that duty. "Certainly," said the baron,
"and with your permission I will be happy to join
you." After prayers, the baron from politeness,
or because he felt what he said, expressed great
gratification. In relating the incident to a friend,
Dr. Johnston added, "what a mean coward I was
-a hundred times worse than Peter, for I had not
the same cause to deny my Lord and Master."
On reviewing the life of this village pastor,
it is obvious that in his proper sphere he had
great influence; and was instrumental in doing
much good.  The question arises, to what
did he owe this influence-what gave him
the power of doing so much good. Undoubtedly it was the Lord who was pleased to crown
his labors with success.  But although God
can, and often does produce great results by
means utterly inadequate in human view, on examination we usually find that there was
something in the means employed suited to
accomplish the end proposed. This is a wise
and benevolent appointment; if it were other



wise, we would not know what preparation to
make, nor what means to use in any work which
we undertake. It was not by profound erudition and abstruse logical argument that Dr.
Johnston obtained his influence. It was not by
splendid eloquence, beautiful and dazzling inagery and flowers of rhetoric that he enchained
the attention and excited the admiration of his
hearers. Much less was it by the smoothness
and polish of chaste and elegant language, that
he drew around him an affectionate and pious
people, and retained their confidence and love
for forty-eight years. Dr. Johnston understood
the meaning and the force of words, and the
grammatical structure of sentences, but in the
pulpit and in conversation, if a homely and
quaint expression would better make known his
meaning, he did not hesitate to use it.  The
flowers of speech and the brilliant scintillations of
the imagination, which draw admiring multit.udes after a popular speaker, were unknown in the
pulpit of the village pastor. He never stood on
the platform at our religious anniversaries and
delighted a crowded audience with his eloquence.




CAUSE' OF HIS' INFLUENCE.'   189
While others werbi eulogizing-the Bible or urging
the claims of domnestic and foreig' missions in
our populous cities, he -was doing the work at
home-collecting funds to print and distribute
the Bible-funds to send out and sustain missionaries in the domestic and foreign field-and
more than- that, he was' training young men and
young women too, to labor in the Lord's' vineyard. Although he was a director in: the Theological Seminary at Princeton thirty-eight yars,
and punctually attended. the meetings of the
Board, he never could be persuaded to preach
the annual seinmon before the directors, or to
deliver the address to the students at the close of
the year; but he dropped a word into the. ear of
Robert and Marion Hall, and Gilbert King, and
secured two scholarships for that. institution.
The question returns-: To what'did he owe his
influence and power to do good? In answer to
this question, foui first- remark is, that it was to
his sincere and earnest desire to glorify God
through Jesus Christ. This, we are authorized
from the whole' tenor- of his life to believe,, was
his -aim.  "MHin that honoreth God will God
honor."




190          MWISTERIA  LIFE.
Intimately connected with the preceding remairk is another. Dr. Johnston was a man of
prayer, andlhe encouraged and. urged his people.
to pray. He believed in the efficacy of prayer.
He felt his dependence on the blessing of God,
and he believed that without his blessing no other
means could be effectual in convincing and converting sinners, andin building up the kingdom of
the Redeemer. The precious revival in 1843
was commenced and carried on chiefly by prayer,
with very little regular and formal preaching.
Our second remark is, that he exerted a salutary and extensive influence by preaching the
gospel in a plain, affectionate, and earnest manner, " not with enticing words of man's wisdom,
but in demonstration of the spirit and of power."
He used in the pulpit great plainness of speech.
No hearer could for a moment think that he used
the pulpit to display his talents, his learning, or
his eloquence. Every hearer, whatever he might
think of the doctrine, was compelled to believe
that the preacher was in earnest, that he really
believed what he taught. His words had weight,
especially with those acquainted with his consistent and exemplary life.




CONSISTENT DFXORTMENT.      191
If a man's daily walk and conversation be not
as becometh the-gospel, his most: eloquent and
solemn appeals in. the pulpit will be regarded as
professional declamation, and have no salutary,
but rather an injurious effect. In the case before
us we: have a long, uniform, and consistent life,
without one foul blot on his Christian character.
Imperfections and defects there were, but nothing
which the world or pious Christians could censure.
The preaching of such a man cannot fall unheed.
ed on the ear. In Fairfax County, Virginia,
some forty years ago, there was an aged man
who had been a preacher in the Methodist connexion for forty or fifty years-a man of ardent
piety and exemplary Christian life. The Methodists, by way of eulogy, used to call his preaching' bacon and greens" —a dish not very tempting from its novelty and exquisite flavor, but
always good, substantial, and seldom wanting,
whatever else there might be on a Virginia table.
Such was the preaching of this good man, plain,
affectionate, solemn, exhibiting the simple truths
of the gospel in such a way that the most igno.
rant could understand them, and calculated to




192         MINISTERIAL -LIFE.
quicken and edify the intelligent and devout
Christian. I once bad the-pleasure of hearing
the good oldi man preach. It was a plain homespun discourse, calculated to awaken impenitent
sinners, and to comfort and edify pious people.
If I had to make a choice, I would rather live on
"bacon'and greens" the year round, than on
those flimsy, whipped up, frothy syllabubs,
which, how luscious soever to the taste, vanish
into air the moment they touch the lips.
Dr. Johnston was a prudent man. We do not
mean that he had a cautious, calculating turn of
mind more properly called cunning, which takes
advantage of the prejudices and passions of men,
in order to bring them to favor a proposed
measure. His prudence was the offspring of a
well meaning heart, and not of a crafty mind.
He was fixed and determined in things essential,
accommodating and yielding when obvious duty
was not concerned. His prudence-was manifested in the management of his church and congregation. Hiis people were composed of almost
all nations, and had received all kinds of early
religious training. They were from Scotland, Ire



CONVERSATION AND ADDRESS.     193
land, New England, New Jersey, and natives of
New York. Some had been brought up Scotch
or Irish Presbyterians, some Congregationalists,
some Dutch Reformed, and some were native
Presbyterians; and yet their pastor so conducted that no serious schism took place among
them during forty-eight years. His session also
was composed of men from different places, and
brought up under different forms of church
government, and yet their views and actions
were brought to harmonize in all essential principles, although they sometimes-differed in subordinate matters. This fact he mentions with
gratitude in his last discourses.
Out of the pulpit, in his daily intercourse and
parochial visits, he did as much, or, perhaps,
more good than by public discourses. In conversation he had a peculiar and happy talent.
Always easy, simple, and natural in his address,
he gained ready access to all classes of persons.
From the common occurrences of life he could
pass without effort to the interests of the soul.
His countenance was not always clothed in
gloom and sadness, so that young persons were




194         MINISTERIAL LIFE.
glad to meet him in private or in the social
circle, and they seldom failed to receive benefit
from the interview. To those not acquainted
with the man the above delineation may appear
too highly colored. But from an acquaintance
of nearly three score years, and frequent intercourse and intimate friendship more than half
that time, the writer, if he said anything, could
not say less. Unpretending as he was, and unknown to fame, his remembrance will live in the
hearts of those who know his worth, and the
church will reap the fruits of his labors in ages
yet to come.
If we closed our summary without adding
that Dr. Johnston owed much of his influence
and usefulness to that excellent woman who was
the partner of his joys and his sorrows nearly
half a century, we would not have told the whole
truth.* Her wise and affectionate counsels aided
him in doubtful and difficult cases; soothed him
in his sorrows and in his joys; managed with
discretion his domestic concerns; and enabled
him to devote his time to the spiritual interests
* See Appendix L








iZzl- M"-"MA       i
QR;W mve
a    "31,




THE PASTOR'S WIFE.       -195
of his people. Mrs. Johnston did more than
many ministers' wives can do, or ought to be
expected to do. She sought out the poor and
afflicted, supplied their wants, or obtained assistance from others. She visited, and nursed, and
watched with the sick'and the dying. So
frequently had she been with the sick, and so
often had she noticed the prescriptions of physicians, that the diagnosis of disease, and the
remedies that ought to be applied, were as well
known to her as to the medical attendant. Her
eyes are now too dim ever to read these lines.
And what if the twilight of her day should be
cheered by the knowledge that her labors of love
are remembered and appreciated? It would
not, we are certain, cause her to think more
highly of herself than she ought to think. It
would not prevent her feeling and saying she
was an unprofitable servant, and that she had
done no more than she ought to have done. Her
hope of eternal life, we believe, is built on a
more sure foundation than anything she has done
or can do.








PENDIXx.                   197
APPENDIX...
A P P E N D I X.
A.
THE editor of the preceding narrative, in the fall of 1803
spent two or three weeks in the adjacent countielof Westmoreland and Fayette, which lie east of Washington county
in which Dr. Johnston was, and he witnessed the religious
excitement affecting the body, in the same way as-above
described, and he -can bear testimony to the correctness of
the statement made. The same remark respecting the apparent coldness of the ministers who preached, occurred to the
writer that Dr. Johnston makes respecting those in Washington county. I was well acquainted with the men, and
had frequently heard them preach years before, and I thought
their preaching was not near equal in animation and power,
to that which I had often heard from the same men. They
dwelt much less than formerly on the terrors of the Divine
Law. They spoke chiefly of the fulness and richness of the
gospel, and the suitableness of the plan of salvation to the
wants of guilty and ruined'sinners. And yet when the love
and mercy of God through Jesus Christ was proclaimed, the




198                APPENDtX.
outcry and falling down in the assemblies, were as frequent
as when the doom of the impenitent was proclaimed. I seldom heard a sermon or conversation in which it was not fully
and plainly stated that there is no religion in falling down,
convulsions of the body, nor even in involuntary crying out.
People were exhorted to restrain their feelings and to listen
to the truths of God's Word. - After these exhortations the
outcry would be suspended for a few moments, and:then
would break out with increased violence. I conversed with
both the friends and enemies of the work, and all were
agreed t*at the falling down and bodily agitations, whatever
might be the cause, were involuntary; and that those who
cried out could not restrain themselves. It was wonderful
how little confusion the falling and shrieking, for so it might
be called, produced. Some one near the person who fell,
would take care that he did not hurt himself, when his motions were violent; others would not turn their head to see
what had occurred, even when attended with a loud shout.
Sometimes, as stated in the narrative, individuals would lie
quiet and not move a limb or a muscle, others would be convulsed in such a manner that you would think every muscle
would be broken, and every joint dislocated. And yet I
conversed with several who were thus affected, and they
assured me that at the time they felt no pain, and afterward no soreness or stiffness in their limbs or bodies. I
never learnt that any one sustained any permanent injury
in body or mind, from this mental excitement, and these
bodily spasms.




APPENDiE.                   199
In Kentucky and Tennessee, where similar religious excitement commenced and prevailed some two years previous,
it ran in some cases into the wildest fanaticism. A few
Presbyterian ministers fell into the delusion, and went far
astray in doctrine and in practice, —some eventually saw
their error, sorely repented of their folly, and:returned to
the bosom of the -church from which they had strayed.
Others continued in their delusion and finally joined the
Shakers, or became leaders in a religion somewhat similar.
To the discrimination which the ministers of Western Pennsylvania made between what was essential to true religion
and what was not, we may attribute under God the exemption of that part of the church from similar delusion and ruin.
These strange occurrences present to the Christian, and
to the student of human nature, a subject worthy of deep
consideration. We cannot suppose there is anything miraculous in persons suddenly falling, and becoming entirely
incapable of self-management, and at the same:time retaining their consciousness, hearing what was said, and knowing the persons around them. From universal testimony,
affectation and voluntary deception are out of the question.
Any one who saw what occurred, woiild say at once imitation is impossible. It could not be counterfeited. It was
involuntary beyond all doubt. From what cause the extraordinary phenomena arose, is a question to which various
answers will probably-be given. To us the following solution appears to be the most satisfactory. - In all cases it is
known and nliversally admitted that the mind has a great




200                 BPPENDIX.
effect upon the body. Violent passions of any kind will
agitate the whole frame. Terror will cause the limbs and
muscles to tremble. Joy will cause the subject to leap and
dance. So powerful are these emotions that the animal
frame sometimes sinks under their. pressure, and swooning
and even death follow. This being the law of human nature, why should not religious excitement, either from joy
or terror, prostrate the body? When Belshazzar, amidst
his impious feast, saw the mysterious hand-writing upon the
wall, "his countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled
him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees
smote one against another.". When Paul "reasoned of?
righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix
trembled."  When a sudden light shone from heaven Saul
on his way to Damascus persecuting the Church "fell
to the earth." Joy will also produce involuntary bodily
emotions.  Hence "to leap," to "clap the hands," to
"shout for joy,",are common expressions, all-denoting that
joy, without any action of the will. produces these bodily
motions. It must be admitted that the truths revealed in
the Bible, if fully believed, are calculated to make a deep
impression on the mind, and to produce intense fears or
enrapturing hopes, according as the person thinks himself
concerned in the threatenings or promises announced. It
is because men do not fully and practically believe they are
in such a sinful state and in such imminent danger, as the
Bible teaches, that they can hear without emotion the awful
threatenings of the Divine Law. The same is true as re



APPENDIX.                   201
spects the promises of the gospel. There is a mist-a darkness-resting on the minds of'the penitent and impenitent,
which obscures their vision, and causes them to view these
things rather as shadows than as realities. Let their faith
or belief become "the substance," the embodiment "of
things hoped for," or feared, and " the evidence," theirresistible proof of 6" things not seen," and the effect will be great.
Heaven and hell may be believed to exist, but they are
viewed as afar off; let them be brought nigh as they are
on a death-bed, and both the saint and the sinner cannot feel
tranquil and unmoved. The displeasure of God against sin
may be admitted, but its manifestation is considered as
future, and the sinner hopes to repent before he dies, and
his conscience is at rest; but let him feel that the unbelieving, as our Lord declares, is condemned already, and the
wrath of God abideth on him at the present moment, and
who can say what the effect may be on the mind, and on the
body? It is not unreasonable to believe that the ministration of the Word of God which;is sharper than a twoedged sword, accompanied by the influence of the Holy
Spirit, may pierce thb soul with such anguish as to prostrate the body, and cause the convicted sinner to call aloud
for mercy.
Suppose in a general awakening, some six or eight or
more persons should be brought under such deep conviction
for sin as to force them to cry aloud for mercy, and fall
prostrate, is it not probable that the attention of others
10




202                 APPENDIX,
would be excited, that they would enter into the fe'elings of
those thus exercised, and that mysterious principle which we
call sympathy would begin to work? The cheerful countenance of a friend will take the gloom from our own in moments of dejection. The tears in another's eyes will cause
ourtears to flow when we have no cause of sorrow, and even
when we do not know why our friend weeps. The principle
is universal. We cannot associate with others and not imbibe their spirit, and imitate their actions. A case in point
occurs to my mind. I had under my tuition a boy of some
fourteen years old. I know he did not stutter or have any
impediment in his speech. His parents were absent one
week, and the boy played truant and spent his time gunning and fishing in company with a man who stuttered
and stammered in his speech so as to be scarcely intelligible.
The boy returned to school, and he stuttered and stammered
so that it was painful to hear him read or speak. On the
same principle, we think it probable that persons who were
under noi conviction for sin, or fear of "judgment to come,"
might lose the command of their muscles, and fall prostrate
merely by looking at others. If this principle be admitted
it will confirm the truth of the declaration made by many
persons during this extraordinary excitement, that they
were not conscious of any anxiety on account of their sins
before or at the time they fell prostrate, and unable to control the motions of their limbs. But if it be true that some
were affected through sympathy, it will not prove that all




APPENDIX.                  203
were affected from the same cause. At the commencement
there must have been some other cause; sympathy could
not have commenced the work, for there was none in a
condition to excite sympathy; and many, very many declaredl, that it was their deep conviction for sin, or their joy
for deliverance from condemnation, that so overwhelmed
them that they lost the power of voluntary motion. But
suppose there was much mingled with this remarkable revival that did not belong to true religion, so there is also in
revivals when there is no bodily agitation. The fruits in
both cases prove that the work is of God.
B.
Mr. Johnston states, in a paper before me, that he has
notices of the untimely and horrid deaths of a considerable
number of those belonging to the Druid Society, but adds
that these notices taken from his own observation, or from
testimony that cannot be disputed, ought not to be published
during the life of immediate and near relatives. These papers we have not seen, but it is a notorious fact that several
belonging to the Druid Society died drunkards, committed
suicide, or came to their end in a horrid manner. In the
grave-yard in Newburgh, there is a stone, which after giving
the name of the deceased, and the date of his death, adds,
"A victim of intemperance."  This stone was erected and
the inscription written by an inebriate son of the deceased.




204                  APPENDIX.
Such are the effects of infidelity —" Without natural affection."
C.
"There stood up," &c., evidently alluding to the form
of admitting members to full communion in New-England
Churches, and adopted by many Presbyterian Churches in
the state of New York.' On these occasions, those received
on examination, stand up before the pulpit, and give their
assent to the leading doctrines contained in the confession
of faith and catechisms of the Presbyterian Church, and in
some cases publicly covenant to submit to the government
and discipline of the Church, when administered according
to the Word of God. Mr. Johnston thought this mode of
admitting members, much more solemn and impressive than
that of silently receiving members to the Lord's Table after
examination and approval by the session, as had been practised in the congregation before he had become pastor. It
let the members of the church know those who were fellowcommunicants, and it had also a solemn and salutary effect
on those who were not communicants. The form may not
be expressly commanded in the Sacred Scriptures, yet there
is nothing in it contrary to the spirit of the gospel, which
requires Christians to let the world know they are not
ashamed of their Lord and Master.
"The youngest," says Mr. Johnston, "that ever I received into the church was Adelia Drake, aged nine years,
three months, and twenty-three days; while-she lived she




APPENDIX.                   205
* adorned by an exemplary life- the doctrine of God, her Saviour, and when she died, gave evidence that she had gone
to be for ever with the Lord.  Another was only thirteen
years and twenty days old. Of him it might be said that he
feared God- from his youth; his attention was early turned
to the gospel ministry, and he prosecuted his studies with
that view. He is now (1852) a seaman's chaplain, and.promises to be very useful." The oldest was Mr. Isaac Belknap
in his eightieth year.'The day that he came to see me and
converse with me, was the 26th day of December, 1812.
He had attended the funeral of General James Clinton, the
day before, which was Christmas-day, and very cold. When
he came into my room I was surprised and rejoiced to hear
him say in answer to my question,' How he was,''I am an
old sinner, few and evil have been the days of the years of
my pilgrimage.' He was' greatly distressed, and after prayer
he returned home; about four months afterwards he united
with the church. He grew in grace, particularly humility,
and died a most triumphant death, April 29th, 1815."
"I well remember a conversation which I had with one,
who is now, I trust, in a better world. Her great distress
was, that she knew little or nothing of the distresses of
which she heard others speak, in view of exposure to the
wrath of God.' Well,' said I,'if you should arrive at Heaven
you will not regret that you had not been brought by the
mouth of hell. If you hate sin, and love holiness, that is the
grand characteristic of a Christian, It is not what precedes




206                 APPENDIX.
hatred of sin and love of holiness, but the-exercise itselfhating sin and loving holiness —to which you should direct
your attention.' She was comforted, and enabled to confess
Christ before the world. She was useful in life, comfortable
in death, and we have no doubt, happy in eternity, having,
as she said, been "drawn by the cords of love."
D.
Attending the General Association of Connecticut, at
Fairfield, in 1814, Mr. Johnston makes the following record:
" I was lodged at the house of Mr. afterwards Dr. Humphries, in company with the Rev. Lemuel Haines and lady.
Mr. Haines was a colored man, and known from his celebrated sermon on the text, "And the serpent said unto the
woman, ye shall not surely die," which he delivered to his
own people after the Universalist, Hosea Ballou, had endeavored to establish the doctrine of universal salvation.
Mr. Haines was a very companionable man, a good scholar,
a great wit, and veryipopular preacher. He was very ready
to give his opinion on any subject proposed. Hie, like myself
was a delegate'to the Association. We differed in other respects. I was a white man, and had no wife present; he was
a black man, and had a white woman for his wife. We
were all pleasantly and happily situated under the hospitable
roof of Dr. Humphries.-  The business of the Association
was harmoniously conducted under the moderatorship of
Dr. Goodrich of Berlin. Among those who attended the As



APPENDIX.                  207
sociation, was Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College. Public worship was frequently performed; in short, there was
an unusual number of. religious exercises mingled with the
ordinary business of the Association. Near the middle of
the morning sessions the house was filled with spectators,
and it became known that Mr. Haines was to preach. He
took his seat in the pulpit between the Moderator and Dr.
Dwight. His text was,'Ho, every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters? It was readily perceived that the
preacher had the attention of all present,' especially of Dr.
Dwight. And when Mr. Haines illustrated thirsting, by
the case of the Syro-Phcenician woman saying' Truth, Lord,
yet the dogs may eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table,' Dr. Dwight wept like a child, and there was
scarcely a dry eye in the house. The impression made on
my mind was that he was a powerful preacher. He had
several revivals among his own people and in neighboring
congregations. His own wife was one of his spiritual children."
On his way to the General Association of New Hampshire, in 1826, he lodged with Dr. Wisner, in Boston. " In
the evening a bell rang. I learned," writes ]Mr. Johnston,
"that Dr. Palfrey, lately returned from Europe, was going
to preach. Dr. Wisner declined going, but urged me to go.
Dr. Palfrey took for his text,' Ye must be born again.' In
his view the text had no application to any in a gospelenlightened land. It wholly regarded exchanging heathen



208                  APP.EEDTX.
ism and Judaism for,Christianity,  He treated with pity or
scorn what is usually understood by the new birth or regeneration as held by- Calvinists."
E.
"The Rev. Dr.-John Brown came to Newburgh the Ist
January, 1816. He was the first and only rector of the
Episcopal Church in Newburgh.* That church commenced,
and grew up under him. The!st of January, 1855, he had
been pastor thirty-nine-years."'The Rev. Joseph McCarroll became pastor of the Associate Reformed Church, the 14th day of March, 1823, so
that on the 1st of January, 1855, he was pastor of the same
church nearly thirty-two years. Respecting these two gentlemen and himself, Dr. Johnston remarks that "it seldom
occurs in any village that three ministers of -different deno* This remark respecting Dr. Brown commencing the Episcopal Church in Newburgh, must be understood in a qualified
sense. There had been an Episcopal Church in Newburgh, at
an early period, and regular worship was continued until the
American Revolution. From that time until Dr. Brown commenced his ministry, there was no regular Episcopal service
or organized church in Newburgh; so that the Episcopal
Church may be said to have commenced and to have grown
up under him. —[See Mr. Eager's Annals of Orange County.EDrro.]




APPENDIX.                   209
minations continue to labor thirty-two years side -by side,
witnessing the growth of each other's charge, with a harmny of feeling, and a unity which have enabled them to rejoice that the work of the Lord was prospering, through their
instrumentality. This has been the case with Drs. Brown,
McCarrol, and myself; we began our ministry in our present charge, and have remained in our lot to the present
time, so that each can say,'I dwell among myown people.'"
F.
"Mr. UTzal Knapp was received a member of this church,
April 5th, 1816, from a Congregational Church in Stamford,
Connecticut. He still lives, and claims to be the last of
Washington's Body Guards. He is about ninety-five years
old, and has the use of his faculties of body and mind, except that his hearing is somewhat impaired-he still travels
about, and it is not long since I saw him driving a team on
the turnpike. He converses like a pious man, and next to
his Saviour, he loves to talk of Gen. Washington, and fight
over again the battles fought under his command. (1852.)"
Henry Tise, now gone to be with the Lord.  His parents
came from Germany before the middle of the last century.
They understood no language but the German, and of course
this was their family language; they were pious people, and
Henry learned to repeat his prayers in German as he kneeled
at his mother's knee. As the children grew up they mingled
with English people, -went to English school, and the younger
10*




210                 APPENDIX.
part of the Tise family could not be distinguished from English. Henry married and had a numerous family. He made
a profession of religion, and became an elder in the Church
of Hopewell. In 1816 he removed to Newburgh, and was
chosen an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was a good
man, was in the habit of visiting and praying with the sick
and afflicted. He had ceased to speak the German language
or to read the German Bible for years. He lived to be an old
man, and was under the care ofa pious daughter in his last
sickness. "He gradually sank under the infirmities of age and
disease. He manifested confidence in his Saviour, and had
the consolations of religion as long as he was able to make
known his feelings. He lay some days apparently unconscious of what was passing around him. - On the morning
of the day on which he died, about daylight, his daughter
was awaked by him praying, and to her surprise he was
praying in German, using'the words his mother had taught
him, four-score years before. Early impressions are lasting.
From such facts parents and teachers should learn a lesson.
He died, February 15th, 1845, aged 85 years, 8 months, and
21 days."
"Mr. Isaac Chaffin died on the 29th of May, 1830, in this
village. His history is calculated to arrest the attention of,
all acquainted with it. The following details are as he communicated them to me:" lHe was a native of Jamaica, Wyndham County, Vermont. He was a rude, ungovernable youth, though he- had




APPENDIX.                   211
received a pious education, and had witnessed a holy example
in the, life of his mother.  He- became infidel in his sentiment, reckless in business, extravagant in his expenses, involved his friends in p-cuniary- embarrassment, and ran away.
He went to Louisville and Cincinnati, united with a club
of Infidels and Universalists, read deistical books, ridiculed,the Bible, laughed at the idea of Christ's divinity, and said he
had more than-once uttered the blasphemous expression, that
he would as soon trust to the blood of a hog as-to that of Jesus
Christ, and that his conscience would check him every time he
uttered the horrid sentence. His account of the club of Deists, Universalists, and Atheists in Louisville and Cincinnati,
was shocking. He retained his infidel sentiments until he
returned t Newburgh in 1829. His health was declining, and
it was evident his days were drawing to a close. When confined to his room, he was attended by'a person who brought
to him his daily meals. A little toy cup containing something for him to eat, was undesignedly taken to his room. On
this cup his eyes met the solemn warning,' Prepare to meet
thy God.' The thought struck him,' There is a God, and I
must meet him.' He tried to quiet his conscience, but every
day the little cup came, and silently said,' Prepare to meet
thy God;' his mother rose in remembrance, her example
and counsel were vividly before him, he was miserable; his
infidelity fled, and he turned to the Bible for relief, pious
people visited him, gave him counsel, and prayed with him,
he became hopefully a new man, and he manifested the great




212-                 APPENDIX.
change by sundry letters to his infidel acquaintances, warning them of their errors and danger, and exhorting them to
flee to that Jesus, whom they, with him, had ridiculed. He
wrote to his father and- sister, asking their forgiveness, and
sending messages to such as he had ill-used. This change was
some time in the winter, and he lived until the latter part of
May. His wish that he might live to make a public profession
of religion was gratified; our communion season was the second Sabbath in May, and on that day he was carried to the
Church, pale, emaciated, and in the presence of the congregation he was baptized, and received the emblems of the
broken body and shed blood of the Redeemer. At the close
of the service he expressed himself thus,' God be praised, I
feel thankful that my prayers have been answered; so that I
was enabled to be brought to the church.' A few days after
his interment, his sister came from Vermont, and confirmed
the sad history which her brother had given of himself, and
added-that he had been shot in a duel, and the probability
was that the ball was now with him in his gravel as it had
not been extracted. We hope that the blood which he had
once and again undervalued and contemned was applied to
the washing away of his deep-dyed sins."
"William Belknap was received into the church ]May
8th, 1820. The time of his death I don't know, but this I
do know, that he was a.conscientious, good man, subject to
great depression of spirits, approaching at times hypochondria. He frequently came to consult me in reference to the




APPENDIX.                  213
great adversary troubling him in bed-crawling over him,
removing the clothes, shaking the bedstead, &c. I was perplexed to know what to say to him. I recommended prayer,
meditation, sitting up late, and rising early, so that he would
be disposed to sleep sound while in bed. The good old man
followed my directions, but all would not do: the devil would
still return and repeat the disturbance. At last, believing it
was a mental delusion, I recommended him to take the Bible
into bed with him, and when the devil came to present him
with the Bible or to throw it at him. He did so, and the
next day he came with a pleasant countenance, and told me
he had a quiet and refreshing night's rest."'" Mary Gardner was received into the church, August
11th, 1850. She was a mute, deaf and dumb. None of the
Session understood the language of signs by which mutes are
enabled to communicate with each other. Through a person who understood signs, we obtained her answers to questions proposed by us. We had the testimony of her parents
and neighbors, and we thought we could understand the
train of thoughts passing in her mind, by the expression of
her countenance. And from the whole we were satisfied to
receive her to the fellowship and communion of the church.
She was an attendant on public worship for several yearsshe seemed to enjoy religion, and she left uis and went to'
heaven, where'the organs of hearing and speaking are not
necessary to communion with God."




214                 APPENDIX.
G.
This widow lady resided about five miles above the place
where Mr. Johnston crossed the river, at the margin of a
forest of twelve miles, through wphich he; had to pass. She
was alone, her sons were out preparing a raft of boards for
the Philadelphia market. He told her who he was and the
business in which he was engaged, and asked for a night's
lodging. He was directed to a field where his horse would'
find pasture. While he was putting his horse into the pasture
the good lady had prepared for him something to eat, and
when the culinary process was done, she sat down at her
spinning-wheel. "-I attempted," says Mr. J.," to-introducereligious, conversation, but the more I talked the faster the
wheel went, until I could not be heard, and I had to stopI seized the next interval, when the wheel slacked a little,
and again I threw in a word, and again the wheel went whiz,.
whiz, whiz. I made the third attempt and the wheel went
slower and slower, and at last stopped, and the good old lady
covered her face with her hands, and burst into tears; when
she recovered a little she said,'I was brought up in Connecticut, was a member of the church, and left in the midst
of a revival, came to this place seven years ago, lost my husband, and have not heard a sermon, nor had a person to
speak to me on the subject of religion, since I came here.'
Her tears fell in abundance, and we-had a delightful season
of prayer and Christian conversation. I have often thought
of Mrs. Tyler, and I hope she is now (1852) in heaven, I




APPENDIX.                  215
have sometimes thought that her situation might be illustrated by a hickory coal having rolled from a burning fire;
when it fell it was all alive, left to itself it became covered
up with its own ashes; blowing away the ashes, the living
spark would appear, ready to unite with another coal that
might be brought in contact. The Christian, in company
with others, is alive and vigorous; but if he be left alone, in
the midst of the world, without any one with whom hle can
communicate, he will be likely to become buried up in the
world; but brought into connexion with Christianfriends, the
grace of God in the heart will show itself, and he will be made
to rejoice.." This interview," continues Mr. Johnston, " and
others of a similar kind, remind me of a homely but apt
comparison made at my house, by a missionary, returning
from the new settlements-" You mnight as well," said he,
" attempt to draw a ceat to you by the tail, as to induce the
people with whom Ihave been to enter into religious conversation."
H.
" Shortly after I entered the ministry, I was sent by the
Presbytery to preach where the village of Bethel now is in
the county of Sullivan. I fulfilled my appointment, and returned home, somewhat dispirited. A few weeks after a
stranger came to see me, who stated that he had travelled
that Sabbath morning ten miles through the woods to attend
public worship, and that my sermon had produced such a




216                 APPrENDIX.
state of mind that he had no peace nor rest, and that he had
come to converse with me on the subject. We were both
greatly affected. He remained two or three days, and then
left me. I oftien thought of him, but gradually I lost sight
of him. Years passed away, till one day, a stranger called
and asked whether I knew him. I answered no, and he made
himself known. Having obtained a hope of pardon, his heart
was fixed on the ministry. He wandered to the West, and
in the State of Indiana he commenced teaching a school,
and then edited a political paper, and supported himself
while prosecuting his studies. He was licensed to preach,
and became a most useful and influential minister, and his
name is connected with the benevolent operations of the
day. At a meeting of the General Assembly in Philadelphia, a gentleman from the West informed me that he had
it in charge to present to me the kind remembrances of the
Rev. Thomas Lippincot. My heart was glad."
" Mr. Hopkins. When on my way to attend the General
Association of New Hampshire, in 1826, I lodged from
Saturday night till Monday in the house of a friend, in Salem,
Massachusetts.  I was urged to attend a meeting for
prayer in the evening; I wished to be excused, but was almost compelled to go. And I was called upon to make some
remarks, which I did from the pointed passage,' The Master
is come and calleth for thee.' I went on my way, and, shortly
after I returned home, I received a letter from a Mr. Hopkins, letting me know that he had come three miles to attend




APPENDIX.                   217
the meeting, and there, for the first time, heard the gospel
calling to repentance, and faith in Christ,* thanking me for
the sermon and asking to be remembered in my prayers, and
requesting me to make his house my home, if I again visited
that part of the country. I learned from those who knew
him, that he still continued to manifest the character and
conduct of a Christian.
"Two or three years ago I met in a friend's house in
Newburgh, a gentleman, who reached out his hand to me,
and with a smiling countenance, and a tear falling over his
cheek, asked, do you know me?''No.'' Do you recollect preaching at a certain house, north of Monticello?'' Yes,' and gave the reason why I recollected it, although it
was more than thirty years before.' Do you recollect the
text?'  I replied I did not.' Well,' said he,'I do, it was,
"Unto you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men."'That,' said he,'was the first time that preaching had
any effect on me. I hope I became a new- man, I settled
down in life, united with a church in Connecticut, and
have been deacon in the church'for nearly thirty years.'
We wept and talked, and prayed together, and separated.
Whether he is alive at this time, I know not. If dead, I
rejoice to think he is in Heaven."
* Probably his minister, like Dr. Emmons, thought exhortations to look to Christ for repentance and faith not required, as these were blessings not procured through Christ.EDITOR.




218                 APPENDIX.
"While attending the General Assembly in Pittsburgh,
one evening after public worship, a young man, whom I did
not recognise, accosted me by name, saying he was once a
member of our Sabbath School; and that the address I
gave on the last Sabbath he was in the school was blessed
to his awakening to a sense of his situation as a sinner, and he
hoped he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour.  He
united with the church, was employed in a large foundry in
Alleghany City, and hoped was daily in the exercise and
enjoyment of religion.
"These," adds Mr. Johnston; " are only specimens of
what might be given, and show how censurable it is to
conclude that no good has been done, because we do not see
immediate beneficial effects."
L
Congregations taken under the care of the North River
Presbytery:Pocundridge, May 7, 1822; originally under the care of
Dutchess Presbytery;. Poughkeepsie, September 19, 1821;
Smithfield, April 27, 1825; North Salem; September 18,
1825; South East, April, 1825; Cold Spring, April, 1826;
Canterbury, October, 1826; Freedom Plains, April, 1828;
Highland Congregation, October, 1830; Matteawan, Dec.,
1832; Beekmanville, September 27, 1833; Tabernacle
Church, N. Y., April, 1834; dissolved by Synod, October
25, 1834; 2nd Church, Poughkeepsie, June, 1835; Pleasant Plains, September, 1837.




APPENDIX.                  219
Among the biographical notices recorded by Mr. Johnston, we find the names of several that had been connected
with the Presbytery of Dutchess. Among them is-the following notice of one of the founders of that Presbytery:
"The Rev. Elisha Kent was born in Suffield, Connecticut;
he was graduated in Yale College, in 1729, and has A.M.
attached to his name, probably from the same.  He was
licensed to preach by some Association in Connecticut, and
ordained and installed pastor in Newtown, Ct. He is represented to have been a zealous and successful laborer in
the vineyard of his Lord and Master.  He was among
those active ministers (in the days of Edwards, Tennant,
and Whitefield) who objected to being taxed to support
ministers whose labors were not approved, or, in other
words, to support the established religion, as then found in
Connecticut.  The result was, that he and several of his
people removed to the County of Dutchess, in the State of
New York, and he became the pastor of the first church in
Philippi, or, as now called, South East. His removal was
in the year 1740, and as he said,'to be removed from
lords spiritual.'  From the records of several Church Sessions we find him engaged in organizing churches and settling difficulties. In one the date is 1748, and in another
1759. Part of his time was employed in preaching to the
people of the Hollow, or, as it is now called, Washington
Hollow, in 1745.  In 1763, he and Solomon Mead and
Joseph Peck united and formed the Presbytery of Dutchess,




220                 APPENDIX.
adopting the Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter
Catechisms, and form of Presbyterian Church Government,
and as a Presbytery were received as a constituent member
of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia. This was the
first Presbytery ever formed north of the city of New
York.  The Presbytery was called I the Presbytery of the
County of Dutchess,' and afterwards changed by order of
Synod to'the Presbytery of Dutchess.'  He died in 1'76.
He was pastor of the Church of South East about
thirty-six years, and had been-a preacher, and probably a
pastor, in Newtown, Ct., and South East, N.Y., more than
forty-four years. His name is found in the records of the
Presbytery and of the Synod, as being appointed to some
of the most important and difficult duties in either. He
was a diligent, useful, and successful minister, and his
works do follow him.  His whole ministry preceded the
declaration of American Independence. The late Chancellor James Kent was his grandson."
[We do not know how many, children the Rev. Elisha
Kent had. One daughter we happen to know, married a
Mr. Kane, who lived and died in Schenectady, N.Y. She
was a remarkably intelligent and pious lady, far advanced
in years, when we became acquainted with her. She had
five or six sons, all active and enterprising men.  From
these are descended many families of the name of Kane in the
United States. Of that stock was the late Hon. Elias Kane,
United States Senator from Illinois; the HIon. Judge KEane,




APPENDIX,                   221
of Philadelphia, and his -son, Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, the intrepid explorer of the Arctic Seas, as the name of the latter
indicates, are of that family.  The descendants in the
female line are also numerous; and devoted piety, as well
as- energy of character, is found in the blood of the third
and fourth generation from the Rev. Elisha Kent of " South
East."  A daughter of Mrs. Kane of Schenectady, a lady
of distinguished piety, married a Mr. Livingston of Dutchess
County, N.Y., and was the mother of the late Rev. Dr.
Livingston of the Reformed Dutch Church, Philadelphia,
Another daughter of the same Mrs. Kane, a lady not excelled in elegance of manners, benevolence, and piety,. by
any of her sex, married Jeremiah Von Rennselaer, late of
Ujtica, and was the mother of three daughters, not inferior
to herself in piety, benevolence, and refinement of manners.
Two of them married distinguished gentlemen in the western
part of New York, and both these, with their honored
mother, sleep in Jesus. The third is single, and has charge
of her sisters' children. It would be interesting, did our
knowledge permit us, to trace all the branches which have
sprung from the original stock —the Rev. Elisha Kent,the leading founder of the Presbyterian Church, between
the cities of New York and Albany.-ED.]"
K.
-Mr. Johnston used with great good humor to relate several Irish anecdotes. The following, bearing hard on himself, are a specimen: —




222                 APPENDIX.
"I had," said he, "employed an Irishman to repair a
drain leading from my kitchen to the street.  Having
finished the drain, he was laying down the flagging that
covered it. His plan did not please me, and I manifested
-dissatisfaction, and fretted not a little.  He stopped his
work, and looking at me, said,'Mr. Johnston, there are
just two thingsabout which a-man should never fret. The
one is, what he can help, and the other is, what he cannot
help. If he can help it, he had better go and do it; and if
he cannot help it, what is the use of fretting about it?' I
felt reproved," says Mr. Johnston, "and have many times
had need of the same reproof."
"On another occasion," Mr. Johnston used to say, "I was
looking at several laboring men engaged in removing a pile
of stones. Trees had grown up among them, and the roots
of the trees were interlocked with the stones, so as to make
it difficult to remove the stones. One of the laborers, apparently an uncultivated, rough, ignorant Irishman, was swearing at the roots the of trees, and again and again repeating
the name of the devil. I gently reproved him for doing- so,
and immediately he set his pick on one end, and looking
very quizzically in my face, with a half triumphant smile,
he said in a real Irish brogue,' Oh, indeed, sir, I did not think
you were after watching me; isn't it hard now, that because
I repate the name of the ould fellow, I must be called to an
account for it, and you and the like of ye are paid by the
year for abusing the ould fellow?' I thought that where




APPENDIX.                  223
that' shot came from there was more in store, and rememberingthat'discretion is the better part of valor,' I retreated."
Mrs. Johnston is a lineal descendant of the first white
woman who came to reside where' the village of Goshen
now is, and the first who was married in Orange County.
She was a woman of small stature, but of great energy and
indomitable courage.  Samuel W. Eager, Esq., of Newburgh, has given an interesting, and if it were proper to
apply the term to authentic history, we would add, romantic account of that remarkable woman: for in respect to
wild, and perilous, and daring adventure, her biography has
all the elements of romance.  Yet the account is a record
of uncontradicted tradition in the County of Orange.
When only sixteen years old, she came, without a female
companion, to reside in a wilderness occupied with savages
and ferocious beasts, where there was not another white
wbman within twenty miles of her.  Her maiden name
was Sarah Wells, and she married William Bull, by whom
she had'twelve children, all of whom lived to marry and
have children.  She died in 1796, aged one hundred and
two years and fifteen days. At the time of her death, her
descendants were:
12 children.
98 grand-children.
212 great-grand-children.
13 great-great-grand-children.
Total, 335




224                  APPENDT IX.
The increase from these 335 descendants in sixty years
which have elapsed since her death must be very great.
It may be questioned, Mr. Eager remarks, if there is a family in the State that exceeds that of Sarah Bull in the number of its descendants. For a knowledge of the circumstances which led this woman to reside in an unbroken
forest, amidst Indians and wild beasts, and also of the perils
and labors which she underwent, we refer the reader to
Mr. Eager's History of Orange County, pages 454-484.EDITOR.
After the preceding pages were in the press, a journal,
kept by Dr. Johnston during an excursion to the Falls of
Niagara, in the summer of 1834, came into the hand of the
Editor. This is believed to be the only excursion of any
extent, merely for the purpose of recreation and pleasure,
which Dr. Johnston took during the long period of his
ministry. It occurred in this way. Mr. Thomas Powell, late
of Newburgh, kindly invited Dr. and Mrs. Johnston to accompany him and his family in a tour to the Falls of Niagara,
Saratoga, and intervening places, generously offering to
pay the whole expense. The party consisted of Mr. and
Mrs. Powell and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, and
Mr. Powell's servant, and on the way they fell in company
with Mr. Ramsdell, who afterwards became the husband
of Miss Powell. The journal contains interesting sketches




APPENDIXb                  225
of places visited, and incidents of travel, evincing that Mr.
Johnston was an acute observer of what passed under his
notice, and that he received exquisite pleasure from viewing
the beautiful and sublime works of creation, and the productions of human skill and industry. Had this journal
come into the hands of the Editor sooner, copious extracts
would have been made, exhibiting in a favorable light the
social and religious character of the Author.  Amidst the
delight of seeing new objects, and associating with new
acquaintances, he never forgot that he was a Christian and
a minister of the gospel, and he was ready on all suitable
occasions to recommend the religion which he professed,
and the Saviour whom he loved.
THE END,.