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MEMOIR OF REV. ALEXANDER MILLER.

To record the character and preserve the memory, of men of distinguished piety and usefulness, is both grateful to their friends and due to society. Under this impression is placed on record, the following short account of the life and death of the Rev. Alexander Miller. He was the son of Mr. Abraham Miller, and Susanna Roddy, his wife, both originally from the north of Ireland. His birth was in New Castle County, Delaware, on the 26th of August, 1739. When he was twelve years old, his father removed into the state of Maryland; where he commenced his classical education, under the tuition of the Rev. James Findley. After finishing his preparatory studies, he entered Princeton College, and passed through the various classes with reputation; and graduated the 6th of October, 1764. At what period of Mr. Miller's life, his mind became seriously impressed with religious things, is unknown to the writer; but, that the great work of the gospel ministry was his early choice and chief delight, is a fact well ascertained. He prosecuted his theological studies, under the direction of the Rev. Doctor Rogers, of the city of New-York; whose memory is dear to this country, and whose praise is in all the churches; and was inducted into the sacred ministry, by the Presbytery of New-York and New-Jersey.

His first settlement in the gospel ministry, was in Schenectady, where he laboured in his favourite employment, about eleven years; when the perils of the revolutionary war, and the dispersion of his people, led him to remove. Soon, however, he resettled in the congregation of East Hanover, New-Jersey. There he preached the unsearchable riches of Christ, and promoted the great interests of religion, for a considerable time, all around. It was in this region of country he became acquainted with, and eventually married, on the 26th of April, 1786, Miss Elizabeth Ayres, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Ayres, of Morristown.

Mr. Miller being an excellent classical scholar, was now called to preside in the academy at Wallkill, in Ulster County, NewYork; and from that to the academy in Hackensack, New-Jersey. From thence he removed to the city of Albany, where he alternately instructed in science, and preached the gospel, until he found old age approaching. In the view of this, he determin

VOL. VII.

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ed to close his life in the country. Some of his children having removed to St. Lawrence, he finally concluded to remove to Ogdensburgh, and spend the small remnant of his days in preaching the everlasting gospel in that destitute region of country. He eventually settled, down in the town of Hague, where Mrs. Miller died on the 18th of November 1816, in the 56th year of her age; leaving behind her, her venerable husband, with two sons and three daughters, to lament her loss.

own.

In this lonely situation, this aged servant of the Lord Jesus Christ closed his days, with only three of his children about him; the other two being married and settled, with families of their Under all the infirmities of old age, so undiminished was his zeal for the glory of God, so ardent was his love for his Lord and Master, and so tender his concern for the salvation of immortal souls, that he persevered in his ministerial labours, until his strength failed him. And when he could go no more out, to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation; to organize churches, and administer the sacred ordinances, in the region round about him; he continued to preach the word of life, to all who came to hear him at his own house. This service he persevered in until a few weeks before his death.

It was an interesting sight, to see this patriarchal man of God, with his head frosted with age, and with trembling limbs and faltering tongue, standing on the verge of time ready to launch into eternity, warning sinners of their danger, and urging them to escape from the wrath to come; comforting the children of God and building them up in the faith of the gospel, and pointing them to fairer and brighter worlds on high. In all probability he has sown the seed in that dreary wilderness, which will spring up in a rich harvest of unfading glory. It is better to close life in this exalted manner, in obscurity, than on the thrones of kings, surrounded with the fading splendour of princes and

courts.

At length the powers of nature failed our venerable father. He saw the king of terrors obviously approaching, and met him undismayed. He considered the messenger of death, as the messenger of peace, to release him from the toils and sorrows of this mortal life, that he might dwell with his glorious Lord.

And he expired after a short illness, in the triumphant faith and hope of the gospel, on the 14th of January last, in the 81st year of his age, and has passed on to receive the transporting reward, "well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'

While we mingle our sorrows and our tears, with the orphan children of our departed friend, and mourn with the church and the world his loss, our gratitude shall ascend to the throne of God for his long life and eminent usefulness.

How many souls he has won to his Lord and Master, will not

be known until the last great day. The sorrows which he has assuaged and the tears that he has wiped dry, with the amount of good which he has been instrumental in doing, will then be unfolded before the assembled universe.

Though he is dead, he yet speaks in his writings, and in his pupils; the foundation of whose science and usefulness, was laid by his indefatigable exertions; and who are now on the great theatre of life in both church and state.

Mr. Miller had a sound, if not a brilliant mind. He had far more judgment than fancy, and his talents were better calculated for scientific researches, than for popular assemblies. He was a profound theologian, and well versed in ecclesiastical history and government, and an accurate classical scholar. If his ar dour sometimes carried him too far, his piety soon corrected it. This was the brightest ornament of his character; and it shone as much in his familiar intercourse in society as in his official performances in public life. He was an affectionate husband and tender parent; a sound and didactic preacher and excellent citizen. His time and his talents he considered not his own; and he was ready on all occasions to employ them in the service of his Lord and Master in all those ways which tended to promote his kingdom and the best interests of the community. Those who knew him best will most highly esteem his worth; and, though he passed away retired from the splendour and eclat of the world, we trace him through grace exalted with those in the bright realms above, who shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever.

May 17th, 1820.

For the Christian Herald.

On Secrecy in Doing Good.

In my last paper I drew my readers to consider the subject of "devotedness to the cause of Christ;" at present, I shall subjoin a few plain remarks with respect to the motives which should influence Christians, in the performance of works of benevolence. It must be clearly seen, that we here take for granted, that every believer will be diligently employed in promoting the kingdom of our Saviour, however humble his sphere in life. It is not the manner of our Saviour, to enrol among his followers persons who possess qualities simply negative. To constitute a Christian, something positive and decided, is indispensable. It is also indispensable that we obey the precepts which Christ has left on record, pointing out the method in which we are to do good. "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, but when thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly."

There is something fascinating in a person who leaves his native fields and rocks, to which the heart is so mysteriously attached, that he may spread the gospel in heathen lands. So completely does selfishness interweave itself with our fallen nature, that we look upon him in the light of a superior being who makes such a consecration of himself to his Maker. Hence the imagination is often employed in sketching out the scenes through which we suppose he will pass; we view him either as a pilgrim amidst the sands, where only here and there the eye is refreshed with verdure; or we fancy him clad in furs ascending some mountain whose snows have never been touched before by the footstep of the Christian missionary. I hope my readers will not understand me to mean that the prayers and sympathies of the Christian community are to be withdrawn from those who give up all to follow Christ; but, whilst our admiration is given to the man, how apt are we to forget the Being who thus inclines the heart. Indeed Christians of the present age are somewhat defective in purity of motives; and the love of admiration has been the bane of many a plan for the extension of the gospel, otherwise praiseworthy and even magnificent. This unequalled admiration of those who go abroad, will have a tendency to lower the standard of moral excellence at home. I cannot help admiring the self-denial of our Moravian brethren, who send forth their missionaries in the most retired manner.

The present is a promising period in the church. Hence the necessity of watchfulness, because prosperity brings with it very peculiar trials. Associations for the spread of the gospel, constituting a great moral machinery, have been set in motion; translators of the scriptures have arisen as by enchantment; missionaries, girded with zeal for any enterprize, are comparatively numerous; young men of accomplished talents courting the post of danger-even the king and the prince are descending from their elevation to bear the divine volume to the retired vale. These mighty movements have not been without their influence on the state of mankind. The savage is pausing amidst the chace, to hold converse with the heralds of the cross-the eye of the roving Arab is riveted on the celestial city; a pure light begins to stream on the huts of Ethiopia-the mosques of Mohammed are trembling to their fall; and temples to the name of Jesus Christ adorn the outskirts of this desolated world.

Such is a picture of the present state of the church, a picture by no means too highly drawn. What an aspect must this state of things have on ages and generations yet to come. We ask then, with simplicity, is there no danger here? Are all the agents in these benevolent works influenced by prevailing love for the glory of God and the salvation of men? Should we all be engaged in these plans and schemes if no eye beheld us but the eye of Him who looks upon the heart? Is the church purer now, than when

her children sought a refuge amidst the mountains of Greece or the vales of Italy? And is there no cause to fear a relaxation in the efforts of Zion to extend her influence?

There is an exquisite pleasure arising from doing good in a retired unostentatious way. If any motive can, with propriety, be addressed to our selfish feelings, it is the motive we have just mentioned. A secret satisfaction diffuses itself through the soul, springing from engagedness in the Redeemer's service, to which all are strangers, save such as have tasted it in sweet experience. But whenever the purity of the soul is marred by improper motives, such motives drop a fatal sting in the bosom. Even the best of Christians are not wholly free from a desire to shine before men. They tenderly mourn over the want of that simplicity of heart so much celebrated in the scriptures; this is evident from their reply after receiving the commendation of our Saviour for their good works: "When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in, or naked and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

We

The example of our Saviour strongly enforces his precepts. In executing his office as a public teacher he could not entirely escape from the eye of men; but in performing many miracles, he enjoined secrecy on those for whose benefit they had been wrought. Some of his weightiest sayings were uttered beneath the roof of some lowly cottage. Were we disposed to select a prominent instance of his retired teaching, it would be his conversation with the woman of Samaria-wearied with his journey, he sat down on the well, and whilst his disciples were gone away to the adjoining town, he delivers a discourse on divine things, which, for beauty and richness, has never been equalled. might here add, that the habits of the Christian, always dispose him to retirement. The deepest shades of the forest are not a solitude to him whose path leads him to converse with objects unseen: he often penetrates the bosom of nature, and finds enter tainment where another might meet with nothing but the loneliness of the grave. Away from the habitations of men, the mind is much more apt to fix on heavenly themes, than in a city, where some new object or pursuit is hourly presenting fresh temptations. Of a still evening in autumn, when the crimson flush is yet on the clouds, and serenity lingers awhile in this distracted world, how exquisite the pleasure to muse on the decease accomplished at Jerusalem.

In my solitary walks not long ago, I incidentally met with the most charming landscape that I have ever seen: He who dwelleth in the secret place, had touched it with the richest colours, and some of the sweetest lines of beauty. Immediately upon this discovery, I took out my pencil and wrote the following brief hymn, with which I shall conclude.

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