His fear and love within him. In the perfect character, in the righteous government, of Jehovah, he had strong confidence; in every event he acknowledged His hand; and in conformity to His will sought to regulate his actions, words, and thoughts. His sense of religious obligation was strong and constant; he appeared to live, as seeing Him who is invisible. He was eminently a man of prayer. His devotions in the family, in the College chapel, and in the sanctuary, were those of one, who lived near to God; and his habitual deportment evinced that he cultivated, with uncommon assiduity, an intercourse with heaven. If there are those, who make their prayers a substitute for the discharge of moral duties, it was not so with him. There was in him, in constant, vigorous exercise, a genuine principle of integrity; and he aimed at universal rectitude of feeling and of practice. Hence in every relation and circumstance, he exhibited, with singular uniformity, the christian temper and deportment. His domestic character was a lovely exhibition of Christianity. He was the last man, of whom it could be said, that, although apparently a christian abroad, he was negligent of duty, and the slave of bad passions, at home. Toward all around him there was an unintermitting flow of the sincerest good will and kindness; at times, he indulged in sallies of wit and humor, In the government of his children he happily united affection with authority. He did not allow them in sin; he did not permit them to be disobedient; but his control was that of a father and a friend. He interested himself in their pursuits and pleasures; amidst the cares and avocations of an arduous station, he found leisure to superintend their studies, and, by frequently conversing and praying with them, to seek their salvation.

As President of a College Dr. Appleton manifested to a high degree the influence of a christian spirit. Punctual and diligent in performing the common duties of his office, he sought, with untiring assiduity, the literary improvement of the students; but, with a still more fervent zeal, he sought their eternal welfare. Of this they could not but be convinced: and such an influence was given to the truths, duties, and sanctions of religion by his character, instructions, and prayers, as to occasion the remark, "It is impossible to go through Bowdoin College without receiv

ing serious impressions."-He ever rejoiced, when the students made proficiency in science; but as for himself,* so also for them, it was the great object of his wishes, that they might know God their Maker, and Jesus Christ their Redeemer. Many a sleepless night did he pass, on hearing, that any of them were vicious; and often was his soul cast down, and disquieted within him, on observing little or no evidence of vital piety among them. But when the character of the students, in this respect, was changed, and some of them were thought truly pious, "it is," said he, "a great and glorious thing. It is what we have long been praying for. The mercy of the Lord toward us has been unutterable. Praise, everlasting praise, be rendered to His

name."

His benevolence was not confined within narrow limits. He loved his country, and his species. He earnestly desired the universal diffusion of christian truth and virtue. Whatever menaced evil to the church of Christ, he viewed with alarm; whatever appeared conducive to its extension and prosperity, he hailed with delight. He considered it a peculiar favor, that he lived in so glorious an age, and was permitted to witness events, so auspicious to the best interests of mankind. Exertions for the distribution of the scriptures, for evangelizing the heathen, for educating pious young men for the Gospel Ministry, for promoting the principles and spirit of peace, for preventing and suppressing vice, he beheld with lively interest, with devout thankfulness and joy; and as opportunity presented, was ever ready to aid them, by his counsels, charities, and labors.

The life of such a man, in such a station, might well be considered peculiarly valuable. But my ways, saith the Lord, are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts.

About the time of his losing a very dear child, October 1817, he took a severe cold; and although he was enabled, for many months to attend to his customary duties, he did not, at any time afterward, enjoy his usual health. In the month of May 1819, he became more indisposed; and was not able to officiate at the

* "One week of tender, lively, and prayerful views of God, Christ, and the gos pel, is better, than years of intellectual research, that has no near connexion wit! Jesus and his religion. Oh God, make me spiritual."

From the MS. before refrered to.

College exhibition. His complaints were a slight cough, great hoarseness, and debility. It was thought a journey would prove serviceable. He left home, on the 20th of May, travelled as far as Amherst, (N. H.) and returned in about a month, not essentially benefited. About the middle of July, a voyage to Boston was contemplated. But, the design being relinquished, he remained with his family. About the last of September, or the first of the month following, he seemed to be gaining a little strength; and the hope was entertained, at least by some of his friends, that he might yet be restored. But on the 12th of October, a profuse hemorrhage taking place, all hope of his recovery was, from that time, abandoned.

It was mercifully ordered, that his illness should not be attended with severe pain; and that, until the last few days of his life, he should be in the perfect possession of his understanding. During that long and trying period of feebleness and apprehension, which preceded his dissolution, his christian graces appeared unusually clear and bright; he enjoyed in a greater degree, than in health, the consolations and hopes of the gospel, and ripened rapidly for glory. Peculiarly apparent were his humility and deep sense of unworthiness. "Of this," he often said, "I am sure, that salvation is all of grace." "I would make no mention of any thing, which I have ever thought, or said, or done; but only of this, that God so loved the world as to give His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. The atonement is the only ground of hope." To a friend, that desired to know the state of his mind, he gave the following account. "In general, I am quite comfortable; but not uniformly, though I have seldom what may be called distress, or great anxiety. I have sometimes sweet views of God's holy providence. But I am, indeed, a poor sinner, lying at the foot of sovereign mercy. Most emphatically, and from my soul, do I renounce all hope, in any thing done by myself, as a ground of justification. I fly, I fly with my whole soul, to the blood of a crucified Saviour." A devout and thankful frame of mind was very conspicuous. He frequently spake of the goodness of God in ordering the various circumstances of his sickness; and uniformly mentioned every comfort, as a mercy from his hand. The latter part of the time, until his mind was disorder

ed, he was accustomed, on receiving his medicines, or any portion however small, of any liquid, to ejaculate a petition for the divine blessing. From his clear and impressive views of the perfections of Deity, and full confidence in the rectitude of His dispensations, proceeded a cordial submission to the divine will. He felt that he had ties, as numerous, and as strong, to this world, as most men. "I am not," he remarked, in a letter to the author of this memoir, dated July 1st, "indifferent to life. How can I be, with such a family, as I have; so young, and so dependent on parental attention and guidance? But the event is with God; and I hope, that I am willing it should be so. I am not very anxious as to the event. I hope it is my desire, that Christ may be honored, whether by my life or death.” In another letter written about a fortnight afterward, having mentioned some particulars, relative to his disorder, he thus proceeds. "You see, my dear sir, that my prospects do not brighten, as to returning health. But God is holy, wise, and good. I am in his hands. What can I wish more? Jesus Christ has said, He that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live. Blessed words! and blessed Saviour!" In an interview with a ministerial friend, after he began to consider his disease, as likely to prove fatal, on being asked, if he could submissively leave his family with God, he replied, "I have been the happiest man in the world in my domestic connexions: I have endeavoured faithfully to instruct my children, and they have conducted,so as greatly to endear themselves to me. I shall leave them but little property, but they will be in the hands of Him, who made them. God has been uniformly good to me all my life, and it would now be very unreasonable for me to be unwilling to obey His summons." At a subsequent visit, the same friend having inquired what had been the state of his mind, since he last saw him, “I have had lately," he said, "such views of God's character, as have made me feel very comfortable, very comfortable. But last night, after throwing up blood, I was somewhat discomposed, and found I could do nothing, but lie at the feet of a sovereign God." From the window of his chamber he frequently looked at the College buildings. One day, while fixing his eye upon them, he exclaimed, "Precious objects have ye

been to me; but I resign you all for God." my He often said, "God will do right; all is well. In health, he had been prone to indulge anxiety, and sometimes to a high degree in regard to the institution, over which he presided. But during his sickness, this solicitude gave place to a firm reliance on God's gracious protection. "God has taken care of the College," he would say, "and God will take care of it."

In such a state of mind, as the facts that have been mentioned, indicate, he could not but feel happy; nor could he fail to cherish the hope of a blissful immortality. Throughout his illness, he was, almost uniformly, free from distressing fears; and as death drew nigh, his hope ripened into assurance. Of what nature was the felicity, that he anticipated, may be learned from the following circumstances. The inquiry was made, if he did not find something pleasant in the thought, that the happiness of heaven would never end. "Connect with it," he replied, "the thought of perfect holiness, and it is a glorious thought indeed." At another time, after exclaiming, "Worthy is the Lamb, that was slain, to receive glory, and honor, and riches, and blessing," he added, "there is joy in that song!"

About a week before his death, there was a return of hemorrhage. It occasioned extreme distress. It was feared by others, and by himself, that suffocation would take place. As the family stood around him, looking for the moment, when he would expire, he suddenly obtained relief; and his first words were, uttered in his own emphatic manner, "Good and upright is the Lord." The day after, he called his children to him, and, with perfect composure, gave to each of them, separately, what he considered his dying counsel. He was apprehensive that the bleeding would return, and that he should not be able to survive it. Towards night, he requested to be raised a little in his bed, that he might see the setting sun. Having beheld it for a moment, he said, as he reclined his head upon the pillow, "Before it dawns again, I shall be in glory." This expectation was not realized, for he was continued a week longer. During the greater part of the last five days, his mind was somewhat disordered, and his thoughts were wandering. At times he appeared perfectly rational, and uttered many interesting expressions.