two before I was taken ill, while I was walking alone, and engaged in meditation and prayer, I enjoyed a sweet refreshing visit from above, so that my soul was raised far above the fear of death. O how much more refreshing this one season was than all the pleasures that earth can afford! After a day or two, I was taken with the measles, and almost despaired of life, but had no distressing fears of death. However, I soon recovered: yet, by reason of hard studies, I had little time for spiritual duties; my soul often mourned for want of more time and opportunity to be alone with God: in the spring and summer following, I had better advantages for retirement, and enjoyed more comfort; though indeed my ambition in my studies greatly wronged the vigor of my spiritual life; yet, in the multitude of my thoughts within me, God's comforts delighted my soul.'

"One day in particular (in June, 1740,) I walked in the fields alone, and found such unspeakable sweetness in God, that I thought, if I must continue still in this evil world, I wanted always to be there to behold God's glory: my soul dearly loved all mankind, and longed exceedingly that they should enjoy what I enjoyed.-It seemed to be a little resemblance of heaven.

"In August following, I became so disordered, by too close application to my studies, that I was advised by my tutor to go home, and disengage my mind from study as much as I could, for I began to spit blood. I took his advice, but being brought very low, I looked death in the face more steadfastly; the Lord was pleased to give me a sweet relish of divine things, and my soul took delight in the blessed God.

"Saturday, October 18. In my morning devotions, my soul was exceedingly melted for, and bitterly mourned over, my exceeding sinfulness and vileness. I never before felt so deep a sense of the odious nature of sin. My soul was then unusually carried forth in love to God, and had a lively sense of God's love to me. And this love and hope cast out fear.

"October 19. In the morning, I felt my soul hungering and thirsting after righteousness. In the forenoon, while I was looking on the sacramental elements, and thinking that Jesus Christ would soon be 'Set forth crucified before me,' my soulwas filled with light and love, so that I was almost in an ecstasy; my body was so weak I could hardly stand. I felt at the same time an exceeding tenderness, and most fervent love, towards all mankind; so that my soul, and all the powers of it, seemed, as it were, to melt into softness and sweetness. This love and joy cast out fear, and my soul. longed for perfect grace and glory.

"Tuesday, October 21. I had likewise experience of the goodness of God in Shedding abroad his love in my heart,' and all the remaining part of the week my soul was taken up with divine things. I now so longed after God, and to be freed from sin, that, when I felt myself recovering, and thought I must return to college again, which had proved so hurtful to me the year past, I could not but be grieved, and I thought I had much rather have died; but before I went, I enjoyed several other sweet and precious seasons of communion with God, wherein my soul enjoyed unspeakable comfort.

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"I returned to college about November 6, and through the goodness of God felt the power of religion almost daily.

"November 28. I enjoyed precious discoveries of God, and was unspeakably refreshed with that passage, Heb. xii, 22, 23, 24, so that my soul longed to wing away for the paradise of God; I longed to be conformed to God in all things.

"Tuesday, December 9. God was pleased wonderfully to assist and strengthen me, so that I thought nothing should ever move me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord.-O! one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures of this lower world.”

Let it not be supposed, while this heavenly young man was cherishing in his bosom the ardent flame of divine love, that he was a negligent student of literature and theology:-no, while he was superior to all in personal religion, he yielded to none in his ardor after literary and valuable attainments: indeed he mourns over "Ambition in his studies as his most easily besetting sin;" and this is never the sin of the negligent, or the idle; it is the fault of an active mind, which, from its natural temperature, indulges to excess in a laudable pursuit; too strong an attachment, even to the sciences and literature, may prove injurious to the growth of vital holiness: but the indolent and trifling are in no danger from this quarter: yet if Brainerd erred it was in this; for he complains that he grew more cold and dull in matters of religion by means of this, which he calls his "Old temptation." Thus it is evident, that, while his religion was cultivated, the great business of his studies was not neglected: it is a great blessing when the

"Metron ariston," the golden mean, can be preserved: but in every thing there is danger; "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe," should be the prayer of every Christian, and especially of every minister.

About this period, the light which had shone with so much brightness in the British churches, darted its rays across the vast Atlantic, and gladdened with its genial influence the American colonies. WHITEFIELD, who was for no country, but a world, who pitied the miserable of every clime, and felt divine compassion for the whole family of man; whose capacious soul, filled with a Redeemer's love, traversed in idea every region of the earth; and which actually accomplished more than the most sanguine imagination could suppose it was in the power of humanity to grasp. WHITEFIELD, the glory of the church in modern times, rushed with eagerness, impelled by celestial zeal, to disperse the gloom, and moral darkness which covered America. The plaintive call of misery-"Come over and help us," thrilled through his heart: he obeyed the summons: America, thou canst tell with what success.

With other places visited by, this astonishing man, Yale College, and New Haven can witness the amazing power and efficacy of the word of truth uttered by him. As an instrument in the divine hand, he inspired new life into the students, who were growing dull and lukewarm, and awakened and roused others who never felt before. The labors of this eminent servant of God, with those of another, who had imbibed his spirit (Mr. Tennent,) carried on, for it was before partially begun, what is called in America to this day "The revival." A general reformation, and deep seriousness, per

vaded the various ranks of society. Yale College now presented a new and different scene, and there was an almost universal inquiry among the heretofore careless and indifferent, "What must we do to be saved?" O with what delight, and with what earnestness did Brainerd visit his fellow students; how sweetly and solemnly did he help forward by conversation and prayer the work of God. Dr. Hopkins, who was at college with him, has left a testimony of his zeal and brotherly-kindness in the memoirs of his own life, extracts from which were published in the Evangelical Magazine for May, 1806. "The persons who thus distinguished themselves in zcal (that is, in visiting the students for conversation and prayer) were two of them my classmates, Buells and Youngs, the other was David Brainerd."

We are now drawing near an important æra in Brainerd's history; and we are about to transcribe a page upon which, in the course of his life, he frequently dropped the silent tear of sorrow and bitter regret; but a page which his unfeeling persecutors must have read with the blush of conscious shame. It is the page which narrates his expulsion from college, and the cause which produced it.

We must not be surprised, if on closely investigating the best human character, the delightful vision be sometimes crossed with a cloud, or the finished picture marred with a blemish. In a young man let us not expect that knowledge of his own heart, and of the world, which, if we have patience with him, he may discover in maturer years. That Brainerd was eminently pious, and exceedingly zealous, who will question? That his zeal sometimes carried him beyond the bounds of prudence,