In the course of this period of his professional life, he was called to appear on many public occasions. His advice was often sought in cases of an ecclesiastical nature, and his services required in his own vicinity and at a distance, in the induction of others to the sacred office. In 1818, he preached the Dudleian Lecture at Cambridge, and received the degree of Doctor in Divinity, from the same University, in 1821. In August, 1823, he delivered the annual sermon in Federal Street Church, before the society for promoting Theological Education in Harvard University. No object appeared to him more important than a liberal provision of the means of supplying an intelligent ministry adequate to the demands of an expanding and improving state of society.

The habits of unremitting application, which were formed in early life, he continued to the latest period of his professional course. He practised, with only unavoidable exceptions, the general rule of meeting with fresh preparation the weekly demands of the pulpit, till his health compelled a relinquishment of public effort. In a letter of Nov. 1826, he writes,-" In ten months I have written more sermons than in any other twelve since I left H., and I was sure I was never in better spirits, nor more capable of duties and conversation." In May, 1827, he delivered the discourse at the Convention of Congregational Ministers; and in near succession, the sermon at the installation of his brother in law, Rev. A. Abbot, at Peterborough, N. H. These discourses, which were published, are a substantial tes

timony to the genuine liberality of his feelings, and the characteristic gentleness, which pervaded his whole private and pastoral life.

The unremitting labours of the past year, in connexion with the occasions of a public and engrossing nature, on which he was called to officiate, made serious. inroads on his health. In the autumn, his former complaints returned. He sought relief from the damp winds of the shore, by retiring to the more balmy air of the interior. The rainy state of the season rendered his excursion fruitless to the permanent recovery of his health; and he continued to suffer under a painful cough, which deprived him of the necessary refreshment of sleep, and wore with a wasting irritation on his frame. Under the attacks of disease, he preserved a peculiar serenity of mind. His natural cheerfulness never deserted him. So peculiar was his serenity, as insensibly to create the delusion that no real occasion for alarm existed. In a letter of Sept. 21st, he writes" For one thing I cannot be sufficiently thankful; my bad nerves inspire no gloom. In no period of my life have I enjoyed so much tranquillity, peace, nay, let me say it, joy, religious joy, as in the last two or three months. In the review of my life, the goodness of God wonderful to me. My course, as far as Providence is concerned, from childhood seems a path of light, without a cloud of darkness-an unvaried scene of mercy."

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At this period he made to his congregation substantially the following summary of his past life and labours. "In leaving my affectionate and beloved people at H.

I felt the parting so severely, that it brought upon me an inflammatory disease, and, with the arrow in my side, I came to this town. For five years I was the subject and almost the victim of disease. I have been much of the time an invalid; until nine years ago, a cough was fixed. After suffering a summer of wasting illness, my physicians advised to a southern climate, and at parting, your tears told me, that you had fears that I should never return. God was better than your fears, and restored me to eight years of the most vigorous labours, I think, of my whole life.

It is not quite twenty-four years since I became your minister. * In meeting the demands of nume

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rous occasions in my ministry, I have been under the necessity of often speaking without written discourses. I would remark, that very many of these have cost me more intense thought and intellectual labour than written discourses, and in the view of many who heard them have been my most useful efforts. * * My life among you has been indeed a laborious one, but for that very reason the more pleasant. Occupation in important offices is really the happiness of life, and idleness its misery. My business has been to keep you strong and united as a parish, and to advance your spiritual knowledge and experience, and, so far as it rested with me, to secure your salvation. And now after this retrospection of my labours, have I not occasion to look up to God with wonder and grateful astonishment? In thinking over these things the last two months, I have been overwhelmed with a sense of God's goodness to

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me; and have often said, if he calls me away, I will rejoice to go; I cannot have a reluctant thought or feeling. Yet if he spare me longer, I will try to serve him better. Neither have I one painful fear that He, who has shown me so much mercy in this world, will withhold his mercy from one who loves him, in the world to come."

The labours, of which he speaks in the foregoing address to his congregation, may be estimated, when it is remembered, that his duty was appointed in a parish consisting of 470 families; all of whom it was his rule to visit, if possible, once in a year, independently of his assiduous and devoted attention to the sick and afflicted-often called from his pillow to minister to their wants; and the active and leading influence, he exerted in the public schools, involving the most wasting services in the worst season of the year.

When in the autumn of 1827, his health became so uncertain, as to decide the necessity of seeking the relief of a milder climate, he took the following leave of his affectionate church and people:-"My health is again in that state, which demands the palliating and restoring influence of a milder clime. From the prostrate condition, to which I was reduced in midsummer, I have in part risen by recess from labour and care, and by exercise and milder air in the country. The cough, however, is not materially abated; for a few weeks, indeed, it is increased. I feel, therefore, called in Providence to leave the pleasant scene of my labours, and to employ those means for the recovery of my

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health, which, in very similar circumstances on a former occasion, God was pleased to crown with success. I wish my beloved people to be assured that I shall omit no eare or exertion; and farther, that I leave them with good hope, through the mercy of the great Physician, of returning to them in such health, as to renew my labours. If He should order otherwise, it is my prayer and my humble hope, that I may cheerfully submit to his blessed will. In any event, I do, with great satisfaction, commit and confide my beloved family, and church, and people to His holy keeping, "who is able to do for them abundantly above all that I can ask or think."

"In this day of fastidious and capricious feeling, permit me to hope, that nothing may occur to impair the harmony and true interest of the parish, in the necessary absence of the pastor. I have overwhelming proof how tenderly you regard his feelings. When he is far away in the south, and perhaps in a tropical climate to regain his health, in order that he may spend it again in your service; it will be a reviving cordial to him to hear of your full assemblies; to hear that none forsake the assembling of themselves together, or curiously wander into other pastures. * * * I have reason to hope better things of my beloved people. When I was absent before, it contributed to my comfort, it contributed to my health in my distant exile, to hear of your admirable conduct as a parish generally; of your harmony, of your prudence, of your regard to the com