Memoir, Select Thoughts and Sermons of the Late Rev. Edward Payson ...

the former is wholly a re-print; the third contains twenty-six new Sermons; numbered 50 to 68, inclusive, 70, 74, 89, 90, 95, 96, 97. Two Sermons, the 49th and 94th, were originally published singly, and now, for the first time, take their place in a volume. In the first and third volumes will be found matter equivalent to thirty-one Sermons, never before printed, much of it not inferior to Dr. Payson's most valued productions,-glowing with the same pious zeal and earnest eloquence, in defence of God's truth, and in the enforcement of human duty, and distinguished by the same vivid and forcible illustration. The introductory notice, by Professor Stowe, whose former relations to Dr. Payson were pre-eminently favorable to a just appreciation of his qualities, renders any attempt to characterize the Sermons, in this place, wholly unnecessary.

The reader will observe, that sentences and passages taken from: the Scriptures are, in these Sermons, rarely distinguished by quotation marks. Such a mode of distinguishing them was soon found to be unnecessary, as Dr. Payson's manner of introducing quotations from the Bible indicates their source with nearly the same certainty and precision as the ordinary sign.

The essential characteristics of the Memoir remain, as at first presented. The feature most obnoxious to censure is its melancholy. From the detail of desponding feelings, doubts and temptations, unhappy consequences to the reader were apprehended and predicted by persons whose judgment was entitled to respect; but these could not have been wholly concealed, without the sacrifice of historical verity. Besides, we are liable to err in judging, a priori, of such writings. Dr. Payson, contrary to maternal fears, was relieved, comforted, and instructed, by reading of the melancholy workings of Cowper's mind, as have been many persons by reading those of Payson's. A number of remarkable instances of such relief have come to the editor's knowledge; among them that of a totally disheartened minister of the gospel. He had renounced his work in despair, and, as he thought, forever; but was re-animated, and recalled to the active duties or his office by reading of the despondency and struggles of Payson's mind, over which grace caused him at length to triumph. We should suppose, that such desponding, and, it might almost be said, deistical sentiments, as are recorded in the first part of the seventy-third psalm, would be very injurious to the reader; whereas their real effect is to give force, impressiveness and beauty to the language which follows, so inimitably expressive of strong faith in God, and confidence in his providential government, In like manner, should the reader feel oppressed by the distressing exercises which are detailed in some of the following chapters, let him glance, for a moment, to their issue, and find relief in contemplating the triumphs of Payson's later days.

Farther; it may appear on reflection, that there could be no adequate exhibition of the degree of Dr. Payson's piety, without a corresponding exhibition of the obstacles against which he had to contend. That he did triumphantly surmount them all, is a fact full of encouragement to the tempted, desponding Christian. Indeed, it strips persons of this description of their last excuse for not persevering and rising superior to all difficulties; for where is the individual, whose constitutional hinderances to a peaceful and constant progress in piety are more hard to be vanquished, or more aggravated by bodily maladies? Who then can succumb, since he has come off victor?

It may also deserve consideration, whether the development of sorrows and depressions, as given in the former part of this volume, is not, on the whole, necessary to "justify the ways of God to men;" whether it is not in agreement with the laws which God observes in the arrangements of his providence and in the dispensations of his grace, that attainments should bear a due proportion to the efforts by which they were acquired; that conflict should precede victory; that they who would "reap in joy" should "sow in tears?" Now, it is well known that Dr. Payson's attainments in religion were far above the ordinary standard; his spiritual joys transcended, possibly, those of any other tenant of earth. Let the the reader, after having examined his history throughout, say whether the "seed" is disproportionate to the "fruit."

It does not affect this argument, that many of the exercises and affections, of which he was the subject, have no necessary connexion with religion. Some of them, it will be seen in the progress of the work, have been laid out of the account, in estimating his personal religion. They are too plainly and too bitterly characterized by himself, to be mistaken for objects of rational or pious desire. Still, however, where they have not a criminal origin, they may properly be ranked with other afflictions, which although not good in themselves, are often known to "work out the peaceable fruits of rightcousness."

The suggestion has also occurred, whether the records which have been transferred to the following pages were not specially furnished by Providence to meet an existing exigency of the Christian Church. The great enterprises in which she is engaged, necessarily modify the instructions of her teachers, as well as the duties of her members. They are constantly exhorted to action, as indeed they should be. It is an active, not a contemplative age. The business of Christians is, in fact, without, among their fellow creatures; not within, in communion with their own hearts. These circumstances, conspiring with man's natural aversion to self examination, and the paramount

difficulty of the duty, may bring on a deplorable inattention to the heart; they certainly will, if relative duties be regarded as a substitute for private devotion. The Church should look to it, that the springs of holy action be not dried up. The benevolent operations of the age were set in motion by men of such deep and heart-pervading piety as Payson's. Such piety must continue to urge them onward, or their movements will be sluggish and inefficient. The two classes of duties will here be seen to have received merited attention, and their reciprocal influence will be scarcely less obvious.

In executing his extremely delicate and responsible task, the compiler has had occasion to feel the value of the counsel and the promise, which are addressed to those who "lack wisdom;" and can take no praise to himself, that his errors of judgment have not been more numerous and more flagrant. May God attend the perusal of these volumes, notwithstanding editorial imperfections, with his gracious benediction.

Knygos