MEMOIR OF JAMES BRAINERD TAYLOR. BY JOHN HOLT RICE, D. D. AND BENJAMIN HOLT RICE, D. D. SECOND STEREOTYPE EDITION, REVISED UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE SURVIVING COMPILER. * f PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 150 NASSAU-STREET, HEW-YORK. D. Faushay, Printer. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by Knowles Taylor, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New- York. flight of publishing transferred to American Tract Society. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I EARLT LIFE, TILL COMMENCING STUDY. fiirth, ckildhood, and early youth — enters a store in New- YorK — conversion — labors in Sabbath School — efforts for good of others — sees a Missionary sail for India — contem plates preparing for the Ministry— consults his parents- decision to consecrate himself to this work — correspond ence with friends on the subject— determines on a tho rough course of preparation 9 CHAPTER H. FIRST TWO TEARS IN ACADEMY. Temptations resisted— exposure to sudden death — descrip tion of the school — anticipations of the ministry — daily study of the Bible— establishes a weekly prayer-meeting, connected with a Bible Class — Bible Class of Young La dies in Lawrenceville— labors "from house to house "—ef forts for the salvation of hi? parents and relatives — la ments his sinfulness— topics for meditation and day of (RECAP) 4 CONTENTS. thanksgiving— New Year's letter to his parents — efforts for other relatives— letter to his mother — to a friend pre paring for the ministry— obligation to present usefulness — accompanies Major Kidge to Cornwall — letter to an aged clergyman— to his parents, 35 CHAPTER II/. COMPLETION OF HIS COURSE IN THE ACADEMY. Aspirations for increase of holiness — letter of acknowledg ment from Major Ridge — letter from one brought to Christ by his fidelity — his view of qualifications for the ministry— special refreshing from the Holy Ghost, April 23, 1822— increase of spirituality — desires to enter the ministy immediately, buc resolves on a course of tho rough preparation— letters to christian friends urging a high standard of holiness — Memoir of Parsons — New Year's letter to his parents — Death of the Compiler, and continuation by another hand— bright anticipations of heaven — letters to an aged Clergyman — Savor of Christ in all his correspondence — great joy in God— letters to a lady in affliction— Journal— warning of danger of wealth and luxury — letter to an aged colored woman — steadfast anticipations of the ministry — great spiritual joys — let ters and journal— closes his studies in the Academy — visits to friends and abundant labors, 74 CONTENTS. 5 CHAPTER IV. FIRST TEAR IK COLLEGE, Temptations and trials of a College life — pants for spiritual converse — letter to a family — day of fasting — letter ■ Looking unto Jesus " — refreshing visit at Lawrence- ville— New Year's letter to his parents— efforts to ronse others to duty— letter to a brother — humiliation and joy in God— letter to afflicted relatives— to a lady apparently near death— faithfulness to an individual— blessing on his labors in vacation— holy joys — college honors— abundant and successful labors in revivals in Connecticut in vaca tion—journal and letters, 163 CHAPTER V. SECOND TEAR IN COLLEGE. Labors in connection with the Pastor of a Church in New- York— letter of warning to a friend— freedom from secta, rianism— to an aged colored woman — New Year's letter to his parents— to a Cousin— to a Female Friend— Diary — to a Young Christian— Diary — requested to aid a neigh boring clergyman— forgoes visit to his friends, and spends vacation in a revival— success of his labors— letter to the Young Converts— to a young Lady— death of Summer- field— to a minister of the Gospel, 240 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. LAST YEAR IN COLLEGE. Letter to a Lady in feeble health— to a sister apparently near death— letters to relatives— accused by a fellow stu dent— New Year's letter to his parents — to an aged cler gyman—to a Christian friend and family— to a candidate for the ministry — Diary — entire surrender to God— re solves to labor for salvation of the students individually —his gentleness— letter to a brother preparing for the ministry— Diary — fear of sin — love of the Bible — benefit of crosses— to his brother, an officer in the church— close of bis college course, 307 CHAPTER VII. IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. Want of health— joins the Theological Seminary— to a fa mily at Princeton— to a Clergyman who had bled at the lungs — to his mother— labors in revivals of religion in Connecticut— conversion of his friend L. P.— labors in re ligious meetings — Bible Class — success — bleeds at the lungs — submission — aspirations for heaven— conversation with a friend in view of his illness— to a brother, and a fe male friend— New Year's letters, 354 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. VISITS AT THE SOUTH— SICKNESS— DEATH— CONCLUSION. Voyage to Charleston, S. C— journies at the South— let ters respecting his health— Divine consolations— return to New- York and Middle Haddam — licensed to preach the Gospel— letters to friends— Diary— embarks for Prince Edward, Va letters to friends— gradual decline —death— letters describing the closing scene— letters received by the Compilers— Conclusion, M EMOIR. CHAPTER I. Early Life, till commencing Sludy. James Brainerd Tayloh, son of Col. Jeremiah Taylor, of Middle-Haddam, Connecticut, was born on the 15th of April, 1801. His parents were in the com munion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and greatly respected in the circle of their acquaintance. On the mother's side, he was connected with the family of Brainerd, a name to be held in remembrance as long as the devoted zeal of the self-denying missionary shall be had in honor. On the father's side, an old record traces up the lineage to a branch of the family of Jeremy Taylor. But, while no wise man ever un dervalued the benefits of being born of worthy parents, no one of right spirit ever relied on this providential circumstance to bear him on through life. Our cha racter depends on ourselves. So thought James B. Taylor. And while he honored and revered his pa rents with the truest filial affection, he went forth with the spirit of genuine independence to make his own way in the world. Of his very early youth, the affection of friends has preserved many recollections of deep interest. He was particularly distinguished by an affectionate vivacity, which greatly endeared him to his relatives, and made him a general favorite in the circle in which he moved. 10 MEMOIR OF The first deep religious impressions on his mind were made by an elder brother, who, while on a visit to his father, took occasion, after family worship, to make some observations on a portion of Scripture, and to apply them to the state of those around him who were out of Christ. He was affected even to tears , and, for the first time in his life, went on his knees in secret prayer. The feelings, however, which had been thus awakened, were almost entirely suppressed, in a way not at all unusual. James had been exceed ingly devoted to the gayeties of life, and was particu larly fond of dancing. Just about this time he was prevailed on by some young companions to go to a party formed for this purpose in the neighborhood. The result was the loss of his seriousness, and the commission of sins of which he never before had been guilty. No one ever resists the Holy Spirit, and suppresses the convictions of his. own heart, without a great increase of sinfulness. In this state of mind he was placed as a clerk in the store of a merchant in New-York. Two brothers, both older than himself, watched over him with all the solicitude of fraternal affection ; and thus he was preserved from the paths of that destroyer which lurks in all our large cities, and takes in her snares so many of our most hopeful young men. James attended the ministry of the Rev. Dr. John B. Romeyn, pastor of the church then in Cedar-street, New-York ; and there, at the age of fifteen, publicly professed his faith in Christ, and joined in commemo rating his dying love. Nothing in the history of his religious experience, at this time, shows it to have been very remarkable JAMES BRAINERD TAYLOR. 11 It appears, however, that as soon as he felt the trans forming power of religious truth, he manifested a de cided disposition to active benevolence, and readily engaged in such labors of love as a young man in his situation could perform. His letters also show a great concern for his younger brothers and sisters at home. Writing to a sister in the year 1815, ho says : " Tell the dear little brothers and sisters the state of their hearts ; give them all the instruction you can as to their future welfare ; and O may the Lord draw them by the cords of his everlasting love, and let his Spirit and blessing rest on them." In another letter written to the same relative, he gives this solemn exhortation : " M — , as you are the oldest child of our dear parents, now at home, do instruct our dear little brothers and sisters, and urge them to seek the salvation of their souls — for it is your duty." It appears, indeed, that afterwards he had a very low opinion of his religious attainments at this time. Yet his correspondence was almost entirely on the subject of rehgion, frequently indicating a deep sense of obli gation ; and, though he was obliged during the whole week to perform the laborious services of a merchant's clerk in a place of great commercial activity, he en gaged with great alacrity as a teacher in the Sabbath school ; and his letters breathe a deep solicitude in be half ot the children committed to his care.