CHAPTER XVII.

HIS LAST VISITS ABROAD.

IN 1828, his intimate friend and former parishioner, Joseph Burr, Esq., of Manchester, was taken ill, and died in the month of April. Mr. Burr, the distinguished patron of religion and science, was early an orphan, and received a mercantile education from his brother in New York. He commenced business in Manchester, Vermont; and, by his rigid uprightness, soon acquired the confidence of the community. In early life, like many of the enterprising men in Vermont at that time, he was disposed to cavil at the doctrines of grace, and openly professed to disbelieve that God, in his direction of the universe, noted the minute and daily transactions of men. In the revivals with which Manchester was blessed, his views were essentially changed: he became a firm believer in the doctrines of revelation, and a liberal patron of the objects of charity and piety. Like the aloe, which blooms but once in a century, such men are rarely found. Mr. Burr, on perceiving that his dissolution was drawing near, sent for his former beloved pastor to visit him and minister to him in the last extremity. Mr. Haynes spent several days with him. He was calm in view of eternity. In some of his last remarks he said "I feel that I have brought myself and all that I have to the feet of Jesus." Mr. Burr had ex pressed his determination to bequeath to several literary and religious institutions the greater part of his estate

He was apparently near his end, and nothing had been done respecting the distribution of his possessions. Judge Skinner, who had been expected to transact the business, was absent, and the time of his return was uncertain. Mr. Haynes, perceiving the peculiarly critical state of this important business, was at first exceedingly moved, and appeared very anxious to do something which would secure to the cause of learning and religion the ample provisions which Mr. Burr had intended to make, and which were every moment liable to be lost by his death. But soon his composure returned, and sitting quietly down, he said, "Ah! if the Lord have need of this money, he will have it.”—He has it. In 1832 he visited New-York to attend the anniversaries. In a letter to a friend, he says:66 In my visit to New-York I was greatly entertained. I did not expect to see so much piety among the people. I was cordially received by the ministers. I preached at New-York, Albany, and Troy, and received ample pecuniary compensation. I was much pleased with the company of Dr. Sprague, of Albany. He brought the handwriting of many of the old ministers that have been in their graves for years. Those he obtained in England; such as the handwriting of Dr. Doddridge, Dr. Guise, Mr. Henry, John Newton, and many others. I remarked to the doctor, 'If it afforded so much satisfaction only to see their manuscripts, what joy would it be should we be admitted to see and dwell with them in the heavenly world.' Should I live until next November, it will be half a century since I commenced preaching the gospel. I have abundant reason to bless God for his goodness in maintaining and supporting me so long, and in his so abundantly opening a door for improving the

small talent he has given me. But, 'Oh, my leanness ! my leanness As I draw near the eternal world, I trust I feel more and more that, should I ever be saved, it will be through astonishing grace. I am about closing my stated ministry among this people. I preach to them occasionally. My strength holds out remarkably. I most earnestly desire to visit Granville, if it might be the will of God, and intend to this spring or summer, Providence concurring. Give my love to brother Baker, -tell him it is through great tribulation that good ministers, in a special manner, enter into the kingdom of heaven. Sincerely yours."

In 1833, the pulpit in Granville, Massachusetts, being vacant by the declining health of their beloved pastor, Rev. Joel Baker, application was made to Mr. Haynes to preach there for a short season. As he had been contemplating a visit to the place, this request was seasonable and gratifying. His visits, though "few and far between," had been ever greeted by his friends with enthusiastic delight. No personage, of whatever rank or character, could receive a more cordial welcome. Upon his arrival in Granville and appearing in the pulpit on the Sabbath, the people, without regard to sect or denomination, crowded the house of God. His own feelings on this occasion may be learned from the following brief extract of a letter to his family.

"We arrived safely at Granville on Saturday, four days after leaving home. Lodged at Manchester the first night; at Williamstown the second; at the Reverend Dr. Shepard's, in Lenox, the third. Preached at Granville on the Sabbath, and it was an affecting thought to stand in the desk where I used to preach more than forty years ago. The people are remarkably kind."

The preacher, now nearly eighty years of age, retained something of the intellectual vigour of better days. The descendants of his early friends regarded him as a relic, handed down from a generation which had gone to eternity. They hung upon his lips with unwonted pleasure. Now he might have adopted the remarkable words of the apostle (though his humble spirit would blush at the suggestion); "My temptation, which was in my flesh, they despised not nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Jesus Christ."

This was his last visit to the place of his earliest recollections, and a premonition of this was evidently on his mind. "I was led to notice," says his friend who entertained him, "that his mind was most constantly on the subject of death and the day of judgment. Not one hour passed without some express allusions to these events."

The preaching of Mr. Haynes was always distinguished for its appropriateness to the occasion. On meeting the congregation in Granville, whose fathers," his coevals, were nearly all of them in the habitations of the dead, he arose and addressed them from the following most appropriate passage. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day," Acts xxvi., 22.

BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SERMON.

"All creatures are effects which declare a first cause. All finite existence, whether natural or moral, is the product of omnipotent power. The great wheels of Divine providence are turned round by the hand of God. The motions of our souls and bodies are alike directed by the agency of him who rolls the stars along. For 'tis a sentiment acknowledged even by heathen,-by

Homer, Hesiod, and especially by Aratus, that 'we are the offspring of God. With how much propriety, therefore, might St. Paul adopt the sentiment in the text!

:

"The points before us are these:"I.-Our continuance in this world is wholly owing to the help of God.

"1. Keeping people alive is ascribed to God. Deut xxxii., 39: 'I kill, and I make alive.' Psal. lxviii., 20 : 'Unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.'

"2. We cannot keep ourselves alive any more than we can begin to live.

"3. Others cannot-physicians cannot-Asa's could

not.

"4. None of the springs of nature commence without God. Every pulse, every breath the effect of Divine agency.

"5. God cannot communicate independent power to

men.

"6. "Tis not owing to what some call fortune, luck, or chance. Such things have no power, nor even ex istence.

"7. That it is by God's help we continue is evident from the many dangers to which we are exposed.

"II. We ought to be deeply sensible of this.

"1. This is an important trait in the character of God's people,-Paul, Jacob, Caleb, David.

"2. "Tis God's due. Not to acknowledge it is rob bing him.

"3. Not to acknowledge God is practical atheism. "4. God has given us the requisite faculties-eyes, ears, reason—and is calling us to take notice."

IMPROVEMENT.

"1. We should often take a review of past acts of . God's goodness.

"2. We should not place our ultimate dependance on second causes.

* "T Yap Kaι yeroo soμev. Hemistic or half verse."-Guise.

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