As soon as my friends knew my intention, they strenuously opposed my project; and believing it impossible for me to proceed, either with or without the assistance which my father could afford, they advised him to not countenance me at all. I was therefore, deprived of all support, and left entirely to my own exertions. At this peculiar season of trial, one of my relatives, Edward Taylor, sent for me, and began to expostulate, concerning the imprudence of my undertaking; and offered me considerable inducement to abandon my design and content myself with the occupations of my father. Having listened a few moments to his adulations, I instantly assumed an air of determination, which soon confronted all his arguments, and filled him and all my friends with despair of success, in their endeavors to divert my attention from my favorite pursuit. "Sir," said I, "unless the eternal Jehovah have fixed by an immutable decree, that I cannot, I shall be a minister!" On my way to school, the next day, my mind was greatly agitated on account of the advice of my father, not to return to his house till I had changed my resolution. But raising my heart and voice to the God of nature, I exclaimed, the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; and if it seem good to him that I should serve him in the ministry and kingdom of his dear Son, he can as easily furnish me with the means, as he did Abraham with the ram for an offering. Whilst I uttered these words, that passage of the thirty-seventh Psalm was divinely impressed on my mind: "Delight thyself in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass; he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon day." So powerful was the impression that these words made, that I leaped for joy as I' passed on my way, and never after did I doubt of success, though nearly the whole expense of my education, was derived from teaching whilst I was taught. I have written these things for the encouragement of youth in indigent circumstances. None can have greater obstacles to sur mount, than those, over which, by the help of God, I have triumphed. Let therefore none be discouraged, for "prayers and pains will effect any thing." But let us reflect on the prayer of Agur; 'give us neither poverty nor riches:' and on that which our blessed Master has taught us, "thy will be done." Blessed be the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, that ever he counted me worthy, by putting me into the ministry of reconciliation. 9, that I may like Caleb follow him fully! Unwilling to occupy much of the reader's attention or time, with the private concerns of an individual, I shall study to ren der this narrative as concise as possible. In 1805, I left Colerain, and went to reside with my father, who had removed into the county of Antrim, four miles south-east of Ballymoney. Here the Rev. Moses Kerr, minister of the Seceder congregation of Drumafivey, became my tutor, and exerted himself on my behalf; so that in 1808, on being examined by a committee of the Presbytery of Derry, I obtained the following certificate: "I hereby certify that I am intimately acquainted with the bearer, John S. Thompson, a young man of good talents and close application. I have examined him in the presence of the Rev. Messrs. Bell, Jardin, and Kineer, who agree with me in opinion, that he has read Greek and Latin to their satisfaction, in order to go to College." Drumafivey, October, 1808. MOSES KERR. Notwithstanding, as I found my progress peculiarly embarrassed by pecuniary difficulties, I declined making the intended journey to Scotland; and at the instance of some friends, commenced a school in the vicinity of Ballycastle, a beautiful village and port at Fair Head, opposite the Island of Rathlin. Here I cannot forbear mentioning the names of Mr. Andrew Boyd and Mr. John Sharpe, two excellent young men, with whom I maintained a most intimate and confidential friendship. The house of Mrs. Boyd was truly to me a delightful home, where I received every mark of good will and kind hospitality. Here let me be permitled to say, that Ireland is the only country on earth, where hospitality is developed in all the magnitude of its soothing influence, and heart felt engaging attractions. During the winter, I delivered evening lectures on English Grammar to a large class of young gentlemen, who were all well pleased with the new method of instruction. This course of lectures established my reputation, as a Grammarian, and obtained for me that respectability in my profession as a teacher, that through all the vicisitudes of time, place and station, I have ever been able to maintain. At this time, Drs. Boyd and Fullerton commenced their classical studies under my care, and Dr. Christie completed his course, in the above department. In the Fall of 1809, I returned to Colerain and resumed my own studies, under the direction of Mr. Guiler, one of the best and most philosophical teachers I ever knew. As the Academy was very numerously attended, I read with all the Latin and Greek classes, and in the evening, recited privately, a portion of Homer's Iliad, on which he commented with great ability. In November, I embarked for Scotland, and entered the first Philosophical class in the University of Glasgow, the chair of which was then filled by the worthy professor Jardin. This was the usual rank of students in the second year; but as my examination in the Latin and Greek was satisfactory, I was permitted to enter as student of Logic and Mathematics. Notwithstanding, I also attended the Greek classes, public and private; then con ducted by Professor Young, undoubtedly the most critical Grecian of the age, if we except the great Porson of Cambridge, England; to whom, as a public lecturer, the Scotch Professor, could not be justly deemed inferior. Nor have the other chairs of this excellent institution been dishonored. The name of Reed in Logic, Hutchinson in Ethics, Simpson in Mathematics, Burns in Surgery, and Thompson in Chemistry, are sufficient to elevate its character to the first rank of Collegiate establishments. Though I afterwards became acquainted with the merits of the different Universities in Europe and America, I have seen no reason to prefer any other University to that of Glasgow. Nay rather, it is my solemn impression, that an attentive student will progress farther in the science here, in four years, than he can any where else in six. The number of students at this College, equals, annually, about 1500; all of whom are intended for the Ministerial or Medical profession. The mode, adopted here, of delivering morning lectures, and afterwerds examining the students at a later hour on the same day, on the subject of the morning's lecture, has a most excellent tendency; and so effectually engraves the leading doctrines of the science on the tablet of memory as proves a powerful antidote to forgetfulness. The Philosophical and Chemical apparatus is good, the College library large, and well selected; and Hunter's Museum, (so called from the celebrated donor, Dr. Wiiliam Hunter, of London) is a great advantage and ornament to the University. Here I first began to discover, in what department of literature my mind was calculated to excel. Out of 170 students in the Logic class, of all ages and from several countries of Europe and America, I had only two that merited the name of rivals; and in Mathematies, I had none at all, and therefore obtained of my fellow-students, the cognomen of Euclid. In 1811, I went to the University of St. Andrews, partly with a view of variety, and partly encouraged by the prospect of being able to defray my expenses, by teaching in one of the schools in that city. During my residence there, I occupied a room in St. Leonard's College and attended the lectures of Professor Cooke, on Moral Philosophy, Dr. Briggs, on Chemistry, and a course of lectures on Civil History. Cooke was a great admirer of Puffendorf, and was generally so surnamed by the students. He labored, strenuously, to maintain the doctrine of free agency, which tended to excite, in my mind, suspicions of Calvinism. The dignity of the Latin chair was well sustained by Dr. John Hunter, who was in all things at St. Andrews, what Professor Young was at Glasgow. The Theological chair of St. Mary's College, was then truly dignified by the worthy Professor Hill, at that time, the best Orator and ablest Theologian in Scotland. The library at St. Andrews is the largest in that kingdom. The extensive Halls of the ancient Parliament House, are completely filled with books, and students are under no restrictions nor taxation in their admission. At this time, I joined the Philosophical Society of St. Andrews, and supported, in my first thesis, the materiality of the human soul, a doctrine then esteemed closely allied to Atheism, but had no effect on my character, being then considered one of the most pious students. In 1812, I returned to Ireland, and commenced as a classical teacher, in the Academy of Newton Limavady, a most delightful village on Lough Foyie, fifteen miles north of Derry. Here, seemingly, more by accident than otherwise, I became acquainted with the Methodists: and by reading the works of Whitby and Fletcher, I exchanged my Calvinistic side of the five points, for that of the Arminian. Not finding my situation so profitable as I expected, I removed to a private school, beautifully situated on the banks of the Foyle, eight miles south of Derry, where I spent a season, most agreeably, amongst an effectionate people. Shortly after I had opened my school, being ardently concerned for the spiritual welfare of the people, who seemed to me very indifferent about religion, I commenced to preach on the Sabbaths in the school room; which soon roused the attention of the neighborhood, and had a very happy tendency. Many of the people were manifestly blessed, and their christian privileges greatly improved. The Episcopal Clergyman of the parish came to hear in common with the people of his charge, and highly approved, which induced many of the neighbors to desire the erection of a Meeting House, in that place, for my use, which might serve as a chapel of ease. My unwillingness to locate in a country place, at so early a period of my life, prevented the execution of the design. Whether I was now become a wild enthusiast, or a very zealous Christian, afforded a topic of frequent discussion, and the votes were numerous on both sides of the question. One thing, somewhat extravagant and calculated to prove offensive to even many sober, well meaning Christians, I now strenuously advocated; that was, the practicability of miracles, in modern times. I held that provided we had the same proportion of faith, which the Apostles had, the same effects would follow. Nor do I yet perceive any formidable objection to this opinion. But the overaction of te passions in religion; like drunkenness or gluttony, is not only blamable but also pernicious. The ardor and frequency of religious exertions soon began to effect dreadful ravages in my constitution; and disorder and inability imperatively demanded relaxaation from an oppressive servitude. Alas, seemingly too late, I began to reflect on the advice of Solomon: "be not righteous over much, why shouldst thou destroy thyself?"* Beholding all the symptoms of consumption, attended with peculiar aggravation, I became apprehensive of a speedy dissolution. Reflecting on past endeavors to qualify myself for that sacred office, to which through the help of God I had now attained, I could not restrain my la *Eccl. 7. 16. mentations on account of its seemingly premature termination. My soul, in sacred fervor, sent forth strong ejaculations to the throne of the Eternal, and dared to assume the language of expostulation with the Almighty. "O cause of all causes, origin, and governor of all events, thou seest the state to which my body is reduced, by my well meant efforts to serve the kingdom of thy dear Son, but if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole: and should it please thee, that I may serve thee, in that office, to which I have waded through seas of affliction and difficulty, interpose on my behalf." Scarcely had I uttered these expostulations, when every unpleasant symptom disappeared with the rapidity of lightning! So perfectly was I restored, that to the astonishment of my friends, I resumed preaching the next Sabbath. a A few months after this event, a respectable female, at whose house I had frequently held meetings for prayer and exhortation, became sick, apparently unto death. Of her circumstances I had not been apprized, till her husband requested the prayers of my congregation on her behalf, accompanying this request with another, that I should visit her the next day, as she had resolved to submit to a surgical operation, which, it was feared, she could not survive. Accordingly, I attended. Several of her friends from distance, and two surgeons had arrived. I besought them to delay the operation till the next day, and preached that evening at her house. She heard with great attention, fearing that sermon should be the last she could ever attend. I selected as the subject of reflection, the words of Christ relative to Lazarus:* This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby." I was much inclined to make an entire application of the text, but my faith received several repulses. The danger of exposing myself to ridicule, with several other considerations, powerfully operated as restraints. Notwithstanding, I felt as if commissioned to announce good news to the broken hearted. I therefore, unhesitatingly declared, in my discourse, that the sickness of our friend would not be unto death, and that she would most surely recover! On the next morning, appearances were so favorable as to induce the surgeons to decline the operation, and excite confidence in her friends. Within two days the symptoms totally disappeared, and on the following Sabbath, she attended worship at the usual place, travelling one mile on foot. Mr. In the happiness which I then enjoyed, I could only be exceeded by the spirits of just men made perfect. Visiting from house to house, I prayed and exhorted the people to reformation. Cunningham, a Presbyterian Minister, residing in the neighbourhood, being a strenuous Calvinist, and fearing my proceedings might have an evil tendency on his flock, opposed my opinions. Having spent a whole evening in controversy with this man, who *John 11. 4. |