friend, the Rev. Dr. Brantly of Philadelphia, which displayed not less the fervour of his Christian affection, than his deep solicitude for the success of his agency. It was penned with unusual neatness and accuracy, on the day preceding his fatal attack, but was not forwarded till its loved author had been numbered among the tenants of the tomb."

In the death of Elder Clopton the cause of learning in general, and the Columbian college in particular, sustained a severe loss. Had his life been spared, he would, in all probability, have accomplished, speedily, the object on which his heart was much set, and to which he had devoted his energies,-the entire deliverance of the college from debt. But the Lord was pleased to remove him, suddenly, from the most important labours, and the most flattering prospects of success, to teach us, among other salutary lessons, that our sufficiency is of God."

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The labour of executing the plans of the lamented agent for rescuing the sinking college devolved on the earliest, the most devoted, the most disinterested, and the most efficient of all its patrons, the Rev. Luther Rice. It

was devoutly wished by many that he might live to behold and enjoy the object for which, with deep and painful solicitude, he diligently toiled through many years,-the Columbian College, placed on a permanent basis, richly endowed, a central point of literary and scientific influence to the Baptist denomination in the United States, and a fountain of religious influence, sending forth streams to refresh and fertilize, not only our own beloved country, but the distant, barren, and solitary wilderness. But God appointed otherwise.

It deserves a passing notice, and will receive from some the tribute of a tear, that Semple, Clopton, and Rice all fell in their efforts to sustain the sinking college. Honoured triumvirate! They "were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided."

The following extract from the minutes of the Board of Trustees will close this chapter. It needs no comment.

"April 10th, 1833.

"The secretary read a letter from Mr. Archer B. Davidson, announcing the death of Rev. A. W. Clopton; whereupon,

"Unanimously resolved, That this Board deeply laments the loss which this College has sustained in the death of ABNER W. CLOPTON, late general agent of the Board. They regard it as an afflicting dispensation of Divine Providence, which has removed from a wide sphere of usefulness an eminently good man and minister of the gospel, and an ardent, efficient, and disinterested friend of the Columbian College."

CHAPTER IX.

Elder Clopton ripening for heaven-Interesting letter→→ Attacked with disease-Letter to his father-DeathInterment--Resolutions passed by a convention of his churches-Funeral-Resolution of the Georgia Baptist convention-Epitaph-Personal appearance.

THE time of Mr. Clopton's departure was at hand. He had fought a good fight, he had finished his course, he had kept the faith. He loved the appearing of the Lord, and was ready to receive, at the hand of the righteous Judge, the crown of righteousness. He had been, for some time, evidently ripening for heaven. Already he seemed as the inhabitant of another world. His deadness to the world, his profound humility, his meekness, his charity, his tender concern for the salvation of sinners, were most conspicuous. In a letter to the author, penned not long before his death, he expressed his exercises with an unrestrained freedom, inspired by Christian friendship.

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"My mind has been turned, of late, to a

serious review both of my life and my ministry. In this review I have sometimes been on the verge of despair. Two inquiries have borne on my anxious mind by day and by night:-1. Can it be possible, that all this time I have been a child of God, and a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ? 2. If I have been all this time deceiving myself, and, of course, others with a false profession, can there be mercy in the bowels of a holy God for such a sinner? In these exercises, I can truly say, that I think I have seen more of the terrible majesty of God, and more of the infinite evil of sin, than I had ever discovered before. O, I trust I have felt deeply the force of these words, None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good.' Never has my heart been so fixed against sin. But still I find there is a proneness to sin. easy besetting sin has been made as bitter as death. But even now, after months of conflict, during which time I have passed some sleepless nights, I am not able to say, without doubt, that I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, so as to know that my sins are forgiven. But I humbly trust that my

But my