senior bishop of Pennsylvania, and was reared as a member of the congregation at that time in his especial charge. Had the wishes of his father been gratified, he would have been educated for his own profession; but the death of Dr. Duffield, when his son was only fifteen years old, defeated those wishes. He was permitted to choose his own calling, and became a sailor. From that time until the year 1811, he continued in what was then his favourite employment; and had passed from the subordinate place, which at first he very properly occupied, to the command, and had made several voyages to India, to Europe, and to South America. He was a skilful navigator, and had acquired the confidence of all who were interested in his commercial enterprises. He was twice happily married. His first marriage took place in 1811, from which time until his death, he continued to reside in Worcester county, Maryland: he was married a second time in 1821. Seven children survived him-three by his first, and four by his second marriage. With the skill and reputation of a sailor, Mr. Duffield had, alas! acquired the vices too common to his profession. I know not that he was skeptical or intemperate; but it is nevertheless true, that he was a blasphemer-" that he walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and stood in the way of sinners, and sat in the seat of the scornful." Such was his character at the time of his first marriage, and such it continued to be until the spring of 1812. However much you may be surprised at the declaration, it gives me pleasure to charge the cha

racter of my friend with the sins of which he was guilty; and to enumerate his spiritual diseases in all their loathsomeness; for where sin abounded, grace did afterwards much more abound, and over his besetting sins he came off more than a conqueror, through him that loved him. There is nothing in the moral world comparable in beauty or grandeur with the church of Jesus Christ; and in the life of an individual there is no period so interesting to christian feelings as that which translates him from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Should this part of this memoir be improperly minute, may I not hope that you will pardon me?

I have already said that Mr. Duffield was married in 1811 his wife was the pious daughter of a pious mother, and a member of the Presbyterian church at Snowhill, in full standing.* In the spring of 1812, to gratify her wishes, and perhaps accomplish some vain purpose of his own, he accompanied her to Snowhill from their residence in the country a few miles distant, on the morning of Saturday; there were services in the Presbyterian church on that day, preparatory to the administration of the Lord's supper on the next. They visited the house of a friend who was a member of the church; and the subject of this memoir carried with him all his love of sin, and entire carelessness to the interests of his

* I knew her long and loved her much. One of the last sentences which she addressed to mortal ears, was in substance : Oh! he [Christ] is inexpressibly precious to my soul.

But while the Rev. Stuart

soul, or the wrath of God. He would not attend upon the religious services of that day. The gentleman whom he visited, on his return from church, found him preparing for some idle recreation, and to his friend's inquiry, "why he had not gone to church?" he replied in some of those "grievous words" which generally "stir up strife." Such a man was John P. Duffield, on the morning of the next day, when he took his seat in the sanctuary of God, and so careless, hard-hearted, and altogether in love with sin, he continued throughout the prefatory services and the sermon. Williamson, at that time pastor of the church, was addressing a company of christians, seated at the table of the Lord, and celebrating his death, the barbed arrows of the Almighty reached his conscience; and he wished, (I quote substantially, if not precisely his words to me,) to be under the pave. ment of the church, or in any other place which would conceal him. From that time, he ceased to be at "ease in Zion;" he read, he prayed, he meditated; but ashamed of the cause of his distress, he communicated his state of mind to no one, not even to his pious wife. But that he had "tasted the powers of the world to come," was soon discovered; and the manner of the discovery affected his feelings powerfully the very last time I heard him allude to it, although eighteen years had elapsed since the Occurrence. He had retired to his chamber to ask relief from him that "giveth liberally to all men and upbraideth not;" but contrary to his custom on those

occasions, neglected to lock his door; and whilst on his knees, engaged in importunate prayer, Mrs. Duffield entered the room, saw him, and comprehended the whole matter, threw herself upon his neck, and bathed it with tears of joy. He no longer attempted to conceal his convictions of sin, but continued to seek deliverance from condemnation on account of it, until he found that Saviour of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write. In the autumn of the same year, he was admitted to full standing in the church in which he first trembled under the terrors of God's violated law; and in the succeeding year he was elected ruling elder by the congregation, and solemnly set apart for that office according to the form of government of the Presbyterian church. It cannot be improper to remark in this place, that after having investigated the subject, he considered the government of that branch of the christian church to which he attached himself, as not only expedient, but most conformable to seriptural warrant that he cordially received her doctrines, and greatly admired the simplicity of her worship.

Mr. Duffield had great energy of characterwhatsoever his hands found to do, he did it with his might. He counted the cost of following Christ, before he assumed his cross; and he not only attempted the crucifixion of every lust, but as soon as he had obtained a good hope through grace, he endeavoured to walk in all God's statutes and ordinances blameless.

Convinced that family worship is a duty in every christian household, he instituted it very soon after he became a follower of Christ. In a confidential conversation upon the subject, he said that when he commenced family worship, he used a form of prayer. Because of his fluency, especially in prayer, the reason was inquired for; he replied, "I was afraid to trust my own feelings in so solemn a service, and even with a book before me I had considerable trouble, for tears almost blinded me." He did not suppose that this remark would be repeated or even remembered, but what christian can read it without desiring feelings like those which almost blinded him with tears? On all proper occasions, he did not hesitate to avow, that he was on the Lord's side, or to rebuke sin, or to exhort sinners to repentance. In his piety, however, there was nothing obtrusive or ostentatious. His whole deportment exhibited the power of faith, the effect of the religion of the heart upon the life; but except in religious exercises, taking sweet counsel with christian friends, or discharging duties which weighed upon his conscience, his religion did not discover itself in words. In all his domestic relations, he was most exemplary. As a master, a father, a husband, he was indulgent, affectionate, tender; but in all matters of duty, as the government of his family was regarded, he was uncompromising. I know not how often he has reminded me of the resolution of good old Joshua. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This sketch cannot show his moral influence upon