vital breath in this preparatory state, to the endlessness of his existence in eternity. Of this no rational man, who reflects a moment on the relation and influence of a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, can, we think, entertain a doubt.

In availing ourselves, in behalf of the cause of education, of the lights in the volume before us, it is not our design to enter at all into the merits of the controverted question respecting the proposed New-York University. The establishment of such an institution in this city, on the elevated and comprehensive plan which we had wished to see adopted, and especially if, by any mutually satisfactory arrangement, Columbia College might have constituted its literary and scientific branch,—we certainly looked forward to as a measure of great public promise. Later indications however, we confess, and feel bound to say, have not seemed to us to augur most favorably for the entire fulfilment of our early hopes. And if the selection of the administrative government, and one of the most important among its incipient acts of organization, be any guide in judgment, we can perceive, in these proceedings so far, but a very inadequate guarantee that this national' institution also is not likely to fall, in effect, under that same generic class of control which already wields the direction of so disproportionate a share of all the literary and scientific institutions in the land.

ORIGINAL LETTERS OF MR. ASBURY, (AFTERWARD BISHOP,) AND OF OTHERS RESPECTING HIM.

WE stated at the close of an article in our number for January last, that we were in possession of a considerable number of original letters of Bishop Asbury and others, which, in the hands of a judicious biographer, might be made to throw much interesting light on his personal history; and that we purposed, Providence permitting, to avail ourselves of some future occasion to give a further account of them.

The first of these letters is one from 'W. Orp,' dated 'Darlison, 23 May, 1766.' We presume the place intended is Darlaston, in Staffordshire, (England,) as we find from the British Minutes that W. Orpe [Orp he spells it himself] acted as assistant, that is as the assistant of Mr. Wesley, on the Staffordshire circuit, for that year. The assistant, in those days, occupied the same post on a circuit that the 'preacher in charge' now does among us, or the superintendent among our brethren in the British Connection. The preachers associated with him were called helpers, that is, helpers of the assistant, as the assistant was a helper of Mr. Wesley. The period of probation for admission into the Itinerant Connection, appears to have been, at that time, one year. W. Orp was admitted on trial' in 1765, and appointed to the Staf

fordshire circuit as a Helper. The next year he was 'admitted,' the single term then used for admission into the Connection, and reäppointed to the same circuit, as assistant. Among the questions proposed to all those admitted, that year, one was, 'Do you take no snuff? tobacco? drams? And to the question respecting ' endeavouring not to speak too loud or too long, was added, 'not lolling with your elbows.' The other questions respecting doctrines and experimental and practical piety, were much the same with those we still retain. All those to be admitted' were required to be present at the Conference, and to be examined one by one. We mention these particulars as specimens of the mode of proceeding in those days, in which young Asbury, under the eye and tuition of Mr. Wesley, took his first lessons in the Itinerant school.

We do not find that Mr. Asbury was himself admitted on trial till at the Conference in London, August 18, 1767, when he was appointed a helper, on Bedfordshire circuit, with James Glassbrook, assistant. The Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, in his Funeral Discourse on the death of Mr. Asbury, states, that in the year 1766, at the Conference in Leeds, he was approved and appointed to a circuit, as a travelling preacher. For this Mr. Cooper must have had some source of information not known to us, as it does not appear in the British Minutes for that year. Yet the letter before us contains indubitable evidence that so early as May, 1766, when he was not quite twenty-one years of age, and previously to the Conference of that year, which was held in August, he was at least engaged to supply circuit appointments. W. Orp, under date May 23, 1766, reminds him of his being firmly engaged to supply Hampton and Billbrook at the end of the week,' and kindly gives his 'Dear Frank' one of his first lessons, by a faithful reproof for having been inclined, as it would seem, to relinquish those appointments, in consequence of hearing that another preacher was come. In all probability it was a modest deference to the expected new preacher, that was the true actuating motive in young Frank's mind. Mr. Orp, nevertheless, taught him his lesson with a considerable spice of the wholesome discipline of those days, when the rod was rather less spared, and the children in consequence perhaps, less spoiled,-yet manifestly in love. The following is an

extract:

DEAR FRANK,-I take this opportunity of informing you, that I shall not be at those places, and shall expect you to see them supplied in due time. It is true another preacher is come; but he goes immediately into the low round; in the mean time I wish you would hearken to those verses of Hesiod:

"Let him attend his charge, and careful trace

The right-lin'd furrow, gaze no more around:
But have his mind employ'd upon the work."

Then I should hope to hear that your profiting would appear unto all men. You have lost enough already by gazing all around; for God's

sake do so no more. I wish I could see you on your return from Hampton on Sunday evening. I shall be at Wednesbury if it please God. I have a little concern to mention. I hope you'll call.

I remain yours affectionately,

W. ORP.'

At the Conference held in Bristol, in August 1768, Mr. Asbury was admitted' into the Itinerant Connection, and appointed, alone, and of course assistant, on the Colchester circuit. One of the letters before us is dated October 26, of that year. It is from himself, and addressed to his father, Mr. Joseph Asbury, at John Worley's, Esq., Hampstead Hall, near Birmingham, in Staffordshire. In this letter, one of the principal objects of which seems to have been to entreat his parents not to repine' at his absence, he informs them that he had been removed to the Wiltshire circuit, -that he was in health and strength,-very well contented,among a loving good natured people,-in want of nothing, except wisdom and grace for the work in which he was engaged, and in which he was resolved to continue. As to 'temporals,' he says, that is the least of my care. If my heart is upright, I shall not want [be destitute of] them I am sure.'

Francis Asbury, it should be remembered, was an only son, and, at the time of leaving his parents, their only surviving child. His mother, Elizabeth Asbury, 'one of the tenderest of parents,' had taught him from his childhood to fear God and keep his commandments; and in his early piety and filial affection and dutifulness, had enjoyed the fruit of her maternal care, the answer of her prayers, and the consummation of her hopes. She was herself poor, though pious, and with her husband, was dependent on their daily labour for subsistence. Young Frank was the desire of her eyes, and the joy of her heart; and she had doubtless looked forward with the fond anticipations of a mother, that his company and assistance would be a consolation and a support to his parents in their declining years. He had now, however, been taken from her; and although she could not but approve the heavenly work in which he was engaged, yet it presented no prospect whatever that it could ever enable him to afford her the smallest pecuniary assistance, (if, at that early period especially, he himself should be able to obtain food and raiment,) whilst it must inevitably deprive her almost wholly of the pleasure even of his company; and as it eventually did, wholly. A mother's feelings, in such circumstances, may be conceived,but only by a mother. It is evident from the letter before us that Mr. Asbury's mother had deeply touched his filial bosom with the tale of her griefs. He therefore addressed her personally, in the following feeling and pious manner.

'I hope, my dear Mother, you are more easy. Why will you mourn in such a manner? If you have given me to the Lord, let it be a free-will offering, and don't grieve for me. I have cause to be thankful that

such a poor, ignorant, foolish, unfaithful, unfruitful creature, should be called to the work, chosen of man, and I hope and trust, of God; though I have done enough to both to cast me off for ever. I wonder, sometimes, how any one will sit to hear me ; but the Lord covers my weakness with his power. I trust you will be easy, and more quiet. As for me, I know what I am called to. It is to give up all, and have my hands and heart in the work ;-yea, the nearest and dearest friends. And I am content, and will do it. Nay, it is done. Christ is all to me. Let others condemn me, as being without natural affection, as being stubborn, disobedient to parents, or say what they please. It does not alter the case; for it is a small matter with me to be judged of man. I love my parents and friends: but I love my God better, and his service, because it is perfect freedom; and he does not send me a warfare at my own cost. He gives me to prove as my day is, my strength is; and it is my meat and drink to do his will. And though I have given up all, I do not repent-for I have found all.'

These sentiments, uttered in the simplest and most touching manner, are as noble as they are tender. They are worthy of a son, and worthy of a true minister of Jesus Christ. He adds a passage respecting Mr. Pawson, then a young man, and who afterward attained a distinguished rank among the most eminent men in the Wesleyan Connection. I saw Mr. Pawson [he says] at Stroud. He seems to be a loving, agreeable young man, and sensible and understanding in the things of God. Give my love to him.' Mr. Pawson was then the assistant on the Staffordshire circuit, which embraced the place of Mr. Asbury's nativity, and the residence of his parents. The residue of this letter is mostly taken up with personal and very affectionate ministerial exhortations and counsels to several of his former acquaintances, in the vicinity of his parents, among whom he claimed some as the spiritual fruits of his early ministry.

The next letter in order is dated Towcester, November 6, 1769.' It is addressed to his mother, and evinces a similar concern as in the preceding, for her comfort, and especially for her spiritual good. This gracious effusion from the fulness of a filial heart can scarcely be read without edification, by any one in the least degree spiritually minded. It is as follows:

‘DEAR MOTHER,—I am sorry that you should be so troubled on my account, seeing I am in health, and in the Lord's work. I hope you will be more easy for the time to come. I am glad you are in peace. I wish it may be real and lasting, and flow like a river. It is good to seek the peace of the Church, for in it you shall have peace. Dear mother, be diligent to be found of the Lord in peace, without spot and blameless; to be holy, and full of love. All our work for eternity must be done while the lamp of life is in; therefore let us mind our own business, and get our own work done, that is absolutely necessary to be done, that we may with joy face the messenger death, and sweetly remove to the Zion above, the land of rest and pure delight.

Give my duty to my father, and my love to all friends. I do find much of the goodness of God to my soul, so that he leads me on my way by his power, and enlarges my heart in his work. Blessed for ever be his holy and dear name! You may send me a letter when you can, and let me know how you do. I have much work on my hands, and am put to it for time to do what I want. The bearer of this receive as myself. He is one that I esteem. Provide for him and his horse. See that you meet together often and in love, and labour to keep one another warm, to stir up one another from day to day, and to build each other up in the holy loving faith. Keep close to our people and preaching, and keep at a distance from those that hold the

tenets.

Stand fast in the truth as you have been taught, and be sure that love is of God. He that loveth, is born of God. Holiness is of God. He that is holy belongs to God. So much holiness and love, so much religion. From your son, in a measure dutiful, through grace,

F. ASBURY.' The next letter shows that his own soul was wading through deep waters; and that, though a son, he was, like his Master, learning obedience by the things which he suffered.

'Weedon, July 20, 1770.

DEAR PARENTS,-I send these few lines to let you know that I am well, and that I had your last, though I have put off writing through the hurry of business. At present I find myself a little at rcst to write to you, though in past life various have been the exercises of my afflicted mind, and still I cry out, Wo is me! for I am a man of unclean lips. A want of holiness bows me down before God and man. I .know that I am not what I ought to be, in thought, word, and deed. And O how hard to be borne is this, when well considered. Thou tellest another he should not speak evil. Dost thou? Thou that sayest another should have no unholy desires, hast thou such in thy heart? When I meet with fightings without and fears within, my heart trembles, my courage fails, my hands hang down, and I am ready to give up all for lost. I despair almost of holding out to the end, when I think of the difficulties I have to wade through. I can say with Job, I would not live alway. Or, O! that thou wouldst hide me in the grave! Or with Jonah, 'Tis better for me to die than to live. Oh! the peaceable dead are set free. The bliss that I covet, they have.

At this time I am in trying circumstances about the people and places; but sometimes I please myself that I shall go hence and leave these parts. But then I shall take my nature with me that starts at suffering, and the devil will be hard at my heels to tempt me; and if my trials are different, still they will and must come. I do not expect to stay here another year. Where I shall go I cannot tell. Most that know you ask after you, and give their love to you,-Miss Tyers, in particular, and her mother, and Mrs. SpenI read those lines to Betty Gent and her husband, and both of them seemed much affected. I have been most of my time in VOL. II.-April, 1831.

cer.

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