;

Archibald Alexander was staying at my house, and never shall I forget his manner as, laying off his coat, he entered the parlor, exclaiming, 'This is wonderful; I have long esteemed Mr. Frelinghuysen, and considered him a most excellent man, but never till this afternoon was I aware of his power. I have been reminded of some of the very best efforts of Patrick Henry.' The good old man then went on to give us some delightful reminiscences of that prodigy of ready eloquence as witnessed by himself.

"But I must not go farther. The mention of the name of Theodore Frelinghuysen touched a chord in my heart which must vibrate so long as it is in me to revere unsullied purity of character, venerate exalted station, and love mild and childlike Christian piety. Heaven seems to me more attractive for the hope that I shall meet the beloved man there.”

CHAPTER VIII.

ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF HIS PIETY.

Early Impressions.-Conversion at Newark.-Influence of his Brother's Death.-Eminence of his Piety.-Its Elements: 1. Simplicity of Faith; 2. Humility; 3. Devotional Habits; 4. Geniality; 5. Tendernesss of Conscience; 6. Completeness; 7. The Fruit of Culture. -Letter from Dr. Woodbridge.

MR. FRELINGHUYSEN was born within the pale of the Christian Church, and in infancy received the baptismal seal of his birthright. He was carefully trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and while yet young manifested the same tenderness of conscience which characterized all his mature years. His deepest religious impressions were traced by himself to the influence of his pious grandmother, the Jufvrouw Hardenbergh, who took particular pains to lead him to the Savior. Deservedly eminent for her piety, she was far from being austere, but, on the contrary, gracious and winning. Her heart was set on seeing the ministry recruited from her own family, and, though disappointed in this respect in the career of her oldest son, she renewed her desire in the case of his children. Theodore, in his advanced years, gratefully acknowledged his indebtedness to her pious counsels, which, although they did not attain their end at once, yet sank deep into his memory and heart, and laid the foundation for the solid and symmetrical Christian character which he afterward exhibited.

There is no reason to suppose that his religious views and sensibilities suffered any deterioration while at school in Basking Ridge. Dr. Finley was remarkable for the attention which he paid to the spiritual culture of his pupils. The Rev. Dr. Studdiford, of Lambertville, N. J., speaks very warmly of his holy earnestness in this work, and of his success in bringing truth forcibly home to the minds of youth. And Mr. Frelinghuysen's younger brother, Frederick, who was also one of Dr. Finley's scholars, bore witness on his dying bed to the fidelity of "that good man, through whose instrumentality "the Lord began to be gracious to his soul, and to sow the good seed in his young and tender heart." Still, no such change appears to have been wrought as yet upon the mind of Theodore. He was correct, moral, conscientious, and studiously observant of the outward duties of religion, but nothing more; nor did he reach the final decision until he came to reside in Newark.

Here he became interested in the founding of the Second Presbyterian Church, and was elected a member of its first Board of Trustees in January, 1811. He was received into the full communion of the Church in September, 1817, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Griffin, of whose ministrations he was always accustomed to speak in terms of the highest respect and gratitude. Not many months before his death, when writing to the Rev. Dr. Few Smith, in acknowledgment of his discourse on the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Church, he used this expression in reference to his coming to Christ: "I feel a strong interest in that dear sanctuary where my own hopes.

of salvation first trembled into experience." This "sweet and characteristic" expression well describes the prevailing type of his religious experience. The law-work, as the old-fashioned divines express it, was wrought upon his soul with great power. He had a deep sense of the evil of sin, of the justice of God, of the deceitfulness of the heart, of the perils of temptation; and he habitually trembled under the fear of offending his gracious Savior.

A few years after his connection with the Second Church, his seriousness and spirituality were greatly increased by the dealings of the Lord with his brother Frederick, who, after five weeks of illness, was removed by death in November, 1820. This brother had been, while yet young, brought very nigh to the kingdom, but afterward strayed into forbidden paths, so much so as to be even infected with deistical sentiments. He was, however, graciously restored, and, but a few months before his death, delivered an eloquent address before the Somerset County Bible Society. At the last communion season of the Church in Millstone, N. J., which he attended, he was greatly inclined to join himself to the number of God's professed people, but, through fear of unfitness, and dread of subsequently becoming a reproach to the cause, determined to postpone the matter. When overtaken by disease he saw his error, confessed his sin, and sought earnestly, as a new sacramental season was approaching, to be examined and received by the officers of the Church. His request was granted, and in his sickroom he made a noble confession of Christ. Henceforward he spent his whole time in prayer and praise,

in sweet expressions of submission to the Divine will, in earnest entreaties to his impenitent friends and neighbors to seek the salvation of their souls, and in pious communion with the Christian friends around his bedside. The printed narrative of his exercises states that on one occasion, "his second brother [Theodore] went to him and said, 'Frederick, the Savior must appear very precious to you now.' He raised his hands, his countenance beaming with inexpressible joy and serenity, and said, 'Oh, Theodore, Theodore, I have not language to describe it. The enjoyment of this hour is greater than that of my whole life.'" At other times, when urged to desist from speaking, and seek, if possible, to get some sleep, he answered, "Why? I am much happier than if I were asleep, and what I say may do good hereafter."

The whole scene is described by those who witnessed it, some of whom, after the lapse of forty years, still retain a vivid recollection of it, as most affecting. The impression it made upon Theodore was decided and indelible. It was so pervading as to render him, in the judgment of his friends, almost another man. He seemed to ascend at once to a higher plane of the Christian life, to make a new and entire consecration of himself to the Savior, and to walk henceforth as in the continual presence of things unseen and eternal.

Nor was this a short-lived impulse. It ended only with his life. There have been few believers in any age whose course and character have been marked by so little that is fitful and evanescent. His course was literally like the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. There was no obvious