abundant marks of the rough elements, but at last comes into port with a prosperous breeze and a swelling tide, as if joyfully conscious of the perils escaped and the rest secured; so did the subject of this memoir look back upon his course with mingled emotions, as he felt himself drawing near the moment of final deliverance.

The closing scenes of his life are delineated with graphic fidelity and minuteness, by one of congenial spirit, whose heart was knit to him like that of David to Jonathan. Mr. Taylor has done well in transferring the entire description, by the pen of Rev. J. E. Welch, to the pages of the Memoir; but we dare not trespass on the indulgence allowed us in the Review, to follow his example. Mr. Rice fell asleep in Jesus, Sept. 25th, 1836, in Edgefield District, S. C. A large, white marble slab, with a very full inscription, has been placed over his grave, by the Baptist Convention of South Carolina; and throughout the southern States, where he had spent the last ten years of his life, almost exclusively, his death was more generally and deeply mourned, than that of any other individual of the denomination, in this generation. His biographer has gathered up and preserved in this volume, a pretty full selection of the eulogistic memorials of the man, which his departure called forth, from the pulpit and the press. Under other circumstances, this might be regarded as, at least, useless; but, all things considered, it was, perhaps, in this instance, best.

The last four chapters of the memoir are devoted to certain miscellaneous addenda to the life of Rice, which, notwithstanding their want of systematic arrangement, may be read with profit and interest.

From the description of his personal appearance and his manner of preaching, we select the following:

"By nature he was endowed with many of the essential attributes of an effective speaker. His appearance was highly prepossessing. Above the ordinary height, with a robust and perfectly erect form, there was at once produced on the mind of the beholder a most favorable impression.* None could fail to entertain respect, for it was demanded by a peculiar dignity of appearance and manner. Especially was this true, when he arose in the pulpit. With a full face, and comparatively small eyes, there was sometimes rather a dull and heavy cast of countenance, which

We regret the necessity of quoting a sentence so bad in its construction. There is, grammatically, no subject to which the first two clauses can refer.

VOL. IV.-NO. XXIII.

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immediately changed when he became animated by speaking; his voice was clear and melodious. He had but little action, which, however, was appropriate and graceful. He was, at all times, when he addressed an assembly, remarkable for self-possession. Nothing seemed capable of discomposing his mind. Perhaps few speakers have been apparently less affected by external circumstances; whatever might be the character of the congregation, whether large or small, intelligent or ignorant, whether in the city or country, he was always distinguished for the same dignity of manner and readiness of utterance. . . . . The style of Mr. Rice's sermons was, in many respects, superior. A refined, critical taste could, perhaps, have discovered, at times, a redundancy of words and phrases; but this was no more than might have been expected from discourses which were always extemporaneous, especially when it is known that the multiplicity of other duties allowed but little time for preparation. . . . The moment he began to speak, attention was roused, and uniformly the interest thus awakened was kept up throughout the services. The clearness of his conceptions, the accuracy and force of his language, and the solemn dignity of his manner, all contributed to render him one of the most interesting public speakers of our land. Occasionally, his eloquence was almost overpowering, particularly when he advocated the more sublime doctrines of our holy religion. Indeed, in the discussion of such topics, he may be regarded as having been most felicitous. There seems to have been a coincidence between the operations of his own mind, and those truths which, in their very nature, are vast and grand. The terribleness of Jehovah's wrath, the severity of his justice, and the rectitude of all his decisions, were themes which gave ample scope to his vigorous intellect, and in the discussion of which, he was not only instructive, but exceedingly impressive." pp. 271-273.

Though we have in the preceding pages expressed our dissent from the justification attempted, of his remaining in this country, instead of giving himself, according to his repeated and solemn vows, to actual missionary labors, we find no fault with the estimate here placed on the intellectual or moral character of Mr. Rice. Nor do we at all dissent from the view here taken, of the extensive influence which he exerted on the denomination, as well as on the age in which he lived, and on the world. We cannot but regard him as raised up, qualified, and spe- . cially sent among us by a benevolent Providence, to bless us in many ways, and to furnish us lessons of wisdom, both in his excellences and in his errors. Certain we are, that these last stand out with a distinctness and prominence, as warnings, which are not likely to be altogether disregarded.

The missionary enterprise, which he was a prime instrument in promoting, has exerted a mighty and benign influence at home, as well as abroad. This seems

to have been clearly anticipated by its early and enlightened founders. The members of the original Convention in 1814, in the address which they sent forth to the churches, with the venerated names of FURMAN and BALDWIN, the President and Secretary, gave utterance to some views, which the experience of more than a quarter of a century has amply confirmed. They say, "The independence of the churches, we trust, will ever among us be steadfastly maintained; but, with this, the holy combinations [missionary societies] we wish for, as they are entirely voluntary, can never interfere. Is it not a fact, that our churches are ignorant of each other to a lamentable degree? We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism;' why should our ignorance of each other continue? Why prevent us from uniting in one common effort for the glory of the Son of God? At the present Convention, the sight of brethren who had never met each other before, and who, a few months ago, had never expected to meet on earth, afforded mutual and unutterable pleasure. It was as if the first interviews of heaven had been anticipated."

6

While these, with RICE, and almost all of that illustrious band, have gone up on high, and "the interviews of heaven," which, when "anticipated," were so sweet, have become to them a blessed reality, we remain to share the benefits, and emulate the spirit of their example. In 1814, there were known to exist, in the United States, less than 120 Baptist associations, containing about 2,000 churches, 1,500 ministers, and 160,000 communicants. In the 27 following years, they have just about quadrupled in numbers, and much more in efficiency and influence. No candid observer of this period of history can fail to see that the missionary spirit has been a principal element in the process which Heaven has employed and blessed, for securing this increment, and preparing the way, we trust, for filling the whole earth with the knowledge and glory of God.

ARTICLE II.

THE POWER OF THE PULPIT.

THIS is derived from various sources. In the first place, the great subjects which belong specially to the pulpit, the character of God, the work of redemption, the immortality of the soul, contribute essentially to the preacher's power. So also the great interests with which the pulpit is connected,-whatever there is affecting in the present condition and future prospects of mankind, whatever there is impressive in the wonders of the cross, whatever there is attractive in the glories of heaven, or appalling in the miseries of hell,-all come under the recognition of the pulpit, and invest it with peculiar power. Then again, the pulpit addresses itself to the strongest principles of our nature. It wields a sword which enters the heart, and pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. It is designed to grapple with the conscience, the divinely constituted sovereign of the inner man, and which is mighty even in its fallen state. It makes the most effective appeals to our hopes and to our fears, agitating the guilty with a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, and leading the righteous to survey as their ultimate dwelling-place a world of light and joy, from which every natural and moral evil is excluded, where scenes of glory meet the eye at every step, and where bright and boundless prospects are spread out before the immortal mind.

In addition to this, the pulpit derives efficiency from the special appointment of God. It is his chosen instrument for the conversion of the world. By preaching, he is pleased to save them that believe. Hence he who is appointed to this high station, and who fulfils his trust, is invested with an energy divine, an unction from the Holy One. He wields weapons that are of ethereal temper, bright from the armory of heaven, massive, round, and mighty through God. But, however great the power which the pulpit derives from the sources we have named, it should

still be remembered, that every station in life is affected more or less by the persons who occupy it. No man can depend on the adventitious circumstances of his situation. The office he fills will be essentially modified by his own character. The office of a Christian minister is not an exception to this rule. Moral obliquity will not be sanctified, nor mental imbecility elevated, by a high and sacred station. On the contrary, every man will sink his office to his own level.

The power of the pulpit depends, therefore, essentially upon the minister himself. If he wishes to come forth to the people in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, much, of course, will depend on his immediate preparations. If he enters the pulpit expecting a miraculous supply of thought and knowledge, he will be disappointed. He may smite the rock, but no refreshing waters will gush forth. Much depends on the freshness and vigor with which he enters the pulpit. Too often the labors of the previous day and a sleepless Saturday night entirely unfit the minister for the exercises of the Sabbath. His energies are exhausted, his mind is jaded, and then every thing drags heavily. His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Much depends on the interest he feels in his profession. There is in this respect a wide difference among ministers. With many of our most able men there is an evident want of interest in the exercises of the pulpit. Their time, and learning, and intellectual powers are appropriated to other purposes; and comparatively little attention is given to the preparation of a sermon. Preaching is regarded not as a prominent and vital part of their profession, but too often as an unwelcome and cumbrous appendage. Hence, as might be expected, they are inefficient in the pulpit. "The moment," said an eminent divine, "we permit ourselves. to think lightly of the Christian ministry, our right arm is withered. For no man ever excelled in a profession to which he did not feel an attachment bordering on enthusiasm, though what in other professions is enthusiasm, is in ours the dictate of sobriety and truth."

The power of the pulpit is affected by the minister's general deportment in society. He is in danger of lowering his office by an undue regard to popular favor, bowing and cringing, to secure friends, like the artful politician.