Street. Of the church, which was afterwards organized in that house, he was one of the first members and first officers, and in all that concerned the welfare of the establishment he took a deep interest.

It has already been stated in a former article that the regular worshippers in that house have never yet been numerous. It may be farther stated that on two particular occasions, and each of those a period of several months, twenty or thirty persons were considered as a large audience. With that handful Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, with as many of his family as could be brought out, was on both these occasions found regularly to worship, and he and others who are now in glory can attest, that the Master of Assemblies himself was not often absent on these otherwise gloomy days.

It was his habit to attend as frequently as possible on the ecclesiastical courts of the church to which he was attached. It is related that on one of those occasions, while attending a meeting of the West Lexington Presbytery, application was made by a pious and promising young man, of the same town originally with himself, for licensure by the Presbytery. There were some difficulties in the case, and the youth was in danger of being crushed by an effort from a sister court, by being denied the privilege of preaching the gospel of Christ. Mr. Breckinridge was immediately roused to a concern and an effort for the sufferer, and made a powerful appeal to the court then in session, which had a great share of influence in bringing the candidate triumphantly forward into the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Shortly afterwards a warm-hearted member of the Presbytery, who had withdrawn after Mr. B's speech, was met out of doors by another member weeping very profusely, and on being asked the reason, said, "Brother, I have just been praying to God to convert more lawyers."

As a writer, he was almost unrivalled in the western country. His professional employments of course prevented him from presenting to the public eye any pro duction more extensive than an oration or short essay. But from his correspondence with his friends, from his style of pleading, and especially from the pages of those anniversary orations which were from time to time given to the community, it is believed that we have. never boasted a more refined, bold, and classical writer. And we have all felt what power was thrown into his written thoughts by his commanding and chaste, but ardent elocution.

The circumstances of his death were interesting. The increasing sickness of Frankfort and its vicinity, during the autumn of 1323, induced him to remove his little flock of children to Cabell's Dale, the family residence of his mother. Mrs. Breckinridge had been induced to remain behind on account of the indisposition of some members of the family, and of a sick relative from a distance, whom the providence of God had thrown upon their care. "They were not forgetful to entertain strangers," and "use hospitality," especially "to the sick." As soon as his children were conveyed to a place of safety, he returned without delay to aid in administering to the necessities of his afflicted house

hold. It was in sustaining the sinking stranger far from home-it was in nursing what he feared were the last remains of parting life, that he met the disease which terminated his existence.

The stranger was restored to health again;-but on the 24th of August, 1823, he was severely attacked by the prevalent fever of the season and place. It seemed in the course of the week ensuing to yield to the application of medicine, and at the close of the week very sanguine hopes were cherished of a rapid recovery. On Sabbath; the 31st, his disease seemed to undergo a'sudden and most unlooked for change, and brought him rapidly to the grave. September 1st, at a very early hour in the morning, while his attendants thought him resting, he lay upon his side, and softly fell "asleep in Jesus," without a groan,

"How many fall às sudden, not as safe!"

During his last illness he was usually silent and contemplative. He expressed a calm submission to the will of his heavenly Father, and a confiding christian trust in his divine Redeemer. He repeatedly had dif ferent passages of the sacred volume read to him:Christ's sermon on the mount, and especially Matthew's 11th chapter, ending, "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest," &c. &c. were favourite passages with him.

It would be inconsistent with the objects of the work to which this sketch is intended to be affixed, to enter in to a detailed account of his person, manners, natural disposition, and future prospects had he lived. But does he not yet live? 'Yes; we believe he is now at the four

tain of life; and while his name is enrolled in heaven, we care not to record his praises on the fading pages of this world's history.

"We mourn him, but we praise him not,
To God the praise be given."

CONCLUSION.

Almost every circumstance connected with the above narrative is fraught with instruction. He was cut off suddenly-in the vigour of life-in the midst of most important domestic and public business. What an admonition to be ready! At such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

He was ready. Though cut off suddenly, he was not cut down unprepared. The whole business of life is to prepare for death. Through the mercy of God he had attended to that great business, and he came to his grave as a shock of corn cometh in its season. The gospel of God's Son is that which casts a glory and a cheerfulness about death and the grave, whatever may be the number or the nature of the melancholy circumstances attending the departure of a saint. Joseph Cabell Breckinridge's end on earth would have been a gloomy end indeed had we not good ground to say with respect to him and his, "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, unto them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children."

We are encouraged from this case to be faithful and diligent in preaching the gospel, as we have an opportunity, though we may not know at the time that we are the means of doing any good. Alexander, and Smith,

and M'Chord, at very distant places, and at very distant intervals of time, were the instruments used in beginning and perfecting the good work in our departed friend. And they had no intercourse or connection with one another in the matter. Their common Lord and Master directed the whole.

The religion of our Lord Jesus in its purity and simplicity does not unfit men for the business of this world. Our departed friend was not a less agreeable companion, was not a less successful lawyer, was not in the least disqualified as a statesman, by his living in the fear of God, and by his attending to devotional exercises in his closet and family, and in the public assemblies of the saints. May the Lord God of Israel, with whom is the residue of the Spirit, raise up many such companions, and lawyers and statesmen, in Kentucky. And who is there who reads this who will not say, Amen?

The responsibility of the instructors of youth of every kind is great. Not only the future character for this life, but the eternal destiny of every pupil depends to a great extent on the religious principles of his teacher. Our friend had his early religious impressions nearly effaced, and even became half a disciple of infidelity, by being removed from one school and put into another of a different character.

Fathers and mothers of Kentucky, can you calmly and deliberately give up your children to the breath of the destroyer-?