"Oh then," rejoined Mr. D. "I should not have asked you the question; however, after all, I don't see how any man of common sense can believe in it.”

However Mr. C. may have forfeited his claims to sanity by embracing such a creed, he had good sense enough remaining to join in a hearty laugh at this frank and well-meant disparagement of his favorite system.

But losing sight of any little peculiarity of manner, who that knew Mr. Dwight did not admire him for his independence of character? There was no disguise about him. His views were always open. Every one knew what to expect of him-every one felt that he could depend upon him. His Christian manliness and firmness are worthy of all imitation.

But though the sterner virtues of our nature were thus conspicuous in his character, Mr. Dwight was not deficient in its softer graces. Far from being morose, he was almost uniformly cheerful. He was naturally of a lively temperament, fond of social enjoyment, full of good humor, and therefore always an agreeable companion. His vivacity of manner, his native wit, his extensive information, his rich fund of anecdote, with the tone of refined moral sentiment which pervaded his conversation, made his society valuable and attractive to the young, in ministering to whose enjoyment he took particular delight. But it was in the society of his fellow-Christians, that he found his own highest pleasure, and contributed most

largely to the gratification of others. Being well versed in history, and a diligent student of prophecy, he would often discourse of the triumphs of the Redeemer's kingdom with clearness, eloquence and power. Any intelligence of the success of that kingdom would at once engage his attention, and elicit unequivocal expressions of joy.

In the various relations of social life he was uniformly faithful and kind. His unwearied assiduity in ministering to the comfort of his venerable mother; his minute attentions which enlivened the evening of her life so as to cause her to forget that the evening was almost spent; (now alas! how keenly felt!) these, in particular, showed to all who witnessed them, a truly noble heart.

A prominent trait in the character of Mr. Dwight was conscientiousness. He was strictly just in his dealings; a man of honor and veracity. Unbounded confidence could be reposed in his word. Even in the most trivial things, he manifested a scrupulous regard for the truth; and no one accustomed to deal with him, has ever been known to question his integrity. Of him it might have been said without qualification, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright!" Not "perfect" in the sense of entire freedom from sin, (for such is not the meaning of the word, nor was any thing farther from his pretensions,) but sincere in the consecration of himself to God, and in his endeavors to do his will; "upright" in all his in

tercourse with his fellows, faithful in every relation of life; the man who stooped to no unworthy ends, but walked erect and firm amid all the enticements and threatenings of an ungodly and gainsaying world.

Mr. Dwight was remarkable also, for the strength of his faith. His confidence in the divine government, and in the promises of the Scriptures, was unwavering. So strong was his faith in the Abrahamic covenant, that he never entertained a doubt that his children would be converted to God. He was eminently a man of prayer, for he had full faith in its efficacy. His faith too was practical. It led him to make appropriate efforts to secure the divine blessing. In him was seen a happy combination of a sense of dependence on God, with a sense of personal responsibility. Knowing that "faith without works is dead," he was ever active in deeds of holy love. Benevolence was one of his leading characteristics. He indeed questioned the utility of some enterprises which look to the Christian public for support; but he took a deep interest in whatever tended manifestly to promote the Redeemer's kingdom. He reserved to himself the right of judging of the relative importance of the various objects soliciting his aid, and of adjusting the measure of his contributions accordingly. Possibly the agents of certain charitable societies may have thought him illiberal, when he had more reason to regard them as censorious. About

fifteen years ago, he published an article containing some useful hints to those who are engaged in the onerous and thankless office of collecting funds for benevolent objects. A soliciting agent not unfrequently falls into the mistake of supposing, that the object which he presents is more important than any other, and consequently makes extravagant appeals in behalf of it. At the anniversary of some benevolent institution, Mr. Dwight had heard the question asked, What has become of the money which ought to have been put into the treasury of this particular charity? He replied to it in a tone of pleasantry, through the columns of a newspaper, as follows: "In the first place, the money of those who might, if they had thought proper, have contributed to this charity, had been expended in the support of the ordinances of the Gospel, in the respective societies with which they were connected, and this item of expense had not been small.

"In the second place, their money had been expended in trying to give their children a good education; which in these days costs for every child at least double what it did twenty years ago.

"In the third place, a considerable part of it had been given for establishing Sabbath Schools, and building up Colleges, in the valley of the Mississippi; for supporting teachers and missionaries abroad; especially for supporting agents at Smyrna to open schools to educate the children of the poor and op

pressed Greek population; for purchasing paper and printing Bibles to distribute among the destitute of our own country; for the education of young men in poverty, to prepare them to preach the Gospel; and for many other charitable purposes.

"In the fourth place, a portion has been expended to support our families, to pay our debts, and to increase our libraries; and to purchase furniture and clothing to give to some of the destitute ministers around us.

"If this reply is not sufficiently minute, it can be made more particular. I ask, Mr. Editor, are not these proper and praiseworthy appropriations of our property? If not, who is to take the privilege out of our hands, and decide for us?"

There is a just discrimination to be made between the various objects of Christian benevolence which are yearly brought before our churches; and it is not for pastors or for agents to determine in what ratio an individual should contribute to any one of them. It is their duty to unfold the object, and to lay down the general rules for giving, but they are not authorized to say what each man should contribute. I recollect a piece of pleasantry which passed between Mr. Dwight and myself one Monday morning, after I had preached a sermon in behalf of foreign missions, in which I had attempted to state, with some precision, what proportion of his property a Christian should give to this cause. It was during the "hard times," when the necessity of self-denial for the cause