loved Boardman has explicitly stated his desire that no effort might be made to extol his son, but to magnify the grace of God in him.

These remarks are made with a view to present the reasons for giving the following extract from Mr. Boardman's private journal, and a few others of a similar character in subsequent pages.

"Oct. 28. All the fiery darts of the adversary seem aimed directly at me. Pride, abominable pride, most of all, torments me. I am proud even of my faults. Envy, too, prevails, to an alarming extent in my heart. I was displeased to-day, and felt wickedly, because one of my Christian brethren appeared more spiritual than myself. We were conversing with an aged Christian friend on the subject of religion, and this brother answered the questions which were proposed better than I could; he also asked better questions than I could, and discovered more grace than I. O wretched man that I am! I fear I shall never be of any service in the world. At present, I am a tax on Christ and on his people, if the expression be admissible. If ever a Christian had reason to complain, I more. A child of God, and at the same time serving self and sin; a proud wretch, and yet a pensioner on the divine bounty; a sinner, a pharisee, a worm, a nothing, and still hoping for eternal life. O Lord, save me, for I sink in deep waters, where there is no standing. Help, Lord, or I perish."

CHAPTER III.

Waterville College-Mr. Boardman enters it-His progress in study -Graduates, and is appointed tutor.

THE friends of the Waterville seminary, both in Maine and Massachusetts, impressed with the importance of giv. ing to their beneficiaries, most of whom were then at Wa terville, a more classical education, deemed it expedient to raise the character of the institution to that of a college, The State of Maine, comprising nearly as much territory as the whole of the other New England States, commanding an extensive range of sea-coast, and a soil of much pro. ductiveness, and rapidly increasing in population, was considered as an inviting field for the establishment of such an institution. The local situation of Waterville was such as to favor the plan, lying far in the interior of the State, and containing a flourishing village at the head of boat-navigation, on the waters of the Kennebec. The resources of the State were considered as amply adequate to the endowment of another college; and the number of her youth as sufficient to fill it with scholars of a promising character. It was confidently believed, that the contemplated change in the character of the institution, so far from proving detrimental to the truly able seminary at Brunswick, would actually add to the interests of both; and thus increase the amount of intellectual culture in the State. Thus far, the experiment has proved the correctness of the theory. Most of all, the situation of the churches in Maine, many of them in their infancy, located in flourishing villages, and destitute of pastors, seemed imperiously to demand the immediate adoption of the measure. It was also hoped, that an institution of the kind, established in that region of country, might eventually send forth men, whose religious influence should be felt on other continents.* A petition was accord

*The hope was not in vain. The voice of one of her first and ablest sons, has been heard in distant India, gladdening the dwellers amid the mountains of Tavoy; and that of another, Mr. C. Holton, one of her most meek and godly pupils, among the "sable sons of Africa,"

ingly presented to the legislature of the State, in the early, part of 1820, and a charter was granted, giving to the institution the title of Waterville college. Mr. Boardman and a particular associate in study, composed the first class. Such had been the proficiency which he had made in his studies, that, at an examination by the Faculty, he was found qualified to enter two years in advance.

Usefulness now became his ruling passion, and as his studies were pursued with this object steadily in view, he applied himself with an assiduity, which left little time for miscellaneous reading and correspondence. Yet, in the ardor of these pursuits, he did not neglect the cultivation of personal piety. Aware that his future usefulness depended mainly upon this, he eagerly embraced every favorable opportunity to accomplish so desirable an object. Though young both in years and in Christian experience, he had become extensively acquainted with the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of his own heart, and felt deeply the need of close self-examination, watchfulness and prayer. How much his rapid growth in grace and in the knowledge of Christ is to be attributed, under God, to the circumstances in which he was placed, is not for us to determine. Those circumstances, however, were peculiarly favorable. He was the first that had experienced religion at Waterville. With the religious students, he had been, as we have seen, the subject of many prayers and tender expostulations. His hopeful conversion, therefore, sent a thrill of joy through every bosom. They hailed this new accession to their number and their strength, with ardent gratitude to God; and were ever ready to impart that instruction, which greater length of experience had enabled them to treasure up. The ministry, too, under which he at that time set, was of the most able and instructive character: a ministry, which, by the grace of God, was full of divine unction. The truths to which he was accustomed to listen, seemed to fall from lips touched as with a coal from the altar of God, and were like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Under such circumstances, encompassed by such associates, and breathing such an atmosphere as everywhere encircled him, it might be expected that his improvements would be in proportion to his advantages.

The following extracts from his correspondence, will

give a general view of his religious and other feelings, at the time of entering college :

"My dear Sister,

"Waterville College, July 20, 1821.

"Your favor of last January was gratefully received. It is my intention to visit you at Cumberland, soon after the close of the term in August. I have also contemplated visiting other places in that vicinity at the same time. But while I lay plans for the future, let me well remember that all things here are fluctuating and uncertain.

may find me in eternity.

Next fall

"Reflections on this subject are often profitable. The decay of things earthly, though a gloomy consideration, is a source of great consolation to the true Christian. Were those who are practically waiting to receive a crown of glory, to indulge the thought of continuing here forever, how would it damp their joys. Yes, dear sister, if I thought this sinful world was to be my everlasting home, I should be in despair. My affections, however, are too much set on earthly things, My soul lies cleaving to the dust.' All my trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ; to him I look for pardon and salvation. Indeed, it is joyful to know that salvation is of grace. Were any part of it left to me, I should utterly fail of the crown of life.

If

"Permit me to inquire respecting your own state. you do not enjoy all those manifestations of the divine presence which you may desire, allow me to caution you against rash conclusions. A decision respecting our characters as Christians, is of the utmost importance. We ought, therefore, to take an impartial survey of our situation. We may determine too hastily. If you do not enjoy religion, as you once thought you should, you ought not to yield immediately to despair. We must not think, when visited by fiery trials, that some strange thing has befallen us. But while we guard against despair, we ought to be still more guarded against presumption. This has ruined thousands."

Some of the earliest records of his religious exercises, indicate a prevailing tendency of his mind to the Christian ministry. He was early led to inquire, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do," and to pray that he might have grace

to discover, and pursue the path of duty. He appeared to feel habitually, and to a very high degree, the preciousness of souls, and the importance of their conversion to God. The result was, that a growing, and finally settled, conviction, that it was his duty to devote himself exclusively to the work of the ministry, took possession of his mind. While in his last year in college, he made the following entry of his feelings in his private journal:

"I shall soon be twenty-one years of age. A wide world lies before me; a world of various pursuits and employments; a world of sin and of sinful beings. It becomes me seriously to inquire, what God would have me to do. I have some fondness for science and literature; a greater fondness for theology. My constitution is pretty good, my heart exceedingly prone to evil, my talents for speaking small, but my mind is swallowed up in the cause of Christ. My inclinations to engage in the gospel ministry, are very strong; my sense of my insufficiency, very deep; my impressions of duty, increasing; the calls for laborers in the Lord's vineyard, very loud and frequent. The churches at home are destitute of pastors, and souls are perishing by thousands in heathen lands, without the knowledge of the Saviour. O my God, what shall I do? where shall I go? I am willing, so far as I know myself, to devote my all to the service of my God. O Lord, direct me. Send me where thou wilt. I am thine. Only let me glorify thee in all things, whether by life or by death."

Nearly at the same time his mind was directed to the subject of missions, with an absorbing interest. His feelings in relation to the state of the heathen, were not, as is too often the case with young Christians, slight and ephemeral; they were deep and abiding, and continued to increase, till they carried him away from kindred and country, to toil, and suffer, and die in a pagan land.

The following letter to his father, contains the first distinct enunciation of his feelings on this subject :

"My dear Father,

"Waterville College, Oct. 13, 1821.

"I readily embrace the opportunity presented, for writing and sending to you. Since leaving New Sharon, I have been busily employed in study, and, as I feared, have found