king. He had a power of graphic delineation, which could entrance those around him at pleasure. If the images of his imagination were not the most picturesque, they were always well defined and vivid; for they were seldom second-hand, but genuine, bright coin, fresh from his own mint. His memory, especially in regard to facts, was tenacious and exact. But the most prominent of his intellectual powers was a sterling judgment. All his faculties of mind seemed to owe not a little of their strength, and their facility of operation, to the sublimity of his moral and religious feelings. Probably, it would not be wide of the truth to say; he was a great, because a good man.

He ever seemed to feel and act as under the eye of his divine Master,- --as one that loved his Lord and the service assigned him,-as one who sought the advancement of Christ's kingdom under a constant and thrilling sense of the final account to be given of his stewardship. His sense also of the worth of souls, and his strong and unquenchable love for his own people, appeared in his unwearied efforts for their salvation. He is believed to have spent more time than most of his clerical brethren in making preparation for the pulpit. He seemed to be shocked with the idea of bringing to the house of God that which had cost him nothing. His study was emphatically his home. Yet his character was pre-eminently pastoral. He found much time to be abroad in his parish, with the sick and dying,-visiting from house to house, and attending funerals, conferences and prayer-meetings. Very few have had an equal talent, by familiar intercourse,

to fix attention, awaken interest and lodge valuable truth in the minds of all classes. A still smaller number have been alike faithful in that part of a clergyman's duty, termed parochial. If he did not adopt the resolution of one devoted servant of Christ" to let no person go away from his presence without an effort to do him good ;", it is believed that few ever went from him without having received some salutary influence. A philanthropist of the true Christian stamp, "He watched, he wept, he felt, he prayed for all."

In the various relations of private life, he was what we might expect in a man of such high aim and general consistency of character. He never seemed to forget in moments of relaxation, that he was an ambassador of Jesus Christ. His general deportment among his fellow men, while it commanded a respect bordering on veneration, secured a high degree of confidence and love. His life, as the reader has seen, was not distinguished by remarkable incidents. Like the gentle and uniform stream-emblem of his own unruffled soul-it passed along, year after year with little variation; till, at length he found himself rapidly sinking under the pressure of age and infirmities. He now cast his eye forward two or three years, to the age of seventy, as the termination of his active labor in the ministry, should God continue his life to that period. His design was to ask, then, for a colleague in the work he loved. But the next chapter will inform us, that God released him from his charge, as by special favor for uncommon diligence, a little before the close of the natural day of human life.

CHAPTER XX

Severe illness of Mrs. Hallock.-Letter to a nephew.-New-year reflections.-Letter to friends.-His increasing infirmities.-Sore trial in the alarming sickness of his wife.-His last labors.-Renewal of his will.-Death.-Funeral.-Address left with his will.-Death of Mrs. Hallock.

In the spring of 1825, a scene of deep affliction commenced in Mr. Hallock's family, which was probably a means of hastening his dissolution. The wife of his youth, who had so well shared with him the joys and sorrows of life; to whom his affection had for many years been increasing in strength and tenderness; and on whom, next to his Savior, he had leaned as the staff of his age; was smitten with distressing and alarming illness. When he found that her disease was dropsy, and probably incurable, his agony of soul became intense. As she sunk down gradually before his eyes, he felt that she must soon leave him; and by anticipation, already stood over her dying bed, pressed her cold hand, committed her soul to God, and her body to the dust, and felt all the loneliness of her absence;-a trial, in his own apprehension, far greater than if its occurrence had been earlier in life. But the severity of this affliction can be best learned from his own account of it, taken partly from his journal and partly from letters to friends.

“March 6, 1825. My dear Mrs. Hallock is unwell, and not able to go with me to meeting either

Friday, or to-day! Her disorder appears to be the dropsy. Her physician and friends think her dangerous. She grows weaker every day. Perhaps it is the coming of the Son of Man. O Lord Jesus, grant her thy sensible presence, and prepare poor me, with her anxious children and friends, for all thy will. Sometimes, the thought of parting with her is overwhelming-at other times I feel more quiet and reconciled. She, for the most part, appears calm in mind and ready. O Lord, let her not be deceived, but may she build only on Christ, and be accepted in him. O preserve her to us a little longer, if thy blessed will. O may all be sanctified and work to the furtherance of thy blessed kingdom in us, and among us for Jesus' sake. Amen.

"March 13. O Lord God of aged David, make me thine, and O be my helper and refuge unto death. My wife has had a sick and trying week. I never heard her groan, as she did Thursday night from about nine to three o'clock. She then grew easier through mercy. Her feeble stomach, which has rejected cordials and medicine, is somewhat strengthened, so that it retains what she takes; and we begin to hope she may be restored to us a little longer. Prepare her, and all of us, O Lord, for this mercy; but if- -O receive her spirit, and be with us, our light, life, shield and portion. I am this day sixty-seven years old. I feel the increasing infirmities of age, and know, that the end of all probationary things, is, to me, at hand !— O Lord, quicken and strengthen me, both to live unto Jesus and testify of him, and his so great and

needful salvation, to the children, the youth and all. And when thou shalt call, may I submissively resign my ministry, life, soul and body to thee, and go supported by the blessed Gospel hope. Let me not be deceived; teach my heart; make it right, and lead me in the way which is everlasting.

'O receive my soul at last.'

*

"May 8, Lord's day, Northington. Poor Mrs. Hallock was so unwell that I did not go until morning, and returned home after meeting. I greatly fear, her departure is at hand. O may she be ready. And, O Lord Jesus, strengthen and prepare poor me for all thy will for Jesus' sake. Amen."

"VERY DEAR AND RESPECTED BROTHER AND SISTER -The probability is, that the wife of my youth hath not long to stay in this world. For ten years, she hath been blessed with unusual health, to the great comfort of her family. But, some time in January last, she was taken with that alarming disease, the dropsy. I have often feared, that she would not live twelve hours. Your know, she hath been the

*It was Mr. Hallock's uniform practice, when he exchanged labor with a brother, to go on Saturday, and not leave the place till after sunset Sabbath evening.