1

Biographical Sketches.

[delphia, and ordained and installed as a Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Arch-Street, and a colleague of the

THE REV. JOHN N. ABEEL, D. D. late of the Rev. Dr. Green. In the year 1795, R. D. Collegiate Church of N. Y. he deemed it his duty to accept a call

[For the following we are indebted to the from the Reformed Dutch Church in Miscellany published by Dr. Rowan, and the this City, and accordingly removed late Dr. Gunn,----the Evangelical Guardian from Philadelphia to New-York. In and Review for May, 1817.] this sphere of labour and usefulness,

The late Dr. John N. Abeel was he continued to exert himself, until born in the city of New York. Early his last sickness; refusing offers and in life he was placed in a school at invitations, which were addressed to Morristown,New-Jersey: and after he him from Philadelphia, and from had made the usual preparation,he was Boston, and, we understand, the profadmitted into the college at Prince-fer (formal or informal) of the Presiton, where he graduated. Making dency of Union College. In the year choice of the profession of law, he 1809, he became indisposed, and lincommenced the study of it with Judge gered in disease, during the remainPatterson in New-Brunswick. In der of his life. He spent one winter in about a year, however, his heart be- South Carolina; he made a voyage came changed by the energy of divine to Rio Janeiro; but these means, as grace, and his views were directed to well as the skill and attention of his the holy ministry as the business of medical friends, were ineffectual. his future life. In consequence, lea-The progress of his disorder was ving his able instructor, who had for-gradual, yet constant; and he departmed high expectations of his emin-led this life in the night of the 19th of ence at the bar, he became a student January, 1812, in the forty-third year of theology with the Rev. Dr. Liv- of his age.

ingston; and afterwards with Presi- As a man, he possessed a sound undent Witherspoon, on accepting the derstanding, greatly improved by dioffice of Tutor in the college at ligent application. His manners Princeton. Having finished his stu- were very unusually mild, unassudies, he was licensed to preach the ming, amiable, and winning. In sogospel, by the Classis of New York,in ciety, he was affable, and communica. the year 1793. He remained a can-tive. His colloquial talents were exdidate for the ministry but a short traordinary; few men have possesed time, being quickly invited to Phila-'equal powers constantly to enterVOL. IV.-37

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tain, and interest, and instruct, in but as a watchful shepherd. Esevery circle, both of friends, and of pecially the inquiring sinner, the feestrangers. Accordingly his company ble Christian, the tempted and perwas courted, and afforded high and plexed soul, and the sufferer of temcontinual pleasure to his numerous poral affliction, found him ever ready acquaintances. and active to afford them advice, and As a minister of the gospel of Jesus support, and consolation. He did not Christ, he was truly eminent. He withhold from them the warnings and had industriously cultivated his fine the exhortations which they needed; natural talents, and laid up large and at the same time, he delighted to stores of valuable information. Here point them to the Mediator of the everindeed, he especially excelled: few lasting covenant, to encourage them have possessed so nice and accu- with its promises, to apply the balm of rate intellectual discernment. His sovereign virtue to the wounded spirit. literary acquirements and his correct He cherished a charity truly cathotaste were manifest to all who heard lic. It was not confined by the pale his preaching, though few men have of any particular denomination; it was been more free from a pedantic dis-diffusive; and he loved, as brethren,all play of science. His style was plain whom he had reason to regard as lov. and simple; the strain of his discourse ers in sincerity of his dear Redeemer. was didactic and he usually preach-Yet, while he was no bigot, no zealot, ed extemporaneously. He delighted he warmly espoused, and sedulously to introduce, and to dwell on particu- promoted the cause of the Reformed lars relative to Christian experience; Dutch Church, of which he was a and thus speaking from the heart, he member. With a discrimination was always animated and interesting; which few of her number have posseshe appeared always familiar with his sed in a greater degree, he discerned subject, and very frequently he ex- the path of her true interests, and he hibited to his hearers, uncommon employed in her behalf the energy of elegance of diction, and captivated his talents, the charms of his elothem with his eloquence. Particu-quence, the weight of his influence, larly this was the case, when he the efficacy of his prayers in faith. preached on occasions of charitable His efforts were blessed, and princicollections. We also well remember, pally by his means a large fund was that very great, and very general at-collected for her Theological Seminatention was excited to a series of dis-ry. That Church should indeed checourses on education, which were re- rish and honour his memory, on acceived, by his people,and many others count of the obligations which she is who heard them, with the warmest ap-under to him, for his indefatigable and probation. He carefully stated, de- successful exertions; and also befended, and applied the doctrines of cause, when labouring for her good, grace; and was an honest advocate of and undergoing severe fatigue for her those truths taught in the scriptures, sake, that disease was induced which which are often characterized as the terminated his life on earth. peculiarities of Calvinism. He had After what we have now stated, it subscribed to them ex animo, as the will be admitted, without hesitancy, confession of his faith, and he stead-that he deserved to be loved: and he fastly adhered to them, until his death. was loved. He was dear to his brethHe was diligent in visiting his flock. ren in the ministry, who marked with He often went from house to house,not mourning and pain, the progress of his merely as a friend or an acquaintance, last sickness; and who, when death

had removed him from them, bewailed and exemplary. He felt deeply the imthe loss of their friend, their counsellor, pression of the truth on his own heart. and their companion,who had so often He beheld in vivid light the terrors of given them delight and profit. He that misery to which sin exposed him, was dear to his people: they gave him the hideousness of that deformity numerous unequivocal proofs of their which all sin presents. He heard attachment. And it was particularly for himself the Gospel of God; and manifested, when their liberality examined with eager attention,the expromptly furnished him with ample hibition of Jesus Christ as the appointmeans to undertake those voyages ed Saviour. For himself he acceptwhich were recommended by his ed the offer of mercy; and in holy physicians. faith received and rested on Jesus

And it is no wonder that he was dear Christ for full salvation. In this faith to his people. Not a few of them, he lived near to a reconciled Father, when in temporal sorrow, had found enjoying the grace and comfort of the him an angel of comfort; cheering Holy Ghost. In this faith, he passed their hearts, and teaching them to ex-through the changes and trials which tract sweetness from the cup of afflic-were allotted to him. In this faith, tion. Not a few of them, when in he walked before men, fruitful in good temptation and gloom, had found in works, adorning the doctrine of God him a guide to deliverance, to peace, his Saviour. In this faith, he laboured to gladness. Not a few of them, when in his ministry, and his labours were locked in the more than iron grasp of owned. In this faith, he prepared spiritual death, when groping in cor-for death, he beheld its approach, he ruption's midnight, had found him the felt its stroke. Hence his declaration, instrument, honoured of Heaven, to (one of the last from his lips,) that he convey to them light and life. By him had a firm and unshaken confidence they had been brought to the know-that his everlasting interests were seledge of the truth; by him they had cured. been led to the throne of grace, to the We do not know that Dr. Abeel cross of Christ, to the paths of piety ever appeared before the public as an and joy. They beheld in him their author, excepting in case of a serspiritual father; and they felt the mon preached in April 1801, before force of their obligations to him. the New-York Missionary Society, There were many of these several which was published by them. classes; for he was blessed by his The conclusion of the sermon Master with extensive usefulness. manifests the pen of a master, and we Under his ministry a revival of reli-recommend it to the reflection of all; there are gion took place, to an extent beyond reminding them, that what had been known in the city," benighted Indians" still. since the days of Dr. Laidlie. And "From the pleasant habitation of Dr. Abeel is to be regarded as at Zion, let your imaginations carry you least one of the honoured instruments into the habitations of cruelty-the of enkindling that religious flame in wilderness where the benighted New-York, which has since burned Indian roams.-Behold the hoary with so much brightness. He re-chief. His enemy fell into his joiced on account of his success; and hands, and he triumphed in every as should ever be done, he ascribed groan which slow torture could proall the glory to the omnipotence of a duce. His son offended him, and he faithful and a sovereign God. plunged a knife into his bosom :-his

As a Christian, he was consistent aged mother was accused of witchcraft, and he thought it lawful to take

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her life; His relatives have been zeal, and the most trifling and proflislain, and he thirsts for the blood of gate were not able to resist the spirit the murderers. Weighed down with by which he spake. This excellent sorrow and with years, view him man also lived as he preached. His stretched upon the bed of death. The exhortation was not of deceit nor in Comforter is afar off; the Balm of guile. All who knew him "are witGilead hath never been applied; no nesses, and God also, how holily, and promise is heard to soften the anguish justly, and unblameably," he behaved of disease. His only heaven is the himself among them that believed. country beyond the hills; its highest This eloquent preacher and faithful pleasure, food without the toils of the servant was called to rest from his chase. The grounds of his hope are labours, when he had been but a few the trophies of his cruelty. I see him years in the ministry. But he died point to the number of these which in the Lord,enjoying a hope full of imhang around his hut I hear him mortality, and largely experiencing charge the youthful warrior to emu- the consolations of that gospel, which late his deeds, and to avenge him of he had so faithfully preached. Though his enemies. The earthly scene is summoned early and suddenly away closed: the awful realities of eternity he left behind him many proofs of his open upon his soul. Oh! how hard industry. Some of these remains must it be to die in total uncertainty ! have been thought by his friends too -how dreadful,under such delusion ! precious to be suppressed. And one If you have seen the demerit of sin, of my objects in writing this letter to the case now presented will awaken you, is by this means to inform your all your compassion. If you have readers,that a small volume of sermons known the value of the soul, you will selected from his manuscripts, has not cease to pray for its redemption. just been published. These sermons If you rightly appreciate the instruc-may be less perfect than they would tion, the atonement, the unsearch-have been, had they been corrected able riches of Christ, the heathen by the finishing hand of their highly shall not desire them in vain."

gifted author, but with any imperfections they may have, I think they may be safely recommended to the public.

Religious Communications. I am persuaded there are but few

sermons that will be read with more

To the Editor of the Magazine of the R. D. pleasure and profit. But my object

Church.

is not so much to recommend them, for they will recommend themselves, as Dear Sir-Some time ago I noticed with great satisfaction, in to beg of you the favour to insert the your valuable Magazine, a short account of them, in your Magazine, and at the following extract taken from one of THE REV. JAMES WHYTE, late Pastor of the Associate Congregation of any of your readers should like the same time to express my hope that, if Salem, N. Y.-He was, indeed, a burning and a shining light." As a to take the volume. It may possibly matter and style, they may be induced preacher of the everlasting gospel he had but few equals. He uniformly benevolent readers to know, that the be an additional inducement to your addressed his audience with so much earnestness and unction, that his profits of the publication are to be hearers seldom failed to catch some this distinguished preacher. paid over to the destitute family of of his fervour. Even the thoughtless and unbelieving were moved by his

I am &c. A. S. New-York, Dec. 1829.

The following extract is part of ajare braced; your spirits are elevated; sermon on these words, Luke 7. 13. and your blood flows with a full and "Weep not." After a very suitable regular tide. Death, and judgment, introduction the author proceeds. and eternity, are not in all your "In the first place, I request your thoughts. But did you never see attention to the occasion on which the tree, full of blossoms, stripped at these words were uttered, and to the once, and blasted by a sudden blight. situation of the individuals, to whom Did you never see one die in his full they were addressed. "The spirit of strength, being wholly at ease and the Lord God is upon me, because quiet; when his breasts were full of the Lord hath anointed me to preach milk, and his bones moistened with good tidings unto the meek; he hath marrow? The morning has dawned sent me to bind up the broken hearted, fair on many, who, ere the evening to proclaim liberty to the captive, and tide, have slept the sleep of death. the opening of the prison to them that The hectic fever, the wasting conare bound to appoint to them that sumption, or a casual stroke, may mourn in Zion, to give unto them soon enfeeble the most athletic frame, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for and bring down strength to the level of mourning, and the garments of praise the grave. 'Man that is born of a for the spirit of heaviness!" Such woman is of few days, and full of trouwas the prophetic character of the ble, he comes forth as a flower and is Messiah, and it is completely ascer-cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow tained, and verified in the person and and continueth not!' Perhaps some miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ. of the healthiest before me have not His whole life was a tour of charity. a year, a month, between them and He went about continually doing judgment. Ere that period shall good. In one of his journeys of be-elapse, some of us may be carried nevolence, he went down to Nain, a out to be buried.' Whether it shall city not far distant from Capernaum. be you, or you, or you, God knoweth. As he approached the gate, he met a Be ye also ready, for in such an hour funeral procession; and if ever tears as you think not, the Son of man of unaffected anguish were shed, it cometh. Behold I come as a thief, was on this melancholy occasion. blessed is he that watcheth. Behold, there was a young man car- The affection of a mother toward ried out to be buried! This is one of her child is proverbial. Can a wothose occurrences which force upon man forget her sucking child, that us the ungrateful conviction which she should not have compassion on we all strive to suppress, that 'man the son of her womb? To her the at his best estate is altogether vanity.' heart turns instinctively in the hour It is awful to see death in all his might, of calamity, and never turns in vain. blasting youth, and withering life, She will be alienated neither by misand severing the strongest ties of fortune, nor crime. She will hide the nature in the heart, trampling on all tear that moistens her cheek, lest it human power, and defying all human should seem to reproach the author ́skill, and crushing all at a blow in the of her woes.

cold, and silent grave.

Even a father's attachment toward You that are in the morning or me- his babe is great. Witness the bitridian of life, think on a lot, which terness of spirit which dictates the may, ere long, be your own. You are exclamation of the aged patriarch now blushing in beauty; every pulse Jacob. Me have ye bereaved of my beats strong with health; your nerves children; Joseph is not, and Simeon