and to elevate common persons to the rank of heroes. Equally do we condemn that class of newspaper obituaries, which need nothing but a substitution of names, to make them suitable for the commemoration of any one of a thousand or ten thousand excellent persons who have deceased; and which, like the printed recommendations of street beggars, might be stereotyped, and kept on hand in any quantity, ready for immediate use.

Most of our published memoirs of missionaries and of persons concerned in directing missionary work, hold a distinguished rank in biographical literature. With a few unimportant exceptions, they are works which will always be read with benefit and pleasure. Many of them are to be prized as studies of character, eminently fitted to interest, instruct and profit, as well the philosopher as the Christian. In every one, we find some new phase of being. In one is exhibited fervent piety; in another, the endurance of meek and trusting faith; in a third, heroic zeal; in a fourth, the wisdom of the serpent with the innocence of the dove; in a fifth, the force of a strong intellect; in a sixth, the persevering effort of moderate talents, sacredly consecrated to the Master's use, and eminently successful in winning souls to Christ. Brainerd cultivated his own religious character so diligently, that one is almost ready to ask, where he found time to do any thing else. Francis Xavier rushed from conquest to conquest in the name of Christ, like a spiritual Alexander, determined to sit down contented with nothing less than the dominion of the world. Dr. Carey and his coadjutors wrought on in a quiet way, at first almost unknown, till they had gained for Christianity a permanent footing in many parts of India, taught barbarous tongues to utter the word of life, and, through the instrumentality of their labors, enthroned Jehovah-Jesus in multitudes of hearts. Mrs. Judson, like a living martyr, dedicated herself to a service of Christ among the heathen, from which no hardships could repel her; no difficulties had power to discourage her, no terrors could deter her; and no suggestions of womanish delicacy and weakness could hold her back from the fulfilment of her sublime behest. What a beautiful exhibition of character we have in Henry Martyn, meek, gentle, humble, holy, his heart overflowing with tenderness, while he was ready to stand up, single-handed, as the champion

of his Master, and to engage fearlessly in a contest against the infidelity, the prejudice, and the scorn of Mohammedan zealots. When they blasphemed, he prayed; but when he died, quietly and beautifully as he had lived, the seed which he had sown germinated; and, though he "passed on," others have lived to see its fruits.

In these memoirs, much has been gained for science and learning. Strange languages have been made known to the philologist. New nations have been introduced to the geographer. The gems of novel literatures have been given to the world; and, triumphs, won for the cause of learning by those whose main vocation has been to secure triumphs for Christ, have been exhibited as among the incidental fruits of their enterprise. Besides, these memoirs have been efficient instruments in fostering the missionary spirit of the churches. They have also called the attention of not a few to the divine challenge-" Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" and prompted them to the cordial and Christian response-" Here am I, send me."

In view of such considerations, we look with pleasure on the excellent and tasteful volume, whose title we have placed at the head of this paper. Mr. Evarts was not a missionary; but he filled, for several years, a station which brought him into connection with all the missions of one of the most extensive associations of modern times. He gave direction to the movements of Christian warriors in three quarters of the globe and in the islands of the sea. In all their operations and in all their successes, though broad oceans, in most instances, rolled between him and the fields of their labor,-he could say with truth--" quorum pars magna fui." For a considerable period, he took an honorable part in the cause of public benevolence, and engaged, with heart and hand, in all measures designed to secure the melioration of human wo. He lived, universally esteemed and beloved, a noble specimen of a man; and he died, as a Christian only can die, ascending with gratulations and triumphant joy, to the rest that remains for the people of God. The fragrance of his memory will long live in the scenes which he will no more revisit; and the wisdom of his counsels has laid the foundation for noble results, whose developments will go on, advancing from glory to glory, till time shall be no more.

JEREMIAH EVARTS was born at Sunderland, Vt., Feb. 3, 1781. With a feeble constitution of body, he gave early promise of intellectual vigor. Reading was his favorite amusement before he was three years of age; but the circumstances of a pioneer-farmer's family were unfavorable to the gratification of this taste. When the youthful scholar had "read the sense out of a book," it was not easy to supply its place by a new one. But, as a wise man, the father of young Evarts observed the disposition of his son. He saw also the incapacity of his feeble frame to sustain the hardships of agricultural pursuits. But he was moved less by this unfitness, than by his intellectual promise, to seek for him the means of literary culture, and to open before him paths of usefulness more congenial with his inclinations than the hard labor of tilling the ground. In an incredibly short space of time, he completed the preparatory studies under private tuition, and at the age of seventeen years, in September, 1798, he became a member of Yale College. While here, he distinguished himself by "his sagacity, his manly, industrious habits, his generous regard of his companions, his wisdom, and scholarship."

"He wasted no hours in aimless reading, and passed over no subject carelessly. On whatever subject he took up, his investigations and reflections were continued till his views were fully settled and ready for use. He did not read a book without knowing distinctly what there was in it that he approved and what that he condemned, and being able to assign definite reasons. His habits were methodical, and his memory, both in regard to principles and facts, remarkably retentive."

"Mr. Evarts was naturally inclined to be accurate and particular about every thing. Whenever he examined a subject, he wished to know all about it, and to understand it just as it was. Whatever he undertook to do, he endeavored to do it well... His perceptions were quick, and he grasped a subject with great readiness, but without parade; and having grasped it, he never relinquished his hold. He possessed also much acuteness of mind. It was a hard matter indeed to impose upon him by false appearances... It is difficult to say in what department he particularly excelled. His mind was of such a structure, that it made little difference to what branch of study his attention was directed. He seemed to consider all the parts of the course of study pursued in college, as wisely prescribed by the proper authority, and well adapted to the improvement of the mind; and that he was not at liberty to form predilections in favor of one or more branches to the neglect of others, and then to rely on his distaste for the latter as an apology for his defects, and a quietus to his conscience."

It is not easy to conceive of a more beautiful picture of the youth of a scholar than this. It is light, without any admixture of shade. And it requires no prophetic skill, to foresee that such habits of mind would lead to a life of distinguished ability and usefulness. We look on the picture with admiration, because it forms such a contrast to that which must be drawn to suit many a student of later times. It is the bane of the age, that young persons, totally unfit for the task, assume the right to judge what studies will be beneficial to them, and what useless; and that, often, they reject the best, and choose the worst. The laborious is made to give place to the more agreeable; and that which would give nerve, and muscle, and strength, is repudiated for the light, and showy, and ornamental. Elegant accomplishments are set before substantial discipline; and profound scholarship is sacrificed on the altar of imagination and at the shrine of fashion. One of the sad proofs of this is seen in the fact that some of the colleges, a few years since, felt themselves driven to establish parallel courses of study, from each of which something pertaining to the most efficient means of a thorough education, was necessarily excluded.

It was in the middle of his last year in college, that Mr. E. became hopefully pious. Previously to that time. he had maintained a character of transparent integrity, sincerity and virtue. Religion had also been with him a subject of frequent and serious thought. The means of grace and the providences of God were made, from time to time, the instruments of calling his attention more effectually to the claims of God and immortality; till, in the spring of the year 1802, he was led to give himself unreservedly to the service of his Creator, and took upon him the badge of an open profession. An interesting revival of religion in the college occurred at about this time, in which he labored with great zeal, efficiency and discretion. In respect to the change which took place in him, a contemporary has written

"Although no striking change appeared in his conduct, the evidence of a great revolution in the entire man appeared in the marked elevation of his whole mind-his views, feelings and aims now having come under a holy influence; his virtues were ennobled and animated by the aspirations of holy love; his soul acted under a new sense

of the excellence of purity, and struggled with fresh vigor to acquire it-alive to the degradation of mankind under the pressure of sin, and alive to the purpose to vindicate the claims of divine truth."

This extract dimly foretokens the nature of the part which he was afterwards to take in the work of evangelizing the world. In connection with the manner in which he engaged in efforts to promote the spiritual welfare of his fellow-students, we see that he was already beginning to be prepared, through grace, to be a vessel, "meet for the Master's use." And we cannot forbear here to observe, how often with an aching heart pious parents send forth their young sons to meet the temptations of collegelife; many have fallen; and, without the safe-guard of religion, they tremble to think that the child of their fervent prayers may be drawn into the lures of the adversary, and bring down their gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. True it is, that college-life has its temptations; but so has every sphere of life, in which young men are withdrawn from parental control. The same God watches over the interests of the young in one situation where duty calls them to be, as in another. There is the same power in prayer. Many good influences are connected with at least a portion of their studies. And many who entered college as the highway of sin, have there been made trophies of God's victorious grace. The scene of temptation has proved the life of their souls; and the place which had been perhaps dreaded, as if it were the synagogue of Satan, has become to them the gate of heaven. So it was in the present case. More than two hundred were, within a short period, hopefully brought into the fold of Christ.

After leaving college, Mr. E. spent some months at home, pursuing classical studies, and reading, chiefly, books on experimental religion. In the spring of the following year, he acceded to an invitation to teach in his native State. For some time he was in doubt to what profession his life should be devoted. The work of the ministry was in harmony with his taste. He saw its importance; he was alive to its responsibilities. But he found obstacles to his personal engagement in it; with health by no means firm, and a frail constitution, he shrunk from its wearing toils. He was sensible that, in

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