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THE

QUARTERLY REGISTER.

VOL. IX.

FEBRUARY, 1837.

No. 3.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL AUSTIN, D. D.

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[By the Rev. Samuel H. Riddel, of Glastenbury, Conn.]

SAMUEL AUSTIN, D. D., was born at New Haven, Conn. on the 7th of October, 1760. His father's name was Samuel; and his mother's, before marriage, Lydia Wolcot. His parents were persons of reputed piety, and of highly respectable standing in life. Their children were two sons and a daughter; of whom the subject of this memoir was the eldest. In the education of their children, they gave early and strict attention to their religious culture; and, in respect to each of them, realized the faithfulness of the divine promise, to such as train up their children in the fear of God. Samuel remained with his parents until the commencement of the revolutionary war, soon after which, at the early age of sixteen, he took the place of his father, who had been drafted as a soldier, and did military service in New York. When the British took possession of that city, he received a discharge and returned home; and was employed for two or three years, occasionally in the public service, and at other times in teaching school. At length, when about twenty years of age, he decided upon the pursuit of a learned profession, and commenced the study of law, with Judge Chauncey, in his native town. Soon, however, perceiving the necessity of a more thorough education, in order to the attainment of that standard of success and usefulness, towards which his aspiring mind was directed, he suspended his professional course, and devoted himself, with his characteristic ardor, to classical studies. Such was his application and the rapidity of his progress, that, in the summer of 1781, he was admitted to an advanced standing in the sophomore class at Yale College.

While thus endeavoring to lay a foundation for eminence and influence in life, the Saviour, who had chosen him to be a distinguished instrument of his glory, laid the foundation, in his religious experience, for his subsequent course of Christian zeal and usefulness. From an incidental remark in his religious diary, under date of July 27, 1782, we infer that it was during the period of his studies, preparatory to his entering College, that he became the subject of that spiritual change, which gave, so decidedly, a new character to his affections towards God, and a new direction to his aims and efforts for the good of his fellow-men. In July, of the same year that he entered college, he was admitted by president Stiles, a member of the church in that institution. Some of the first leaves of the diary, above referred to, have fallen out and cannot be found; otherwise it

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is probable that an interesting account might have been preserved of his exercises under conviction, of his reconciliation to God through the Redeemer, and of his public consecration of himself to the service of Christ. The first lines of this broken manuscript are the following:-"Jesus Christ to be my Saviour, and the Holy Spirit of all grace to be my sanctifier ; and promise, by the grace of God helping me, without which I can do nothing, to walk according to all the precepts of God exhibited in his word-to practise all known duty, and avoid all known sin-to adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour, and to live as becomes a member of the church militant of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

From observations of his own, which are recollected by some of his acquaintances, it is understood that his convictions of sin were very deep and distressing, though not long protracted. The following allusion to that part of his religious experience, is all which we find in his diary. "June 16, 1783,--Spent some of the forenoon, and of the afternoon, with Mr. Taylor, who is under the most lively and excruciating convictions that I ever saw, or could hardly conceive of-seems, many times, to be in the agonies of despair. I must confess, I never experienced any such degree of affection upon conviction. When I saw my lost state, I was kept from despair by a hope in the blessed Jesus."

Mr. Austin passed through his academic course with distinguished reputation as a scholar, and received the highest honors of the college, when he was graduated, in September, 1783. The following is the testimony of one of his distinguished classmates.* "He was an assiduous and thorough scholar. Attentive to all the prescribed duties of college, sober and discreet, he sustained an unblemished character. An excellent linguist, he was a Dean scholar. Regarded always as a very good speaker, he received as the reward of merit, the first appointment in the exercises of the commencement, when he was graduated. His maturity of years, with unremitted attention to his studies, gave him a rank, to say the least, among the first scholars of his class."+

It will be interesting to the readers of this work; and we may hope profitable especially to that important class of them who are, or may be, occupied with a course of study, with a view to the sacred ministry, to follow this godly man, in his religious history, through that critical period which we are now contemplating; and observe in what manner the seeds of grace were cherished and cultivated in connection with the seeds of science, with such success that neither were stinted nor distorted, in their early growth and subsequent development. It is here that we are to look for the origin of that most prominent feature in the character of Dr. Austin —his intelligent and ardent piety-his disinterested and glowing zeal for God; which gave, through life, a holy impulse and effect to every application of his talents and acquirements; which secured to him, as a minister and as a friend, the sincerest love and veneration of all pious persons, who enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance; and which commanded the respect even of those who disliked the doctrines he preached with so much point and power, and the plainness with which he rebuked their sins. His diary, to which references have already been made, was probably commenced about the time of his entering college and uniting with the church. It is exclusively of a religious character; and carries internal

* Hon. David Daggett, of New Haven.

† His class consisted of forty-two members. Among them were David Daggett, LL. D., Abiel Holmes, D. D. LL. D., Jedidiah Morse, D. D., and John Cotton Smith, LL. D. Of this class thirteen, a larger proportion than usual, at that time, became ministers of the gospel; of whom four are still living.

evidence of being an honest record of his spiritual exercises, and a faithful mirror of his penitent and devout affections. His views, in keeping it, are thus expressed in the introduction to the second volume.

"This diary I propose, in the strength of divine grace, to continue and prosecute, as a means to establish and animate me in the course of an holy and Christian life. I believe that without holiness no man shall see God; and I rejoice that God can never take complacency in me, or any other of his creatures, while destitute of a share in this his best perfection. But as I hope in a principle of grace, implanted by sovereign agency from the Most High, in my own breast; and as I humbly think that I wish, and that it is the ardent and constant desire of my soul, to be like God, and to be assimilated to him, I conceive the design of keeping this diary; hoping that God will bless me in it, and that it will tend to teach me my own true state and character, lift me above this world, and fix my hopes and happiness on God and heavenly things..

“If at any time, either before or after my death, it should fall into the hands of any of my friends, I wish it might be improved to the glory of God, and the good of their own souls. I am not, I think, afraid of any critical remarks upon it, to my disadvantage. My sole design, at present, is my own spiritual improvement. If, however, it should issue, in the least, to the glory of God, and the interests of one soul, there would be a double happiness resulting from it.-At least I humbly pray thee, thou supreme Source of wisdom, peace and joy, that it may be happily instrumental, under thy blessing, in sanctifying and purifying my heart; in drawing me nearer to thee, and assimilating me to thy spotless character. To be like God is to be all that is desirable, and to be holy as God is holy, should be my supreme wish, and to this, as a pursuit, every thing in life should be subservient."

This diary was kept up, with a good degree of regularity, through his collegiate course, and until he was settled in the ministry, a period of about six years. Afterwards, through the pressure of public engagements, it was resumed only at intervals; and after the author left Burlington, nothing further was added to it. A few extracts will be given here from different portions of it, previous to the time of his leaving college.

"January 5, 1782,-I find that I am extremely remiss in many duties, particularly in self-examination. I therefore resolve, in the strength of divine grace, to devote a part of every Saturday evening, for taking a retrospective view of the past week; and making such resolves for the regulation of my conduct, as shall be necessary, and placing them at the latter end of this book.

"And here I cannot but recognize the sweet and ravishing sensations I have enjoyed this evening, both in the meeting, and in a private walk with my classmate Holmes."*

The resolutions, above referred to, were increased, from time to time, until they amounted to eight in number. Those, who have known Dr. Austin, will readily perceive the influence of these carly, pious resolutions upon his religious character; or, at least, the striking correspondence between them and several of its most interesting features.

"1. Resolved to be more strictly attentive and devotional, when I join with others in prayer; that I may not offer the sacrifice of fools.

*Rev. Dr. Holmes, of Cambridge. Frequent mention is made in the diary, of Dr. Holmes, as "a dear Christian brother," with whom the author enjoyed much religious intercourse, while in college.

"2. Resolved to contemplate more on the immense nature, and the infinity of the divine attributes; that I may be enabled to worship with more warmth of affection and devotion.

"3. Resolved never to use the great and tremendous name of God, or write it, without fear and veneration.

"4. Resolved to watch strictly over my own heart, that it be not, on the one hand, too much captivated by the world and its pleasures, and, on the other, that it be daily conversant in heaven, and fixed on God.

"5. Resolved that every day, before morning prayer, I will look forward into the probable business of the day, and see wherein I shall be exposed to temptation, and to determine accordingly; and to survey the day with this idea, that I will live as piously that day as though it were my last. And now, though I shall by no means be likely to live so, without divine assistance, yet I pray God to enable me, by the assistance of his holy and blessed Spirit.

"6. Resolved that, in every moral action, I will be more ambitious to glorify and please my Creator than any fellow-creature; because it is my duty; and my happiness does not depend on their approbation, but totally consists in the favor of God.

"7. Resolved that, in every approach to the throne of the Most High, I will entertain and crowd into my mind as august conceptions as possible of the divine greatness, power, omnipresence, spirituality, omniscience, jealousy, and infinite hatred of all sin and hypocrisy; and also, to annihilate myself, as it were, in his presence; that I may attend on prayer with becoming solemnity and devotion.

"8. Resolved, by the grace of God, to attend secret prayer morning and evening, as long as I live; and at other times as Providence and disposition shall direct."

"Saturday evening, Dec. 19,-I find myself very neglectful of the fifth resolve; and, indeed, I am in a great measure incapable of looking through the day, to see what temptations I may be exposed to; for I have little time, being frequently obliged to hasten to my prayers, to improve the advantage of time or place.

"I am convinced of this fault-that I think too well of myself, in comparison with others,—have naturally an itching desire for the first place, in respect to a religious, social and literary character. I am selfish; I want humility, and am on the whole, an accumulation of depravity; ambitious, proud and emulous. But now, do I say these things only, or do I also feel them? O, wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death!' O, that I knew my own heart! I hope I love holiness; but why do I not possess more of it? And shall I despair? No; I will constantly apply to God for grace, and beg that these corruptions may be extirpated from my inmost soul."

We may here observe with what jealousy and circumspection this youth in college was accustomed to guard his heart against the moral dangers incident to his condition and literary success.

On reviewing the next week, he writes,

"By God's grace, I think I make some amendments, in respect to the complaints which I last wrote. I believe, I thank God for what I am; and rejoice that God has made me exactly what he has; and I am very happy that others are above me, particularly the religious. God has been unspeakably kind to me; and I desire to bless his holy name, if to others he is more abundantly gracious.

"January 11,-The past week, I have mended a little, I believe, in my first resolve. In the fifth resolve, I am very deficient, in respect to my dependence on God. I am rationally convinced of my dependence, but feel it too little. I am going to do it myself; am designing to live holily and faultless-but do not. Poor creature! Selfishness! I cannot think

a good thought, nor speak a good word, unless it be derived from God. Let me, therefore, lie at his sovereign footstool, in humble hope and fear. Sin does not, I have reason to think, appear to me with half its ugliness and deformity. Give me, O thou omniscient Judge, true evangelical repentance-a godly sorrow for sin: and may I loathe myself on account of it.

"March 1,-I have the utmost reason to despise, loathe and abhor myself; and verily think that I am totally unworthy of a place on God's earth, or even to be among the number of his most contemptible creatures; and, therefore, I entirely relinquish and discard every hope from myself. If ever I am saved, thine, O Lord, shall be the glory. Though it grieves me to my inmost soul to think of it, I perfectly acknowledge the justice of God in my eternal ruin; nay, I am astonished that God did not destroy me, at my first sin. Oh, hated sin! But, while I live, I will hope in Christ, and in his vicarious righteousness; and rejoice in him, as the glorious Saviour of others, if not of myself."

Under a subsequent date he writes-" Prayed this morning, with much of a sacred nearness to God; saw much of my own odiousness and vileness in his sight; felt as if I was a defiled wretch, and justly the object of contempt, to an obedient universe. Have little taste for any studies but divine,―wish to pursue no object, but what will finally issue in the glory of the blessed God. O, how sweet it is to hope that so defiled a creature as myself, may be washed and made clean in the blood of the Lamb.Feel somewhat desirous to be assiduous in the service of God, while I live, and let him do what seemeth him good with my eternal interests; but still, I long, I pant to join the holy throng of saints in heaven; and to see, and be with the blessed God. Sin cleaves to my best services-O, when shall I awake in thy likeness! Prayed this evening with a sweet, and, may I hope, a holy fervor,-think I never felt so much of the goodness of the blessed God, in his forbearance-wished to be just that character, and in that station, which shall best promote his cause and glory."

His diary, from the 2d to the 12th of June, 1783, contains some interesting notices of his spiritual exercises, while on an excursion to Norwich, to attend the wedding of his cousin D. A. Rarely, indeed, has such heavenly experience been joined with such festive scenes!

Of the ride to Wallingford, he says: "Felt cheerful, among the merry, but by no means merry. Riding is not very favorable to religious fervency; but I thank God I have had many happy reflections and emotions on the road." At W., for the want of an opportunity of retirement, at the public house, we find him at his evening devotions in the fields, where he " spent half an hour with God in as much delight, fervency and true benevolence, as is worth all the pleasures of the world. Felt extremely happy in God's ubiquity; though I was alone, at a distance from my usual places of religious exercises, yet, I hope I found God graciously present with me."

The next night, at White's tavern in Hartford-"Retired into the fields, for private prayer. Prayed upon a rock, with enrapturing and extensive views of God; felt a sweet resignation to his providence, whether in life or death."

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