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tures, praying, performing acts of mortification, some times refusing to eat fruit and other things pleasant to the taste, that I might appear humble in the sight of God and merit something in his sight. I also bor rowed ' Alleine's Alarm,' and read it over and over again, taking care always to conceal it if any one came into the room where I was, and to appear as gay as possible, that I might not be suspected of being serious. For, though I knew it would afford my father the high est pleasure in the world to know what was in my mind, I could not for shame disclose it to him. At length, however, I ventured to do it, but instantly regretted hav ing done so, and thought I had acted like a fool, and should now have to bear the stigma of being a religious boy, and give up all the youthful amusements to which I had looked forward with a high degree of pleasure. " It was soon noised through the town, that I was what is there called, under 'concern of mind.' Chris tians rejoiced ; old men noticed me, asked me questions, gave me advice, and spoke of me in a flattering manner; so that instead of losing anything in point of reputation, I found that I was gaining. Pride at once suggested to me that this might be one means of rising in the world. I found too, that twenty or thirty other young people had, unknown to me, been awakened, and were soon to make a public profession of their faith in Christ. This strengthened me, and I began to speak of religion with out much shame, and to demand of others what I should do to obtain the same hopes and joys which they pro fessed. All replied in the same manner, Repent, repent.' EARLY HOME-LIFE. 19 This duty I was aware of ; but how to repent was the difficulty I wished solved. This they could not tell me. It seemed to me the height of folly to tell a man to repent, without telling him how to repent. "At length I became vexed, and thought I was troubling myself about things in which there was no reality ; that all I read in the Bible might be a fiction ; that there might be no God, no state of retribution hereafter, no heaven, no hell ; that it would be a sorrow ful thing to let my youth pass by the fountains of pleas ure without tasting them, and at last find that anni hilation closed the scene ; that if there were a God and a Saviour, I had been seeking them long enough, and without success ; and if He cast me eternally from his presence, why then I must suffer, I could not help it. These feelings I endeavored to cherish, having heard others say that they had experienced much hardness of heart, and opposition to the divine character a little pre vious to regeneration. " It was the first of September, 1807. Towards evening I walked out alone for the purpose of medita tion. The day was fine; the sun was just sinking behind the western forests, and not a cloud was to be seen in the heavens. Everything was calm and silent. Scarcely the voice of a bird broke in upon the stillness. For awhile I walked on with slow and pensive step, musing on what I was, and what I might be hereafter ; then stopped, looked around, and asked myself, ` What holds up this mighty, ponderous world in the midst of space ? What makes the sun hold on his way in such a 20 YONAS KING. regular manner ? and what sustains him ?' That mo ment light seemed to break in upon my soul, and I felt that there is a God of almighty power, supporting, mov ing and directing all things with infinite wisdom. I reflected on his commands and they seemed just; on his mercy through a Saviour, and it appeared lovely. I was astonished that I never before had the same view. I thought that if love to God, and love to Christ, and love towards our fellow-men, were all that was required of us, nothing could be more reasonable and nothing more easy. My heart, which for several days had been hard and unyielding, now seemed to soften, and with eyes uplifted towards heaven I wept and prayed for mercy. "This day I celebrated for several years, as the day of my spiritual birth. Whether I had at that time any genuine piety, I cannot say. Sure I am that I knew but very little of my own heart, and had very incorrect and low views of the great work of redemption. I had in deed read the Bible through ten different times, was familiar with its language, but had little acquaintance with its spirit. I am fully convinced that a man may read the Sacred Scriptures, just as he reads the volume of nature, without having the least view of that glory which fills heaven and earth, and which is inscribed in letters of light on everything around us. I had read it, for the most part, as a matter of duty, something meri torious in the sight of God, or as containing beautiful history, interesting parables, and sublime descriptions." At the time when Jonas King joined the church at Plainfield, then under the care of Rev. Moses Hallock, EARLY HOME-LIFE. 21 there was a revival there of much power. Jonas was called on to speak one evening, and he gave an account of how he had been led to Christ. He was called the next morning, long before day, by the lady of the house, begging him to come and pray for her and her children. She and her husband were both professors of religion. He found them in the sittingroom, singing a hymn, with tears streaming down their cheeks. A few neighbors were called in, and the journal goes on to say, "As the morning dawned upon us from the east, it saw fifteen or twenty of us bowing before Him who called the light out of darkness, beseeching him to cause the dayspring from on high to visit our souls." A great blessing followed this early prayer-meeting, felt throughout the church and community. " Though much occupied with religious concerns, I" felt an increasing desire after knowledge, an inextin- guishable thirst for study, and entertained some very feeble distant hope that I might at a future period of my life obtain a collegiate education—how, I knew not." Before attending a regular high-school, Jonas learned the whole of the English grammar by heart, studying it while hoeing corn—and in his seventy-fifth year could still repeat the whole long list of prepositions. The following statement comes from Rev. W. A. Hallock, D. D. "The Hon. William H. Maynard, Senator of the state of New. York, was a native of Conway, Mass., and fitted for college with Rev. Moses Hallock. " In an address before the Utica Lyceum, Mr. May-
nard related some interesting facts, which had come un der his own observation, illustrating the success of self-made men. "In December, 1807, Mr. Maynard was teaching school for a quarter in a district of Plainfield : as he entered the schoolhouse one cold, blustering morning, he observ- ed a lad that he had not seen before, sitting on one of the benches. The lad soon made known his errand. He was fifteen years old, he said, and he wanted an educa tion. His parents lived about six miles distant, and he had come from home on foot that morning, to see if Mr. Maynard could help him to contrive how to obtain it. " Mr. Maynard asked him if his parents could help him to get an education. ' No, sir.' ' Have you any friends to assist you ?' 'No, sir." Well, how do you expect to get an education ?' ' I do n't know, sir, but I thought I would come and see you.' " Mr. Maynard told him to stay that day, and he would see what could be done. He perceived that the boy had good sense, though no uncommon brilliancy; and he was peculiarly struck with the cool and resolute manner in which he undertook to conquer difficulties which would have intimidated common minds. "In the course of the day, Mr. Maynard made pro vision for having him boarded through the winter in the family with himself, the lad to pay for his board by his services out of school. " He gave himself diligently to study, in which he made good proficiency, improving every opportunity of reading and conversation for acquiring knowledge, and EARL Y HOME-LIRE. -J thus spent the winter. He afterwards fitted for college with Rev. Moses Hallock. " This was the early history of the Rev. Dr. Jonas King, whose exertions in the cause of Oriental learning, and in alleviating the miseries of Greece, have endeared him alike to the scholar and the philanthropist, and shed a bright ray of glory upon his native country." At the age of seventeen young Jonas was pronounced by the minister and selectmen fully competent to take charge of a small school, some of the scholars being older than himself. In this school, he says, " I endeav ored to be faithful; prayed with the children morning and night, and often labored to impress on their minds the importance of religion." The money obtained in this way was given to his father, who was just then building a new house. The next winter found Jonas teaching school at an increased salary, at Cummington, Mass., a town near Hawley, and the native place of William Cullen Bryant. Dr. King's father now urged him to leave home, saying, " I want you should be in a situation to be more useful than I have been in the cause of our Lord and Saviour, who died for us. I think I am willing to let you go, though it seems Hard." "Such conversation used almost to break my heart, and I was obliged to retire and give way to my feelings by weeping, and in prayer to God for direction. "At length I signified to my father my determination to give two years, after I should be of age, to the study of Greek and Latin. But my father said it• would be
better for me to go then, though, if I stayed with him while he lived, the farm would be my recompense. He could not advise me, only commend me to God. " After a little consideration, I decided deliberately ; packed what clothes and books I had, and s'off in search °' of a better country,' feeling as if I were a kind of orphan in the world ; and commending myself to Him who, I had been taught to believe, would never for sake ` the seed of the righteous,' nor leave those who put their trust in him. "Sixteen miles distant lived a gentleman who taught music, and with whom I had, the year before, formed some acquaintance. With him I made arrangements to study Latin and music. I agreed to his conditions, and he, to make me a complete singing-master. So great was my eagerness in reading Virgil, that with about fifty-eight days' study, I finished the twel`AEneid of the `./Eneid.' These I recited to a lawyer named Pepper, who treated me with much affection, and taught me many things which were afterwards of much use to me." In the fall, after visiting his parents, Jonas found his way to Cape Cod, at a town called Dennis, working his way there with his own hands, as did the Apostle Paul, and much to the benefit of his health, as he had a little before raised blood, either from his too close application to study or from too much effort in singing. Some friend in Hawley had sent word to Dennis of Jonas' coming. The first question asked him was, " Is your name King ?" Next, " What can you eat ?" An swer, "Anything but cabbage-stumps," soJONAS which
Here Jonas remained a year, having then $120 or $130 in his purse; and feeling about his money as did Jacob at the sight of Joseph's wagons. He hesitated whether to go on teaching for another year, so as to in crease his store, or, as he writes, "to quit all, and go and study with some minister with a view to enter college. I was in my twenty-first year, and feared if I delayed study another year, I might be induced finally to relin quish it. This I feared the more, as I. found a growing attachment to one of my pupils in music, whose voice in the treble I thought might prove like that of the Syrens, a means of turning me out of the course which I wished to pursue. I at once decided, went on board a packet for Boston, spent a week in viewing the wonders of the capital, purchased a few second-hand Greek books, and set out for Hawley. Thence I went to Halifax, Vt., and with the Rev. T. H. Wood, whose name I shall ever remember with affection, commenced the Greek Testa ment, and a review of Virgil, which had been entirely laid aside aside from the time I left Chesterfield. " My eyes were weak, and I could study only by day light. I used to rise at five o'clock, and think over my conjugations and grammar-rules till daylight appeared; then walk out about forty rods for exercise, and then son.. Kies. 3 25 JONAS KING. study till the setting of the sun. Nothing but Greek was in my head. I dreamed of it, and, as my roommate often told me, talked of it in my sleep. " By the blessing of God I was enabled, by what was reckoned about six weeks' study, to finish reading, for the first time, the New Testament in the original. The progress I made was owing to the continual high excite ment of mind which I had in view of going to college. My health, however, became impaired, from want of ex ercise and by too intense application to study." But this did not discourage the young student. He was still determined to obtain an education, if possible. COLLEGE AND SEMINARY LIFE. 27 CHAPTER II. COLLEGE AND SEMINARY LIFE. Williams College—College Revival—Doctrinal Doubts Overcome--College Honors—Andover Theological Seminary—Life of Faith—Classmates. BEING persuaded by his instructor to go to Williams College, Dr. King writes : " I set off on foot to visit the seat of the muses among the mountains of Berkshire, to see if I could be admitted among them. I arrived in the midst of a snowstorm weary and fatigued, fearing what would be the issue of my journey. My first business was to call on the pres ident, who demanded how long I had been studying, and how much Latin and Greek I had read. I told him frankly, and he shook his head, saying he could give me no encouragement of entering before another year. This was like a frost on the flowers of spring, and my opening hopes began to wither. If I waited another year, my little purse would be empty, and then I would be obliged to spend another year keeping school, in order to be able to enter; and that would bring me to such an .age, that I would view the idea of obtaining a liberal educa tion as almost hopeless. " I went out from his presence with a heavy heart, but thought I would use one effort more ; that was to call on the tutors and hear what they would say to me. 23 JONAS KING. I found two of them together. Both shook their heads, and one replied very shortly, that it was out of all ques tion to think of entering, and left the room. I then asked the other if I could not be admitted for a while on probation, and if my progress was not such that they could with honor admit me, be sent away at the end of the term. " Mr. E. (the tutor) looked at me with attention, and then demanded if I had been studying with the Rev. Mr. Wood of Halifax. I replied that I had. ` If,' said he, you are the same young man of whom I have heard him speak, I will guarantee that you will be admitted before the close of the year. Come on, and I will speak to the president in your behalf.' This was like the dawn of morning to a night-worn and weather-beaten sailor. For, had I met with a complete repulse at this time, I think my spirits would have sunk under it, and I should have relinquished the learned halls and academic groves, and have gone back to the little cottage and woodlands of my father. " I returned home with a light and gladsome heart, packed up my books and clothes which I had left there, and having received the prayers and benedictions of my parents, set out a second time for Williamstown. It was, if I rightly recollect, some time in March. A thaw had taken place, the snow was rapidly melting, the roads were filled with water and mud, which rendered it extremely unpleasant and wearisome travelling. It began, more over, to rain, but at length I saw the lights of the lamp of science beaming faintly on me through the intervening COLLEGE AND SEMINARY LIFE. 29 darkness, a fit likeness of my situation, and I marched on with a quicker step and at about eleven o'clock reached an inn near the college. The next day I began to reside within its walls, and was permitted to recite with the members of the Freshman class, who entered college some time before I had read a single word of the Greek Testament, or Graeca Minora. ` Hic labor, hoc opus fait.' I was obliged to study night and day, to read for the first time long lessons which they were reviewing. Two hundred lines of the Georgics, seven or eight sec tions of Cicero's Orations, together with a portion of the Græca Minora was an Herculean task for one day. It often seemed to me that my head would be crazed, or that I would sink into the earth under the burden laid upon me." His health now suffered severely in consequence of so much study, living too as he did in a very economical way ; but at the end of two wearisome months, he sus tained a public examination, and was admitted to the Freshman class. At the close of the Freshman year, having taken a good stand in his class, he made application in vain to two distinguished gentlemen to lend him two or three hun dred dollars to help him along. " One of them gave me a dollar, with which I bought a hymn-book to remember him by ; the other gave a few kind words only." The next winter teaching school again during part of the term and in vacation, brought in money enough to carry him on till spring ; after which he concluded to make one more effort to borrow money ; but after a toil- 3'
some journey, taking with him a letter of recommenda tion, was actually "repulsed with rage." "This decided me to make no more such applications, but simply lay l my case before my Heavenly Father, who would not repulse me in such a manner, and who had the silver and the gold in his hands, and the cattle on a thousand hills. In a few days, I unexpectedly received an invitation to take charge of a school in Catskill for six months, which I accepted. During a part of this time I also taught music two or three evenings a week. By this means, I gained money sufficient to defray my expenses for the ensuing year. And, though I had been absent from college nine months of my Sophomore year, I had been enabled, by the goodness of God, to pursue my studies in such a manner as to remain in my class. " My college companions used sometimes to rally me a little, saying that I was a singular genius, to keep up with them, and yet be absent continually heaping up wealth; that, after I had defrayed my college expenses, I should unquestionably have money to put out at interest. The third year I was perfectly at my ease. My mind was in a state of perpetual enchantment. I felt as if I had entered upon a new state of existence ; that I had come out of darkness into marvellous light. What I had learned before seemed only as a pebble on the shore, by the side of that vast ocean of Mathematics which now opened to my view. I was the more delighted with these studies, because they were considered very important; and I began to entertain some hope that, by a strict attention to them, I might secure the highest appoint-
ment at the end of my academical career. But, before the close of the year, my attention was arrested by some thing more interesting than Philosophy, Mathematics, and college honors. Though my deportment before the world was, for the most part, strictly according to my profession as a disciple of Christ, still I felt a want of spirituality in my devotions, and of faithfulness to those around me who had no hope in the great Redeemer of sinners, and whom I should one day meet at the bar of God. These feelings were increased by the return of my roommate (at the end of the spring vacation) the Rev. S. Eaton, whose heart now seemed enkindled with a fresh flame from heaven. He and I and one other met together one evening, talked over our unfaithfulness, prayed for refreshings from the presence of the Lord, and agreed to converse seriously each day with some one of our college companions ; also to spend an hour together each evening in prayer. "The effect was astonishing. In about a week or fortnight, almost all in college were interested. Some mocked, some wept, and some, who had been very gay and thoughtless, were seen, in great anxiety, inquiring what they should do to be saved." After times of "surprising grace," the enemy of souls often takes advantage of the young Christian, who may have relaxed in watchfulness, thinking the conflict over. From whatever cause, just after the college revival Jonas King passed as it were into the very shadow of the "mount of privilege." His feet were lifted away from the foundations of his faith. Doubts as to doctrine, 32 JONAS KING. and as to his own acceptance, assailed him. But "the Lord knoweth them that are his," and will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able. This young soldier of the cross was soon brought to the alternative, either to reject the Bible, or to accept all its teachings. He looked unto God, and was lightened. The victory was given. " He restoreth my soul" became the song of deliverance of him, who was thus taught from his own experience how to meet the bitter and acute cavillings of many with whom, as missionary in the East, he was afterwards brought in contact. At the end of the Junior year an English oration was assigned him. Through the Senior year also, Jonas passed success fully, teaching a singing-school, and engaging as private instructor in a family residing about a mile and a half from the college. At the close, he received the Philo sophical oration. "During the summer vacation I took a school, and in September, 1516, received my Bachelor's degree; and a few weeks after settled all my college bills. Sophomore year I had received from a friend twenty dollars ; Junior year about the same ; Senior year sixty, and fifty more from the American Education Society. In two instances I had received from private friends about one dollar and a half, or two dollars, not more. This was all the aid I ever received, from the time I left my father's house till I left college. I had furnished myself, or rather God had furnished me, with books, clothing, board, everything, except a suit of clothes my parents gave me at the age
of twenty-one, which was called my freedom-suit. When I had studied one book, I sold that to purchase another, and at the close sold all I had left to bear my part of the expenses at Commencement. " Thus the Lord had brought me along in a strange way, and I appeared as a wonder unto many. I often passed through trials and hardships, but out of all of them the Lord delivered me. I had often come down to the brink of the Red Sea, and had seen there no possible way of passing over. But the moment I stepped in the waves divided. " I was many a time hungry and thirsty in the wil derness, but whenever I cried unto the Lord God of Is rael, and smote the rock with the rod of faith, the waters gushed out, and the heavens rained down manna. Often I have lain down at night weeping, and joy came in the morning. It was not owing to any skill or merit of my own. It was all of God, and all the glory be unto his name. One thing I have often noticed, and which I think worth remarking. That is, when I have been straitened and pressed till I knew not which way to turn, I have generally been brought to a kind of resignation to the will of God a little before deliverance came. " By the advice of President Moore, and with the aid of some charitable people in Chatham, New York, I made my way to the Theological Seminary at Andover, near Boston. Here I spent three years, receiving from a charitable fund of the seminary eighty dollars a year to defray the expense of board. " I read but few commentaries, few polemical works, 34 JONAS KING. and generally examined subjects by the Scriptures them. selves. And this course I would recommend to every young student in theology. It is far better to drink at the pure fountain, than of the streams at a distance, which bear along in their course much of this earth. The latter part of the first year I lost much time by a severe illness, the effects of which I felt for two years after. The third year I devoted to writing sermons, and to the study of pulpit oratory, though from the state of my health and the state of my heart, I labored under almost constant depression of mind." Dr. King's journal, while at Andover, is a record truly of a life of faith. In time of need and discouragement, he still hopes in God, and help is sure to follow. He writes, " January 20, 1818: Other young men, when they need pecuniary aid, have parents and friends to whom they apply for assistance ; but I have nowhere to go, but directly to the throne of grace, and there I find all my wants richly supplied. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul. " Oct. 31. Visited to-day Dr. Morse's, in Charles town. How kind is my Redeemer in granting me so many friends." Then mention is made of a sermon on the Resurrec tion, by Rev. Sereno Dwight, and of dining at Dr. Morse's. Again of books bought at Andover. " Purchased of Mr. Stuart, Eichhorn's Einleitung. It is a very great treasure. What reason have I to be thankful, that a kind Providence supplies me with books ! Oh, that I might write HOLINESS upon them all ; that I might consecrate them to the cause of Christ ! Lord, COLLEGE AND SEMINARY LIFE. 35 grant that I may desire books and learning, only that I may make myself more extensively useful to the church and to the world. "'T is astonishing to me, that my Creator bestows on me books and friends and innumerable other blessings, since I am so constantly ungrateful and do so little to promote his glory." He speaks of ill-health, of pain in his head, which make him think of the poor pagans with no comfort, no Saviour, when they are called to suffer. Then follow confessions of ambition, pride, earthly-mindedness, and love of self. " Friday, Dec. II, 1818, was observed by the Senior class, Andover, for the special purpose of examining the motives which were leading them into the gospel minis try." And Dr. King copies from Titus and Timothy direct Bible instruction on the subject. Among these young men, thus looking to God, were Thurston and Bingham, afterward of the Sandwich Isl ands, Dr. Wayland of Brown University, Byington of the Indian Missions, Torrey, who translated Neander's Church History, Spalding and Winslow of Ceylon, and others, whose useful lives, as well as that of Jonas King, have certified God's promise to give wisdom to those who seek it in sincerity and faith.
CHAPTER III. EARLY MISSIONARY EFFORTS IN THIS COUNTRY. Work in Charlestown, Boston, and Portsmouth—Licensed to preach at Andover, 1819—Labors in Brimfield and Holland, Massa chusetts, and Charleston, South Carolina. Letter from Rev. Edward Palmer. IN Dr. King's case the youth was emphatically "the father of the man." Even before finishing his course at Andover Theological Seminary, he as an evangelist began in this country personal efforts that not only very early showed the aggressive nature of his piety, but in addition proved to be the exact training needed for his subsequent work abroad. His vacations were employed as follows : "The first vacation I spent in visiting my parents; the second with Dr. Jedediah Morse of Charlestown, passing six weeks in his family, while making an abridgement of ` Walker on Elocution,' and selecting some fine specimens of eloquence from speeches delivered be fore Bible Societies, Missionary Societies, etc., which, together with some others, were afterwards published under the title of The Christian Orator.' Two vaca tions I spent in Boston as a missionary, and one in Ports mouth. I also spent two weeks of term time in Har vard."
Upon finally leaving Andover, he was providentially led almost immediately into practical labor. His own wish was to study if possible three years longer ; but he was in debt for books, clothing, etc., and justice demanded that he should first of all do what he could to bring in ready money. He felt unfit for the ministry in point of knowledge and piety. He was blamed by many for wish ing to give more time to preparation, they accusing him of undue ambition to be a great man. He comforted himself with the thought that God knew his motives and feelings. "At present," he writes, "whatever might be my attainments in knowledge and piety, I must in some way earn two hundred dollars. It had been so ordered that I was in the ministry. My health demanded relaxation from study. In view of the whole, I concluded to go for awhile and preach faithfully what I believed to be truth, hoping that God would bless his own word, though it should be delivered by one whose hopes of heaven were very faint and feeble. " I first engaged to go on a mission six weeks to South Brimfield and Holland, under the direction of the Massachusetts Domestic Missionary Society. There it seemed as if the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, as upon Samson of old when among the Philistines. My faith seemed to be strengthened, and my hopes revived, and it pleased God to crown my labors with some suc cess. I have been told that about twenty were hopefully cMISSIONAR Jonas King, 4
"Having been recommended by the Rev. P. Fiske, I was next employed for six months by the Female Do mestic Missionary Society of Charleston, South Carolina, to labor as missionary in that city, where, on my arrival, I was ordained as an evangelist. My business was to preach the Gospel to seamen and the poor, and to bind up the broken-hearted; a work truly noble, and to per form which the Son of God left the abodes of glory. The fishermen of Galilee, the publicans and sinners, the sick and the afflicted, were the objects of his particular attention. " I preached often for Dr. Palmer, at the Circular church, and supplied-the Second Presbyterian church for six weeks, during the illness of Dr. Flinn. By these means, I was thrown much into society with those who were considered the most polished people in the Uni ted States, and had opportunity for improvement in many ways. "Nathaniel Russell, Esq., the father-in-law of Bishop Dehone, and Charles O'Neale, Esq., both gave me a hospitable welcome to their houses during my.residence at Charleston. By Mr. and Mrs. O'Neale I was received and treated as a son. "Having finished my labors at Charleston, I returned to the North, preached six or eight weeks at Park Street Church, Boston, during an absence of the Rev. Mr. Dwight, visited my parents, made them a present of fifty dollars, returned to Andover and resumed my studies." Among Dr. King's early papers appear " Plans for doing good in Boston and other places. EARLY MISSIONARY EFFORTS. 39 " Explore every nook and corner of the town to find those that are destitute of Bibles. If any such be found, take their name and place of residence, and see that they have Bibles sent them immediately, accompanied by a serious address on the importance of its contents, and the necessity of immediately becoming acquainted with its doctrines. In these visits, take some religious friend with me. " Meddle not with politics. ` Procul, 0 procul.'
"Speak to the heart. Use the artillery of Mount Sinai, till men begin to feel that they are sinners. Show them the spirituality of the Divine Law. " Let all your conversation be kind and affectionate. Address sinners with all that earnestness and affection with which a pious father would address his children from a death-bed. " Tracts must be circulated, and always attended, if possible, with a short, but serious and impressive ad dress. "The sick and dying must be .visited ; funerals at tended ; and let an evening conference be appointed at the house of mourning as soon as may be convenient. "Boston contains about 40,000 inhabitants, and twenty-four societies. Allowing 1,00o souls to each
" Houses for religious worship must be erected for 40 JONAS KING. the convenience of sailors and the destitute who belong to the town. " Let little associations be formed in different parts of the town for the purpose of ascertaining, (r,) what fam ilies are destitute of the Bible, (a) those who do not at tend public worship, whether families or individuals, (3) who need instruction, (4) what vices are prevalent. (5.) Let these little associations distribute Bibles, tracts, etc., comfort the sick and afflicted, persuade those who are able to attend public worship, and prevent by various means Sabbath-breaking, profaneness, intemperance, idle ness, and vice of all kinds, " Let there be little social praying circles as many as are convenient. It is prayer that must bring down all the blessings. "The blacks must be attended to. Find some fit for schoolmasters or ministers." A diary of visits made to the poor, of meetings held, and Sunday-school children gathered in, shows how thoroughly these plans were carried out in detail. Again, in Portsmouth, we find the same efforts made; and the following plans for doing good added to the for mer list : " Let every Christian converse with one or more im penitent sinners every day; and at the social prayer-meeting relate his success for the encouragement of others. " Obtain subscribers for the Panoplist,' in order to extend religious information, and to aid Rev. Jeremiah Evarts.
" Make an effort to secure some support for Mr. Ev arts, that he may devote all his time to missionary ob jects. " Form a society among the young men, auxiliary to the American Education Society." In Portsmouth Dr, King found many Christians who were a help to him in his work, and in his personal reli gious experience. Many names, both here and in Boston, he notes with interest and affection ; among others, those of Deacon Tappan and his daughter Eliza, relatives of the Tappan brothers so widely known. Indeed, these early diaries are kept with the system and fastidious correctness which afterwards were so characteristic of the records of his subsequent work abroad. Plans for doing good in Charleston, S. C., Sept., 1819, also precede the journal of his stay there. " Endeavor to excite Christians to frequent and fer vent prayer. Let the members of little circles for prayer have a street or part of a street assigned them, in which it shall be their duty to visit and converse with the families, find out their situation, whether they have Bibles, whether they attend family prayer, and attend meeting on the Sabbath ; whether any have serious impression. When the members meet, let all the interesting cases be made a particular subject of prayer. " Visit Sabbath-schools, and have weekly meetings of the instructors, to converse with them and advise them. " Almshouse, orphanhouse, hospital and jail, must receive proper attention.
" Seamen. Form a marine Bible Society. Converse with captains and officers, and try to show them the im portance of attending prayers on board their vessels. " Write for the ' Southern Evangelical Intelligencer,' on practical subjects of religion. " Keep a list of the names of all the families that I visit. " Seek out young men of piety and talents, and pre vail on them, if possible, to engage in the gospel min. istry. " Inquire the state of schools and colleges. Make some plan for their improvement. " In order to keep my mind vigorous and active, study a little Latin, French, and Arabic, every day." While it was simply impossible for any one to carry out in full so many different efforts for good, yet the high aims and labor of this young theological student were not without gratifying results ; for in this early part of his minority he was privileged in Charleston, as else where, to gather gems to the honor of his Lord. Let the following testimony speak for itself, as given by Rev. Edward Palmer of Barnwell, South Carolina, the father of Rev. B. C. Palmer, D. D., of New Orleans, and brother of Rev. Benjamin Palmer, D. D., in whose church, the Circular church of Charleston, Jonas King was ordained evangelist, Dec. 17, 1819; after which he returned to Andover, and spent about a year as Resi dent Licentiate.
can, from a personal knowledge of that-great and good servant of God, give any details of him and his work while a missionary in Charleston.... His visits and his labors were welcomed and appreciated by all the pious with whom he became conversant, particularly by the ladies of the society in whose employ he was, and who were made glad by his untiring and successful work among the poor and spiritually needy of the city. In the family of my brother, Rev. Dr. Palmer, whose lady was the corresponding secretary of the society, and in my own family, the female head of which was the su perintendent of the same, the visits of that dear brother wcre very frequent, and always most welcome and cheer ing. From personal and specific acquaintance with the missionary and his work, I can truthfully say, that he was conscientiously, ardently, faithfully, and perseveringly devoted to the arduous duties he had undertaken ; always giving the highest satisfaction to the society in whose employ he was, as well as securing the ap probation of all who wished well to the new and inter esting enterprise ; for, if I am not mistaken, that was the first society of the kind ever inaugurated in the place, undertaken and managed altogether under the auspices of ladies ; so that, as in the first report of the missionary, he remarked, The formation of this society I hail as a star over this city, like that at Bethlehem, and anticipate the time when this star shall increase in magnitude, till it shall attain the full-orbed effulgence of the meridian sun.' ... " Dr. King's departure to the North was universally
deplored. If you will allow me, I will relate a circum stance which may be interesting, not only as evincing his devotion to his Master, but as developing his desire to have laborers sent into the harvest.' "At the time he was in Charleston, I was the princi pal of a flourishing academy in the city, and not unfre quently called upon to deliver public addresses to certain societies. On one occasion I delivered a missionary ad dress before the ' Young Men's Missionary Society' in the city, at which Brother King was present. Accom panying me home, at the close of the same, he took me aside and asked, ' Have you ever thought of the ministry yourself?' to which I promptly replied, ' Look, dear sir, at a fond wife, and four lovely children, whom I am bound by every tender and loving tie, to support, and then see whether such a question can 1;e asked.' He immediately rejoined, ' If the Lord shall call, he will open up the way,' and then begged me to give the subject a prayerful consideration. Forthwith he communicated with my brother and pastor, Rev. Dr. Palmer, Sen., and other pious friends ; especially with Dr. Porter, the senior pro fessor of Andover Seminary, then on a southern visit for health; all of which, to bring this topic to a close, culmi nated in my going to Andover Seminary in 1821, and returning in 1824 a regularly-ordained minister, whom a kind Providence has permitted to labor in the vineyard over 51 years ; and though no longer a settled pastor, having the last year resigned my pastorate, I am still preaching nearly every Sabbath, at the advanced age of nearly 87.
" Instrumentally, therefore, Dr. King ushered me into the ministry, and then, perhaps, through me, my two sons, laboring in New Orleans and Mobile. " I take the liberty of enclosing Dr. King's first re port, which I have cut out of a bound volume of reports." This report, whose leaves are brown with age, is of .interest, not only as regarding Dr. King, but also as be ing an earnest, given so long ago, of what the Christian women. of the present day, by God's blessing, are being privileged to undertake and accomplish.
CHAPTER IV. GOING ABROAD, AND LIFE IN PARIS. Studies Continued—Way opened to prosecute them in Paris—Appointment as Professor in Amherst College—Gospel Meet ings held in Europe—Serious Illness—Letter from Pliny Fisk, calling him to Palestine—Acquaintance with Baron de Stael, and other men of note—Tracts and New Testaments distributed at Notre Dame, Malmaison, Versailles, and Mount Calvary—Preaching in Paris—First Observance there of the Monthly Concert. THE following entry was made, May 30, 1821, in an early diary : "Decided to leave this country for Europe to study Arabic, under the celebrated De Sacy." In order to a full understanding of the way in which Dr. King was led to this decision, and so onwards through France to his work in the East, it is necessary to notice in what direction his mind was turned during his last year in Andover. He writes : "From November, 182o, till the spring of 1821, I spent my time in reading the Hebrew Bible, Oriental Antiquities, by Jahn and Warnercroft in German, the Greek and Latin Fathers, Livy's History, Eichhorn's Extracts of History in Latin, the works of Massillon in French, Quintilian, and commenced a translation of Bellerman's Biblical Geography. During this time, was put into my hands by Mrs. P. the Life of Henry Martyn, as she feared I was too much occupied with human
science, and two little with divine. This I read with eagerness, but instead of abating my desire for study, it increased it. About the same time appeared a little pamphlet by Mr. Stuart, containing extracts from Jahn's dissertation on the Study of Languages, accompanied with notes by Mr. Stuart. The effect of this and of Martyn's Life was powerful, so that it was sometimes with difficulty that I could sleep. It seemed to me that something almost supernatural had possessed my breast. My desire was to go to Europe to acquire the Arabic language, and then enter whatever field of labor should be presented, perhaps a mission among the Arabians or Persians. It had been my plan for more than two years to take this course, if the way should ever be opened. I had often made it a subject of prayer, and had expressed my intentions to Mr. and Mrs. Russell and Mr. and Mrs. O'Neale, at Charleston. " How to procure the means was now the question. What would support me at Andover or Princeton, could not do so at Paris or Gottingen. At length I concluded to address a benevolent and wealthy gentleman of my acquaintance, Col. I. C. Trask, of Springfield. After having written the letter, I spread it. repeatedly before the Lord, and begged that if those feelings and desires that possessed my breast came of him, and if he would indeed go with me and preserve me from being led astray by human philosophy and the allurements of the world, that he would incline the heart of him to whom the letter was addressed to give me a favorable answer. After having sent it, I devoted a day to fasting and
prayer ; and thought that if I did not mistake my feel ings, they were such as I had often observed previous to having my petitions granted. " I soon received an answer from Col. T. requesting me to meet him at Boston, and to take lodgings there in the first hotel at his expense. I was on my way thither, when the letter was given me by a stagedriver. On arriving, he generously offered to furnish me with five hundred dollars. I at once decided to go to Europe, if I had to make my way back as a common sailor; and wrote to my Charleston friends on the subject. Without waiting for answer, I packed up my things at Andover, conveyed them to Boston, and had made every prepara tion to go on to New York to set sail for Havre, when I received from Mr. O'Neale the sorrowful tidings of his wife's death. I went back to Andover to spend a few days in mourning, and was by some circumstance led thence to Newburyport, where I unexpectedly re ceived the offer from the Hon. W. B. Bannister, cousin of my father, of a passage in a vessel of his bound to Holland ; also of provisions for the voyage." The preceding year Jonas King had been able to procure for the Seminary at Andover, upwards of two thousand dollars. This may have influenced the Treas urer to make him now a loin of one hundred and sixty dollars, one of the trustees becoming security. Letters from the South were received approving of his plans, and with fresh offers of service. " Thus everything was favorable. The ship was ready, and I was only waiting for a fair wind to waft me over GOING ABROAD, AND LIFE IN PARIS. 49 the ocean, when I received the information that I was appointed Professor of Oriental Languages in Amherst College." This appointment was communicated to Dr. King by Noah Webster, LL D., then president of the Board of Trustees. While he appreciated the honor offered him, he was still somewhat doubtful what he ought to do. He feared the duties connected with it would shut him out of the direct work of the ministry ; but upon conference with the Rev. Dr. Storrs, Stuart, and other friends, he decided to accept this service for the Great Head of the Church, whose special guidance he was seeking as to his course in life. Dr. Moses Stuart wrote : " My DEAR SIR : I have consulted my brethren on the subject of your office. We are unanimously of opinion that it will be a good thing both for you and for the college. It will give you advantages to go out as professor elect, and they may profit very much by your services in procuring books. In the mean time, as Oriental Literature in a college at present will hardly give you full scope, I presume they will superadd the Greek in due time, which will give you a chance to go to Gottingen. However, as Providence has opened the way for Oriental Literature, in conscience you are bound to make this the chief object of your attention. "Yours in haste, " M. STUART." The Trustees of Amherst College were anxious to have their. own professor well qualified for his position; Jonas K'u, 5
and.fully approved of having him still carry out his plan to study abroad. Providence in every way favored this intention. A passport was no idle form in those days, nor easy to obtain ; yet just in time "a citizen from his own country" was sent to identify him as the law required. A letter of introduction was given him by Mr. N. Carnes of Boston, to S. V. S. Wilder, an American merchant residing in Paris. He sailed from Boston August i8, 1821, arriving in Holland in thirty-five days, and at Paris on October 9. On his way he devoted some little time to objects of interest which were then especially attractive to one fresh from Massachusetts. He formed acquaintances, afterwards of value, with some Protestant ministers and laymen in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other places ; he also held religious services wherever practicable, both at sea and on land. In proposing such meetings, there was a directness and simplicity in Dr. King's manner, such as implied expectation of success as a matter of course ; it was not easy to refuse any appointment sug gested by the earnest young American stranger, and he seems everywhere to have received a warm Christian welcome. Once in Paris, he began study immediately, being at great disadvantage, however, because obliged to learn Arabic through the French language. In about two months his health declined. Change to other lodgings seemed of no avail. " By the last of March," he writes, " I was taken ill of a high bilious fever, and was confined to my bed for nearly a month. So little hope, at one GOING ABROAD, AND LIFE IN PARIS. 51 time, was entertained of my recovery, that a place was selected for me in the Pere-la-Chaise, where I might rest my weary head till the trumpet of the archangel should awake me. The thought that my progress in study must now be interrupted, just as I had begun to pursue it with a little pleasure ; that I was spending upon physicians, and watchers, and nurses, and apothecaries, the little pittance of money that remained to me ; and that con sequently I should be obliged soon to return to America without having accomplished the object of my coming—all this tended to sink my spirits still more, and add strength to my disease. The thought of my poor parents distressed me, and such were the feelings of my heart, that I had little spiritual comfort. Sometimes I was more resigned, and when the nurse would leave the room, I would lift up my voice and say, ` O Lord, con tinue thy chastisement if that be necessary to make me humble, and fit me for thy service. Take away my health, keep me on this bed of sickness till I shall have gained spiritual strength to overcome the world. Stop my progress in study, take away the little pittance of support I have, if I may but learn the heavenly art of living near to thee, and may be rich in faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ.'" Thus like David he cried unto the Lord in his trouble, and was soon able to write, " I can truly bless the Lord for this chastisement. I have since had more comfort in prayer, more evidence of my union to Christ." It was not until the last of June, that he was able to take up study again with vigor ; and then suddenly,
through the instrumentality of a letter received from the Rev. Pliny Fisk, his attention was fixed on a new object, a Mission to the Holy Land. Before noting the circumstances that favored his acceptance of this missionary call, there is much to claim attention in Dr. King's life in Paris itself. Here he became acquainted not only with Mr. Wilder and family, but, at Mr. Wilder's house, with many Christian people from England and other parts of Europe, who afterwards proved friends indeed. Mr. Augustus H. Hillhouse of New Haven helped him in many ways ne cessary to a stranger in a strange city. Tuesday, No vember 4, 1821, Dr. King writes : " Was introduced to a large society of savants from all parts of the world at Mr. Langle's, Conservateur des Manuscrits Orientales. Conversed much with an American doctor. Met a Per sian, a Dane, a Spaniard, etc. "Monday, Jan. 14, 1822. Visited for the first time the Baron de Staol-Holstein, son of the celebrated Ma dame de Stael, and rejoiced exceedingly to find him much interested in the cause of religion. Said he found his mind fluctuating. Sometimes he thought he had some grace, at other times was almost disposed to say he had none. That he was in the practice of reading the Scrip tures, which he would do if it were only for the beauty of the composition and the imagery. Said that he spent one year at Geneva, when about seventeen years of age, in attending lectures on theology ; that this was the only year of his life that he should be willing to live over again, if it were left to him to choose ; hoped that he GOING ABROAD, AND LIFE IN PARIS. 53 should become more and more engaged in the good cause of extending the knowledge of Jesus Christ to fallen man. Said that it appeared to him that the grand truths taught by revelation seemed also to be graven on the heart of man : first, that he needed a Mediator, a Redeemer ; and, second, that the operation of the Holy Spirit was necessary ; that men absolutely find some thing that it is out of their power to obtain, and which must be given them. Made inquiries with regard to Arianism in America ;.said that unhappily in France, and on the Continent generally, Unitarian sentiments prevailed ; that they were chilling ; that he thought no man could read the Scriptures and not believe them, nor without at once admitting that Jesus Christ is truly divine and one with the Father. He thought also that the doctrine of the agency of God continually exerted upon man was evident. I related to him some things which were doing in America ; he wished to know what sect was most engaged in doing good ; thought exer tions to do good were evidences of the purity of religion. Greeted me with much kindness, and said that he should be highly gratified to call on me often to converse on those interesting subjects." Dr. King also notes interviews with Prof. Edward Everett, Dr. Spurzheim, Monod, father and son, Gen. Macaulay, Prof. Blumhartt, Rev. Lewis Way, F. Andre Michaux, Rev. Daniel Wilson, Soulier (pastor), Marron, President of the Consistoire, Rev. Gardner Spring, Ols hausen, Van Lennep of Smyrna, Louis Mertens, Wad dington, and other typical men of that day. 5*
Dr. King makes special mention of the Rev. Mr. Ta.cey, because he was intimately acquainted with Henry Kirke White and Henry Martyn. " He showed me a letter in Martyn's own handwriting, and observed he had just paid a visit to the lady who was so dear to Martyn's heart. He spoke highly of our President Edwards and of David Brainerd, and remarked that he esteemed Martyn very highly ; he thought Brainerd superior to him or to any other missionary whose life he had ever read." But Dr. King had an opportunity in Paris to make acquaintance, not with persons only, but with places in and about the city which then, as now, was full of works of art and various collections of interest ; among them some Egyptian antiquities were new indeed to the young American professor, who drew from his examination of them many lessons as to the past and present, little thinking he would himself so soon visit the actual places from which these relics had been taken. He also went to Argenteuil, where Eloise was once abbess, and to the lunatic hospital at Salpetriere. De scriptions of these, as seen more than fifty-five years ago, are given, but must here be passed by. At Malmaison, as elsewhere, Dr. King and his friends remembered the great commission, and talked to the por ter, who had been in charge for twenty-two years, and to his family of the vanity of this world's glory, giving to his little girl, named Josephine, the tract entitled "The Dairyman's Daughter." At family prayers that evening it seemed most appropriate to sing Dr. Malan's hymn, just then published: GOING ABROAD, AND LIFE IN PARIS. 55 "Que peut le monde A mon bonheur? Car je le fonde Sur mon Sauveur. " II me l'acquit Quand it suffit Pour mes pfchēs Qu'il a portes." In Paris, too, the actual sight of the mummeries of Roman-catholic worship, carried out there as was not the case at that time in the United States, still further prepared Dr. King for the war he was to wage for " the faith once delivered to the saints." To see the sacrile gious bowings to the images in the church of Notre Dame made his "blood fairly boil in his veins." At the same time the ceremonial was so imposing, he realized how easily the thoughtless or weakminded could be drawn away by it from the simplicity of the pure gospel. An extract from his Journal of Aug. 15, 1822, gives Dr. King's impressions of Roman-catholicism, seen in its most favorable aspect. " Called on Bishop Gregoire. Spent about two hours in conversing on the subject of religion and of my jour ney to Palestine. Asked him to tell me frankly if he thought that any out of the Catholic Roman church could be saved. His answer was very nearly that `he thought not.' Said he was not in favor of persecution ; that he condemned, and he only prayed for those who differed from him. I then stated to him my belief as nearly that of Massillon, except that I could not believe in images, etc. ; that my Bible told me, `Thou shalt not
make thee any graven image—thou shalt not bow thy self down unto them,' etc. ; that I took the Bible for my guide, Jesus Christ for my Saviour, discarding entirely my own work as giving title to merit ; that I believed in regeneration, and was willing to spend my life in doing good to the souls of my fellow-men. `Now,' said I, 'you will pardon me for questioning you so closely, but I have a great desire to know your opinion, as in America we consider you as a distinguished and enlightened man. Do you think that if I die to-day or to-morrow with these feelings I shall be lost for ever?' He replied that he must say `Yes ;' and that I must be more culpable in the sight of God because I had had opportunity to know the truth, and ought to have been right by this time. " After long conversation on various points I wished him a good-day. He took me by the hand very affec tionately, invited me to call and see him, etc., and I came away. " Saw the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin. On this day the royal family walk around N&tre Dame barefooted and bareheaded, in fulfilment of a vow made by Louis XIII. to the Virgin Mary. " There are some parts of our earth in which, al though the sun shines ever so bright, it seems dark. Who could believe that a man so enlightened as Bishop Gregoire, a man who has such extensive acquaintance as he has in Germany, Italy, England, etc., who has made so great attainments in literature, has ventured to com bat the high, the mighty pope, so that all good Catholics suppose that he aimed at deposing him—who, I say,
could suppose that his views would be so narrow ? And who could believe that in the nineteenth century the royal family of France would be seen walking barefooted and bareheaded in the streets of Paris, supposing this to be a most delightful sight to the Virgin Mary ? Lord, what is man ?" Again, Sept. 17, 1822, on occasion of a visit paid to Versailles, and after reflections on the insufficiency of the prayers of all Catholic France to redeem the contam inated soul of Louis XIV. from the pains of purgatory—if purgatory could be supposed to exist—Dr. King writes : " While walking through the mighty hall of this immense palace, viewing its beautifully-gilded columns and splen did paintings, I stepped up to the officer who conducted us, and who was pointing out to us the most interesting objects, and said to him, ` Sir, what is all the glory of this world ? Louis XIV., encircled with all this gran deur, could not help dying; and what is he the better for it ? An interest in the Lord Jesus Christ is worth the whole of it, and infinitely transcends it.' ` I believe it,' replied he. I then asked him if he had ever read the Sacred Scriptures. The answer was, ` No, I have never seen them.' I then presented him with a New Testa ment, and charged him to read in it one chapter every clay, with prayer to almighty God for the illumination of his Holy Spirit. This he promised to do, and said that he had a family of children, who should do it too. He thanked me repeatedly, and during my stay in the palace treated me with particular attention. On coming out he showed his precious treasure to another officer, who
looked at me as though he wished one too, and I imme diately returned and presented one to him, who seemed much delighted, and made like promises as his friend. After distributing a few tracts to some we met in the court, we made our way through the garden to the Grand Trianon, a house built by Louis XIV. for his mistress, Madame Maintenon. Here also we left a New Testa ment. Thence we went to the Petit Trianon, built by Louis XV. for his mistress, Madame 'Pompadour, and there we left another New Testament. Both were re ceived with apparent gratitude and with many thanks. "Met the Duke d'Angoulēme and his suite; next, the king and his attendants. It was truly a brilliant sight. The king passed within two rods of me as I sat in my carriage. I had a full view of him, and he looked me full in the face. He is of a dark complexion, and looks like a man of greater talents than I had thought him to be. How many hundreds are put in motion by one man ! The Marshal of France is answerable with his head for the safety of the king during his promenades. Had in the carriage with us a soldier who had made the cam paign of Moscow, fought the Cossacks, and was taken prisoner. Began to talk with him about the spiritual combat which it was necessary to fight in order to gain heaven. At first he seemed disposed to make light of everything serious. But seeing we were in earnest, he began to be so too, and confessed that he often thought much of future things ; that, when a child, he had been taught to read, and that he carried a New Testament with him into the army, and then lost it, but that he had
always continued to pray, and that he believed in Jesus Christ. Mr. Wilder gave him some tracts and a New Testament, which he received with much gratitude." Thus it appears that no scenes connected with the glory of this world were able to draw away the attention of the Christian soldier, Dr. King, from his appointed work. Like Paul, he said in practice if not in words, "This one thing I do." Nor was the distribution of tracts, of which he made such a specialty, altogether unattended with personal danger, as may be seen in the account subjoined of two visits paid to Mt. Calvary, near Paris; the first one Sept. 15, 1822. After divine service, Dr. Spring, Mr. Wilder, myself, and some others, set out on a visit to Mt. Cal vary, about a mile and a half distant from Nanterre, and which for nine days during the month of September is the resort of pilgrims, some of whom come sixty, eighty, or a hundred miles on foot, to pay their blind devotions there. Having filled our pockets with tracts, we began to ascend the mountain, distributing them on the right-hand and the left, to the thousands that were ascending and descending, After a walk of about three-quarters of an hour we reached the top of this eminence, on which stands a convent, and at a distance a large pile of stones and ragged rocks, beneath which is represented the tomb of our Saviour, and above which he hangs on the cross, between the two thieves. The representation is as large as life, and very striking. One of the thieves has marked in his countenance, horror, infidelity, and despair ; the other, with eyes turned to the Saviour, expresses deep 6o JONAS KING. anguish, a sense of the justice of his suffering, mingled with hope. On a nearer approach I perceived a little cross, painted on the foot of the one on which hung our Saviour, and multitudes were climbing up to kiss it one after another. There was with us a young lady, who had lately turned from the Catholic faith to Protestant ism. With her I entered the tomb, where men, women, and children were kneeling, and paying their adorations to the image of our Lord, which is lying wrapt in fine linen. By its side I observed a great quantity of sous and six-liard pieces, which were cast in by the worship pers, and which, I suppose, are gathered up at night by the priests. Coming out of the tomb, I saw, at the foot of the cross, and back of it, a little place resembling a pulpit, in which stood a priest, and before him thousands singing with loud voice a sacred song. This was to me solemn, though the tune was an air from the opera. As the song ceased, the priest began to harangue the peo ple on the subject of coming to this interesting moun tain, and telling them when the royal family would come, and other things equally important. As I left the cross, my attention began to be arrested by the surrounding scenery. This mountain is a high elevation rising in the middle of an extensive vale, beyond which are seen, on the east, the domes and spires of Paris ; on the south, St. Cloud ; on the north, the villages of Nanterre and Chaton ; on the west, Marley and St. Germain. Between these, lie scattered along numerous clusters of houses, little villages and groves. At its foot on the east, the river Seine winds its slow and peaceful way through the GOING ABROAD, AND LIFE IN PARIS. 61 midst of verdant fields, till it loses itself behind the vil lage of Neuilly, and after a circuitous course appears again on the north near Chaton, moving onward towards St. Germain. In this vale, as far as the eye could reach, were seen pilgrims going and coming in all directions. The sides of the mountain, particularly towards the east, south, and north, are thinly covered with shrubbery and trees, among which wind about in various directions nu merous footpaths leading to the convent on the summit. At different distances on the sides of these paths, stand little buildings, open in front, called stations. In them are images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, etc. Before these the pilgrims stop, kneel down on the ground and worship. One I observed was a station to pray for the dead. We visited several of these stations, and distributed the tract entitled ' Le Sermon de notre Sauveur sur la Montagne.' This was received with much avidity and gratitude. We even gave them to those who were on their knees, in the act of adoration, who would rise and come after us, to thank us. Frequently they would all leave their devo tions, and flock round us to receive this precious gift ; and when our tracts were all gone, some inquired when we should come again. We left them giving us thanks, and made our way back to Nanterre." The second visit to this place of special superstitious observances, was made the following Thursday. " Went to Nanterre, where we arrived a little after midday. Mr. and Mrs. Wilder, and one or two others, had gone to Mt. Calvary, to distribute tracts and Testaments. Dr. Spring and myself having filled our pockets and hats and hands Jon:.. King. 6 62 ,TUNAS KING. with tracts and Testaments, set off with the hope of find ing them. Just as we began to ascend the mountain, we saw them coming at a distance. On meeting them, they told us that they had been stopped by the commissary of police, and that a policeman, by order of the priest in authority, had taken away their tracts and Testaments, and prohibited them in the name of the law to distribute any more on Mount Calvary. Mr. W. advised us not to proceed with the intention of distributing those which we had. We, however, went on, giving to every one we met, till we came in sight of the gens d'armes, when we ceased giving, but occasionally let some fall from our pockets, which the wind, which was very high, scattered in all directions, so that they were gathered up by the crowd. At length we arrived at the top of the mountain, took our stand on the highest elevation near the cross, and there in our own language offered up, each of us, a prayer to the God of heaven for direction, and that he would have mercy on those tens of thousands that we saw around us, bowing before graven images. I then felt in some degree strengthened to go on, and taking a tract from my pocket, I presented it to a lady who stood near me, and who appeared to be a lady of some distinc tion, She received it with thanks, and I was not noticed by the gens d'armes. Dr. Spring let some fall from his pocket, and we made our way down to one of the sta tions. There he laid some on the charity box, while I stood before him to hide what he did. We then went to another station, and I gave ten or twelve to a lady, whom I charged to distribute them. She was immediately sur- GOING ABROAD, AND LIFE IN PARIS. 63 rounded by a number, to whom she distributed, while we made our way to another station ; and finally we took our way home, and distributed till we came to the foot of the mountain, when we found we had no more to give. Some took me for one of the Roman-catholic missiona ries, and to these I gave a number, and charged them to go on to the top of the mountain and distribute, which they reverentially promised to do. "The tracts we distributed were, ' Christ's Sermon on the Mount,' and ` St. Paul's Defence before Agrippa.' We gave about four hundred of these, and some New Testaments, which were received by nearly all with grat itude and joy. Occasionally we were refused. On the whole, we have distributed since last Sabbath, seventeen hundred tracts. I should judge there were on the moun tain and around it twenty thousand people." Dr. King preached more than once in the " Oratoire," and also at Mr. Wilder's house in Paris, and in Nanterre. Mr. Wilder, having special protection from Talleyrand, to whom he had brought letters of introduction from Dr. Jedediah Morse, father of the distinguished Morse broth ers, was able to hold in his own house meetings, which under other circumstances were prohibited by law. Dr. King makes early record of a missionary-meeting held at Mr. Wilder's, in aid of three German missionaries on their way to Sierra Leone. The following entry is of great interest, It tells of the first observance of the Monthly Concert in France, which was on Monday, Feb. 5, 1822. "At 7 o'clock Mr. S. V. S. Wilder, Mr. Hoshea Wilder, the Rev. J. Sohiear,
and myself, held at my room the Monthly Concert of Prayer ; the first ever held in this great city, and proba bly in France. Mr. Chaperon also came in and spent a part of the evening with us. Mr. S. read the 9th chap ter of Daniel, and made the first prayer in French. This was offered principally for France, and the nations of Europe. After some remarks upon what is doing in the world to build up the Redeemer's kingdom, and what we had to expect from the promises of God, the second prayer was offered for the missionaries in different parts of the world. Then Mr. S. made some remarks in French, and Mr. H. Wilder offered the third prayer for the church generally. Then Mr. S. V. S. Wilder read a paper sent to him from England, ` Hints to Christians for unity in a general concert of prayer, for the outpour ing of the Holy Spirit,' and concluded by offering the fourth prayer, in which he particularly gave thanks for what is now doing to spread the gospel. It was a de lightful evening, and the Saviour seemed to be with us. May the Lord bless this first effort to set up here the Monthly Concert of Prayer; and may the time soon arrive when all the churches of Christ in the kingdom shall unite in it, and when the Spirit shall be poured from on high, and these waste places shall be glad, and this moral desert blossom as the rose."
CHAPTER V. MISSION TO PALESTINE ACCEPTED. Reasons for accepting Pliny Fiske's Invitation—Letters to the A. B. C. F. M. and to his Father and Mother—Means for Go ing to the East provided—Formation of the Paris Missionary Society, and Appointment as their First Missionary—Connec tion with Three Societies—Farewell Meetings for Prayer. THESE visits and meetings and tract distributions, however, were but incidental. The study of Arabic had been kept up through them all, and the great question of Dr. King's life, that of his becoming a missionary, was under consideration. The turning-point of his life had come. It greatly simplifies any decision a Christian may be called upon to make if first he has made a full consecra tion of himself to Christ. There is reason to believe that Jonas King had done this ; for when that letter from Pliny Fiske, already mentioned, compelled his attention in a most unexpected way to the work of missions, he had but to ask, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" Not, " Am I willing ? am I ready ? can I give up all prospect of literary .distinction in America, and turn my knowl edge of Arabic already acquired to immediate practical use in instructing the ignorant, far from my friends and native land ?" There was indeed deep anxiety as to who 6*
should care for his aged father and mother, and a sense of his own incompetency for the great work to which he was invited ; but there was no hesitation as to obeying the voice of the Lord whenever clearly understood. Therefore his prayer was, "Make thy way plain be fore my face ;" and it is most encouraging to trace in detail how God heard and answered by providences too marked to be lightly set aside. Turn then to the Journal of Sunday, July 21, 1822. " Went from the Oratoire with Mr. Wilder to his house, he having told me that he had something of im portance to communicate. After conversing with him for some time, he said, `I have some very joyful and some very distressing news to tell you. Mr. Parsons rests from his labors.' He then gave me a letter from Mr. Fiske, which contained another for me. I opened it with a heart agitated with joy and sorrow and anxiety: with joy that my beloved brother had reached another and brighter world than this; with sorrow, because an other faithful missionary of the cross was taken from his labors, and because I had lost a friend, a brother in Christ ; with anxiety, because it had been proposed to me by Mr. Wilder that, if Mr. Parsons should be removed by death (we had heard of his sickness), I should take his place for three or four years. In this letter Mr. Fiske expressed a wish that, if I could, I would join him. After a few moments I begged leave of Mr. Wilder that I might retire to the room where he and I had often bowed together before the throne of grace. I there fell down on my knees and spread my letter before the Lord, .311SSION TO PALESTINE ACCEPTED. 67 and besought him to sanctify to me this dispensation of his providence ; next, that he would direct me in the path of duty, feeling and confessing that I was not worthy to have so great an honor as to go to that place where our Lord suffered, and there proclaim his gospel. I then in a solemn manner besought the great Head of the church to grant, if it was his will that a poor worm of the dust should go and proclaim his precious word to dying souls of Judea, he would incline the heart of Mr. Wilder to give me that counsel and make some offer of aid, which would be absolutely necessary in order to enable me to go. I then went out and sat down by Mr. Wilder near his desk. He immediately addressed me to the following effect : `Since it has pleased Him who governs all things to throw you in my way, so that I should be acquainted with you ; since we have spent so many pleasant hours together in prayer and in conversation ; since it has been proposed by me, I know not why, that you should take Mr. Parsons' place should he be called out of the world ; and since also it has pleased God to send this letter to you through my hands, I therefore offer, if you will go and join Mr. Fiske for three years, to give you a hun dred dollars a year ; and furthermore, I will do what I had offered to do when you were, to human appearance, on the borders of the grave, give your honored parents fifty dollars a year for three years to aid them during your absence.' After my prayer, and after hearing this, I could not but reply that I had reason to believe that it would be my duty to accept his offer and to leave all, father, mother, sister, friends, and country, and go up to 68 JONAS KING. Jerusalem, ' not knowing the things which should befall me there.' " It was then made a question how I could procure the remaining four hundred dollars, which Mr. Fisk said would be necessary. After two or three plans had been suggested, I mentioned writing to Mr. Thomas Wadding ton of St. Remy. Mr. Wilder immediately approved of this, and advised me to write also to Mr. Louis Mertens of Brussels, Claude Cromlin and Wm. H. Nolthenius of Amsterdam, and John Venning of St. Petersburg." The correspondence that followed shows the spirit that inspired all concerned. Dr. King, in the beginning of each letter, before explaining the object he had in view, asked the friend to whom he was writing to look to God for guidance before proceeding farther; and then goes on to say, "Nearly three years ago the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent out two eminently pious young men (Messrs. Fisk and Par sons) for the purpose of establishing a missionary station in Judea They were men whose names were known
that he thinks it doubtful whether the A. B. C. F. M. would be willing to employ me for so short a time (as they generally wish to employ missionaries for life), and especially as they are at this moment somewhat embar rassed in regard to funds, and are also fitting out a sec ond mission to the Sandwich Islands. He says my ex penses will not exceed five hundred dollars a year. "The office which I hold as Professor of Oriental Languages in a college in New England forbids that I should engage in a mission for life. Besides, duty de mands that I should return to America that I may teach others who are destined to missions in the East, for which I should be much better qualified could I spend two or three years in the Holy Land." Dr. King then writes of what Mr. S. V. S. Wilder offered to do, and that if four' other Christian friends were led to give the same amount for one year, and as the A. B. C. F. M., with Mr. Wilder, would probably sup ply what would be necessary for the remaining two years, he should feel it an indication that it Was the will of God he should go to Palestine. He ought to go in Septem ber, that being the proper time of the year to embark, and this would not give him time to hear from the Amer ican Board. Also he adds, " If it be not the will of Him who suffered in Judea that I should go thither, I hope you will not contribute a single sou to aid me in this mission. If it be his will, I am confident he will incline your heart to do it. I leave the whole in his hands." 01 In answer, Mr. Louis Mertens wrote, offering five hundred francs, saying, "I received your kind and joy- 70 JONAS KING. inspiring letter. My heart, or the voice in my heart, im mediately answered, ` Yes.' " Mr. Waddington returned the same prompt answer, saying, "Go, then, and may the God of Israel bless your journey to the promised land." The friends at Amsterdam asked for further informa tion in detail. Dr. King returns them a succinct account of Messrs. Fisk and Parsons' work in Asia Minor, where even the professors had received Greek tracts (extracts from Chrysostom) with avidity. In the Holy Land, Mr. Parsons had spent several months in visiting the monas teries, conversing with the priests, distributing upwards of three thousand tracts, some of which were to pilgrims who lived more than a thousand miles from Jerusalem. These in every instance were received with gratitude. In order to prepare more tracts in different languages to distribute, also on account of commotions between the Greeks and Turks, Mr. Parsons returned to Mr. Fisk at Smyrna. There, in September or October, he was taken sick of a fever. From this, however, he recovered, and intended to be in Jerusalem before the Passover, in order again to distribute tracts among the pilgrims ; but it pleased the great Head of the church to send for him to go to the New Jerusalem. He died at Alexandria, Feb., 1822. Mr. Fisk, was now at Malta, expecting soon to go to Egypt. Mr. Wilder, at the request of the Ameri can Board, had lately ordered to be cast in Paris a font of Greek types expressly for the Palestine mission. This would be ready for Dr. King to take with him. This report, when brought before the Dutch Mission- „ ary Society, proved satisfactory,.and it agreed to furnish
the remaining thousand francs necessary. Dr. King, in returning most grateful thanks to all these friends, asks most earnestly for remembrance in their prayers. In his final answer of acceptance to Rev. Pliny Fisk, he refers to a parting scene with him and Mr. Parsons and a Mr. Bascom, in an upper room at Rev. Dr. Porter's, Farming ton, Conn. ; when, after prayer together, Mr. Parsons came, and in a most affectionate manner said, " I shall expect that in three years from this time you will make up your mind to come to Palestine." Thus the matter was now settled, but this "only son " has still a trying duty to perform, that of writing to his aged father and mother in America. In our clay, when to go around the world is but a fashionable tour, it is difficult to realize how, in 1822, Palestine was indeed as the " ends of the earth ;" and to go there, like taking a leap into the past. To his father, after many words of respect and affec tion, he writes in part, as follows : " I recollect you told me, when I was leaving college, that your heart had been much tried in reflecting that I might perhaps view it my duty to go on a foreign mission ; that you thought it would be the greatest trial of your life to lose the only prop of your infirm and declining years ; but that you had said within yourself, 'Did God so love the world that he gave his only Son to redeem it, and shall I be unwill ing that my only son should go and proclaim salvation to a dying world, through my Lord and Saviour ? No, as much as I love you, as much as I feel the need of your aid to comfort me the few remaining years I have to 72 'JONAS KING. spend here, I say, "Go, my son, if you think it best. God has thus far taken care of me. He will no doubt give me in future what is best for me, and with this I ought to be contented." ' " Then, telling his father what his new plans were, he writes : " Indulge not one anxious thought for your son. I am in the hands of Him who took me from the sheepcote, from following the sheep,' and placed me in the ministry ; who has brought me safely along through the sea and the wilderness, and who now, by the indications of His providence, bids me enter the promised land.' So clear to me are these indica tions, that I think I should go, were I sure that my earthly course would there be finished. "And in what part of the globe would you be more willing that your son should breathe out his soul, than in that land where my Saviour suffered and died to re deem it?— that land, whence so many prophets and holy men of old took their flights to glory ?—that land which has heard the songs of angels, and to which the eye of all heaven has been directed ?—that land, where the glory of the Most High was once visible, and which has been the scene of his wondrous works among men ?" Dr. King tells his father of the friend who had prom ised him to be a son to his aged parents in America ; and how the money was to be sent to them through Gen. Longley. Rev. Wm. A. Hallock, Secretary of the Amer ican Tract Society, in his tract "The Only Son," gives an account of how the above promise was redeemed. See Chapter XXIV. MISSION TO PALESTINE ACCEPTED. 73 The letter to Dr. King's mother is of equally tender interest. He reminds her of her unparalleled devotion to him in order that he might acquire an education ; speaks of his probable safety in Egypt, as the governor there was a liberal man and gave protection to stran gers ; and both there and at Jerusalem the great Gov ernor of all would take care of his life, so long as there was anything for her son to do. Also, that he yet hoped to have a home in America, where his parents could be near him. Dr. King wrote in full also to the American Board, ex plaining respectfully how, the means for one year being provided, he was taking the responsibility, by advice of Christian friends in Europe, of taking up Mr. Parsons' work ; looking confidently to their endorsement of this venture, and to their furnishing his support for the sec ond and third years proposed. Friday, Sept. 6, 1822, was the birthday of the " Paris Missionary Society." " Dined at Paris, in company
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