Compensation.

Increased.

often by stage and hired conveyance, but more frequently by the kindness of friends who helped him on his way, amounted in the whole but to fourteen dollars sixty-two and a half cents! And half of that was spent in getting to and from the city of Albany by steam-boat.

His services were appreciated by the Society, and a larger compensation awarded to him than had been promised. The available talent of the young agent, his remarkable facility for adapting himself to every situation into which he was thrown, his tact for getting along with all sorts of men, his easy familiarity with the people whose favor it was important to conciliate, marked him as a young man destined to uncommon usefulness.

Thus the little interval between the close of his collegiate course and his entrance on his theological studies was improved with an industry, energy, and efficiency that distinguished his whole career.

The minutes of the American Tract Society's Executive Committee furnish the following testimonials: "At a meeting of the Committee of the American Tract Society, New York, Sept. 23, 1826,

"Resolved, That Mr. Nicholas Murray, a graduate of Williams College, and about to join the Theological Seminary, Princeton, be commissioned to labor seven weeks in Washington County and vicinity, New York, to have his expenses borne, and to receive after the rate of $20 for six weeks as compensation."

"At a meeting of the Committee of the American Tract Society, Nov. 11, 1826, a letter was read from Mr.

His gratitude.

Necessities.

N. Murray, the Society's agent in Washington County, New York, and vicinity, respecting his agency for six and a half weeks, during which time he assisted in forming seventeen auxiliaries, and collected $236. Whereupon, Resolved, That $8 per week be allowed him as compensation for his services."

In a letter to Dr. Halleck, dated Princeton Theological Seminary, Nov. 25, 1826, in which he speaks of the allowance of $52 for his services, he says:

"I must say now what I told you at the time, that my compensation was unexpected, though not unearned. Were I to receive nothing more than the approbation you bestowed on me, I would feel myself liberally paid. I commenced my agency with the determination to accept of nothing for my labors unless I accomplished something worthy of the object in which I was engaged. I labored incessantly; the Lord blessed my exertion. *

"I am here pursuing my studies, and under expense, without any earthly prospect of being able to pay my expenses. What some of my friends in the city will do for me I know not, but even if they fulfill my highest expectations, I will not receive enough to pay half my expenses. I must, therefore, do something or other to meet my just debts and to supply my pressing necessities. I have thought of leaving the Seminary for the present, for the purpose of earning some money by teaching a school; but my friends are utterly opposed to it. If I remain in this place I would wish to know, sir, if I could spend my May and October vacations in the employment of your Society as an agent. Be assured I feel most warmly your kindness.” * * *

In Theological Seminary.

Reflections.

CHAPTER V.

Diary in Princeton Theological Seminary.-Formation of Character. -Ambition.-Goes to Philadelphia.-An Agent again.-Travels. -Self-discipline.-Labors in the City.-Called to Account by his Presbytery. Remarkable Letter in Self-defense. - Letter from Rev. Dr. Aydelotte.-Letter from Rev. Joshua N. Danforth, D.D. -Private Letters.

Extracts from his Diary.

"THIS is the first Sabbath that I have ever spent within the walls of a theological seminary-the first Sabbath that I have ever spent under the character of a student of theology. Although the ministerial character is that which has been for years the object of my pursuit, I have frequently lost sight of it, and in the ambitious pursuit of pre-eminence in scientific attainments have forgotten its importance. I have viewed it as the sinner does the day of his account, afar off. Oh! how many hours have I spent in the circles of mental dissipation which might be spent in the acquirement of knowledge of which I am now completely destitute. Of my attainments in science, considering my advantages, although they might be vastly greater than they are, I have no reason to complain; but in the pursuit of these attainments I have neglected my Bible and my God.

"Ambition was my controlling principle while in college. It was my polar star by night, my compass and canvas by day. As it will bring every individual, it brought me sometimes into shoal water, and

Ambition.

New resolution.

among rocks and quicksands; but thus far the Lord has saved me from shipwreck. Sometimes it has endangered my bark among storms and tempests, but the waves have not as yet overwhelmed me, nor has the storm destroyed me. Seeing that I am now beyond the periphery of ambitious influence, at least as far as a separation from college carries me beyond it, I am determined, instead of encouraging it as I have hitherto done, to war in the strength of the Lord against it. Ambition will do very well in the heart of an Alexander or a Bonaparte, for their aim was earthly honor and earthly dominion; it will do very well in the bosom of a Burke or a Fox, for their aim was to stand at the head of their party; but in the bosom of a student of Christian theology, whose supreme object ought to be to know God and to do His will, to break the slavery of sinners to the devil, and to extend the boundaries of Christ's kingdom, it is not only out of place, but it is absolutely sinful. People may say what they please about ambition in the abstract—that it is only a desire to be great in any particular profession; but it is not only a desire to be great, but it is a desire to be the greatest, and that, too, at the expense of every body else. To the ambitious man no obstacle is insurmountable, no task too arduous. To him mountains become plains, and seas rivers. To him the remote parts of the earth become contiguous. He will even dare to scale the heavens; while on the field of vision an object or an individual more prominent than himself exists, he is restless and unhappy. He must be, consequently, a man of jealousy and envy,

Emulation.

In Princeton.

unhappy himself, and rendering those around him so. Like sulphuric acid, wherever he goes he causes fermentation. Nor is such a being happy in heaven. While God, the perfection of the world, holds His throne, and stands far ahead of the realm of intelligence to which He has given existence, the ambitious spirit, which lives only on conquest, and succeeds only by taking the highest rank, can not possess itself in peace. If such is the true character of an ambitious spirit, can it with propriety be cherished by a theological student?

"With these ideas and views of ambition, I here most solemnly and sincerely protest against it in every form. It is an unholy principle in all its operations. Instead of this cankering principle, let a holy emulation possess my bosom; let me be emulous of gaining exalted ideas of God, debasing ideas of myself; emulous of making those acquisitions and manners which have a tendency to render men useful to the Church and to the world, so that, unlike the mass of men, I may not go off the stage leaving no impression on the world behind me.

“Jan. 1, 1829, found me in Princeton, among my books and classmates. Oh, how refreshing the reflection of the happiness there enjoyed. Shut out from life's busy cares, how sweet to study the workmanship of God! The hours spent at Princeton will be ever dear to me. Even now their memory comes over me, recalling many a holy hour of prayer and brotherly communion. Some of my companions-where are they? Oh, how has one short year dispersed the lit