blunts the edge of fidelity. In this, the Dudlean spirit which he had derived from his father was, perhaps, too apparent. At times, he might have been more plain and direct than was kindly wise. Some who had lived in sin, may have felt hurt, even offended. However this may have been, to the sick-chamber and bereaved families of such as agreed with him in scriptural sentiment and Christian experience, he was ever a welcome visitant. True, he might not sympathize on all occasions of sorrow, nor in all families alike. It is the cool, even-tempered, too unemotional either to burn or melt, who can uniformly do this. They who are endowed with such strength of sensibilities, especially when set so forcibly in different currents as were those of Dr. Woodbridge, are not prone to manifest an equal flow of tender sympathies on all occasions. Their minds and sympathies being at the same time strongly fixed on other scenes and realities, there is no power of speedy response to new claimants of interest. Such powerful sensibilities setting in full current in one direction are not quickly turned into another. They do not, like less emotional forces, readily obey the command: "face about." They are not like the meadow rivulet which a child's hand may arrest; but like the flooded mountain torrent rushing madly down the declivity to which no human power has authority to say, "Stand thou still." Dr. Woodbridge, when summoned suddenly from his study, or some engrossing train of investigation, in which his sensibilities were thoroughly enlisted, might not always have changed their direction with the rapidity which the occasion demanded; and those oppressed with sorrow, or stretched on beds of restlessness and pain, might have sometimes felt that he did not sympathize with them in their afflictions so fully, or share in their burdens so tenderly, as he ought. Besides, his decided attachment to truth, and his Dudlcan severity of determination to show this attachment on all occasions; coupled, perhaps, with the feeling that the deceased had long rejected the overtures of

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mercy, and died as the fool dieth, might wrongfully check his more kindly sympathies, and give the tone of unfeelingness, if not of harshness, even a controversial cast, to his remarks on funeral occasions, which had little tendency to soothe the tearful sorrows of those gathered around their dead. Taking into view his firm principles and sterling moral proclivities, it would not be strange if in a ministry of twenty years some such instances occurred. By some, such manifestations were deemed blemishes, and blemishes we may admit them to be. But when we look through them we are constrained to regard them as merely surface blots, not ingrained stains, which the dews of charity on the part of the sorrowing would soon wash away, and, on the part of the people, his usual kindliness of feeling would soon efface from their appreciative regards; for they knew that deep beneath there beat a strong conscience, a true and tender heart.

While Dr. Woodbridge was fond of educated and refined society, he was particularly thoughtful of the poor of his congregation. Ile was quick to discern their temporal and domestic needs.

"Of his little he had some to spare,

To feed the famished and to clothe the bare.

Wide was his parish

Yet still he was at hand without request,

To serve the sick, to succor the distressed."

Many a basket of provisions was sent from his home to the abodes of want. He visited the indigent as cheerfully as the more wealthy families of his charge. He remembered that the gospel was emphatically addressed to the poor; that Christ, specially preached the "glad tidings of great joy" to those who had few of this world's goods; and that he enjoined upon his followers to evince toward them the same sympathetic interest. He, indeed, is unworthy the name of ambassador for Christ, who neglects the indigeut, the ignorant and degraded, whom the opulent proud

are wont to pass by. The immortality which the gospel brings to light is their richest source of consolation. They who enjoy but the feeblest glimmer of hope on earth, need peculiarly the food of hope which another life imparts. The pastor of Hadley rejoiced to open the treasures of the glorious gospel to such. Said one who used his horse to ride about his parish: "I find your horse is always disposed to turn up to every poor man's door as if accustomed to call." In the first great revival he enjoyed, a poor negro man was hopefully converted. He came forward to join the church. When he presented. himself to receive from his hand the water of baptism, Dr. Woodbridge's sympathies were tenderly touched; tears bathed his cheeks; "he was completely broken down, overwhelmed with his feelings."

It

He was remarkable for CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY, OPEN-HEARTED HONESTY, AND TRANSPARENCY OF CHARACTER. This trait has been repeatedly alluded to before; but such was its predominance that it demands special attention. It was inwrought into the very warp and woof of his moral constitution. came forth in one form or another, giving light and shade to the pictures of his daily life. Such is the uniform testimony of the members of his congregations, and of neighboring clerical brethren. Their utterances are such as these: "Dr. Woodbridge was characteristically honest and true." "His character was simple, open, transparent, guileless." "Ile was honest in his convictions of truth." "Ile was almost too artless." "He was so much in the habit of thinking aloud, as it were, that it exposed him to harm from those who might have designs against him." "He was very conscientious, open-hearted, honest." "IIe had great suavity, simplicity, and humility." He had the simplicity. of a child. Old-fashioned integrity and truthfulness seemed a part of his nature. He was outspoken always." "What I especially remember as striking in Dr. Woodbridge was his singularly simple-hearted earnestness and fidelity in his work." "Dr. Woodbridge was a man of the most trans

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parent honesty and simplicity of character. He was artless as a child. Ilis straightforwardness, marking all his pastoral and Christian life, secured him the name of honest John.'" He had much of the childlikeness' of genius, and many common men pitied his simplicity, I have no doubt. For this reason he was not always understood." Such an ingenuous pastor, endowed with an equipoise of good sense and piety, will always gain the respect of a sensible and appreciative people. It inspires confidence. Ilis preaching strikes deeper; for they know it to be the expression of honest convictions. Even reproofs are more willingly received. If they return from the church smarting with the tingle of the lash, they are sure that it was applied because he honestly thought it deserved. Especially does this frankness inspire confidence in him as a presiding officer. It frees them from the suspicion that something is kept back; that "more is meant than said; " that they have a leader whose breast is a dark profound where unuttered designs and plans are fomenting, like the brewing of the tempest in the abysses of ether; and which may suddenly burst upon them, surprising them into measures which they neither intended nor desired. A thorough acquaintance with their minister had taught the people of IIadley that he was morally incapable of entrapping them with hidden toils, or of leading them where he did not conscientiously believe it their duty to go. They knew that he wore his heart on his tongue; that whatever measure he wished them to adopt, he would attempt to carry only by the force of arguments and persuasions, founded in what he believed to be truth. They were confident that he was in private what he professed to be in public; that he worked no secret machinery; that all he did was open, magnanimous, above-board. While they might differ from him, they were sure that he had taken his ground conscientiously. They might apprehend that he was under the influence of prejudice; yet they never doubted the honesty of his intentions. They might have

thought him self-willed in the fixedness of his purpose; yet their perfect reliance on his outspoken honesty inspired the charity that he was consciously to himself only pursuing with ardor what he believed the right. The reputation of frankness, of perfect guilelessness, is a tower of strength to any pastor.

True, this disposition to utter freely his thoughts. to "think aloud," held as it was in connection with a vein of sarcasm, might at times lead him to expose error and rebuke vice with severity, sometimes with the bitterness of scorn, almost with the contemptuousness of disdain; which, if it weakened his influence on the minds of some, strengthened it on the whole; for his people knew that all that was in him came to the surface; that there was no gall secreting in the unknown depths of his soul, covertly imbittering his feelings.

In this trait lies one source of what many considered his faults. He spoke out what other men confine within their own breasts.

Nothing in the conduct of others rendered him so indignant as dishonesty, duplicity, craftiness, the covering of real intentions; particularly in ministers of the gospel he detested a dark, intriguing spirit or artful tergiversations to serve a purpose. Many testify to this righteous aversion. "He despised with his whole soul everything mean, tortuous, tricky, in others." "Ile despised shams, and never resorted to tricks to secure ephemeral success, either in religion or worldly affairs." "He despised everything like intrigue or double-dealing."

"A Friend to Truth, in speech and action plain,
He held all fraud and cunning in disdain."

ALL HIS BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS.

The pastor of ITadley was a man of STRICT INTEGRITY IN Says one for many years his neighbor: "The Doctor was honest, every way scrupulously honest, to a tittle in all his dealings. If he ever failed to