Autobiography of Elder Jacob Knapp

Preface

AFTER Elder Jacob Knapp had concluded to go to California, and spend the winter in holding protracted meetings in that distant State, he engaged me to revise and prepare his manuscripts for publication. In the mean time he was called away from home, and I have been unable to consult him, even by letter. This fact has enhanced the delicacy and responsibility of my undertaking. It was not intended that I should prepare an original work, but simply edit the papers which the Elder might place in my hands.

I have, therefore, aimed to restrict myself to this service. I have not sought to express my views, to use my illustrations, to present my style, but his. Knowing that his long-continued and widely-extended ministry had given him an established reputation for originality in thought and expression, I have endeavored to allow him to state his own views in his own way. Especially have I refrained from making serious modifications of his sermons, because in them the reader will look for illustrations of those characteristics of power which, under God, have made his

(iii)

2054881 iv PREFACE.

pulpit effort's so effectual in attracting and fixing the attention of the throngs that have waited on his ministry.

It is possible that in the mention of dates, and the spelling of proper names, the work will contain some mistakes, as in these particulars I have followed the manuscripts before me, except in those cases where my own knowledge of the references has enabled me to act independently. For the statements of occurrences and the views of doctrine I do not hold myself responsible.

I regret that the limited time allotted me has not permitted me to execute my task more satisfactorily ; but I bring my labors to a- close with the conviction that the services of Elder Knapp deserve an elaborate presentation, and with the prayer that the perusal of this book may make him a blessing to those who have never seen his face or heard his voice.

E. JEFFERY.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, December, 1867.

Contents

EDITORIAL PREFACE iii

iNTRODUCTORr ESSAY — ELDER KjTAPP AND HIS MINISTRY. . . T

AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

INTRODUCTION 11

Chapter I

Birth, Parentage, and early Religious Instructions. — Experience of Conviction and Conversion. — Backsliding. — Removal West. — Attending School in the East. — Ball-room and Prayer-meeting. — Re-consecration. — Baptism 13

Chapter II

Return Home. — Neighborhood Efforts. — Choice of a Calling. — Return East to obtain an Education. — School at Masonville. — Visit to Columbia County, and Journey back. — Academy at Gilbertsville. — Economy. — A Revival. — School-teaching in New- Lisbon. — Conflicts as to Duty. — Hamilton Institution. — Licensed to preach. — Marriage and Pastorate at Springfield. — Second Pastorate at Watertown, N. Y. — Reflections on Ministerial Worldliness 19

4 CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Protracted Meetings a Novelty. — Eesolution to become an Evangelist.— Counting the Cost. — Resignation of Pastorate. — Results of the Labors of eighteen Months among the Churches. — Trials. — Opposition. — Pecuniary Losses. — Application to the State Convention. — Application rejected. — Mortification of Feelings. — Fasting and Prayer. — God's Presence and Direction. — Blessed Results. — Trust in God for Support. — Method of preparing Sermons. — Re-conversions needful 28

Chapter IV

Forty Years ago. — No Sunday Schools. — No Missionary Enterprise. — Few Educational Institutions. — No Liberality. — Antinomianisro. — Elder Benedict. — Influence of Evangelism. — Opposition of Hyper-Calvinism. — Spurious Conversions. — Sudden Conversions. — A doubting Piety. — Jealousy. — Men-pleasers. — Early Discipline. — Consolation. — Success. — Sympathizers. — Change of Public Opinion 36

Chapter V

Union Meetings. — Why discontinued. — Duty of Baptists. — Blessed Meetings. — An Answer to Prayer. — Departed Worthies. — NORTH RUTLAND : " The Bower of Prayer." — Deacon Woodward and the Young Men. — TURIN : Universalism. — A Universalist Mother. — Threatened Suit. — Mr. P. — CONSTABLEVILLE : Barn and Pork-house. — Colonel M. — A Drunkard's Wife. — A Vision 48

Chapter VI

RUTLAND HILL : Holding On. — Great Results. — An alarmed Professor.— A good Conscience. — "Old Fogies." — A new Church.

— LORAINE : Suspension of Business. — Three Meeting-Houses.

— A Mother's Command. — HANNIBAL CENTRE : A cold Beginning. — Universalist Reporters. — A drunken Apostate. — OSWE-

CONTENTS. 5

GO : Peter S. Smith. — Power of Earnestness. — A real Eeligion. — Kestitution CO

Chapter VII

AUBURN : A Disturber. — Opposition. — Cowards. — Stage Ride. — A Surprise. — PHOSNIXVILLE : Church organized. — ITHACA : Conversion of Mr. M. — BKOOME STREET, NEW YORK CITY : Hyper-Calvinism. — REMOVAL TO HAMILTON : Reasons. ... 68

Chapter VIII. '

BRIDGEWATER : A Lawyer. — A Ball. — A Case of Prejudice. — The Presbyterian Minister. — BENNINGTON, VT. : Thirty-one Years afterwards. — WATERVILLE : Distilleries. — Liquor Dealers. — Proposed Attack 76

Chapter IX

HAMILTON : Fear of Men. — Co-laborers. — Results. — Day of Small Things. — PENNYAN : Large Accessions. — Commotion among the Infidels. — Meeting-house paid for. — A Cass of Conviction. — A Legacy of Ministers 80

Chapter X

UTICA : Bethel Church. — The First and Second Presbyterian Churches. — Conversions. — Baptist Cause. — A new Church. — Universalists. — SCHENECTADY : Union of Christians. — Union College. — Conversion of Students. — SENECA FALLS : A Re-conversion of all the Churches. — BROOKLYN : Baptist Cause, feeble. — Pillars in the Church. — John N. Wilder. — Conversion of an Atheist. — Sisterly Remonstrance. — Deacon Colgate. — General Results 85

Chapter XI

ROCHESTER : Gamblers. — The Mob. — Arrest. — Councils of the Wicke,d brought to Nought. — BALTIMORE : General Interest. —

CONTENTS.

Church strengthened. — Washingtonian Temperance Movement. — Threatenings. — A later Meeting. — Letter from Dr. Fuller. .

CHAPTEE XII.

ALBANY : Apprehensions. -— Cooperation. — Instances of Conversion. — Liberality and Kevival. — A Prodigal Son. — A Stranger.

— The Shad Story. — Preparation of the Grounds. — State Street Baptist Church. — Unsuccessful Pastorate. — NEW YORK CITY : Baptist Tabernacle. — A Wonderful Work. — A Devoted Merchant. — New York Herald. — An Infidel converted. — A Magdalene. — The Church in Perplexity. — Kesults. — Statement of W. W. Everts. — HARTFORD : South Baptist Church. — A Candid Universalist. — The Fiddler at a Ball. — Zaccheus at a Baptism. — The Infidel Mocker. — The Rum-seller and his Victim.

— NEW HAVEN : Union Meetings. — Yale College. — A Gambling-house. — Plets, and God's Interpositions. — The Billiard-room Keepers. — Students' Ball. — Church Caution. — Baptist Progress 104

Chapter XIII

NEW BEDFORD : A Revival in the Summer. — A Caviller. — Power of Endurance. — Earnestness. — PROVIDENCE : Want of Cooperation. — Dr. Wayland. — Trial of Faith. — Increase of Interest. — Lawsuit. — Results. — BOSTON : Five Churches united. — Arduous Labors. — Plain Preaching. — Opposition. — Anxiety. — Protests. — A Mob. — A Passage of Scripture. — Eagerness for Salvation. — Closing Meetings. — Disparagement. — Personal Detraction. — J. D. Fulton's Account. . 120

Chapter XIV

LOWELL: A Universalist Covenant Meeting. — A Cotton Mill an Inquiry-room. — Fifteen Hundred Converts. — A Challenge to Universalists. — Its Acceptance, and the Result. — Physical Exhaustion. — An Aged Convert. — A Farewell Scene. — An Infi-

CONTENTS. 7

del Observer. — CONCORD : Excitement among Christians and among Scoffers. — An Illustration. — Conversion of a Universalist Preacher. — Penitent Scoffers. • — A Refusal to baptize. — Regrets. — Baptist Influence. — The Second Advent. — Statement of E. E. Cummings ...... 138

Chapter XV

SALEM AND MARBLEHEAD : Enlargement. — Conflict over a Soul. — A Universalist Prayer-meeting. — Leaving Town. — WASH- INGTON : A small Band. — Cooperation. — Dance-hall. — Pro- Slavery. — A Remarkable Conversion. — College Students. — E Street Church. — RICHMOND : Conditional Invitation. — Respect for Ministers. — An unhealthy Piety. — Slavery Abominations. — A Slave Prayer-meeting, and Bloodhounds. — Remonstrance. — Departure 148

Chapter XVI

ERIE : A Universalist Meddler and his Pate. — An Irish Lad. — Nineteen Years afterwards. — OWEGO : Philetus Peck. — Dews of Grace. — A model Church. — A defiant Infidel. — Wilfulness. — Departed Worthies 157

Chapter XVII

CHICAGO : First Church in 1849 ; in 1857. — Conversions. — Invitation to a Ball. — Wabash Avenue Church. — Worldliness. — ROCKTORD : Removal to, in 1849. — A Year's Labor in Rockford. — CANTON: In 1851. — A Mind to Work. — The Zeal of one Man. — Immediate Baptisms. — " Hell upon Earth." .... 1C3

Chapter XVIII

ST. Louis : Sparks from the One Altar. — Disparagement. — Great Ingathering. — Giving the Hand of Fellowship. — A new Church formed. — Its Dismemberment. — MIDDLETOWN: Pecuniary In-

8 CONTENTS.

ducements. — Hesitation about going. — Prayers for the Devil. — Obeying Orders. — Kesults. — Meeting in 1864. — Youngest Son converted. — LOUISVILLE: Sensitiveness of the People concerning Slavery. — Apprehensions. — Signs of Success. — A Dream, and its Interpretation. — Notice to leave 1G8

Chapter XIX

BOSTON : Baldwin Place Church. — Changes in Nineteen Years. — Self-Examination. — Discouragements. — Union Church. — Great Work. — A genuine Convert. — Presence of God. — Tremont Temple Church. — Sinless Perfection, and the Lack of it. — Conversion of a Universalist Preacher. — Farewell Sermon in Bowdoin Square Church. — A working Church 175

Chapter XX

WILMINGTON ; A former Visit. — Present Meeting of great^ Power. — A new Church started. — PHILADELPHIA : The Bethel. — A floating Church. — Many Conversions. — The Fourth Baptist Church. — A happy Birthday. — Great Results. — Interesting Conversions. — Valuable Accessions. — NEWARK: Harmonious Churches. — General Interest. —Union Prayer-meeting. — ELIZ- ABETH : A Threefold Call. — A divine Answer. — NEW YORK CITY : A Contrast. — Business and Religion. — A Farewell Service.— Labors in other Places. — TRENTON: Baptism of Children. — Numerous Conversions. — A blessed Season. — Reflections. — Going to California 181

Chapter XXI

Numbers converted. — Baptized. — Answers to Questions. — Number of Meetings held. — Of Sermons preached. — Of Converts who became Ministers. — Amount of Compensation 190

CONTENTS.

VIEWS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

I. HONORARY TITLES . 193

II. THOUGHTS ON MINISTERIAL POWER 196

III. HOW TO GET UP A REFORMATION 202

IV. COMPLAINTS AGAINST SPEEDY ADMISSIONS

CONSIDERED 208

V. THE UTILITY OF ANXIOUS-SEATS 214

VI. HOW TO INSTRUCT INQUIRERS 217

VII. ADVICE TO YOUNG CONVERTS 222

VIII. ACTIVE BENEVOLENCE 228

IX. RESTRICTED AND MIXED COMMUNION. . 237

SERMONS.

I. LESSONS TAUGHT BY THE OX. Isa. i. 3 251

II. ENTHUSIASM. Acts xxvi. 24 272

III. THE CALLS OF THE GOSPEL. Matt, xxiii. 37. . . . 284

IV. WHY THE WICKED LIVE. Deut. xxxii. 85 301

V. THE NEW BIRTH. Ezek. xviii. 31. Ps. li. 10. . 323

Appendix

STATISTICAL RESULTS OF ELDER KNAPP'S LABORS IN MASSACHUSETTS. . 335

INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.

ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY.

EVANGELISM, in the strict sense of the word, means the preaching of the gospel to the destitute — in regions where its ordinary ministrations are not enjoyed.

But, in modern times, the term has acquired a modified application. It is now generally used to designate those efforts in connection with, or in excess of, the ordinary services, by which a church puts forth extraordinary exertions for the salvation of men, in its own immediate vicinity. These extraordinary services consist, for the most part, of continuous exercises of preaching and prayer for several successive weeks, during which time the members of the church are urged to unusual exertions, in order to awaken the interest of the unconverted around them to the concerns of their everlasting well-being ; while the public ministrations are intended to bring men, by every consideration and motive which the gospel can present, to an immediate surrender of their hearts to the authority of Christ as Lawgiver and Savior.

Experience has enabled the people of God to correct many abuses which the excitement incident to such continuous appeals to their religious sensibility might naturally produce ; but the practicability and desirableness of such an order of appointments is no longer an experiment. Its consistency with the established doctrines of grace is no longer a problem. Events have proven that God has wonderfully honored this instrumen-

VI ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY.

tality ; and now the system of '•'•protracted meetings" is a recognized agency in the kingdom of God.

Prior to the institution of this peculiar system of measures, there had prevailed throughout the Southern States the custom of holding " meetings of days" These, however, consisted, more especially, of a convocation of the brethren from a distance of several miles, for the purpose of enjoying a season of spiritual refreshing in connection with a series of doctrinal, denominational, and emotional sermons. They were not primarily intended as a means of religious awakening among the impenitent.

Forty years ago the institution of protracted meetings was comparatively unknown. It took its rise amid the suspicions and denunciations of men who conscientiously believed the innovation to be a presumptuous inconsistency with the divinely appointed methods of promoting the spread of the gospel. The tendency of such measures was deplored as disastrous to the true interests of the churches, and the grounds on which they were advocated were repudiated as positively antagonistic to the standards of doctrinal orthodoxy. Many of our fathers passed away sighing out their lamentations over the departing glories of Israel.

The opposition which was then manifested to protracted meetings, was not based on those excesses in the methods of conducting them which experience could correct, nor on usages the propriety of which time would determine, but on the high ground of the utter inconsistency of special human exertions for the conversion of men with the sovereignty of God in the purposes of redemption. Regeneration being a divine work, it was concluded that the conjunction of human agency in promoting it was a needless and arrogant presumption. The salvation of each sinner being an act of electing grace, therefore it could not be affected by human efforts. The gathering in of God's elect being according to his purpose and will, it was thought that his purpose and will would be accomplished independently of means and measures. God was able to achieve his own

ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY. vii

intentions without our agency ; he knew who would be saved, and who would not be saved, and how to secure the salvation of those who were ordained unto eternal life ; and in his own time he would bring his purposes to pass. The strength of God's people was to " lie still " in regard to all questions concerning the dissemination of the knowledge of Christ ; and the chief concern of each disciple was, by processes of introspection, metaphysical analyses, and spiritual experiences, to settle, if possible, the great question of his own ordination unto salvation.

Such was the system of theology — itself a perversion and abuse of the doctrines of grace — which prevailed throughout the Baptist denomination half a century ago. As a matter of course, it wrought out its logical results in producing a state of conscientious apathy concerning the spiritual condition of the great mass of mankind. No wonder that there were no Sunday schools in connection with churches, the theology of whose members forbade them to pray even for the conversion of their own children ; and who studiously avoided giving any suggestions or instructions to them, lest the workings of the Spirit should be interfered with and grieved, and thereby the sovereign and elective purpose of God should be defeated ! No wonder that missionary enterprises in behalf of the heathen world were disapproved of, by Christians whose theological views taught them the needlessness of using any means for the conversion of their nearest neighbors ! No wonder that institutions for the training of young men for the ministry were scouted at as " ministermaking machines," by a people who deemed it a chief evidence of a man's call to preach, if he could step from the workshop or the plough into the pulpit, and descant for an hour on some religious topic, especially a doctrine of grace, without previous discipline or special preparation! No wonder that measures . looking to a successive and persistent pi'essure of the claims of salvation on the attention of men were repudiated, as an outrage on the order of the gospel, by men who denied the right of a minister to call on sinners to repent ! In that day it was more than a minister's position in a church was worth, to presume on

Vlii ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY.

a course of urgency in behalf of the salvation of the unconverted ; and even they, whose zeal for souls could not be restrained by their Procrustean theories, ventured to reach the doctrine of " works " by the slow and guarded approaches of qualifying explanations and repeated asseverations of their soundness on the cardinal doctrines of grace. And finding at length that the strongholds of their cherished dogmas were being assailed, their advocates found themselves unconsciously roused to a state of activity, in their zeal to denounce those who would not let them be " at ease in Zion."

But while, as might be supposed, these doctrinal perversions of great truths bore their legitimate fruits, in repressing the ardor of Christian sympathy and effort, in inducing an indifference to the spread of the gospel and the salvation of men, and in drying up all the springs of benevolent action, yet there were some who proclaimed their inconsistency by violating the logic of their creeds, and who braved the suspicions and denunciations of their brethren by their earnest and laborious endeavors for the conversion of the impenitent. Holcombe, in Philadelphia, amid a storm of abuse which scrupled at no outrage, persisted in preaching a free salvation, and in urging men to repent. Benedict, in the city of New York, ceased not for many years to warn sinners day and night with tears ; but he was called to encounter the silent reprobation or the open protest of brethren who prided themselves on their soundness in the faith.

When, however, in the lapse of years, it became a demonstrated fact that sinners could be "soundly" converted, as the result of special efforts ; when the churches which were composed of these " man-made converts " became numerous and influential, while the churches which maintained their opposition to new measures began to die out ; when from the ranks of those converted in protracted meetings there went forth a new order of ministers in full sympathy with such instrumentalities, — it was easy to predict that the stone which the builders rejected would soon become the head of the corner ; that the very measures which at first were repudiated as God-dishonoring pre-

ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY. ix

sumptions, would come to be recognized as an important and almost indispensable agency in promoting the glory of God.

Instances are now rare in the Baptist denomination, in this country, of a church specially committed against seasons of protracted effort. On the contrary, they have come to be regarded as among the established means of grace ; and in numerous instances the conducting of them is considered among the regular services of the pastor, and his own acceptability, in great measure, is determined by his success in carrying them on. The great proportion of our present membership has been brought into the church in connection with some form of protracted effort ; and despite the many instances of falling away, it may be confidently asserted, that the proportion of apostates is not greater than formerly ; while nearly all those who are prominent and reliable, on whom the responsibilities of church affairs now devolve, were converted in connection with these special instrumentalities.

Nor is this all. The marked difference which distinguishes the type of modern piety from that of a former generation, may be confidently ascribed to the influence of this system of measures. Formerly, the proofs of piety were drawn from subjective experiences ; now the value of these experiences is very greatly determined by the fruits which they objectively produce. It is now not so much a question, What does a man feel for Christ ? as, What does he do for him ? It is now more thoroughly understood that the love of Christ in the heart will constrain the life, not merely to acts of sobriety, temperance, and godliness, but to a self-sacrificing zeal in good works. Men are now generally converted in the atmosphere of prayers, anxieties, and labors in their behalf; and thus their first impressions of consecration to Christ are associated with the idea of active and self-sacrificing endeavors for the salvation of their fellows. They know that they owe their own conversion to the blessing of God on the efforts of others for them ; and they very naturally conclude, either that their hopes are vain, or that similar exertions for others may result in bringing them to the enjoyment

X ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY.

of the same glorious hopes. So that this has come to be an age of Christian activities.

The several agencies for the dissemination of the gospel, •which are at present sustained by Baptists in this country, have only quite recently begun to enter upon an era in their development which indicates their permanent hold on the convictions of the churches, and which gives an assured earnest of the mighty influences they are destined to exert. Heretofore they have been compelled to fight their way into a positive existence, against the hinderances of false views of the laws of the kingdom of Christ, inveterate prejudices, and the absence of wellconceived and fairly-tried methods of organization. But these obstacles are now removed. The churches give a ready response to the various appeals that are made upon their sympathies, efforts, and contributions. The great necessity is no longer to convince Christians of the consistency of human efforts with divine purposes, but to carry them forward to that measure of endeavor which is demanded by the logic of their present convictions of the relation that God has established between his purpose and our use of means for their accomplishment.

We do not say that this marvellous change in the spirit of our denomination is due solely to the influence of protracted meetings, because it is well known that missionary endeavors, Sunday school instruction, and ministerial education found their advocates long before the era of " special efforts." Many of the earliest and most distinguished friends of these institutions did not look with favor on protracted meetings. But it is also true that these several movements of Christian benevolence were stoutly resisted as unwarrantable innovations on the methods of grace ; and until the time when the system of protracted meetings came to be fairly recognized, they were able to maintain only a feeble existence, and found but little favor with the people among whom they 'Were introduced. But in proportion as the churches came to recognize the desirableness of protracted meetings, and to be composed of persons converted in such meetings, the opposition to such institutions began to disappear, and their

~ ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY. XI

frieucls and supporters began to increase ; so that now facts may be adduced in sufficient numbers to justify the assertion, that the warmest supporters of missions, of Sunday schools, of institutions for the education of young men for the ministry, are men who have been led to appreciate the importance of protracted meetings, who cordially cooperate in carrying them on, and who, in many instances, were themselves brought to Christ through their influence. And it is a matter of common observation, that never is it so easy to induce a church to make large contributions for a benevolent object, never so easy to pay off a debt, to improve a Sunday school, to contribute to missions, to furnish support for indigent students, to endow colleges, or to do any other work of active and sacrificing service for the cause of Christ, as when it is in the full tide of a religious revival ; and none are so willing to respond to these appeals as those who are most deeply interested in the progress of such a special work of grace.

Now, among the agents whom God has employed for the bringing about of this marked and blessed change in the spirit of our churches, Jacob Knapp occupies a place of indisputable prominence.

It is too soon to write a just estimate of the value of his services among the churches. He is still living ; his work is not yet done ; the estimate of his contemporaries is necessarily affected by their familiarity with the details of his history ; and he has not altogether outlived the prejudices which the assaults of a former generation of enemies created against him. The time will come, however, when these things will be forgotten, or be mentioned as matters of curious comment. Posterity will speak of Elder Knapp as the pioneer and champion of modern evangelism. At the present day few know of the reproaches that were heaped on the heads of Wesley, of Whitefield, of Howard, or of Payson ; but all men recognize them, as leaders in the Zion of our God, whose services and names will be held in everlasting remembrance.

There are several facts in the history of Elder Knapp which conspire to give him a place of enduring reputation in Delation xii ELDER KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY.

to the system of modern evangelism, especially among Baptists. He was perhaps the first man, at least in the Northern States, who devoted himself exclusively to the work of conducting protracted meetings. He ventured on the providence of God in making the experiment at a time when the results were problematical. He continued in his course despite the accumulations of every form of persecution. His labors were crowned with wonderful success in the conversion of thousands to Christ. He has outlived many other evangelists who began after him, and still continues in the work, — "his eye undimmed, and his natural force unabated." He is permitted to witness the triumph of the system which he has done so much to inaugurate ; to rejoice that even churches which might not wish to secure his individual services, rely, nevertheless, upon his methods for their increase in power and usefulness ; and to know that when the memory of his assailants will be forgotten, or remembered chiefly because of their opposition to him, the system with which his name and life are associated will continue to operate as a potent agency in hastening on the latter-day glories of the Lamb. His declining years are cheered by the retrospect of a useful life ; and the hardships he has endured, are made to appear as " light affliction^" in view, of the anticipated rapture of receiving the plaudit of his Savior, and of recognizing at the judgmentday thousands on thousands of souls, who, redeemed through his instrumentality, will constitute the jewels in the crown of his everlasting rejoicing.

It is quite probable that, in the present day, a man of Elder Knapp's abilities, attainments, and style, starting forth as an evangelist, would not acquire any marked distinction, nor achieve any wonderful success. The characteristics of John the Baptist, and his manner of preaching, were eminently adapted to fit him for his peculiar position as the herald of the coming Messiah ; but he might not have been so well suited for a later age in the development of the kingdom of God. Men of different qualifications were needed to meet the exigencies that were presented by the advancing demands of the mission of Christ.

ELDEB KNAPP AND HIS MINISTRY. xiii

Luther was specially raised up and qualified for the work unto which God had called him in inaugurating the era of the Protestant reformation. Calvin was better adapted to analyze and adjust the grand doctrinal formulas which were to constitute the confession of faith of succeeding generations of the church ; while Wesley could do a work which neither Luther nor Calvin could have performed, in awakening Christendom to the necessities of organized forms of spiritual activity.

And, in like manner, the accomplished facts of history show that Providence called Elder Knapp to a peculiar service, and a knowledge of his traits proves his personal adaptation to the mission unto which he was called.

The work to which, about the year 1832, he felt himself constrained to consecrate his life, was one involving peculiar trials. He was about to enter on an experiment. He was about to challenge the conscientious scruples of nearly airthe leaders in that portion of the American Zion to which he belonged. He was about to excite the opposition of inveterate prejudices. He was about to cut loose from all stated sources of support, and rely on the voluntary contributions; , of people who, at the best, were accustomed to do but little for the support of ministers, and whose opposition to his undertaking would prompt them to contribute less to him. He expected to present views of doctrine which he knew many Christians would deem subversive of the gospel of Christ, and which would arouse the intensest hatred of the great mass of the unconverted. And when at length his labors should come into demand, he was destined to undergo exhaustive draughts on his powers of physical and mental endurance.

A man with the prospects of such a life needed to possess, in an eminent degree, the force of strong convictions, an unyielding purpose, patient forbearance, great boldness, clear perceptions, versatile genius, simple tastes, economical habits, imperturbable self-possession, ready wit,* a good knowledge of human nature,