righteous system. He maintained a regard to his external deportment, while he overlooked altogether the state of the heart.

He soon after united himself with a society of young persons, who met once and sometimes twice in a week for the purpose of singing, reading sermons, and other religious books, and conversation upon select portions of scripture.

"When my turn for engaging in prayer drew near," says Mr. A. "I used to study to please myself and my hearers; without any regard to pleasing God." "And thus," continues he, "I went on, praying in this society, in families where I lived and visited, with the sick, with schools that I taught, and finally, with my own family." More than three years after he was married and settled in life, he maintained regularly morning and evening worship. So effectually did he compass himself about with sparks of his own kindling, that at one time he was ready to regard himself as a most distinguished christian. "But when I thought at all," says he, "upon my state, I regarded myself as a whited sepulchre, or as making clean only the outside of the cup and the platter."

In the 26th year of his age God was pleased to answer the prayers of his pious mother, (who had some time before died in the triumphs of faith) and to display his almighty and efficacious grace in bringing him to renounce all his self-righteousness, and humbly to submit to that righteousness which is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When his attention began to be more fixed upon the danger of building on a sandy foundation, he sometimes indulged the dreadful thought of wishing to escape from the presence and power of the Almighty. "I wished," says he, "I could find the place where God's eye could not see me, nor God's hand reach me?"

But the time had now come when this self-complacent and unhumbled sinner was to be stripped of all his imaginary goodness, and rendered a humble beggar at the feet of Jesus. It may be interesting to those who read this Memoir to learn something of Mr. A's exercises from his own language. "I had been," says he, "all my life ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish a righteousness of my own. From a child I had had a form of godliness-but was not only destitute, but wholly opposed to its power. I was attentive to the externals of religion;-constant at worship on the sabbath;-not profane in my language. I had neighbors who were loose, profane, regardless of the Sabbath, and had no form of religion in their families, and I could reprove them. But now I was made to see that, if I were saved, I must bow as low-must become as poor a beggar-must be as entirely and eternally in debt to grace, as my neighbors, who lived in neglect of all the forms of religion. I now found that my proud, wicked, deceitful heart, was full of opposition to God, and especially to his way of salvation by grace. I now found that I had a carnal mind, which is enmity against God. To think that I must have no credit for my good works, as I had termed thern, seemed like cleaving the flesh from the bones. I have compared my case to that of a man who for years has been erecting a habitation. At length he

finds that his foundation is the sand, his materials unsound, and his house must be demolished and cast away. So I was convinced that my good works would avail me nothing, that my own righteousness was as filthy rags, and that I could do nothing that would be pleasing in the sight of a holy God, until I had a new heart. Yet after all, my loftiness was not laid low." Self-complacency is the last thing that the sinner will relinquish. "Now, said I, if God will bestow upon me his grace, and give me a new heart, how much I will live to his glory-indulging the thought of making compensation for the benefits received, rather than take them as a gift, and be in debt to grace." Would the limits of this brief memoir permit, it might be interesting to make farther extracts from Mr. Ambrose's writings in this place. Suffice it to say, that he soon after gave evidence of "being a new creature." The fallow ground of the heart was now effectually broken up-all grounds of self-complacency removed-and, as a humble, dependent, brokenhearted sinner, he was enabled to cast himself entirely upon the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. His views of the mercy of God in his deliverance, were now as clear as his views of the justice of God were before in his condemnation. His first exercises, after the change took place in his mind, was a calm delight in contemplating the character of Christ, and the wonderful plan of salvation by grace. His soul was filled with love to the Saviour, and with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

His joys, however, were not uninterrupted. His experience of the exceeding deceitfulness of the human heart led him often to question the genuineness of his exercises and the sincerity of his repentance; and sometimes filled him with distressing doubts and fears. Yet, in the midst of fears and doubts, he had one consolation he could look to Him who searcheth the heart and knoweth the ways of man; and from Him he received the cheering assurance," Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee." When these doubts were removed, and his mind became settled, he publicly professed his faith in Christ, was baptized by the Rev. Eliphalet Smith, of Deerfield, and united with a Baptist Church in Rumney.

No sooner had Mr. Ambrose found the Saviour, than the love which he bore to him, and the ardent desire he felt for the salvation of sinners, constrained him, like the woman of Samaria, to visit his neighbors, and invite them to come and see a man who told him all things that ever he did. He could not rest-he entered immediately upon the work of an evangelist-exhorting publicly and from house to house-visiting neighboring towns, and testifying to all the grace of God.

It might be gratifying to have a particular account of Mr. Ambrose's exercises in view of the solemn work of the ministry. This gratification, however, we must forego-as his manuscripts are so much injured by time and accident, that nothing definite can be gathered from them. All we can learn is the fact, that such evidence was furnished to his own mind and to the Church, that he was called of God to preach the gospel, that with the approbation of his breth

ren, he engaged in the work, in about six months after he made a profession of religion.

For two years Mr. A. preached in the vicinity of Plymouth, N. H. at which place his family then resided; but in the fall of 1781, a committee from Sutton, N. H. requested him to visit that place as a candidate for settlement. He complied with the request. Here he found a number of inhabitants, just making a beginning in the wilderness, and famishing for the bread of life. Here were a few Baptist professors ready to welcome Mr. A. as a messenger of Christ. But in the condition of the people there was nothing inviting, except their entire destitution of the means of grace. Yet, such was the demand for ministerial labor in the town and vicinity, that he resolved to remove his family to Sutton, which he did in Feb. 1782. In April a church was constituted, of which he was ordained the pastor, in Oct. of the same year. Over this church he continued to exercise a pastoral care till 1800-preaching, however, in neighboring towns one fourth, one half, and sometimes three fourths of the time.

Mr. A's early labors were blessed. A revival was experienced in 1782 and 3, which was quite general in Sutton, and extended to neighboring towns. Another pleasing, but more limited revival, was experienced about eight years after. The additions made to the church during these revivals, we have not the means of ascertaining. They must, however, have been considerable, as the church at one time consisted of about 80 members. But this church experienced a sad reverse from 1790 to 1800. During this time its members were much reduced-serious difficulties existed -heterodox sentiments prevailed. After much deliberation it was thought expedient in 1800 that the church should be disbanded, and that such members as remained steadfast in the faith should unite with neighboring churches. Mr. A. at this time united with the Baptist church in New London; of which he remained a valuable member till the time of his death.

From 1800 to 1820, Mr. A. besides preaching statedly upwards of two years in New Town, N. H. labored with considerable effect in Goshen, Bow, Nottingham, Weare, New Boston, Westmoreland, Danbury, and in several other places-and also performed a large amount of service for the Missionary Society of Massachusetts. His missionary labors extended into the northern parts of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Canada.

As a missionary he was prudent, zealous and indefatigable in labor and his labors were not in vain in the Lord. His journals, though imperfect, present him to us amidst hardships, toils and labors, instructing the ignorant, comforting the feeble minded, encouraging the weak, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the poor. It was his privilege often to labor amidst revivals, where he had the unspeakable pleasure of pointing anxious sinners to the Lamb of God, and of leading willing converts down the banks of Jordan.

One circumstance in the life of Mr. A. ought not to be passed over in this place. Up to the year 1810 he had enjoyed the most

perfect health. That year he engaged in a mission in the State of Maine. Soon after his arrival in the town of Vienna, he was visited with a severe and protracted sickness. For ten weeks he was confined to the house, and a considerable part of this time his life was not expected. This sickness was peculiarly afflictive, as he was far from home, among strangers, and deprived of the consoling pleasure of the presence, care, and sympathies of his beloved family. But in this sickness he found kind and sympathizing friends, whom he remembered with the liveliest emotion of gratitude to the last. He enjoyed also an inward peace and serenity of mind, which no outward circumstances, no vicissitudes of time could destroy. His peace was made with God. He knew in whom he had believed. He enjoyed the presence of his Saviour, and felt that, whether living or dying, he was Christ's. From this sickness he was restored gradually to the enjoyment of the most perfect health-not, however, without experiencing such effects as materially impaired his speech.

From 1820 to 1828, Mr. A made a few short missionary excursions, but was generally at home during the week, and preached in neighboring towns on the Sabbath. During this period he rendered much seasonable and gratuitous service in adjacent towns in times. of revival. The last two years of his life were a season of severe affliction in the family. For fifteen months Mrs. Ambrose was confined by sickness. She died in January, 1830, enjoying a good hope of being with Christ, leaving a husband and ten children to mourn her loss.

His afflictions were received in the spirit of humble resignation, and were, doubtless, instrumental in preparing this venerable servant of Christ for his approaching dissolution. They evidently quickened his zeal, increased his humility, and produced a more unreserved devotion in the service of Christ. He now seemed fast ripening for the joys of the upper world. The third Wednesday in May he met his brethren for the last time in New London. On that interesting occasion he had the privilege of uniting in the public worship of God, and of witnessing the administration of the ordinance of baptism. In the exercises at the Meeting-House, and again at the water, he took a part. At the water he spoke with uncommon freedom and earnestness. He remarked, that, during the course of his ministry, he had been favored with many such privileges, having baptized in three states and in thirty-six different towns; that probably, this might be the last opportunity he should have of witnessing the administration of that precious ordinance, or of addressing those present. He felt that time was short, even now the time of his departure was at hand, and thanked God he had some comfortable evidence that he was ready to be offered up. He exhorted his brethren with stedfastness of purpose to cleave unto the Lord, and sinners to flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold on the hope of the gospel.

The next Lord's day he attended worship in Sutton. At the close of the afternoon's services he gave an exhortation, accompanied with much feeling and warmth, and concluded by observing

that those whom he addressed might never more hear his voice. His apprehensions were realized. That week he enjoyed usual health, till Saturday evening, when he complained of acute pain and distress about the heart, accompanied with extreme languor and faintness. The family physician was soon in attendance, but no relief could be afforded. The silver cords were loosed-the golden bowl was broken. He continued to sinkthe languid pulse beat lighter and lighter, till six o'clock the next morning, May 30, 1830, when he died, aged 76.

Perhaps about the hour on which the Saviour left the grave, triumphing over death and the powers of darkness, the redeemed spirit of this servant of the Lord, emancipated from the body, ascended to glory! His funeral services were attended, the Tuesday following, with every demonstration of respect for the deceased, and of sympathy for his afflicted family. On this occasion Rev. S. Pillsbury preached a solemn and appropriate discourse from Psl. cxvi. 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

In contemplating the history of this good man, the exhortation of the apostle comes home with force: "Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience have inherited the promises." That survivors may be the better prepared to do this-a few particulars in the life and character of Mr. Ambrose will be noticed, which seem worthy of imitation.

1. He was eminently a just man. In his intercourse he was strictly honest. He might have erred in judgment. He might have differed from others in his opinion of right. But no person can, with good reason, charge him with intentional wrong. Through life it was evidently his object to do to others as he could wish them to do to him in like circumstances.

He was just to the characters of men. To reputation he maintained a sacred and inviolate regard. The writer of this article has observed with much satisfaction, that in these times when slander often appears to be the ruling passion, and when many regard reputation and character as common plunder, he never heard Mr. Ambrose speak amiss, or make an unkind remark respecting an absent person.

While some have indulged themselves in speaking freely of the failings of others, he has held his peace, or kindly administered reproof. A good name is better than precious ointment, and happy would it be for the church and for society, if all would imitate the worthy example of the deceased in preserving it inviolate.

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2. Mr. Ambrose was remarkably diligent in business. He felt the worth of time, and carefully redeemed it. From his childhood he was in the habit of rising early in the morning. Seldom were his closed in sleep after the sun had risen upon the earth. It is no small commendation of his diligence, as well as economy, that while receiving from the beginning, a very limited salary, and sometimes only a mere pittance, he was enabled by industry and good management to maintain a large family, defray the expenses of sickness, and leave something for the benefit of his children.