county, he heard the gospel preached by that eminent servant of God, Dr. Stephen Gano, whose ministrations at that time to the people of Stanford were accompanied "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." The conversion and baptism of an elder sister wrought powerfully upon his mind, and he was brought at this tender age to a saving knowledge of the Saviour, though for years after he did not suppose himself to be the subject of converting grace. His habitual exercises, however, from this time to his public profession of his Saviour in his eighteenth year, as detailed in his simple autobiography, leave no doubt upon the mind of the reader, that from this early period he was a true child of God. Worldly amusements, which have such a charm for unconverted youth, were distasteful to him; and when drawn into them by the enticements of companions, his soul would be filled with anguish and deep humiliation before God." On the other hand, the reading of the Scriptures, secret prayer, and devout meditation, were the aliment and delight of his soul.

In the year 1794, when fourteen years of age, his father removed to Sherburne, and, soon after, to North Norwich, in Chenango County. At this time the country was a comparative wilderness, and the religious privileges of the inhabitants consequently few, being visited only occasionally by a passing preacher of the gospel. Sabbath meetings were held at North Norwich, and attended by the few faithful ones; but the place of meeting was so far from the residence of Bro. Peck's father, that he scarcely ever attended. Nevertheless we find him, instead of spending his Sabbaths as other boys around him, in plays, hunting, fishing, and the like, far retired on these days for holy rest, in the deep forest, alone with his Bible and his God, and in such sweet enjoyment of soul, that he could adopt sincerely the language of the pious poet-

He longed to enjoy the preached gospel, and be instructed by some experienced servant of the Lord, in the way of salvation. These are not the exercises and feelings of a heart alienated from God, though the subject of them, from humility and self-distrust, and the deprivation of an experienced spiritual instructor, might not recognize in them evidences of a gracious state. In the year 1798, after suffering deeply through nearly the whole of the previous year in conflicts with the spirit of infidelity—sorely tempting him to disbelieve the Bible and even the

existence of God, making "a dreary spot in his experience," he was brought fully into the liberty wherewith Christ makes free;" and, no longer doubting as to the character of his exercises, or his duty publicly to magnify the grace which had wrought his deliverance, he offered himself to the little band of disciples constituted a short time previous into a church, in North Norwich, and was baptized by Elder Peter P. Roots, Aug. 25th, in the eighteenth year of his age.

CALL TO THE MINISTRY AND PASTORATE.

It is a cardinal doctrine of the Baptist creed, that it is the peculiar prerogative of the Lord Jesus Christ, to call men to the ministry of his Gospel, and to give them by the teachings of his word and his Spirit, the essential qualifications for the sacred work. A divine call, therefore, is held to constitute the only rightful authority in any one to assume and exercise the awful functions of an ambassador of Christ to sinful men. The appropriate business of a church after having attentively heard, and marked the peculiar exercises, of the brother whose mind is laboring with reference to his duty to preach, is to judge by the evidence furnished in the character of the exercises, whether he has indeed been moved by the Holy Ghost, and to accord, or withhold their sanction and fellowship, as their judgment shall be favorable or otherwise. The exercises of a brother, in respect to the subject under consideration, are invested with a deep interest, and in regard to one who has proved himself by a long life of the most successful labors in winning souls to Christ, and in edifying the saints, a true minister, they desire special note and consideration.

It will be seen in the foregoing remarks, that father Peck was evidently a subject of renewing grace in his early boyhood, though he did not profess Christ publicly, or even think himself a Christian, until years subsequent. Almost contemporaneously with his early decided religious impressions, he was led to think much of the character, office and work of a Gospel minister, and to feel a strong desire to have the privilege of being one. He dared not, however, with his deep sense of unworthiness and insignificance, indulge the expectation of ever being so highly honored. Still the subject frequently employed, and at times engrossed his thoughts by day and night. In his 13th year, he had two remarkable dreams, which are worthy to have been dreamed by John Bunyan the "prince of dreamers." We give them in his own simple and graphic language, as indicating the state of his mind at the time, with reference to preaching. While we do not put much confidence in dreams generally, there is a class interesting and worthy of

attention, on account of the indication they furnish of the natural thoughts and feelings of the waking mind. The following are of this class "One night in my sleep, I imagined myself in a beautiful meadow in the neighborhood, and it was filled with the most awful looking people. They were black, and deformed in every part, and appeared most wretched. I thought I was commanded to preach to them; but 1 hesitated, not knowing what to say. The command was imperative, and I concluded to make the attempt, and as I opened my mouth words flowed so freely, that I was not at a loss what to say. As I began to speak, the blackness began to leave some of them-their limbs came into their proper places, and they became some of the most beautiful and happy people I ever saw. As I witnessed the effect, I was filled with delight, for I felt a great sympathy for them. This animated my feelings, and I exerted myself to such a degree that I awoke in a state of great excitement. What it meant I could not tell; but it had a great effect upon my mind."

A short time afterwards I dreamed I was in a certain wood in the neighborhood, and it was on a beautiful Sabbath morning. The sun shone brightly-I looked forward, and saw a man walking towards me. His face and clothing were white as snow, and he had a book in his hand. As he approached, he reached me the book that was in his hand. As I had always been very fond of books, I readily took it, and as I received it, he spoke with authority saying, 'Go, publish that book to the world.' -I looked into the book; but did not understand it, and what to do I could not tell how to publish the contents when I was ignorant of them, created a difficulty which filled me with distress. not disobey such a command. I knew not what to do anguish and horror. In this state of mind I awoke." intimation of these dreams as to the future destiny of the boy Peck, has been abundantly realized by 50 years of successful labor in proclaiming that life giving and transforming word, which, through the Spirit, changes the deep blackness, hideous deformity, and abject wretchedness of depraved sinners, into purity, beauty, and felicity of sanctified children of God.

But I dared my soul was in

The prophetic

Immediately on making a public profession of religion, he was pressed in spirit to make special efforts for the salvation of sinners, and especially of the youth around him. The duty of trying to preach Christ crucified, pressed constantly and heavily upon his mind; but a profound sense of his unfitness, restrained him from making known his feelings. At length he ventured to disclose them to a young companion, a member of the same church with himself. He found he was exercised in the like

manner, and they agreed together to pray in secret over the subject of their duty. They became so far satisfied, that they both attempted to preach occasionally through the year. This was in 1800. The companion was Elder Jonathan Ferris, who long since went to receive the reward of the faithful steward. The following year, under the temptation that his talent was so small that he could never be useful in the ministry, he suspended all public efforts, bought a small farm, married and settled down, with the hope of obtaining wealth by the blessing of God, and the labor of his hands, that he might honor his Redeemer, and promote his cause by his 'substance.' He married Miss Sarah Ferris, the daughter of Deacon Israel Ferris, who proved to be a help meet indeed to him in the Gospel. He was soon made to feel by personal trials, and by the expressions of his brethren that this was not the way of his duty. The Lord needed him as a chosen vessel to bear his precious name to the perishing, and as if to rebuke him for his distrust, and recreancy to his higher call, he laid him upon his bed with a sudden and severe illness, and the words, 'This year thou shalt die,' came with great distinctness and force to his mind, and deeply affected him. Though he recovered from that illness, the words' This year thou shalt die' continued to ring in his ears. The world with its interests faded from his view, and death was ever before him. He sold his farm, and removed to Sherburne early in the year 1803, and made a temporary arrangement, by renting a farm for one year. He was resolved fully in the strength of the Lord, to devote himself to preaching the Gospel, and do with his might what his hands found to do, whether his days should be many or few. He at once received a call to preach half the time to the church in North Norwich, and the other in an irreligious neighborhood in a part of Sherburne. The Lord graciously owned and accepted the labors of his now whole-hearted and devoted servant, and sealed his ministry by giving him "Souls for his hire." The year passed away, and though the words were not verified in his natural death, they were in a higher and more sacred sense by a death unto worldly interests and calculation, and a renewed and complete consecration to the high vocation wherewith he was called. He ever after remained true and stead

fast to his sacred vows.

HIS PASTORATE.

On the 1st of January, 1804, being twenty-four years old, he received a unanimous call from the First church in Cazenovia, (New Woodstock,) to succeed the venerable James Bacon, as their pastor. After much prayer and deliberation, with much fear and trembling he accepted the

call, and removed thither in the following March. We have been intensely interested in the contemplation of Father Peck in his relation as pastor; but we postpone any special remarks upon the subject, until our closing reflections upon the various interesting parts of his character, and shall proceed directly with the simple narrative. During his pastorate of 31 years, the church enjoyed eight special revivals, mainly under his own special labors, assisted by faithful brethren of the church. These revivals were not brief and transient in their influence, but in most of the cases continued with more or less power for months and even years.

At the commencement of his connection with the church, it was small and much divided by an unhappy difficulty. This was a source of much anxiety and distress to him; but doubtless, the trial contributed to give him that practical experience and tact in adjusting church difficulties which, with his peace-loving spirit, made his counsels and personal influence so much sought after in such matters, by other churches during his whole life. In 1806, the church became united and enjoyed spiritual comfort and prosperity,

On the 11th of June in this year he was ordained, and soon after the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon the church. This refreshing shower of grace continued through the following year, and many were added to the Lord, and the church." walking in the peace of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were edified."

In the beginning of 1808, a still more powerful work of grace, gave the testimony and seal of God to the faithful labors of his servant. This revival spread to adjoining towns, and during its continuance, the pastor, in connection with Bro. Coley, then a licentiate of his church, a true yoke-fellow in the Gospel' was engaged incessantly in ranging over the extended territory on which the precious shower was falling, traveling over exceedingly bad roads, alike through storm and sunshine, cold and heat, night and day. The work continued nearly two years, and resulted in the addition of over 100 to the church. This was a large ingathering considering the newness of the country, and the sparseness of the population. Nearly every habitation throughout the wide field over which the divine influence spread, received a portion.

In 1812, that venerable father in Israel, Elder James Bacon, who had been the 1st pastor of the church, and honored pioneer in planting the standard of a pure Gospel in this new territory, died at the advanced age of 84, and a hearty and touching tribute to his great worth and services, was paid by his youthful successor in an appropriate funeral discourse from 2 Tim. 4: 6-8.