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studies; and their pious conversation was very conducive to his spiritual comfort and edification.
A circumstance that shows at once the character
of this little fraternity, and how much good a professor, who has in him the spirit of grace and supplication,
can do, otherwise than by imparting instruction, merits a moment's notice. It was this:
many of them regularly attended Professor Elsnenis, chiefly for the benefit they derived from the
fervent and impressive prayers with which he
opened and closed his lectures. The lectures of
this venerable man are represented to have been
exceedingly interesting and instructive, but his
prayers as peculiarly spiritual and moving — as
having a holy and elevating influence upon their
hearts, which, of itself, constituted a sufficient inducement with them to visit his room. That they
were drawn thither by his extraordinary gift in
prayer, exhibits their piety in a very favourable
light; and the gift, it must be confessed, was more
honourable to him, than would have been without it,
the possession of the most splendid genius, or the
most profound erudition.
Mr. Livingston was in the habit, it has been
observed, of pondering upon the subject of the
last lecture. This habit once occasioned him a
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short but distressing conflict, in relation to a doctrine of great importance, of which, and also of the
means of his deliverance from it, he has left the
following account:
"I was walking one day alone, under the rows
of trees on the border of the canal, without the
walls of the city, and meditating upon Divine Providence, which was, at that time, the subject of our
lectures, when a blasphemous objection against
that doctrine suddenly and powerfully arose in my
mind; and with great violence, a fierce suggestion
succeeded, almost in the very words of 2 Pet. iii, 4.
All things continue as they were. There is no Providence: there is no superior or divine agency.
Causes and effects, with their train of events, roll
uninterruptedly on, and nations and human affairs
proceed invariably the same, without the interposition
of God or Providence. My soul was disturbed and
afflicted: — I paused, and was overwhelmed with
surprise, alarm, and grief. But a very different
suggestion soon ensued. It was not an articulate
sound, nor any audible voice; yet it conveyed ideas
as correct and impressive, as if I had heard one
speaking to me. It said: — You shall live to see
signal and indisputable interpositions of Divine Providence: you shall live to see the rise and downfal
of governments: you will see new nations commence.
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