CHAPTER II.

Called to Trinity Church, Newark-Public and private labors-Performance of missionary du ies—Pastoral zeal and usefulness-Affliction in the death of his sisterExtracts from his Journal-Dr. Bayard's trust in Divine Providence-Temporal and spiritual trials—Deliverance from threatened persecution—Death of his grandfatherOccasion of his removal from Newark.

MR. BAYARD was called to the rectorship of Trinity church, Newark, N. J., in May, 1813. This call he accepted, and immediately entered upon the duties of the station with characteristic zeal and self-devotion. Those members of this parish who, having been permitted to watch over its infancy, have been spared to witness its present prosperity, cherish the most affectionate and respectful remembrances of his labors. In all the duties of his office, private as well as public, he was most punctual and indefatigable. During nearly the whole period of his connection with the parish, he was in the habit of preaching three times on every Lord's day, besides superintending, in person, a large and flourishing Sunday school, which owed its existence and efficiency mainly to his untiring exertions. Besides these services on Sunday, he lectured in public on two successive evenings of each week. Feeling much interest in the circulation of the Scriptures, he succeeded in forming a Bible and Prayer Book Society among the ladies of the congregation, an institution which, for a long time, was instrumental of much good, not only in the sphere of his own labors, but in the Diocese at large. Another

favorite object of his labors, was the education of young men for the ministry; an object to the accomplishment of which he not only devoted a large portion of his own time, but also exerted himself to obtain for those properly qualified, the necessary encouragement and pecuniary aid. His labors and prayers, in this respect, were abundantly blessed, in securing to the Church, at a time when the want of clergymen was most severely felt, the devoted services of one* whose ministrations, under God, have ever been efficient and acceptable.

While at Newark, Mr. Bayard also devoted much time to missionary labor in the vicinity. He organized a congregation at Orange, Essex county, and frequently preached there in the house of Mr. Benjamin Williams, whose son, the Rev. James A. Williams, is at present in charge of the parish. He also made several missionary excursions in Sussex county, and laid the foundation of the church in the village of Newton in that county.

"While at Newark," says the Rev. Dr. Rudd, "he was greatly beloved. During his diaconate, and indeed for the whole time of his connection with this parish, I had much intercourse with him of the most delightful character. Before he obtained Priest's orders,† he often called upon me to administer the holy communion for him, both in the church and for the sick. To the latter he was a very faithful friend as well as spiritual adviser. In several cases, which I am not now able to parti

*The Rev. John M. Ward, late rector of St. Paul's charch, Hoboken, N. J., now rector of St. Thomas' church, Mamaroneck, N. Y.

+ Mr. Bayard was admitted to Priests' orders in Trinity Church, Newark, in the year 1815.

cularize, he called upon me at late hours of the night, and sometimes in the early morning, to go with him for the purpose of soothing the last hours of some dying parishioner. Once, I remember, we went together on a sudden call, some nine miles from my residence, and reached the humble dwelling after nine o'clock at night. Before we entered the sick-room he asked for water, to wash our hands before we proceeded to the sacrament which I was then to administer. This he knew was my own custom, and though neither of us regarded such an act with any superstitious care, we had agreed that there was a certain decency and fitness' which rendered such preparation proper. I always found him attentive in this way.

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"I never knew," adds the same writer, more anxious and faithful parish minister. piety was ardent, his zeal untiring, his principles sound, his manners easy, gentle, and affectionate. But others know this as well as myself."

In the year 1817, Mr. Bayard experienced a deep affliction in the death of a beloved sister, an event which he thus feelingly notices in his journal.

"Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1817. I have just returned from Princeton, from the house of mourning and the solemnities of death. I did not arrive at this scene of instruction till near its close. My dear Susan had been, all that day, in a sweet, composed and heavenly frame of mind, and had given her last advice to her brothers and sister, and her words of consolation to her parents and friends. At about eight o'clock of the evening of that day, a delirium commenced, and it was in this state I found the sweet sufferer, at about eleven o'clock when I arrived. She knew her brother, and I

kissed with fervor those dear lips, and sat by her holding her hand, with very little interruption, until her departure. Ah! what resignation was there, what triumphs of faith, what consolation to surviving relatives. May I, O my God! never forget this instructive, this interesting scene. Write it indelibly on the tablet of my heart! May it stimulate me to far, far more decided exertions for the interests of true religion and virtue. May it teach me an utter disgust for the pleasures of sin, for the unprofitable occupations of time, and for every thing that has not some reference to my eternal happiness. O, divine Spirit! strengthen every good resolution, and enable me to carry it into effect. Cleanse every thought of my heart by thy sacred inspiration, that I may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy name. Blessed Jesus! who art the mighty advocate to whom my sainted sister trusted her soul for its eternal acceptance, may I humbly follow thy holy example, and be animated to every good word and work. Father of mercies! to thee I commend myself, my soul and body, my wife and children for time and for eternity."

It is well known that one of the prominent features in Dr. Bayard's religious character, was a most sincere and implicit trust in the providence of God. From a very early period of his Christian life, he seems to have been blessed with this spirit of unqualified dependence upon his God and Saviour for all things, and although he was always, in a distinguished sense, "not slothful in business," and "fervent in spirit," he was yet blessed in the attainment of this important grace, to a degree, at which few Christians are enabled to arrive. Of

this we have a pleasing illustration, in the succeeding record of his journal.

"Thursday, Nov. 6th, 1817. How kind and gracious is God, who protects us when no human arm could afford us safety, and in the midst of his judgments remembers mercy! My dear wife I left at home, when I went to visit my sister's deathbed, with three little children, one servant quite ill, and another much indisposed. Mrs. B.'s soul was harrowed up with reflections on the unexpected news of her brother's death, yet was she supported in very trying circumstances; and though she now feels the exertions she was led to make, yet all is infinitely better than I could have anticipated. One of my boys, of whose life I almost despaired, has nearly recovered; the other, though he seems declining, I cannot but hope will be preserved to us, and be made a blessing to us and to the Church of God. While I would, then, thank thee, O my God! for all thy past mercies and deliverances, I would humbly trust implicitly for the future in thy holy

protection and guidance. I would commit my way unto the Lord. I would commend myself, my soul and body, and all that belongs to me, or concerns me, to thy merciful care.

Though generally of a remarkably cheerful and trusting spirit, he had also his hours of depression and despondency, which, painful as they sometimes were, seem to have been eminently blessed in deepening his humility, and inciting him to engage in more thorough self-examination and earnest prayer. In his journal of Friday, Nov. 7th, he remarks:

"What a deception is it that Satan is throwing over all the pleasures of sin to lure us to our ruin; and how assiduously he endeavors to frighten us