OR, SKETCHES OF EMINENT LIVING AMERICAN DIVINES. [Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by CHARLES W. HOLDEN, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.] men, NO XIII. REV. SAMUEL H. COX. ENGRAVED FOR HOLDEN, BY ORR AND RICHARDSON, FROM A DAGUEREOTYPE BY A. MORAND. [ORIGINAL.] WE beg the privilege on this occasion of saying one word about ourselves, which, perhaps, ought to have been said sooner. We undertake the task of presenting truthful portraits of living men-men now on the stage of life, stirring, influential actors, and doers; who are "living epistles, known and read of all;" men, who have taken sides on mooted questions; and, as leaders, have marshalled their regiments of followers, and contended with regiments of foes; men, who have been talked up, and talked against, and talked about, till their names have become as familiar as household words. It is a difficult, a delicate, and a responsible task which we have undertaken. It is a difficult task, because of the imperfection of Human Nature. It is the hardest thing in the world to look at character with a steady gaze, and read it as it really is, though a man usually reveals his true character through the doings of twenty, thirty, or forty years, yet these very actions are construed differently by different people. Now we have inherited the same imperfect Human Nature that others have-we pretend to no infallibility-we do not believe in a Pope, any more in the department of criticism, than in the church. We are liable to be warped by preju us "Owad some power the gift to gie us, And now, (kind reader, pardon us for such a long egotistical chapter,) we have “defined our position,” as no candidate for the Presidency ever did or dared to do. In conclusion we would say that if any individual should feel inclined to grumble at or find fault with any future sketch, we advise such an one to refer back to the October number, (for we persume that he preserves all the numbers,) and read over carefully the preceding page, strive to place himself in our position, and stand in our shoes; and we think he will feel better after it—and take a comfortable nap. But lest he may be napping already over this lengthy episode, we will hasten on to our main subject. Samuel Hanson Cox, D. D., the subject of this sketch, is too well known to need an introduction. His reputation is as extensive in the religious world, as that of President Polk is in the political. His name is dice, and by party as well as other men. Some things presumption to comment on natural scenery, the work may very likely be seen by us through a magnifying of the Creator. Shakspeare is criticised, and justly so, glass, while others, viewed through the wrong end of by those unable to write one saying equal to the poorthe telescope, will appear smaller than they really are.est of his thousands. Milton is analysed by boarding We are not perfect, and pretend to no perfection, and school misses, and finally who does n't know" that a still we can and do claim for ourselves the respect due cat may look at a king?" to those who are honestly striving to observe and to write free from prejudice and party bias. So far as man can succeed in forming a just opinion, we hope for success. Our task is a delicate one, because we are criticising living, acting men, surrounded by their circle of admirers on the one hand, and the outer circle of opponents on the other. Neither of these classes do we expect to please. We shall eulogise too faintly to suit the former, criticise too candidly for the latter. In fact, our straight-forward course will not jibe with any circle. And worse than all, we do not aspire to pleasing individuals themselves whose biographies we write. In their opinion we shall probably fail in bringing out the best points, and succeed only in criticising the wrong points. Few persons appear to themselves as they do to others. This does not always result from self-deception. It may be the consequence of thorough self-knowledge, a bet-perhaps oftener metioned, his sayings are probably ofter knowledge of ourselves than other people have of tener quoted, than those of any divine in the United States. For a long number of years he has been in public life; not only in the public life which the pulpit affords, a sphere somewhat walled up and exclusive, but in the wider, freer public life, which is built on the these many years he has neither been idle, nor retiring, nor silent. He has been a working man, an active, stiring man, a man whose presence is seen, whose voice is heard, whose influence is felt wherever he is. His energy of character has ever urged him to the van, while his natural enthusiasm has inspired him to seize the standard and be the first to ring out the battle crywhile the cool judgment of others reined them up, his zeal was spurring him on. Moreover, he started in life with the resolution to do something. He aspired not only to be but to do. Action was his life, and excitement his native breath-while some perfer quietly to build up their life-character in the retirement of the study, and secresy of the closet; he has been fashioning the manhood of his inner self, by bustling work in all the turmoil of stirring life. He did not hew the stones and fit the beams for his temple afar off in the solitary mountains, "that neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, should be heard in the house while it was in building," but with the rough logs and unshapen rocks brought to hand, he has been hewing and chiselling, and hammering, and rearing on Zion's hill, surrounded by busy life, and gazed at by all the passers-by, both of Jews and of Gentiles. Hence his name is a familiar word among all classes. While the retiring student is known only to the literary elite, and some publishing house or bookseller's stall; while the humble, faithful pastor lives and dies the beloved shepherd of his flock, most known to them, least known to others; while the metaphysician moves among the stars of the literary firmament, recognised by the mass only in some sleepy interval between the daily trials of life, as some wonderful and useless light in the mysterious distance; while almost every one has his own exclusive and admiring circle, Dr. Cox has in one way and another made himself heard, and seen, and felt, throughont all classes. He is known in the literary world as the author of a large work entitled, "Qua He might after the fashion of some portrait painters, color highly, and give every one an intellectual fore-speaker's platform and the publisher's press. During head, and a flashing eye. But to such acts we shall not descend. Wholesale flattery, undiscriminating -praise, we never believed in. And yet we shall praise far more than we shall blame, for we are fortunate in having selected for the subjects of our sketches those whose lives have been devoted to truth and righteousness with more or less assiduity. Whenever censure is bestowed, it will probably be bestowed, not because the individual has done a wrong thing, but because he has done a right thing the wrong way. And probably our task is a responsible one, because without conceit we think that our opinions will be adopted by others. Being sensible of this, we shall strive to make these opinions worthy of adoption. In view of these circumstances, we confess, the sincere hesitation felt in attempting to criticise the efforts and analyse the teachings of those so much older and wiser. As faithful journalists we may be compelled to condemn as well as approve. The eye open to virtues will hardly fail of detecting faults. We are not writing memoirs. It would not be just to adopt the principle that all faults should be " writ in water." Neither have we the advantage or disadvantage, just as you please, of intimate personal acquaintance with the subjects of our sketches. We have no collection of friendly letters or private diaries to refer to. We are but the machine of the Daguerrian, set to take the features just as they are presented a speck on the face, being no part of the face, appears on the picture like a hideous mole-whose fault is it if extraneous specks, in these portraits of ours, are to appear as moles? Though in this world of "many men of many minds," our opinions may be questioned, we trust that the charge of presumption will not be made. A man may criticise what he could not perform, detect faults among excellencies he could not emulate, pull to peices what he could not put together. It is no kerism not Christianity,” and of several small and less | We doubt not he was a faithful support to his widowed important essays. As the author of interesting letters mother, and a protector to his younger brothers. It from Europe his messages have been heard from across is probable that the energy of character, the unyieldthe waters. He is distinguished in the religious world, ing resolution, and the unhesitating self-reliance so not only as the theologian and divine, but also as a manifested in after years, was developed thus early in prime mover in the agitation of 1837, followed by the life by the responsibilities so suddenly cast upon him. division of the Presbyterian Church; as a leading pro- Of his father, Dr. Cox thus affectionately and truthmoter of the Evangelical Alliance; as a professor in a fully speaks: Theological Seminary; as a lecturer upon Sacred History; and finally, as a strong New School Presbyterian. By his active participation in the cause of Temperance, his efforts for the elevation of the negro race, and his prompt devotion to other great movements of the day, he has intertwined his interests with those of large class of individuals who would perhaps be included in neither of the foregoing divisions. Finally, to many of these, and others besides, he is known and cherished as the racy conversationist, the choice companion, and the faithful friend. In this extensive reputation of Dr. Cox, we not only heartily congratulate him, but also congratulate ourselves; for, in the first place, the general familiarity with his doings relieves us from the task of narrating them, and in the second place, we shall be exonerated from the unpleasant charges of having dragged to public view that which should be kept sacredly private; inasmuch as this notoriety gives us the oppor tunity, in the fair and friendly discussion of his character which we propose, of analysing its traits, tracing its excellencies, and accounting for its deficiencies, (if such there be,) without rendering ourselves liable to the imputation of wounding modest worth by trumpeting virtues, or of offending self-respect by publishing faults with the conviction that the life of public men is before the public, and at the honest disposal of the public, we propose to enter upon a very brief discussion of the character of him who forms the subject of this sketch, proceeding according to the true Raconian principle by a careful generalization from observed and acknowledged facts-by building our theory on the results of " experience and observation," concocting such a theory as shall account for and harmonise together all the facts however conflicting they may at first sight appear. As we remarked before, by reason of Dr. Cox's extensive reputation, the facts are familiar to all, or most easy of access, these we do not give, from lack both of space and time, but simply present our theory. To such a discussion we see not how any one can take exception, provided that it is done candidly and generously, unbiased by personal friendship or animosity. These conditions we promise shall be fulfilled. "My father had carefully educated me in the principles of Friends; and I may be permitted to say of him, though he lived but four days in the present century, that all his influence was, so far as I can recollect, (being only in my eighth year when he died,) very different from that of the generality of Friends; and this, particularly, in the grand items of reverence for the holy scriptures; a practical and conscientious regard for the Lord's day;' and boldness for the truth of religion among its adversaries; a nice sense of honor; uniform decision in the cause of virtue; an unfeigned charitableness toward all serious christians; and an inflexible consistency of deportment. He was an example of universal temperance; tenderly humane and self-denying in his offices of beneficence, and distinguished as the friend of the black man in all his degradations. In these respects his eldest son may be allowed to pay a tearful, solemn, and most affectionate tribute to his memory!" Of the youthful character of Dr. Cox as exemplified in a religious direction, we shall best speak in his own words: "I would not here imply that sobriety and moderation were the early characteristics of my religion. I was impetuons; decisive; perfectly assured; extatically happy in God; resolved to confess Jesus Christ any where; anxious to show others the way to blessedness; totally inexperienced; and not properly impressed with the necessity of experience in order to usefulness; supposing I should always walk in the light, as he is in the light,' and anticipating no reverses; ignorant of the wanton enmity of men actually cherished against the gospel; and often inconsiderate in the way, place, time, and style, of addressing them on the matters of religion. In principles, however, I have always been substantially the same; nor do I know that, since the period of spiritual nativity, I have ever had one deep deliberate doubt of the truth and excellence of christianity, or of the general meaning of the scriptures. Reverses however 1 did experiencejust as extreme, pungent and complete, as the joys that preceded them were high! My hope left me after a few weeks, my joys all dried away, and the deepest melancholy of darkness that could be felt embowered me. I felt that I had been deluded, hypocritical, wild Samuel H. Cox was born in Philadelphia, August in my rejoicings;-not that I doubted religion; 1 25th, 1793, being the eldest son of James Cox, who doubted only myself! Thus extremes and opposites soon after the birth of Samuel, removed his place of succeeded, till tribulation wrought patience; and paresidence and business to Rahway, New Jersey. An- tience, experience; and experience, hope;' and thus other son is a distinguished physician in the city of New the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his York-while still another was a regular physician in eternal glory by Christ Jesus,' is wont to accomplish Philadelphia, "a man of unsullied character, in social his people; establish, strengthen, settle them; to him and professional life universally respected." His fa- be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.' ther died when Samuel was eight years of age, in his 1 Pet. 5: 10, 11. I have since compared my feelings 34th year. He left a wife and five small children. in religion to the vibrations of the pendulum of an Thus early in life was the subject of this sketch thrown open clock, whose first movements, when energetiupon his own resources, without a father's strength to cally started, incline almost to cover one hundred and assist, or a father's counsel to guide. That in these try-eighty degrees of the circle; but, gradually subsiding ing circumstances he proved himself equal to the emer- from extremes, and losing the momentum of extravageney, we think his after life leaves no room to doubt. gance, every movement becomes more regular; the deep central attraction influences more; its motions are more orderly and useful; and at last it assumes that state of punctual and measured gravity which it keeps to the end of its appointed time; and without which, however costly its material, or polished its exterior, or comely its proportions, it would be of no utility. That I have gained the point of perfect regularity, I am very far from asserting; but that I have held my way, in the main, progressive, I do believe, just as really as I know that I am still imperfect and have much to learn." Of his religious experiences, as given by himself, we deem the following extract worthy of attention, as interesting in matter, as illustrative of the man, and as a fair specimen of his style: "I became uneasy and troubled in spirit. I knew not the cause, nor even the nature of my unhappiness. Sinners under the special influence of the Spirit of God, a revival of religion, I had never seen. I knew not that any creature had ever felt as I felt, or that there was any excellence of nature or promise in such agitation. So pungent was the misery, so undefined and unappreciated the influence, that I was not even aware of its connection with religion. Consequently I tried every means in my power to dissipate it. I went into company, frequented parties, invented sports, commenced the study of the French language with an accomplished French gentleman, whose manners and society pleased me, but whose principles of fatalism, and whose habits of profligacy, shocked me; for, to these things I had not been habituated. Finding, at last, that every effort was vain, and every resource insipid, I resolved to study more diligently, to try to excel in my profession, and to pursue this, to the exclusion of everything else, as my supreme good, being then occupied in the office of a respectable counsellor, as a student of law. Hence I studied laboriously, and with a kind of phrensied determination. I separated from associates, and tried to wear the vizor of misanthropy, that I might keep all intruders at a distance. Here a new misery disturbed me. I could not keep my mind, as formerly, on the topics and paragraphs of the law book! Not even the style of Blackstone, of which I had always been enamoured, could retain my strangely discursive thoughts. I felt a kind of romantic curiosity to study the scriptures, and made it a virtue to deny myself the pleasure. It appeared a random, unprofitable longing of the mind, that required, as it received, a resolute coercion. I will study, was my half angry motto. And so I did, laboriously, and to no purpose. I went over a page, perhaps ten times, and could not retain one line or thought of it. The book appeared like vanity,' and the study like 'vexation of spirit.' Still I persevered; grew daily more wretched; and felt that I had no friend in the world to whom I could unbosom my sorrows and disburden my soul! Alas! that friend that sticketh closer than a brother,' that laid down his life for his friends,' and who invites us all to come unto him,' especially when weary and heavy laden,' and promises that we shall find rest to our souls;' who invites us to 'cast all our care upon him, knowing that he careth for us; that unequaled friend I little knew, and had never proved! One day, while vacantly meditating over a law book, not on its contents, but on the atheism of Diderot and other authors, officiously loaned me by my French instructor, and which I had perused and returned weeks before, it was strangely impressed on my mind that I had better turn atheist, if I could, for the sake of consistency; for he is consistent, thought I, with himself, who, never worshipping God, also denies his existence; but for me there is no such honor. I acknowledge his being, and live as if I had ascertained the contrary! I was much agitated, but broke the somnium with my motto, I will study. Thus passed my days for many weeks; till once, when particularly chagrined at the lubricity of law in its contact with my efforts of mind to retain it, my attention was suddenly fixed and charmed with the volume. I felt a relief and a recreation of mind such as had long been unknown. My two diverse objects were unexpectedly blended; the desire to investigate scripture and the resolve to study seemed to meet at once, and be strangely reconciled. "This unexpected pleasure was produced by the occurrence of a scriptural quotation from Matt. 5: 25, Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the wuy with him.' It was in the third volume of Blackstone, chap. 20, p. 298, on Pleading. "I was delightfully engrossed; and finding that to proceed with regular study was to lose the attractive objects-was to launch out again into the inclement element, and that the margin of the page on which my eye then rested, referred me to the chapter and verse of the Pentateuch where I might also study other words of that ancient lawyer at large, I arose with alacrity (being then alone in the office) and went to that corner of the library where our learned preceptor kept his very valuable volumes of theology. There I found a Bible, and hastily snatching it, I was soon fixed in the perusal of the connection to which I was referred. Thus a quotation in a law-book was, in providence, associated with my first or best convictions in religion; it brought me to read the scriptures, and was a link in that chain of causes that ultimately bound me in relation not (I trust) to be dissolved, to the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.' "Without more detail of incidents, dear to my memory, but of less interest to others, suffice it that I now commenced the reading of the scriptures alone, and in good earnest. My solemn purpose was to explore the sacred book, and know from itself what it contained, and what were the internal proofs of its divinity. Conviction increased as I proceeded, and soon became overpowering. But here several things occurred to dissuade me, in vain, from decision in so plain and so high a course of duty. "These considerations, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, at last prevailed; my knees bowed, my soul bowed with them, for the first time in my life; I was shipped, prayed, and solemnly devoted myself to the Author of my being and the hope of my soul, to be his for ever, to follow Jesus Christ' through good report and evil report; and by his 'strength made perfect in weakness,' to glority him in the ways of truth, through time and eternity. As soon as I had made this surrendry, conscious as I was of its unspeakable solemnity and perfect irretrievableness, I was assaulted with a fierce temptation, with a succession of fiery darts of the wicked' one, all mainly in this form: You have made a vow which you will never keep; you have perjured your soul for ever; you are lost! You be religious! You are a hypocrite, a fool, a | the character is in the objects, and not in the mind. fiend! You will appostatize in less than three weeks, Nearly the same sentiment is more scientifically given and, at last, make your bet in hell-a hateful, ruined by that great father of sound reasoning, Lord Bacon. wretch! Alas! thought I, it is certainly true. I am A little obstinate rationality, as Dr. Johnson calls it, wicked, and never felt worse than now that I wish to kept me then and since from the profound or the sube good! Here my sins began to disgorge themselves blime of religious enthusiasm. Had I yielded to feelto my view. Sin revived, and I died-and the com- ing, to imagination, and seeming revelation, at a time mandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be when the genuine influences of the Spirit of God (as I unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the com- believe) had made me happy in him, and thrilled my mandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Where- soul with holy ravishment, I might have been a devout fore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and madman, inspired, or any thing else, in my own esjust, and good.' And thus it was that sin 'became teem. But the balance of my mind was restored by exceeding sinful' in my renewed perceptions. For reflection. The truth and soberness' of christianity several weeks my situation was wretched, indescriba-induced that reflection, and made me know that I bly wretched. I had plighted my being to serve my ought to exercise my understanding, and try the spirMaker; but this implied that I should become quali- its' in every direction, before I trusted them. The fied for the service that was spiritual, and filial, and case of Col. Gardner I had previously heard or read, august. Instead of this, it was gloom, sin, and fear- and it then recurred to me. Were it not, thought I, ful anticipation. I had no peace, and hope seemed a that I happen to know better, I could see and tell of phantom of indefinite characteristics that continually prodigies, of angelic apparition and miraculous glory, eluded my grasp. I was much alone; with other as well as others; and now it seems clear to me how views of men and manners now, and others of a life the excellent Gardiner was deceived, and how thouto come.' sands of religious enthusiasts first come by their commission. I ascribe it, under God, to the power of his written truth alone, that I became not then a disciple of moonshine and extravagance. The wonder is the greater, that I was by education predisposed to it. The spring of the affections, or zeal in religion, however genuine, requires the balance-wheel of sound scriptural instruction to regulate its movements and secure its utility. Much am I indebted, whom nature made so ardent, and education so moulded to enthusiasm, much do I owe to the sober voice of scripture, for all the steadiness of faith, the sobriety of character, and the uniformity of action, which I have been enabled in some degree (yet imperfectly) to exemplify. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying NONE OTHER THINGS than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come.' Acts 26: 22. My soul has often leaped for joy and thankfulness that the Great Shepherd hath so led and kept me! So will he keep for ever all who truly trust HIM." "One thing that marked this dark hour, or rather month, in my memory, was a peculiar conviction of sin! not only of its superlatively evil nature, that deserves all that God denounces against it in his word, and that I was such a sinner as his truth describes; but that I had sinned unutterably much against his gospel, in slighting it, and specially against his holy word, in daring to reason against it! The insolence and the insufferable abomination of such neglect of 'the oracles of God' appeared to me, as seen in the light of the goodness and the greatness of their adorable Author, astonishingly evil! And I wondered why I was not in hell; it seemed to me that I ought to go there, and that if I had any virtue I should approve of the righteousness and excellency of such a measure, as what ought to be. It seemed impossible that I should ever be saved-translated to those halcyon seats of God, and admitted to his holy presence for ever! The degree of these exercises, depending, in part, as I now suppose, upon the singular ardency of my native temperament, I do not attempt to describe; and would scarcely rehearse to my nearest friend the forms of excessive perturbation that harrowed up my soul till the fearful conflict was over! This occurred one night, on my knees, by my bedside. The service of prayer had before seemed at once impossible to be, by me, either omitted or performed. Then it was easy, it was delightful. How long I now continued praising rather than praying in this posture, I know not. But this I know, that my soul seemed absorbed in the glory of God-the chamber luminous with his presence, the universe glorious for his sake, while alleluias kept me delightfully awake until morning! This interesting account of remarkable religious experience is specially interesting, as connected with the present sketch, in revealing the inmost workings of the spirit and the outgoings of character. Perhaps there is no occasion where the true character of an individual is more strikingly and faithfully revealed and more thoroughly discovered than when under the power of religious impressions. Then the depths of his nature are stirred, and the foundations broken up. Then all guise is cast aside and the secret places are made plain. It is a time of honesty, of thorough dealing, of self-probing. It is a time when latent energies are aroused, and when all factitious acquire"The luminous appearance of the chamber and of ments fade before the vigor of an inborn power. It the bed where I lay, contained from the sight of dis- is a time when "the powers of the world to come" tant objects, which the darkness of a cloudy November take their weighty hold of the human spirit, and the night (1812) would have rendered invisible had there flashes of Heaven's light, gleaming across the darkbeen no intervening drapery to deepen it I have pur- ened soul, reveal all things in their true character and posely mentioned, and now proceed to explain. A position. It is a time when men are honest with sober philosophy, as I then thought, and now know, themselves, with their fellow men, and with God. can perfectly resolve it. The state of one's mind, Hence it is the very time of all others to observe and in proportion to the intensity of its affections, as mel- study character. Then you get at the truth, at the ancholy or mirthful, as vigorous or languid, as imagina- real fact, quite through all artificial superstructure and tive or plodding, imparts its own character to sur-gloss and tinsel work. It is interesting to the physiorounding objects; and often induces the sensation that logical student to observe how essentially religious ex |