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Bible the history of the church and of the providence of God-the statement of the general principles under which God has from the beginning governed the worldthe history of the first nations of the earth as given by the Spirit of God-the charter of the heavenly inheritance, and while he read and studied this sacred volame, the Spirit of God breathed upon his understanding and his heart, and he was more and more attached to the truth as it was in Jesus.

These impressions were still farther cherished by his lot being cast under the ministry of the lamented James M Chord. Under the faithful ministry of this servant of the Redeemer, amidst the pressing cares of public life and professional business, and amidst innumerable other temptations, he became convinced of his lost condition as a sinner, and obtained also some clear views of the only method of salvation. He endeavoured for himself to accept of the tender of mercy, and to resolve in God's strength to be for the Lord and not for another.

Being convinced of the truth as it is revealed in the Bible, he was not ashamed to confess his Lord and Master before men. Very soon after his appearance at the bar he made a public profession of his faith. He solemnly devoted himself and his all to him who loved the souls of men and washed them in his blood. He was the first lawyer in Lexington who did so-and his example was not without its influence. He was also probably the first lawyer and the first representative from Fayette county, who regularly carried his Bible with him from Lexington to Frankfort, whether he was

attending to his duties in the courts of law or in the hall of legislation.

Having set his face heavenward, he pursued a calm and steady course. In the public assemblies of the saints—in his family-in his social intercourse with his friends-in all his intercourse with his fellow men, he gave decisive evidence that he considered it at once to be his honour and his interest to have his destiny and the destiny of his family connected with the destiny of that kingdom which shall endure for ever. And it was here and here only that he was never disappointed. In all his other plans, and pursuits, and prospects, he met with many, very many, heavy, unexpected disappointments; here and here only he enjoyed real, solid, increasing satisfaction. Here his enjoyments even upon earth exceeded his hopes.

His christian profession was as the path of the just which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. His views of the great and leading articles of the christian faith were from the beginning clear, extensive, and accurate. But his knowledge of the practical influence of these doctrines upon the heart, and upon the life, and upon the interests of civil and religious society, was at the commencement of his course very imperfect. His knowledge of the doetrines of christianity was acquired by the calm and patient investigations of the closet, previously to his having much intercourse with christian men, or his being much under the influence of christian institutions. His knowledge of practical christianity was the result of his own experience and persona Observation, after he was publicly connected with the

church under the sanctified use of the means of grace. His religion was first intelligence, then feeling. His character as a religious man was consequently somewhat different from the character of those whose feelings take the lead of their understanding. Hence, while there was, in his short christian course, little addition made to his stock of theological knowledge, his intimate friends marked with pleasure his rapid advances in humility, in patience and resignation to the divine will, in confidence in the promises, and in love towards God and man.

The difficulties with which he had to contend in maintaining his christian profession were somewhat dif ferent from those of the most of his fellow professors. He had from early life, perhaps from childhood, formed the resolution of being a public character. And no son of the west ever had more encouraging prospects. His acquirements in classical and scientific literature were considerable; his knowledge of history, and of the principles of general policy, extensive-and he was blest with that kind of mind, and with that order of talents, which rendered his company always desirable whether mere relaxation, or innocent and cheerful amusements, or serious and interesting information was the object of social intercourse. His connexion with men and with families of respectability and influence was also extensive. Now, upon his assuming a christian profession, and upon his feeling the weight and the extent of christian responsibility, he was placed, from these circumstances alone, in a situation which few, very few indeed, either of the men of the world, or of his fellow professors,

fully understood. And if ever a hard thought was cherished against him by either friend or foe, it was because his situation at the time was not understood.

He

He was not a hypocrite who had assumed the christian profession, and who had cultivated christian acquaintance merely to make all subservient to some political project. Nor was he a religious enthusiast, who supposed that upon his becoming a christian he was to renounce at once and forever all connexion and intercourse with the world and with the men of the world. had connected himself with the church of the living God, for the sole purpose of promoting his 'own personal salvation, the salvation of his family, and of his fellow men. His political principles were also decidedly opposed to any connexion, even the most distant, between church and state. Hence he was from principle equally opposed to making his civil and political connexions subservient to his religious character, or his political character subservient to the views and to the party measures of his religious friends.

Ile had devoted himself, soul and body, to his Maker and his Saviour-but he was to serve his God and his Saviour by attending to the duties of his profession, and by his having, while doing his own business, and while transacting the business of others and of the commonwealth, frequent and extensive, and, in some cases, intimate connexion with men who were not only strangers to religion, but with men who were hostile to the very forms of christianity. And to maintain a christian profession, and to live a life of piety under such circumštances was no easy task. That he succeeded in acting

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out the christian life in all its extent under these circumstances we affirm not. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But this much we say, that under all circumstances, and in every situation, there was a something about Joseph Cabell Breckinridge which at once distinguished him from the men of the world, and from those who had only a name to live while dead. His general principles were uncom monly correct.

Like all other men, he sometimes failed in applying these principles to particular cases. But even in these failures he gave decisive evidence of his being under the influence not only of christian principle but of ardent piety.

The commencement of his public life was as flattering as could have been desired. The largest vote which ever had been given in Fayette county marked at once the respect which the community paid to the talents and services of the deceased father, and the hopes and confidence which they cherished towards the son. Nor amidst the ever changing opinions, and changing political parties which are inherent in the very nature of popular governments, did he in the course of his life lose either his independence of mind, or in any degree his honours, or his influence. It is believed that he enjoyed at his death the public confidence to as great an extent as any other individual in the state did, and was, both as a statesman and a lawyer, on the high road to the first honours and emoluments which his country had to bestow.

He was one of the handful of friends who united in projecting and building the place of worship in Market

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