Memoirs of the Life of David Marks, Minister of the Gospel

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, by MARILLA MARKS, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of New Hampshire..

010-20-41 AS

gift
Kellogg

foundation
9.19.4.7

PREFACE.

Immediately after the decease of Mr. Marks, many highly esteemed friends, whose opinions have deservedly great weight in the church, repeatedly expressed the conviction that the cause of Christ demanded the publication of his biography. In deference to their judgment, and in accordance with their earnest request, this work is now submitted to the Christian public.

In the year 1831, the subject of these Memoirs was persuaded by several friends, who had examined his Journal, to publish a 'Narrative' of his labors in the ministry, especially as those labors were intimately connected with the progress of the Free-will Baptist denomination in the west. An edition of two thousand copies was issued, which was nearly all sold in New England within nine months after its publication. He was afterwards often solicited by friends at the west to publish another edition for the supply of the western Free-will Baptist churches, but he felt so much delicacy on the subject, that he could never be induced to listen to their importunities.

For nearly two years and a half after the publication of his "Narrative," he kept a regular Journal, as in former years. After this period, on account of the close occupancy of his time with immense labors, he only made occasional entries. His "Narrative," as written by himself, occupies the first twenty-three chapters of the present work in an abridged form. The remainder consists of the occasional entries in his Journal; extracts from his correspondence, and from such other documents as could be collected; and a brief history of his labors during the intervening spaces has been written by the editress from memory. From the nature of the materials, the latter part of the biography does not give so much detail in a connected form, as would be found in a regular Journal; but the exemplification of his character in its several parts, as well as the mere outline of his labors, being one of the objects designed in this work, it is hoped that the latter part will not be found less inter

esting or useful than the former. As the subject of these Memoirs was deeply interested in all the various branches of Christian reform, it has been deemed proper to give, occasionally, brief extracts from articles showing his position on these points.

It has been with a painful sense of her own inadequacy, that the editress of these Memoirs has prosecuted her labor. Gladly would she have shrunk from the responsible work, had the necessary documents been in such a situation that another could have arranged them. She has also been painfully alive to the delicacy of her situation, contemplated as the biographer of her companion in life. She has, however, aimed to present a portrait of her husband's character just as it was, in private as well as public life, that his influence on all points might be perpetuated, and the precious cause for which he lived, and toiled, might be thus promoted. In doing this, some things needed to be said, which, at first view, it seemed improper for her to say. She has felt, too, that she might be censured by some for want of discretion in publishing private expressions of sentiment and feeling. Indeed, doubts on these points have not been absent from her own mind. In self-vindication, however, she will state, that she yielded her feelings of delicacy to the judgment and counsel of friends of high standing in the literary and religious world, and has aimed to write with fidelity to the advisory direction of a competent judge, " Present your husband just as he was."

In accomplishing this work, she would gratefully acknowledge the sustaining grace of God. Notwithstanding the anguish under which her soul was writhing from her recent severe bereavement, and which, from the nature of her work, has been kept before her in all its freshness, she has had consolations that have often rendered her labor inexpressibly sweet. To the church of the living God, this work is now dedicated, with many prayers, that, through the Divine blessing, it may nerve the hearts of God's people to high and holy resolves, to live and die for the salvation of this lost world. THE EDITRESS.

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