Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-03
Rev. Theodo rlcus Esoneyn, I'D. D.

Rev. TheOG Oricus EeOmeyn, ED. D.
Z" His hand the good man fastens on the skies,
Nor feels earth's idle whirl. -
So sang. the poet Young. Truly the
good mans treasure is laid up in heaven.
and his heart is there also. The world
with all its heeting pomps, and empty
vanities, and feyerish ezcitements, has nc
charms for him. While he is in the
world, his mind and soul are staid upon
God and his mightiest efforts are direct
ed with untiring energy to promote the
spiritual and eternal welfare of his fellow
beings. That the mission of such a man
thus clothed with heavenly light as with
garment, approximates the nearest tc
that Of holy, unsinning, unfallen angel
who can doubt? Now, if ever there
lived, and breathed, and labored, in this
western world, person whose character
came fully up to the standard thus briefly
drawn, that individual was THEoDoRICUs
RoMEYN.
He was born in the delightful village
of Hackensack, in Bergen County, New
Jersey, on the 18th of January, 1744.--
Well may this dourishing town, the Coun-
ty seat Of Bergen, with its elegant stone
mansions, beautiful Academy and Court
House its splendid churches, and intel
ligent population, eXult in having given
birth to one of the most eloquent diyines
and public spirited phiantrophists of this.
or any other age. The stranger and
| traveller, as he roams over the romantic
scenery of the Hackensack, when all Ma
ture is robed in her gorgeous appar-
cling and the banks Of the river are
clothed in smiling green, and adorned
with flowers Of brightest hue and sweet,
est fragrance, and see the landscape
richly dotted Ger, with costly man
sions, neat farm houses, and finely cult,
waited fields. and then catches the silver
cleaning Of the Stream, which some fu-
ture bard may yet render as classical as
the Ayr )" with its bonry banks :" and
watches the graceful, swan-like motion of
the white-winged sloop as she glides over
the TRANSLUCENT waves, through winding
distance of fifteen miles, into the dark
blue bay of Newark should remember,
with tear Of sorrow, and yet, Of exulta
ton, that other feet have trod those flow
cry banks, other eyes have gazed upon
thaS enchanting scenery for there were
passed the early days of that eminently
pious servant Of God, the Rev. Theodor
icus Romeyn.
His early life was characterized by ali
ardent love Of knowledge, and an inflex
ble regard for truth. Whatever task he
undertook, however severe he was never
content to rest satisfied, under any cir
cumstances, until he had accomplished it.
Nor did he suffer himself to fall into the
pernicious habit Of gaining mere super
fetal view Of the objects of pursuit pre-
sented to his mind. He gave to each the
closest attention and was accustomed
deeply to investigate them in all their
bearings. The classics, during his acad
| emical course, were his favorite studies :;
aud with them he assiduously cultivated
Oratory, for which he ever had a strong
prediction, and in which, lis well bal
anced natural powers eminently fitted
him to excel. lie also made rapid pro
gress in the Sciences, and in Rhetoric and
Composition. He was polished writer,
as well as sound and eloquent reasoner.
He entered Princeton College, in 1761;
of which the Rev. Aaron Burr was then
President. He was succeeded by the
estimable DR.. Witherspoon, in 1768. At
this time young Romeyn was only seven
teen years of age. While pursuing with
intense ardor, course Of education that
was to qualify him 10 shine with peculiar
lustre in the higher walks Of life, he was
struck under puugent conviction, and
brought to see his wretched condition as
sinner, and the necessity Of deep and
heartfelt repeDtanc towards God, and
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his only
hope of salvation. He was also led to
reflect much upon the all-important sub
ject of the New Birth, or that thorough
change of the natural heart, which is
enmity against God, into holy and
spiritual temper and frame by which
only it can be fitted for the service of
God in this world, and for everlasting
happiness and glory in the world to come.
For some time, he was cast down with
feelings of dark dependency. and a som
bre cloud shut out his spiritual vision
from the brightness of the Divine glory.
And yet he was constant attendant upon
all the means of Divine Grace. Al length
this state Of darkness gave way, and was
succeeded by food Of light, which SEEM
ed to stream from the very portals of
heaven, into his Utmost soul. In the ex-
uberance of his joy, he made solemn
vow to God, that he would devote him
sell with all Ills ransomed powers to the
cause Of the blessed Redeemer, in the
Gospel ministry. And be never broke
that VOW, and he never repented of it.
and he never forgot it. Now, no severity
OF labor seemed irksome for the love oil
God shed abroad in his heart, sw eetened
every toll, and enabled him to surmount
with ease every obstacle that might seem
to obstruct his progress. And so will it
be with every sincere believer in the
Lamb OF God, who taketh away the sin
OF the world" What appeared to him in
his fallen condition, as mountains of diff
Guilty, IN his regenerate state, will seem
to him as grass, crowned hiIlocks. Even
the swellings of Jordan will subside be-
meath his feet, SO that he may fain go over
upon dry ground.
With such principles of unaffected pi
ETY., and those fixed habits of intense and
persevering study, and that strong mind
lifted to obtain perfect mastery over
every OBJECT of its pursuit, is it to be re
garded as matter Of wonder, that he
should have graduated at the Seat of
the MUSES." with distinguished honor and
an lnexhaustlble fund Of learning? No,