"'We'll not bind a brother's conscience,
This alone to God is free;
Nor contend for non-essentials,
But in Christ united be.'"
After speaking of the kind offices which Christian sympathy extends to the widow, he alludes to the fostering, paternal care it spreads over the path of the orphan, in the following strain:—
"Again, we reflect with tender sympathy upon the case of the orphan who in early life is cut off from the instruction and care of its fond parents, and is turned into the wide world without education, without experience, without friends, without bread or shelter. What a world of misery, deception and sin he is left in! What snares are spread for his strolling feet! What woes for his expanding soul! The provision made in this city for male and female orphans is not only a subject of admiration and praise to the good of every class, but I have no doubt the departed spirits of their ancestors and parents look down with satisfaction and joy upon the benevolent founders of those asylums, that are now the living monuments of Christ's spirit on earth; and can we doubt that He who is the orphan's Father, delights in these institutions and in the kind and fostering care now extended unto them? You cannot imagine the pleasure I enjoy while on my way to this house. Almost every Sabbath I meet the female orphans, who, in uniform, follow their instructresses to the house of worship. This city, I am happy to say, not only abounds in profession, but there is no city in the world, of its population and ability, which abounds more in works of charity and benevolence. The friendship and kindness of the inhabitants of Boston are proverbial in all parts of the Union, and a Bostonian is respected throughout the world."
In the spring and summer of 1835, which the writer of this memoir passed in Boston, he well remembers the kind tone of regard in which Dr. Tuckerman uniformly spoke of Mr. Badger. They had been intimate friends, had conversed often on the present imperfect state of society, on its moral and temporal evils, and especially on the best ways of reaching it effectually with the saving principles of Christianity, for both concurred in the idea which may be called invariably the key-note of Mr. Badger's ministry, that the Gospel of Christ, properly understood and applied to life, is the only science of human happiness.
The last published letter of Mr. Badger from the field he at this time occupied, is dated Boston, September 16, 1852. He says:—
"Having now completed three months' labor in this pleasant city, I am about to start for my residence again. My visit here has been as successful as could be expected under present circumstances; each month has added some new members to the Church, and every communion has been crowned with the Lord's presence. 'The little opposition party' who were drawn off from this church three years ago, who have been much engaged to slander and revile the society, as well as many useful ministers and other churches and conferences in the connection, have, finally, so far lost what little influence they had, that nothing now is to be feared from them.
"But there is still another class of disorganizers in the land, and not a few in this city, who deny that the Bible is a sufficient rule of faith and practice, who ridicule the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, who despise church order and a preached Gospel, unless it is accommodated to their poor, frail, weak, and changeable imaginations. They also pretend to great revelations, which fills them with self-righteousness and prepares them to pass judgment on all their fellow-Christians who have the misfortune to differ from their notions. How often we see the basest principle of pride in the garb of singularity, slovenly idleness, and in what the apostle calls a voluntary humility. The church in all ages has been tempted by conflicts from without, and unholy and unreasonable persons of their own number, but happy are they who endure hardness as good soldiers, and are overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; and it is through great tribulation that we enter into Heaven.
"During my stay here I have made two visits to the State of New Hampshire, both of which were interesting. My native State is still favored with mercy-drops. Many of the old saints are strong and valiant for the truth, and in several places are prospects of revivals. My last visit, which was to the town of Mason, and county of Hillsborough, was under peculiar circumstances and pleasing and flattering prospects. Mason has long been a stronghold of orthodoxy. No dissenter from that doctrine had ever preached in the place; but a few respectable men who had become enlightened by reading the Scripture and our periodicals, were resolved to hear the 'sect which is everywhere spoken against,' for themselves. Accordingly, one of their number was despatched to Boston, forty-eight miles, to engage me to visit them. From this representation I concluded to go, as Peter did among the Gentiles, not conferring with flesh and blood. I found on my arrival, September 11, a decent assembly convened at the Presbyterian meeting-house, who were very attentive to hear the word. I gave another appointment in the evening, and found the attention of the people still increasing. At the intermission, and after sermon, late at night, and in the morning, many strangers flocked around me to make inquiry, to state their feelings, and to manifest the great pleasure they had in the increasing light, and in the truths proclaimed. While I saw their prospect of improvement and deep attention, I almost forgot the fatigues of the day and night, though they passed heavily; I had journeyed fifty miles, preached at 4 P. M., one hour and a half; in the evening two long hours; I had conversed until twelve at night, when the mind became so full that sleep departed until about three o'clock in the morning. Here are gentlemen of talents and property who are liberal-minded Christians. They say, when in the judgment of our ministry it is prudent to make a stand there, a meeting-house shall be immediately built, and some are about ready to be baptized. I have written to Mr. H. Plummer, on the case of the people here; and hope they will be noticed by the preachers of New England."