His wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of Rev. Jonathan Lee, the first minister of Salisbury, Conn.; she was descended from Gov. Bradford of Plymouth; she died in 1830, aged 82. Of their 12 children the writer of this is the only survivor.――On the death of his eldest daughter, Mrs. White in London, he went to England in 1799 in order to bring his little grand-child to his house: in London he became acquainted with the eminent ministers Newton, Haweis, Rowland Hill, and Bogue, and from them caught a pious zeal for the promotion of foreign missions. He published sermons on the death of his daughter, E. White, 1798; of Moses Allen, 1801; of his son Thomas, 1806; Massachusetts election sermon, 1808.
_Sonnet 41._ The sublime passage of scripture, which is here versified, may admonish us, that we are travelling rapidly to the end of time in respect to its being our period of probation for eternity. It is the solemn voice of the Gospel,――"Behold, now is the accepted time! Behold, now is the day of salvation!"
_Sonnet 42._ Paul teaches us, that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men," and that "the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." All men therefore, whose "foolish heart is darkened," are "without excuse."
"Ah! wretched World! the den of wickedness, Deform'd with filth and foul iniquity; Ah! wretched World! the house of heaviness, Fill'd with the wrecks of mortal misery; Ah! wretched World! and all that is therein, The vassals of God's wrath and slaves of sin."
_Sonnet 44._ My eldest daughter, Maria Malleville Allen, died Jan. 30, 1833, aged 17. Through God's great goodness this is the only instance of death, which has occurred among my children; and through his grace and infinite mercy she died in the hope of immortal life in heaven through the mediation of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. What greater blessing can I supplicate for all my descendants, than that God will give them at the hour of their death her Christian faith and hope?
_Sonnet 47._ On a church-yard Mr. Wordsworth has the following lines:――