ing ever employed to persuade men to flee to the Saviour. When discoursing of the riches of sove reign goodness, of the excellencies of Jesus Christ, and of the fulness of his grace, he was in his own element; and here he would dwell and dilate with a copiousness expressive of the pleasure which he felt. He did not much approve of the conduct of many good and faithful men in devoting a whole sermon to the discussion of a particular vice, but he never neglected an opportunity of bearing an honest testimony against every unholy practice; and when circumstances called for such a testimony, this opportunity, he used to say, was never wanting in the ordinary course either of lecturing or of preaching. And as he warned his hearers against every thing which he conceived to be sinful, he urged them to holiness with an earnestness almost peculiar to himself.

"His discourses were addressed to the heart, and the style was suited to his object, being plain, glowing, and scriptural; the farthest removed possible, on the one hand, from every appearance of affectation, and, on the other, from all approach to meanness and vulgarity.

"

66

It may well be supposed that such principles and objects could not exist without a holy practice; and it is known to many what he was in life, what an example to the believer in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

"He was patient in tribulation, not indeed from a selfish repulsive apathy, for his sensibilities were naturally strong, but from those divine principles

with which his whole spirit was imbued, and by which all his conduct was regulated. It was edifying to observe his personal afflictions, as they returned in succession, forming his character more and more into an almost perfect acquiescence in the will of God; and many of his hearers will long remember the happy effect of a great domestic trial*, in those earnest addresses to the throne of grace, and those pathetic appeals to conscience in favour of faith and resignation, by which it was followed.

He

"The love of peace was a leading feature of his character. He lived in peace with all men. enjoyed that peace which is the fruit of righteousness; and his latter end, as might well be expected, was peace.

"He was affectionate in his whole deportment. To a stranger he might at first sight seem somewhat inaccessible, but this apparent shyness was soon forgotten in the kindness and familiarity of more particular intercourse. His love to the people of his charge was fervent, and he was regarded by them in return with no less fervour. But his kindness was not confined to them; he was a lover of all good men, and delighted in the society of the pious, to whatever denomination of Christians they might belong. He did not affect to lead the conversation when in company with his friends, but he had the happy art, by some pious reflection, to render it dignified and edifying. There is one part of his conduct, which is so characteristic that I can

* The death of his first wife.

not pass it without remark, I mean that unbending integrity for which he was eminently conspicuous: "He feared God, and he had no other fear." Nor would any consideration of advantage or suffering tempt him to swerve from the path of duty. I verily believe that although no penalty had been denounced against insincerity, such were his ideas of moral rectitude, that he could not have been insincere; and that although truth had not been commanded, the very pleasure which he felt in the observance of it would have secured his adherence to all its laws. He was an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile.

"I have only to add here, that he was most assiduous in all the duties of a Christian pastor. He was willing to be spent in the cause of his Master; and if there was a fault here, it was that he abounded in these duties beyond what his strength could well bear.

"Such was this godly man, whose praise is in the churches where he had an opportunity of being known. But among his people he lived, to them he was best known; and they are his witnesses how holily, justly, and unblameably, he behaved himself among them. They know, likewise, how he exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of them as a father doth his children, that they should walk worthy of God, who hath called them to his kingdom and glory. By the death of this righteous man his country has lost a true friend, the church one of its chief ornaments, his afflicted spouse an affectionate husband, who was ready to enter into all her

griefs as well as joys, the tender branches of the family a principal source of their spiritual growth and vigour, his dear people have lost a faithful pastor, who longed much for them all in the bowels of Jesus Christ; and, let the writer be permitted to add, he has lost a dear and stedfast friend, who was the same in all the varying circumstances of his lot, in whose faithful breast he could lodge with confi. dence his most secret concerns, and of whose affec tion he would consider a kind of sacrilege to lose the grateful remembrance.

"The change in the congregation and family of this worthy man is sudden and afflicting: only ten days previous to the fatal event he was addressing them from the pulpit with a fervour which entered into their very souls, and of which they will retain the remembrance while memory itself exists.

“For the two last days of his life he was aware of the approaching event, but was in no degree disconcerted: he looked forward to it with a perfect composure, distributing consolations among the members of his affectionate family, giving them a reason of the hope that was in him; repeating at one time the memorable aphorism, all's well that ends well; at another time telling them of a saint 'who closed his eyes, and saw his God;' and bidding them, in the words of Addison, come and see how a Christian can die."

"As his life had been calm and tranquil, so his death was serene and peaceful. During his illness, he was employed in prayer, and in repeating texts of Scripture, and passages of hymns. On the day

before his death he observed, the scheme of redemption is a glorious scheme.' Though he had often a severe struggle with his sore complaint, (the asthma,) he never suffered any expression of impatience to fall from his lips. More than once he remarked, that those who get to heaven at the end, will not quarrel with the way by which they were led thither. Sometimes, indeed, he would repeat that line,

'Life in such bondage is a wretched thing.'

And often he appeared to cheer himself with the two last lines of that verse,

His gracious hand shall wipe the tear

From every weeping eye;

And pains, and groans, and griefs, and fears,

And death itself, shall die.'

Twice or thrice in the course of that mournful day before he died, he said, "Why are his chariot wheels so long of coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariot ? At other times he would repeat that saying of a good man under affliction, Lord, what thou wilt, when thou wilt, how thou wilt.' In prayer he begged that God would be the Father of his family, and the Shepherd of his little flock. Several times he quoted these words, I die, but God will be with you;' and added, never leave you, nor forsake you.'

he will never, The last verse

of the cxlv. Psalm seemed a particular favourite with him :

My mouth the praises of the Lord

To publish cease shall never."