meekness, and gentleness, as the servants of Christ? Following peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Do you mourn on account of remaining corruption? And forgetting the things which are behind, do you press forward toward perfection? Is religion your delight, and that which you are after to apprehend that for which you are apprehended of Christ? If so, these are symptoms that you are heirs of the heavenly inheritance.

3. Hence let it be remarked, that the people of God have reason to rejoice in the near view of their departure. Death will make an alteration much to their advantage. It will liberate them from all the troubles and calamities of the present state, and introduce them to the uninterrupted enjoyment of the greatest good. Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. The grave is a quiet resting place for their bodies, and their souls are inconceivably happy in the presence and fruition of their God. Death to the saints, is but to bid farewell to this world, to be with Christ, join the songs, and aid the triumphs of heaven. Thenceforth they are ever before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: And the Lamb in the midst of the throne, feeds them, and leads them unto living fountains of water; and God wipes away all tears from their eyes.

4. Let it be remarked, that the preparations for death spoken of in the preceding part of this discourse, we may reasonably believe, took place in that VENERABLE PERSON, whose death we are called to lament.

Hence, in the near view of his departure, he might with propriety have assumed the language of our apostle, in the verses following our text; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them who love his appearing. As a minister of Christ Jesus, and as a Christian, he had fought a good fight, done the work, gone through the hardships of his spiritual warfare, and been happily instrumental of promoting the cause of the exalted Redeemer. He had kept the faith, bringing forth the fruit of the spirit in an holy life, and vindicating the doc

trines of the gospel, in opposition to the corrupt sentiments of the day in which he lived.

Between the apostle and him, there was, in many respects, a great similarity. Paul professed Christianity, and so did he. Paul was a minister of Christ, and so was he. Paul spent his life in the gospel ministry, and so did he.

Besides his stated labours at home, he rode and preached abundantly abroad. In this, as well as by his writings, in defence of the gospel, to which we might add, his instructing of candidates for the evangelical ministry, he was a rich blessing to the church of Christ in New-England, and to the Christian Church in general.

of

It pleased God, in the early part of his life, to call him by his grace, and reveal his Son in him, that he might preach to mankind the unsearchable riches of Christ. The power religion which he experienced in his own soul, sweetly constrained him to devote his life to that glorious work. When but young, he applied himself with assiduity, to the study of divinity, in which he made so laudable proficiency, that he soon became qualified for the work, which ever after was the delight of his heart. His taste for divine things, excited him to search with indefatigable industry after knowledge, that he might become more thoroughly acquainted with the things which appertain to the kingdom of God. Application, aided by eminent natural abilities, rendered him one of the most able divines, and brightest luminaries, in this our western world.

A superficial knowledge of things did little satisfy his great contemplative mind. He searched for knowledge, as for silver, and took peculiar pleasure in finding out not only what was true, but why it was so.

In a variety of respects, he shone with distinguished lustre. Extensive science, ease of communicating his ideas, rendered him one of the best instructors. He was not unacquainted with persons and things, as he perused every author which came to his hands. This enabled him to converse with propriety and to edification on almost every subject.

In councils, he was much improved; for with singular facility, could he look into cases of difficulty, and investigate ways and means for a just and amicable settlement.

His benevolent feelings, were not confined to a narrow circle, but were as extensive as the globe. Sion lay near his heart; her ruins he lamented, and her prosperity filled him with exceeding joy. Oh! what marks of anguish have I seen in him, when surveying the state of the world lying in wickedness; God dishonoured, his law contemned, his grace despised, and mankind involving themselves in irretrievable ruin. These reflections almost overwhelmed his pious soul, and destroyed his comfort. He had but one refuge, which was God. His providence he believed to be universal, and that good would result from all the evil which took place, by the agency of him who made all things for himself, and is engaged to secure his own glory.

His acquaintance, as well with the political, as moral state of the world, was general, and especially of his native country; and like the men of Issachar, understood the times, to know what Israel ought to do. However, divinity was his favourite study, and gained his chief attention.

As a preacher he had, perhaps, no superior, and very few equals. His voice was manly, his manner engaging. Even those who were unfriendly to his religious sentiments, were pleased to hear him preach: His voice was music to their ears; his method inviting. In the desk he appeared to understand human nature to perfection, and knew how to address himself to his auditory, so as seldom to fail of gaining universal attention. He was master of his subject when he spake, and had a singular faculty of adapting himself to the meanest capacity. As his field was boundless, he gave scope to his penetrating genius, and favoured his hearers with a rich variety. No subject escaped his notice, or that was not at proper times, held up to the view of his people. By this means, their advantages were great to make swift progress in knowledge, and become a people of much understanding. Yet, the more important things of religion were chiefly dwelt upon by him in his public performances. His primary aim was to promote the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls. You well know, that his talent was surprising at painting divine truth in the most lively colours, and making invisible things appear near and real. The passions of his

auditory were at his command, and he well knew how to instruct the understanding, and touch the heart.

When the law was his theme, Mount Sinai was all in a smoke; the thunder and the lightning issued from his lips, and all was solemn as the grave. On the contrary, in the most melting strains, would he describe the sufferings of Christ, his matchless love for sinners, and, in persuasive eloquence, invite them to be reconciled to God. With what amazing terror, would he represent the torments of the damned! And in what lively pictures, lay open the glories of heaven, and paint the joys of the paradise of God! He was truly a workman who needed not to be ashamed.

But after all, it was the will of heaven that he should share the common lot of mankind, and cease to be a sojourner on earth. Death, inexorable death, hath ended his long and useful life; it hath removed him far away from all transitory things.

In his last illness, when he most possessed himself, he appeared to enjoy great serenity of mind, and to look forward with pleasing, nay, almost impatient expectation, of the glory that should be revealed. His mind was much engaged in the contemplation of the perfections and government of God, and of the issue to which things would be brought under the direction of the wise Governor of the world. He was satisfied as to the truth of the religion he had professed, and derived great comfort from the evidence he had of his experimental acquaintance therewith. He anticipated the joys of heaven; he longed to be there. The manner of his dying was not such, as, had it been left to his choice, would have been most agreeable to him, having repeatedly said, he could wish to drop dead in his pulpit, at the close of public exercise. But it was not the pleasure of God to gratify him herein. He was continued upon the threshold of eternity for more than three years. Though it was contrary to his expectation, to be thus long suspended between the earth and heaven, he acquiesced in the wisdom of Providence. The welcome messenger hath at length arrived, put a period to his troubles, and crowned his wishes.

Behold, there lies the remains of that eminent servant of

God, wrapped in a winding-sheet, and dressed for the grave! Mourn, ye inhabitants of Bethlem! let the town of Woodbury join in the lamentation! Let the neighbouring hills echo the sound, and the waves of the sea roll the tide of grief to distant regions. Let the Church of God in every realm take a sympathetic part, and bewail her loss. O Zion, one of thy strong pillars is removed; one of thy gapmen is no

more !

But not to pursue these reflections, I shall proceed to some addresses, and so close the subject. And,

1. This solemn occasion dictates the propriety of saying a few words to her whom God hath bereaved of the nearest friend in life.

Much respected Madam,

Divine Providence hath realized to you, the truth of man's mortality, by removing your affectionate husband from your embraces. This is not the first nor the second time, in which lover and friend have been removed far from you and your acquaintance, into darkness*. We desire to sympathize with you in your affliction, and to bear a part with you in your sorrow. In the death of the deceased, you have lost a compassionate husband, a faithful friend, an able guide, whom, had heaven seen fit to spare, and spare in health, might have been a rich blessing to you. His tender regard for you was conspicuous, and to render you happy was an object of his attention and care. The footsteps of divine providence in his removal, seem somewhat mysterious. Why is it, that he should become helpless so soon after you had formed those connexions which, by his death, are dissolved? Why, when you had so newly began in matrimonial endearments, to taste the sweets of domestic happiness; and when you had a prospect of living some years in a family state, must he be seized with that fatal disease, which put a period to his life? God's way is sometimes in the sea, his path in the mighty waters, and his designs unfathomable. Yet, from

She had before lost two husbands, the Rev. Mr. Leavitt, of Somers, and the Rev. Mr. Storrs, of Northbury.