one of the brightest Ornaments of the Chriftian Life.

How low would he stoop for Peace! And how would he bear with the Infirmities of his weak Brethren! That fuch as would not be wrought upon by the Strength of Reafon, might be melted by his Condefcenfion and good Nature. He was Prudent as well as Peaceable, Charitable as well as Courteous; one that could forgive and forget Injuries, one that was above refenting the Affronts that fome Men love to offer to Perfons of his Character. He was not addicted to utter hard Cenfures of fuch as differ'd from him in lesser Matters, but had a Love for all Saints, and conftantly exercis'd himself in this, To keep a Confcience void of Offence towards God and towards Man. He was a Person of unaffected steddy Piety, free from the wild Raptures of Enthusiasm, and the dull Formalities of Superftition. When he was not difcourfing of profitable things, he generally imploy'd himself in Meditation; for ordinarily when he left his Studies and came abroad, in the after part of the day, he ufually fixt on fome Text of Scripture for the Subject of his Meditation as he pafs'd the Streets; fo that he had a conftant favour of Divine Things on his Spirit; and like the Wife Man fpoken of in the Book of Proverbs, His Lips did difperfe Knowledg. He was very communicative, and ready to inform thofe he convers'd with. And I must ever own, to the Honour of his Memory, that he acted towards me, not only like a Friend but a Father, both in directing and incouraging me in my Studies. He has often clear'd up that to my Understanding, which before was perplext and obfcure. He has pray'd with me,

and

and comforted me; but he is abfent: O! how do I miss my Guide and my Friend? And do not you, my Brethren? I am fure you do. What is the Lord a doing! What Removes has he made! How can we forbear to cry out, O the Chariots of Ifrael, and the Horfemen thereof!

As for you that were under his Care, you lay near his Heart; and how greatly he long'd for you all in the Bowels of Chrift, I am his Witnefs: I, did I fay? The God in whose presence Iftand, and at whofe Bar I must shortly appear, is his Witnefs. I fpeak this with fo great folemnity, because he mention'd it to me with fuch Affection and Tears, and told me how glad he would have been to have seen fettled with a Judicious Learned Minifter before he died; but God faw meet to remove him before this defirable thing was accomplish'd.

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38.

Indeed he was not apprehensive of his Death in the time of his laft Illness, but had some kind of hope that he fhould have recover'd. Yet I cannot but look on it as a remarkable Providence, that he should be directed in the course of his Miniftry to fix on those words, Then faith he unto his Difciples, The Harvest truly Mat. 9. 37, is plenteous, but the Labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that he will fend forth Labourers into his Harvest: And that the laft Sermon he ever preach'd fhould be from them; I pray God it may have a due effect upon all that heard it, for you'l hear him no more. But from the last time of his appearing in the Pulpit, I am presently brought to his Sick-bed.

As he was conftantly calm in his Mind in the time of his Health, fo he was during his

laft

laft Sickness. Upon the first Visit that I made him, I enquir'd how things were betwixt God and his Soul? He told me, That he bless'd God all was well. And all along he was very easy with respect to Life or Death; he had for a great while fat fo loose to this World, that he had no fuch defires of Life as fhould imbitter his Death, or fuch fears of Death as should render his Life uncomfortable. For when a Minifter, with whom he was very intimate, took notice of his Weakness, and apprehending him in danger, faid to him, Sir, I hope you are not afraid to die: He anfwer'd, with great prefence of Mind, and a chearful Countenance, I blefs God, I have not been afraid to die this forty Years. My Brethren, fome Men may talk high, and look big when they are in Health; but for a Man to speak thus in the view of Eternity, feems to argue not only great strength of Faith, but a bright and unclouded Affurance of the Divine Love.

He was, during his Illness, much inclin❜d to fleep; fo that he feldom spoke unless he was prefs'd to it. We were fometimes ready to flatter our felves with the expectation of his Recovery, but a few days put an end to our Hopes, and his valuable Life. He was a Servant to the Prince of Peace: He preach'd a Gospel of Peace, and he had a peaceful Death. Mark the Perfect, behold the Upright, for the end of that Man is Peace. I know to mention his Death, is like striking a Dagger to fome of your Hearts, and I confefs it has almost put a Period to my Difcourfe. I won't say what I feel my felf, and with what a ftruggle I speak to you; 'twould be an eafe could I ftop here, and mingle my Sighs and Tears with yours. + But,

But, my Brethren, let us abate our Sorrows, because the Soul of our deceas'd Friend is happy in Heaven, and his Memory shall be bleffed upon Earth, Whofe Praife is in all the Churches of Chrift. And let me add, whatever you have heard, and learn'd, and feen in him as a follower of Chrift, that do.

Now to you his forrowful furviving Half, confider the Stroke that is given was by the direction of Heaven; and tho you have lost a valuable Relation, one that is nearer and better is yet left; Your Maker is your Husband. He that has taken your dear Confort from you, had a better Right in him than you; therefore a fubmiffive Silence becomes you under this terrible Stroke.

To you the tender Branches of his Family, and the Children of his Body, don't forget the Counsel of your deceas'd Father. Remember the Inftructions he gave you in the Things of God, and the Concerns of your Souls; how he pray'd with you, and for you: May every one of you fo ferve the God of your Father in this World, that you may spend an Eternity with him in the other.

To you, my Brethren of the Church; blefs God that you enjoy'd your Excellent Pastor fo long, but mourn that you got no more good from him, who took fo much pains with you.

Indeed your Circumftances are deplorable, God feems to have a Controversy with you; fearch out the Caufes of his Displeasure, and humble your Souls before him; bear one another's Burdens, follow the Things that make for Peace, and those whereby you may edify one another: Be earnest at the Throne of Grace, that God would give you a Paftor after

his

20, 21.

his own Heart, that shall feed you with Knowledg, and help to nourish up your Souls to EHeb. 13. ternal Life. Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jefus Chrift, the great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the Everlafting Covenant, make you perfect in every Good Work to do his Will, working in you that which is well pleafing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift, to whom be Glory for ever. Amen.

UNION