tihrary of trhe theological ^^mxnavy 
 
 PRINXETON . NEW JERSEY 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 A. G. Cameron, Ph.D. 
 5.18.11 
 
 ^:>61 
 
THE PARTING COMMENDATION.. 
 
 A FAREWELL SERMON 
 
 PBEACHED Ii\ THE FIRST PRESBYTERLW CULRCIt 
 
 AT PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 AprU 4tli, \m. 
 
 / 
 BY WILLIAM EDWARD 'SCHENCK, 
 
 LATELY PASTOR OF THAT CHURCH. 
 
 }pri!Ucton, 3)T. 1. 
 
 1852. 
 
The following discourse is published at the earnest request of a number 
 of the ladies of the writer's charge. He is fully sensible that this request 
 was owing, not to any merit in the discourse, but wholly to the circum" 
 stances of peculiar interest in which it was delivered. It was prepared 
 in much haste, and when he was unusually pressed by a multiplicity of 
 anxieties and labors. It might therefore have been refused but for his 
 earnest desire to leave nothing undone which might either gratify or 
 profit that beloved flock from which he has parted with profoundest 
 regret. That God may bless it to them, and that He may more and more 
 abundantly bless them and theirs forever, will ever be the writer's earnest 
 prayer. 
 
MJDira. 
 
 Acts XX : 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the 
 ■vrord of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an in- 
 heritance among all them which are sanctified. 
 
 The early history of the Christian church was writ- 
 ten upon the inspired page for our learning. It was 
 placed there, not simply for our mformation concern- 
 ing the progress of events as they occurred in the 
 establishment of the church, but that we might draw 
 thence lessons for our profit. And among other lessons 
 this important one, that the trials then occurring to 
 the people of God were the same substantially as those 
 which meet them now ; that scenes of sorrow and 
 separation were then visible as now ; and that there 
 were then as now sources of support and consolation 
 and hope unknown to an ungodly world, and diverse 
 from all that terrestrial possessions or expectations 
 could afford. Thus we may safely say that every 
 historic fact recorded in the sacred volume contains 
 within its bosom a historic precept addressed to our- 
 selves. 
 
 Looking therefore at the history of the early church 
 as written for our learning, we may behold in the 
 words presented in our text an inspired example 
 
teaching us Avliat I'celings ought to ])osse8^< our bosoms 
 in the peculiar circumstances under which, in the all- 
 wise providence of God, we are to-day placed. I look, 
 my hearers, at Paul, that hoh', earnest, affectionate 
 preacher of the Gospel of Christ, and as I see him 
 tearfully and prayerfully bidding adieu to those among 
 whom he had been engaged in preaching the salvation 
 of the cross, I would in humljle imitation of that great 
 champion of the faith, not with unmixed despondency 
 and gloom, but with a firm confidence in the great 
 Father of us all, and in the saving power of his word, 
 take up and echo in your hearing these his words, " I 
 commend 3'ou to God, and to the word of his grace, 
 Avhich is a])le to build }'ou up, and to give you an in- 
 heritance among all them which are sanctified." 
 
 The parting interview of Paul with the representa- 
 tives of the Ephesian church was one of a most inte- 
 resting and touching kind. For about the space of 
 three years had Paul labored among the people of that 
 city. The past was both to them and to him full of 
 the tenderest recollections. Many of the Jews had 
 been led by his instrumentality to cast away their in- 
 credulity, and to embrace the Gospel, wdiile not a few 
 of the idolatrous Gentiles had also been converted and 
 gathered into the Ephesian church. What wonder, 
 then, if they loved the Gospel he had brought them, 
 that they loved its preacher also. AVliat wonder if, 
 remembering his evangelic works and words among 
 them, the prospect of a final separation led them to 
 lall upon his neck, weeping sore, and kissing him with 
 the gushings of a gouuine and irrepressible affection. 
 
And when they turned their eyes from the past to 
 the future, there was much before them to increase 
 their pain at Paul's departure. The little company 
 of Ephesian believers were still surrounded by a mass 
 of the worshippers of Diana from whom they had no- 
 thing better to expect than open scorn and bitter per- 
 secutions. Neither were most of them so established 
 in the faith, as that there was no longer danger of 
 their being turned aside to worldliness or false doc- 
 trines. Paul, looking forward with more than a mere 
 sagacity which knew the signs of the times, and speak- 
 ing prophetic words under the influences of the Holy 
 Ghost, declared that "after his departing grievous 
 wolves should enter in among them not sparing the 
 flock." Nay, he hesitated not to tell them that out 
 of their own number and from among those who bare 
 the Christian name, should dangers come. " Of your 
 own selves," said he plainly, " shall men arise, speak- 
 ing perverse things, to draw away discij^les after 
 them." He foresaw clearly that not all the care and 
 assiduity with which he had preached the pure gospel 
 of the grace of God, and not all the careful and affec- 
 tionate guardianship of the Beloved John, who was 
 after this to spend in the same city and church the 
 closing years of his prolonged life, could keep out from 
 their midst pernicious errors and ungodly practices. 
 He foresaw clearly that the inspired epistle of warn- 
 ing to be afterwards addressed by John to this same 
 church in Ephesus would be unheeded, and that 
 although they would hear God saying to them by that 
 venerable Apostle, "I have somewhat against thee^ 
 
because thou hast left thy first love, . . . repent 
 therefore, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and 
 remove thy candlestick out of its place," yet there 
 would follow no repentance, and their light should 
 finally go out in darkness. And looking thus to the 
 future, with a mind illuminated by God's Spirit, what 
 unutterable grief of heart, what painful emotions 
 must have agitated the bosom of the heroic apostle to 
 the Gentiles. And on the other hand what wonder, 
 as they heard from his lips these warnings of coming 
 dangers, that they should sorrow bitterly when they 
 heard him declare that " they should see his face no 
 more." 
 
 Trying indeed and bitter were the circumstances of 
 that parting scene upon the seaside at Miletus. But 
 was there no consolation for such an hour? V[a» 
 there no ray of hope or comfort to gild the future ? 
 Yes ! there was an unfailing support at hand. There 
 was even in that hour of gloom an unclouded glory in 
 the distance. To the eye of sense all was indeed me- 
 lancholy, dark, and ominous.. But Paul had learned 
 to walk by faith and not by sight. His eye of faith 
 was able to pierce the surrounding darkness and to 
 perceive in "God and the word of his grace," a suffi- 
 cient hope, support, and consolation under every trial. 
 
 AVe find, then, an example in Paul, when, in the 
 first place, he commended Ms floch unto God. For in 
 God alone is perfect safety. We cannot repose with 
 perfect confidence upon ourselves, for every man who 
 is in his right mind knows painfully well that he is 
 fallible. Our own best judgments may in the end 
 
9 
 
 turn out to be but folly ; our strongest resolutions be 
 but weakness ; our highest purposes be only the fore- 
 runners of disappointment. But amidst all the 
 changes and trials of this changing world, they who, 
 by the teachings of the blessed Spirit have learned the 
 way to their Heavenly Father's feet, can and ought 
 confidently to commend each other unto God. 
 
 For, in the first place, God is with his j^eople every 
 icliere. They may be separated from each other, but 
 they cannot be removed from God's immediate pres- 
 ence. Although continents and oceans may often be 
 interposed between them, it is still true that God is 
 " not far from every one of them." They may wor- 
 ship in different assemblies, and in distant cities, yet 
 there is a common promise to them all, " Lo ! I am 
 with you." The same God and Saviour who is sus- 
 taining and co-operating with your Christian friend 
 and brother in China or in India is also with you when 
 you meet in this house and engage in his worship. 
 The same God Avho by his providence pxx)tects and 
 blesses you at your own fireside, and who orders all 
 things so happily and wisely for yourselves in your 
 own homes, is none the less present with your parent 
 or your child, your brother or your friend, when he 
 goes to spend his days at ever so distant a point, 
 where all your cares and your love can be of no direct 
 advantage to him. And in this omnipresence of God 
 with all his people, there is a bond of union among 
 them all which no earthly mutations can ever sunder. 
 No matter where they ai-e, or what tlie line of action 
 to which duty calls them; they are stiil *'' nil one in 
 Christ Jesus." 2 
 
10 
 
 It should also be the delight of Christians to com- 
 mend each other unto God, because he is all-wise. We 
 are continually apt to fall into mistakes. We are wholly 
 unable to look into the future. Even it-s probabilities 
 may be miscalculated. We are in constant danger of 
 acting under the influence of prejudice or pride, of 
 passion or ambition. Even when our aims are right 
 wo are in danger of attempting to accomplish them by 
 the use of improper means. Oftentimes the things we 
 judge to be hurtful, are the very best things, and that 
 which we suppose to be most desirable, turns out to 
 be the most injurious. But God sees the end from 
 the beginning, in every imaginable case and circum- 
 stance of life. Change and chance, mistake and dis- 
 appointment may befall men, but can never befall 
 God. He knows fully and infallibly every danger 
 that will arise, and every temptation that will beset 
 each one among all his people. He knows the results 
 to which it is most desirable to lead his people, and 
 the best means by which to lead them. He judges 
 infallibly a righteous judgment, and amidst all the 
 seemingly entangled web of uncertainty, and contra- 
 diction, and adversity, such is his wisdom that he is 
 able to make ^' all things work together for good" to 
 them that love him. 
 
 But again, God is not only every where present to 
 perceive, and all-wise to discern, he is also all-iMwer- 
 ful to accomplish what is for the best. We are weak 
 and helpless. We are unable to supply our own 
 
11 
 
 wants. When we undertake we are often unable to 
 accomplisli. And especially in the spiritual life, de- 
 feat often follows determination, and the spiritual foes 
 which encompass us are more than a match for any 
 arm of flesh. But we are commanded to trust in the 
 Lord Jehovah, because in him there is everlastino- 
 strength. He can never be disappointed, for what his 
 wisdom plans, his power can carry out to its complete 
 accomplishment. Whatever he sees to be good for 
 his people, even for the lowliest and the weakest of 
 them, he will infallibly perform. As he made the 
 sun and moon stand still while Joshua and Israel 
 fought against their enemies, in order to give them 
 light, even so would he now arrest the movements of 
 the rolling worlds sooner than allow the least amone: 
 his children to suffer a real injury. Work although 
 he may unseen, work although he may apparenthj 
 against them, he will not suffer a hair to fall from 
 their heads without a wise and benevolent reason. 
 The very things which for the present are not joyous, 
 but most grievous, under his management, shall in the 
 end work out the peaceable fruits of righteousness. 
 
 With what hope, with what confidence may the 
 children of God, then, amidst all the mutations of this 
 changeful world commend each other unto such a God, 
 whose power is equal to his wisdom, and whose power 
 and Avisdom working hand in hand, and controlled by 
 infinite love, are all pledged for the protection, gui. 
 
 dance, and eternal happiness of all who truly put their 
 trust in Tlim. 
 
12 
 
 But are these glorious attributes thus pledged ? Has 
 God given such explicit assurances that sinful men 
 may confidently trust in him at all times ? This was 
 a great cjuestion with the heathen .world. And it is 
 a question which a lingering unbelief often yet starts, 
 even in the mind of a devout believer. Hence Paul 
 commends the Ephesian Christians, not only to God 
 but also to " the ivord of his gracer Some have sup- 
 posed that Paul here meant the incarnate Word — the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. But there is no instance in which 
 Paul certainly employed the term in this sense, and 
 it is far more analogous to his usual phraseology to 
 regard him as here referring to God's word of gracious 
 promise. 
 
 God has spoken, and his words are gracious words. 
 He has spoken in the covenant of redemption, in 
 which he did not more surely affirm the Redeemer's title 
 to a future and glorious exaltation, than he did bind 
 himself to be the Protector, the Father, the Deliverer 
 and Guide of all who by its ample stipulations were 
 given to the Son that through faith they might be- 
 come heirs of glory. The Father has given his unal- 
 terable pledge to his well beloved Son that his people 
 shall be the objects of his most especial care. He has 
 bound himself to his Son to watch over their temporal 
 comfort and safety ; to confer on them all needed 
 grace ; to make them conquerors and more than con, 
 querors over every adverse influence and all opposing 
 enemies. What security is here for the behever ! 
 
13 
 
 God could not suffer the very meanest of tlie Redeem- 
 er's flock to suffer real injury, without inflicting injury 
 upon his own beloved Son. He could not suffer one of 
 those whom he has given to the Redeemer to perish, 
 without a violation of that sure covenant, the condition 
 of which Christ fulfilled in agony upon the cross. And 
 when we hear the eternal Father saying of the Lamb 
 who was to make his soul a sacrifice for sin, " There- 
 fore will I divide him a portion with the great, and 
 he shall divide the spoil Avith the strong, because he 
 hath poured out his soul unto death, and he was num- 
 bered with the transgressors, and lie bare the sin of 
 many" — these words arc words of precious grace to 
 the believer, for they teach that his present Avelfare 
 and his final salvation are pledged to Jesus as a part 
 of the reward for the travail of his soul. And in com- 
 mending his Ephesian brethren " to God and the word 
 of his grace," he commended them to the sure mercies 
 of a covenant dependent, as to their reception of its 
 final blessings, not on external or favorable circum_ 
 stances merely, nor on the motions of their own way- 
 w^ard and deceitful hearts alone, but dependent on its 
 own eternal stipulation^/ established by the sovereign 
 and almighty grace of God. 
 
 But God's " word of grace," has been uttered not 
 only to the Redeemer for his people, it has also come 
 down direct and full unto themselves. We have 
 many "exceeding great and precious j^roviises.'' They 
 are all based upon the merits of the Lord Jesus : they 
 
14 
 
 are all comprehended in this brief epitome, " he that 
 believeth shall be saved." Starting from this grand 
 promise as inclusive of them all, we can find words of 
 grace on every pag^ of Holy Writ, We may hear 
 God addressing them to us in every circumstance of 
 life, to sustain us amidst all its trials and tribulations; 
 to encourage u,s in the performance of every difficult 
 and self-denying duty ; to comfort us under the be- 
 reavements and sorrows of this life. W-e can see them 
 on every page pointing us beyond, this world to a re- 
 maining rest ; to a heavenly home ; to a celestial Je- 
 rusalem ; resplendent in the distance before the eye 
 of faith. And in this word of grace, contained in the 
 promises of the gos^^el, is an exceeding freeness which 
 encourages us to commend all men to it for safety and 
 support. It requires and expects to find no deserv- 
 ingness on the part of those who embrace these pro- 
 mises. They are suited to the downward, sinful, self- 
 destroying tendencies of our fallen humanity ; as well 
 as to the misery and misfortunes of our ruined situa- 
 tion. Hence whatever anxious bodings may crowd 
 into our minds either respecting ourselves or others, 
 we shall do well now and evermore to commend lx)tli 
 each other and ourselves " unto God and the word of 
 his grace." 
 
 Our text informs us why we shall do well to do this. 
 The word of grace contemplated, relied upon, and 
 cherished in the heart, is able to produce a powerful 
 effect on the believer. There is nothing besides God's 
 
15 
 
 word of grace which is able to ^^ huild u])' believer 3. 
 This apostle felt the importance cf this truth when he 
 declared, '' I am determined to know nothing among 
 you save Christ, and him crucified." Novelties may 
 amuse and please. Philosophy and learning may in- 
 struct. Metaphysics and abstrusities may have their 
 value and their place. Moral disquisitions may sub- 
 serve important ends. But the word of God's grace 
 alone can edify. It is by feeding on the j^romises of 
 God ; it is by the contemplation of the gracious aspect 
 of his revelation ; it is., by viewing Jesus set forth as 
 he is as our Covenant, Substitute, Head and Surety; 
 it is thus and thus alone that believers are to be 
 built up in knowledge, love, and holiness. 
 
 It is the word of grace, moreover, which through 
 this huilding tip is to give to the believer " an inheri- 
 tance among cdl them which are sanctified'^ And 
 the more grace we apprehend in the truth and pro- 
 mises of God, the more clearly shall we be able to 
 view that blessed portion with an eye of faith, and the 
 more firmly to lay hold upon it with the grasp of faith 
 in eager anticipations of delight. It is when, forgetful 
 that God's word to us is now a word of grace, we look 
 back to the covenant of ivorhs, that we become dis- 
 trustful of God. It is then that the heavenly inheri- 
 tance seems placed forever beyond our reach. It is 
 then, that in despair of something better, or else in a 
 partial forgetfulness of what aj^pears so distant, we 
 are ready to grasp eagerly at the bubbles and phan- 
 
IG 
 
 toms of this world, and to feel dejected and forlorn if 
 we find tliem to be nothing else than air and vanity. 
 
 God's word of grace not only proposes but (jives us 
 something better than all this world has to offer. 
 The communion and fellowship of saints is not a 
 dream, the idle dream of an enthusiast. It is on the 
 contrary more than aught else on earth, real, substan- 
 tial, and permanent. It is forever to increase. Is 
 there not reality in that flow of gentle, heartfelt sym- 
 pathy, too seldom, yet sometimes found on earth 
 among the servants of Christ ? Is there not heaven- 
 born rapture ever experienced here when they sing 
 together the praises of the Lamb ? Is there not some- 
 thing of the happiness of heaven itself where hearts 
 melt down and flow together at the throne of grace or 
 around the memorials of our dying Lord ? The Psalm- 
 ist felt that even in this imperfect communion of saints, 
 he had a goodly heritage. But what, my brethren, 
 what is this but a poor foretaste of that rich and abun- 
 dant feast which the word of grace invites us to 
 contemplate and to possess? • Here we have but 
 glimpses, there we shall have an inheritance. Here 
 we have but a cluster or t^vo of the luscious fruits of 
 the land of promise, then we shall possess Canaan it- 
 self with all its abundance. 
 
 As " heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ," 
 the people of God shall then possess " an inheritance 
 among all them that are sanctified." Elessed society ! 
 Here on earth believers are at best encompassed with 
 
17 
 
 infirmities. Defects are visible in the brightest Chris- 
 tian characters. None of them are as yet wholly 
 sanctified. Hence must arise imperfections, disquie- 
 tudes, and interruptions in their fellowship. They 
 are apt to misunderstand each other. They are apt 
 to judge harshly one of another. There is oftentimes 
 too much of a worldly spirit ; too much of a selfish, 
 uncharitable, unforgiving spirit manifested. Rarely 
 indeed is one Christian heart laid warm against ano- 
 ther, to beat along with it in lasting and vigorous 
 accord. Rarely indeed is the command even approx- 
 imately obeyed '' to love one another with a pure 
 heart fervently." But how different my hearers, will 
 it be in that heavenly inheritance. There every 
 saint will be a perfect saint. There the last stain of 
 sin will be removed from the redeemed soul, and it 
 will ajDpear radiant in robes made white in the blood 
 of the Lamb. There worldliness and pride, and sen- 
 suality and passion can never enter to mar the inti- 
 macy and harmony of their blest fellowship. 2 here, 
 there will be nothing to hinder the sweet and perpetr 
 ual flow of the affections from each to all. There all 
 hearts will be full of holy love, and all will beat in 
 perfect unison of feeling for ever and for ever. 
 
 Let us now look a little farther, and we shall see 
 the special object for which more directly Paul com- 
 mended to God and the word of his grace the Chris- 
 tian friends from whom he was about to separate. 
 The inheritance which that word of grace bestows 
 
18 
 
 was not prepared for tlie saints of Ephesus alone, or 
 for those of any portion of the church of Christ alone. 
 It was an inheritance " among all tliein which are 
 sanctified." Thej might remain in E^^hesus to live 
 and to die there, w^hile Paul " bound in the Spirit" 
 might go to Jerusalem "not knowing the things that 
 should befall him there." But wdierever they lived 
 or died ; whatever befell them living ;> or whensoever 
 they left the earth, there was one certainty of pre-emi- 
 nent importance, to wdiich Paul would direct their 
 thoughts. It was that all who w^ere redeemed by the 
 blood of Christ, and sanctified by his indwelling Spirit, 
 however diverse their paths might seem to be, were 
 travelling towards the very same point, and would 
 one day share the same inheritance in glory. The 
 hearts which bled at that separation as they accom- 
 panied Paul to the seaside at Miletus and saw his 
 ship spread sail and glide away, have long centuries 
 ago been healed by a re-union in the city of God 
 above, where tears and trials arc unknown. And 
 now as we look back over the waste of eighteen cen- 
 turies, how brief seems to have been their separation, 
 and how lastmg has been their subsequent compan- 
 ionship. And so, my hearers, could we transport 
 ourselves forward over eighteen centuries to come, 
 and much more could Ave place ourselves somewhere 
 in the depths of that waiting and approaching eternity, 
 where centuries cannot be counted, and thence look 
 back on the changes and the trials of these passing 
 
19 
 
 lives, liow slight and transient would their griefs seem 
 to be. The regret with which those parted who had 
 been accustomed to enjoy each other's friendly gree1> 
 ings and Christian offices of kindness will have b^en 
 long forgotten in the flight of time. Even th« unut- 
 terable pang with which a surviving Christian has 
 laid in the earth the beloved form from which the 
 spirit>ad gone up to Heaven, will have been effaced 
 by the renewal of a purer, more lasting, and more 
 blissful eompanions'iip than was ever enjoyed on 
 earth. In that far-off retrospect, the great question 
 will not be, what was agreeable, or what was j^infui 
 here on earth, but— was that done in our lifetime, by 
 which God was most largely glorified— by which the 
 kingdom of Jesus Christ was best promoted ? For on 
 this, my hearers, will depend the extent and excel- 
 lence of that inheritance which each believer will 
 possess on high forever. 
 
 You have been able, I trust, from what has been 
 already said, to perceive why I should this day with 
 a peculiar earnestness become an humble imitator of 
 the great apostle to the Gentiles, in commending you 
 unto God and the word of his grace. May he in infi- 
 nite mercy grant that through it you may every one 
 be built up, and obtain an inheritance among all them 
 which are sanctified. 
 
 It is this day precisely four years, since, in obe^ 
 dience to your call, I began to labour among you as 
 your minister. I was not wholly a stranger to the 
 
20 
 
 tlifficulties and to the responsibilities of the charge I 
 had assumed, and *' I was with you in weakness, and 
 in fear, and in much trembling." In the sight of 
 God, I feel most painfully this day, that all my la- 
 bours have been defective and mixed with evil. Yet 
 you have borne most kindly with my deficiencies, and 
 co-operated when your help was needed in every good 
 work. We all have reason to praise God for the un- 
 common measure of concord and fraternal love which 
 has prevailed throughout the church within these 
 years. But now, in the providence of God, I stand 
 before you for the last time, as your pastor and your 
 minister. The same call of duty which brought me 
 hither, seems now to take me elsewhere. And in 
 these solemn circumstances, a host of thoughts arise, 
 which I would gladly utter. Fain would I take you 
 each one by the hand, and give to each a personal and 
 earnest word of serious advice. But as this is impos- 
 sible, let me close as briefly as I can, with a few words 
 of a more general nature. 
 
 My Christian hearers, I can only reiterate to you 
 the word of exhortation which has been already so 
 often given. In the first place let me say to you — 
 stmicl fast hy the cross of Christ. In Christ " are hid 
 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." He is 
 made of God unto us, wisdom, and righteousness and 
 santification and redemption. He is the source of all 
 spiritual life. He is the Author and Finisher of our 
 laith. Amidst all the cares and temptations, the jar- 
 
21 
 
 rings and changes of this mortal state, ever, oh ever,, 
 cleave close unto a Saviour crucified and glorified for 
 your redemption. 
 
 In the second place, let me say, permit nothing to 
 hinder the daily maintenance of communion between 
 God and your soul. God is the overflowing spring. 
 Devout meditation and daily prayer are the channel 
 through which the outpoured abundance of his mercy 
 is to reach your soul. Suffer not your domestic anx- 
 ieties or your public duties, the cares of this world or 
 the deceitfulness of riches, ever to hinder you from 
 maintaining your communion with your Heavenly 
 Father. They and they only shall mount up on 
 wings as eagles, who wait constantly on God. 
 
 In the third place, let your hearts be set on promo- 
 ting the prosperity of Zion. When you look back 
 from eternity on lime, nothing among all you have 
 done or can do here en earth will afford you so much 
 delight in the review as the cares and toils and self- 
 denials you shall have endured for Christ's cause and 
 kingdom. And permit me in view of your present 
 circumstances to say — study the things which make 
 for peace. In all the future arrangements you may 
 propose, and in all the future plans you may adopt, 
 let a spirit of kindly concession and fraternal love be 
 cherished. Above all, "pray for the peace of Jerusa- 
 lem, for they shall prosper that love her." 
 
 Once more, *' be not slothful, but followers of them 
 who through faith and patience inherit the promises."^ 
 
22 
 
 Noble men and noble women ; burning and shining 
 lights; eminent servants of God in their day and 
 generation, have occupied these seats and worshipped 
 in this sanctuary. Among them you can remember 
 respected neighbors, the venerated friends of your 
 childhood, and many of your own beloved parents. 
 They have gone up to join the great cloud of wit- 
 nesses that are now bending from on high to watch 
 your progress. How many, how many such have 
 gone within these last four years. Beloved Christian 
 hearers, when you come to receive an inheritance 
 among all those sanctified ones, may you not have 
 cause to be ashamed of the dimness of your crown ; 
 of the insignificance of your reward. 
 
 To those of you who have been added to this 
 church by a profession of faith during my ministry 
 among you, I feel bound by a tie of peculiar strength 
 and tenderness. Paul himself felt the power of this 
 tie. Writing to the Thessalonian converts, he exclaims, 
 " What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? 
 Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ at his coming ? For ye are our glory and joy." 
 Gladly would I say many things to such, but they 
 must all be summed up in these feAV words. Dear 
 hearers, let nothing tempt yoM to turn back to the vain 
 and perishing world that you have left. Remem- 
 ber Lot's wife. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay: 
 hold upon eternal life. Give no place to the devil. 
 Keep your eye fixed upon a heavenly crown. And 
 
23 
 
 above all, day by day, lean for all needed help and 
 strength upon the grace that is in Christ your Lord. 
 Fail not ye, fail not ye to be found at the last great 
 day on the right hand of Christ your judge, that with 
 him and all his saints you may enter into glory. 
 
 But there is yet, alas ! a large and imjDortant por- 
 tion of this congregation who are not comprehended 
 in either of the classes yet addressed. My impenitent 
 hearers, young and old, if there has been aught which 
 might have been done to win you unto Christ and 
 Heaven, which has been left undone, I pray you to 
 forgive it. Yet it has been my heart's desire and 
 prayer, that you might be saved. At earlv mornino- 
 and in midnight hours when you were wrapped in 
 sleep, I have toiled to gather arguments and frame 
 appeals which might win you to embrace the offer of 
 salvation. We may unite this day in praising God 
 for the rich and undeserved blessings which he has 
 bestowed upon those efforts. Yet many of you, oh 
 how many ! have madly rushed onward through all 
 the barriers of prayers and sermons, and spiritual in- 
 fluences, and are yet found to-day travelling the road 
 towards everlasting woe. For four years have I been 
 made God's mouthpiece in warning you, my impeni- 
 tent hearer, of the coming wrath, and in inviting yon 
 to accept of free salvation through the blood of Christ. 
 And with what effect ? There are youth among you who 
 are rushing into worldliness, and sensuality, and some 
 even into vice, as the horse rusheth to the battle. 
 
24 
 
 There are middle-aged persons among' yon, who sre 
 gliding towards eternity with their hearts yet madly 
 set upon this world, and the influence of a procrasti- 
 nating spirit paralysing every effort put forth for 
 their good. There are even aged persons among you 
 whose silvered hairs betoken that they will soon go 
 down into the darkness of the grave, while they are 
 giving not the first reasonable evidence that they are 
 striving to gain heaven. And for the fulfilment of 
 what wise purpose of God towards such as you^ fel- 
 low sinner, have I been sent to minister these four 
 years past ? Was it that your heart, like steel, might 
 be only hardened by the fire that should have melted 
 it ? Was it that as a vessel of God's awful wrath 
 you might only become more thoroughly fitted to de- 
 struction ? Was it only in order that> amidst the 
 fearful scenes of the judgment-day, when God shall 
 say to yc u in thunder-tones, " I have called and j& 
 refused, I have stretched out my hand and ye regar- 
 ded not, now will I mock when your fear cometh as 
 desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirl- 
 wind," — was it only that I should be there summoned 
 as a witness against you, to testify that God did call 
 often and loudly to you, and that his hand ivas 
 stretched out in rich mercy and with great long-suf- 
 fering towards you ? 
 
 My impenitent hearer, this is my last, my faiewell 
 entreaty with you as your pastor. "Seek ye the 
 Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while 
 he is near." And this is my parting and solemn de- 
 claration as the ambassador of Christ to you, " It is a 
 faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that 
 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" — 
 yes, to save just smIi as you. 
 

 i^l^■Mng^^^^ 
 
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 -^ - , J 
 
 
 
 i i 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 i 
 
 
 : 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 , \ 
 
 ' 1 1 
 
 ' * 1 
 
 1 i 
 
 
 1 1 
 1 1 
 
 
 i ! 
 
 1 ' 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U £ A.