MEMOEIAL E : '• Ma}' God abundantly reward the friends who have hitherto sheltered us! enriching them. especially with all spiritual blessing- in Christ Jesus. After a season of discouragement, in which he seemed to stand alone, wondering at the almost universal abandonment of one who was seeking simply to honor Ciirist, and do good to man- kind, by presenting the true principles of the gospel in all its relations ; he was, all at once, by an unexpected succor, lifted over the bar, and looked forward to fair sailing and deep waters. And he indulged in a sublime and defiant apostrophe to Sectarianism in his an- ticipated triumph over it. We would like to quote his words, for never was there a more vivid portraiture of this world-wide perversion of Christianity drawn, than that which burst from bis impassioned lips ; but it would require the look, and tone, and gesture, as well as the language of a Stockton, to do it justice. But, as the friend and associate of Luther, in his anticipated triumph over the wickedness of human nature, found that Old Adam was too 4 38 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. strong for young Melancthon ; so Mr. Stockton soon found that Sectarianism was too strona for even the eloquence of his lips, and the fer- vor of his love. Entrenched behind the bul- warks of thirty different denominations, even in that very city, it laughed to scorn the might of the " slender one," and spurned his "Bible alliance " of " the pen, the pulpit, and the press." And so, after a brief struggle, in writing, preaching, and publishing his views, he was borne down by overwhelming odds, and adverse circumstances. But he had borne his testimony faithfully against unchristian divi- sions, and in favor of the Christian unity of the Church, in the Queen City of the West, as he had previously done in the City of Brotherly Love in the East. And Providence terminated his labors there by a call to Baltimore, Mary- land, in the year 1850. The call to Baltimore associated him with a dear and loving brother, A. Webster, D.D., as assistant minister of St. John's Church, in which he had many warm-hearted and generous friends. This Church and its pastor, and the Philadelphia Church and its pastor, had been placed in an independent position, by the ac- tion of the Maryland Annual Conference, in 1844, as a sort of compromise of the Mission Question, in leaving the Churches unsupplied, MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 39 and Mr. Stockton and Mr. Webster without appointments until the officiaries of these churches should again ask to be supplied. This Church and its pastor accepted the position, and retained it by letting the Conference alone. And the Conference dropped them from the list of Churches and ministers: so that they thus became an independent Christian Church. Here, then, Mr. Stockton was in the midst of old friends, and, so far as this congregation was concerned, with congenial Church relations. Having but one service to attend to in St. John's on the Sabbath, he was at liberty to accept, and was subsequently in- vited to supply the pulpit of the Independent Congregation in Fa} r ette street, left vacant by the demise of their pastor, John M. Duncan, D.D. He says of the six years spent in these pleasant connections, " Some of my most de- lightful memories belong to that interval.' 7 It was a season of rest to his weary spirit, and he enjoyed it; but he was not entirely satisfied. He was free to preach the Gospel in all its con- nections ; but he was in a measure restricted in other directions ; and his sensitive nature felt the slightest touch. Some of bis best friends were of the opinion that preaching was his special calling, and regarded his schemes of usefulness outside of this calling, as inju- 40 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. rious to him ; and hence gave him neither sym- pathy nor encouragement in his projected pub- lication of the " Bible in separate volumes, etc.," his " Bible Times," and " Bible Tracts.' 7 Another thing caused him some embarrass- ment ; it was his position in the Church on Fayette street — "a temporary pastorate, with the pulpit frequently occupied by candidates for a permanent relation, making him feel as if he should stand aloof, except as duty impera- tively called him to some of the homes of the people." And when at ]ast the Church elected another minister to the pastorate, he decided to terminate his relation to St. John's Church also, and remove to Philadelphia in 1856. On his return to this city he was at first without any pastoral charge, and gave his at- tention more to his Bible plan. He issued the New Testament in paragraph form, with all the marginal readings and full indexes. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful, as it is also one of the purest editions of the New Testament ever issued ; and was bound in one volume, or in separate books, to suit the wishes of pur- chasers. He published also "Home and Tre- gelles' Introductions to the Books of the New Testament," " The Student's Memorandum," and "Bible Tracts; or Leaves from the Tree of Life; the design being', in whole, to supply a MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 41 series adapted to all varieties of minds and in- terests — maintaining Christian principles at all hazards." But notwithstanding their excel- lency in matter and form, they obtained a very limited circulation, as was to be expected from the almost private manner in which they were published. " Of course the poor projector had a hard struggle, and, so far as continuance of his press was concerned, ultimately succumbed, saving, however, his principles, and having the satisfaction of knowing that some of his im- provements, by the adoption of other pub- lishers, became common possessions and bles- sings to the country at large.'' At sundry times he published several other pamphlets and books, as " The Pastor's Tri- bute," " Floating Flowers from a Hidden Brook,' 7 " Something New," "Addresses on the Bible ; Temperance, Christian Union, etc.," " The Bible Alliance," " Occasional Sermons," ••The Blessing," '-'Stand up for Jesus," " Poems," " The Peerless Magnificence of the Word of God," and " Sermons for the People." This last named was the only book regularly published, and has passed through several edi- tions. This Church (at Eleventh and Wood streets) was in the Philadelphia District of the Method- ist Protestant Church, when Mr. Stockton left for 4* 42 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. Cincinnati ; and so continued until the General Conference of 1850 annulled the District, for doing what four years previous it was allowed to do, when, along with the Ebenezer Church of Kensington, it became Independent. Mr. Ward, the successor of Mr. Stockton, labored with this Church usefully and successfully until sometime after Mr. Stockton's return to Phila- delphia, when he resigned the pastorate, and united again with the Maryland Annual Con- ference : and the Church was induced to yield its independency and come under the control of the same Conference by uniting with, and transferring its property to, the Bethlehem Station — seceders from the Church on account of being opposed to the Mission question, when under Mr. Stockton's care, and before he left for Cincinnati. This step, it was thought, would ensure to the Methodist Protestants a Church in Philadelphia, free from debt, and in a flourishing condition ; as the Bethlehem breth- ren were to sell their property in Melon street, and pay the balance owing on Eleventh and Wood street house, and occcupy it: and never seemed prospect brighter for such a consum- mation. After this transaction, Mr. Stockton, with some friends, rented a hall, where they met as the Church of the New Testament, hav- ing regular religious services and a Sunday MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. iS school, until providentially put again in tem- porary occupancy of the old house : for the Bethlehem Station, by some mismanagement, not only failed to dispose of the Melon street property, but, by retaining it, became more deeply involved in debt, and, at last, by due process of law, both houses were sold from them by their creditors. One of Mr. Stock- ton's friends attended the sale of this house (corner of Eleventh and Wood streets} to buy it for the Church of the New Testament ; but was deterred from bidding by an assurance from the asrent of the creditor, that he was £0- ing to bid it in for Mr. Stockton. When sold, however, the agent gave the name of the creditor as the purchaser, thus securing to for one-fourth of its value, a property mainly built by the contributions of the people to the house of God. An offer to purchase the property of the new owner by paying the mort- gage, interest, and all expenses, was declined by the agent, on the ground that it was worth $30,000 : and it was only leased to Mr. Stock- ton for a certain number of years. This was, no doubt, meant to be a kindness, but it was a mistaken kindness: forasmuch as, if he should succeed in raising a church there, they would be liable to removal at the termination of the lease, or else have to purchase the property at 44 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. its full value. These contingent circumstances, together with Mr. Stockton's physical feeble- ness, operated against his success, and left him with only a few personal friends, who con- tinued with him to the end. In 1860 he was elected Chaplain to Congress, and re-elected in 1862. This called him to Washington during the sessions of Congress for four years, and his pulpit was supplied by others during his absence. During the first session of Congress after his election, by ar- rangement with the other chaplain, he preached every Sunday in the hall of the House of Rep- resentatives. And throughout the four sessions the audience was large, crowds being attracted by his eloquence ; showing what, under favora- ble circumstances, he was still capable of doing. And it has been said, that he would have been elected for a third term, but for a report that he was sick, and physically unable to attend to the duties of the office. His mind and heart were in deep sympathy with the earnest strug- gle then in progress for the preservation of the Union, and his ministrations in Congress were imbued with the spirit of loyalty to his country, as well as of love to God and man. There was a believing earnestness in his praying, which carried their hearts who worshipped with him up to God, in supplication for Divine Wisdom MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 45 to guide them in the time of their country's peril. Such of his prayers as have been re- ported, and especially that at the dedication of the Soldiers' Cemetery at Gettysburg, are evi- dences of the intensity of his feelings in his country's cause, and were uttered with that wonderfully expressive manner which thrilled the hearts of his hearers. That prayer at Gettys- burg was productive of spiritual awakening in many minds, — reaching the heart of our lamen- ted President, and the hearts of the thousands who listened around him ; and it hallowed for- ever the spot where sleep the remains of the brave ones who there fell in the defence of our homes. His sermons were perhaps not so or- nate as when first Chaplain to Congress in former years, but they had more of the strength of the granite of truth, if less of the moss and ivy of adornment. In 1865 his beloved wife, with whom he had lived thirty-seven years, departed this life. She was the mother of eleven children, to which he alludes in the following lines addressed to her on presenting to her the (i Poems by Ame- lia/' Christmas, 184G. "Your poems, my dear Anna, are in eleven volumes. Two of them, the Lord was so pleased with, that he has put them, in gold binding, on a pearl shelf, in his own Library in heaven. The other nine are 46 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. yet with us, awaiting his approval. May 1 stand by your side, when you see them there, in one complete and beautiful collection.'' After that, three more had gone before her, leaving six still, along with their father, to mourn her loss. But she died in the Lord, be- lieving in the name of Jesus and trusting in his blood ; and the hope of meeting her in a better life, and a glorious world, and a perfec- ted condition, comforted their hearts in their sorrow. From this time, until his death, he seldom preached, and was for the most of the time con- fined to the house ; yet he was deeply solicitous that the Church of the New Testament should be sustained while he lived, and had his pulpit supplied by other brethren ; being himself present as often as convenient, and occasionally greeting his little flock with words of encour- agement and hope. During this period he was busy with his pen and manuscript, committing to paper and arranging thoughts, which may possibly, at some time, be given to the world through the press ; and in this way, perhaps, he may yet speak the unsearchable riches of Christ to thousands, making those home hours of comparative obscurity to blossom and bear fruit which shall be a blessing to the world- MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 4T He was always pleased to see his friends, and was ever resigned, contented, cheerful. There was no censoriousness in his conversation. His mind was placid as a lake unruffled by the winds, and his thoughts flowed out in a pure and refreshing stream, which made it a privilege and a pleasure to visit him. There was no fault-finding with others for their want of sym- pathy with him, and appreciation of his posi- tion and plans ; no complaint- of abandonment. He rested in the Divine love and his heart was satisfied. He saw — ' ; A God employed Id all the good and ill that chequer life, Resolving all events, with their effects And manifold results, into the will And arbitration wise of the Supreme." Among the few who visited him during this period was Mr. Alfred Cookman, minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who relates the fol- lowing incident : At one of those interviews he said, characteristically, " Brother Cookman, my life in retrospect, seems like a modern corned. In my earlier history. I floated along, until Gop, by his Providential interpositions, answering to locks, lifted me to higher levels, and so I cam'.' after a while to my highest level. Then the same Providence, by its dispensations, began to let me down, and I have been sinking lower 48 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. and lower, until now, I seem to have reached my lowest level. Some of these days, the un- seen hand will open the last gate, and my soul will float out into the boundless and fathomless ocean of everlasting bliss — an ocean, forever bright with heaven's own brightness." And here, in his own expressive language, we have an estimate of his life, which corresponds with our opinion based on the leading facts of his history, and suggested by the similarity dis- covered between them and the leading events of the ministry of John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said, "He was a burning and a shining light, and ye were willing for a season to re- joice in his light." We are too apt to form our estimate of men from the adventitious cir- cumstances of success, which gives them re- nown and denominates them great in the eyes of the world. Lacking these, life is regarded as a failure. And so the life of this eminent servant of God is balanced in the Ledger of Denominational commerce. But, while we al- low that, to all appearance, in ecclesiastical results, and even in regard to his own peculiar plan, as the world views things, his life was a failure, we nevertheless demur to this judg- ment as superficial and worldly, leaving out of the account the principles of his life and the Divine dispensations which controlled it. MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 49 To illustrate our point we will trace a few of the resemblances between the ministry of John the Baptist and the ministry of Mr. Stockton. John the Baptist lacked the scholastic train- ing, which is too often the substitute for a Divine call to the ministry. His training was in the deserts, where he waxed strong in spirit, till the day of his showing unto Israel. Mr. Stockton says of himself, " What was my prep- aration ? Xone at all in the ordinary profes- sional sense. But, by nature, providence and grace; by home, school and church; by the Bible, and the general range of English litera- ture, so far as it came within my reach, and proved attractive, I had been made observant, thoughtful, reverent and prayerful — had been awakened to a consciousness of at least seem- ing adaptation, with some impressions of duty, some impulse of desire, and some effort in self- culture. When I sat in the congregation, under the ministry of 'the Gospel.- it was natural for me to look and listen intently, not only with sensibility, but also synthetically and analytically, assuring myself pretty well of the plan and process of discussion, and de- riving from the service and exercise more ad- vantage, perhaps, than I then supposed. This I believe was all or nearly all. Thus I became a preacher." Thus he was in the deserts of un- 50 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. collegiate education, waxing strong in spirit, till the day he preached his first sermon. John the Baptist began his ministry as a re- former. So did Mr. Stockton, and both, not only in calling men individually to repent of their sins and believe in Christ, but, also, in reproving the mischievous tendencies of usur- ped authority and arbitrary power in the rulers, of the professing Church of God. John the Baptist's was a special ministry. When the Lord has a special work to be done, he raises up special agencies for its per- formance. John was the herald of the Messiah, sent before his face to prepare his ways ; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins ; and prepare the Jewish nation for the reception of the Holy One. lie was the morning star of the advent reflecting the brilliant rays of the Sun of right eousness ; and was a witness of that light. Mr. Stockton's ministry was also of a special char- acter. He seemed to be providentially raised up for a special work, and particularly quali- fied for its performance. He became the herald of Christian union, and anti-sectarian- ism. Not of an " Evangelical alliance," con- sisting in the agreement of so-called orthodox sects in everlasting separateness ; but the ex- tinction of all sects in the inseparable oneness MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 51 of the Christian brotherhood. The profess liberality of the Methodist Protestant Church afforded him an open field for the publication of his views, from both pulpit and press ; and their acknowledgment of the Bible as the only rule of faith and conduct, and of Christ as the only head of the Church, afforded ground of hope, that he might here find a fulcrum on which to rest the lever of Christ's prayer for the oneness of his followers, and eventually overthrow the division-walls of Sectarianism. John the Baptist's ministry was a success so far as the performance of his distinctive work was concerned : he accomplished his mission ; he completed his testimony ; he fulfilled his course ; but so far as the preparation of the people was concerned it was a failure. Some indeed who heard his voice, as it rang in silvery tones through the wilderness of Judea, believed on the coming One, and were baptized confessing their sins ; but as a nation they re- pented not, neither were made ready for his coming. It was necessary that the messenger of the Lord of hosts should be sent before him to proclaim his coining, and warn the sinful nation to repent and receive him, that he might perform the covenant made with the fathers ; but they were free to receive or reject his tes- timony ; and, as God foresaw the}' would, so 52 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. did they reject it, and frustrate the proposed blessing the ministry of John was calculated to achieve. In like manner Mr. Stockton's min- istry was both a success and a failure. With himself, in his consciousness of duty and its faithful performance, it was a success. With the Sects, whom he sought to unite in the one- ness of truth and love, it was a failure. True there were some, not only among the Metho- dist Protestants, but in all the sects, who sym- pathized with him in his w r ork, and were bap- tized into its spirit, and waited and longed for the union of all Christians in one body : but the various denominations are not prepared for such an event, and are no more ready now to renounce their sectarian differences for simple Christian Union, than they were before he be- gan his testimony. Indeed the tendency is rather to divide still more than to unite ; even the Methodist Protestant Church, instead of profiting by his ministry in this respect, has separated into two or more sects. John the Baptist's ministry had its increase and its decrease. His beginning was great, for he was endowed with extraordinary gifts. God qualified him for an extraordinary service. The words, "He was a burning and a shining light," indicate the fervor of his spirit and the brilliancy of his gifts. Sanctified and filled MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 53 with the Holy Spirit from his birth,, the Divine inspiration quickened his perceptions of truth and duty, fired his heart with love and zeal, and gave him an utterance of unrivalled elo- quence, which held spell-hound the thousands who flocked to his ministry. And he rose to a heighth of power and grace in his prophetic mission, unsurpassed by any one of woman born: though the least in the future glorious kingdom of heaven shall be greater than he then was. How great John would have become had the nation believed his testimony, repented of their sins, and received the coming One, we know not. They " were willing for a season to rejoice in his light/' and then its beams grew brighter, and success in the object of his mission seemed attainable ; but after a while, his faithi'ulnes in reproving them for their sins offended them ; and their unbelief and hardness of heart occasioned his decline. His light began to wane, and at last his ministry was terminated by his being cast into prison and there beheaded. His work was done, though Israel was not saved. The fulfilment of his mission was his success : the national unbelief, was his failure. In like manner, the ministry of Mr. Stockton had its flow and its ebb. Its beginning was bright and glowing. Mrs. Welby adds to what we have already quoted, 54 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. "There's a charm in delivery, a magical art, That thrills like a kiss, from the lip to the heart ; 'Tis the glance — the expression — the well chosen word, By whose magic the depths of the spirit are stirred, The smile — the mute gesture — the soul startling pause, The eye's sweet expression— that melts while it awes, The lip's soft persuasion — its musical tone — such was the charm of that eloquent one. u All glorious and bright as a spirit of air, The light like a halo encircling his hair — As I catch the i ?'ich ' accents of sweetness and love, He whispers of Jesus — and points us above." His were extraordinary gifts, sanctified by abounding; grace. " He was," also "a burning and a shining* light:" and as the sun waxes warmer and brighter as it rises to the zenith, so his ministry became more powerful and bril- liant in his ascent to that unrivalled eloquence which distinguished it, and that noble object to which he devoted it. He was the prince of modern preachers, with stately form and dignified mien — high receding forehead and long silvery hair — smooth pallid face and large, penetrating eye — expressive, smiling mouth and trumpet voice, of marvel- lous compass and power and sweetest cadences, he seemed almost angelic, and stirred, en- tranced and thrilled the vast assemblies to MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 55 whom he ministered with the glorious truths he uttered. Many were w T on to Christ, to truth and virtue by his ministrations, who shall be his joy and crown in the day of the Lord Jesus. Acknowledging the Bible alone as the Book of God and the only infallible authority on earth, he rose above all party ism and sectarian restrictions, and reached the acme of his min- istrations in his plea for the union of all Chris- tians. In this object, his mind was intensely interested. Following the example of Jesus he prayed for it. Believing it to be the Saviour's will, he preached it. Deeming it practicable, he toiled and suffered for it. It was the spe- cialty of his ministry; that, to which, in his enlightened consciousness, he believed himself called of God. And there was attending this belief a sort of inspiration — the inspiration of enthusiasm, but not of fanaticism. He was elevated, excited, rapt with the love of the truth, and ardent in the pursuit of his object ; and, in its advocacy, he gave utterance to, and published some of the most sublime thoughts that eve re rnanated from an uninspired mind. Take this for an example: " Only let this One, Divinely Established New Testament Church, be practically exemplified : — Only let the Church in the House, be One, in Every House ; the Church 56 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. in the City, be One, in Every City : and the Church Every where, be One, Every where: — - Only let the Churches of a Province, be One, Throughout the Province : and the Churches of the Empire, or of the Whole World, be One, Throughout the Empire or World : — Only let the Churches of the Jews and of the Gentiles, or of All Nations, notwithstanding National Distinctions, be One : — Only let the Church in Whole, Throughout All Ages, Resume and Re- tain its Oneness : Only let the Whole Family, or Church, in Heaven and Earth, be Duly Re- cognized and Acknowledged in its Oneness : One in God — One in Christ — One in the Spirit : — Only let the Divinely Honored Min- istry and Membership, of this Infinitely Excel- ling and Redeeming Social Institution — give heed to the plaintive but glorious voice of the Imprisoned Apostle, beseeching them in the name of the Lord to Walk Worthy of the Voca- tion wherewith they are Called, with All Low- liness and Meekness, with Long-SufTering, For- bearing One Another in Love ; endeavoring to Keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace : Showing to the World, that there is but One Body, and One Spirit, even as they are Called in One Hope of their calling; One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One Cod and Father of All, Who is Above All, and Through MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 57 All, and In Them All: and the Ignorant and hitherto Unbelieving World, being thus Con- vinced of All, and Judged of All. and having the Secret Corruption of its Heart made Mani- fest fry the Contrast, will Fall Down on Face, and Worship God, and Acknowledge that God is With His People Of A Truth! Herein is Entire and Eternal Salvation ! I speak con- cerning Christ and the Church." There is no fanaticism in such utterances. How harmoniously they chime in with the vi- brations of eternal truth rung out by the hand of Paul ! How sweetly they accord with the Oracles of our Great High Priest, when, at the institution of the Lord's Supper, he prayed that all. all who should believe on him might be One, in him, and in the Father, as he and the Father are One ! What simplicity and sublimity are combined in the thoughts of this gifted apostle, apologist and advocate of a church- forsaken, forgotten and downtrodden truth ! Herein he reached a ministration outside of all parties and above all parties — a ministration } >n rely Christian and apostolical — a ministra- tion to which it was a Divine honor to be called, and a glory to be counted worthy of it. And how great he might have become even in human estimation, had the different Denomina- tions but listened to his voice, and discarding 58 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. all names but the name of Christ, and renoun- cing all creeds but the Bible, rushed, with the mighty impulse of brotherly love, into eaeh other's embrace, in Christian Oneness; we know not: but, we doubt not, that in the sight of the Lord, his meekly suffering servant, walk- ing in the light of his Word, esteeming his pre- cepts concerning all things to be right, and hating every false way ; faithful to his trust through all trial ; true to his principles at all hazards, was, in the loneliness of his abandon- ment, greater than he would have been in the prelatical robes and palatial halls of sectarian exclusiveness, to which he might have attained by the use of his noble powers for selfish ends. And, we doubt not, that, in joyfully filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in his flesh, for his body's sake, which is the church, he has attained a higher station, and a brighter glory in the Kingdom of God ; abun- dantly compensating him for any want of suc- cess in the object of his ministry. The One- ness of Christians in opposition to Sectarianism could not be tolerated by the Sects, and the Sects rule Christendom ; and from the minister of that oneness, as in the case of his Divine Master, they hid their faces; he was despised and they esteemed him not. As long as his ministry was simply theological and ethical MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 59 they were willing " to rejoice in his light : r * hut when by his plea for the union of all Christians he rebuked their divisions, they in effect said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live." Still he had "the pleasure of reflecting that he was identi- fied with the wisest and the best people on earth;" but they were few and widely scattered, and most of them so related to Denomination- alisms that they could do nothing to help, and generally subsided into the opinion, that the time for Christian Union had not yet come. In this " utter abandonment," however, his con- fidence in the principles of his enterprise never forsook him ; and he still believed in the prac- ticability of success. He learned at last to say with John, ,; / must decrease. " What then ? Were his principles false ? No. Was his mis- sion a qiistake ? No. Was his ministry a failure? In relation to himself and to God ? No. In relation to its object ? Yes. His principles were Divine ; his mission was provi- dential, and his ministry was in demonstration of the spirit and power; but Sectarianism was too strong for the meek and modest truth, though its standard bearer was the gifted child of eloquence, and mighty in the scriptures; and the leaders of the people would not receive his message ; and so, to use his own appropriate 60 MEMORIAL DISCOURES. figure, descending b}' providential interposi- tions, to the end of his ministry, he floated out of his frail body, into the bosom of the All-lov- ing Father, freighted with the blessings, which, un welcomed by the sects, returned again to his own bosom. What then ? Shall these principles fail ? In ' this Sectarian age : yes. They who crucified the messenger will not receive the message. Crucified did w r e say ? Hark ! He speaks, " Tell me, my Friends ! — do you think that you appreciate the effect of an utter abandonment by his bosom companions, and whispered imputa- tions of suspected derangement, on a person of nervous constitution and retired habits, settled as eternity in his principles, constrained by his conscience to do something for their advance- ment, but baffled in all his efforts by the w 7 ant of approving coadjutors? Do you think that you know how to estimate the silent griefs of lapsing years in such a condition ?" We call that crucifixion. But shall those principles utterly fail ? No indeed : for, as w r e have often heard him repeat, The time will come, " When the might with the right and the truth shall hp : And come what may, to stand in the way, that Day the world shall see." The time will come when the crucified Lord of MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 61 all the crucified ones, shall return to earth, and separating the true from the false, shall make them One with Himself even as he is One vrith the Father in fulfilment of his sacerdotal prayer. And then, shall the brow of this apostle of Union be wreathed with a garland of unfading glory. What, then, is our estimate of the character of Mr. Stockton ? Briefly this, that physically, intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually, he was a chosen vessel unto Christ. — adapted specially for the work to which he was called ; having the highest qualifications for it. and the most intense appreciation of it, and the most ardent desire for its accomplishment, and a steadfast perseverance in it unto the end. With a vigorous ideality, he had large per- ceptive faculties, by which he almost intui- tively attained the knowledge of whatever en- gaged his attention ; and by his accurate rea- soning he almost invariably reached right con- clusions. His convictions, therefore, were almost like divine revelations; formed as they were from an extensive acquaintance with the truths of the Bible and absolutely controlled by them. This gave fixedness to his principles and determined his course, which his conscien- tiousness made a moral necessity. And no temptations of high position, which his talents 6 62 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. and opportunities might have secured; no enticements of worldly ease, which offered themselves ; could draw him aside from what he considered his duty. But what he valued most — the Christian Spirit — he eminently pos- sessed — steadfast faith, ardent love, cheerful obe- dience and joyful hope. This spirit sanctified all his relations as a man, a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a friend, a citizen. In this spirit he consecrated all his faculties and ener- gies to the service of Christ; and in this spirit he overcame the world, and gained a crown of life. He kept a regular diary for years, in which he noted daily occurrences, and passing thoughts. We have the privilege of opening to you the last two entries. They relate to his sickness, its probable result, and his wishes in view of it. He says : "August 15, 1868. All I can say just now is, that, if I die, I wish to die as a Christian — nothing more, nothing less : a Christian — an humble disciple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ — to be acknowledged by him, I trust, through grace (whether by men or not), as the brother, however unworthy, of every other Christian, on earth or in heaven. As such, I hope to be a joint heir with Him, and so with them, in attainment and enjoyment of the MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 63 eternal life — I repeat my conviction, that, all that God is to roan, He is in Christ; and all that man is to God, he is in Christ — so that Christ is all and in all/' All of God to all of his people. "August 22. I am extremely weak : — So I still wait. It seems that nothing more can be done than they are doing. Once more, there- fore, I here resign myself entirely unto thy mercy in Christ Jesus, thou God of ray Sal- vation ! For myself, my children, my relatives and friends generally, — as for the Church, and for all men. — I have no higher hope, no other prayer, than that, Thy will may be done ! Amen — forever.'' He had looked forward to the 10th of August, the anniversary of his mother's death, with a kind of feeling that perhaps he should die then. And afterwards, toward the 16th of September, the anniversary of his wife's death, thinking he might pass away at that time. But as this latter day passed by without the change ; he had an entry made in his Diary, closing with these words, " But — I gratefully and quietly submit. All is right." During his last sickness, early in September, shortly after he was compelled to remain in bed, he remarked in the course of conversation, ;> I have no fear of death. I can have none. 64 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 'Tis not in the nature of things for me to have. I have tried to do things as well as I could in the midst of difficulties and thousands of sins ; but I trust in God for forgiveness and salvation." Another time — at midnight — he was exceed- ingly weak, and dropped into a sleep, which was so quiet that he was thought to be dying. After a short time, however, he opened his eyes, and looking directly at those who watched at his bed-side, said : "And are we yet alive, And see each other's face ? Glory and praise to Jesus give For his redeeming grace." Afterward, remarking that his mind seemed to be in a wonderfully poetic humor, he recited probably a score of pieces, including hymns, etc. Among other quotations, w r ere these lines, which he admired very much, as being turned so beautifully ; repeating them several times : " Time will subdue ; What will not Time subdue ?" And another, the hymn, " In age and feebleness extreme, Who shall a helpless worm redeem ? 'Tig only Jesus, by his blood, Can raise a sinking soul to God. Jesus, my only hope thou art, Strength of my fainting flesh and heart, O, could I catch a smile from thee, And drop into Eternity !" MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 65 At still another time he saicl, " There are three passages of Scripture that are of particu- lar interest, as expressing, at different times, my condition. The first is this : ' What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 7 Then I got so I could say, ; I will trust in the Lord and not be afraid.' Then I got on farther, till I can now say, ' Trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.' " li I tell you, my children, I am very near the end : I must have the doctor's candid opinion to-night, and if he says it is so, I will say, Thank the Lord! 'The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law : but thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.' There is no sting in death to me ; that is all taken awa}', and now the victory is mine." ; ' 0, my ! how I desire, and how my desires increase, to know things as they are ; to be at the centre of all intelligence, and understand all the truths in nature, providence, and grace ; to see the Saviour as he is, in all his dignity and grandeur. Mine eyes shall see the glory of the risen Lord." "0, to be 'swallowed up of life!' 'To de- part and be with Christ, which is far better.' I trust — I trust that 'for me to live is Christ, to die is gain.' " 66 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. " I am now approaching the moment which I have alwa} r s considered of the greatest impor- tance — extinction or continuance of being. Phi- losophy says extinction ! Infidelity sa3>s ex- tinction ! Sense says extinction ! Faith says Immortality ! Religion says Immortality ! Christianity says Immortality ! One thing is certain : Something has always been ; Some- thing continues to exist. If the individual falls, Life still continues in the race. Infidelity cannot gainsay this. " 0, could I catch a smile from thee, And drop into Eternity !" " I trust I am o-oino; to see the errand est thins: in the universe ; the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God, shining in the face of Christ Jesus our Lord.-' 11 * He doth all things well. I have reason for nothing but great gratitude ; great thanks- giving ; great rejoicing." " I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand : I have fought a good light; 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, also, that love his appearing.' I have fought the fight, but not perfectly; I have run the race, but not MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 67 well ; I have kept the faith against men and all opposition ; yes, I have kept the faith. That is the banner ; I have held fast to that, and now I trust to receive a crown of glory. r 41 I feel very weak, and it makes no ditference when I go: but I expect to find something worthy of the infinite dignity of God ; some- thing respectfully comprehensive of all humili- ties." " If you hear anybody speak in confidence of me, tell them I consider myself nothing but a poor sinner.*' " The issues in my case are so different from what I expected ; I thought I might have lived ten years longer yet. But it is all right. ' He doth all things well.' I cannot tell you how happy I am at the prospect of getting at the centre of universal intelligence through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. I am nothing but a poor sinner, and have been all my life ; but Jesus is a precious Saviour, God a, kind and loving Father, the Holy Spirit a blessed sanctifier." Such were some of the utterances which fell from his dying lips — lips that were ever wont to extol the Saviour, and magnify the riches of redeeming grace ; lips that were never weary with repealing the ever-blessed name, and to the last were eloquent in his praise. But they 68 MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. are now hushed in death, and silent in the grave. On Friday night, October 9th., 1868, at a quarter before eight o'clock, his spirit passed away. " Conscious to the last, leaning on the rod and staff of the Good Shepherd, he passed from our sight away down into the valley of the shadow of death, comforted." Fitting end of a noble life ! A life hallowed in our memo- ries by its purity, its peacefulness, its gentle- ness, its willingness, its forgiveness, its good- ness, its impartiality and sincerity ; traits of the wisdom that is from above, which assimilates the human character to the Diviue, and rises again to the source from whence it came, carry- ing with it, into the bosom of God, the redeemed and sanctified spirit, and making it One with God. PULPIT ELOQUENCE. FROM POEMS BY AMELIA (MRS. WELBY). The day was declining — the breeze, in its glee, Had left the fair blossoms to sing on the sea, As the sun, in its gorgeousness, radiant and still, Dropped down, like a gem, from the brow of the hill; One tremulous star, in the glory of June, Came out with a smile and sat down by the moon, As she graced her blue throne with the pride of a queen, The smiles of her loveliness gladdening the scene. The scene was enchanting ! in distance away Rolled the foam-crested waves of the Chesapeake bay, While bathed in the moonlight, the village was seea, With the church in the distance, that stood on the green, The soft-sloping meadows lay brightly unrolled, With their mantles of verdure and blossoms of gold, And the earth, in her beauty, forgetting to grieve, Lay asleep in her bloom on the bosom of eve. A light-hearted child, I had wandered away From the spot where my footsteps had gambolled all day, And free as a bird's, was the song of my soul, \y roll. 69 TO PULPIT ELOQUENCE. "While, lightening nay heart as I sported along; With hursts of low laughter and snatches of song, I struck in the pathway half-worn o'er the sod By the feet that went up to the worship of God. As I traced its green windings, a murmur of prayer, With the hymn of the worshippers, rose on the air; And, drawn by the links of its sweetness along, I stood unobserved in the midst of the throng. For awhile my young spirit still wandered about With the birds and the winds that were singing with- out, But birds, waves, and zephyrs, were quickly forgot In one angel-like being that brightened the spot. In stature majestic, apart from the throng, He stood in his beauty, the theme of my song ? His cheek pale with fervor — the blue orbs above Lit up with the splendors of youth and of love ; Yet the heart- glowing raptures, that beamed from those eyes. Seemed saddened by sorrows, and chastened by sighs, As if the young heart in its bloom had grown cold, With its loves unrequited, its sorrows untold. Such language as his I may never recall ; But his theme was salvation — salvation for all r And the souls of a thousand in ecstasy hung On the manna-like sweetness that dropped from his tongue ; Not alone on the ear his wild eloquence stole ; Enforced by each gesture, it sank to the soul, Till it seemed that an angel had brightened the sod, And brought to each bosom a message from Goo. PULPIT ELOQUENCE. 71 He spoko of the Saviour — what pictures he drew ! The scene of His sufferings rose clear on my view The cross — the rude cross where He suffered and died, The gush of bright crimson that flowed from His side, The cup of His sorrows, the wormwood and gall, The darkness that mantled the earth as a pall, The garland of thorns, and the demon-like crews, Who knelt as they scoffed Him — "Hail, King of the Jews!" He spake, and it seemed that his statue-like form Expanded and glowed as his spirit grew warm ; His tone so impassioned, so melting his air, As, touched with compassion, he ended in prayer, His hands clasped above him, his blue orbs upthrown, Still pleading for sins that were never his own, While that mouth, where such sweetness ineffable clung, Still spoke, though expression had died on his tongue. O God ! what emotions the speaker awoke ! A mortal he seemed — yet a deity spoke ; A man — yet so far from humanity riven ; On earth — yet so closely connected with heaven ! How oft in my fancy I've pictured him there, As he stood in that triumph of passion and prayer. With his eyes closed in rapture — their transient eclipse Made bright by the smiles that illumined his lips. There's a charm in delivery, a magical art, That thrills, like a kiss, from the lip to the heart, 'Tis the glance — the expression — the well-chosen word, By whose magic the depths of the spirit are stirred, 72 PULPIT ELOQUENCE, The smile— the mute gesture— the soul-startling pause. The eye's sweet expression — that melts while it awes 9 The lip's soft persuasion — its musical tone— 0, such was the charm of that eloquent one I The time is long past, yet how clearly defined, That bay, church, and village float up on my mind! I see amid azure the moon in her pride, With the sweet little trembler that sat by her side, I hear the blue waves, as she wanders along, Leap up hi their gladness and sing her a song, And I tread in the pathway half- worn o'er the sod By the feet that went up to the worship of God. The time is long past, yet what visions I see I The past, the dim past is the present to me; I am standing once more mid that heart-striekes throng, A vision floats up — 'tis the theme of my song, All glorious and bright as a spirit of air, The light like a halo encircling his hair, As I catch the same accents of sweetness and love, He whispers of Jesus — and points us above. How sweet to my heart is the picture I've traced I Its chain of bright fancies seemed almost effaced, Till memory, the fond one, that sits in the soul, Took up the frail links, and connected the whole ; As the dew to the blossom, the bud to the bee, As the scent to the rose, are these memories to me Round the chords of my heart they have tremblingly clung, And the echo it gives is the song I have sung.