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 SERMON, 
 
 DELIVERED 
 
 AT THE INTERMENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Rev. JEREMY BELKNAP, d. d. 
 
 MINISTER OF THE CHURCH IN FEDERAL STREET, 
 
 BOSTON, 
 June 22, 1798. 
 
 By JOHN THORNTON KIRKLAND, 
 
 Minister of the New South Church, Boston. 
 
 
 tPTiHILiff') 
 
 Printed by MANNING 6* LQRING. 
 
 I 
 
 T^C&%&@ 
 

liWl1Wi''Ttiri'8 
 
 John ix. 4. 
 
 i must work the works of him that 
 sent me, while it is day i the night 
 
 COMETH, WHEN NO MAN CAN WORK. 
 
 SOLEMN and affecting is death, approaching in 
 his ufual forms, and levelling undiftinguifhed 
 victims. The thoughtlefs or the infenfible only can 
 fee without emotion the funeral of the ftranger or ac- 
 quaintance, brought to his end by the gradual waftc 
 of difeafe or the common decays of age. But is there 
 an inftance of mortality, where the victim is a friend, 
 interwoven with our hearts ; a hufband, a parent, a 
 brother, bound to us by every natural and domeilic 
 tie ; an inftance, in which the ftroke was fudden, and 
 the period many years anticipated the courfe of na- 
 ture ? We are not human, if we can avoid keen dif- 
 trefs. Does the breach thus made extend beyond the 
 circle of private fociety into the community; compel- 
 ling her to mourn, with relatives and friends, that Re- 
 ligion, Science, andPatriotifm are deprived of a diftin- 
 guifhed ornament and fupport ? The triumph of the 
 deftroyer feems to be full ; and extorts from the pi- 
 ous and feeling heart its afflicted prayer, Help, Lord, 
 
 FOR THE GODLY MAN CEASETH, THE FAITHFUL FAIL 
 FROM AMONG THE CHILDREN OF MEN." 
 
 You 
 
C 6' ] 
 
 You have juft mingled your forrow, Fathers and 
 Brethren of this Chriftian Society, with that of a Af- 
 ter Church, in this town, for the fudden and affecting 
 departure of her valued paftor, and you are now call- 
 ed by the Supreme and Righteous Difpofer to drink 
 of the fame cup ; and behold the light, which has burn- 
 ed and {hone in this golden candleftick, at once extin- 
 guifned by the chilling damp of death. That fun, in 
 which ye begun to rejoice at noon, and in which ye 
 hoped to continue to rejoice to the clofe of a long 
 day, has fuddenly gone down, no more to greet your 
 longing fight in this lower world. However appre- 
 henlive you were for the duration of a life, whofe 
 thread had been weakened, though not its value im- 
 paired by difeafe, it was not poffible for you to realize 
 the affecting thought, that your Paftor's laft was his 
 final addrefs to you from this defk ; and that he 
 would no more vifit the Houfe of God, but on his 
 way to the tomb. So vain is the hope, fo fleeting is 
 the breath of man ! In the morning he groweth up 
 and flourifheth ; in the evening he is cut down and 
 withered. As men and as chriftians it is becoming 
 in you to mourn that you " fhall fee his face no 
 more." Are there any friends of religion and learn- 
 ing, of the church or their country, who will not join 
 you in deploring an event, which fo deeply concerns 
 your improvement and confolation, the religious ed- 
 ucation of your children ; and the general caufe of 
 chriftianity, of focial order, of ufeful and ornamental 
 literature ? But while we feel, let us fubmit, while we 
 fuffer, let us learn wifdom. Let us not act as if we 
 had nothing to do, but firft to weep over affliction 
 and then try to forget it, regardlefs of its caufe or 
 
 end; 
 
C 7 J 
 
 end j fince we are allured that it fprings not from 
 the dull ; but is the mefTenger of heaven, lent on an 
 errand full of love, defigned to convey important 
 inftruclion, to inflict falutary difcipline, and to con- 
 duel us to the fountain of true confolation. " Hear 
 ye the rod and who hath appointed it j" and woe 
 will be turned into blefiing and forrow into joy. 
 
 Could that voice of our departed friend, which 
 ipoke for God and virtue with fweet perfuafion, break 
 the filence, in which it is locked by death, it would 
 doubtlefs exhort every one preient to confider, and 
 apply to himfelf the words of our Lord, " I mud 
 work the works of him that lent me, while it is 
 day ; the night cometh, in which no man can work." 
 With the folemnity of truth and the zeal of affec- 
 tion it would addrefs us — " Let the fcene before your 
 eyes effectually remind you, that you are not your 
 own, but the creatures of God ; fent into the world 
 by him, with all your talents and opportunities, not 
 to indulge eafe and fecurity, but to be awake, dili- 
 gent, and active ; not to follow the impulfes of appe- 
 tite and fancy, but to perform the fervice, which 
 your Creator has allotted. The time is fliort — death 
 cannot be diftant, it may be near ; — make no delay 
 of your duty, for the grave will put a period to your 
 labors." 
 
 Often do we conduct, as if we were the produc- 
 tion of giddy chance or blind fate ; forgetting that 
 life and its continuance, the powers of our nature and 
 the circumflances of our fituation proceed from 
 God, the fole fountain of being and happinefs. We 
 Ihould view them as a trufl committed to us by him, 
 tjo whom we are accountable for their improvement. 
 
 Are 
 
C 8 ] 
 
 Are not the faculties of body and mind ; understand- 
 ing, by which to judge and reafon ; confcience, by 
 which to determine the right and wrong ; focial affec- 
 tions, the revelation of our duty and happinefs, and 
 all its efficacy upon our hearts and lives ; fo many in- 
 stances of the divine bounty and grace ? None but 
 the thoughtlefs or depjfaved can overlook the difpo- 
 iing hand of Providence, both in their advantages of 
 birth and education, their ftation and circumftances, 
 their health* reputation, riches and friends ; and in 
 their ficknefs, lofTes, difficulties, and forrows. 
 
 Being thus fent into the world by God, with all 
 our talents and opportunities derived from him, what 
 is our end ? Is it to fleep on the bed of lloth ? To 
 wafte our years in idle inactivity ? Is it not rather to 
 be diligent and laborious ? M-an is not excepted from 
 that law of action,* which binds all other creatures. 
 Powers of body and mind were not given to be un- 
 exei ted, nor opportunities of Providence and grace, 
 to be unimproved. Since our talents are impaired 
 or loft by difufe ; fince by exertion only can we pro- 
 vide for our prefervation and well being, our tran- 
 quillity and eafc ; fmce floth debafes our nature, lays 
 us open to every temptation, and throws contempt 
 on the gifts of God, beftowed for important pur- 
 pofes ; we muft be fenfible that diligence and activ- 
 ity are not lefs our duty, than our happinefs. 
 
 Think not however that we have only to make, 
 unconcerned how we direct; exertion. Better is it to 
 lie down in inaction, to be refigned to floth, than be 
 furrendered to " heedlefs rambling impulfe," to un- 
 governed pafTions, to infatiable appetites, to wild fan- 
 cies. We muft work the works of him that fent us. 
 
 What 
 
[ 9 ] 
 
 What are his works, but all the duties of life ? All 
 which fulfil the end of our being, our own greateft 
 good in connexion with the greateft good of others 
 and the glory of the Creator, mould engage our pur- 
 fuit. Happily for human ignorance and prejudice, 
 we are not left to difcover the methods of attaining 
 to this end by the partial and uncertain light of our 
 own reafon ; but are guided by the inftruclions of 
 revelation, the plain laws and example of Jefus Chrift. 
 They teach us, that we are doing the works of him, 
 that lent us, when, under the influence of piety, of 
 natural affections, and the duty we owe to our 
 higher interefts and the good of others, we are mak- 
 ing comfortable and decent provifion for the out- 
 ward circumftances of ourfelves, and thofe connected 
 with us ; when we are endeavouring to acquire all 
 ufeful knowledge, and efpecially divine and moral 
 knowledge ; when we are ftriving to eftablifh in our 
 hearts and lives holy difpofitions and habits, faith 
 and repentance, devotion ^ benevolence and felf-gov- 
 ernment ; when, by the difcharge of the duties of our 
 calling, and by other labors, adapted to our talents, 
 tafte, and opportunities, we are contributing to the 
 welfare of fociety ; and directly and indirectly to our 
 own, and others' eternal falvation. 
 
 Let us be perfuaded to dwell on all the motives to 
 this diligence in the duties amgned us, arifing from 
 the prefent and future reward annexed to it ; from 
 the worth and dignity it implies ; from the nature 
 of the happinefs, it affords, intenfe, durable, conftant, 
 independent of accident and time ; and from the 
 bafenefs and wearinefs, the lhame, remorfe, and mif- 
 ery infeparable from an unimproved and ufelefs life. 
 B Let 
 
[ 10 ] 
 
 Let us look into the future world to that outer 
 darknefs, weeping, and gnafhing of teeth, threat- 
 ened to the unprofitable fervant ; and to that glory, 
 honor, and immortality promifed to thofe, who pa- 
 tiently continue in well doing. But on this occa- 
 fion it becomes us particularly, to lay open our hearts 
 to the commanding motives to activity and dili- 
 gence in the Works of him that fent us> arifing from 
 a fenfe of the fliort duration of our opportunities j 
 and a refpecl to death, as the period of our labors. 
 
 The brevity of this duration is fitly reprefented by 
 a day. How many of the firft years of life pafs away 
 in the immaturity of the faculties and the difcipline 
 of education ? After we become capable of ufeful ac- 
 tion, how much time is wrefted from ferious employ- 
 ments by the necefiities of nature, the forms of civil- 
 ity and the avocations of amufement ? The greateft 
 genius is not fecure againft premature imbecility ; 
 iince it is fometimes the will of the Supreme Difpofer 
 to " pour contempt on the mighty by weakening 
 their ftrength, and to take away the heart of the 
 chief of the earth.'* But the longeft life, enjoyed 
 in health and vigor is a vapour, that foon paffeth 
 away. Who Ihall prefume on long life ; or even on 
 to-morrow ? fince we may be cut down in the morn- 
 ing, or our fun defcend at noon. " Is your ftrength, 
 the ftrength of ftones ? Is your flefh of brafs ?" The 
 warnings of mortality utter their voice in the weak- 
 nefs of our bodies, expofed to difeafe within and ac- 
 cident without ; in the ravages of the deftroyer 
 among the young and old, the rich and poor, the 
 great and fmall. Though ignorant how long or fhort 
 may be our ftay on earth j of this we are allured, 
 
 that 
 
C |i ] 
 
 that every paffing hour haftens its termination. The 
 moments gone, are gone forever. With an unper- 
 ceived, but fteady progrefs, we defcend the ftream of 
 time. When we are fleeping or waking, our frail 
 bark glides along, till, arrived to the end of the 
 ftream, however unprepared, it will fhoot the gulph 
 into the wide ocean of eternity. 
 
 Is not this frail and tranfitory condition, a power- 
 ful motive to diligence, fidelity, and ardor in the du- 
 ties of life ? It ought to be irrefiftible to all, who 
 attend to the other truth contained in our Lord's 
 declaration, that death will put a period to our labors. 
 On prefent character depends future condition, on the 
 improvement of time, hang the iffues of eternity. 
 *<By the deeds done in the body," are men to be judged. 
 In the night of death no man can work. Vain is the 
 hope to fupply the deficiencies of this life in any 
 other ftage of being. The means of knowledge, the 
 opportunities of virtue, and the occafions of ufeful- 
 nefs, here enjoyed, will not follow us into the grave, 
 where there is " no work, wifdom nor device.'' 
 
 Such are the lefibns and motives, x at all times 
 fuited to affect our minds and hearts, at this time 
 brought home to our bofoms by the life and death 
 of the great and good man, to whofe remains we are 
 now paying our tribute of tender and mournful re- 
 fpecl:. Let us be inftru&ed by his faithful, laborious life, 
 and warned by his fudden and too early death. To 
 recoiled what we revered and loved in the character 
 of a loft friend, is the balm of grief, the indulgence 
 claimed by grateful veneration. We owe it to truth 
 and equity ; to our own inftruction and encourage- 
 ment, and to the defigns of Providence in the afflicl:- 
 
C '* 3 
 
 ing event and to the declarations of the divine word ; 
 to hold the memory of the juft in refpe&ful and ever- 
 lafting remembrance ; to lay it to heart, when the 
 righteous perifheth, and by dwelling on their worth, 
 to endeavour to catch their fpirit, and glow with 
 their flame. 
 
 In an eminent manner did the perfon we lament, ap- 
 pear to confider himfelf, with all his endowments and 
 opportunities, as placed in the world by the Great 
 Moral Governor, and bound by the ftrongeft obliga- 
 tions and motives to be faithful, active, and perfeve- 
 ring in the duties of his ftation. In few inftances have 
 time and talents been fo diligently, confcientioufly 
 und ufefully employed. A genius active and original, 
 a judgment diftinguiftiing and correct, and a reten- 
 tive memory, improved by a learned education, and 
 habitual and clofe induftry ; and united to chriftian 
 faith and temper, could not fail, to make a character 
 of eminent ufefulnefs and honor. We have rea- 
 fon to blefs the great Head of the Church that he de- 
 voted himfelf to the chriftian miniftry, and entered 
 into the fpirit of his office. With what diligence and 
 zeal he ftroye to acquire and communicate chriftian 
 knowledge, none prefent can be ignorant. Seizing 
 the early hours of the day, fuperior to the entice- 
 ments of indolence, abhorring idlenefs,finifhing what- 
 ever ftudy or inquiry he had begun, and ufmg recre- 
 ations and vifits, as preparations for ferious purfuits, 
 his mind was enriched with a large ftore of theolog- 
 ical and evangelical learning. But his ardent curi- 
 ofity did not confine itfelf to the mere ftudies of his 
 prcfefiion. Not by flighting any of the public or pri- 
 vate duties of his oflice, but by fuperior economy ot 
 
 time 
 
 
E '3 1 
 
 time and induftry, he redeemed leifure to carry his 
 refearches into other fields of literature, fuited to 
 gratify his tafte and increafe his ufefulnefs. How well 
 he joined to theology and general literature the 
 knowledge of human nature and the characters of 
 men was evinced by his difcourfes, adapted to real life, 
 and unfolding the fecret fprings of action ; and by 
 his converfation and behaviour, fuited to perfons, 
 times, and places. 
 
 Such intellectual and moral attainments could not 
 but render him an important character to the world, 
 to his country, and to the religious, literary, and 
 domeftic focieties, with which he was connected. 
 The world has reaped the fruits of his labors and 
 refearches, not only in his profellional ftudies, but in 
 other departments of literature ; in writings, which 
 will maintain their reputation, fo long as readers of 
 piety and tafte, and lovers of historical truth re- 
 main. It is a painful circumftance attending his 
 death, that it flops the progrefs of a ufeful and inter- 
 efting work, for which the public voice pronounced 
 him peculiarly qualified, and which the world of let- 
 ters hoped he might extend through the fucceflive 
 periods of his country's hiftory.* 
 
 How he magnified the office of the chriftian miniftry, 
 you and others, who enjoyed his miniftrations, who 
 joined in his prayers, who liftened to his preaching, 
 and faw him in the private duties of his ftation, can 
 better conceive, than I defcribe. If a judicious and 
 feafonable choice of fubjects, pertinency of thoughts, 
 clearnefs of method, and warmth of application ; if 
 language plain and pcrfpicuous, poliihed and nervous; 
 jf ftriking illuftrations ; if evangelical doctrines and 
 
 motives -, 
 
 * The American Biography. 
 
I '4 '] 
 
 motives ; if a ferioufnefs, and fervor, evincing that the 
 preacher's own mind was affected ; if a pronunciation 
 free and natural, diftinct and emphatical, are excel- 
 lencies in public teaching, you, my brethren of this 
 {Society, have poffeffed them in your deceafed Paftor, 
 Your attention was never drawn from the great 
 practical views of the gofpel by the needlefs. introduc- 
 tion of controverfial fubjecls ; nor your minds per- 
 plexed, nor your devotional feelings damped by the 
 cold fubtleties of metaphyfick. His preaching was 
 defigned to make you good and happy, and not to 
 gain your applaufe. Whilft the manner as well as 
 matter was fuited to affect the heart, no attempt was 
 made to overbear your imaginations and excite your 
 paffions by clamorous and affected tones. 
 
 You are witneffes what is loft no lefs in private 
 conduct and example, than in public miniftrations ; 
 how well his life became his doctrine, how the divine, 
 moral, and focial virtues appeared in him in the vari- 
 ous fcenes of life, in the hours of adverfity, and in his 
 intercourfe with his people. You are witneffes, how 
 kind and inoffeniive, yet plain and fincere was his de- 
 meanour towards you ; how tender and fympathet- 
 ick were his feelings ; for he could fay, " Who is 
 weak and I am not weak i Who is offended and I burn 
 not ? Have I not wept with him that was in trouble ?" 
 You are witneffes, how ufeful was his converfation, 
 how fimple and unaffected were his manners. The 
 fick are witneffes of his attention, his fidelity, and 
 tendernefs, in comforting the believing, in warning 
 the finner, and confirming the doubtful. The unrea- 
 fonable and cenforious are witneffes of his patience and 
 indulgence, the unbelieving of his defire to con- 
 vince 
 
C '5 ] 
 
 vince them ; the afflicted and defpondent of the 
 fweetnefs of his confolations and his gentle encourage- 
 ment ; the poor of his ready advice and afliftance^ 
 and to the extent of his abilities, his alms j the rich 
 of his chriftian independence, united with a becom- 
 ing complaifance ; and the profligate, of his grief for 
 their depravity, of his utter difapprobation of their 
 characters. 
 
 To other Churches and to his Brethren in the 
 Miniftry, he omitted no opportunities of being ufefuL 
 The caufe of religion in general and in this part of 
 Our land in particular, derived eminent fupport and 
 honor from his learned, able, and faithful preaching 
 and his exemplary life. At a time, when an " evil 
 heart of unbelief," or a thoughtlefs indifference is 
 fo prevalent, the lofs of fuch an influence in favour of 
 truth and virtue is a general calamity. 
 
 Whilft the Church is deprived of a diftinguifhed 
 Minifter, the Republic of letters of an accomplifhed 
 Scholar and Writer, the country mourns a Patriot. 
 Ever a ftrenuous ahertor of the rights of the Colonies 
 in fpeech and writing, and a warm friend of the revo- 
 lution, which accomplifhed the independence of the 
 United States ; he was alfo a decided advocate and 
 fupporter of the governments of our own choice, 
 which fucceeded, and of the Conftitution for the 
 States in Union, which he confidered the bulwark 
 of our national fecurity and welfare. His love 
 of true liberty was equal to his hatred of licentiouf- 
 nefs ; his zeal for the rights of man to his zeal for the 
 defeat of faction and anarchy. A&uated by public fpi- 
 rit, and, viewing it the duty of every citizen to throw 
 his whole weight into the fcale on the fide of law and 
 
 order. 
 
L ^ ] 
 
 ofder, he was earned in his willies and prayers for" 
 the government of the country, and in critical periods, 
 took an open and unequivocal, and as far as profef- 
 fional private duties allowed, an active part. 
 
 The Academies and Societies, inftituted for Arts 
 and Sciences, for promoting Hiftorical Knowledge 
 and Humanity, as well as the Univerfity, are deprived 
 of all that affiftance and fupport which, as far as health 
 feeraifttedj they derived from one,whofe predominant 
 defire was to do good, whofe folid mind was fupe- 
 rior to the vanity of applaufej and valued every thing 
 m proportion to its utility. 
 
 As a fon, a hufband, a father, a br other j a friend, 
 and neighbour, what he was, their bleeding hearts 
 can tell, who were connected with him in thefe inter - 
 efting relations ; who knew his kind and cheerful 
 temper, his finccre and guilelefs difpofifion, his difin* 
 tereiled benevolence, and his activity in every good 
 work. 
 
 Is it poffible for a chriftian to doubt that death, to" 
 one of fuch a character is unfpeakable gain ? Believ- 
 ing him to have been ftedfaft, unmoveable, always 
 abounding in the work of the Lord, can we imagine 
 that his labor will be in vain ? If he is faithful, who 
 hath promifed, there is henceforth laid up for him a 
 crown of righteoufnefs* He fhall not remain under the 
 power of the grave. The eye of faith follows him 
 into a world of bright and endlefs joy. Neither ought 
 l h&Juddennefs of his departure to be viewed as an evil to 
 him, however mocking it may be to furviving friends. 
 Nature indeed teaches them to think it would 
 have given fomc alleviation to their feelings, to have 
 had a parting interview, to have heard his laft wilh ; 
 
 to 
 
C •* 1 
 
 to have received his final blefiing. Their confolation 
 under the want of this indulgence to their affection 
 is to be found in reflecting, that to fuch a man it was 
 a favoured lot to be faved the anguifh and terror of 
 a lingering death. 
 
 But whilft his chriftian temper and hope forbid us 
 to mourn for him, they do not forbid us to mourn 
 for ourfeives. Thofe virtues, which fitted him for 
 heaven, made him defired on earth. To his lonely 
 confort and defolate family, whom he cherifhed and 
 protected, to his deftitute flock, by whom he was 
 loved and honored, to the circles of private friendfhip, 
 whom his company enlivened and bleffed, to the 
 friends and minifters of religion, whom he advifed and 
 encouraged, to the lovers of learning, who viewed 
 him as her patron and ornament, it' is allowed and 
 required to deplore fo great a lofs. But let refigna- 
 tion be joined with forrow. Man is born to die. 
 Genius, learning, and worth can claim no exemption 
 from the tyranny of the grave. The ftroke of death 
 is directed by that infinite Being, who is too wife to 
 err, and too juft to do wrong ; who takes only what 
 he gave, and what was not deferved folong; and 
 whofe darkeft difpenfations will hereafter appear 
 confiftent and glorious. 
 
 Whilft we do not faint under his rebuke, neither 
 let us defpife his chaftening. We are loudly admon- 
 ifhed to follow the deceaied friend in all things, in 
 which he followed thrift. Let his piety, his fidelity, 
 his diligence and zeal, be cherifhed in our remem- 
 brance, and emulated in our conduct. For a time 
 before his death, he had peculiar caufe to be looking 
 ( for 
 
C 18 3 
 
 for his laft change. Thofe admonitions of his frailty, 
 which he had in his own body, by the attacks of that 
 diforder, whofe laft return he furvived but a few 
 hours, we have in the thoufand unfeen dangers, 
 within and without us, and in the continual ravages 
 of the deft r oyer within our knowledge or obferva- 
 tion. But whilft we alfo watch for the fummons out 
 of life, let us watch as he did -, not by anxioufly or 
 fupinely meditating on death, but by doubling our 
 diligence in all the duties of life. Though fenfible of 
 his continual danger, he poffeffed his mind in calm- 
 nefs and vigor ; arranged his affairs, and exerted un- 
 remitted induftry, when not interrupted by pain or 
 debility, in his ftudies, and in attentions to his family 
 and people, refolving, like a good foldier, to die at his 
 poft. This is the proper effect, of the fear of death ; 
 which fhould ftimulate, not damp our ardor in every 
 laudable purfuit ; that when it fhall come, it may 
 find us employed in our Mafter's bufmefs. " Bleffed 
 is that fervant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, 
 fhall find watching. If he fhall come at the fecond 
 or third watch and find him fo, bleffed is that fer- 
 vant." 
 
 The relatives of the deceafed are not forbidden by 
 reafon or religion, to let the tide of affection flow. 
 The folitary,^r/»<?r of his life is ready to exclaim, 
 " Heavy as the fand of the fea is my grief. I was at 
 eafe, but thou haft broken me in pieces. Even to-day 
 is my complaint bitter." Who fhall chide her tears ? 
 Who fhall be infenfible to her diftrefs ? But there are 
 confolations, neither few nor fmall. Let the hope of 
 immortality, which fuftained her departed friend in 
 
 the 
 
C -9 ] 
 
 the changes, trials, and forrows of life and the prof- 
 peel: of death, be an anchor to her foul, fure and 
 ftedfaft. Let it foften her grief, that he has finiihed 
 his warfare and is gone to receive his crown. She 
 cannot wrfh him to return and again enter the lifts, 
 and engage in the combat. She will hail his fafe ar- 
 rival on that peaceful fliore, " where the wicked ceafe 
 from troubling and the weary are at reft." There is 
 a friend in heaven, before whom fhe may pour out 
 her forrows. To his kind providence, may me con- 
 fidently trull her worldly interefts. The curtain of 
 feparation will foon be drawn, and reveal that glori- 
 ous and happy ftate, where the darkeft defigns of 
 Providence fhall be explained, where virtuous friends 
 fhall no more be divided, and the tearful eye and the 
 bleeding heart be unknown. 
 
 May the children acknowledge and adore the hand 
 of a righteous God in this melancholy reverfe j and 
 find a balm for their wounded hearts in the truths 
 and promifes of religion. While they mourn the 
 death, may they be thankful for fo long a continu- 
 ance of the life of their excellent parent. May they 
 remember his inftructions, his example, his prayers ; 
 call up his refpecled idea in every feafon of tempta- 
 tion, and trouble, as a reftraint, a folace, and an incen- 
 tive ; and prove themfelves worthy of fuch a father. 
 May they endeavour in fome meafure to fupply their 
 lofs by redoubled affection to each other, and annu- 
 ity towards their furviving head. Senfible of the 
 worth and importance of a chriftian temper and 
 hope, may they take each other by the hand and go 
 on rejoicing through all the dark and gloomy fleps 
 
 of 
 
C w ] 
 
 of this earthly pilgrimage in the way to everlafting 
 life. 
 
 We are afflicted in your affliction, my Fathers and 
 Brethren of this Church and Society. We, who were 
 connected with you in a joint religious fervice, fliare 
 the lofs, having participated with you as well in 
 his labors at ftated feafons as in his private fociety. 
 The perfon who addreffes you may be allowed to 
 fpeak of the void made in his happinefs by the diffo- 
 lution of a friendfhip, which excited his happieft 
 emotions and contributed to his improvement and 
 honor, < £ But the fathers, where are they ; and do 
 the prophets live forever V Unavailing are worth or 
 friends to avert or ftay a moment the ftroke of death. 
 Blefs God for the benefit of his labor of love fo long. 
 Remember how he taught, perfuaded, and warned 
 you. You defired and valued his life : cherifh and re- 
 fpect his memory. Be affured that to whom much has 
 been given, of them will much be required. Let no 
 root of bitternefs fpring up among you. Though 
 the Shepherd be fmitten, let not the iheep be fcatter- 
 ed. By the love you bear to his memory, by your 
 defire to avoid every thing which it would have 
 iharpened his laft pang to fear, be intreated not to 
 forfake the affembling of yourfelves in the houfe of 
 God and at the table of the Lord. " Be of good com- 
 fort, be of one mind ; live in peace, and the God of 
 love and peace fhall be with you." 
 
 May we, my Fathers and Brethren in the Mini/lry, 
 efpecially thofe of us, who were ajfociated with the 
 deceafed Brother, be fuitably affected by this awful 
 vifitation. One dear and important to us and to the 
 
 to 
 
[ 21 ] 
 
 caufe of our common chriftianity, had been torn from 
 the embraces of our affeftion,* when we are fuddenly 
 called to refign another, whofe praife was in all our 
 Churches, whofe worth engraved on our hearts. Let 
 the fcene before our eyes, be a commanding motive 
 to work while it is day, fince the night of death 
 is approaching. Let it quicken our diligence, and 
 zeal, and increafe our circumfpedion and fidelity. 
 Let it wean us from undue attachment to a world, 
 which death will foon flamp with vanity ; and excite 
 us to lay hold on the fublime promife, " They that be 
 wife fhall fhine as the firmament, and they that turn 
 many to righteoufnefs as the ftars forever and ever." 
 AMEN, 
 
 * John Clarke, d. jd. * 
 
The following Character was pub- 
 ' liftied in the Columbian Centinel. 
 
 Bostonj June 25, 1798. 
 CHARACTER OF THE LATE REV. DR. BELKNAP. 
 
 TEREIVIY BELKNAP, D. D. Faftor of the Church 
 J inFederal-ftreet, was born in this town, June 4, 
 1*443 had the rudiments of his education at the 
 grammar fchool, under the care of the celebrated 
 Mr. Lovel; and entered Harvard College, in 1758. 
 This year he published a poem upon the taking of 
 Cape-Breton, 
 
 He difcovered at this early period, fuch marks of 
 genius and tafte, fuch talents for compofition, fuch a 
 Sow of fentiment in convention, as to engage the 
 efteem of the ftudents, and arreft the attention of his 
 inftruftors. His friends anticipated a life that would 
 be diftinguiihed, and foon beheld, with fatisfa&ion, 
 that it would be eminently ufeful. 
 
 Having received the honors of the Univerhty, in 
 1762, he applied his mind to the various branches of 
 fcience ; but feeling very ferious impremons of di- 
 vine truth,.he turned his thoughts to theology, and 
 the more he ftudied, the more he was captivated with 
 the beauties of religion. The whole bent of his foul 
 was to the work of the miniflry , and to this he, in the 
 moft folemn manner, devoted himfelf. In 1763, he 
 publifhed a pathetic elegy, upon the death of his mm- 
 ifter, the Rev. Alexander Cummings, which difcov- 
 ered how much he was influenced by devotional fen- 
 
 ,.„ When 
 
 timents. 
 
[ =3 ] 
 
 When lie became a preacher of the gofpel, he was 
 invited to take the charge of the church at Dover, in 
 New-Hampfhire. There he palled feverai years of 
 his valuable life with the efteem and affection cf his 
 flock, in habits of intimacy with minifters, and other 
 gentlemen of the neighbouring places, all of whom 
 regretted his departure- He received marks of atten- 
 tion and refpect from the firft characters of the ftatc, 
 who perfuaded and encouraged him to compile a 
 hiftory which does much honor to our country, and 
 has given the author a name and diftinclion among 
 the firft literary characters of the ap-e. 
 
 Soon after Dr. Belknap had left the Church in 
 Dover, the Preibyterian Church in this town became 
 vacant. Having agreed to form their Church upon 
 Congregational principles, and invited him to be 
 their Paftor, he accepted the call, and was mftulled 
 April 4th, 1787. Nothing could have been more 
 agreeable to the minifters and people cf the ether 
 churches, and to all who regarded the interefts of the 
 Univerfity of Cambridge, with which he became of- 
 ficially connected ; being fully confident that he would 
 be a great inftrument in promoting the caufe of re- 
 ligion and learning. 
 
 He was an evangelical preacher ; but his fermons 
 were filled with a rich variety of obfervations on hu- 
 man life and manners. He never aimed at. a fplendid 
 diction, but a vein of piety ran through his difcourfes, 
 and his ftyle was uncommonly elegant and perfpicu- 
 ous ; his arrangements clear and luminous ; and his 
 language adapted to the fubject. He was fure to 
 gratify equally the tafte of the belt judges of compo- 
 sition, 
 
C *4 1 
 
 fition, and the humble inquirers after truth. He had 
 a great readinefs in quoting and applying texts of 
 fcripture, and had read much of cafuiftic, fyftematic 
 and polemical divinity ; but he chofe to give every 
 fentiment a practical turn, and to diffufe that wifdom 
 which is profitable to direct. 
 
 During the eleven years of his miniftry in this 
 place, the Society with which he was connected grew 
 and flouriihed. The attachment was ftrong and mu- 
 tual. While they admired his diligence and fidelity, 
 he received from them every teftimony of refpect, 
 which marks the character of a kind and obliging 
 people. 
 
 His attentions to his flock were founded upon a 
 regard to them, and the interefts of religion. He 
 was their fincere and affectionate friend, and he ex- 
 perienced peculiar pleafure in giving religious inftruc- 
 tion to young children. He was very active in en- 
 couraging thofe publications which are deligned for 
 their ufe and benefit. 
 
 As a hufband, parent, brother or friend, he was 
 tender, affable, kind and obliging — he gave advice 
 with cheerfulnefs, and with an attention to their 
 concerns which invited their confidence. 
 
 The friends of Dr. Belknap were numerous. His 
 acquaintance was much increafed by his becoming a 
 member q£ fo many literary and benevolent focieties ; 
 and he was active in promoting the good of every af- 
 fociation to which he belonged : — wherever he could 
 be of any fervice, he freely devoted his time and 
 talents. 
 
 The Hiilorical Society have loft their raoft laborious 
 and diligent member, and the founder of their infti- 
 
 tution. 
 
C *5 J 
 tution. No man had ever collected a greater num- 
 ber of facts, circumftances and anecdotes, or a more 
 valuable compilation of manufcripts, which might 
 give information and entertainment to all thofe who 
 wifh to know the hiftory of their own country. In 
 his purfuits of this kind, he frequently met with dis- 
 appointment from the lofs of valuable papers, and he 
 often mentioned to his friends in New-Hamp- 
 fliire and Bofton, that it was neceffary to preferve 
 them by multiplying copies, and making it the prin- 
 cipal duty and intereft of an ailbciation to colled 
 them, and to ftudy their value. The propofals of 
 Dr. Belknap met with the approbation and encour- 
 agement of feveral gentlemen in this town and its 
 environs, and the Society was incorporated in 1794. 
 
 As an author, Dn Belknap appears with great rep- 
 utation, whether we confider his fugitive perform- 
 ances which often appeared without a name, or his 
 larger works which have been celebrated in America 
 and Europe. He wrote much in the caufe of free- 
 dom and his country before our revolution, and his 
 patriotic ardor was as ftrong and fincere of late, as in 
 former years.— He was attached to the Federal Con- 
 ftitution of thefe States, which he thought to be the 
 bulwark of Freedom and good Government ; he was 
 fully perfuaded that it had been wifely and purely 
 adminiftered, and in his convention as well as in 
 feveral of his public performances, manifefted a con- 
 vidion, that a firm and uniform fupport of it, was 
 effentially neceffary to the Liberty and Profperity 
 of our country. 
 
 The firft volume of the American Biography exci- 
 ted a ftrong defire in the minds of the readers to 
 ** have 
 
[ 4 ] 
 have the work continued. A fecond volume is now 
 in the prefs, — and the tears of genius are ftied, that 
 a work of fo much entertainment and information, 
 could not be hnifhed by the fame hand. His mind 
 was richly formfeed with this kind of knowledge, 
 and he wrote for the public benefit. — The love of 
 fame was only a fecondary confideration, his mind 
 feemed to glow with a defire of being ufeful. 
 
 The frequent returns of ill health to which this 
 worthy man was fubjeel, gave an anxiety to his 
 friends, and led" him to think that his days could not 
 be long upon the earth. This ftimulated his exer- 
 tions, that he might do the more fervice while the 
 day lafted. 
 
 But he was feized fuddenly with a paralytic disor- 
 der at 4 o'clock, and died before n, on Wednefday 
 morning. 
 
 His remains were entombed on Friday laft, with 
 every teftimony of refpeft from the inhabitants of 
 the town. — The Rev. Mr.Kirkland preached an affec- 
 tionate difcourie from John ix. 4. The whole affem- 
 bly exprefied their iorrow.for the lofs of one fo near 
 and dear to them, as a brother and friend ; fo amia- 
 ble in the more tender relations of domeftic life, fo 
 exemplary as a chriftian, fo ufeful as a minifter, fo 
 rcfpcclablc in ail the public offices he fuftained. — 
 Who does not readily acknowledge the worth and 
 excellence of fuch a character ? 
 
 Lift of Dr. Belknap 9 s Publications. 
 A Sermon upon Military Duty, preached at Do- 
 
 ver, 1 
 
 , i//*, 
 
 A Serious 
 
Z 2 7 ] 
 
 A Serious Addrefs to a Parifhioner upon the Neg- 
 lect of Public Worfliip. N^ 
 
 A Sermon, on Jefus Chrift the only Foundation, V* 
 preached before an Affociation of Miniftcrs in New- 
 Hampfhire. 3 
 
 Election Sermon, preached at Portfmouth, 1784. i 
 
 A Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Jedidiah ^ 
 
 Morfe, 17^9-e^jc^cij^ c(jUu>*a£) \ 
 
 A Cii'inuii uiOMMbat the requeft of the Hiftorical 
 Society, October, 1792; being the Completion of 
 the 3d Century from Columbus' Difcovery of Amer- 
 ica. 
 
 Differtations upon the Character and Refurrection 
 of Chrift — one vol. i2mo. 
 
 Collection of Pfalms and Hymns — one vol. i2mo. 
 
 Convention Sermon, 1796. 
 
 A Sermon on the Day of the National Faft, May 
 9th, 1798. 
 
 Dr. Belknap's Hiftorical Works are, 
 
 Hiftory of New-Hampfhire, 3 vols. 8vo. 
 
 The Foreftcrs - ^r ™ ' i i rpiini— Ni Um i 1 , ,_ 
 
 *"*^lHlHMttBlBHdhiJNtolb which has been re- 
 printed with fome additions. 
 
 American Biography — 2 vols. 8vo. 
 
 He publifhed alfo feveral effays upon the African 
 Trade ; upon Civil and Religious Liberty ; upon the 
 ftate and fettlement of this country in periodical 
 papers ; in the Columbian Magazine, printed in Phi- 
 ladelphia; in the Bofton Magazine, 1 784 ; in the Hif- 
 torical Collections, and in Newfpapers. 
 
 It is the carneft defire of many, that his fugitive 
 writings may be collected and republished in a volume. 
 
 f 
 
* 
 
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