as our folly and indolence have in ac- complilhing the evil which we fuffer. God ufes us as his inftruments in promoting his defigns, His kingdom is a kingdom of means, in which the faculties and exertions of his creatures are con- tinually employed by him to accomplifh his own glorious purpofes. At the fame time it is ilili true, that " a man's goings are of the Lord." Paul at the utmoft can only plant ; Apollos can only water ; God, and God only can give the in- creafe.. Pride and boafting have, therefore, no foundation in the nature of things. Reafon, as well as Revelation, fays, " Let him, that glori- eth, glory in the Lord." Providence, while it employs our faculties, in- fluences alfo by ten thoufand unfoi-efeen events our various purpofes, directs our ftep.s, and regulates our lot, both in the prefent and future; world. ( 12 ) A ftroke of lightning, the tumbling of a horfe, a defecT: in a bridge, a leak in a fhip, a worm, a fly, an atom, have deeply affected the affairs of men, difconcerted ambitiftus defigns, ruined vaft enter- prifes, and changed wholly the ftate of individu- als, nations, and ages. Creatures, on whom thefe things can fo greatly operate, ought to be far re- moved from boafting of themfelves, or of their attainments. "Luck, fortune, chance, and accident, are names, which, if ferioufly ufed, have no meaning. Not a fparrow falls to the ground without our heaven- ly Father. ' Not a hair lefs, nor more, than the al- lotted number, is found on our heads. All things are providential ; all are of God jj all are the refult of wifdom, contrivance and determination. The leaft fuftain this character as truly as the greater!;. From this the only juft view of events the mind is naturally and greatly led off by a cuftomary uie of the language, which I have reprobated. Whether we are difpofed to this method of confidering events, or not, we cannot hefitate to regard in this manner thofe events, which refpect the righteous, if we receive and realize the decla- ration of the Text. They, and their works, their talents, and their interefts, are in the hand of God„ Nothing, which befals them, can be the refult of sccident. Every thing, on the contrary, muff be forefeen, chofen, and provided for, and of courfe is adopted from full knowledge of the propriety of its exiffence. As God is the fupreme, and all prefent, as well all knowing difpofer, fo nothing can befal the righteous, but in accordance with his will, and as the refult of his pleafure. The oppofing wifhes, a'ims, and efforts, of other beings are here exerted ( 13 ) in vain. " My counfel fhall fland, and I will do all my pleafure" — " I work, and who fhall let it ?" ■ — is his own language on this fubject. None can let, i. e. hinder, his work. Every dictate of that counfel, however minute, will be exactly accom- plifhed. Thefe declarations, true as applied to all things, have a peculiar ground of truth as applied to the righteous. He, who attends fo minutely to fparrows, as to number their days, and limit their lives by exact bounds ; who fuffers not a hair of our heads to fall without his providence ; knows perfectly, that righteous men, rational, im- mortal, and deitined to dignified employments and endlefs happinefs, are of more value than ma- ny fparrows. Raifed by their character, endow- ments, and fervices, to that rank of being, in which he vouchfafes to call them his friends, they are had in everlafting remembrance. No mo- ment fleets through the reign of time fo rapidly, no period rolls fo diftantly in eternity, as ever to occaiion them to be forgotten. Every thing which they do, and every thing which they need, is frefh in the Infinite Mind ; the former will be certainly and bountifully rewarded ; the latter will be punctually and amply beflowed. 3dly. That the Righteous are difpofed of with equity. " Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" is a queflion, carrying its anfwer in itfelf to the conference and conviction of every confiderate man. Injuflice finds here no room for admiffion, even in thought. The proofs of the juftice of a par- ticular difpenfation, indeed, may not, and often will not appear ; but the proofs, that all, which is done by God, is done with perfect juftice, are too plain, and too conclufive, to need a refutation. ( H ) Scarcely more necefTary is it to mention the amazing importance of this consideration. The terrible effects of injuftice, even in an earthly rul- er, are fo dreaded by all men, as to create, when- ever they appear, the greateft. agitation and dif- trefs. No human convullions have more fhaken, or aftonifhed, the world than thofe, which have chiefly originated from this caufe. Thrones have been fub verted, rulers deftroyed, oceans of trea- fure expended, and oceans of blood poured out, to avert, or to remedy, the evil. On known and exact juftice all men, on the contrary, wholly and comfortably rely for iuch deciiions and meafures, as are moft interefting to their wellbeing. All men alfo, who are not themfelves unjuft, acquiefce in fuch meafures and decifions, as are feen to be juft ; nor can a higher commendation be given, nor a more im- portant duty required of him, who ruleth over men, than that he is, or mufi be, juft ruling in the fear of God. So high a place, indeed, does the virtue of juftice, or righteoufnefs, hold, that it is perhaps, as often as any other, made to ftand as a defcription of all that is virtuous. The Text is one example, and the pages of Scripture teem with innumerable others. In the Infinite Ruler this glorious attribute claims an infinite distinction. From all the in- juftice of earthly rulers, as well as from private wrong, there is beyond the grave, a final appeal. There a tribunal is erected, at which, there a Judge exifts, before whom, every wrong, fuftered here, will be redreiTed, and every right denied or •wreftcd here, will be fecured. Fraud may here plunder, luft pollute, ambition enflave, and cruel- ty torture 3 but the victim will there find a com- ( '5 ) plete remedy for his wrongs, and an ample recom- penfe rendered into the bofom of his enemies. The poor, the deluded, and the fuffering, will there be glorioufly exalted, and the proud man fall, and the mighty man be brought low before them . This is the final folace for every prefent wrong, the refuge, the home, of the persecuted and opprefled. But from that tribunal there is no appeal. Whatever decilions are there given will be ulti- mate decifions. No future, wifer, jufler judge is yet behind, to revife and correct the errors there committed, or to redrefs wrongs there in- flicted. Eternity is written on every fen ten ce, and immutability inftamped on every allotment. How dreadful, beyond meafure, in thiscafe would be injuftice ? injustice remedilefs and hopelefs ? Through what a duration would it extend, with what knowledge would it be contrived, with what power would it be enforced ? The Creation would be one great prifon, clanking with the chains, and echoing the groans, of agony and defpair. Againft all thefe wrongs, againfh every wrong, all creatures are by the perfect juflice of God wholly fecured. The Righteous, particularly, neither in their death, nor in their future being, will find a right invaded, or an injury done. The determinations of God will command their entire approbation, and reflect the highefr. glory on his government. To all that he orders, and to all that he does, Wifdom and Virtue will fubjoin their folemn Amen. 4thly. That they are difpofed of with wifdom. By this obfervation I intend, that in the difpofal of the righteous valuable ends are propofed and ac- complished. No caprice, prejudice, or paffion, ( 16 ) is indulged or gratified. On the contrary, with a complete knowledge of all that is practicable, neceffary, or deiirable, and a difpofition to purfue that, and that only, which is mofl defirable, a plan is formed and purfued, by which, in the mofl direct manner, the purpofe will be certainly brought to pafs. The ends, which are here in view, fefpect both the individuals, who are the immediate fubjects of the difpofal, and their fellow creatures, and un- doubtedly are found both in the prefent and the future world. We are not ufually able to trace with precifion the ends, which are by thefe difpenfations to be accomplifhed, in the prefent world ; yet we have fufficient reafon to believe, that fuch ends are re- ally in view, and are actually accomplifhed, All events, here, lead to thofe, which follow them ; and they to others, in perpetual progrefs. In fome cafes we are able, at leafl in an imperfect de- gree, to perceive the connection and defign. This, however, can never be done, until the events re- ferred to, have taken place. The forefight of man reaches but a little diflance, and that diflance in a manner very imperfect. Future objects are involved in. mift and obfeurity ; and the human eye, when it fees them at all, fees them in delu- iive colours, and of forms and fizes, which mock detection, and elude inquiry. The wifdom, virtue, friendfhip, instructions, and example, of a righteous man obvioufly pro- duce, after his deceafe, greater effects on thofe, whom he leaves behind him, in many inftances at leaft, than the fame caufes produced, when he was living. Dying words are always affecting words ; and the instructions of a righteous man, ( *7 ) who has left the world, poflefs the character, arid the power, of dying words. They are remem- bered with more care and folemnity, and felt with greater force, than when he was alive. When he was prefent and acting with us, when his in- terefts at times clafhed, or were thought to clafh, with ours, when by his example he caft a made on our conduct and character, and when with his voice he reproved and reftrained our faults, we naturally became impatient, cool, unfriendly, and prejudiced. His worth in our minds was lefTen- ed, or denied ; his inftructions doubted and difre- garded -, and his perfon viewed with difiike, and even with malignity. But when he is gone, our prejudices ceafe. We call to mind his excellen- cies with a more candid fpirit, and view his con- duct without the intervention offelfiih interests. Many things, which in his life he faid, and did, and which were then unfavourably received by us, are now acknowledged to be true, juft, and important. His whole character becomes thus more amiable and excellent in our view, and com- mands more extenfively our reverence and imita- tion. From one righteous man the traniition is eafy to others, and to all ; and from them our re- fpect is naturally extended to their diftinguifhing attribute. Righteoufnefs, which makes them the peculiar objects of our regard, becomes itfelf more valuable in our eyes ; and gives birth to a train of fentiments in our minds, which not unfrequently grow into reformation and excellence of life. This is but one of the numerous important ends^ accompliihed in this world by the removal of the righteous. Not unfrequently are they removed from this world, that they may be taken away from the evil to come. From (in and temptati* G ( 18 ) on, from toil and for row, from the degeneracy of their children and the miferies of their friends, from the fufferings of their country and the per- fecution of the church of Chrifl, a deliverance un- fpeakably defirable is granted to them by the in- finitely merciful God. Their bodies reft from their labours in the peaceful grave, and their fpi- rits, afcending to the manfions of eternal quiet, gain a fimib.r releafe from the bondage of fin. From every ibare, and every enemy, they finally efcape, and calumny, injuftice, and envy, follow them with eyes vainly malignant, and with curfes that roar unheard and unregarded. When perfons of high eminence for talents and virtue have long acted a confpicuous part on the ftage of life, and appear to be necefFary to the well- being of mankind, God not unfrequently intends, when he calls them away, to fhew the furviving world, that he is perfectly able to carry on the defigns of his providence without their agency. The importance of individuals to the fyflem of things rifes, at times, too high in the public efti- mation, and prompts us to forget the all-fuffici- ency of God, in the flrong fenfe we entertain of the excellence of men. This, though a natural, is an unhappy error, and is often belt eradicated by the removal of thofe, who have innocently and virtuoufly contributed to its exiflence. In many inftances he teaches us in an affecting manner, that we have regarded the deccafed with affections undue and unwarrantable. Good men can be loved too much. Among the numberlefs idols of the human heart, they, not unfrequently, find a place. To love them is felt to be juftina- ble, and known to be commanded. The mind, CQnfcious of rectitude in this indulgence of affec- ( *9 ) tion, is frequently inattentive to the danger of in- dulging it to excels. A darling child, a venerat- ed parent, a beloved hulband, or wife, fteals, in- feniibly, the heart from God ; and often renders the return difficult, perhaps impomble, without a removal of the idolized object. At the fame time the contrary evil is not lefs frequent, or unhappy. The value of righteous men is often unfeen, neglected, and defpifed ; their fervices are requited with obloquy and unkind- nefs ; and their perfons are made the objects of hatred, abufe, and perfecution. No inhabitant of Sodom was probably lefs efteemed, or befriended, than Lot ; and no Ifraelite of his time than Eli- jah. From men thus difpofed the righteous are removed, in judgment. Nor is the judgment lefs, becaufeitis unregarded, or regarded with pleafjre. The death of a good man, which is considered by us as a benefit, will on that account prove the more certainly a curfe. The hardnefs of heart, which is thus manifefled, is of all curfes the morr. dreadful, and by the very event, which excites our pleafure, is furely and dreadfully increafed. This detail might be eafily extended beyond the limits of your patience. The inilances already mentioned are furlicient to illuftrate the point in difcuffion. Of the particular ends, designed at in the fu- ture world, by the removal of good men from this, we know nothing. A general exhibition, only, is made to us in the fcriptures, of the ilate of be- ing beyond the grave. From this we are allured, that their tranllation to that: world is intended to accomplilh purpofes, in the higheit degree impor- tant and delirable. None, there, are idle, or ufe- lefs ; but all are far more active, able, aud ufeful* ( 2° ) than they could have been here. Superiour pow- ers, directed to fublimer objects, and actuated by more excellent difpoiitions, are there engaged in nobler exertions, and more dignified employments. To thefe exertions, and employments, they are di- rectly fummoned by their Maker, and enter upon a career of more diftinguifhed ufefulnefs to them- felves, their fellow creatures, and their God, which will know no end. 5. That they are difpofed of with kindnefs and mercy. We know, faith the Apoltle, that all things do work (or labour) together, for good to them that love God -, to them who are the called, according to his purpofe. This is the end of the united labours of all beings, and all events, of God, and of good and evil beings in his creation. In the hands of a Being, who has contrived, and who is directing, all things for this glorious end, thofe who love him cannot but find unfpeakable good will manifefted in every employment, and in eve- ry concern. From this world of toil, of forrow, and of fin, they are removed forever. No more fhall their ftrength be wailed by wearinefs, their health im- paired by langour and pain, or their comfort and peace deftroyed by enemies and dangers. No more ihall their eyes be pained by the light of families corrupted, perverfe, and hopelefs - y of friends ali- enated from God, religion, and life ; and of a world in guilt and ruin. No more (hall they be called to war with luft, to flruggle with tempta- tion, or to endure the fiings of fcorn, the ihafts of malice, or the iron hand of oppreilion. Their hearts fhall no more be wounded by confcious guilt, and /hameful backfliding. When they take ( 21 ) their flight from this great prifon, they will bid a final adieu to every enemy and evil, and fee the diftance between themielves and their enemies widening forever. Toil, pain, forrow, fear, and death, time, temptation, and fin, recede from their flight, and the tumult roar, and rage, behind them in vain. In the mean time theyafcend to God, and re- turn to their final home. In his children they find none but friends, from his hand no commu- nication but of love, and in his houfe nothing but joy. With expanded minds, and purified hearts, with Strength incapable of decay, and activity fu- periour to fatigue, they enter on acourfe of enjoy- ment perpetually enlarging. Ranfomed of the Lord, returned and come to Zion with fongs and everlafting joy upon their heads, they are acknow- ledged as fons, and kings, and priefts, to God the Father, and live and reign with him forever and ever. Thofe, whom they leave behind them, will, if informed with the evangelical fpirit, and regarding the folemn difpenfation with attentive wifdom, mare in the kindnefs, of which their deceafed friends fo largely partake. The grave of a good man is one of the moil in- structive of all earthly objects. We there behold the end of the courfe even of virtuous life; of wif- dom as well as of ambition ; of worth as well as of wickednefs. The humble origin of man is there traced in our kindred to corruption, to worms, and to duft. There we fummon up to folemn view the trials, the** labours, and the excellencies of him who is gone ; the patience with which he bore affliction, the fortitude with which he en- dured danger, the refolution wkh which he fur- ( 22 ) mounted difficulties and vanquished enemies, the peace with which he heightened enjoyment, the iaith with which he quickened diligence, the hope which gleamed through the gloom of defpond- ency, and the prayers which invoked and drew down from heaven the fupporting energy of the Infinite Spirit. What objects can fointereft, en- lighten, quicken, and fuftain ? In what other place can thefe pofTefs equal influence ? From this affecting fcene we alfo lift our eyes .to the diftant, invifible world, and trace our de- parted friend far on his final and glorious flight, hardening to the endlefs reward of all his labours, fufferings, and virtues. We fee him efcaped from every danger, and victorious over every enemy. The conflict is paffed ; the day is won - y and the palm of eternal triumph awarded. Here, more than in any other place, we learn fo to ftruggle, endure, and overcome. Here we learn to lean upon the God, on whom he has leaned, and to trufl in the Saviour, in whom he has truft- ed ; to defpife the world, which he has proved to be vanity, and to feek the inheritance, which, end- lefs and fincere, he has fought, and obtained. In a word, heavenly mindednefs, the ornament and beauty of virtue, is a plant, which eminently flou- rifhes and blofibms around the grave of a righte- ous man. To the affecting occafion, which has called us together, thefe obfervations are fo naturally appli- ed, that my audience have probably anticipated me in making the application. We are called to- gether, my friends and brethren, to follow to the houfe, appointed for all living, a wife and righte- ous man. In his death each of us finds an affect- ing concern. To one is mofl.flrongly prefented ( 2 3 ) the image of a departed friend ; to another of a departed minifter. One will moft deeply regret an obliging neighbour, another a prudent coun- fellour, a third a loft benefactor, and a fourth a fpiritual guide. All naturally form their claims upon the preacher -, and their claims he feels and acknowledges. The demand is too juft, and the occalion too affecting, to be unfelt by any heart, not wholly unacquainted with feeling. Among thofe, who are moft deeply concerned in the departure of the Deceafed, the furviving Family claim our firft regard. To them he flood in moft of the important relations, in which he is remembered by others ; and in fome, in which he was known to them only ; relations peculi- arly important and endearing. To them, there- fore, to the bereaved widow, and her mourning children, to the brethren, lifters, and other near relatives, let me firft addrefs the inftructions and confolations of the text. While you, Madam, your Children, and your near Connections, are mourning the lofs of this beloved Friend, to you and your children the beft of all friends, God only excepted ; while your more diftant Connections around you ftand uniting their forrows with yours, and mingling with your tears their own tears of fympathy -, let me, whole of- fice it now is, attempt to adminifter to you, and to your fellow mourners, fuch confolations, as your diftreiTes will permit. Imperfect they may be -, but they may ftill be found of real ufe. The heart, when lorely wounded, is, I am well aware, ready to revolt at the thought even of con- folation. In fuch a cafe, the words of Thomas are but too naturally adopted, " Let us go alfo, that we may die with him." Still the fcriptures ( 24 ) furniSh comfort in every diftrefs. The confolati- ons, which they give, are the confolations of God, ,who knows perfectly the nature of the wound which he has made, and who, in his Word, has mercifully provided a balfam to affuage its an- guifh. Be mine the tafk to point it out to you, to induce you to ufe it, and to aid you to poffefs yourfelves of its healing power. To this purpofe no considerations are, unlefs I greatly miftake, more naturally, or effectually a^ dapted, than thofe fuggefled by the text. When events deeply and forely affect us, it is no fmall fupport fully to realize, that they are contrived, chofen, and accomplished, by the infinite God $ that, though mySterious in themfelves to fuch fhortiighted creatures as we are, though contrary to our wishes and expectations alike, and though oppofed to all which we mould think proper to be done, there is Still in them nothing of chance, of caprice, or of enmity to us. The consideration rifes flill higher, and our fupport becomes frill ftronger, when we call to mind, that this defign and its accomplishment are directed by perfect e- quity ; and that the difpenfation, when Scrutiniz- ed by the flricteSl eye, mufl be approved of as perfectly right. Still more pleafingly mult we be affected,' when we remember, that confummate Wifdom conducted the event, purfued import- ant ends, and felected this as a neceSTary mean of promoting them ; and that fuch ends may be re- alized by ourfelves, if we wait with patience,, ex- amine with care, and act with wifdom and piety. But our confolation will be moSt. effectually found, when we further remember, that the fame event is the fruit of infinite kindnefs and mercy to bur* felves and ours. ( *5 ) All thefe fupporting confiderations attend the death of a righteous man, and all the circumftan- ces of his death. It may be f udden, awful and peculiarly painful to the human eye. He may die, far from his family and friends ; and they may be prevented of the power, and fruftrated of the wifh, to attend him in the laft moments, and to do for him the laft kind offices. All thefe are unavoidably diftreffing to us j but every one of them, however unaccountable it may feem, is contrived and executed by God with entire wif- dom, juftice, kin4nefs, and mercy. The Lord doth not willingly afflict the children of men ; but, as a father pitieth his children, fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Say not then* my fuffering friends, that your cup is filled with bitternefs only. Bitter indeed it is, but it is ftill fweetened with mercy. Think what would be your fituation, if you w T ere now mourning, as thofe mourn, who have no hope. Call up to view the image of a gracelefs hufband, of an unprincipled father, of an abandoned bro- ther, and compare it with the character of him whom you have loft. How affecting the contrail ? How incalculably different might your fituation have been ; how unfpeakably more pungent and agonizing your forrows ? In your remembrance nothing riles, but the prudence, the care, the in- ftruction, the kindnefs, of the friend, the father, and the hufband - y the wifdom, the piety, and the dignity, of the chriftian, and the minifter. What a train is here prefented to the mind ? Who, when called to mourn, would not choofe fo to mourn ? All this, you will inftinctively anfwer, is a mere defcription of the greatnefs of our lofs. Let me D ( 26 ) reply, Could you wifh the cafe otherwife ? Could you at this moment be willing, that one virtue lefs, or in any lefs degree, had entered into the character of the deceafed ? In the mean time, let me exhort you not to forget bleiiings, becaufe they are paft. How much longer than the common lot have you enjoyed the prefence, inftructions, and kind offices of the de- ceafed ? How long has he formed, and increafed, conjugal happinefs ; trained up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ; commanded liis houfhold to follow after f^od ; and walked exemplarily before them in the ftatutes and ordi- nances of the Redeemer ? How long, how faith- fully, and how uniformly, has he exhibited the benevolence of a friend, and a brother ? Forget not, in the height of your affliction, fuch blemngs as thefe. Forget not, that they came from the fame God, who has now called you to forrow and tears. Let me alfo exhort you afFectingly to remember all thofe amiable things in the deceafed, whofe value you declare by the forrow, with which you lament the lofs of them, and to remember them as motives, as guides, and as an example, all prompting you to purfue the fame defirable con- duct. " Co thou, and do likewife," is the in- struction, which mould clofe the account, and the remembrance, of every virtuous example. An ex- ample fo near, fo beloved, cannot want motives to enforce it. All the juft, important, evangelical things, which the friend whom you mourn hag faid, and done, will now, as they rife in your view, appear invefted with a new force and folemnity. / will come as inftructions from the invifible Tvorlii, and as an example from beyond the grave. ( 27 ) In this affecting character let them be heard, reve- renced and obeyed. Commending you now to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are fanctifled, fuffer me to direct my attention to the Congregation, over which the deceafed has fo long prefided as a Minifler of Chrift. My friends and brethren, you are bereaved of a friend, connected with you in a relation, which is plainly one of the neareft and moft important in the prefent world. With the manner in which he has fuftained this relation, and difcharged the duties of it, to you, I am not, though a ftranger to you, wholly unacquainted. From his preach- ing and converfation, and from the information of others, I know him to have adopted the doctrines of grace ; doctrines acknowledged as the true doct- rines of Chrift by the great body of thofe, who, in every age and country, have been efteemed or- thodox Chriftians. In accordance with thefe doctrines he looked for falvation for himfelf, his family, and his flock. Thefe were the object of his unfhaken attachment, and the fubject of his fervent exhortations ; were extenfively underftood by him, and ably defended. In thefe he lived, and in thefe he died. From his mouth you have heard them weekly, and I need not tell you, with what ability, learn- ing, fervour, and uniformity, fet forth in full dif- play from the beginning to the end of his miniftry. In conformity to thefe doctrines you have. ever been called to Faith and Repentance in the Lord Jefus Chrift, and to the Love of God and man- kind. You have been taught, that man is a de- praved and ruined creature, condemned by the. law. ( 28 ) of God, and with no means of return, or reconci- liation, in himfelf ; that in Chrift alone is your hope for forgivenefs, acceptance, and eternal life ; that your falvation is a reward not of works, but of the grace of God ; that the faith of the Gofpel is Faith which worketh by love, purifieth the heart, and produceth every good fruit ; and that by this Faith alone you are united to Chrift, and intereft- ed in the bleffings of his redemption . Ail thefe are doctrines humbling to human pride, and wounding to human obftinacy. They lay man low at the footftool of divine mercy, and unclothe him of that felf righteoufnefs, which he thinks his ornament and glory, -but which is in- deed a garment of rags, and a wreath of fhame. Nor lefs alarming are they to the fears, than hum- bling to the pride, of linners. That quiet and fecurity, in which a hard heart and a ftupid mind love to reft, they difturb and deftroy -, and pre- fent to impenitence nothing but danger, terror, and death. Men who love to be at eafe in Zion, and who cherifh the pride and pleafure of felf righteoufnefs, are ufually enemies to the doctrines, which I have mentioned. While thefe doctrines, and the preachers of them, are a favour of life unto life to them who are faved, they are alfo a fa- vour of death unto death to them that periih. To many of the Congregation in this town, both living and dead, they have doubtlefs proved the means of life ; to ibme, perhaps, they have ferv- ed only as means of awakening refentmCnt, oppo- sition, hardnefs of heart, and final unbelief. According to thefe doctrines the deceafed lived; before you ; daily exemplifying their influence on his faith, and on his conduct. The example, which he fet, was the example of prudence, dill- ( 29 ) gence, truth, juftice, kindnefs, and godlinefs. In all the relations of life he mewed, that he believ- ed and lived, as he urged you to believe and live* You know, though I am ignorant, whether you received his words, as the words of a friend and a minifter of Chrift, or whether he has all the day long flretched out his hands to a gainfaying and difobedient people. Search your hearts, and en- quire what is the account, which you will foon be obliged to give. He is now gone ; gone to the world of depart- ed fpirits j gone, we trull, to receive the appro- bation of his Lord, and the reward of a faithful fervant. He is removed from your efteem, your love, your kind offices, your communion and your knowledge. At the fame time he is placed be- yond the reach of your refentment, oppolition, and unkindnefs. Intercourfe between you and him. has, in this world, ceafed forever. But let me exhort you to remember, that you will meet again, and at the clofe of a little period will ftand face to face. Both he and you will be called to give an account of his miniftry, and the manner in which it was received by you ; of what you believed, and what you practifed. You will then meet with other views, and other feelings, than ,fome, which you have been wont to experience here. Here many interefts, aims, purfuits, prejudices, and paf- fions, of this world have occupied your minds, and greatly coloured and obfcured your views of future things. But eternity will then have be- gun to you, and all thefe earthly things will have difappeared. Paflion and prejudice will then have ceafed to operate, and truth naked and entire will be brought out to view. At that time, thole of you, who have cordially received frojn his lips the in ft met ions of righte- ( 3° ) oufnefs, will meet him with joy. His witnefs will redound to your everlafting happinefs, and . yours will be to him a crown of glory. He will blefs God for giving you to him as a diadem of beauty, as an everlafting crown which mall never fade away -, and you will blefs the fame God for giving him to you, as a minifter of righteoufnefs, and the means of your falvation. What a meet- ing will this be ? What a progrefs will be made in friendfhip thus begun, a friendihip to be en- larged and improved through an endlefs duration ? How different will be the interview between him and thofe of you, fhould any fuch be found, who have rejected his words of truth ? Are you prepared to alledge, before his Judge and yours,. the reafons which induced you, when he called, to refufe; and, when he ftretched out his hand, to difregard ; to fet at nought his counfel, and to receive none of his reproof. Are you ready to declare to your Judge,, that you hated his truth, kingdom, and character, defpifed his grace, griev- ed his fpirit, accounted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and crucified afrefh the Lord of glory by your unbelief ? Soon will you follow him to the grave, and be numbered, as he is, with the dead. Soon will you ftand before God, and give an account of every work done in the body, with every fecret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. This, of all confiderations the moft affecting, the moft amazing, can never be more properly urged, or more happily realiz- ed, than on the prefent occafion. Let it not pais without fome lafting good to you. Think, I be- feech you, how foon you are going — to whom — on what errand — with what preparation — to what end. ( 3' ) You have loft a minifter, long fettled over you in the things of the Lord. Many of you know not by experience either the difficulties, or the dangers, of fuch a fituation. Mofl of you have arrived at manhood fince he commenced his min- iftry ; many of you have been born lince that pe- riod ; and not a few have been baptized by his hand. In this fituation fuffer a friend to you, and to your children, to fuggeft to you a few intereft- ing truths. In former years you have been happily united ; within a period of moderate length, I have been informed, your union has been lefs perfect: ; in your prefent ftate it may become lefs perfecl: ftill. A variety of caufes, incapable of being forefeen by men, may lead a flock, without a fhepherd, to fcatter and to ftray. But if difunited, you can be neither virtuous nor happy. To prevent this fore evil, let me, not wholly unexperienced in cafes of this nature, exhort you to mark any, who may attempt to caufe diviiions among you, and to avoid them. Cultivate, with fedulous care, peace and good will in your neigh- bourhoods. In all your affairs conduct yourfelves with calmnefs, with deliberation, without paffion, and without hafte. Shun hard fpeeches. Watch, with alarm, the beginnings of party fpirit $ and remember, that the fruit of righteoufnefs is fowrt in peace, of them that make peace. Carefully regulate your families, and punctual- ly preferve your family worfhip. Train up your children for God, and walk before them in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blame- lefs. Make your houfes houfes of God, and your families families of piety, peace, and love. As your public privileges are leffe ned, prize your pri- vate ones more. ( 32 ) Continue the public worfhip of God among you, without ceafing, and begin not a neglect of the Sabbath by (hutting the doors of his houfe. Inattention will foon grow into negligence, negli- gence will foon be confirmed into a habit, and that habit will foon become an evil which cannot be cured. Recal to mind, as far as you can, the juft and evangelical things, which from time to time have been faid to you by your deceafed paflor -, lay them up in your hearts, and practife them in your lives. As fpeedily as you can, reeftablifh among you the miniftry of the Gofpel. Seek an evangeli- cal minifter, who will not fhun to declare to you all the counfel of God. Such an one will, in- deed, declare to you many painful and humiliating things j but they will ftil'l be the things of God, and will make you and yours wife unto falvation. In your clofets afk daily of God his direction and blefling. Prayer, offered with iincerity and faith, was never offered in vain. If you will thus afk, he will give, and give liberally without up- braiding. Finally, my beloved brethren, be ye ftedfafl, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ; and remember, that your labour fhall not be in vain in the Lord. 3. Let me now addrefs the fubject to the Mi- nifters of Chrift who are prefent. My beloved brethren, a great man is fallen in our Ifrael to day ; a man of diftinguifhed learning and underftanding, of unufual prudence, and of - lingular fkill and experience in the concerns of congregations, churches, and minifters. Recom- mended by tried wifdom, he was, as you well ( 33 ) know, very extenfively employed, and confided iri by both minifter and people, throughout the ftate. By both were his ufeful labours acknowledged in compofing their differences, and directing their interests. To you, to me, to all with whom he was connected, the lofs is great and affecting. In the congregations, in the churches, and efpe- cially in the Univerfity, of this ftate, every weigh- ty concern will remind us of his important fervi- ces, and force us to feel what we have loft. His talents were not only great and distinguished, but they were alfo of that moft ufeful kind, which we call practical. Such talents are eminently fitted for the fervice of God, and for ulefulnefs to man- kind. In whatever he was called to judge, or act, he made it his firft bufinefs thoroughly to ex- amine, and fully to understand* This he accom- plished by diligent fcrutiny, clofe attention to both fides of difputable points, a careful inveftigatiOn of principles, and a cautious confideration of confe- quences. For this important bufinefs his thorough knowledge of the human character qualified him in an eminent degree, as did alfo his ftrong pow- ers of judging, and his peculiar coolnefs and felf poffefiion. Not lefs important were his attention, patience, and perfeverance, in investigating. In thefe moft ufeful things he was at once an emi- nent blefling to mankind, and a moft profitable example to us. No man living probably fo well understood, the interests of our Univerfity, or for more than twenty years took fo active and import- ant a part in its concerns. Few fo well knew the jinterefts of our churches, or fo ably and fo extenfively ferved them. I truft his fer vices will be, by us at leaft, gratefully remembered. E ( 34 ) God has now taken him from us in the full flrength of all his powers, and at the height of his ufefulnels. Let this difpenfation be, at once, a folerrin monition to us of our own approaching dilTolution, and of our duty to imitate his diligence. Let us be quickened by it to faithfulnefs, zeal, and confr/ancy, in the fervice of our Mailer. Times like theie mrniih a miriifter with abundant em- ployment, and demand of him unufual diligence, faithfulnefs, and fortitude. The induflry of infi- dels, their perfeverance, their fanaticifm, prefent to us a powerful ftimulus to equal, if we cannot excel, them in conflancy and exertion. Long has it been ajuft and melancholy complaint, that vile men are more aiiiduous in their labours, than vir- tuous men -, and that a bad caufe is ufually fuf- tained with more vigorous and unremitted efforts, than a good one. Let us endeavour, that this mail no more be truly faid, where we are engaged. Troubles and dangers, inftead of difcouraging, ought only to quicken our refolution, faithfulnefs, and zeal. They that are with us are more, and mightier, than they that are againfl us. For dis- couragement there is no room ; for exertion there is abundant. When our fathers and brethren are taken away, their labours devolve on thofe, whom they leave behind. Let us refolutely take up the burden, and God will give us ftrength to carry it. What will give us boldnefs and peace in the pre- fence of Chrift at the judgment ? What, but faith- fulnefs in his fervice ? We mall indeed meet with rebuffs and feoffs, with obloquy and oppoiition. But to us thefe things are :>f no real confequence. God is far more flighted, abufed, and reviled, than we are. me manner was Chrift treated ; and in a ( 25 ) degree unfpeakably more grofs and inj urious. Like him, let us fet our faces as a flint againfl all oppo- iition, and he will fupport and biefs us. Let us be conftant and unwearied in our prayers and la- bours, and we mail certainly be heard and prof- pered. 4. I will now clofe the difcourfe with an ad- drefs to this numerous ArTembly. The Friend, the Minifter, whofe remains are fhut up in yonder coffin, a few days fince was liv- ing and acting in the midft of you, his neighbours, his friends, and his flock. He has finifhed his earthly courfe, and has been fummoned by his Mafter to the inviiible world to give an account of his ftewardmip. .Lie will not return to you, but you will foon go to him. You will ibon clofe your eyes in the iron fleep, will inhabit the dark and narrow houfe, will become the prey of corruption, and the feaft of worms. Your bodies will be mineled with the common duff, and be changed into the cold clod of the valley. But' they reft not here. There is beyond the grave a refurrection to immortal being. How vain, how momentary, is your prefent life, when viewed as a period of enjoyment for a reafoning mind ? How important and folemn, as a period deftined to fecure the attainment of end- lefs virtue and happineis ? On it, transient and vi- fionary as it is, hang heaven and hell, immortal glory and excellence, and interminable wrctched- nefs and depravation. Afk the firft hoary head* which you meet, and he will tell you, that his awn protradted years are, in his view, a ir, which has appeared for a little time, and is now vanifh- ing away ; that, compared with that ocean of e- ternity, on the fh,ore of which, he now ftands, ( 3« ) ready to launch into the boundlefs deep, it fhrmks into a fingle drop ; that its contentions were the jarrings of children, its hopes the dreams of a night, and its happinefs the painted form of a cloud, changing, fleeting, eluding the grafp, and mocking enjoyment. How few of you will reach the period to which he has arrived ? How many of you will probably die, before you are aware, fuddenly, early, unprepared ? Afk yourfelves how you will feel, and what ap- pearance you will make, when your bodies, at the call of the Archangel, and the trump of God, fhall ipring from the grave, when bone fhall rejoin its bone, when the frame fhall be clothed with flefh, when the Spirit of God fhall breathe upon the lifelefs mafs, and caufe it to awaken into endlefs exiftence ; and when you, together with the un- numbered millions of the great family of Adam, fhall again ftand upon your feet, as an army of in- comprehenfible multitude ? What will be your emotions, when you mail fee the Son of Mande- fcend from heaven in the clouds ; and all the kind- reds of the earth fhall wail becaufe of his coming ? Stretch your view forward to this amazing fcene, and bring it home to your thoughts ; confider the .final day as arrived, and realize your perfonal ap- pearance, and concern, in its affecting tranfa&ions. Behold the Redeemer, arrayed in the glory of his Father, and furrounded with the innumerable company of Angels, Liflen to the fhout, which burfls from the mouths of all the hofl of heaven, and rends the univerfe. Mark around you the im- menfe congregation of faints and finners, of the friends and the enemies of the Judge ; his friends arrayed with the fmiles of transport, and his ene- mies overwhelmed with difmay and horror. Hear ( 37 ) the one great company exclaim, O Death ! where is now thy fling ? O grave ! where is now thy victory ? and the other call to the rocks and to the mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. But they call in vain ; for lo ! the mountains and the rocks themfelves, with the great world in which they ftand, are kindling on every fide with ten thoufand fires, and diflblving in one immenfe, united conflagration, furrounding the earth, and afcending to the hea- vens. See the elements melt with fervent heat, and all the buildings, arts, and labours of man fwept away at a ftroke by the befom of deflruc"li- on. See the Righteous, efcaped from the univer- fal ruin, are caught up to meet the Lord in the air ; while the Wicked, left behind in inexpreffi- ble agony, wait with fupreme difmay the approach of the Judge. Trembling, amazed, defpairing, they are forced to the left hand, the place of dif— grace, confufion, and mifery. Liften to the fb- lemn fentence, " Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom, prepared for you from the foundation of the world $" and mark the extafy on the faces of the happy throngs, who are thus welcomed to endlefs life. Liften again ! What do ye hear ? " Depart, ye curfed, into everlafting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Fol- low the icene one ftep farther. Behold the Judge, again afcending through the heavens, with his glorious and happy followers, to the world of ev- erlafting joy. Purfue their path through yonder Ikies, and trace them riling, approaching, enter- ing the maniions of life eternal. Caft now your eyes downward, and fee, wrapped in the clouds of death, the miferable companions of evil fpirits, finking to the world of filence and darknefs, of ( 38 ) forrow and defpair. See them for the laft time vanifhing from your fight, while the gulf yawns to receive them, and clofes on them forever. Look, my friends and brethren, into your own bofoms, and afk your confeiences in which ai- fembly you will be numbered, and to which world you will wing your flight, on this great and dread- ful day. ayjMHHflBJWWWl|t!l..H.MJi.Wl.U.W .i i ..-wit jM. lttr i H APPENDIX. THE Reader will probably not be difpleafed with a fhort account of die life of Doctor Goodrich. Doctor Goodrich was born of a reputable family in the parifh of Stepney, in Wethersfleld, Octo . 26, O. S. 1734 j He received his literary education at Yale-Col- lege, was admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts A. D. 1752, and to that of Matter of Arts A. D. 1755, and was the fame year appointed a Tutor in that feminary. In 1756, Nov. 24, he was ordained pallor of the Church and Congregation at Durham ; and, in 1776, was chofen a member of the Corporation of Yale- College. Nov. 17, 1797, he fet out from his houfe on an annual vifit to the Collegiate Lands in the County of Litchfield. The following Sabbath he preached at Litchfield, and on Monday rode to Nor- folk. He lodged at the houfe of Capt. Titus Ives, and went to bed in his ufual health and cheerfulnefs. In the morning he rofe early, and, having partly drefs- ed himfelf, fell upon the floor in an apoplectic fit, and expired, in the 64th year of his age, and the 42d of his miniftry. His remains were brought to Durham on the fucceeding Saturday, and followed to the grave by his Family, Church, and Congregation^ and a numer- APPENDIX. ous concourfe of ftrangers. Mrs. Goodrich and fix children, viz. five fons and a daughter, furvive him. The following character, given of him by the Rev. Enoch Huntington of Middletown, * who was inti- mately acquainted with him for many years, will with much propriety clofe this account. " As a hufband, a parent, a friend, how endearing, faithful and valuable he was, they beft can tell, to whom he flood in fuch relations. As a fcholar he comprehended the circle of the liberal arts and fcien- ces. He excelled in the languages, in Latin, Greek and Hebrew j in the Mathematics, and in Philofophy ; but Divinity was his peculiar ftudy. As a Chriftian Divine he was folid, judicious, eftablifhed with grace ; equally free from the wildnefs of enthufiafm and the rigors of fuperftition. His reading was extenfive, his memory tenacious, his piety fubftantial, his gravity commanding ; his profiting appeared unto all men, and his praife is in all the churches. He was a wife coun- fellour and peacemaker, a friend and lover of his coun- try, and of mankind." * Sec the Middlefex Gazette cf Dec. ift, 1797. $mmmnFMumimSv i iiM^^^& ■ r