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1 
 
S E R M O N, 
 
 DELIVERED THE NEXT SABBATH AFTER 
 
 THE 
 
 INTERMENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HON. JABEZ FISHER, ESQ. 
 
 WHO DIED ON THE 
 
 FIFTEENTH DAT OF OCTOBER, 
 
 IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, ONE THOUSAND 
 EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIX, 
 
 IN THE EIGHTY-NINTH YEAR OF HIS AGE. 
 
 BY NATHANAEL EMMONS, D, D, 
 FAS TOR OF THE CHURCH IN FRANKLIN. 
 
 <: 
 
 PROVIDENCE: 
 PRINTED BY DAVID HEATON, MAIN-STREET. 
 
 1807. 
 

xx?<><><xxxxxxx><xx><><xx>:«<xxxxxx:><><xxxxx 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 ACTS xiii. 36. 
 
 For David, after he had ferved his onun generation hy the nuijl of 
 God, fell on Jleep, 
 
 A: 
 
 S GOD is plealed to employ 
 human agents in carrying on his dcfigns in this 
 >vorld5 fo he never fails to find thofe perfons^ 
 who are beft qualified to anfwer his purpofe. 
 This he intimates l?y the mode of expreffion in 
 the twenty-fecond verfe of the context. "I have 
 found David the fon of JefTe, a man after mine 
 own heart; who Ihali fulfil all my will." The Lor4 
 faw fomething in Davidj the youngeft fon of JeflTe, 
 which neither he^ nor Samuel faw, when he was 
 fent to anoint bim and fet him apart fox the fer- 
 yice of God. It feems, they would have preferred 
 either of his feven brothers; but God, who looked 
 on the heart, and not on the outward appearance, 
 preferred him. Nor was the divine choice mif- 
 placed; for as foon as David appeared in publick, 
 he feized every opportunity of promoting the caufc 
 of God, and the good of his fellow men. And it 
 is truly aftonifhing what talents he difplayed, and 
 what fignal fervices he performed, in the courfe of 
 his life. After he had undauntedly fought his way 
 to the throne of Ifrael, he found the kingdom 
 weak and divided. But he foon united the nation 
 
in peace, and conquered their numerous and pow- 
 erful enemies. Having finiflied his long and bloo- 
 dy wars, he turned his attention to the internal 
 concerns of the nation. He devifed the beft meth- 
 ods to regulate the fervices of the fanftuary, and 
 promote the publick worfhip of God. He pre- 
 pared many materials for the building of the Tem- 
 ple, and it was in his heart to have accomplifhed 
 that noble and pious defign. But when God de- 
 nied him this privilege, and acquainted him, that 
 the time of his departure drew near, he fet his 
 kingdom, his houfe, and his foul in order, and 
 prepared to die in a good old age, full of days, 
 riches, and honour. This fully authorized the 
 Evangelift to fay. "David, after he had fervcd 
 his own generation by the v;ill of God, fell on 
 fleep". The mode of expreffion here is defigned 
 to fignify the compofure and ferenity of mind in 
 which he died, and not to intimate that his death 
 put a final period to his exiftence, or threw him 
 into a flate of infenfibility. The text plainly rep- 
 refents David as living a ufeful life, and dying a 
 peaceful death, whether it be read as it now ftands, 
 or more exa6lly according to the original. The 
 literal trandation is : " David, in his own genera- 
 tion having ferved the will of God, fell on flecp". 
 This reading is rather to be preferred to the oth- 
 er, becaufe it prefents David's chara6ler in a more 
 pious light, and more ftrongly marks the connec- 
 tion between his piety and ufefulnefs in life, and 
 his hope and happinefs in death. Thefe things, 
 which were infeparably connected in David, al- 
 
L 5 ^ 
 
 ways will be infeparably united in all good men, 
 who faithfully ferve God and their own generation. 
 This fuggefts a plain and important truth to our 
 prefent confideration: 
 
 That a ufeful life prepares men for a happy 
 death. 
 
 To illuftrate this fubjea, I ihall firft confider 
 what it is to live a ufeful life, and then confider 
 how this prepares men for a happy death. 
 
 1. Let us confider what it is to live a ufefal life. 
 There is a fenfe in which all men are ufeful. 
 They all, in fome way or other, ferve the divine 
 purpofes. Pharaoh, Haman, and the king of Af- 
 fyria, were inftrumental of bringing about the de- 
 figns of providence. Plowbeit, they meant not fo, 
 neither did their hearts think fo. They intended 
 to accomplifh their own ambitious defigns; but 
 God overruled all their yiews and operations in 
 fubferviency to his own glory and the good of his 
 people, whom they fought to deftroy. But in order 
 to be ufeful in the fenfe of the text, and accor- 
 ding to the common acceptation of the phrafe, 
 men muft imbibe the fpirit of the patriarch, and a6i 
 from the fame principles of piety and benevolence. 
 This leads me to obferve. 
 
 1. That to live a ufeful life, men muft live in 
 the exercife of fupreme love to God. They muft 
 give him the throne in their hearts, before they 
 can take their proper place at his footftool, and 
 feel and aQ as his dutiful fubjefts. They cannot 
 ferve both God and mammon at the fame time. 
 While they loyc themfelves fupremely, they will 
 
feek a private, feparate intereft, which is wholly 
 hoftile to the glory of God and the intereft of his 
 moral kingdom. They muft feek fjrft the king- 
 dom of God, and give their heart3 to him, before 
 they can do any thing which will be acceptable in 
 bis fight. None can lake a fingle flep towards uf(?» 
 falnefs, until they make a fincere and unreferved 
 dedication of themfelves to the fervice of God. 
 David tbok this ftep in his youth, which had a moft 
 happy inCuence upon his future lif^. He often 
 recollefled and renewed his vows and engage- 
 ments to be the Lord's. ^' I have frvorn^ diXid 1 will 
 perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 
 I delight to do thy will, O God; yea, thy law is 
 within my heart. I love thy commands abovQ 
 gold; yea, above fine gold. I efteem thy pre- 
 cepts concerning all things to be right. 1 will run 
 in the way of thy commandments, when thou fhalt 
 enlarge my heart." It appears from thefe and 
 many other declarations of David in bis moft fo- 
 lemn moments, that he Jived in ^he habitual exer- 
 cife of fupreme love to God. He ro^de the di- 
 vine will his rule, and the divine glory his ulti- 
 mate end, in all he did to promote the temporal 
 and fpiritual good of his fellow men. The fame 
 ipirit will have the fame influence upon the lives 
 of all thofe who pofTefs it. While they keep them- 
 felves in the love of God, they will cheerfully fub- 
 ordinate all their own interefts to his glory, and 
 be fincere, and ftedfaft, and perfevering in his 
 fervice. 
 
[ 7l 
 
 2. Not only a fpirit of piety, but a fpirit of 
 univerfal benevolence, is necefl'ary in order to live 
 a truly ufeful life. Every man ought to love his 
 neighbour as himfelf, and live in the exercife of 
 that charity, which feeketh not her own. This is 
 enjoined by divine authority. "Look not every 
 man on his own things, but every man alfo on the 
 things of others. Let no man feek his own, but 
 every man another's wealth/' Pure, difinterefted 
 benevolence infpires a man with a tender concern 
 for all the human race, and leads him to do' to 
 others, as he would that others fhould do to him: 
 It makes him willing to give up his private right, 
 or his perfonal intereft, whenever the publick 
 good requires fuch an ad of felf-denial. It dif- 
 pofes him not only to love thofe who love him, 
 and to do good to thofe who do good to him, 
 but to love all, and to do good to all, as he has 
 opportunity. David aQed under the influence of 
 fuch a bc^nevolent fpirit, while he ferved his own 
 generation by the will of God. He placed his 
 happinefs in theirs, and fincerely fought their higheft 
 good. He could fay from the bottom of his heart, 
 " If I forget thee, O Jerufalem, let my right hand 
 forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, 
 let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I 
 prefer not Jerufalem above my chief joy." He 
 felt and exprefled true benevolence towards his en- 
 emies and the enemies of God. " But as for me 
 when they were (ick, my clothing was fackcloth; 
 I humbled my foul with fading; and my prayer re- 
 turned into mine own bofom, I behaved myfelf 
 
L <> J 
 
 as though he had been my friend or brother." 
 The fincerity of thefe profeflions appears from 
 fome fingular inftances of his difinterefted conduQ:. 
 Though Saul was his mortal enemy, yet he once 
 and again fpared his life, when he had him entire- 
 ly in his power. He loved Jonathan as his own 
 foul; and a6led a truly noble and friendly part tow- 
 ards him. He was ever ready to jeopard his life 
 in the high places of the field, for the fafety of his 
 I^ingdom, and nothing but the importunity of his 
 fubjeds could, in any cafe, reftrain him from it. 
 Yea, when he faw the deftroying angel holding his 
 fword over Jerufalem, he prayed that it might ra- 
 ther fall upon himfelf, than upon his innocent 
 people. In a word, his whole lifewas filled up with 
 a6ls of kindnefs, beneficence, and publick utility. 
 This was the genuine fruit of true benevolence, 
 which will always have the fame effe6l upon thofe 
 who feel its happy influence. 
 
 It will enable them to difcern, and difpofe them 
 to purfue, the publick good, which mufl render 
 them extenfively ufeful through the whole courfe 
 of their lives. 
 
 3. Thofe who would live the moft ufeful life, 
 muft not only poflefs the principles of piety and 
 benevolence, but faithfully perform the various 
 duties of the various ftations in which they are pla- 
 ced. As God has endowed different men with 
 different talents, fo he has affigned them different 
 parts to ad upon the flage of life. And it is only 
 by moving properly in their proper fpheres of ac- 
 tions ^hat they can become the moft extenfively 
 
L 5 J 
 
 fcrviceable to the world. No man can fail of be^ 
 ing a ufeful member of fociety and a blefltng to 
 others, who faithfully difcharges the duties of his 
 proper place. But thofe who are raifed above the 
 reii of the community, are under the ftrongeft ob- 
 ligation to employ their fuperior talents in the faith- 
 ful difcharge of the important duties of their ele- 
 vated ftations. Where much is given, much is 
 required. Where God has bellowed five talents, 
 he requires the faithful improvement of five. And 
 every man improves his talents the moll properly 
 and mod ufefully, when he faithfully employs them 
 in difcharging the duties of his particular flation, 
 whether it be high or lev/, publick or private, ci* 
 vil or religious. It was in this way, that David 
 became eminently ufeful in every ftage and ftation 
 of life. While a child under his father's care, he 
 performed the duties of a child. While a fervant 
 under Saul, he performed the duties of a fervant. 
 When he became the head of a family, he walked 
 within his boufe with a perfed heart, and faithful- 
 ly maintained family government and family relig- 
 ion. And when he was raifed to the higheft place 
 of power and truft^ " he fed his people according 
 to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by 
 the fkiifulnefs of his hands." Such is the part that 
 all men are called to a6l, while they are paffing 
 from (lage to ftage, and from ftation to ftation in 
 life. "Having then gifts differing according to 
 the grace that is given unto us, whether prophecy, 
 let us prophefy according to the proportion of 
 
 B 
 
*u 
 
 faith; or miniftry, let us wait on our miniftering; 
 or he that exhorteth, on exhortation ; he that giv- 
 eth, let him do it with fimpiicity ; and he that ru- 
 leth, with diligence." Let every perfon only dif- 
 charge the duties of every relation, connexion, 
 and office, in which providence places him, and 
 he will live a life, which is virtuous, amiable, and 
 ufeful, both in the fight of God and man. Hence 
 it is natural to conclude, 
 
 II, That fuch a life will terminate in a happy 
 death. This V7e find fully exemplified in the life 
 and death of David. " For after he had ferved 
 his own generation by the will of God, he fell on 
 fleep'*. His ufeful life clofed in a ferene and 
 peaceful death. The other patriarchs, whofe a- 
 miable and ufeful lives are recorded, died in faith 
 and hope. Simeon and Stephen, two faithful fer- 
 vaots of God, left the world in peace and joy. 
 And the fcriptures give us full affurance, that a 
 ufeful life leads to a happy death. "The wicked 
 is driven away in his wickednefs: but the righte- 
 ous haih hope in his death. Precious in the fight of 
 the Lord is the death of his faints. Mark the per- 
 fe8 man, and behold the upright : for the end of 
 that man is peace". A ufeful life lays a folid foun- 
 dation for a fafe and happy tranfition 6at of time 
 into eternity. For, 
 
 1. It contains a fource of pleafing reflexions 
 upon what is paft. As men draw near, in their own 
 apprehenfion, to the clofe of life, they naturally 
 turn their thoughts back, and refleft upon what 
 they have done in the world. And there is noih- 
 
ing paft, which can afford more agreeable reflec- 
 tions, than a confcioufnefs of having fincerely fer- 
 ved their own generation according to the will of 
 God, and in fome meafLire anfvvered the great de- 
 fign of living. When good Hezekiah was fick 
 and expeQed to die, his thoughts fpontaneoufly 
 flew back upon his pail ufefui life, which proved 
 a fource of peculiar comfort in his trying fituation. 
 "He turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto 
 the Lord, and faid, Remember, O Lord, I be- 
 ieech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, 
 and with a perfed heart, and have done that which 
 is good in thy fight". He .could refle8; upon his 
 repairing the temple, reftoring the purity of pub- 
 lick worfhip, and reviving the finking caufe of re- 
 ligion through his kingdom, with heart felt pleaf- 
 ure and fatisfadion. Whoever feels a confciouf- 
 nefs of doing good, has ^n unfailing fource of the 
 bappieft reflexions. Hence it became a proverb 
 in Ifrael; "A good man (hall be fatisfied frpni 
 himfeif." All good men have the fatisfadion of 
 being more or lefs ufefui, in promoting the glory 
 of God, and the benefit of jtheir fellow-creatures. 
 So that when they come to die, they experience 
 that peace of mind, which can (low from no oth- 
 er caufe, than a virtuous and ufefui life. 
 
 2. Such a life contains a fource of agreeable 
 anticipations as well as of confoling rene6lions. 
 It enables men, in a dying hour, not only to look 
 back, but to look forward, with peculiar joy and 
 confidence. Thofe who have taken delight in 
 fcrving God on earth, may look forward, and an- 
 
L 12 J 
 
 ticipate tbehappinefs, which will refult from ferv- 
 ing him in a higher and nobler manner in the king^ 
 dom of glory. This is a bright and glorious prof- 
 pe8, which may well afford great peace and con- 
 folation to dying chriftians, after they have fpent 
 their life here in the fervice of God. So the a- 
 poftle John thought, when he had a vifion of the 
 heavenly inhabitants. Speaking of thofe who had 
 come out of great tribulation, and wafhed their 
 robes and made them white in the blood of the 
 Lamb, he fays, " Therefore are they before the 
 throne of God, andy^rt;^ him day and night in hi^ 
 temple'\ And in another defcription of heaven, 
 he fays, "The throne of God and of che Lamb 
 ihall be in it, and his fervants Jhall ferve him". 
 David, in the courfe of life, anticipated the ever- 
 lading ferviceof God, with great delight. «^ While 
 I live, will I praife the Lord; I will fing praife 
 unto my God while I have any being." This 
 anticipation of the future, in contraft with his re- 
 flexion upon the paft, feryice of God, became 
 more joyful and tranfporting, as he drew nearer 
 to the verge of time, and had a more clear and 
 fiill view of eternity. " Now thefe be the lafl 
 words of David. David the fon of Jeffe faid, and 
 the man who was raifed up on high, the anointe(J 
 of the God of Jacob, and the fweet pfalmift of 
 Jfrael, faid, the fpirit of the Lord fpake by me, and 
 his word was in my tongue. The God of Ifrael 
 faid, the Rock of Ifrael fpake to me. He that 
 ruleth over men muft be juft, ruling in the fear 
 oi God ^ and he (hall be as the light of the morwt 
 
ing, when the fun rifeth, even as a morning with- 
 out clouds; as the tender grafs fpringing out of 
 the earth by clear fliining after rain." This de- 
 fcription of a good ruler David could apply, with 
 very little variation, to himfelF, and therefore 
 adds, " Although my houfe be not fo with God j" 
 that is, although my pad reign has not been alto- 
 gether juft and profperous, and God has frowned 
 upon my family; "yet he hath made with me an 
 everlafting covenant, ordered in all things and 
 fure : for this is all my falvation and all my defire." 
 Such a pleafing anticipation of the future fervice 
 andenjoyment of God, difarmed death of its fting 
 and the grave of its terror, and enabled him to 
 leave the world with dignity and joy. The apof- 
 tle Paul alfo experienced the fame noble and tranf- 
 porting views, at the clofe of his eminently piou$ 
 and ufeful hfe. '' I am now ready to be offered, 
 and the time of my departure is at hand. 1 havQ 
 fought a good fight, I have finifhed my courfe, I 
 have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up 
 forme a crown of righteoufnefs, which the Lord the 
 righteous judge fhall give me at th^t day; and not 
 to npe only, but unto all them alfo that love his 
 appearing." A ufeful life always lays a juft foun- 
 dation for fuch happy anticipations and reflexions 
 in the trying hour of death. But though God may 
 fee fit to call fome of his feryants fo fuddenly from 
 their labours, as to give them no opportunity for 
 refleSion or anticipation; or though he may deny 
 them the light of his countenance, and fuffer them 
 to die in doubts and fears; yet I may add, 
 
** 
 
 g. That their fidelity and ufefulnefs will cer- 
 tainly meet a glorious and ample reward beyond 
 the grave. God has promiTed, that it (hall be well 
 with the righteous, and that thofe who are faith- 
 ful unto death fhall receive a crown of life. Ail 
 their good deeds ihall come up in remembrance 
 before him, and receive the marks of his appro- 
 bation at the refurredion of the juft. He will 
 give them a recompence in due proportion to their 
 fidelity and ufefulnefs in life. Upon thofe, who 
 have faithfully employed their fuperior talents in 
 exalted ftations, he will beftow a fuperior reward. 
 This will lay a foundation for high and honoura- 
 ble diftindions among the bleffed through every 
 period of their exiftence. As one flar differs from 
 another in glory, fo one faint v;ill differ from anoth- 
 er, in his meafure ofholinefs and happlnefs, forever. 
 And this diverfity, inflead of diminifhing, will 
 perpetually enhance the endlefs felicity of thofe, 
 >vho fhall live a ufeful life, and finally fliare in thp 
 iftheritance of the faints in light. 
 
 It now remains to improve and apply the fubjeft, 
 1. It appears from what has been faid in this 
 difcourfe, that real religion is neceffary to quali- 
 fy every perfon for the flate he is in, or the fta* 
 lion he fills. This will infallibly direft his views 
 and guide his exertions to the great end of living, 
 and form him for the fervice of God and of his 
 own generation. Thofe who are deflitute of grace, 
 whether they move in a higher or lower fphere 
 of life, will either negle6t or oppofe every intereft 
 but their own. And though God may overrule 
 
their felfifh defigns and purfuits to his own glory 
 and the general good; yet he will confider them 
 as idle and unprofitable fervants, who abufe their 
 talents, and deferve to be punifhed for their in< 
 gratitude and negligence. He fays of fuch, « they 
 are all gone out of the way, they are together be- 
 come unprofitable : there is none thatdoeth good, 
 no, not one." No natural nor acquired knowl- 
 edge, no exterior decency nor propriety of con- 
 duct, is fufficient to qualify men for any publick, 
 or even private ftation, without the fpirit of pure, 
 difinterefted benevolence. They muft give their 
 hearts to God, and govern their condud by the 
 rules of his word, in order to the right perform- 
 ance of any duty, or the faithful difcharge of any 
 office. If we fearch the fciptures, which contain 
 a long catalogue of the faithful fervants of God, 
 we fliall find that piety, and generally early piety, 
 laid the foundation of their eminently ufeful lives. 
 We know that Samuel and David, Jofiah, Jeremi- 
 ah, and Daniel, and many other illuftrious men, 
 whofe lives are recorded by the pen of Infpira- 
 tion, remembered their Creator in the days of 
 their youth, and early devoted their time, their 
 talents, and their influence to the fervice of God. 
 Such has been, and always will be, the efFe6l of 
 true religion, to prepare men for a ufeful life and 
 a happy death. It does, therefore, moft ferioufly 
 concern thofe, who havebeenftandingalltheirdays 
 idle, to begin their firft work, and lay a foundation 
 for ufefulnefs, through the refidue of their days. 
 Whether they are young or old, they have no 
 more time to mifpend. Their paft negligence 
 
fhould awaken and ftimulate them to future ac- 
 tivity and diligence. Let them immediately re^ 
 nounce their fioth and flapidity, and faithfully 
 difcharge every duty, which reiults from every 
 relation, connexion, and ftation, in which they 
 are called to a6l. 
 
 2. It appears from what has been faid, that ufe- 
 fulnefs forms the mod beautiful charafter in the 
 eyes of the world, as well as in the fight of God. 
 Whether men are felfifli or benevolent themfelvesi 
 they love their benefa61ors, and agree in highly 
 efteeming thofc, whom they view as contributing 
 to their happinefs. The world have always uni- 
 ted in their efteem and applaufe of ufeful men* 
 The heathen nations have admired, and often a- 
 dorcd their wife lawgivers, their valiant generals, 
 their benevolent patriots, and all thofe who ren- 
 dered effential fervices to the publick. David^ 
 while he ferved hi« own genexation by the will of 
 God, was greatly admired and applauded. At one 
 time, it was the united voice of the nation, " Saul 
 has (lain his thoufands, and David his ten thouf- 
 ands." At another time, it was the united voice 
 of the army, "Thou art worth ten thoufand of us." 
 The benevolence, beneficence, and ufefulnefs of 
 Job united all hearts and all voices in his favour. 
 « When I went out to the gate through the city^ 
 when 1 prepared my feat in the ftreet, the young 
 men faw me, and hid themfelves: and the aged a- 
 rofe, and ftood up. When the ear heard rae, then 
 it bleffed me 5 and when the eye faw me, it gave 
 witnefs to me: Becaufe I delivered the poor, and 
 the fatherlefs, and him that had none to help him. 
 
The bleffing of him that was ready to peri fii came 
 upon me : and I caufed the widow's heart to fing 
 for joy." Jofeph was eminently ufeful in every 
 private and publick capacity; and his iifefulnefs 
 commanded not only the love and confidence of 
 his mafler, but the efteem and admiration of 
 Pkaraoh and all his kingdom. Many other in- 
 ftances might be mentioned, but thefe fufficiently 
 fhow, that there is nothing which renders men fo 
 juftly and univerfally amiable in the eyes of the 
 \f0rld5 21s a truly benevolent and ufeful life. Nor 
 is it ftrange, that men fhould be more efteemed 
 and applauded for their goodnefs, than their great- 
 nefs. Few are capable of forming a juft eftimate 
 of fuperior abilities ; but all are capable of dif- 
 cefning and admiring fuperior benevolence and 
 ufefulnefs. Befides, there is a natural propenfity 
 in mankind to fink the reputation of ihofe, who 
 ftand above them in knowledge, power, wealth, 
 or influence, unlefs thefe talents are wifely and 
 benevolently employed in doing good. But bad 
 as the world are, they cannot withhold their ap- 
 probation and applaufe from tbofe, who are emi- 
 nently and extenfively ufeful. 
 
 3. This fubjed teaches the goodnefs of God^ 
 in prolonging the lives of his faithful fervants. 
 This life is the moft important period in their 
 cxiftence, as it affords them the largeft field for 
 adivity and ufefulnefs. Here they are workers 
 together with God in carrying into execution his 
 moft gracious and moft important defigns. And 
 
 C 
 
while diey are faithfully performing the duties of 
 their refpeciive ftations, they are laying a founda- 
 tion for a rich and glorious reward in a future 
 ftate. None of their good deeds will be forgotten, 
 but be abundantly reconnpenfed at the refurrec- 
 tion of the juft. It is, therefore, a great privilege 
 to the pious and benevolent, to have the days of 
 their ufefulnefs extended even to old age, which 
 will ferve to increafe their future and eternal 
 weight of glory. Befide^, this is a great benefit to 
 the world, which would be extremely injured, if 
 rioideftroyed. by being deprivedoftheirexertions 
 and example. What would have become of the 
 whole world, if the life of Noah had not been con- 
 tinued to a great age ? What would have become 
 of the Ifraelites in Egypt, and in the wildernefs, 
 had not Mofes lived till he had conduced them t» 
 the borders of Canaan ? What would have been 
 their condition after they reached the prom- 
 ifed land, if David had not ferved his own gener- 
 ation, until he had conquered their enemies, and 
 prepared the way for the peaceful reign of Solo- 
 mon ? W'hat would have been the deplorable fitu- 
 aiion of ihe Jews in Babylon, had not Danielliv- 
 ed to the days of Cyrusy whom he perfuaded to 
 grant them deliverance? And how great a lofs 
 would the whole chriftian world have fuftained5if 
 the apoflle John had not outlived all the other, 
 apoftles, and written the book of Revelation ? The 
 wildom, which uleful men obtain, by long obfer- 
 vation and experience, often enables them to per- 
 form more efleniial fervices in the decline, thaa 
 
in the tnotning, or even meridian. oF life. The 
 gpodn^efs of God, therefore, is to be feen in the 
 prefervation of their lives, which is both a publick 
 ^nd private blcfling, which ,calls for both publick 
 and private .gratitude. 
 
 Thefe obfervaiions naturally ie,ad m to refle8: 
 upon .the divine goodnefsa jn fo long protra^ling 
 tbe lifeandufefttlnCffsofthe.laiehQnoMrable Jabkz 
 Fisher. Though he experienced fonjie of ihofe 
 bodily infirmities, which are incident to old age ; 
 yet he retained fo much of the native vigour of his 
 mind, as to be capable both of enjoying and doing 
 good, to the very clofe of life. He was unqaeft- 
 ionably t.he moft ufeful man amojig us. He be- 
 came, as he ruppOjTed, a fubjefl of fpecial grace, 
 at thecommencement of the great and general revi- 
 val of religion above fixty years ago. Not long after 
 he made a profeflTion of his faith, he was chofen 19 
 the office of Deacon, which he fuftaine.d for more 
 than fifty years, to the honour of rj^ligion, and the 
 prpfperity of the church, fjis fuperior abilities 
 and integrity fopn ^aifecj him ,to publick notice, 
 and he was, with great unanimity, cleBcd to rep- 
 refent the tp^n jn ijie legiflature of the (late, where 
 he continued about tweniy years fucccffively, ei- 
 ther as a member of the houfe, or of the fenate, 
 or of the governour's council. Though he held 
 thefe high ftations in the moll trying times that A- 
 nie^ica ever faw ; yet he never loll the love and 
 confidence of the publick, who continued to ef- 
 tecm and employ him, until he refigned his feat at 
 the council board, for want of health. He was not 
 
only a member of the feveral bodies which have 
 been mentioned, but a very aftive, influential, and 
 ufeful member. His fpeeches were heard with at- 
 tention, and his meafures frequently approved and 
 adopted. He was, indeed, through the whole of 
 his publick life, greatly inftrUmental in promoting 
 the fafety, intereft, and happinefs of the publick. 
 He rofe from ftation to ftation, not by the aid of 
 wealth, nor powerful connexions, but by the mere 
 dint of merit. He poffeffed fuch virtues and ta- 
 lents, as juftly attrafted the publick attention and 
 efteem. 
 
 He manifefted peculiar mildnefs and moderation 
 in all his conduQ. Thefe amiable qualities, for 
 which he was undoubtedly indebted to the combi- 
 ned influence of nature and grace, rendered him 
 highly acceptable to the multitude of his brethren. 
 It was extremely difficult for any to become his 
 perfonal enemies, becaufe his calm and placid be- 
 haviour prevented both prejudice and refentment. 
 And though in times of great irritation and ani- 
 mofity, he could not fail to meet with injiirious 
 treatment ; yet he kept fuch a conftant command 
 over his fpirits, as rarely to difcovcr the leaft ap- 
 pearance of anger, and never, perhaps, to fpeak 
 unadvifedly with his lips. He pofleiTed a large por- 
 tion of the fpirit of Mofes, who was the meekeft 
 man upon the face of the earth. 
 
 His candour was equal to his moderation and 
 mildnefs. He was as ready to hear, as to fpeak ^ 
 as ready to learn, as to teach ; and, whenever he 
 faw reafon for it, as ready to follow, as to lead. I^e. 
 
neither leaned to liis own underftanding. nor pla- 
 ced an innplicit faith in the underftanding of others. 
 He was always open to conviftion, and difpofed 
 to receive information from any who were able to 
 impart it. He availed himfelf of every fource of 
 knowledge and improvement, and made rapid ad- 
 vances in pra8ical wifdom, while engaged in pub- 
 lick bufinefs with men of eminence. He exempli- 
 fied Solomon's obfervaiion, "Give inftruftion to 
 a wife manj and he will be yet wifer : leaph a juft 
 man, and he will increafe in learning." 
 
 He was no lefs judicious than candjd. He bad 
 a clear and quick difcernment^ to diftinguifli truth 
 from error, right from wrong, wifdom from cun- 
 ning, and artifice from fincerity* He feldom form? 
 ed a falfe opinion of either men or things. He wa3 
 a felf-taught politician, who could forefee whaj 
 laws and meafures would have a falutary opera* 
 tion ; and no artful or intriguing men could lead 
 him to aic} or approve meafures which were detrj* 
 mental to the publick weal. Though he never faw 
 reafon to change fides in refpeft tp the fifft princi- 
 ples of government, yet he wpu|d pot allow him* 
 felf to prefer the intereft of a party to the general 
 intereft, which he uniformly fought, and endeav- 
 oured to promote. 
 
 His public fpirit, therefore, formed another 
 amiable trait in his charaQer. Few men poffefled 
 a larger fhare of true patriotifm. He kept his eye 
 and heart fteadily fixed upon the good of the na- 
 tion, and left no means in his power unemployed, 
 to preferve the fafety, and increafe the profperity 
 
of his country. While many were feeking thei^ 
 own emolument, under the pretext of promoting 
 thepublick good, he facrificed his time, his inter*^ 
 eft, and his health, for thp attainment of this noble 
 obje6L 
 
 Governed by this patriotick motive, he difcoy- 
 ered fmgular integrity in difcharging the duties 
 devolved upon him, and fulfilling the trufts repo- 
 fed in him. And for this reafon, he was much 
 employed by the legiflatiire in devifing ways and 
 means of prooioting the publick fafety and inter- 
 ^eft, and ip tranfafting bufinefs, which required 
 the moll unlimited confidence, 
 
 Thj?, and all his other yinues were rendered 
 more eminent and valuable, by being united with 
 uncommon firmnefs and perfeverance. Nothing 
 could fliake bin) from his well-founded opinions, 
 nor deter him from profecuting his well-concerted 
 meafures. He was never afraid, nor afhamed to 
 do right, and promote a caufe of juftice and gen- 
 eral utility. His patriptifm was the ffuit pf bene- 
 volence, his zeal the efFe6l of j^nowledge, and his 
 refolutions the refult of cool deliberation ; and, of 
 confequence, \vheneve|- he undertook any matter 
 of importance, he furmounted every obftacle, and 
 fteadily perfevered in his courfe, until he obtain- 
 ed his ultimate objeft. By a long and faithful im- 
 provement of thefe peculiar virtues and talents, 
 he eminently ferved his own generation by the 
 will of God, and became not only an ornament to 
 religion and virtue, but a rich bleffing to his town 
 and countrv- 
 
But he hasfinilii. ^ -^^' 
 
 fallen afleep in Chrift. Wc mill no long 
 the benefit of his living example and gui 
 fluence. We have abundant reafon to cry. 
 Lord, for the godly man ceafeth, and the 
 fail from among the children of men." T 
 of the faithful fcrvants of God is full of in 
 at all times, and efpecially in this day of 
 and doubtful expedation. The late inO 
 mortality teaches thofe, who are in places ot ^ 
 er, to employ their bed exertions in favour of tl 
 finking caufe of religion and government; an 
 by a faithful difcharge of every duty, prepare foi . . 
 the day of their deceafe and folemn appearance 
 before the fupreme tribanal. It teaches chrif- 
 tians, whofe hands are weakened and whofe bur- 
 dens are increafed, to redouble their diligence 
 and fidelity in promoting the kingdom and intereft 
 of their divine Redeemer. It teaches the aged, 
 to^ive up all their worldly hopes and profpeftj^ 
 and prepare, as faft as poffible, for a peaceful 
 death, a.nd a bleffed immortality beyond the grave. 
 But the furviving Children are bound, by the 
 ftrongeft ties of nature and gratitude, to lay the 
 death of their venerable Father to heart, and learn 
 their indifpenfible duty from it. They have feen 
 his long and ufeful life, clofe in a calm and peace- 
 ful death. They have been taught, by example, 
 which fpeaks louder than words, how to live and 
 how to die. They are under peculiar obligations 
 to devote their time and talents to the glory of 
 God, and to live a holy and nfcfitl life. May 
 
^1 their father, 
 
 him vv.. wi heart and with a 
 
 ind. For the Lord fearcheth all hearts, 
 
 s.ftandeth all the imaginations of the 
 
 If they feek him, he will be found of 
 
 if they forfake him, he will cad them 
 
 THE END. 
 
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