• 
 
 fO/ OA 
 
 THE CHARACTER AND BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO DIE 
 
 IN THE LORD; 
 
 TWO SERMONS 
 
 PREACHED IN 
 
 LADY GLENORCHY’S CHAPEL, EDINBURGH, 
 
 ON THE FORENOON AND AFTERNOON OF SABBATH, 
 
 MARCH 19, 1837, 
 
 AFTER THE INTERMENT OF THE FATE 
 
 THOMAS SNELL JONES, D. D, 
 
 MINISTER OF SAID CHAPEL. 
 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. JOHN HUNTER, 
 
 ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF TRON CHURCH, EDINBURGH. 
 
 AND 
 
 ANGUS MAKELLAR, D.D. 
 
 MINISTER OF PENCAITLAND. 
 
 PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TRUSTEES AND SESSION OF THE CHAPEL. 
 
 EDINBURGH : 
 
 WILLIAM WHYTE AND COMPANY, 
 
 BOOKSELLERS TO HER MAJESTY ; 
 
 W.COLLINS, GLASGOW; J.DEWAR, PERTH; HAMILTON, ADAMS & CO- 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 MDCCCXXXVIJ. 
 
EDINBURGH: 
 
 Printed by Balfour & Jack, Niddry Street. 
 
SERMON. 
 
 Revelation xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying 
 unto me, Write , Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord 
 from henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
 from their labours; and their works do follow them.” 
 
 The book of Revelation presents us with a mystic 
 painting of the faith, the zeal, the persecutions, and 
 the ultimate triumph of the church of God over all 
 her enemies. It embraces a wide range both of time 
 and of events ; extending its history to countries far 
 removed from each other; and reaching from an early 
 period of the Christian era, till the final consumma¬ 
 tion of all things. In the chapter preceding my text, 
 we have an awful yet impressive description of the 
 blasphemy and wickedness of the Romish Church; and 
 of the fearful doom which Heaven in wisdom, in jus¬ 
 tice, and even in mercy, will ere long inflict upon her. 
 But before the sentence of her condemnation is exe¬ 
 cuted, and the cry uttered, “ Babylon, that great city, 
 is fallen, is fallenwe find her employed in perse¬ 
 cuting even unto death, the devoted and intrepid 
 followers of the Lamb of God. While their faith 
 and patience are extolled by the Divine Spirit, and 
 held forth, as patterns to believers in every succeed- 
 
4 
 
 ing age, and pledges of the ultimate triumph of 
 Divine truth; yet such was the misery which they 
 endured, that the language of Solomon might well be 
 applied to their condition, “ that better are the dead 
 that are already dead, than the living that are yet 
 alive.” The one moved in a scene of usefulness and 
 activity, but of deep anxiety and heart-rending sor¬ 
 row ; the other 44 rested from their labours, were fol- 
 44 lowed by their works,” and admitted into the im¬ 
 mediate presence of their Lord and Saviour. 
 
 It is interesting and instructive at all times to 
 reflect, while the wise and good are removed from 
 the midst of us, and while we mourn their loss, 
 not only on our own account, but also for the sake 
 of the church of the living God,—that they are taken 
 from evil to come; and having remained steadfast in 
 the path of duty, and zealous in promoting the inter¬ 
 ests of their Redeemer’s kingdom, now wear the 
 palm of victory, and are adorned with that crown of 
 glory that fadeth not away. I trust, my brethren, 
 it will prove no uninteresting nor unprofitable sub¬ 
 ject of meditation, to direct your attention, in the 
 first place, 
 
 1st, To the meaning of the expression employed in 
 my text, 44 to die in the Lord.” 
 
 2dly, And secondly, to the happiness reserved for 
 those whose life is closed in so desirable a condition : 
 44 They rest from their labours, and their works do 
 follow them.” 
 
 I. In the first place , 4 to die in the Lord,’ is to die 
 in the exercise of a firm and lively faith in Jesus 
 Christ. Faith in Christ stimulated the Apostles and 
 
5 
 
 martyrs in their labours of holy zeal to extend the 
 triumphs of the Redeemer’s kingdom from pole to 
 pole; and taught them “ not to consider their own 
 lives dear to themselves, that so they might finish their 
 course with joy, and the ministry which they had re¬ 
 ceived of the Lord to testify the gospel of the grace 
 of God.” It was this which enabled them, in a dark 
 and dreary dungeon, to sing the songs of Zion, and 
 to pour forth the accents of thankfulness and joy: 
 It was this which rendered them firm and undaunt¬ 
 ed when doomed to endure the most excruciating 
 tortures which malice could invent, or cruelty inflict: 
 And it was this which inspired them with a holy 
 calm when death was presented before them in its 
 most appalling forms. They looked to Jesus, not 
 merely as the Deliverer of mankind in general, but 
 as the Redeemer upon whom their own sins were laid, 
 and who had borne them for ever away. They had 
 washed in the fountain of his blood; they were clothed 
 in the spotless garment of his righteousness; they 
 received from his hand new supplies of wisdom, 
 grace and strength ; He was all their salvation and 
 all their desire. Theirs was not that cold and in¬ 
 operative faith which is merely the result of the pre¬ 
 judices of education, unattended with serious enquiry 
 and deliberate investigation. It was not a mere de¬ 
 fence of the outworks of Christianity while the 
 citadel itself was neglected or betrayed—a partial 
 admission of the doctrines of the Gospel, while those 
 great and leading peculiarities which distinguish it 
 from every other system of morals, were either cast 
 into the shade, or utterly denied. No; it was 
 a faith large and comprehensive, which receiv- 
 
0 
 
 ed Christ in all his characters and offices ; and 
 rested upon him alone as he is freely offered to us in 
 the Gospel. This is the faith, not of the apostles and 
 martyrs alone , but of all who are brought into a 
 state of union with the great Redeemer of a fallen 
 world. Of every good man it may be said, that he 
 realizes to his mind things invisible ; and that “ he 
 walks by faith, and not by sight.” 
 
 As the lamp of life begins to burn dark and dim, 
 the Sun of Righteousness shines with a brighter 
 effulgence upon his soul; and the doctrines of the 
 gospel present themselves before him with increased 
 vividness and power. Often he is permitted to bear 
 his dying testimony to the truth and excellence of 
 that religion which has been the joy of his heart, 
 and the guide of his life. And even were this not 
 the case, the hallowed influence which it communi¬ 
 cates to his temper, dispositions, and habits, affords 
 to all a confirmation of its divine efficacy, and a 
 memorial the most solemn and impressive that he 
 who lived, has also died, in the faith of the Gospel. 
 
 2d , And this leads me to observe in the second 
 place, that to die in the Lord, is to die in a state of 
 conformity to the character and image of the bless¬ 
 ed Jesus. This is the invariable result of faith in 
 Christ. We may indeed acquire a knowledge of divine 
 truth, while faith has never been ingrafted into our 
 hearts. We may receive a part of the gospel message, 
 and yet the corruption which cleaves to our nature 
 may in a great measure remain unsubdued; for it is the 
 entire submission of the understanding and heart to 
 the will of God which alone is able to renovate the 
 character of man. The measure and degree of our 
 
7 
 
 faith also has a powerful influence upon the extent of 
 our attainments in the divine life. But nothing can 
 be of higher importance than always to bear in mind, 
 that the faith which justifies, is a faith which also 
 sanctifies ; and that every doctrine which is revealed 
 by the great Redeemer, is calculated to elevate the 
 believer not only in the scale of intellectual but also 
 of moral existence. Obedience is the touch-stone of 
 Christian sincerity; the only unequivocal evidence 
 of the reality of our faith.—Before we can die in the 
 Lord, our souls must have been weaned from the 
 love and dominion of sin; Jehovah must reign un¬ 
 rivalled in our hearts; his law must be our delight; 
 evil thoughts must be repelled; temptations resisted; 
 besetting sins mortified; criminal appetites and pas¬ 
 sions subdued; Christian graces and virtues cultivat¬ 
 ed ; and our lives dedicated to the high and holy ends 
 for which existence was bestowed. The bodily powers 
 of a good man may lose their wonted vigour; his in¬ 
 tellectual faculties may gradually decay; but, as his 
 mortal pilgrimage hastens to a close, he increases in 
 humility, in meekness, in submission, in dependence 
 on the power and grace of his Saviour and Sanctifi¬ 
 er, and in that spiritual mindedness which seems al¬ 
 ready to have associated him with the inhabitants of 
 the celestial world into which he is soon to enter. 
 How strikingly was this manifested in the lives of the 
 primitive followers of Jesus. While our Lord taber¬ 
 nacled upon earth, many instances of weakness, pre¬ 
 judice and, error are presented to our view in the 
 character of his apostles. After his ascension to hea¬ 
 ven, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 
 day of Pentecost, we are lost in admiration of the 
 
8 
 
 personal virtues they exhibit; of their unwearied la¬ 
 bours in the cause of truth and righteousness, their 
 heroic intrepidity of mind, and their patient endur¬ 
 ance of suffering and death for the sake of the Mas¬ 
 ter whom they served. And have not some of us 
 been privileged to behold the gradual progress of the 
 saint, as he advances in life, in the ways of godliness. 
 His language may have lost a portion of its wonted 
 liveliness and animation, and his feelings may in some 
 degree be blunted by age ; but every attentive ob¬ 
 server may perceive that his heart is becoming more 
 and more weaned from earth ; his soul ascending to 
 his God; and his character governed by principles and 
 views which extend to the mighty regions of eternity. 
 And this reminds us in the 
 
 Third place, That to die in the Lord is to die in 
 the hope of the gospel. Hope is one of the most 
 powerful springs of human action; the enlivener of 
 our joys, the soother of our woes. It is a striking 
 picture which St. Paul gives us of the condition of 
 an unregenerated man, that he is not only “ without 
 God,” but also “ without hope in the world.” He is 
 not indeed entirely divested of hope, but it reaches 
 not beyond the present state of things. It is centred 
 in some earthly good which he wishes to attain; 
 but it shrinks from the thought of a future state of 
 being. It may ardently desire to be exempted from 
 the misery of hell; but it has no appetency for the 
 purity and bliss of heaven. His tastes and desires 
 are of an infinitely lower grade. They belong to 
 the nature of the worm that grovels in the dust, 
 and not to that of the seraph who delights to encircle 
 the throne of the Most High, and to serve him 
 
0 
 
 day and night in his holy temple. No sooner is the 
 life of God infused into the soul of man than he feels 
 that the husks of created enjoyment can never satis¬ 
 fy the boundless wishes of a heaven-born and immor¬ 
 tal mind. He may at times cleave with too eager a 
 grasp to earth, and may deeply feel his need of the 
 quickening influence of the Holy Spirit to purify and 
 elevate his affections. But grace descends from 
 above. It subordinates the influence of sense, to 
 the power of faith; it draws forth the affections of 
 the soul to its God and Redeemer; and enables the 
 believer while he lives in this world to live above it, 
 and to look beyond it. And when the pins of the 
 tabernacle begin to loosen, when the strength is 
 weakened, when the mental powers decay, and earth¬ 
 ly desire has almost failed, the dying saint antici¬ 
 pates with unmingled delight his admission to the 
 joys of immortality, his entrance into his Father’s 
 house, and the happiness which awaits him when 
 “ Time itself shall be no longer.” 
 
 II. A voice from heaven has declared, and it is con¬ 
 firmed by the testimony of the blessed Spirit, that 
 “ he shall rest from his labours, and his works shall 
 “ follow him.” It has generally been supposed by 
 Commentators on the Holy Scriptures, that the 
 words of my text have a special reference to those 
 pious and holy men who, at the period of the Re¬ 
 formation, vindicated the purity and simplicity of the 
 Christian Faith from the false doctrines and heresies 
 of the Romish church. They were deeply imbued 
 with the mind that was in Christ. They had learn¬ 
 ed implicitly to believe and cordially to receive those 
 
10 
 
 doctrines which humble the pride of man, while 
 they exalt the grace of God. The impiety, the 
 pomp, the worldly mindedness with which they were 
 surrounded, filled their souls with holy indignation. 
 The word of truth had literally become a sealed 
 book ; a weak and erring mortal arrogated to him¬ 
 self the power which pertains to the Omnipotent 
 alone ; relics, and prayers to saints were substituted 
 for the atoning blood of Jesus, and the regenerating 
 influence of the Holy Ghost; and the most superstitious 
 observances had usurped the place of that inward 
 piety, which has its seat in the heart, and which regu¬ 
 lates and governs the varied actions of the life. No 
 privation seemed too great, no exertion too arduous, 
 no sufferings too severe, to rescue their fellow crea¬ 
 tures from an ignorance so degrading,—a tyranny 
 so debasing,—a danger so vast and imminent to their 
 highest, their eternal interest. I will not attempt 
 to give you the faintest outline of the unwearied 
 labours and the incessant hardships and persecutions 
 which marked the lives of the reformers of our faith. 
 They dreaded not to appear in the presence of 
 princes and nobles, to bear their testimony to the 
 truth as it is in Jesus. They shrunk not from the 
 torture or the scaffold; and they feared not to have 
 their limbs torn to pieces by the wild beasts of 
 the forest. But still they were not divested of the 
 feelings that pertain to the nature of man. Pain, 
 and degradation, and death, in themselves, presented 
 no charms to them more than to other men,—they 
 were as abhorrent to their bodily and mental con¬ 
 stitution ; but they knew that they suffered in the 
 best of causes. They anticipated the time when 
 
11 
 
 “ they should rest from their labours.” In that world 
 into which they were soon to enter, the voice of the 
 oppressor is never heard, the sword of the tyrant 
 has lost its power, and persecution is unknown. The 
 blood of the martyred saint may indeed cry for ven¬ 
 geance, but his soul reposes in peace and safety. 
 It finds rest, pure and complete, in the love and en¬ 
 joyment of its God. 
 
 The Christian is exposed to harassing cares, 
 and frequent anxiety and distress, in the course of 
 his journey through the wilderness of life. I speak 
 not now of the thorn and the thistle which grow 
 up on every hand; of the sweat of his brow with 
 which he is often called to earn his bread; of 
 the hardships of poverty; of the agonies of pain; of 
 the disappointment that springs from unrequited 
 affection, and the heart-rending sorrows which arise 
 from the disruption of the purest and tenderest ties 
 which bind us to earth. Every human being exper¬ 
 iences a desire to be released from these calamities; 
 and the whole rational creation may be represented 
 as groaning under them, and ardently longing for 
 deliverance from their baneful influence. 
 
 But there are labours which peculiarly belong to 
 redeemed and sanctified man; and from which he is 
 at times rewarded with no ordinary portion of plea¬ 
 sure. Yet even these works of faith and love are 
 not always crowned with success—they often prove 
 abortive. And the higher the measure of zeal which 
 has been called into exercise, the greater is the dis¬ 
 appointment which must arise from failure. The libe¬ 
 ral mind of the follower of Jesus may form the scheme 
 of beneficence, but it is perhaps thwarted by the sel- 
 
12 
 
 fishness of those with whom he is associated; or their 
 envy and jealousy prevent them from that hearty co¬ 
 operation without which it cannot be carried into 
 execution. He may long to feed the hungry, to 
 clothe the naked, and to provide a home for the chil¬ 
 dren of destitution ; but he possesses not the means 
 of gratifying the ardent wishes of his heart, and he 
 is destined to mourn over a misery which he is utter¬ 
 ly unable to relieve. He strives with unwearied 
 earnestness to awaken the hardened sinner to a 
 sense of his guilt and wretchedness, to reclaim the 
 backslider, to guide the young into the paths of 
 peace, to repress the torrent of abounding iniquity, 
 and to spread far and wide the glories of the Re¬ 
 deemer’s name ; but he is soon taught by dire exper¬ 
 ience that the heart of man is harder than the ada¬ 
 mant, and often remains utterly inaccessible to the 
 force of argument or the power of persuasion—and 
 even when he trusts that he has been the humble 
 yet willing instrument of leading a fellow-creature 
 to his God, his hopes are frequently frustrated, and 
 he sees him returning again with increased avidity 
 to the ways of sin. The command of God, the love 
 of Christ, and the hope (faint though it be) of use¬ 
 fulness and success, enable him to persevere in Chris¬ 
 tian fidelity and active exertion; yet he is sometimes 
 ready to say, “ I have laboured in vain, and spent 
 my strength for nought“ rivers of waters run 
 down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” 
 But the labours and woes of earth will render the 
 rest of heaven more glorious and happy. Labour 
 indeed shall still form the employment of glorified 
 man, but it is the labour which is far from the 
 
13 
 
 weakness and exhaustion of a debilitated frame, and 
 from the sorrows of a mind harassed by doubts with 
 regard to the path of duty, experiencing a sense of 
 difficulty, a dread of danger, and that disappoint¬ 
 ment which attends the failure of its purest pur¬ 
 poses and best laid schemes. The saint rests from 
 every temptation, is freed from every calamity, and 
 is put in possession of the highest good of which his 
 nature is susceptible. 
 
 It is added, “ His works do follow him.” No indi¬ 
 vidual who is acquainted with the gospel scheme of 
 salvation, can for a moment suppose that human 
 sufferings can atone for the guilt of man, or human 
 virtues obtain for him a title to an immortal life. 
 Salvation is entirely of free grace, and all the re¬ 
 deemed are represented as casting their crowns be¬ 
 fore the throne of God and the Lamb; and with one 
 heart and one voice throughout eternity they exclaim, 
 “ Not unto us, not unto us, 0 Lord, but unto thy 
 “ name be all the glory.” “Worthy is the Lamb that 
 “ was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, 
 “ and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” 
 Still, however, every good man receives his reward 
 in the heavenly world ;—and it is in some measure 
 proportioned to the purity of his obedience, and 
 the extent of his virtues. “ For whatsoever a man 
 soweth that shall he also reap.” I will not at¬ 
 tempt to speak of the triumphant entrance of the 
 humble, the despised, the persecuted martyr into 
 the mansions of light and love; of the blessed 
 meed of praise which he receives from his righte¬ 
 ous Judge ; and of the glory and splendour of that 
 crown which he wears through everlasting ages. 
 
But when we carry our views forward to eternity, we 
 are not to look to those alone who have bled and died 
 for the sake of Jesus. Such proofs of Christian heroism 
 can comparatively seldom be exhibited; and the 
 spirit of the martyr may dwell in the breast of him 
 whose piety was utterly unknown beyond the little 
 circle in which he was called to move. The 
 Father of all heard his sigh of penitence over the 
 sins of his heart, and the transgressions of his life ; 
 marked his confiding faith in his Redeemer, and 
 his humble yet entire dependence upon his pro¬ 
 mised grace; viewed the secret desire which he 
 cherished for the good of others, while he was yet 
 unable to mitigate their sorrows, or to increase their 
 joys; followed him into the domestic circle, and 
 beheld him conducting his children by the influence 
 of authority, persuasion, example and prayer, into 
 the paths of purity and peace; and traced the pow¬ 
 er of godliness pervading his sentiments, his feelings, 
 and his actions, amid the varied scenes of common 
 life. We are expressly assured in the sacred vo¬ 
 lume “that God is not unfaithful to forget his people’s 
 works and labours of loveand “ that not a cup of 
 cold water given to a disciple in the name of a dis¬ 
 ciple shall lose its reward.” Every act of Christian 
 piety and beneficence is pleasing to God; for it is 
 performed in obedience to his authority; it springs 
 from faith in his Son, it is generated by the grace of 
 his Spirit, it constitutes the true dignity of man, and is 
 the fulfilment of the great ends for which his being 
 was bestowed. But the declaration, that the works of 
 him who dies in the Lord shall follow him, has a mean¬ 
 ing still more significant and important. Ignorant 
 
15 
 
 mortals are apt to think and speak of holiness as the 
 mere pathway which conducts to happiness. It is infi¬ 
 nitely more than this; it is happiness—it is heaven it¬ 
 self. It is the mind which constitutes the weal or 
 the woe of man, and although no individual in this 
 world can be divested of a regard to external objects ; 
 or dead to the joys or the sorrows that pertain to 
 humanity, yet the higher he rises in the scale of 
 excellence, his soul becomes more weaned from earth, 
 and he carries within himself the seeds of his enjoy¬ 
 ments, the sources of his bliss—a peace which this 
 world can neither give nor take away. It is true, 
 my brethren, that there are graces and virtues in 
 the Christian that are connected with the state 
 of trial and discipline in which he is now placed; 
 and which cannot be called into active exertion 
 in the more exalted region to which he shall here¬ 
 after be translated. But they may have proved the 
 instruments of forming in him that character of mind 
 without which the joys of heaven would be unrelish¬ 
 ed and untasted. And many of the highest and 
 noblest dispositions and feelings of the saint, which 
 he delighted to cultivate when he dwelt in this land 
 of shadows, will not be brought to their full perfec¬ 
 tion and fruition till he shall have passed the stor¬ 
 my billows of Jordan, be admitted into the presence 
 of his God, and be united “ to the spirits of the just 
 made perfect.” Reverence, humility, trust, thankful¬ 
 ness, submission, and obedience, are the very elements 
 in which the glorified saint “ lives and moves and has 
 “ his being.” Revelations of wisdom may be unfolded 
 to his mind, and objects of beauty disclosed to his 
 eye, but all lead the soul directly and immediately 
 
to its God, and promote a nearer and nearer resem¬ 
 blance to his moral image. 
 
 The spirit of man is not a material substance which 
 decays and perishes with his frail body, and does not 
 again revive to life and joy till the period of the 
 general resurrection. No; the voice from hea¬ 
 ven has declared, and the Holy Ghost has testified 
 to the truth, “ that those who die in the Lord shall 
 44 from henceforth rest from their labours, and 
 44 their works do follow them.” 
 
 The text may well be considered as the Epitaph 
 of the saints; and it comes home with a peculiar 
 interest and power to the heart of every one of us 
 at the present moment. A few days have hardly 
 passed away, since the lifeless remains of the man of 
 God whom we revered and loved, have been consign¬ 
 ed to the cold and dreary mansions of the dead; and 
 his place in the domestic circle, in the sanctuary, 
 and at the table of communion, now knows him no 
 more for ever. But 44 while we mourn, we mourn 
 44 not as those who have no hope,” for it is our joy 
 to know, that as he lived, so 44 he also died in the 
 44 Lord; and now rests from his labours, and his 
 44 works do follow him.” 
 
 44 To remember them that have had the rule over 
 44 us,” is a precept of Divine Revelation suited to the 
 feelings of our nature, and admirably adapted to pro¬ 
 duce the most beneficial influence upon our hearts 
 and lives.—I feel my own inadequacy to the painful 
 yet interesting task which has this day been assign¬ 
 ed to me, and I am fully aware that faint and im- 
 
17 
 
 perfect is the outline which I am able to present to 
 you of the character of this distinguished master in 
 Israel. Shall I recall to your recollection his pow¬ 
 erful and comprehensive intellect, which hardly al¬ 
 lowed any object, event, or scene, to pass unnoticed 
 or unheeded ; which grasped at once the most occult 
 secrets of nature, the minutest details of history; 
 and the most common incidents of ordinary life— 
 which shrunk from no investigation however diffi¬ 
 cult or abstruse, that seemed adapted to exercise 
 or expand the faculties of man, to increase the 
 range of his information, or to enlarge his concep¬ 
 tions of the glory of the Creator and of the mag¬ 
 nitude and excellence of His works—while at the 
 same time he deemed no subject too trifling or 
 insignificant to engage his attention; which was cal¬ 
 culated even in the slightest degree to mitigate or 
 relieve the ills of life, to add to the comfort of the 
 domestic circle, or to augment the sum of human 
 virtue, or the measure of human bliss ? Shall I re¬ 
 mind you of that retentive memory; which formed 
 the rich and ample storehouse, in which he was ac¬ 
 customed to treasure up all that he had thought and 
 // read and heard ?—of that lively and cultivated imagi¬ 
 
 nation which furnished the brightest images and the 
 most appropriate and pleasing illustrations of religious 
 and moral truth, from every department of nature, 
 science and art ?—and of that sound, prompt and 
 discriminating judgment which seemed never to for¬ 
 sake him ; and which he even carried into the forma¬ 
 tion of his opinions, and the direction of his conduct 
 in circumstances the most trying and difficult ? Shall 
 I speak of the acuteness, the ingenuity, the force 
 
 n 
 
18 
 
 of his reasoning; the skill with which he detected and 
 exposed the arts of the sophist, and established sound 
 principle on a firm, sure and solid foundation ?—Or 
 in fine, shall I dwell on that concentration of thought, 
 and that enthusiasm of feeling which led him to cast 
 his whole soul into every pursuit in which he engaged, 
 and whatsoever he did, “ to do it with all his might ?” 
 
 Few men had studied more accurately the varied 
 and complicated workings of the human heart; were 
 better able to discern the secret springs of action, 
 or were possessed of a more quick and almost intui¬ 
 tive perception of the excellencies or defects of cha¬ 
 racter of those who moved in public life, or with 
 whom he was called to associate in the ordinary in¬ 
 tercourse of society. 
 
 His own mind was of a high and independent cast. 
 He trampled not indeed on those venerable institu¬ 
 tions in Church and State which have been form¬ 
 ed, and matured, by the wisdom or the piety of 
 byegone ages. He rejected no opinion or practice 
 merely because it was old; nor refused its adoption 
 only on account of its discovery having been reserv¬ 
 ed for modern times ; but he carefully examined in¬ 
 to its intrinsic merits, and thought, judged, and acted 
 for himself. And his decisions were very generally 
 guided by enlightened and practical views of human 
 life. It might indeed at times be his lot to differ in 
 sentiment from those whom he most esteemed and 
 loved ; but he firmly and conscientiously pursued the 
 line of conduct which he deemed to be right; alike 
 unmoved by the love of popularity, or the dread 
 of censure; or what to a mind constituted like his 
 was a far more seductive temptation, the influence 
 
10 
 
 of private friendship and affection. To know, to 
 love and to follow truth he considered the highest 
 dignity of our rational and moral nature. Every 
 approach to deceit or falsehood was viewed by him with 
 utter abhorrence. His eye flashed with indignation, 
 when he was told of ought that was mean, disingen¬ 
 uous or base, and his reprobation was often express¬ 
 ed in language of keen and unmeasured severity; 
 nor had he the slightest sympathy, nor even almost 
 any toleration for those who sought to promote the 
 cause of God and righteousness by crooked policy, 
 or by measures of a doubtful or ambiguous character. 
 While his temper was naturally quick and irascible, 
 he possessed a large share of those kind affections 
 which so powerfully contribute to promote the hap¬ 
 piness of social and domestic life. He was an affec¬ 
 tionate husband, a kind father, an indulgent master, 
 a patriotic citizen. His attachments were ardent 
 and steady. The society and conversation of his 
 friends formed one of the highest sources of his de¬ 
 light. With feelings of the liveliest interest he en¬ 
 tered into all their varied circumstances ; rejoiced in 
 their every joy; sympathised in their every sor¬ 
 row; and grudged neither time, nor thought, nor 
 labour, nor money to advance their interest or to 
 promote their welfare. The children of those who 
 had been the companions of his youth, or the friends 
 of his riper years, were ever dear to his heart. He 
 seemed to transfer to them the love which he once 
 delighted to cherish towards their parents. For my¬ 
 self I may be permitted to say, that during a long- 
 course of years I uniformly received from him all the 
 kindness of a second father; and the hours which I 
 
20 
 
 have spent in his company, I shall ever deem among 
 the happiest of my life. 
 
 While in general society he was often reserved and 
 silent; in his confidential intercourse with his friends 
 there was an acuteness of observation, an accurate 
 knowledge of the world, a variety of curious, minute, 
 and important information upon almost every subject 
 that could be suggested; a brilliancy of wit, and a 
 kindliness of feeling, which rendered his conversa¬ 
 tion peculiarly attractive and delightful. 
 
 But while we this day recal with no common 
 interest the high mental and moral qualities with 
 which your pastor was endowed, we are never for 
 a moment to forget—that sincere, unaffected and 
 genuine godliness, was the principle which guided 
 his opinions, and regulated and controlled his feel¬ 
 ings and conduct, in every relation and condi¬ 
 tion of human life. It was this which curbed the 
 power of indwelling corruption; and gave an as¬ 
 cendency to grace over the weaknesses, infirmi¬ 
 ties and errors which cleave to fallen nature ; 
 which purified, refined and elevated his virtues; 
 conferred dignity and consistency on his charac¬ 
 ter; animated and encouraged him in his labours 
 of Christian usefulness, and enabled him to be¬ 
 come “ an example to the believers, in word, in con¬ 
 versation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity 
 Whilst the superiority of his talents, and the peculiar 
 energy of his mind, might have opened to him a 
 path which conducts to worldly wealth and hon¬ 
 our ; he early dedicated his life to the service of his 
 Redeemer in the work of the holy ministry; and to 
 
21 
 
 his latest hour he never repented of the choice he 
 had made. 
 
 A native of England, but descended from parents who 
 were not in communion with the Episcopal Church ; 
 he prosecuted his philosophical and theological edu¬ 
 cation at a dissenting academy at Brecknock in Wales, 
 which was then held in considerable reputation, and 
 where he was associated with many individuals who 
 afterwards became useful and successful ministers of 
 Christ. One only of their number remains to lament 
 the loss of an early and attached friend, and to cherish 
 the hope of meeting him again in that world where sor¬ 
 row, and sin, and separation, and death are unknown.* 
 His preparatory studies at the academy were hardly 
 closed before he was called upon to assist Mr. Kins¬ 
 man, an aged and exemplary clergyman at Plymouth. 
 Here he remained only about two years; but during 
 the course of that short time, he earned for himself 
 a high and deserved reputation. His preaching was 
 acceptable to all classes of his hearers, and we have 
 reason to believe, was accompanied with the out¬ 
 pouring of the Spirit of God, and crowned with sig¬ 
 nal success. At this period he became acquainted 
 with the amiable and distinguished Foundress of the 
 Chapel where we now worship, whose name well de¬ 
 serves to be had “ in everlasting remembrance,” for 
 the sincere piety, unaffected humility, and genuine 
 excellence of her character,—for the works of faith 
 
 * The Rev. John Clayton, Sen. formerly minister, for a period 
 of nearly fifty years, of an Independent Chapel in the city of 
 London, whose piety, talent, and truly catholic spirit, has long 
 secured him a high place in the esteem and regard of the Chris¬ 
 tian public. 
 
22 
 
 and deeds of love which she performed during the 
 course of her life, and for the provision she made to 
 advance the cause of Christ, both in her native country 
 and in England, after she had ceased from her labours 
 and entered into her rest. Lady Glenorchy quickly 
 and duly appreciated the value of the talents and 
 virtues which even then adorned the character of 
 our departed friend,—consulted him with regard to 
 the various interests and concerns of herChapel; and 
 after having, for a short time, obtained the advantage 
 of his instructions to the congregation who regularly 
 assembled in this place, she earnestly entreated him 
 to become their stated pastor. In accepting her of¬ 
 fer, we cannot doubt that he was actuated by the 
 purest and most conscientious motives. Although 
 in a great measure a stranger to Scotland, and little 
 acquainted with the Scottish Church, he most cheer¬ 
 fully and conscientiously subscribed her standards, 
 firmly believing the doctrines they contained, and 
 thoroughly persuaded of the excellence of the Pres¬ 
 byterian form of church government, when faithfully 
 and impartially administered. Before finally quitting 
 England he received ordination from the Scotch 
 Presbytery in London. His settlement, as minister 
 of this church, took place July 25th 1779. Nothing 
 could be more gratifying to his feelings, or afford to 
 him more encouraging prospects of usefulness, than 
 the cordiality and affection with which he was wel¬ 
 comed by all his future hearers. 
 
 On the morning of the day in which he entered 
 upon his ministrations, he was introduced to his flock 
 by the Rev. Robert Walker of the High Church, one 
 of the brightest ornaments of our Zion, and whose fa- 
 
23 
 
 vourable opinion of a minister of the gospel was calcu¬ 
 lated to produce a powerful impression upon the mind 
 of the Christian public. In the afternoon he com¬ 
 menced his instructions to those, “ over whose souls 
 he was appointed to watch as one who must give 
 an account,” by addressing them on this most suita¬ 
 ble and appropriate text of Scripture, “ I beseech you 
 “ brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for 
 “ the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me 
 “ in your prayers to God for me.” Sensible of his own 
 weakness, he looked for strength from the only 
 source whence it could come. Convinced of the 
 inefficacy of human exertion without Divine aid, he 
 sought, by his own prayers united to those of his 
 people, to obtain rich and abundant communications 
 of the enlightening, regenerating, and sanctifying 
 influence of the Holy Ghost. His labours were com¬ 
 menced with a firm and determined resolution to de¬ 
 clare the whole counsel of God, rightly to divide the 
 word of life, and to be instant in season and out of 
 season in his Master’s work. It was no meagre and 
 undigested system of theology which he designed to 
 illustrate and enforce, but the faith of prophets and 
 apostles, of martyrs and confessors, of the wisest and 
 the best of the saints on earth, and of the mighty 
 company of the redeemed, who have washed their 
 robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
 In the most striking and impressive manner he un¬ 
 veiled the character of J ehovah, as it is manifested in 
 the face of his only begotten and well-beloved Son 
 —the spirituality and extent of the Divine law— 
 the deep and innate depravity of man—his utter 
 helplessness and inability to deliver himself from the 
 
24 
 
 effects of transgression—the wisdom and efficacy 
 of the incarnation, atonement, and intercession of 
 Christ—the necessity of justification by faith, and 
 of an entire change of heart and life—the resurrec¬ 
 tion of the bodies of believers and unbelievers— 
 the eternal happiness of the one, and the everlast¬ 
 ing misery of the other. These truths he employed 
 to arouse the unregenerate to a sense of their guilt 
 and danger, to guide those who had begun to in¬ 
 quire into the way of righteousness; to calm the 
 fears of the penitent and contrite heart; to soothe 
 the sorrows of the mourner; and to encourage and 
 support the saint in his onward course to the hea¬ 
 venly Canaan. But while he faithfully inculcated 
 the doctrine of the cross as the alone ground of a 
 sinner’s hope before God, and the only foundation 
 on which the superstructure of virtue can be reared; 
 he carefully and minutely discussed every part and 
 portion of human duty;—not satisfied with the mere 
 inculcation of holiness in general, but applying its 
 specific obligations to every man’s conscience in the 
 sight of God ; and urging his hearers to the exercise 
 of Christian fidelity, both “ in that which is much, 
 “ and in that which is little.” While many of his in¬ 
 terpretations and illustrations of passages of Scrip¬ 
 ture were highly ingenious and original, he uniform¬ 
 ly rejected with abhorrence the heresies of former 
 ages, or the crude and dangerous novelties in reli¬ 
 gion which have been prevalent in modern times. 
 During the course of his lengthened ministration in 
 this congregation, he delivered expository discourses 
 on nearly every portion of the inspired volume. He 
 served not God with that which cost him nothing; 
 
nor did he consider himself entitled to give to his 
 people those interpretations of the sacred text which 
 happened to suggest themselves to his mind at the 
 very moment when they were uttered. He had 
 learned to consider that a far higher degree of re¬ 
 verence was due to the inspired oracles, and a 
 greater measure of respect to the people among 
 whom he laboured. It was his invariable custom 
 not only to trace the connection in which the pas¬ 
 sage he was to expound, stood to the context, but 
 also carefully to peruse it in the original Language ; 
 to bring to his aid all the light which secular history 
 and Jewish antiquities could afford; to inquire into 
 the sentiments of the most learned and approved 
 commentators; to fix his own opinion with regard 
 to the mind of the holy Spirit; and then carefully to 
 apply it for the purposes of instruction, warning, 
 encouragement, or consolation. His Lectures were 
 fraught with the most important and valuable infor¬ 
 mation, and were often listened to with the deepest 
 interest, not only by the private Christian, but even 
 by the most profound theological student. Like 
 Apollos, he was mighty in the Scriptures. In his 
 Sermons there was an originality of thought—a 
 warmth of feeling—a richness of fancy—a copious¬ 
 ness and variety of illustration, united with a critical 
 acumen, and a metaphysical power, seldom com¬ 
 bined in the discourses of the same individual; which 
 rendered them admirably adapted to afford delight 
 to an intelligent audience—while the affectionate 
 admonitions—the touching appeals—and the gra¬ 
 cious invitations with which they were often closed, 
 caused them to come home with a moral energy and 
 
26 
 
 power to the humblest and most uneducated of the 
 people. The influence of his ministry was greatly 
 aided by the sublimity, fervour, and holy importu¬ 
 nity of his public devotional exercises; and by the 
 elevated views of religious truth, and Christian expe¬ 
 rience, which he poured forth from the “ abundance 
 of his heart” at the table of communion. Not a few 
 individuals now alive, and many whose souls have 
 entered into glory, have reason to acknowledge him 
 as their spiritual father, and shall “ form his joy and 
 crown of rejoicing at the day of the Lord.” 
 
 In his Life of Lady Glenorchy, not only a bright 
 pattern of Christian excellence is presented to our 
 view; but we have also a most interesting illustra¬ 
 tion of the value which he himself placed on the se¬ 
 cret communion of the soul of a saint with its Crea¬ 
 tor, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; and of the deep in¬ 
 terest which he felt in those penitential confessions 
 of the sins of the heart; those ardent breathings 
 after divine communications of grace, and that un¬ 
 wearied striving to obtain a closer walk with God, 
 and a nearer conformity to His blessed image; which, 
 although forming the very essence of vital religion, 
 is branded by the worlding as the cant of hypocrisy, 
 the ravings of enthusiasm, or the proofs of a weak 
 and disordered mind. 
 
 His printed volume of Sermons is a precious 
 memorial to his people of the lessons of wisdom and 
 purity which they were accustomed to receive from 
 his lips, and to all they furnish much valuable and 
 important truth, presented in a form, calculated at 
 once to enlighten the understanding and to improve 
 the heart—but still those who were accustomed to 
 
27 
 
 listen to the discourses of that venerable man, feel 
 the want of the holy pathos, the impassioned elo¬ 
 quence, and the unpremeditated flights of genius 
 which at times soared to other and loftier regions, 
 and ransacked the whole vocabulary of human lan¬ 
 guage, to give expression to the exalted conceptions 
 he had formed, and vent to the ardent feelings and 
 emotions which he longed to impress upon the hearts 
 of his hearers. 
 
 Some of you, my brethren, may remember the case 
 of a Jew, who was publicly baptized by your depart¬ 
 ed pastor. This individual was a Pole, and while 
 residing in his native country, had begun to inquire 
 into the truth of Christianity; but his mind was in a 
 state of complete doubt and hesitation till he reach¬ 
 ed Edinburgh, and was directed by the good provi¬ 
 dence of God to attend this place of worship. The 
 first thing which rivetted his attention, and made 
 a deep impression upon his heart, was the serious¬ 
 ness and earnestness of the venerable preacher. 
 His countenance, his voice, his manner, convinced 
 him that he felt the infinite importance of the doc¬ 
 trines he delivered, and while sitting in the house of 
 God, he resolved to make him his future counsellor 
 and guide. He did so—and the result was—this de¬ 
 scendant of Abraham became a genuine convert, and 
 lived and died in the faith and hope of the gospel. 
 
 The enlightened mind and genuine piety of your 
 pastor led him to be frequently consulted by per¬ 
 sons who had experienced deep convictions of their 
 own unworthiness,—who were labouring under spi¬ 
 ritual depression—who were exposed to domestic 
 trials—or who were at a loss to ascertain their path 
 
28 
 
 of duty in painful and difficult circumstances—and 
 none had reason to regret the confidence they re¬ 
 posed in him. He entered with the tenderness of a 
 father into every thing connected with their situa¬ 
 tion ; and his counsels were marked by that good 
 sense, Christian prudence, and uncompromising prin¬ 
 ciple by which he was so eminently characterized.—He 
 was ever a minute and accurate observer of the ways 
 of the Almighty to himself and to the flock over which 
 the Lord had given him the oversight; and he care¬ 
 fully narrated and improved them for promoting the 
 feelings of devotion in his own heart, and for dif¬ 
 fusing personal and domestic religion amongst his 
 people. It were easy to recal to your remembrance 
 many instances of this in the course both of his 
 public and private labours. I shall only select one. 
 
 On the fiftieth anniversary of the commencement 
 of his ministrations in Scotland, (which was a short 
 time previous to his being settled as the regular 
 pastor of this congregation) he delivered a very 
 striking and impressive discourse from Zechariah 
 i. 5. “ Your fathers where are they, and the pro¬ 
 
 phets do they live for ever?” The sermon was 
 closed in nearly these words— 44 In the year 1779, 
 “ just fifty years ago yesterday , I first was permitted 
 “ to enter into this house. The impression made 
 44 upon my mind was strong and solemn; and it 
 44 has never been effaced. On this day fifty years 
 44 ago, I first ascended the place from which I am 
 44 now addressing you, and opened my mouth with a 
 44 desire, I trust, to utter what was right in the 
 44 sight of God, by illustrating his mercy and grace 
 44 to a fallen world. I chose for my text the declara- 
 
29 
 
 “ tion of the holy apostle Paul, ‘ I am not ashamed of 
 “ the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God 
 “ unto salvation to every one that belie veth.’ There 
 “ was before me an immense concourse of people. 
 “ This church was built to accommodate nearly 
 “ eighteen hundred persons ; and it was always 
 “ reckoned that, when more than ordinarily crowded, 
 “ it would hold two thousand. On that day it was 
 “ crowded to excess; and I believe there must have 
 “ been two thousand persons present: I look around 
 64 me now , and I see only about six or eight of these; 
 “ and in regard to the rest, I am led to put the ques¬ 
 tion, ‘your fathers where are they?’ I have en- 
 “ deavoured to obtain an answer to this interesting 
 “ interrogatory. I have read over the communion 
 “ roll of your predecessors, and other documents, 
 “ which bring to my remembrance the persons who 
 “ composed that numerous assembly. I have made 
 “ enquiry among my venerable brethren of the elder- 
 “ ship, who were present at that day’s service, some 
 “ of whom are now confined to the habitations of 
 “ sickness and sorrow; and I have endeavoured in 
 “ this way to come to a conclusion; and this conclu- 
 “ sion is, that of the two thousand persons then pre- 
 “ sent, about twenty are now alive; ninety-nine out 
 “ of the hundred have descended into the grave and 
 “ are gone to eternity—either to the dungeon of the 
 “ prisonhouse, or to the city of God and the house of 
 “ rest, to walk for ever with their Saviour in glory.— 
 “ I have reason to believe, that at that time there 
 “ were about a hundred and forty ministers of the 
 “ gospel within the bounds of the Synod of Lothian 
 “ and Tweeddale, including those of every denomi- 
 
“ nation; and if the question be now put in reference 
 “ to these, 4 the prophets, do they live for ever V I 
 “ have to answer, that of the whole hundred and 
 “ forty ministers who were with me running the 
 44 course of life fifty years ago, not one remains upon 
 44 the earth save myself. I have no occasion, and 
 44 shall not attempt to say more, but earnestly to en- 
 44 treat, that you will carry home these things to your 
 44 closets, and be excited to pray to God for a right 
 44 improvement of the question, 4 your fathers, where 
 44 are they, and the prophets, do they live for ever V ” 
 
 After the delivery of the discourse, the interesting 
 conclusion of which I have now recalled to your re¬ 
 membrance, our venerable father continued for more 
 than five years to discharge, with the utmost regu¬ 
 larity, his pulpit duties, and to preside in the adminis¬ 
 tration of the Lord’s Supper—a service which had 
 been the peculiar joy of his heart during every period 
 of his ministry; and the recurrence of which, (al¬ 
 though more than usually frequent in this congrega¬ 
 tion,) he always anticipated with feelings of deep 
 interest and high satisfaction. As the period drew 
 near when his public labours in his Master’s work were 
 about to terminate, many of the most intelligent of his 
 hearers remarked an increasing earnestness in the ex¬ 
 hortations and expostulations which he addressed to 
 the open profligate, the formalist, and the hypocrite; 
 a still more elevated and ardent strain of piety, and 
 a more constant allusion to topics connected with 
 experimental and practical religion. In the strong¬ 
 est sense of the words, 44 he spoke as a dying man 
 to dying but immortal creatures.” 
 
 The truth of this observation was strikingly ma- 
 
31 
 
 nifested in the address which he delivered at the 
 Lord’s Table on the last occasion on which it pleased 
 his heavenly Father to permit him to dispense, and 
 to receive the memorials of redeeming love. The 
 service of the day had been introduced by an excel¬ 
 lent and appropriate discourse from his colleague on 
 these words— 44 There remaineth a rest for the 
 people of God.” This formed the ground of the so¬ 
 lemn meditations to which he directed the attention 
 of his hearers and fellow-communicants; and, after 
 dwelling, in a powerful and impressive manner, 
 on the blessedness of the righteous, both in this 
 world and in that which is to come, he expressed 
 the warm and grateful feelings of his own heart in 
 nearly these terms— 44 It may not be altogether un- 
 “ profitable were I here to digress for a few moments, 
 “ and tell you of the experience of one far advanced 
 44 in years, and who now, blessed be God, in some 
 44 measure, enjoys a foretaste of that rest, to which 
 44 your attention has just been directed. My Christian 
 44 brethren, this morning’s sun announced to me that 
 44 1 had lived to see fourscore years pass over my 
 44 head ; during which long period I have experienced 
 44 much of the Lord’s goodness and mercy, and this I 
 44 hold an earnest that he has destined me (unworthy 
 44 as I am) 4 for that rest which remaineth for the people 
 44 of God.’ Yes, I will at all times bear my testimony 
 44 to the abundant kindness of my Lord and Master 
 44 during a life lengthened out beyond the accustomed 
 44 allotment of man. But in what manner shall I tell 
 44 you of all his mercies to me ? Where shall I find a 
 44 beginning ? Where shall I find an end ? What 
 44 did I experience in childhood ? mercy. In youth 
 
44 what did I receive ? mercy. In riper years what 
 44 was bestowed upon me ? mercy. And now, in old 
 44 age, as these hoary locks and furrowed cheeks do 
 44 testify, with one foot in the grave, and the other on 
 44 the brink, I exclaim, mercy! mercy ! Goodness and 
 44 mercy have followed me all the days of my life ; and 
 44 1 shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 
 44 Yes, and though it well becomes me to smite upon 
 44 my breast and cry out, God be merciful to me a 
 44 sinner ; yet for the honour and glory of my Master’s 
 44 name, I will declare that goodness and mercy have 
 44 not only followed me, but will follow me all the 
 44 days of my life. Of this I am persuaded, nay, feel 
 44 confident, and also that I shall dwell in the house 
 44 of the Lord for ever.” 
 
 While this aged saint seemed deeply impressed with 
 a sense of his nearness to eternity, there were no cir¬ 
 cumstances connected with the state of his health cal¬ 
 culated to excite alarm in the minds of his family and 
 friends; while advancing years added additional inte¬ 
 rest to his pastoral instructions and private converse. 
 On the day when he exhibited the first symptom of 
 that disease, which for so long a period prevented him 
 from engaging in the active duties of life, deprived him 
 of many of its most valued pleasures, and ultimately 
 terminated in his dissolution, he had attended the 
 public services of the church, on the fast before the 
 communion, in a parish where he resided during the 
 summer. Afterwards lying on his sick bed, he stated 
 to a friend, 44 that he felt himself unwell in the begin- 
 44 ning of that week; but said little about it, being de- 
 44 sirous to enjoy God in his own ordinances, and by 
 44 his example to excite others to do so also.” I saw 
 
33 
 
 him two days, after his seizure with paralysis had taken 
 place; and never shall the interesting, affecting, and 
 truly edifying scene I then witnessed, be effaced from 
 my recollection. When I entered his apartment he 
 received me with even more than his wonted kind¬ 
 ness and affection : a fearful change had taken place 
 upon his frame ; but his understanding was clear and 
 vigorous, his mind calm and placid, and his con¬ 
 versation devout and instructive. 
 
 “ Truly, (said he) the Lord hath shown great 
 44 kindness to me in the days that are past. In child- 
 44 hood and youth, I was thoughtless, irreligious, and 
 44 wicked. But at the age of seventeen, I was arrest- 
 44 ed by the power of the Holy Ghost, the gospel was 
 44 brought home in its converting and saving energy 
 44 to my heart; and it pleased my heavenly Father 
 44 4 to pluck me as a brand from the burning.’ I wash- 
 44 ed in the fountain of the Redeemer’s blood ; my 
 44 whole dependence is placed on his righteousness; 
 44 and although I am a miserable sinner, yet rely- 
 44 ing on his promises, if this very night I should die, 
 44 (and in all probability 1 shall) I do not entertain 
 44 a doubt of receiving admission into the paradise of 
 44 God.” To another friend he thus expressed himself; 
 44 The Lord took me up when a youth, and will not 
 44 forsake me when I am old and grey-headed. Tell 
 44 any of my people who may be inquiring after me, 
 44 that the atonement of Christ, which I have so often 
 44 preached to them, is my only solace.” And at an¬ 
 other time, when he thought himself approaching very 
 near death, he desired 44 that his congregation might be 
 44 informed, when he was no more; that although 
 
 44 he did not experience that high degree of joy and 
 
 c 
 
34 
 
 * 4 triumph which had been tasted by some of the peo- 
 44 pie of God in like circumstances, he yet looked for- 
 44 ward to dissolution with the full assurance of faith 
 44 and hope. It was his ardent desire, and fervent 
 “ prayer, that his people might be enabled to walk 
 “ through this life in the paths of peace and holiness ; 
 64 that, although separated for a little from each 
 “ other, he and they might at last meet again around 
 44 the throne of God and of the Lamb.” 
 
 While he continued in a very precarious situation, 
 apparently hovering, between time and eternity, the 
 period arrived for the celebration of the Lord’s Sup¬ 
 per in this congregation ; and I am persuaded many 
 of you will recollect the affecting and interesting pa¬ 
 per which he desired to be read during the course 
 *of divine service, on the evening previous to that 
 solemnity,— 44 in which he expressed his heartfelt 
 44 thankfulness for the goodness of God manifested to 
 44 him, in enabling him to attend the communion of the 
 44 Lord’s Supper for more than fifty-five years,—and 
 44 that now, only for the first time, he was prevented 
 44 by great infirmity from being present at that solemn 
 44 ordinance. He then proceeded to entreat the pray- 
 44 ers of his congregation, that if he were not again 
 44 permitted to unite with them in the communion 
 44 of the Lord’s table upon earth; he might be pre- 
 44 pared and admitted to hold communion with them 
 44 in the kingdom of heaven.” 
 
 It pleased the Supreme Disposer of events, to re¬ 
 store our revered father and friend to the enjoyment 
 of his domestic circle; and although he no longer 
 possessed the full use of his limbs, and was unfit for 
 ministerial duty, his mental energy seemed unabated. 
 
35 
 
 He again resumed his former theological and general 
 studies, manifested the same interest in almost every 
 public and private event, and appeared to have as 
 much delight as ever in the society of those whom 
 he valued and loved. Several hours of every morn¬ 
 ing were devoted to the perusal of the Word of 
 God; to a careful and diligent inquiry into its mean¬ 
 ing, and into the practical lessons of faith and holiness 
 which it is calculated to teach. We cannot doubt 
 that this truly Christian exercise was uniformly ac¬ 
 companied with earnest and believing prayer to the 
 God of the Bible, whom he had so long and so faith¬ 
 fully served in the gospel of His Son.—The progress 
 of disease at last arrested the course of his studies, 
 and diminished the number of the enjoyments which 
 still remained to him.—But the unwearied attention, 
 of affectionate relatives and attached domestics, and 
 still more, the influence of Christian principle, power¬ 
 fully contributed to cheer the evening of his days. 
 About two or three months ago, when he had been 
 suffering from a severe feverish attack, I visited 
 him and made the usual inquiries with regard to his 
 health. His answer was,—“ I am as well as a dying 
 “ man can be ; and I can say with the Psalmist, this 
 “ God is my God, and He will be my guide even unto 
 “ death.” I did not see him again till three days be¬ 
 fore the close of his mortal pilgrimage. I then 
 found him perfectly sensible, although unable to ex¬ 
 press himself in a manner which could easily be 
 understood. He evidently joined with seriousness 
 and fervour in the prayers which were offered up, and 
 when amongst many other consolatory passages of 
 Scripture, I repeated the sublime and triumphant 
 
declaration of St. Paul, “ I ain persuaded that neither 
 “ death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 
 “ powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
 “ height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be 
 44 able to separate us from the love of God which is in 
 “ Christ Jesus our Lord,” he audibly, distinctly, and 
 energetically said, 44 Amen.” While next day he seemed 
 perfectly aware of the devotional exercises which were 
 offered np beside his dying bed, he never again was 
 able to give utterance to the pious feelings of his heart, 
 and at last expired without a struggle. 44 Mark the 
 perfect man, and behold the upright, for the latter end 
 of that man is peace.” On his own account we have 
 no cause this day to mourn; but rather to rejoice 
 and be glad. 44 lie hath gone to his grave in full age, 
 44 like as a shock of corn eometh in, in his season;” 
 without a stain upon his memory; beloved by his 
 family, his flock, and all with whom he was associated 
 in life; and venerated and esteemed by every class 
 of the community. We may well apply to him the 
 words of Jehovah, spoken by the mouth of his pro¬ 
 phet Malachi, 44 my covenant was with him of life and 
 44 peace ; and I gave them to him for the fear where- 
 44 with he feared me, and was afraid before my name. 
 44 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was 
 44 not found in his lips; he walked with me in peace 
 44 and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.” 
 
 Immediately adjoining the spot where his remains 
 are deposited, we behold the graves of Paul, of 
 Black, and of Fleming, devoted servants of the Lord, 
 with whom he had lived as a friend and a brother, 
 and with whom he shall rise again at the great day 
 of final retribution, to receive that glorious reward 
 
37 
 
 which is reserved for those who have been faithful 
 stewards of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. 
 
 Faith assures us of the existence of a region in 
 the universe of God, where the spirits of departed 
 saints, delivered from the varied ills to which hu¬ 
 manity is heir, are made perfect in holiness, and 
 united in the nearest and most endearing bonds to 
 the Saviour whom they love ; rest in peace, in the 
 assured hope of a glorious and blessed resurrection. 
 Yet still the gospel forbids not the tear which nature 
 constrains to flow, while we mourn the loss of one 
 who was our counsellor and our guide, our father 
 and our friend; who formed the last link that united 
 us to some of the wisest, the holiest, and the best 
 of the servants of the living God of a former age; 
 who is associated in our remembrance with seasons 
 of solemn worship, Christian instruction, and devout 
 intercourse with Heaven; who mingled his tears with 
 those of many who now hear me ; while they stood 
 around the sick, the dying bed of a beloved parent 
 or child; and who, when the last sigh was breathed, 
 and the last groan was uttered, guided their thoughts 
 to heaven; taught them to repose in the love of that 
 God who hath promised that “He will never leave nor 
 forsake his peopleand in accents of tender affection, 
 encouraged them “ to become followers of those, who 
 “ now, through faith and patience, inherit the pro¬ 
 mises.” 
 
 High and important however, are the duties which 
 it remains to us to perform, while our heavenly Father 
 is pleased to prolong our existence here below. 
 You, my brethren, are called as individuals, and as 
 a congregation, to engrave upon your memories, and 
 
 / 
 
38 
 
 to impress upon your hearts the lessons of heavenly 
 wisdom and grace, which you have heard from the 
 lips of your lamented pastor—to imitate the holy 
 qualities which adorned his character— 44 to-consider 
 the end of his conversation—Jesus Christ, the same 
 yesterday, to-day, and for ever;” and earnestly to 
 strive to obtain an entrance into that world, where 
 he has already gone before you; that so dying in 
 the Lord, you may rest from your labours, and your 
 works may follow you;—which, may God in his in¬ 
 finite mercy grant, for Christ’s sake. Amen. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 The annexed conclusion of a discourse delivered by Dr, 
 Jones on the morning of the communion, 10th July 1814, from 
 Psalms cxvi. 18, 19. cannot fail to prove both interesting 
 and instructive. 
 
 “ Upon this occasion I cannot refrain from speaking of my¬ 
 self. It is now nearly thirty-five years since I first occupied 
 this place on occasions similar to the present, and if I shall 
 be permitted this day to descend from this pulpit to the ta¬ 
 ble of our Lord, it will be the two-hundredth time that this 
 ordinance has been dispensed since I came here. On all 
 these occasions, I have presided at that table. During these 
 two hundred times, I have never been absent upon one occa¬ 
 sion ; which I can scarcely suppose is the case with any one 
 who now hears me. I have seen, since I first came here, the 
 ancient and the honourable, long since laid in the silent 
 tomb. I have seen the children rising up instead of the fa¬ 
 thers, a seed to serve the Lord ; some who had walked in 
 the way of God’s commandments have I seen called at an 
 early period to render their account, and who, I doubt not, 
 have received the reward for the deeds done in the body. 
 Thirty-five years ago I first sat down at that table. At that 
 time there might be from 1700 to 1800 persons present. I 
 have made inquiry, and from this inquiry, as well as from what I 
 myself know, I find that of that vast assemblage only forty-five 
 are at this time alive ; of these forty-five only twenty-three re¬ 
 main in communion with us, and of these twenty-three, Ido not 
 suppose that there are more than twenty now present. The 
 remainder have, many of them, long since descended to the 
 grave, and their spirits ascended to the God from whom they 
 came. When I first sat down at that table, I had come 
 from another country ; I was then a child and an orphan—a 
 stranger to this land,—ignorant of the laws and customs and 
 
40 
 
 manners of this people. But, through the blessing of God I 
 have been permitted to see this day. And, when I look back 
 and consider what is past, I remember that I have seen the 
 dark and gloomy night of adversity ; but I would fail in duty 
 and gratitude to my God, were I not to acknowledge that 
 I have also seen the bright sun-shine of prosperity ; it is 
 true I have been forsaken by men, but I have never been for¬ 
 saken by God. He has been a kind and gracious God to me. 
 When I retrace the past, I cannot refrain from saying with 
 the Psalmist, 6 I will pay my vows unto the Lord.’’ 
 
 “ But when we look back, we should also carry our thoughts 
 forward. Another period of thirty-five years will soon roll 
 on. But who will see that period? Another preacher will 
 then speak from this place—other individuals will form the 
 body of the hearers—and of all whom I now address, only a 
 very small number may live to see that time. Those who do 
 may perhaps recollect when the four hundredth time arrives, 
 that their former pastor arrested their particular attention on 
 that day when the Sacrament was dispensed among them for 
 the two hundredth time. Long ere that time, however, my 
 head shall be laid low in the dust; and you—and you—and 
 you—and, it may be, all this numerous congregation, will 
 have been called out of this world to render up their account to 
 the great Judge of heaven and earth. And, my brethren, 
 when we appear before the judgment throne, what if all our 
 vows offered at that table for two hundred times should be 
 so many perjuries; what if all our prayers should be found 
 to be so many lies ; what, if we should meet with that right¬ 
 eous indignation which is denounced against those who have 
 not lived and died in the Lord ! Oh, it is full time for us to 
 consider—it is full time for us to cast our thoughts back on 
 the past; to carry them forward to the future ; to consider 
 w’ell our ways; and then, in the presence of this Christian 
 congregation let you and me publicly make our vows unto 
 the Lord; and declare in the words of our text 6( we will pay 
 our vows unto the Lord.'” 
 
SERMON. 
 
 2 Timothy iv. 6—8. u For I am now readij to be offered, and 
 the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good 
 fght, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Hence¬ 
 forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which 
 the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day ; and 
 not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing 
 
 Thebe are few characters delineated in Scripture, 
 which engage the attention, or interest the feelings 
 in a higher degree, than the character of Paul. It 
 contains an assemblage of the rarest and most estim¬ 
 able qualities, so intimately blended together, as to 
 form a character at once varied but natural—decid¬ 
 ed, yet endearing. 
 
 With the earliest part of his life we are but little 
 acquainted, and when first introduced to our notice, 
 he appears in a very revolting character. But it 
 pleased the Lord who is rich in mercy, not only to 
 convert him from the errors of his ways, but to call 
 and consecrate him as “ a chosen vessel, to bear his 
 name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children 
 of Israel.” 
 
 The conversion of Paul is a distinguished trophy 
 of the power of redeeming grace, and in its conse- 
 
 D 
 
quences may be regarded as one of the most im¬ 
 portant events in the history of the Christian church. 
 If the former part of his life furnishes an illustration 
 of the deepest enmity, and most daring opposition to 
 the kingdom of Christ—the latter presents a noble 
 example of devotedness to His cause, and of fidelity 
 and zeal in His service. 
 
 From the time when it pleased God to reveal His 
 Son in him, he might well say of himself, “ To me 
 to live is Christ.” This was what engaged the su¬ 
 preme affection of his heart, concentrated all his en¬ 
 ergies, called forth his surpassing exertions, and con¬ 
 stituted his glory and joy. 
 
 The point of view in which he is presented to us in 
 the words of the text, is exceedingly interesting. We 
 see him standing, as it were, on the confines of the eter¬ 
 nal world—feeling all the solemnity of his position, 
 and yet possessing his soul, not only in calmness and 
 confidence, but in joy and triumph. In looking back, 
 he recognises a life dedicated to the service of his 
 Divine Master, and rejoices in all that Christ had 
 wrought in him, and by him; and in looking for¬ 
 ward, he anticipates the full fruition of that glori¬ 
 ous inheritance which “ is reserved in heaven for all 
 those who are kept by the power of God through 
 faith unto salvation.” These sentiments are ex¬ 
 pressed in the words of our text in a very beautiful 
 and striking manner. 
 
 There are two topics set forth in this passage that 
 claim our particular attention. 
 
 I. What the apostle says of his present condition. 
 
 II. Of his future prospects. 
 
 With respect to his present condition, he states, 
 
43 
 
 “ I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my 
 departure is at hand. 
 
 While our translation conveys in substance, the 
 meaning of the apostle, yet some of the ideas are 
 not so fully brought out as in the original. The 
 expression might have been rendered, 44 1 am already 
 offered up, or poured forth.” There appears to be 
 an allusion here to the practice under the law, of 
 accompanying the burning of the sacrifice with the 
 pouring out of wine or oil as a drink-offering. This 
 contributed to the completeness of the sacrifice, and 
 to the attainment of the great ends for which it was 
 presented. When the apostle says, 44 1 am now of¬ 
 fered, or already poured forth,” his words are to be 
 understood to mean, that in the denial of self, and 
 in suffering for Christ, he is like a libation or offer¬ 
 ing connected with the sacrifice of the Son of God. 
 While that sacrifice is infinitely perfect and com¬ 
 plete in itself, and neither needeth nor can admit of 
 any addition whatever; yet it is the wise and gra¬ 
 cious appointment of God, that what was realized in 
 the Head as an atonement, should be realized in the 
 members as an accompaniment; and that as the 
 Captain of our salvation was made perfect through 
 sufferings, so we 44 being partakers of Christ’s suffer¬ 
 ings shall also be made partakers of His glory.” 
 
 That this is a correct view of the apostle’s mean¬ 
 ing, is supported by what he says elsewhere. 44 1 
 am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet 
 not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I 
 now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son 
 of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” 
 And in another place,—“ God forbid that I should 
 
44 
 
 glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by 
 whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the 
 world.” 
 
 In the first ages of Christianity, the severest pri¬ 
 vations and sufferings were almost the certain portion 
 of all who embraced the gospel. The Apostle him¬ 
 self occupied the foremost rank among these. “ In 
 labours he was more abundant—in stripes above 
 measure—in prisons more frequent—in deaths oft.” 
 Now, all this had a close connection with the cause 
 of Christ, and “ happened to him for the further¬ 
 ance of the gospel.” He therefore speaks of “ Christ 
 as magnified in his body whether by life or by 
 death.” 
 
 In describing his present condition, Paul could not 
 have used more correct and appropriate language, 
 than to say, “ I am now offered up, and already 
 poured out.” In love to the person of Christ, and 
 devotedness to His cause—in willingness to endure 
 hardness-—to encounter dangers and suffer death for 
 His sake, he was already a confessor and a martyr. 
 
 Suffering for Christ was with him a continued and 
 constant thing. Every day was a day of testimony, 
 and every time a time of trial. Well therefore might 
 he say, “ We are troubled on every side, yet not 
 distressed,—we are perplexed, but not in despair,— 
 persecuted, but not forsaken,—cast down, but not 
 destroyed,—always bearing about in the body the 
 dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus 
 might be made manifest in our body.” 
 
 But the Apostle here intimatesthat theclosingscene 
 should be suitable to his present condition. Indeed, 
 the only outlet from it in the natural course of things. 
 
45 
 
 was through the portals of a violent and bloody death. 
 From the very beginning he 44 had counted the cost,” 
 and calmly contemplated such a close. It was early 
 intimated to him by the Spirit that bonds and im¬ 
 prisonments awaited him.” But none of these things 
 moved him, neither did he count his life dear unto 
 himself, that he might finish his course with joy, and 
 the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus, 
 to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” 
 
 After what we have already seen of the Apostle’s 
 condition in this world, it cannot surprise us that he 
 should contemplate his removal from it as a great 
 deliverance,—He speaks of it here as 44 the time of 
 his departure.” To the unbeliever, indeed, death is 
 an awful event. It is associated in his mind with 
 every thing that causeth fear and horror. It is the 
 closing in of a night that shall know no dawn—the 
 coming on of a destruction from which there is no 
 deliverance. 
 
 But with the Christian, the case is very different. 
 Death to him is deprived of all its terrors, for he is 
 enabled through faith to say, 44 0 death, where is thy 
 sting ! 0 grave, where is thy victory ! the sting of 
 death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law ; but 
 thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ.” 
 
 Paul was strong in the faith, giving glory to God; 
 and therefore his mind was not only free from the 
 fear of death, but he earnestly looked and longed for 
 its coming,— 44 He desired to depart and to be with 
 Christ, which is far better.” 
 
 In the language here employed, there is a refer- 
 
46 
 
 ence to the first motion of a ship when actually 
 entering upon her voyage. After all the neces¬ 
 sary preparations have been made, and the pre¬ 
 vious arrangements completed,—when every thing 
 is in a state of readiness,—the cargo is on board, 
 the crew collected, the sails unfurled, the anchor 
 weighed, the favourable breeze springs up, and then 
 the gallant vessel departs on her voyage in the 
 hope that it may be safe and prosperous. The Apos¬ 
 tle applies this illustration to his own case. From 
 the moment of his conversion, he was in a state of 
 preparation for his departure, “ Old things were 
 passed away, and all things becoming new.” There 
 was “ the preparing of the vessel for the Master’s 
 use,”—the clearing and casting out of every thing 
 that was corrupt and sinful,—and the laying in of 
 those precious things that were suited to the nature 
 of the voyage for which it was destined. There was 
 the gradual loosening from earthly ties and connec¬ 
 tions, and the earnest looking for the signal of de¬ 
 parture, in the full assurance of reaching in safety 
 the shores of Emmanuel’s land, and entering the 
 haven of eternal rest. 
 
 Alas! my brethren, how little capable are we of 
 sympathizing with the emotions which animated the 
 mind of the apostle when he uttered the words be¬ 
 fore us! Although called by the name of Christ, and 
 professing to set our affections on the things that are 
 above ; is it not too manifest from our conduct, that 
 our souls cleave unto the dust, and that our desires 
 and hopes and expectations go forth towards the 
 things that are seen and temporal! Let us earnestly 
 
47 
 
 seek to put off the old man with his deeds, and to 
 have our loins girded, and our lamps burning, that 
 we may be like those who are waiting for the coming 
 of their Lord. 
 
 The apostle speaks here, not only of his actual 
 position, but also of the course of life by which he 
 arrived at it, or had attained to the state of prepara¬ 
 tion for his departure in which we now find him. 
 With respect to that course, he represents it as a 
 contest, as a race, and as an exercise of vigilance and 
 fidelity. All these belong to the life of every true 
 Christian, but they were realized in an eminent 
 degree in the life of Paul. 
 
 Whenever a man is translated from the kingdom 
 of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, he 
 enters immediately upon a state of warfare. He 
 comes under the banner of the cross, and is called 
 upon to fight as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
 This warfare is in its own nature, and in all the 
 circumstances connected with it, of a spiritual char¬ 
 acter ; but it is not on that account the less arduous 
 and severe. On the contrary, it requires greater val¬ 
 our and vigilance, greater sacrifices and privations, 
 greater hardships and exertions, than any other con¬ 
 test in which the children of men can be engaged. It 
 calls into exercise, all the energies and capacities of 
 our nature, under the guidance and grace of God’s 
 Holy Spirit. It is He who teacheth our hands to 
 war, and our fingers to fight the good fight of faith, 
 and to lay hold on eternal life. 
 
 The apostle calls this contest 44 a good fight,” be¬ 
 cause it is the most righteous, and necessary, and 
 
glorious, in which any created beings can be engag¬ 
 ed. It is the opposition of light to darkness, of truth 
 to error, of holiness to sin, of the Son of God to the 
 “ rulers of the darkness of this world, the spirit that 
 now worketh in the children of disobedience.” 
 
 The enemies with wdiom the believer is called to 
 contend in this warfare, are the devil, the world, and 
 the flesh. 
 
 These enemies are mighty and malignant. They 
 possess the same character, they are united in the 
 closest compact, and mutually sustain and strengthen 
 one another. They are not satisfied with a partial 
 advantage over the believer. They aim at nothing 
 less than his everlasting destruction. 
 
 The leader of these enemies is the devil or Satan, 
 “ the roaring lion who walketh about seeking whom 
 he may devour.” 
 
 The apostle could say respecting this adversary, 
 “ I have fought a good fight.” Clothed in the whole 
 armour of God, and animated by the courage which 
 His Spirit imparts, he maintained against him a 
 strenuous and successful struggle. Paul foiled this 
 adversary, and was “ more than conqueror through 
 Him that loved him.” 
 
 The world is another of the believer’s foes, against 
 which he is required to maintain continual opposi¬ 
 tion. Under the term world when used in this sense, 
 is comprehended, whatever in it is calculated or 
 capable of drawing the heart away from God. Its 
 cares and concerns, its business and pleasures, its 
 riches and honours, its vanities and evil ways, are all 
 capable of exercising a hostile influence over our 
 
49 
 
 minds, and ready to lead us into the commission of 
 iniquity. The believer is called upon to exercise 
 constant watchfulness against these things, and to 
 oppose them in the strength of God’s Spirit. 
 
 There is a right use of the things of the world, 
 and there is a misapplication and abuse of them. 
 When they are received and regarded as gifts from 
 God, when they are held by His grant, enjoyed ac¬ 
 cording to His purpose, and devoted to His glory, 
 they are among the things which “work together 
 for good to those who love God, and who are the 
 called according to His purpose.” But when allowed 
 to occupy the place in the heart that is due to God, 
 and made to minister to the sinful gratification of 
 ourselves or others; in that case, they are greatly 
 opposed to the will of God, and most injurious to our 
 eternal interests. 
 
 We are therefore required to strive against these 
 things as adversaries to our souls, and to share in 
 the triumph of the apostle when he says, “ This is 
 the victory that overcometh the world even our faith.” 
 
 But we know that the flesh also is an enemy to 
 the soul, as well as the devil and the world. By the 
 flesh is meant in this acceptation, the corruption of 
 our whole nature as alienated from God by sin. Of 
 the believer however, it is true, that he is “born 
 again and become a new creature.” There is intro¬ 
 duced into his heart, the leaven of holiness which 
 opposeth this corruption, and continues to exert and 
 extend its influence till the whole of his nature is 
 leavened. But its progress towards this object is 
 greatly resisted by the remaining corruption. “ The 
 
50 
 
 flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against 
 flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, 
 so that we cannot do the things that we would.” 
 
 The result of this struggle is certain, and yet the 
 progress of it is attended with much suffering to the 
 believer. It is required of him to “ pluck out the 
 right eye,”—to “ cut off the right hand,”—to “ cru¬ 
 cify the flesh with its affections and lusts,”—and to 
 “ mortify his members which are upon the earth.” 
 
 The apostle was constantly and successfully en¬ 
 gaged in this opposition to the flesh. He was keenly 
 alive to the sore oppression of sin, and made to cry 
 out in the agony of his resistance to it, “ 0 wretched 
 man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body 
 of this death?” and yet he could joyfully add, 
 “ Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 
 
 It is evident from the whole language of this pas¬ 
 sage, that Paul had an eye to the celebrated games 
 of antiquity, and that the views which he gives of his 
 own course of life correspond with some of the prin¬ 
 cipal exercises in these games. He had already 
 spoken of the fight or wrestling, and now he speaks 
 of the foot-race. Running was one of the exercises 
 practised in these games, and the course was the 
 space to be passed over by the competitors. This 
 course was carefully marked out and precisely deter¬ 
 mined, and therefore it was incumbent upon every 
 one that started for the prize, not only to run well, 
 but to keep strictly within the prescribed course, 
 and to persevere unto the end. 
 
 These circumstances beautifully illustrate the na- 
 
51 
 
 ture of the Christian race, with the various obliga¬ 
 tions and duties connected with it. It is “ the race 
 that is set before us.” Every step of it is marked out, 
 and every stage of it determined by the supreme au¬ 
 thority of God. Hence it is called “ the way of his 
 commandments.” 
 
 There is set before us every thing that belongs to 
 a life of true godliness in the doctrines and precepts of 
 God’s la w and dispensations of his providence,—in the 
 conduct of his saints, and especially in the character of 
 his own Son, “ who hath left us an example that we 
 should follow in his steps.” “ Wherefore seeing we 
 also are encompassed about with so great a cloud of 
 witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin 
 which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with 
 patience the race that is set before us, looking unto 
 Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.” 
 
 The apostle on another occasion said respecting 
 this race, 44 I count not myself to have apprehended, 
 but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which 
 are behind, and reaching forth unto those things 
 which are before, I press toward the mark for the 
 prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” 
 
 But now he speaks differently. It seems to have 
 been made known to him that he was very near the 
 goal. He felt as if there was but a step between him 
 and the prize, and therefore he raises the shout of 
 victory and says, 44 I have finished my course, I have 
 kept the faith.” 
 
 By the faith the apostle here means 44 the truth as 
 it is in Jesus.” 
 
 From the time that he had been brought to the 
 saving knowledge of the truth he kept it as one keeps 
 
52 
 
 a precious treasure, or guards and defends a garrison. 
 He kept it carefully, and constantly, and successfully. 
 
 He kept the doctrine of faith in purity and sound¬ 
 ness, against the errors, and heresies, and delusions 
 that began to prevail. 
 
 He kept the profession of it 44 without wavering,” 
 testifying both to small and great repentance toward 
 God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. He 
 46 was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, which is 
 the power of God unto salvation to every one that 
 believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” 
 
 He also kept the practice of this faith. 
 
 It was not only the foundation of his hope and 
 confidence, but the invariable rule of his life. In his 
 doctrine he studied to set forth the beauty and ex¬ 
 cellency of 44 the truth as it is in Jesus,” and in his 
 practice to 44 adorn that doctrine by a life and con¬ 
 versation becoming the gospel.” He desired to be 
 44 a living epistle of the truth, known and read of all 
 men.” And what he thus desired, he was enabled 
 by the grace of God to realise and accomplish. 44 He 
 maintained a conscience void of offence toward God, 
 and toward man,” and could make this appeal to the 
 Thessalonians among whom he had lived so long, 
 44 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and 
 justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among 
 you that believe.” 
 
 After having taken notice of what the apostle here 
 says of his present condition, we are next to advert, 
 shortly, to what he declares respecting his future 
 prospects. 44 Henceforth there is laid up for me a 
 crown of righteousness.” 
 
 The language of Paul is not to be understood to 
 
affirm that he had acquired and established for him¬ 
 self by his own conduct or course of life, a title to 
 the felicity and glory of the heavenly state. Nothing 
 could be farther from his mind than to insinuate, far 
 less to assert such a claim. It is a first principle of 
 the doctrine of Christ, “ that we have nothing but 
 what we have received.” Why then should we boast 
 as if we had not received it ? 
 
 The salvation that is in Christ Jesus is altogether 
 of free grace. It originated in the marvellous love 
 of God. In its progress it sets forth the unsearch¬ 
 able riches of Christ; and when it is completed and 
 perfected, “ the Lord shall bring forth the head stone 
 thereof with shoutings, saying, Grace, grace, unto it.” 
 
 When the Apostle here says, “ Henceforth there 
 is laid up,”—the expression might have been render¬ 
 ed,—“ As to what remains,” or, “ in respect of the 
 rest,” “ there is laid up for me.” 
 
 He had already spoken of his own character and 
 course of life,—and now he speaks of the certain 
 consequence or conclusion. The close of a life 
 of faith, is the commencement of a life of glory. 
 The one necessarily leads to the other. “ To whom 
 the Lord giveth grace, He will also give glory.” This 
 magnifies the exceeding greatness of the love of God. 
 He first bestows the grace, without which we can do 
 nothing which is truly good,—and then he requites 
 and rewards it as if it were all our own ! “ This is 
 
 the doing of the Lord, and it is marvellous in our 
 eyes.” 
 
 The state of blessedness that awaits the righteous 
 in the kingdom of their Father, is often set forth in 
 Scripture under the notion of a crown. This is the 
 
emblem of the highest dignity, and felicity, and glory. 
 It is reasonable to suppose that the Apostle has some 
 respect here to the chaplets that frequently consti¬ 
 tuted the reward of the successful competitors in the 
 Olympic games. These were of a perishing nature, 
 and were eagerly sought after, not from any intrinsic 
 value or preciousness that belonged to themselves,— 
 but from the distinction which the possession of them 
 conferred, and the fame with which it was associated. 
 
 In opposition to these, the apostle says of the 
 crown which he anticipated, that it is “ a crown of 
 glory that fadeth not away.” The properties and 
 excellencies of this crown are referred to in various 
 passages of Scripture. It is called the crown of life, 
 because it is the perfection and consummation of 
 eternal blessedness, the crown of glory, because “ eye 
 hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered 
 into the heart of man, the things which God hath 
 prepared for them that love Him.” And here it is 
 called “ the crown of righteousness,” because it sets 
 forth the righteousness of God revealed from faith 
 to faith, and displays grace reigning through right¬ 
 eousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 The apostle further says of this crown, that it was 
 “ laid up for him.” This denotes the reality, the 
 preciousness, and certain attainment of the heavenly 
 felicity. It is cared for, and kept as a thing of un¬ 
 speakable value. This language also refers to the 
 manner in which it was procured and provided, for 
 all those who are kept by the power of God through 
 faith unto salvation.” It is the purchase of the 
 Redeemer’s obedience unto the death. 
 
 It is secured by purpose and destination, by cove- 
 
nant, by promise, by the earnest of the Spirit, and 
 the foretaste given of it here. Hence it is said of 
 believers, that “ all things are theirs, whether Paul, 
 or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, 
 or things present, or things to come ; all are theirs; 
 and they are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. 
 
 The apostle here speaks in the language of perfect 
 assurance of receiving, and realizing the heavenly 
 felicity. Indeed he represents it as an exercise of 
 righteousness on the part of the great Judge of all, 
 to bestow upon him eternal blessedness. 
 
 It is a principle of the Divine administration, 
 that they who are “ faithful unto death, shall re¬ 
 ceive the crown of life.” The grace of God had en¬ 
 abled the apostle to be steadfast and unmoveable, 
 always abounding in the work of the Lord; and 
 therefore he felt confident that his labours should 
 not be in vain in the Lord.” 
 
 With regard to himself, as a sinner, but at the 
 same time a brand plucked out of the burning, he 
 was sensible that he could never sufficiently admire 
 the ways and wonders of redeeming grace ; and yet 
 in respect of what God had accomplished in him, and 
 by him, he triumphed in the assurance that ever¬ 
 lasting glory should be his portion. 
 
 But while the apostle thus speaks of his own fu¬ 
 ture prospects, his generous and loving heart exulted 
 at the thought of the multitudes who should share 
 with him in the heavenly felicity. He anticipated, 
 with suitable emotions, the consummation of all 
 things, and the full accomplishment of the glorious 
 things said of the appearing of the Lord, when he 
 
shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired 
 in all them that believe. 
 
 “ Then they that be wise shall shine as the bright¬ 
 ness of the firmament, and they that have turned 
 many to righteousness, as the stars, for ever and 
 ever.” 
 
 After contemplating such a character as that of the 
 Apostle Paul, who can refrain from giving utterance 
 to the language of admiration and joy, by saying, 
 “ What hath God wrought!” 
 
 When we consider the view that is presented to us 
 in the former part of his history, of the guilt and 
 sinfulness of our natural state and condition, and of 
 the pride and presumption and enmity of our hearts 
 towards God,—and when we find in the change 
 wrought in him such convincing evidence of the cer¬ 
 tainty and greatness of the mercy of God to us in 
 Christ Jesus our Lord. When we see how his Spirit 
 can bring a clean thing out of an unclean—and even 
 form out of the mass of our enmity and corruption a 
 being so enlightened in his views—so pure in his 
 affections—so denied to self, and devoted to God—so 
 holy in his desires, and heavenly in his character, we 
 may well exclaim, “ This is the doing of the Lord, 
 and it is marvellous in our eyes !” 
 
 The apostle found it needful on various occasions 
 to vindicate his own conduct, and set forth his own 
 excellencies,—but he was most careful to ascribe the 
 praise to the glory of God’s grace, “ By the grace of 
 God,” says he, “ I am what I am.” His great desire 
 was, to shew forth the praises of this grace, and “ to 
 make his light so to shine before men, that others see¬ 
 ing his good works, might give glory to our Father 
 
K Pf 
 
 5 / 
 
 which is in heaven.” Let us go and do likewise,— 
 and seek to glorify God in our bodies and spirits 
 which are God’s. 
 
 My dear brethren, you can easily perceive the suit¬ 
 ableness of this subject to the circumstances in which 
 we are now placed, and must have in some measure 
 anticipated the application that we are called to make 
 of it. 
 
 It hath pleased God to remove by death the late 
 venerable and beloved minister of this church, and 
 pastor of this congregation. The ample account that 
 was given of his character and history in the former 
 part of the day, renders it quite unnecessary for me 
 to enlarge upon these topics. Indeed, it would be 
 an unprofitable repetition to go over the same details. 
 But while an equally particular account should not 
 be attempted, yet a similar testimony to the excel¬ 
 lency of one who was eminently dear to us, may 
 prove soothing to our feelings, and salutary to our 
 hearts. 
 
 I feel persuaded that the outward symbols of woe 
 assumed in consequence of this event, are sure indi¬ 
 cations of the heart-felt sorrow that prevails, not only 
 among you, but throughout this city, and over all this 
 land. 
 
 He was one of that venerable and faithful band who 
 adorned by their labour and lives the ministry of 
 the gospel in this place, and who shed a lustre over 
 the city of their habitation, and the church to which 
 they belonged. Your revered pastor was the last of 
 these godly men—the remnant of a generation that 
 
 is now passed away—the representative of pastors 
 
 E 
 
58 
 
 whose praise was in all the churches, and to the re¬ 
 collection of whom the heart clings with fond at¬ 
 tachment. 
 
 As a man, he possessed qualities and powers that 
 fitted him for acting an important part in life, and 
 for rising to distinction among his brethren. With 
 an understanding acute and vigorous in a high de¬ 
 gree—with a judgment sound and prompt in its deci¬ 
 sions—with an imagination capable of discovering 
 whatever is sublime and beautiful in the whole regions 
 of human thought, and with a heart tuned to the finest 
 sensibilities, and habitually exercised in adoring com¬ 
 munion with his God, and endearing intercourse with 
 those connected with him,—he must have left an im¬ 
 pression on the minds of all who enjoyed the happi¬ 
 ness of his friendship or affection, which no distance 
 of time shall be able to efface. 
 
 They cannot but remember him as a man of high 
 intellectual attainments—of unimpeachable honour— 
 of strict integrity—of steady friendship—of amiable 
 manners—of uniform consistency—of exalted piety— 
 of holy life—and of eminent usefulness. I do not, 
 and dare not say of him, that he was without faults 
 and failings and sins. If I were to do so, I should 
 contradict the Word of God, and offend against the 
 generation of His children. But I may say of him, 
 that “ he was an example of the believer in word, 
 in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 
 
 It had pleased the Lord to cast his lot in very 
 important and trying times, when events took place 
 that greatly agitated men’s minds, and led to strife 
 and contention among brethren. While he Avas 
 keenly alive to the importance of these events, and 
 
50 
 
 entertained very decided opinions respecting them, 
 yet was he enabled “ to maintain a conscience void 
 of offence towards God and towards man,” and to 
 give no offence in any thing that the ministry might 
 not be blamed. 
 
 The whole tenor of his life possessed a character 
 of sacredness, that beautifully harmonised with his 
 office as a minister of the gospel. As the morning 
 of his days was full of promise, so the meridian was 
 bright and the evening blessed. His sun went down 
 without a cloud to mar the beauty of the horizon, 
 and without a shadow of suspicion attached to his 
 character. He was respected and loved while he 
 lived, and he died full of years and of honour. His 
 memory will be preserved as a sacred deposit, laid 
 up in the hearts of all who knew him. 
 
 But, my dear brethren, it is as a minister of Christ 
 and the pastor of this people, that I am called on 
 this mournful occasion to speak of him more parti¬ 
 cularly. Instead of referring, however, to my own 
 observation and experience, instead of speaking of 
 the many blessings that I have enjoyed, during a 
 long course of confidential intercourse and ministerial 
 communion with him. Instead of attempting to 
 describe the delight with which I have sat at his 
 feet, and heard him pour out of the fulness of his 
 heart the strains of devotion, and bring forth from 
 his treasures, with glowing eloquence, things new 
 and old; may I not rather appeal to you as the best 
 qualified witnesses of what he was as a preacher of 
 the gospel, and as an ambassador of Christ. You 
 know that the constant subject of his preaching was 
 “ Christ Jesus and Him crucified,” and the great oh- 
 
60 
 
 ject of his ministry to win souls to Christ and beseech 
 men to be reconciled to God,—that he shunned not to 
 declare the whole counsel of God, and kept nothing 
 back that might be profitable to the hearers. 
 
 With respect to his discourses, you cannot have 
 failed to discern their superior excellence. You 
 must have observed the great extent of his knowledge 
 in the things of God, the originality and solidity of 
 the thoughts, the evangelical strain of the sentiments, 
 the clearness of the method, the beauty of the lan¬ 
 guage, the brilliancy of the illustrations, the force of 
 the reasoning, and the affection and faithfulness with 
 which he pressed home his subject on the consciences 
 and hearts of the hearers. 
 
 But you have had opportunities not only of appre¬ 
 ciating the excellency of his public instructions, but 
 of enjoying his private ministrations. You have seen 
 him enter your dwellings as the messenger of peace 
 and consolation, that he might sympathize with you 
 in all the varied circumstances of your condition, 
 and lead you to a more correct acquaintance with 
 your own hearts—to a closer walking with God, and 
 patient waiting for Christ. You know that his ear¬ 
 nest and abiding desire was 44 to give heed unto 
 himself and to his doctrine, that he might both save 
 himself and those who heard him.” 
 
 But, my brethren, if any of you should entertain 
 doubts upon the subject, or be disposed to say that 
 you do not know all this, then I must tell you , that 
 this very house, which was reared by a lady of 
 blessed memory, and in which so many of Zion’s pil¬ 
 grims have found a refreshing place to help them on 
 in the way, shall testify against you, for it hath heard 
 
61 
 
 the many gracious words that were spoken—the 
 faithful messages delivered—the affectionate exhor¬ 
 tations and fervent pleadings used—and the holy 
 wrestlings with the Lord that He might give His 
 blessing, “ which maketh rich, and with which He 
 addeth no sorrow.” “ The stone shall cry out of 
 the wall, and the beam out of the timber, shall 
 answer it,” and tell that the congregation worship¬ 
 ping in this place during the long and faithful minis¬ 
 try of your late pastor have received a sum of gospel 
 doctrine, and an amount of spiritual privileges, that 
 have scarcely been surpassed, if they have been 
 equalled in any place of worship in this city, or 
 throughout this highly favoured land, and that a 
 fearful condemnation shall overtake those who have 
 enjoyed those advantages, and yet have neglected to 
 improve them. 
 
 My dear brethren, “ I hope better things of you, 
 and things that accompany salvation, although I thus 
 speak.” When I call to remembrance the venerable 
 and dear persons that I have seen occupying places in 
 this church, and think of what they were in their day 
 and generation, I cannot but indulge the confidence that 
 they and their beloved pastor are again united in the 
 kingdom of their Father, and become “ pillars in the 
 temple of their God to go no more out!” And when I 
 see other aged disciples here that have grown up under 
 his ministry, and almost “ reached the measure of 
 the stature of the fulness of Christ;” and younger 
 ones “ bringing forth the fruits of righteousness, 
 which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of 
 God ;” and others still who, “ as new born babes, de¬ 
 sire the sincere milk of the word, that they may 
 
02 
 
 grow thereby,” my heart is filled with joyful emo¬ 
 tions in the prospect of the goodly company who 
 shall be to him as a crown of joy and rejoicing in 
 the day of the Lord Jesus.” 
 
 At the close of a long life of activity and useful¬ 
 ness in the work of the ministry, the Lord was 
 pleased to grant to your revered pastor a short 
 season of repose before he was called hence. During 
 that interval, the words of the apostle might be re¬ 
 garded as the distinct and daily language of his con¬ 
 dition. “ I am ready to be offered, and the time of 
 my departure is at hand.” That was his position, 
 and he had arrived at it by the same path that was 
 marked by the footsteps of the apostle Paul. In his 
 own sphere of obligation and of duty, it was given 
 unto him to shew that he was animated by the 
 same spirit, and that he walked in the same steps. 
 And therefore he might also say, “ I have fought a 
 good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept 
 the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a 
 crown of righteousness.” 
 
 Who can doubt, my brethren, that he has now en¬ 
 tered into the joy of his Lord ? Oh ! how sweet to 
 the hearts of his mourning friends is the confidence, 
 that the Master whom he loved, and honoured, and 
 served, while here, has now taken him to himself— 
 that he might rise from the sanctuary below to 
 that which is above, and engage in the services of 
 the New Jerusalem, and join in the halelujahs of the 
 blessed. While we are permitted in this manner to 
 indulge the mingled emotions of sorrow and of joy 
 suited to this occasion, let us not forget to put our 
 confidence in the Lord. “ The Lord liveth, blessed 
 
63 
 
 be our rock.” He has shewn His regard for this por¬ 
 tion of His vineyard, by calling to the charge of it 
 a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly 
 dividing the word of truth ”—one who has already 
 given proof of his ministry, and whose desire it is, 
 “ by manifestation of the truth, to commend his doc¬ 
 trine to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 
 
 Let me call upon you to strengthen his hands and 
 encourage his heart by giving regular attendance on 
 his ministry, and by “ giving yourselves entirely un¬ 
 to the Lord.” Strive together in prayer to God, 
 that a double portion of the spirit of him who walk¬ 
 ed with God and is not, because God took him, may 
 descend upon his successor !—and that this vine¬ 
 yard, which the Lord’s right-hand hath planted, may 
 continue to be as a well-watered garden, and as a 
 field in which the Lord doth take delight—that there 
 may ever be found in it many trees of righteousness, 
 the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified! 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 Printed by Balfour and Jack, Niddry Street. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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