father of the faithful, he would "command his children, and his household after him, that they should keep the way of the Lord." As a preacher he made it his care to give to every one his meat in due season. The food which he administered was salutary and nourishing. His sermons did not consist of vain and empty speculations, but of the solid and important truths of the gospel. In his discourses he studiously renounced such doctrines as detract from the grace of God in the salvation of man, or tend to undermine, or lead men to set aside and reject any of the peculiar doctrines of the Christian scheme; and statedly preached the contrary senti ments. sensual delights, here he was ą Boanerges, a son of thunder. It was another property of his preaching, that there was evermore much of Christ in it: And with Paul he could say, "I determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ;" having that blessed name in his discourses, with a frequency like that with which Paul mentions it in his epistles. The Lord Jesus Christ was the loadstone, which gave a touch to all the sermons of this Christian minister-a glorious, precious, amiable Christ was the point of heaven, towards which they still verged. From hence it was, that he would give that advice to young preachers; “Pray, let there be much of Christ in your Ministry." And when he had heard a sermon, which had any special relish of a blessed Jesus in it, he would say upon the occasion," Oh, blessed be God, that we have Christ so much, and so well preached in poor New-England.” His way of preaching was very plain, so as to be intelligible to children; at the same time, being fraught with many important sentiments, it was grateful to the more knowing his hearers. His way among Moreover, he was pleased of preaching was very power- with no preaching, where it ful. His delivery was always evidently appeared, that there very graceful and agreeable--had been a gross defect in studybut when he was to use reproofs ing the discourse. And he and warnings against any sin, would very much commend a his voice would rise into a sermon which he could perceive warmth, which had in it very had required some good propormuch of energy, as well as de- tion of thinking and reading in cency. He would sound the trum- the author of it. He once thus pet of God against all vice with expressed himself to a preacher, a most penetrating liveliness. then just come home from the And it was observed, that there assembly with him ; Brother, was usually a special fervor in there was oil required for the the rebukes which he bestowed service of the sanctuary; but upon a carnal frame of life in it must be beaten oil; Ipraise professors of religion And God, that I saw your oil so well when he was to brand the earth-beaten to-day; the Lord help us ly mindedness of church members, and the allowance and indulgence, which some of them too often gave themselves in 66 always, by good study, to beat our oil, that there may be no knots in our sermons left undissolved, and that there may a clear light be thereby given in | didly speaks of the author as a the house of God." And yet he likewise looked for something in a sermon beside and beyond the mere study of man; he was for having the Spirit of God breathing in it, and with it; and he was for speaking those things, from those impressions, and with those affections, which might compel the hearer to say, "The Spirit of God was here." godly, though erring brother. He strenuously pleaded the cause of those, who could not speak for themselves. While he opposed errors in religion, and contended earnestly for those doctrines and rites, which he esteemed to be founded on the gospel; yet no man could entertain persons of a different persuasions from himself with more candor and kindness than he, when he saw, to his satisfaction, the fear of God prevalent in their hearts and lives. He could uphold intimate correspondence with such men, who, though differing from him in some points not essential to salvation, yet held the head, and were confirmed to the divine Saviour in their temper and conduct. But having once bapti Mr. Eliot had a deep sense of the solemn charge given him by the inspired apostle, in the name of his divine master, "To take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him an overseer to feed Christ's lambs as well as his sheep." He always had a mighty concern upon his mind for little children; and took unwearied pains that Christ might be formed in them.zed the children of professors, One thing of which he was very desirous for poor children was that they might be brought under the bond of the covenant. He very openly and earnestly maintained the cause of infant baptism against a certain denomination risen since the reformation, who deny and strenuously oppose it. He carefully studied the controversy, and found satisfactory arguments in the sacred writings, that the infants of believers are fit subjects to have upon them a mark of dedication to the Lord. he did not, as too many have done, think that he had now done with them: No; another thing, in which he was very laborious was the catechising of them. He kept up the great ordinance of catechising both publicly and privately, and spent in it a great deal of time. He thought himself under a particular obligation to be an instructor of the young. Nor was he ashamed any more than some of the worthiest men among the ancients were, to be called a catechist. He would observe upon John xxi. 15. That In his time a book was bro't the care of the Lambs is one among the people written by third part of the charge over one who was esteemed a pious the church of God. And givman; but it was in oppositioning the right hand of fellowship to infant baptism; by it some to a young minister at his ordibecame disposed to, or confirm-nation, he addressed him in a ed in a prejudice against Pædo- hearty, fervent and zealous manbaptism; and it was not long ner, in these amongst other before Mr. Eliot published an weighty sentences: " Brother, answer to it; in which he can- I art thou a lover of the Lord father of the faithful, he would "command his children, and his household after him, that they should keep the way of the Lord." sensual delights, here he was ą Boanerges, a son of thunder. It was another property of his preaching, that there was evermore much of Christ in it: And As a preacher he made it his with Paul he could say, "I decare to give to every one his termined to know nothing but meat in due season. The food Jesus Christ;" having that bleswhich he administered was sal- sed name in his discourses, with utary and nourishing. His ser- a frequency like that with which mons did not consist of vain and Paul mentions it in his epistles. empty speculations, but of the The Lord Jesus Christ was the solid and important truths of the loadstone, which gave a touch gospel. In his discourses he to all the sermons of this Chrisstudiously renounced such doc- tian minister-a glorious, pretrines as detract from the grace cious, amiable Christ was the of God in the salvation of man, point of heaven, towards which or tend to undermine, or lead they still verged. From hence men to set aside and reject any it was, that he would give that of the peculiar doctrines of the advice to young preachers ; Christian scheme; and stated-"Pray, let there be much of ly preached the contrary senti ments. His way of preaching was very plain, so as to be intelligible to children; at the same time, being fraught with many important sentiments, it was grateful to the more knowing among his hearers. His way of preaching was very powerful. His delivery was always very graceful and agreeable but when he was to use reproofs and warnings against any sin, his voice would rise into a warmth, which bad in it very much of energy, as well as decency. He would sound the trumpet of God against all vice with a most penetrating liveliness. And it was observed, that there was usually a special fervor in the rebukes which he bestowed upon a carnal frame of life in professors of religion: And when he was to brand the earth- | ly mindedness of church members, and the allowance and indulgence, which some of them too often gave themselves in Christ in your Ministry." And when he had heard a sermon, which had any special relish of a blessed Jesus in it, he would say upon the occasion," Oh, blessed be God, that we have Christ so much, and so well preached in poor New-England." Moreover, he was pleased with no preaching, where it evidently appeared, that there had been a gross defect in studying the discourse. And he would very much commend a sermon which he could perceivę had required some good proportion of thinking and reading in the author of it. He once thus expressed himself to a preacher, then just come home from the assembly with him; "Brother, there was oil required for the service of the sanctuary; but it must be beaten oil; Ipraise God, that I saw your oil so well beaten to-day; the Lord help us always, by good study, to beat our oil, that there may be no knots in our sermons left undissolved, and that there may a clear light be thereby given in | didly speaks of the author as a the house of God." And yet he likewise looked for something in a sermon beside and beyond the mere study of man; he was for having the Spirit of God breathing in it, and with it; and he was for speaking those things, from those impressions, and with those affections, which might compel the hearer to say, "The Spirit of God was here." godly, though erring brother. He strenuously pleaded the cause of those, who could not speak for themselves. While he opposed errors in religion, and contended earnestly for those doctrines and rites, which he esteemed to be founded on the gospel; yet no man could entertain persons of a different persuasions from himself with more candor and kindness than he, when he saw, to his satisfaction, the fear of God prevalent in their hearts and lives. He could uphold intimate correspondence with such men, who, though differing from him in some points not essential to salvation, yet held the head, and were confirmed to the divine Saviour in their temper and conduct.-But having once bapti Mr. Eliot had a deep sense of the solemn charge given him by the inspired apostle, in the name of his divine master, "To take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him an overseer to feed Christ's lambs as well as his sheep." He always had a mighty concern upon his mind for little children; and took unwearied pains that Christ might be formed in them.zed the children of professors, One thing of which he was very desirous for poor children was that they might be brought under the bond of the covenant. He very openly and earnestly maintained the cause of infant baptism against a certain denomination risen since the reformation, who deny and strenuously oppose it. He carefully.studied the controversy, and found satisfactory arguments in the sacred writings, that the infants of beJievers are fit subjects to have upon them a mark of dedication to the Lord. he did not, as too many have done, think that he had now done with them: No; another thing, in which he was very laborious was the catechising of them. He kept up the great ordinance of catechising both publicly and privately, and spent in it a great deal of time. He thought himself under a particular obligation to be an instructor of the young. Nor was he ashamed any more than some of the worthiest men among the ancients were, to be called a catechist. He would observe upon John xxi. 15. That In his time a book was bro't the care of the Lambs is one among the people written by third part of the charge over one who was esteemed a pious the church of God. And givman; but it was in opposition ing the right hand of fellowship to infant baptism; by it some to a young minister at his ordibecame disposed to, or confirm-nation, he addressed him in a ed in a prejudice against Pædobaptism; and it was not long before Mr. Eliot published an answer to it; in which he can hearty, fervent and zealous manner, in these amongst other weighty sentences: "Brother, art thou a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ? Then, I pray, feed his Lambs" It would be almost incredible should it be related, what pains he took to instil the truths of the gospel into the minds of the young people of his congregation; and what prudence he used in suiting his catechisms to the age, and different abilities of the children and youth of hischarge. This must be observed, that though there was a very great number of catechisms extant, yet Mr. Eliot took upon himself the labor of adding to their number, by composing some further catechisms, which were more particularly designed as an antidote for his own people against the contagion of such errors, as might threaten any peculiar danger to them. And the effect and success of this catchising bore proportion to the indefatigable industry with which he pursued it. It is a well principled people, that he has left behind him. They are well instructed in the truths of Christianity, and able to defend them against the subtle attacks of seducers. among us! That our schools may flourish! That every member of this assembly may go home, and procure a good school to be encouraged in the town where he lives: That before we die we may be so happy as to see a good school encouraged in every plantation of the country." God so blessed his endeavors that Roxbury could not live quietly without a free school in the town:* And the issue of it has * It were to be wished, that all in public stations in the church, and all other men, especially those of special influence in civil and ecclesiastical sta tions through the states, would unite in using their earnest endeavors that good schools may be set up, and sup. ported every where. I need not say ple in a moral and political view. In of what importance this is to the peothis age and country there is no excuse for neglects of this kind. The legislators in the state of Connecticut have discovered a patriotic spirit by making such large provision for a schools: an example worthy of imipermanent fund for the support of tation. It is common for too many people in one place and another, where no special provision is made by private persons, or public bodies, for the support of schools, to grudge the expense, which will be incurred There was a third instance of by keeping up those that are good, his regard to the welfare of the which generally are, and always children under his charge, and ought to be attended with larger pethat was his perpetual resolution cuniary expense than those that are and activity to support a good poor, or indifferent: But this is an school in the town where he resi- The following anecdote is worthy of ill-judged and unhappy parsimony. ded. He would always have a notice: Aristippus, a Cyrenian phigrammar school in the place, what-losopher, (said to have been cotemeverit cost him; and he importu-porary with Socrates) having counned all other places to have the like. In a synod of the churches, which met at Boston, to consider how the miscarriages among the people might be prevented, he being called to lead in prayer, did with great fervor utter expressions to this purport ;“Lord, for schools every where you buy for your money." Bp. Burnet on Education, p.25. selled a father to see for a good tutor for his son, he was asked, what would hundred crowns; the covetous fathat amount to? He answered, an ther replied, that such a sum might buy him a slave: Well, said Aristippus, bestow your money so, and you shall have two slaves; the one your ill-bred son, and the other he whom |