culcated, were enforced, notonly | by arguments drawn from reason and revelation, but by the weight and authority of an ilJustrious example of true piety. He manifested that he felt the force of them on his own mind, and that what he taught he fully believed. He went in and out before his flock, evidently in the fear of the Lord, keeping himself unspotted from the world, and carefully abstaining from every appearance of evil. His whole life was a standing testi- | mony against the enemies of Christ, and in favor of pure and vital religion. In every domestic relation in which he stood, he was faithful, kind and affectionate. As one set to watch for souls, he was faithful, zealous and laborious. He spared no pains to promote the cause of his divine Master, and the salvation of sinners. On every favorable occasion, he spake a word for him whose servant he was; and the dilgent attention he paid to the state of his flock, evinced his willingness to spend, and be spent for the good of souls. Neither were his labors confined to his own particular flock; but, with a ready mind, he assisted his brethren on prop er and various occasions. He faithfully consulted the oracles of divine truth, that from this source he might learn the will of God, and the doctrinės which he taught. And what he clearly conceived to be divine truth, from faithfully searching the holy scriptures, he shunned not to declare. ration, of repentance, faith and good works; the importance of holiness in believers as an evidence of grace, and preparatory for future glory; and the certainty that all true saints will be kept by the power and grace of God, through faith unto salvation, were doctrinal truths which he believed, taught, and enforced. He stood boldly in defence of the gospel, and endeavored, with wisdom and prudence to declare the whole counsel of God, rightly dividing the word of truth, and giving to each one a portion in due season. In preaching, he was solemn, pungent and engaged-in prayer, devout and fervent-in conversation instructive in counsel, judicious-in hospitality, rich. His constitution was naturally firm, and had never been essentially impaired by sickness until he was attacked by the fatal mal and his life. This attack, at which terminated his labors, ady, first, not formidable and alarming, by degrees assumed a more threatening aspect, till it put a period to his life, September 19th, 1804. In the death of this truly excellent and worthy man, his family have sustained an irreparable loss, and the church and people over whom the Holy Ghost had made him an overseer, a most severe frown of Providence. Yea, in him a bright star is extinguished, and a pillar fallen in the house of God. During the first part of his sickness, which continued severDivine sovereignty and de-al months, he was greatly op crees, man's absolute depend-pressed with doubts and fears ence on God, election, the total concerning his spiritual state.➡ moral depravity of the human Clearer evidence of grace, and heart, the necessity of regene- a greater degree of holiness and hope (and I think earnestly desire) to see the assembly of the saints again the next Lord's day. I trust I do not prize the house of God the less, by being detained from it. I think of the 122 Psalm.” In another letter to the same friend, written about a month before his death, he writes thus: “My brother, if you could see my heart through these scenes, you would have an idea of weakness, emptiness and unbelief, such as you never had before. If there ever have been, or ever shall be any thing good in me, I am sure I must say, Not I.” were objects for which he pant-through favor I am now better, ed. But in his darkest, and most gloomy seasons, his hope, which was an anchor to his soul, he did not wholly lose; and at times it was strong, almost to assurance. The state of his mind may be more fully learned from his own observations during his sickness, and from some extracts from two letters, written to a ministerial brother in the western country, which I will here insert. The first bears date, Tuesday April 25, 1804, in which he writes thus: “I hope through divine favor, that I am a little better. I yesterday had a visit from Doctor M. of New-Haven. He speaks favorably of my prospectsthinks my case deserving of very careful attention, but not very alarming at present. I pray that I may avoid Asa's sin, which, I think, was not merely seeking to physicians; but in seeking to physicians, and not unto the Lord. To the Lord I desire to commit my case. In his hands, all will be well. I think no sentiment is more habitual with me, than the perfect rectitude of his government; and it seems to me that I do daily rejoice in it. As to the little corrections he his pleased to deal out to me, nothing seems mysterious or strange about them, except that they are so infinitely lighter than I deserve. If I were in the bottomless pit, it would be abominable to murmur or complain-how much more, when surrounded with numberless mercies, and at the footstool of sovereign grace, with the hope of glory, and immortality set before me.I have been detained four sab- clear the darkest skies, &c. baths from the pulpit; but, | Blessed be his name!" | In the same letter, a few days after he adds: “My soul is very much in bondage, but, bless| ed be God, not in despair. Last night I was greatly distressed, and I was almost certain, that a malicious accuser of the brethren, was concerned in it. I got some relief by praying to God against him. This morning Job's case gives me some hope and comfort. I should be sure of light by and by, but this terrible doubting, as to our interest in the promises, cuts off the hand that takes hold of them. May all this prepare me for the rest The next morning he thus writes in the margin of the letter." Not having sealed my letter yesterday, on finishing it in the morning, I am enabled, by the grace of God, to fill this little corner with information, that yesterday afternoon, I experienced one of the pleasantest seasons of light and comfort that I have enjoyed since my sickness."- "The Lord can there is no deficiency on God's part. I never have the least doubt of his sufficiency, ability, or willingness. It is my own vile hypocritical heart, that I fear is deceiving me." These seasons, however, were not of long continuance. In general, he complained much of great stupidity, that he could not think with fixedness and connection, which was to him a great grief. In seasons of darkness, he considered them as evidence against himself. His exercises, in general, were such, as would have afforded him satisfying evidence of a renewed heart in any other person, but he could not see them to be such in himself. He often observed that doubts and fears in his situation, could not be dismissed till a more convenient season, as was apt to be the case in a time of health and prosperity. On the 24th of June, it being the sabbath, he called his sister into his room, at a very early hour, to whom he manifested great distress of mind. He said he had obtained very little sleep during the night, and was much exercised with doubts and fears concerning his spiritual state.-"I cannot," said he, "obtain those clear views of the divine character, for which I long ;" and added many other things naturally arising from his state of mind. He desired to hear a portion of scripture, which was read. Soon after he expressed himself to this effect. "I feel much better. I have seen something of God. I think I have experienced something of those outgoings of soul after him, which David expresses in the Psalms which have been read. Oh! how glorious! how transscendently glorious is God! I can trust myself in his hands for time and eternity. I know he will do right. This is a merciful, refreshing view he has given me of himself; but I long to see more of him," &c. For six or eight weeks, the state of his mind was alternately bright and gloomy. He had two seasons, in particular, of extreme distress, in many respects similar to the one mentioned above. He appeared to have a great sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, his own depravity of heart and life; and said, that his sins seeaned to be set in order before About four weeks before his him. Those committed in child-death, he had some brighter hood 'which had long been forgotten, now came fresh to mind and stared him in the face. Being told, that God was still on a throne of grace, freely dispensing mercy to the humble penitent, he said: "Oh! I know He was tenderly solicitous for his people, and lamented that he was so much deprived of seeing and conversing with them. He desired strength more fully to enforce the doctrines which he had before preached, and now firmly believed. He was always anxious to see his ministerial brethren, and other Christian friends, by whom, he said, God always sent him some cordial. In examining the evidences of his good estate, he could never admit much doubt, in that of love to the brethren. views than at any previous time, which he thus communicated to a friend." You cannot be sensible of the great goodness of God to me, in all his dealings. He has sometimes hid himself till I was almost ready to sink; then he darts some rays of light and comfort into my soul, kindly making me feel my dependence. He has shown me myself, which view I exceedingly needed to humble me. This forenoon I have had such clear, distinct, and admiring views of Christ in all his offices, as I never had before, particularly his kingly office, whereby he subdues us to himself. I think I do most cordially receive and embrace him in them all. How amiable! how glorious!" strong and elevated language. their capacities. for me, that I may have patience tobear, and patience to wait God's time. I know that will be the best time. It is always safe waiting on God." These were com mon expressions. In seasons of great distress, he would say, “ It is my Father's hand, my heav After this, he was free from any particular distress, and enjoyed a happy degree of peace and comfort, in that hope, which before, even in his darkest hours, had been, in some measure, an During two or three weeks anchor to his soul. He, howev-before his death, he was exerci→ er continued to express a long-sed with great bodily pain and ing desire for greater assurance, distress. But his greatest anxand to see more of God. Heiety was, a fear that he should daily wished to hear as much of dishonor God and religion by the bible as he could bear, and impatience. "Oh, for patience! took peculiar delight in the Oh, for patience!" he would Psalms, and in our Saviour's frequently exclaim. "Do pray last discourse to his disciples. He conversed more about the friends whom he expected soon to meet in heaven, than those he expected to leave behind. He manifested an uniform resignation to the divine will, which he would frequently express when his pains were most se-enly Father's hand. That tho't vere. When his side was dres- will sweeten the bitterest cup.' sing, he said; "Now I have a very corruptible body, which will soon become food for worms; but another day, I shall have one incorruptible. What kind of body do you think that will be? It is sufficient for us to know that it will be fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body." On hearing some passages in the life of Mr. P. he said; “I cannot follow him-I cannot use such A few days before his death he said, "I am afraid my will is not wholly subdued to the will of God." Being asked if he wished to recover, he replied, that he felt a reluctance to return, and live in this troublesome world; but "let God's will be done." On Saturday before his death, being in great distress, he said to a friend standing by; "Can this be dying ” A few extracts from his diary Being answered that it would | gled joy. Blessed are the dead not be matter of surprise, if he who die in the Lord. should be released before night, he replied; "That is good-which was written, merely for 'tis a good thought." Sabbath his own spiritual benefit, without morning, being asked, if it would the least idea of its ever being not injure him to see so much made public, will now be added. company as would probably be But here I find a difficulty in in on that day, he replied, "No. determining where to begin and Let as many come as wish it, where to end, each part being and see to what they are coming. nearly alike interesting.-After I cannot preach to them now, ex- he had entertained a hope of his cept in groans and hiccoughs. good estate, and made a public But my situation may be as for profession of religion, he seemcible preaching as any other." ed to enjoy much comfort, excepting at few short intervals, for about a year. After this he had great doubts, and at times, gave up his hope. This was the case great part of the time for three years or more. The general state of his mind, during that time, may be seen from the following extracts from his diary, excepting the first, which he wrote on the day in which he made a public profession of religion, and is as follows. On Monday, after a kind of spasm, he said; My pain was so great just now, that I almost forgot that it was my Father's hand. Do remind me of it in these turns. You do not know how much the thought eases my pain." He observed, several times, that he thought his prospects brightened, as he drew nearer the other world. He of ten spake of the greatness of the change, but viewed it with composure. "Sept. 3d, 1786. I arose this morning, and performed secret devotion with some fervency and satisfaction, but so little that I had occasion to lament it before God. On Wednesday, when the symptoms of dissolution became evident, he was asked if he was sensible that he was dying, and told that his friends viewed him so; he replied; "I believe I The solemn day was now am, though my distress is not come, wherein I was to dedicate greater than it has been before." myself to God, and sit down at He then called for Mrs. Hunt- the table of our Lord. My mind ington, who had, for some time felt calm, serene and resigned; been very weak, and low, and but less affected than I wished addressed her thus: "I am sen- But thanks be to God, that in sible that I am dying, and that the solemn transaction, he gave we must part. I am willing, I me so much willingness, and hope you are also willing. We resolution to be his. I adore shall soon meet again." Here that unspeakable love, goodness his strength failed. Soon after, and wisdom which have found with a mind serene and compos-out a way whereby such an aled, he resigned his breath, and ienated, sinful creature as I, may we confidently believe, exchan- be reconciled to an offended and ged a world of sin and sorrow, neglected Creator. And now, for a world of glory, and unmin-I O God, if I have devoted myself |