a great deal of labour and close study, and is • executed with a great degree of exactness and care He has fhewn herein his folid Judgment and Learning, and without any affectation and • needlefs pomp of Criticism, has given the Reader as full a view of the fense of the best interpreters, and as comprehenfive an infight into the scope and meaning of the New Testament, as is likely ever to be met with, in the fame compafs of words. It is indeed a performance too well known, to need any other, than its own recommendation.

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"The Doctor was favour'd with a confiderable 'fhare of health for many years; but in the lat

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ter part of life he was afflicted with a very 'painful Lameness in his Leg, and alfo with a gradual decay of his Sight, till he grew totally dark; this it was feared would have put a period to his public labors, especially as he had always used his Notes at large: But God afforded him his heavenly fupports, fo that with a remarkable degree of Refignation and Chearfulness he perfevered in his miniftrations as health permitted, and that with little fenfible ⚫ inconvenience to any, but himself.

The greatest part of his time among you he had for his affiftant his own and only son, 'the Rev. Mr. William Guyfe, whofe excellent abilities, and agreeable minifterial talents render'd it a thing greatly defired both by the • Doctor and you, for him to have undertaken the office of co-paftorfhip; but by his precarious and imperfect health, and perhaps a too ⚫ modeft opinion of himself, he was deterred from accepting that important Charge, and it pleafed • God to remove him by death before his aged Father, a little more than two years fince. That affecting

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affecting and mournful providence, it was generally apprehended, would have depreffed the good man's fpirits, and unfitted him for farther fervice; but God remarkably supported, and • enabled him with a chearful composure and acquiefcence in the will of God, to fuftain this ⚫ fad and grievous trial. He continued frequently to appear in his delightful work, with his ufual firmnefs and alacrity of mind; and thus he was helped to go on, tho' under fenfible decays of ftrength and vigor, till within a very • few weeks of his deceafe.

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Dr. Guyfe's character and conduct were uni• form and amiable in all the various points of Light. In his religious principles he was fixed, steady, confiftent, and open: He was never ' ashamed to own what he believed; or to vin⚫dicate it, when it was oppofed.-As a Preacher, he was endued with excellent and acceptable 'minifterial gifts: His Compofures were folid, regular, well digefted, and highly fcriptural; his knowledge and readiness in the Scriptures ' were very remarkable, the number of texts he quoted, chapter and verfe, and for the most part repeated with exactnefs, after he had entirely loft his fight; has been the furprize of many. As a Paftor, he was an active, able, loving and faithful Guide and Enfample to his Flock, both in faith and practical godliness: He ftudied the things which made for peace, and godly edifying; and as he had the welfare of his people greatly at heart, fo there are few minifters to be found, who are more honoured ' and esteemed by their people, than the Doctor was by you; and few Churches who have been bleffed with a longer fcene of harmony and peace between your minifters and one another:

E 2

• Give

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Give God the glory, for fo great a mercy, and may you long continue and abound therein, thro' the power of the Holy Ghost.

His natural temper (it is well known) was exceeding fweet, and engaging; and he filled up the feveral relations of life in a most happy and amiable manner. I am warranted by thofe that knew him beft, to affert, that few perfons in the world were more exemplary in Chriftian and relative duties, than our deceafed friend; it was his conftant study to make every one about him happy; the tempers of "fome good people are fuch, that they will not "well bear to be followed home; but it was "greatly the reverfe here; he was always best. "beloved by thofe, who had the opportunity of "knowing the most of him.'

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• This kindness and goodness of natural dispo'fition, heighten'd by a fpirit of real religion, excited him to an activity which render'd his. life very important and defirable. A great number of poor minifters and others applied to him. as their conftant friend and Patron; and you know with what Chriftian zeal and compaffion, he follicited your yearly liberal contribution in. fupport of a fund, for fupplying the neceffities of fuch. Religious young men, who were de'fign'd for that facred office, were also sure to • find in the Doctor a kind and faithful Adviser, Patron, and Friend. And as to other needy and deferving objects, tho' he avoided every thing which might feem oftentatious in the dif ⚫ pofal of his bounty, I am warranted to fay, he had an heart and hand often open to minifter to their neceffities: He made confcience of dif 'pofing of the tenth part of his annual income

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to charitable ufes. I can't well omit one par

ticular

⚫ticular more, concerning the fpirit and conduct • of our valuable friend. When it was judged neceffary, that fome farther measures should be taken, as a means under providence for continuing to the Churches the fucceffion of an able Gofpel-miniftry, the Doctor join'd heart and hand, with thofe worthy minifters and gentlemen who formed themselves into a Society to ⚫ that important End: This worthy Society he continued a member of to his death; and tho 'tis too common a frailty in good men to yield to fickleness and difguft, when every thing is "not conducted exactly to their own wish, the "Doctor's good temper and good fenfe kept him clear from these things; he wifely kept in view the importance and usefulness of the defign, and therefore fteadily perfevered in promoting its interefts: And I truft the friends of Religion among us will continue more and more to encourage and promote fo radical and effectual a fervice for the Churches.'

Such was our much efteemed friend in life: But now, as to the clofing fcene; it is natural to be inquifitive, how did he leave the world? how did the Lord deal with him in his latest moments? Partly from perfonal knowledge, partly from proper information, I am enabled to continue the delightful narrative. His latter End ⚫ to a remarkable degree was peace; he was enabled to leave the world with great compofure, ferenity, and hope of a bleffed immortality. To friends that attended him, in his laft weeks ' of confinement, he witneffed a good, a precious confeffion; he again and again declared his faith firm fixed upon him, who is the Rock of Ages; his hopes were alive towards God, without a diftrefsful cloud; hopes grounded upon the

blood

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⚫ blood and righteoufnefs of the dear Redeemer. Thanks be to God, I have no doubt, no dif ficulty upon my mind, as to my eternal ftate; "if I had, I could not bear what I now feel! "I know in whom I have believed, here my faith "refts; the peculiar Doctrines of the Gospel "which I have long preached, are now the fupport of my foul, I live upon them every day, "and thence I derive never-failing comfort.'

At another time, "How good is my God to "me! how often has he made good to me that "promise, As thy days, fo fhall thy ftrength be. ** His great requeft to the laft, of them that were about him, was to read the word to him, and join in prayer with him; the reading of 2 Cor. 5. was of fingular use and fatisfaction to his mind; on which he commented to this effect: • Ver. 1. For we know that if our earthly boufe • of this tabernacle were diffolved, &c. "Oh when "fhall it be diffolved indeed! when shall this "mortal put on immortality!' Ver. 2. In this

we groan earnestly, defiring to be cloathed upon, • &c. "This, this is my earnest defire; and " and what I am waiting for.' Ver. 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being bur• dened. "For this I groan daily, and ere long "fhall groan no more. Ver. 5. Now he that • bath wrought us for the self fame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the Earnest of his Spirit. "This I have, this I do enjoy, and "therefore am I confident, &c.-1 am not afraid "of Death, I am afraid I fhould err on the other "hand in being too defirous of it.' Thus, on the morning of the Lord's day in which he

died, ftill was it the language of his heart and lips, "When fhall I get thro' this valley?'

* Deut. xxxiii. 25.

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