My dear Friends,-God, "whose way is in the sea, whose path is in the great waters, and whose footsteps are not known," has, in infinite wisdom, thought fit to remove your valuable and beloved pastor; and knowing it to be the wish of his afflicted widow, for whom I have long entertained a brotherly affection, I appear on the present occasion, to offer upon his death some considerations, which may, by the Divine blessing, lead you to improve the mournful event. When God speaks, we are bound to hear— and whether his language be that of mercy or of judgment, we are alike called upon to pay it marked, prompt, and persevering attention. There is not only meaning, but instruction, in every thing he says and does; and therefore we are called upon to seek a knowledge of his will and a submission to his authority, both of which are indispensably necessary to our peace. The holy Scriptures ought, at all times,to have the influence upon us which their Divine inspiration and authority demand :-but this is not the case : we are such blind creatures, that we cannot see afar off-we are occupied about the things which are near, be they ever so trifling, delusive, or transitory: hence the day of prosperity is a dangerous day-a day in which we are apt to forget the" Author and Giver of all good things' day in which pride exercises over us a powerful swaya day in which we forget duty-a day in which we manifest impatience a day in which the heart is unwatched and the life uncontrolled a day in which the thoughts are so removed from every thing that is solemn, and serious, and instructive, that it frequently becomes a season of declension to the servants of God, and too generally a season in which the impenitence of

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his enemies is awfully increased. If this representation be correct, then is the Lord merciful in afflicting; for in the day of adversity men are often led to consider; then is it "better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting "then ought we, on the present occasion, to call upon the Almighty and say, ،، So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Of all the changes to which man is subject, that which takes place in death is the greatest and most important, whether it be regarded as a departure from this world, or an entrance into an eternal one. "0 Death! how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions!" To such a person, death comes in a terrific form; the very mention of his name harrows up the soul; his lightest footsteps diffuse terror through the accusing conscience: he banishes rest, and peace, and hope, and unrelentingly demands his prey. To parley with him is vain, to resist him impossible; he never yet missed his aim, and no shield ever yet blunted his dart his work of destruction never ceases, and he respects not the names, the talents, the influence, the characters of men. He visits every habitation, from the stateliest palace to the lowliest cottage-and at the same moment, his destructive power is felt and witnessed in regions as distant from each other as the East is from the West: in short, he wages war against the human race, and in that war "there is no discharge." But is it in the sickness, and pain, and languor, and surprise, which are more or less connected with death -or is it in the consciousness of losing every earthly possession, that the great misery of death consists? O no! "the sting of death

is sin," unrepented, unpardoned sin. This it is which makes the departure grievous-this it is which fills the soul with fearful anticipations this it is which defies the wisdom of man when it would attempt to find out a cure for so tremendous a malady! But is there no hope-no way of escaping the destruction which awaits the impenitent and the unbelieving? Assuredly there is a new and living way, through the great atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. By his obedience unto death he fulfilled in every jot and tittle God's "holy, just, and good" law;-he then entered the grave, that he might triumphantly rise out of it, and be "declared to be the Son of God with power;" that thus he might become the resurrection and the life of all who believe, and that whosoever liveth and believeth in him might never die. In him there, is pardon for the guilty and peace for the unhappy-in his righteousness the spiritually naked and destitute will find a garment which will effectually protect them from the furious blasts of the Divine indignation-and in his Spirit they will find that Almighty Power which can renew, and purify, and comfort them. The sting of death can only be removed by faith in Christ; and that is effectual, as you may find written and proved in the first chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, as indeed throughout the whole of the sacred Scriptures; "neither is there salvation in any other." Let this truth, the knowledge of which is so absolutely necessary for your happiness both here and hereafter, sink deep into your hearts.

To this great truth, so unheeded by the generality of mankind, it pleased God in his abundant mercy to direct the attention of your lamented friend some years ago and from that time he became, as many of you can well testify, conscientious, zealous, useful, and spiritual.

From that time he began to preach fearlessly and affectionately the Gospel of God his Saviour; and many flocked to this church upon the Sabbath-day to hear the glad tidings of great joy announced by one, who in his own soul fully believed and was abundantly comforted by them. Some of you, my beloved, were his constant hearersyou well remember his earnestness in calling upon you to behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world: you can testify how he laboured to exalt Jesus Christ, and to unfold the wonders of his redemption-at the same time, tracing the windings of the human heart-laying open its great wickedness and deceitfulness shewing the spirituality of the law-the inability of man to fulfil it—and the desire of the penitent and renewed sinner to walk in strict conformity to its precepts that thus good works might be brought forth, and God glorified in them. You are now called upon to recollect his repeated messages to you, delivered with all the love and warmth which should ever accompany the addresses of a Christian Minister-for you

will never hear him again. The eye that glistened with delight at beholding this church (erected under his immediate inspection,) well attended, cannot now cast a single glance upon us, or our solemn proceedings; the ear that heard with delight of the extension of the Messiah's kingdom, is for ever closed to all intelligence from earth; the tongue that so often in this place dwelt upon the unsearchable riches of Christ, and set him forth in all the matchless glory of his redeeming love, is now dumb; the heart that felt and was constantly devising plans for the alleviation of human misery, that glowed with gratitude whilst contemplating the labours of the Lord's servants both at home and abroad, that rejoiced. at the increase of piety and activity in the clergy of our church, which

had not within her pale a more disinterested or attached member; that heart now ceases to beat! But does our lamented friend and brother cease to exist? No! He lives" Blessed are the dead which

die in the Lord". "they rest from their labours ;"—and he, whose remains now lie before you, possessed the good hope through grace that lifts up the soul above earth-that gives it wings by which it mounts to heaven. Testimony can be borne to this delightful fact by his weeping family, his afflicted friends, and his kind physicians. Here is a threefold testimony to the fact, that "to him to die is gain." Is it then too much to say that his " eye sees the King of Zion in his beauty," that his ear hears sounds seraphic, that his tongue joins with the redeemed in singing the song, which none else can learn, "Worthy is the Lamb?" Behold what a contrast is here!

Taking our stand upon the sure declarations of God's word, we can say, though his family grieve, he rejoices-though his family suffer great loss, he has received great gain-though his family are tried, he has safely escaped every sorrow, and has entered into rest. It was his anxious wish to have assembled his family around him, like the aged Patriarch, and given to each a word of suitable advice, and to all his blessing-but his strength failed. May the fervent prayer of the faithful and loving husband be heard in behalf of one who was truly an help-meet, that she may be comforted! may the of the prayer indulgent father descend in blessings upon his children! may the prayer of the kind master and landlord be fully answered to his tenantry and his servants!-and

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his prayer for a faithful successor in this parish, be heard and answered by the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls!

One of the greatest blessings which can be bestowed upon a

parish, is an enlightened, holy, active clergyman. Such an one you have had. But his race is run his ministry is ended! The providence is dark and mysterious to us. But we must endeavour to improve it. How often and how sincerely did our departed brother call upon you, from this place, to "seek the Lord while he may 'be found, and to call upon him while he is near!" his death preaches to you, and says the same words; and if his tongue could now speak, how loudly would he reiterate them! Judgment came upon Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Jerusalem, because they knew not the day of their visi tation, because they repented not: the light which was then extinguished has not yet re-appeared: those places are sunk in the depths of infidelity, and their inhabitants, with few exceptions indeed, are utter strangers to that Saviour whose death and miracles constrained some heathens to exclaim! " Truly this was the Son of God"-and whose heavenly discourses drew forth from others the striking testimony, that

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never man spake like this man." Take warning from the doom which appears, from the holy Scriptures, to have come upon the despisers and neglecters of the prophets of the Lord; and let those holy Scriptures become from henceforth your constant study. They contain the words of eternal life. Search them"read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them." They are a sure guide to a happy immortality;and when you come to lie on the bed of sickness and death, when the springs of earthly comfort dry up, and when all the help of man is found to be vain,-then you will want the comfort which they alone can communicate. To those Scriptures, our lamented friend turned every day with fresh delight-and when unable to read, he was employed in hearing and meditating upon them.

His faith worked by love, and

was thus proved to be genuine it was known by its fruits: and whilst in his study might be seen a valuable collection of the most approved authors upon the subject of religion, which he consulted with judgment and constancy, in his office, where he conversed with the poor upon their necessities, may be seen "the coats and garments which he made while he was with them." Many of you can feel more upon this subject than it is in my power to express; and it is my earnest desire and prayer that you may follow him as he followed Christ—whilst he lives in your memory never lose sight of this fact, that the knowledge of his God and Saviour, the resignation to the Divine will, and the patience under suffering which he possessed, were derived from the holy Scriptures,

SERMON FOR

ISA.liv. 13. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children. THE prophet here predicts the enlarged prosperity and privileges of the church of God, as the consequence of the humiliation and suffer ings of the Messiah: "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." Isa. liii. 11.

We may consider,
I. The prediction.
II. Its accomplishment.
III. The consequent effect.

I. The prediction: "All thy chil-, dren shall be taught of the Lord."

There is here a contrast implied between the dealings of Almighty God with his people, under the Old and the New Testament dispensation; and this contrast may be illustrated with reference to various particulars. "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord." God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake unto the fathers by the MAY 1825.

through the teaching of the Holy Ghost.

In discharging the painful duty which has this morning devolved upon me, may I be allowed to mingle my feeling with yours, and to say that I have lost a friend and a brother-one who shared in the most fervent prayers and best wishes of my heart.

Let us not lightly regard the solemn scene before us-let us not, when those mortal remains are committed to the silent tomb, and join their kindred dust, forget, that the same scythe of Death which cut down our beloved brother, may be sharpening for us :-let us prepare for suffering let us be ready to depart, having our iniquities forgiven, and our sins covered, by him who is pre-eminently styled "The Lord our Righteousness.

WHITSUNDAY.

prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." From the creation of the world unto the times of Malachi, a period of 3600 years, a succession of holy men had appeared, each of whom revealing more and more of the mind and will of God, speaking by his authority, were influenced by his Spirit, and rendered instrumental in teaching his people. But the time was to arrive when Jehovah should no longer speak in dreams and visions, or even by the voice of his servants; but when he should manifest himself in a still clearer manner, in the person of his own dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Jehovah Jesus, the great Prophet of his church, who alone could declare, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father also." But the prediction must extend even beyond this period. Even the personal ministry of Christ, though declared to be the Son of God with power, and demonstrated by the Spirit of holiness, cannot be regarded as the precise subject of the

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