H I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Loi'd." THE doclrine of a future ftate of rewards and punifhments, lies deep at the foundation of our holy religion : It is a do&rine perfectly con- fonant to rcafon, and fupported by it j and is either afferted, or juftly taken for granted, in every page of the facred oracles. This is the immortality, for the bleffednefs of which we became incapacitated, by our apoftacy from God ; and that.for the enjoy- ment of which, it is one great defign of the religion of Jefus Chrift to prepare us. The whole frame of this religion is wifely calculated for this end. Among the many evidences of thefe truths, we may appeal to the difcourfes of our Divine Mafter; and particularly to this, of which our text is a part. In the preceding chapter, he had given his dif- ciples an inftruftive difcourfe on the certainty and folemntty of his fecond coming. He continues the fuhjtct in this chapter, and enforces the great duty B [ '6 ] of preparation for it, by the parable of the ten vir- gins, from the firfl verfe to the thirteenth ; by the parable of the talents, from thence to the thirtieth verfe ; and by a more particular account of the procefs of the judgment of the great day, from thence to the end of the chapter. The more immediate defign of the parable of the talents, of which our text is a part, is to enforce the duty, and illuftrate the happinefs of being pre- pared for giving up our ac count , when he (hall come to judge the world in fighteoufnefs. You may read it at your leifure. The " man travelling in- to a far country," in this parable, means our Lord himfelf ; who is the great head of his church, which is his family. The "fervants," of whom we here read, mean all profefling Christians ; all who call themfelves the fervants of Chritt, whate- ver their nation or denomination may be ; though fome fuppofe, theMinifters of the Gofpel are more particularly intended. By the talents, we are to understand the vaiious gifts of Heaven, whether of a common or of a fpecial nature. They include the bounties of Pro- vidence, fuch as health, ftrength, reafon, riches, honour, power, learning, reputation, the feveral advantages arifing from our Rations in life ; and, together with thefe, thofe graces of the fpirit that conttitute the Chrifiian temper. Thefe are all fo many talents put into our hands, to be improved for God, and the belt interests of our fellow-crea- tures ; and they are different to different perfons. To one God gives more of thefe gifts or graces, and to another lefs • which is defigned in the para- ble by the matter's giving to one fervant jive ta- lents, and to another two, and to another one. [ 7 ] By " the Lord of thofe fervants coming, after a long time, to reckon with them," we are to un- derhand that particular judgment which every one pafl'es under at death, when their final ftates are determined : and alio, and principally, our Lord's coming to judge the world in lighteoufnefs, at the lad day, " When every one mail receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." At both thefe fo- lemn periods, the faithful fervant of Chrift, what- ever his character and flation in life may have been, mail be received with a " Well done, thou good and faithful fervant • thou haft be*en faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over ma- ny things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." There are two things in thefe words that parti- cularly deferve our notice. The character of thofe who mall meet with the approbation of their Lord, in the great day of final awards ; they have been good and faithful fervants. And the reward fuch fhall receive, on that folemn occafion, from the judge of quick and dead — They fhall be each one received with a " Well done, thou good and faith- ful fervant ; thou haft been faithful over a few- things, I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Agreeably to this view of my text, I fhal], I. Briefly confider the character of the good and faithful fervant of Chrift. II. The nature of that reward here promifed to all fuch, in the great day of the Lord. Let us enquire, [ 8 1 I. What is the character of the good and faith- ful fervant of Chrifl: ? I have already faid, this may be applied either to the difciplcs of Chrilt in general, of whatever nation, denomination, or character in life they may be j or to the Miniders of the Gofpel in par- ticular. I (hall confider the phrafe as including both. And it implies, l. Love to Chrifl and his fcrvicc. — A good fer- vant always loves a good matter. But it is necef- fary to obferve here, that this love to Chrill and his fervice is not found in the heart of depraved man, in his natural itate. We are by nature alie- nated from God j deftitute of every principle of love to him and his fon, Chrifl, in their true cha- racter. The apoftolic defcription of depraved hu- man nature is, " having the underftanding dark- ened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, becaufe of the blind- nefs of their hearts."* Hence arifes the ncceflity of being <: renewed in the fpiritof our mind ; and of putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteoufnefs and true holinefs,t But one of the principal conftituents of this new man is, love to God and his fon, Chrill Jefus. Love to God for his own divine excellence, as well as for the beneficence of his hand, to us — and love to Chrill, as being the " brightness of his father's glory, and the exprefs image of his pcrfon."t The iincere fervant of Chrilt loves both his perfon and his character. His foul is pleafed with him, as he is exhibited in the oracles of truth. " He is the chief among ten thoufand, and altogether lovely in his efteem.§ He loves alio his Jcrvice : He el- * Eph. iv. 18. t ^ r > 2 3> 2 4« I H*?'' »• 3' § Scn & *>• *°> l6< I 9 ! teems his laws to be altogether equal and ju! This is the native effect of his love to hi^ per- fon and his government : " For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and ba commandments are not grievous."* The love wc bear to the perfon of Chriii, in proportion to its prevalence, will not only induce us to obedience, but render that obedience eafy and delightful — We delight to oblige thofe whom we love. 2. The good and faithful fervant of Chrifl loves his fdhw-jervants — lie considers them as children of the fame common father with himfelf : and we read, that " every one that loveth him who begat, lovcth him alio who is begotten of him."t He confiders them as redeemed by the fame precious blood of Chrift ; and £3 the fubjects of the fame fanctifying and comforting influences of the fpirit of grace, which are the common priviledge of every true Chriftian • for " if any man have not the fpirit of Chrift, he is none of his." £ He con- fiders them as engaged in the fame common caule with himfelf ; the advancement of the kingdom of Chrift, and the illuftration of the honour of God in our world. Thefe are the great ends the good and faithful fervants of Chrift have in view, howe- ver they may differ in forne of the modes of pur- fuing them. Yet this difference does not forfeit their love, or deftroy their charity for each other. If the perfon whofe character I defcribe, cannot agree to agree with his brethren, in denomination, or mode of worfhip, he will agree to differ with them — He will agree thev fhould think and a£t for themfelves, in matters of fuch infinite concern j a priviledge he juitly claims to himfelf. And in how many things foever the difciplesof Chrift may * I "John v. 3. 1 1 John v. l, % Rom. Djf*£ n, [ .io ] differ in matters of leiTer moment, they will all agree in loving their Mailer, his honour, his truth, and his fervice — They will agree in adorning their profeffion in all godlinels of converfation. Again — The good and faithful fervant confiders his fellow-difciples as in the fame vale of tears, and in the fame (late of imperfection and trial with him- felf ; and, therefore, that both they and he ftand in need of mutual fympathy, charity, and forbear- ance, one towards another. In a word, he con- fiders them as heirs of the fame future glory with himfelf ; as " travelling to the fame city, which hath foundations, whofe builder and maker is God ; " and that, therefore, they ought not to dif- fer by the way. Of fuch importance is this brotherly love, in the Eftimation of our Lord, that he not only enjoins it unon his difciples as their duty, but as their dif- tinguiming and charaaeriftic duty ; that duty which more Itrongly marks their character as his difciples than almoftany other ; and that by which they are efpecially to diftinguilh themfelves from the men of the world. You, therefore, hear him fay, " A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another ; as I have loved you, that ye alfo love one another. By this (hall all men know that ye are my difciples. if ye have love one to ano- ther."* 3. Diligence in his Lord's work, is another in- , gredient in the charaBer of the good and faithful fervant. You will eahly perceive the abfurdity of a good, and at the fame time a Jlothful fervant, in common life ; and it b ftill more fo in the cafe be^- * John xiii 34; 35. [ II ] fore us. We all have our work in life afligned us, in the courfe of a wife Providence : and this is two fold, our general bufinefs as men and Chrif- tians, and the fpecial bufinefs of our refpective fta- tions. Both thefe are fruitful of a variety of du- ties, too numerous to be recited in this place — They embrace the whole compafs of duty, both moral and pofitive, that we owe to our God, our neighbour, or ourfelves. Nor is there a fingle character we fuftain, or relation we bear, in either of thofe'views, but what is the fource of important duties. And if you confider the variety and mul- tiplicity of thefe relations and connexions, you will readily perceive thefe duties mult be numerous, as well as important. But all thefe are lo many claims on the diligence of the fervants of Chrift; fo many obligations on them to be " not ilothful in bufinefs, but fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord."* We mult be diligent too, that one duty may not in- terfere with another, for every thing is beautiful its feafon. Again — Diligence is implied in the idea of faith- fulncfs ; for the fervant cannot be faithful who is not diligent. No man ever employed a fervant to run idle ; nor can any thing be more contrary to the. delign for which Heaven has made us, than a life of lloth and idlenefs, unlefs it be a life of open and undifguifed prophanenefs. The author of our lives has lufficiently marked the great end for which he made us, upon the aelive powers with which he has endowed us — And this diligence is to be particularly employed in the dilcharge of the duties of our feveral Rations in life. This is one way, among others, by which we are to bring forth fruit to the honour of our Lord. " And herein," * Romans xii. n. L *? ] v. faith our Saviour, " is my father glorified, that you bear much fruit ; i'o mail ye be my difciples."* 4. The good and faithful fervant has ajincere rc- gtird to his tnafiefs honour. This is the end at which he wifhes and ftudics to aim, in all his ac- tions ; agreeably to the Divine command, " Whe- ther ye eat or drink, or whatfoever ye do, do all to the glory ©f God."t And in this the fervant of Chrift accords with his mailer ; the great end of whofe incarnation, atonement, and intercefiion, on the behalf of fmners, was, the illuftration of God's declarative glory. He undertook the vindication of the character and government of God, from the contempt fin had calt upon them ; and in this he fully fucceeded, and appeals to his father, that fo he had done — ° I have glorified thee en the earth ; I have finifhed the work which thou gaveth me to do." iJ You will perceive, then, that to aim at the honour of God, as the higheft end of all our actions, is, in a capital inflance, to have, the "fame mind in us, which was alio in Chrift Jefus, our Lord."§ The true fervant of Chrift regards the honour* both of his character and of his perfon. By the honour of Chrift's character, I mean his honour as mediator ; particularly as the great atonement for fin, and as our intcrceffor at his father's right hand. But to honour Chrift under this character, in a proper manner, is not only to profeis our firm faith in thef'c doctrines, but to accept him as the Lord our righteoulnefs ; it is to irutt in the merit of his 'atonement, as the fole ground of our ac- ceptance in the light of God — Thus the good and faithful fervant of Chrift puts the higheft honour in his power upon him, in the character of a Saviour. He "praiticaliv rifks his very falvation on his ability, fuitablenefs, and vrillingnefs to Fave him*. * John xv, 8, fi Cer«x; 31. j John xvii. 4. §Phil.iL5. C '3 1 I fhall mention but one ingredient more in the character I am at prefent illustrating, and that is, 5. Faithfulnefs in the difcharge of the duties of life. The character under which our tcxl repre- ients the fervants of Chrift, is that of jlewards> with whom their Lord had cntrufted his goods ; to fome he gave more, and to others lefs, to trade withal. But the Apoftle tells us, " That it is required in itewards, that a man- be found faithful."* And you will pleafe to obferve, our textexprefsly Miles the true difciple of Chrift, " a good and jaithful fervant." This faithfulnefs confifts, principally, in a con- fcientious fincerity and diligence in rilling up the duties of our feveral ftations and characters in life. And the great rule by which we are to aft, is the will of our Lord and Mafter. Thus much for the character of the good and faithful fervant. Let us now proceed to enquire, II. What is the nature of that reward promifed in our text to all fuch good and faithful fervants ? And, as it is here defcribed, it implies, princi- pally, the four following things : 1. The acceptance of their perfons with God. — This is implied in the character here given them, and reprefented in the parable, as given them by their Lord, when he calls them to give an account C * 1 Cot, h, 2, C y ] of their fteuardmip, good and faithful fervants. And you will pleafe farther to obferve, they are not only acknowledged as good and faithful, but received with a " Well done, ye good and faith- ful fervants. '' This, indeed, chiefly imports an approbation of their condutt ; but it is no lefs ex- preffive of the acceptance of their perfons. But to eftimate this bleffing in a proper man- ner, it is neceflary to recolle-cl, that as finners, we had forfeited all right to this acceptance with God.and juftly merited his fevere difpleafure. That -we deferve nothing but indignation and wrath, tri- bulation and anguifh, from him, throughout an immortality of woe. Yea, that fuch is the nature of the forfeiture we have made of the Divine fa- vour ; and fuch the juftice of the fentence that binds us down to fuffer his difpleafure, that, it ap- pears not to have been compatable with the honor of God, to reverfc the fentence, and reftore the finner to favour, without an adequate fatisfattion. And the price paid for this blefling, the precious blood of the Son of God, greatly contributes to enhance its value. But how rich the mercy, for an heir of Hell to become, in this way, " an heir of God, and a joint heir with Chrift Jefus !" 2. It implies the approbation and acceptance of iheir ferviccs for Gcd> and his caufe in the world. Every individual among them fhall be received with a ". Well done,* thou good and faithful fer- vant, thou haft been faithful over a few things." Language cannot exprefs the approbation of the great Judge of quick and dead, in ftronger terms. But did our time admit of confidering the many * The original word En, here rendered " well done," has a jorce that tannot lejully expre[kd in eur language. C '5 ] imperfections that attend the very beft fervices performed, by the holielt of our Lord's fervants, tor him, how deeply ftained they are with guilt, it would ferve, not a little, to illuftrate the. riches of that reward conferred upon them, in this accep- tance of their fervices for him. And this farther fuo-gefts, what it is of importance to attend to, that this acceptance of our perfons and fervices, when we come to ftand before unblemifhed purity, is not of merit, but of grace, through the atonement and intercefTion of the Divine Mediator. " It is to the praife of the glory of his grace, that he makes us accepted in the beloved."* But it is never the lefs certain, for its being of grace. This acceptance of our perfons and fervices, is of itfelf a high reward, for all we have ever done, or can do, for God, while in this life, were there none other ; but this is not all — for, 3. This reward implies actual and fuperadded honours, conferred upon the faithful fervants of Chrift, in the great day of God. This is the im- port of " Thou haft been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things." What the nature of thefe honours fhall be, we are not fo clearly taught. Two things, however, feem to be plain refpecling them, in the facred oracles,, namely, That they fhall bear fome proportion to our faithfulnefs and diligence in our Lord's fer- vice here — and, that they ihall be great. They fhall bear fome proportion to our dili- gence and faithfulnefs in our Lord's fervice in this life. We read, " There is one glory of the fun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory * Ephe/ians i. 6„ C tf ] of the ftars ; for one ftar differeth from anoiher in glory — So alfo is the refurreCtion of the dead."* Thele words plainly point us to a difference in the degrees of that glory which (hail be conferred on the feveral fervants of Chrift, in the day when he fhall finifli the mediatorial fyftem, by railing the dead, and judging the world in righteoufnefs. They fhall differ as the fun differs from the moon, and the moon from the ftars, and the liars one from another. But the ground of this difference will be, the zeal, the diligence, and the faithfulnefs with which his fervants have ferved him in this life. I may not fay their fuccefs will have no in- fluence on this difference of reward ; for we read, si That they who turn many to righteoufnefs, fhall fhine as the ftars, forever and ever."J But when we confider, that it is an att of mere fovereignty in God, whether he will fucceed the faithful la- bours of his fervants, yea, or not, it is not fo con- fonant to our ideas of equity, to make it an equal ground of diltinguifhed honours, with thofe things that are voluntary in us, as our faithfulnefs and diligence, in a great meafure, are. Befides, this would be to weaken, if not to deftroy, the en- couragement to diligence and faithfulnefs, arifing from thofe proiniles of reward to them, fo fre- quent in the oracles of truth ; efpecially as the moll: diligent and faithful fervants of Chnft, are not always the molt fuccefsful. And it farther deferves our notice, that the reward conferred, in our text, on the good fervant, is founded, not on his fuccrf, bat on his faitk/ulnefs : " Thou halt been faithful over a few thing;), I will make thee ruler over many things." I fhall only add, under this particular, that the parable of the ten pounds, eotriifted bv their Lord * i Cirixv.^if 42. + D.anul xii, 3. [ >7 ] to the ten fervants, which you have in the nine- teenth chapter of the Gofpel by Luke, fufficientlv demonilrates, that the rewards that fhall be con- ferred on the fervants of Chrift at laft, will not only differ in their degrees of honour, but that this honour fhall bear a proportion to their dili- gence and faiihfulnefs for him in this life. They each one received one pound a piece, as you may perceive by reading the parable. Of thefe, one, by his diligence and faithful nefs, had gained ten pounds, and he is made ruler over ten cities. — - Another, by his diligence, had gained five pounds, and he is made ruler over five cities. You will pleafe to obferve, the Aims entrufted to thefe fervants were the fame ; but the improve- ment is reprefented as different, and that the dif- ference in the reward, is proportioned to the dif- ference in the improvement. The lov/eft degree, however, of this reward fhall be very great to thofe who receive it. This appears, from the images ufed in Scripture, to il- Iultrate its nature. It is compared to, it is illuf- trarcd by, all the glories of royalty. Hence we read of " a crown of righteoufnefs,''* and of " a crown of glory , that fadeth not away,"t that fhall be conferred upon all the fincere difciples of Chrift. Of a throne 3 and their fitting upon that throne ; "To him that overcometh, will I grant to fit with me on my throne, even as I alfo over ame, and ?m let down with myFather in his throne. "J We al- fo read of a kingdom, and their entering on the pofleflion' of that kingdom : " Come ye blcffed of myFather, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."! Agreeably * a Tim, v .8, f i Pd. v. 44 Rev. in. 21, 5 Matt. xxv. 34, [ »« ] to this, the good and faithful fervants of Chrift are laid to be made kings and priejls unto God.* But a throne, a crown, and a kingdom, are the fummit of earthly grandeur, the utmoft reach of so ' human achievement. And yet thefe, all thefe, fall infinitely fhort of the bleflednefs and honours, in fure referve for thofe whofe character I have defcribed : for it is written, " Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart, of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."f 4. The reward in our text includes the mojl con- fummate happinefs>in the immediate prefence and frui- tion of a God in Chrift. This is imported in that phrafe,"£nter thou into the joy of thy Lord. "Thefe are, literally, " Joysunfpeakable,and full of glory." They include all that happinefs that is derived to the fpirits of juftmen made perfect, from the cleareft knowledge of a God in Chrift ; from the molt perfect conformity to him, and the fulleft enjoy- ment of him. By the clearejl knowledge of a God in Chrift, I do not mean a ptrftB, knowledge of him ; for " Who, by fearching, can find out God, or know the Almighty to perfection V\ But I meafi the fulleft knowledge of him, that the then enlarged, and daily enlarging, Capacity can pofli- bly receive 3 and which, when compared with our prefent knowledge, will be in afenfe perfett. The clearnefs, precifion, extent, and latisfactory nature of this knowledge, are ex^reiTed, in Scripture, by ••' feeing no more darkly through a glafs, but face to face; and knowing,even as alio we are known. "^ And by the ftrong expreffive phrafe of " feeing God's face."5 *4 Rev. ?'. | 1 Ccr, [ii. 9. $ Job xi. 7. § I Con xiii. 12, 'i.iltv.. xxii6 . C '9 ] This knowledge of God, efpecially as fliining in the face of Chrift, is one principal fource of that confumnaate happinefs, enjoyed by glorified fpirits. They know him as their God and porti- on, and as fuch their delightful experience recog- nizes and realizes him. That is an inftru&ive and emphatical phrafe, as it lies in the original, Rev. xxi. 3, laft claufe — which, literally rendered, runs thus, " And God himfelf ihall be with them, their God ;" that is,exhibiting and manifefting himfelf to them, as their God, in all the ways that their fouls, now arrived at the maturity of their exiftence, both in a natural and moral view, can poflibly admit. Every power of the matured mind mall be an avenue, through which bleffednefs lhall flow into it, from God, the fountain of bleffednefs, through- out an unwafting immortality. I may not, I dare not undertake to defcribe the nature of this happinefs. I (hall only obferve refpeQing it, that our text ftiles it " the joy of our Lord" — \* Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"— This, no doubt, means, the joy of our Lord Chrift. It is the joy of our Lord, becaufe it has been pur- chafed by him. This reflefts a peculiar glory upon it, in the eftimation of the fpirits of juft men made perfect ; it mfufes a divine and exquifite relifh in- to it— to this accords their fong to him, " Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the feali thereof ; for thou waft flain, and haft redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."* Again--It is the joy of our Lord, becaufe Chr ill % our Lord, has taken pofejion of it m the name of * Ra>. v. a. [ to ] his people — Some of his laft words to his difcip'', s were, " I go to prepare a place for you.' J t He rofe from the dead, and afcended to glory, not in the character of a private perfon, but as the cove- nant head and representative of his people — This is the character in which " he has entered into Heaven, as the forerunner for us. "J It is alfo the joy of our Lord, becaufe it is de- rived from God, to the happy [ubjefts thereof, through Jefus Chrijl, as the bond of their union with him, and the medium of their inter courfe with him — And this will continue to be the cafe throughout a bleffed immortality. And, laftly, It is the joy of our Lord, becaufe it is a joy of the fame kind with that which the glo- rified human nature of our Lord himfelf fnares ; fo far as they fhall be capable of it — What lefs than this car. be the import of that ftrong phrafe, " Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chrift."§ Nor is this all, They fhall enjoy it in the fame manfions of bleffednefs, which he himfelf inhabits. This is his promife to them, " I will come again, and re- ceive you unto myfelf, that where I am, there ye may be alfo."^ And his availing prayer for them is, " Father, I will, that they alfo whom thou haft given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haft given me."^§ Agreeably to which, we read, " They fhall ever be with the Lord."! And now from all this, you will nothefitate to conclude, that this joy muft be a compleat and an everlafting joy. And, what can it be more ? \ Jvhnxiv. %. XHeb.vhao. § Rom.viii. 17, ^Jvknxiv.$, $§§ /til - xi .•:. 24.. jl Theff% iv. 17. [ 2i y My brethren, you will eafily perceive this fu.b-. jeel teaches us, the nature of the religion of jefus Chrift. It forms its happy fubjects to a proper temper and a proper conducl towards God and their neighbours. It makes them good and faith- ful fervants to their Matter, who is in Heaven. It teaches them their duty, and inclines and enables them to comply with it. Its dofrrines and pre- cepts, its promifes and threatenings, are powerful principles of a&ion. Thus it is that divine truth fanctihes the human heart, agreeably to our Lord's prayer, " San&ify them through the truth ; thy word is truth."* You will farther obferve, this religion not only teaches us our duty, and forms us to it, but re- wards us, in the molt glorious manner, for this our very duty — Rewards us with an immortality of bleffednefs, in the full enjoyment of the Father of our Spirits. How grand, interefting, and digni- fied the fcenes it opens beyond the grave ! Do any of thofe fyftems of morality, which the fons of infidelity wifti to eftablifh, independent of the facred Scriptures, furnifh fuch motives to virtue ? Motives fo rational and fo calculated to influence ? It is revelation alone that pufhes its incentives beyond the grave ; that pufhes them home to the inmoft feelings of the human heart ; that embraces every fpringof aftion, even the molt fecret; and touches them in the moft tender, juft, and energetic manner. Again — This fubjeel fuggefls matter of great en- couragement to the people of God, and efpecially to the minifters of Chrift,to be faithful and diligent D * Jvhn xvii, 1 7. [ n i in the work afligned them in life. Our Lord marks, with an omnifcient eye, all our conduci towards him ; and while he reprehends our floth and unfaithful nefs, he encourages and rewards our tneaneft fervices for him. " A cup of cold water given to a difciple, in the name of a difciple," he affures us, " fiiall in no wife lofe its reward."* Let us, then, (hake off our (loth ; let us up and be doing : Our work is great ; our time is fhort, and our reward glorious. Nor is there a (ingle Chriftian, however private his ftation, or obfcure his character, but what may, fome how or other, ferve the interefts of his Lord in the world. This he may do by a confcientious difcharge of the du- ties of the devout, but efpecially of the duties of the focial life. This will exhibit religion in a jult point of light to the furrounding world, and glorify our Father, who is in Heaven. They may alfo be ufeful in and by the duty of prayer ; fecret and family prayer. Our God is a God who hears prayer ; and he, no doubt, (beds many ablefllng on his minifters, on his church, on the commonwealth, and on the world, in anfwerto the prayers of his humble, though obfcure, friends. " Therefore, my beloved brethren, feeing God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love" — " Let us be liedfaft, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forafmuch as we know our labour is not in vain in the Lord." But it is time I fnould haften to obferve, that this fubjeft (tronglv applies to the occafion of my addrefling you this day — The death of that ve- nerable man of God, \vho prefided, with fo much dignity, over this iniiitution for twenty-fix years. • Matt, x. 42. [ *3 3 This great man was defcended from a refpe&a- ble parentage ; which had long poffeffed a confi- derable landed property in the eaft of Scotland. His father was minifter of the parifli of Yefter, a few miles from Edinburgh, where he was born on the fifth day of February, 1724.* This worthy man was eminent for his piety, his literature, and for a habit of extreme accuracy, in all his writings and diicourfcs. This example contributed not a little to form in his fon that tafte and that love of accuracy, united with a noble fimplicity, for which he was lb diftinguiihed through his whole life. He was fent, very young, to the public fchool at Had- dington : His father fpared neither expence nor pains in his education. There he foon acquired reputation for his affiduity in his ftudies, and for a native foundnefs of judgment, and clearnefs and quicknefs of conception, among his fchool-fellows : many of whom have fince filled the higheft (tations in the literary and political world. * Dr. Withtrfpoon was lineally defcended from that eminent man pfGtd, ike Rev. Mr. John Knox, whom Dr. Robtrtfon fliles, " The prime inflrument of jpreading and efiablijliing thl reformed religion inScotland.'' The genius, learning, piety, zeal,and intrepidity of this great man,rendered himfngularly qualified for the diflinguifhedpart he bore in that inter efling event. It is recorded of Mary, Queen of Scots, that fhe faid t " She was more afraid of John Knox's prayers, than of an army of ten thoufand men." Worn out by inceffant labours, he died on the 27th day of November, 1572, in the 67th year of his age. Ihe Earl of Morton, then Regent of Scotland, who attended his funeral, pronounced his eulogium in a few coords ; the more ho- nourable for Mr. Knoxy fays the above hiftorian, as they came Jrom one whom he. had often cenfured, with peculiar feverity, " Here lies he who never J eared the face of man." Mr. Knox's daughter Eliza- beth married the famous Mr. John Weljh, who flrongly refembkd his father-in-law in genius, character, and vfefulnefs in the church : And in this line Dr, Wuherfpoon defcended from this honourable an' ceflry. L *4 ] At the age of fourteen, he was removed to the univerfity of Edinburgh. Here he continued, at- tending the different profefTors, with a high degree of credit, in all the branches of learning, until the age of twenty-one, when he was licenfed to preach the Gofpel. In the theological hall, particularly, he was remarked for a molt judicious tafte in fa- cred criticifm, and for a precision of idea and perf- picuity of expreffion rarely attained at that early period. Immediately on his leaving the univerfity, he was invited to be affiftant minifter with his father, with the right of fucceffion to the charge. But he chofe rather to accept an invitation from the parifh of Beith, in the welt of Scotland. Here he was ordained to the work of the gofpel miniftry, and fettled with the univerfal acquiefcence, and even with the fervent attachment of the people : A cir- cumftance which, under the patronage that un- happily exifts in that church, is but too rarely the cafe in the fettlement of their clergy. His cha- racter as a preacher, which rendered him fo ac- ceptable and popular, will come more naturally before us in another place. Let it fuffice to re- mark here, that, always interefting and inltruclive in the pulpit, he was afliduous in the difcharge of every parochial duty when out of it. And his preaching generally turned on thofe great, diftin- guifhing, and practical truths of the gofpel, which, in every Chriftian country, mod affett and attach the hearts of the great body of the people. From Beith he was, after a few years, tranflated to the large and flourishing town of Paifly, fo ce- lebrated for its various and fine manufactures. Here he refided in the height of reputation and ufefulnefs ; and riveted in the affections of his peo- I 2 5 ] pie, and his fellow-citizens, when he was called to the prefidency of this college. During his refidence at Paifly, he was invited to Dublin, in Ireland, to affume 'the charge of a nu- merous and refpedable congregation in that city. He was alfo called to Rotterdam, in the Republic of the United Provinces— and to the town of Dun- dee, in his own country. But he could not be in- duced to quit a fphere of fuch refpeaability, com- fort, and ufefulnefs. He rejeded alfo, in the firft inftance, the invitation of the truftees of this col- lege. He thought it almoft impofliblc for him to break connexions at home, that had been fo long endeared to him— to violate all the attachments and habits of the female part of his family— to leave the fcene of his happinefs and honour— and, in his middle career, to bury himfelf, as he apprehend- ed, in a new and diiiant country. But warmly urged by all thofe friends whofe judgment he moft refpeaed, and whofe friendfhip he moft efteemed— and hoping that he might repay his facrifkes, by greater ufefulnefs to the caufe of the Redeemer, and to the interefts of learning, in this new world— and knowing that this inftitution had beenconfecrated, from its foundation, to thofe great objeBs to which he had devoted his life, he finally confented, on a fecond application, to wave every other confederation, to crofs the ocean, and to take among us that important charge to which he had been called, with the concurrent wifhes, and the higheft expeaations, of all the friends of the college.* Their expeaations have not been * Dr Witherfpoon arrived with his family at Princeton in the month of Augujt, , 7 68. Be ua s fat ftxth Prcfident of the Colltit fince Us foundation in theyear 1746. His predeceffors u^theRL Metfrs. Jonathan Dickcnbn, Aaron Burr, Jonathan Edwards, I * ] difappointed. Its reputation and fuccefs, under his adminiftration, have been equal to our mod fanguine hopes. Almoft the firft benefit which it received, befides the eclat, and the aecefhon of ftudents, procured to it by the fame of his literary character, was the augmentation of its funds. The college has never enjoyed any refources from the ftate. It was founded, and has been fupported, wholly by pri- vate liberality and zeal. And its finances, from a variety of caufes, were in a low and declining condition, at the period when Dr. Witherfpoon arrived in America. But his reputation excited an uncommon liberality in the public ; and his perfonal exertions, extended from Maffachufetts to Virginia, foon railed its funds to a flourifhing ftate. The war of the revolution, indeed, after- wards, proftrated every thing, and almoft annihi- lated its refources ; yet we cannot but with grati- tude recollect, how much the inftitution owed, at that time, to his enterprizs and his talents. But the principal advantages it derived, were from his literature ; his fuperintendancy ; his ex- ample as a happy model of good writing ; and from the tone and tafte which he gave to the literary purfuits of the college. In giving the outlines of the character of this great man, for I attempt no more, I fha.ll begin Samuel Davies, and Dr. Samuel Finley — Men defervedly celebrat- ed for genius, learning, and piety. Mr.Diclanfon and Mr. Edwards were advanced in lift token choftn to the pufidcncy. Net long before Dr. Witherfpoon left Scotland, and while in fuf pence refpecl'uig his duty, a gentleman, jjtqjfetfed of a conjiderablt property, an old bachelor, and a relation oj the family, promifed t9 make him his heir, if he would not go to America. [ V I with obferving, that perhaps his principal merit appeared in the pulpit. He was, in many ref- pe&s, one of the beft models on which a young preacher could form himfelf. It was a lingular felicity to the whole college, but efpeciaily to thofe who had the profeflion of the miniftry in view, to have fuch an example conftantly before them. Religion, by the manner in which it was treated by him, always commanded the refpecl of thofe who heard him, even when it was not able to engage their hearts. An admirable textuary, a profound theologian, perfpicuous and fimple in his manner ; an univerfal fcholar, acquainted deeply with human nature; a grave, dignified, and folemn fpeaker, he brought all the advantages derived from thefe fources to the illuftration and enforce- ment of divine truth. Though not a fervent and animated orator,* he was always a folemn, affeft- ing, and inftruaive preacher. It was impoffible to hear him without attention, or to attend to him without improvement. He had a happy talent at unfolding the ftria and proper meaning of the fa- cred writer, in any text from which he chofe to difcourfe ; at concentrating and giving perfeH unity to every fubjed which he treated ; and pre- * A peculiar affeBion of his nerves, which always overcame him when he. auowed himfelf to Jed very fervently on any fubjecl, obliged him, from his earlujl entrance on public life, to impoje a flriR rel- traint and guard upon his fenfibiltty. He was, therefore, under th? neceMty of fubfntuling gravity and ferioufnefs of manner, in public jpeahtng, in the room $f that fire and warmth, of which he was well capable, by nature; and which he fo much admired in others, when managed with prudence. He never read his fermons, or vftd fo much as Jkort notes, in the pulpit. His prance was, to write his fnnons at full length, and commit them to memory ; but not confine himfelf to the precife words nehad penned- He often took great liberties, in the delivery of his difcourfts, to alter add to, or abridge what he had written; but this never infringed upon the pitted accuracy. r 28 ] fenting to the hearer the moft clear and compre- henfive views of it. His fermons were diftinguifhed for their judicious and perfpicuous divifions — .for mingling profound remarks on human life, along with the illuftration of divine truth — and for the lucid order that reigned through the whole. In his difcourfes, he loved to dwell chiefly on the great doclrines of divine grace, and on the diftin- guifhing truths of the gofpel. Thefe he brought, as far as poffible, to the level of every under- standing, and the feeling of every heart. He fel- dom chofe to lead his hearers into fpeculative dif- cuflions, and never to entertain them by a mere difplay of talents. All oftentation in the pulpit, he viewed with the utmoft averfion and contempt. During the whole of his prefidency, he was ex- tremely folicitous to train thofe ftudious youths, who had the miniftry of the gofpel in view, in fuch a manner, as to i'ecure the greateft refpeftability, as well as ufefulnefs, in that holy profeflion. It was his conftant advice to young preachers, never to enter the pulpit without the moft careful pre- paration. It was his ambition and his hope, to render the facred miniftry the moft learned, as well as the moft pious and exemplary body of men in the Republic. As a writer, his ftile is fimple and comprehen- sive — his remarks judicious, and often refined — his information, on every fubjefct which he treats, accurate and extenfive — his matter always weighty and important — clofely condenfed, and yet well arranged and clear. Simplicity, perfpicuity, precifion, comprehenfion of thought, and know- ledge of the world, and of the human heart, reign in every part of his writings. Three volumes of effays, and two volumes of fermons, bef;des feveral detached difcourfes, already publifhed — and treat- [ 2 9 ] ifig chiefly on the mod important and praBical fubjects in religion — hive defervedly extended his reputation, not only through Britain, Ireland, and America, but through molt of the proteftant coun- tries of Europe. His remarks on the nature and effects of the ftage, enter deeply into the human heart. We find there many refined obfervations, after the example of the Meffieurs de Port-Royal in France, not obvious to ordinary minds, but perfectly founded in the hiftory of man, and the itate of fociety. The pernicious influence of that amufement on the public tafte and morals, was, per- haps, never more clearly elucidated. On the follow- ing interefting fubje6ts, the nature and necejfity of re- generation — J.ujiijication by free grace y through J ejus Chrijl; and the importance of truth in religion, or, the connexion that fubfijls between found principles and a> holy practice, there is, perhaps, nothing fuperior ia the Englilh language. But Dr. Witherfpoon's ta- lents were various. He was not only a ferious writer, but he poffefTed a fund of refined humour, and delicate fatire. A happy fpecimen of this is Teen in his Ecclefajlical Charatlerijtics. The edge of his wit, in that.performance, was directed again!! certain corruptions in principle and praQice pre- valent in the church of Scotland. And no attack that was ever made upon them, gave them fo deep a wound, or was lb feverely felt. Dr.Warburton, the celebrated Bifhop of Gloucefter, mentions the Characteriuics with particular approbation, and exprefies his wifh, diat the Englifh church, as Ihe needed too, had likewife fueh a corrector. This may be the proper place to mention his general character, as a member of the councils and courts of the church, and the part particularly that he took in the ecclefiaftical politics of bis native E [ 3° ] country. The church of Scotland was divided in- to two parties, with refpeQ: to their ideas of eccle- fiaftical discipline. The one was willing to con- firm, and even extend the rights of patronage — the other wifhed, if poffible, to abrogate, or at lead limit them, and to extend the rights and influence of the people, in the fetilement and removal nf rainifters. The latter were zealous for the doc- trines of grace, and the articles of religion, in all their ftrictnefs, as contained in their national con- feflion of faith. The former were willing to allow a greater latitude of opinion ; and they preached in a ftile that feemed to the people lefs evangelical, and lefs affefting to the heart and confcience, than that of their opponents. In their concern, like- wife, to exempt the clergy of their party from the unreafonable effecls of popular caprice, they too frequently protected rhem againft the juft com- plaints of the people. Thefe were Ailed moderate men, while their antagonists were diftinguifhed by the name of the orthodox. Dr. Witherfpoon, in his church politics, early and warmly embraced the fide of the orthodox. This he did from con- viction, and a fenfe of duty ; and, by degrees, acquired fuch an influence in their councils, that he was confidered at length as their head and lead- er. Before he had acquired this influence, their councils were managed without union and addrefs, white the meafures of the moderate party had, for a^long time, been conducted by fome of the greateft literary characters in the nation. It had happened among the orthodox, as it otten does among fcru- pulous and confcientious men, who are not verfed in the affairs of the world, that each purfued inflex- ibly his own opinion, as the diflate of an honcft confcience. He could not be induced to make any modification of it, in order to accommodate it to the views of others. He thought that all addrefs [ 3' 1 and policy, was ufing too much management with confcience. Hence refulted difunion of mea- fures, and confequent defeat — But Dr^ Wither- fpoon's enlarged mind did not refufe to combine the wifdom of the ferpent with the harmlejfnefs of the dove. He had, probably, the principal merit of creating among them union, and harmony of de- sign ; of concentrating their views, and giving fyflem to their operations. One day, after carry- ing fome important questions in the general affem- bly, againft the celebrated Dr. Robertfon, who was at that time confidered as the leader of the op-, polite party, the latter faid to him, in a pleafant and eafy manner, " I think you have your men better difciplined than formerly." "Yes (repliedDr. Witherfpoon) by urging your politics too far, you have compelled us to beat you with your own wea- pons." We have feen him in our own chur.ch judicato- ries, in America, always upright in his views — re- markable for his punctuality in attending upon them — and able to feize, at once, the right point, of view on every queftion — able to difentangle the moft embaralTed fubje&s — clear and conclufive in his reafonings — and from habit in bufinefs, as well as from a peculiar foundnefs of judgment, always conducting every difcuffion to the moft fpeedy and decifive termination. The church has certainly loft in him, one of her greateft lights ; and, if I may ufe the term in eccleiiaitical affairs, one of her greateft politicians. Before entering on his talents as a prefident, fuf- for me, in a lenience or two, to call to your mind his focial qualities. When not engaged in the great and ferrous bufinelTes of life, he was one of the moll companionable of men. I'urnilhed with a rich fund C 32 ] of anecdote, both amufing and mftru&ive ; his mo- ments of relaxation were as entertaining, as his fe- rious ones were fraught with improvement. One quality remarkable, and highly deferving imitation in him was, his attention to young perfons. Me never fuffered an opportunity to efcape him of imparting the raoft uicful advice to them, according to their ctrcumftances, when they happened to be in his company. And this was always done in fo agreeable a way, that they could neither be inattentive to it, nor was it poffible to fcrgct it. On his domeftic virtues I (hall only fay, he was an affeaionate hufband, a tender parent, and a kind maf- ter ; to which I may add, he was a fincere and a warm friend.— But, I haften to confider him as a febolar, and a direQor of the fyftem of education in the college. An tiniyerfal fcholar himfelf, he endeavoured to eftablifh ihe fyftem of education in this inftitution, upon the moft extenfive and refpectable balis, that its fituation and its finances would admit. 'For- merly, the courfe of inftruaion had been too fu- perfkial ; and its metaphyfics and philofophy were too much tinaured with the dry and uninftruaive forms of the fchools. This, however, was by no means to be imputed as a defe6>, to {hole great and excellent men, who had prefided over the in- ftitution before him ; but rather to the recent ori- gin of the country—the imperfe&ion of its fiate of iociety— and to the ftate of literature in it. Since Ins prefidency mathematical fcience has received ab extenfion, that was not known before in the American feminaries. He introduced into philo- iophy, all the moft liberal and modem improve- ments of Europe. lie extended the philofophlcai fcourfc to ci^race the general principles of policy C 33 ] and public law ; he incorporated with it a found and rational metaphyfics — equally remote from the doctrines of fatality and contingency — from the barrennefs and dogmatifm of the fchools — and from the exceffive refinements of thofe contradic- tor, but equally impious fe8s of fcepticifm, who wholly denv the exigence of matter, or maintain that nothing but matter exifts in the univerfe. He laid the foundation of a courfe of hiftory in the college — and the principles of taite, and the rules of good writing, were both happily explained by him, and exemplified in his manner. The Jlile of learning, if you will allow me the phrafe, has been changed by him. Literary inquiries and im- provements have become more liberal, more ex- tenfive, and more profound. An admirable faculty for governing, and of exciting the emulation of the voung gentlemen under his care, contributed to give fuccefs to all his defigns, for perfecting the courfe of inftruciion. The numbers of men of ciillinguimed talents, in the different liberal pro- feffions, in this country, who have received the elements of their education under him, teftify his fervices to the college. Under his aufpices have been formed a large proportion of the clergy of our church ; and to his inftru&ions, America owes many of her mod diftinguifhed patriots and legif- lators*. Thus he proceeded, guiding with uncommon reputation and fuccefs the courfe of education in this inftitution, until the war of the American revo- lution fufpended his functions and difperfed the college. * More than thirty mrmhns of th< congrefs of United America, Jince the formation of that illuflrious body, have been (on s ej the col- lege of Neio-Jerfey ; and amongfl theft, fome of their Jirjl characters for teputation end ufefulnefs. L 34 ] Here he entered upon a new fcene, and ap- peared in a new character; widely differing from any, in which he had been heretofore prefented to the public. Yet, here alfo, he (hone with equal luftre; and his talents as a legiflator and fenator (hewed the extent and the variety of the powers of his mind. There are few foreigners who can, with fuch facility as he did, lay aiide their preju- dices, and enter into the ideas and habits of a new country, and a new ffate of fociety. He became almoft at once an American, on his landing among us, and in the unjuit war which Great-Britain waged againft us, he immediately adopted the views, and participated in the councils of the Ame- ricans. His diltinguimed abilities foon pointed him out to the citizens of New- jerley, as one of the moft proper delegates to thru convention which formed their republican conltitution. In this ref- pectable affembly he appeared, to the aftonifhment of all the profefiors of the law, as profound a civi- lian, as he had before been known to be a philofo- j)her and divine. From the revolutionary committees and conven- tions of the ftatc, he was lent, early in the year 1776, as a reprclentative of the people of Ncw- Jerfey to the congrefs of United America ; he was fevenyears amember of that illuMrious body, which, under providence, in the face of innumerable dif- ficulties and dangers, led us on to the cftablifhment ofour independence. Always firm in the moft gloomy and formidable afpefts of public affairs, and al- ways difcovering the greater! reach and prefence of mind, in the moll embarralfing fituations. It is impoffible here to enter into all his political ideas. It is but jultice however to obferve, that on almoff all fubjetis on which he differed from the C 35 1 majority of his brethren in congrefs, his principles have been juftified by the refult. I {hall (elect only one or two examples. He conflantly oppofed the expenfive mode of fupplying the army by commifjion^ v/hich was originally adopted; and combated it, until after a long experience of its ill effects, he, in conjunction with a few firm and judicious afib- ciates, prevailed to have it done by contract.* He oppofed, at every emifiion after the firft or" fecond, and even hazarded his popularity for a time by the ftrenuoufnefs of his oppofition, that paper currency which gave fuch a wound to public credit, and which would have defeated the revolution, if any thing could.t In the formation of the original confederation, he complained of the jcaloufy and ambition of the individual ftates, which were not willing to entruft: the general government, with adequate powers for the common intereft. He then pronounced inef- ficacy upon it. But he complained and remon- itrated in vain. J * Congrefs at firft fupplied the. army by allowing a certain comiruf- fion per cent, on the monies that the. ccmmi/fioners expended. This in- vited ex-pence. At length they were induced to agree to the mode by contract ; or allowing to the purchaftr a certain fum per ration. f In/lead of emifp.ons of am unfounded paper, hyond a certain quantum* Dr. Witherfpoon urged the propriety of making loans, and ejtabliflxing funds for the payment of the intire.fi ; which in the tem- per of the public mind, he thought could then have been eafily ejjetled. simerica has fince regretted that jhe had noi purfued that policy. The. dcclcr afterwards, at the inflav.ee of fonif of the v. ry gentlemen who oppofed him in congrefs. puUif.ed hi., idea* on tht nature* value and vfes of money* in one of the mofl char and judicious ejfays that, per- haps, was eve) written on the fuhjttf, X He particularly remonnra'cd .-gait,;} the tardy* inefficient and fahhleft manner oj providing for 'the public exigencies and debts, by [ 36 ] C rruled however, at that time, in thefe and in oil -i objects of importance, he had the fatisfac- tion or living to fee America revert, in almoft every instance, to his original ideas — Ideas founded on a jour. J a. id penetrating judgment, and matured by- deep reflection, and an extenfive obfervation of racn and things. But I forbear to trace his politi- cal career farther ; and fhall only add here, that w tile he was thus engaged in ferving his country in the character of a civilian, he did NOT lay aide his minijiry. He gladly embraced every opportu- nity of preaching, and of discharging the other du- ties of his office, as a gofpel minifter. This he considered as his higheft character, and honor in life. The college having been collected as foon as poffible after its difperfion, inflruclion was recom- menced under the immediate care of the vice-pre- fident.* Dr. Witherfpoon's name, however, con- requifition on the [aural flatts. He in fi fled on the propriety and nt- ceffity, of the government of the union holding in its own hands the entire regulation of comtnerce, and the revenues that might he derived from that fource. Thefe he contended would be adequate to all t/ie wants oj the United States, in afeajon of peace. * The reverend Dr. Samuel S. Smith, who was vnanimoufly clwfen Dr. Wither/boon's fuccejfor, en the fixth day of May, 1795. This gentleman 's charafl.er needs no tulogium in this place. His fever a I publications, and particularly his ingenious effhy on *' The caufes of the variety of complexion and figure oj the human fpechs" ddivertd before the Philosophical Society, in Philadelphia, February 20th 1787, afford fufficient tefiimony of his genius and learning. The la ft mentioned work has difliiituijked him in the ejlnr.ation of the literati, both in Europe and America, sis foon as it made its appearance in Europe, it was read with avidity — it flxoitly pajjed under more edi- tions than one in Great- Britain — it was tranjlated into the French language, and publified, with great eclat, at Paris — and has been fince tranjlated into the German language, and publijhtd with anno- tations, by a profejfor of moral philofophy. in our of the urdvzrf.tiis of that empire* C 37 3 rinued to add celebrity to the inftitution ; and it has fully recovered its former reputation. The glorious ftruggle for our liberties drawing to an honourable period, and the do&or feeling age advancing upon him, was defirous of refigning his place in congrefs : and would have fain retired, in a meafure, from the burdens of the college. But notwithftanding his wifh for repofe, he was induced, through his attachment to the inftitution, over which he had fo long prefided, once more to erofs the ocean to promote its benefit. The fruit of that voyage was not indeed anfwerable to our wifhes ; but we are not the lefs indebted to his en- terprize and zeal. After his return to this country, finding nothing to obftruft his entering on that retirement, which was now become more dear to him ; he withdrew, in a great meafure, except on fome important occa- fions, from the exercife of thofe public functions that were not immediately connected with the du- ties of his office, as prefident of the college, or his character as a minifter of the gofpel. Aecuftomed to order and regularity in buftnefs from his youth, he perfevered in his attention to them through his whole life. And I may add, there was nothing in which his punctuality and exa£tnefs were more lacredly obferved, than in the devotional exercifes of the chriftian life. Befides the daily devotions of the clofet, and the family, it was his dated practice to oblerve the lad day of every year, with his family, as a day of fading, humilia- tion and prayer: and it was alfo his practice, to I'd apart d^ys for fecret fading and prayer, as occafion fupgeded. F [ ss ] Bodily infirmities began at length to come upon him. For more than two years before his death, he was afili£led with the lofs of fight; which contri- buted to haften the progrefs of his other diforders. 'i hefe he bore with a patience, and even a cheerful- i\eh, rarely to be met with, in the inoft eminent for wifdom and piety. Nor would his aOive mind, and his denre of ufefulnefs to the end, permit him, even in this iituation, to defift from the exercife of his miniitry, and his duties in the college, as far as his health and ftrength would admit. He was Ire- tjuently led into the pulpit, both at home and abroad, during his blindnefs; and always acquitted himfelf with his ufual accuracy, and frequently, with more than his ufual folemnity and animation. And we all recollect the propriety and dignity with which he prelided at the la It commencement. He was bleii with the ufe of his realoning powers to the very laft. At length, however, he funk under the accumu- lated pieifure of his infirmities ; and on the 15th day of November, 1 794, in the feventy third year of his age, he retired to his eternal relt, full of honor and full of days — there to receive the plaudit of his Lord, " weli done thou good and faithful fer- vant, thou halt been faithful over a few things, be thou ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." N I S. |"i -••J"