FOR THECENTISEL. ST\\z foUirviiT^ Eir.iy was wrote auJ pv-.blin^eJ imrr.e- f'i •', = !/ after the jjjrc.it fne, March 20, 1 ';6o, and is now icpiiSliihri! ns a ),>licJihle to the Incc Conflagration ] T.\\l \incert^iiJy of h'lman life, t)ie tranfitory nntiire a')J contiiural /icirikiuies olthi^ jiicf;Mit Hate of hemj; .'uul of all cnjoynisus and [loirdiiotis in it, are truths io well l;n'>wn 10 every ilioug'thil pcrfon.anci have Ui ofu^a Veen the fuhjeJ^s of j-KllciciuS writers i 1 all ages, that the Jlro-i;;^ft iavenricri cr.n perhaps foarctfi id any thin j ncvv »() nifjr, an.l a m">i'ell Milfe with re!uf]^ance ir.iiiertakes ih* ihCTic- : Vet f.ich is the frailty of human nature, tliat %vhcn a fuJJoi; Gutaftrophe furioun.ls us thenrmd isfliu- , tiTcJ an 1 vlifoiicirted, and does not r-*aJily collc:fl th.)fe rcfle('^in:is fjiiable to the occafj.jn, or elie by Jiav'ing hr>f ,1 nfid tv) negieil {wz^-i reflirtiorts, froTi a conception t'lat tliey mnft needs flo'.v naturnlly from Aich calamities !•. Ihoujj proJucc them, the rr.inJ ihroi:j;h. difufe^ may ■.')t inn!Tne;!i,ite!y conceive thrm wlien \v:intv-i.l. It is 'ru;, ihtf V'):cc of nature has al'vvays hsen the fame, is co'iUnuHlIy founding, and unuerrto )d by iill ; yet Aran2.5 to fay, what we heur t!ic oftcnef^, we attend to the lea't, and wliat wc ar^ fhc rmft cert.^in of, we give the leaH: Iieed 10 ; hut there a'"e times whe-i g^ini provi- dence fends a lo ider fammons by th:" flrn2:;;les of natiircr'! nnd prj-;laims thr,fc- truth";, wluchthongh they could not < opcra:;^ hy :he iaip.Trtancc of tlklr nature, yet ipny force their zf^^^ by ro i^in^; tlie palhons ; hut here frailty a- jV^ia tak.es. place', from extreme thoujiitlsr.ncis, t;-;c paf- fioa? b ;ing ronz:d, wc ri'Hi on to confufion and error'; I like pilots jrowinj^.carclcfs by a long ralm,we liesr hy th.e cafl o.f paffion, i.iftj.-id of th.e comjj.ifs of underftanding) hc-cdiefii of the port of truth, and i-,egligent of thofe du- ties to which tho paiTi )ms were only d:/ric;i.e<.l In urge o ,, To point f())th and f imiU ivife thefe tra'.h'jhasbeen the ^t'cll handled fu hjesfl of the beft writeis; hut \jt'!)ile na- t jrs contin jes tu fuTj.-non, and t!ie wifdv)in (;f lier voice i rciTiains in any uie.ifure n.cgledcd, the tiierre cannot be tiuly cxhauftid, nor the re;->etltion of it neidlefs. Forllicfe ends, this Eiriy is prefented to the public vinv, if it pafs u id^r the ja igojent of abJe mincis, tliey will actpiiifce in any truth, and at let'.ft rr.ny Tro 11 Iience t lice a hint for nobler thoughtj-"; befidc-;, rhcre is a fat- i:,fa(^t.ion wcall feel in giving ve;3t to t!ie tl)r«ibbings of tliC horumjJiud in colleaijig'tofom? ordV-r.thofet.ho'.^ghts Tvliioh final through tlie mind on fuch occafiflns. L-H this then he the apology ; but if fiill any one fh)i:l.l cenfarc na? for treading in this unaccufloin.^d path of v/.:ting, I niuft nnit tha difpute and fcrecw mvfclf be- /.cath the horrors oFfhat never tobe forgof.cn night,nlien x'l". fi.x^r^ bro'ce loafecn our hcufe-;, and laid fo large a pa: I i)f our capital m ruins: lam fcnfible that p.aintcd 1^1 r'u-. ili-becoTT; re a! forrow, and are never to be u fed l-.i: w!;en tlie palTnns n:-e fluggifh 5 and tlieref-jre paf- (v\z over thatn-nple fie'd for defrriptujn, which the late uuliappy cataflropheafTcjrds, fnall confine myfelf to thofe I'^S-r fads wliicli no body flionld he igiqrnnC of, and V. ,th wl:ich every body mud n«uUhe affeacd. It ^v?.s then in the firft vvatclif.s of the morn'ng, v lien our bodies were fift fit.tered v.ic'i fouad^ift flccp, that the fiie wa=i firil difcovered, and the town r.l.MTneJ njth ?.n oiit-cfv ; the inliahitants were fpeedily colledied, snd though the fire was f!)u:id in the cell.lr of a brick, houft^ vet it fojn eat throush tts prifon ; the wiiid blowiiig ire^h nrg-d on the fiamei, and with furprifjng fury they ravaged in fpijLe of a!l oppofition or means to fn|>prefs tham ; tlie cinikrs and burninr; ruins were carried to the leewardmoft part of the town, by mesns of which fonie who thought t!iemfe!ves in no dai.ger, were tliC fooneft confumcd, and tlie inhabitants of tliem being r;at!iered to p.rnn: at the held of the /ire,fuJtered tlie greatcHiolTcs at thsir own hDufes,- t'ne like evil happened to numbcis of traJefmen, whofe fiiops iverefcj quick fuel fofthe flames, tilat their tools and ftock. were all confumed before they could repair to them ; in fi;me places we beard tlio I Jbricks of mothers and children rouzed from their beds ijy the furroundinj flimes, and no man to.I:elp ; h'^re '\;-e niijfht behold thd -.^get.], the fick and the bed-rid, whofc di{\-ancc fynm the feat of th- fire t^ave them hopes of fe- cv'.rity, driven forth CO t!ic inchmeneies of the wearher,not knowing wliere to fhelterj there we miglit feetliofs v'.'hofe leaft-tho-.Jvhts were placed on their fuoftance, und whofe greateft anxiety was to fave their lives : Thus iMged thi? iire, forcKij its way at the windows of brick houfes, whofe flat^d roofs were thought a A).fi.-;ent de- fence, thui adding burning to burning, till it left no building nnconfvimed where the wind would let it pafs. The natural horrors of the night added terror to this cataftrophsj and at once rendered it more thfnial to the eye, more grevious to be born, and more dirTicuk to bs fuprelTed, till the odious nigl.t wore out, and wirh it vanifhsd the heiglit of our f;iars ; but not f* aie reality of our forrovv, t!ie rifen fun affuaged the glosm. of the night, but gave us a difmal profpcct of its h.avock ; a f;ie6lacle (hocking to fenfibility ! Like the blaftsd trees fif fummer* or the fksleton of fome delightful body ; yet far lefs ungrateful to the fight than forrowfal to be re- f.jfled on. Take a furvey tlien of thsfe extended ruins , here once lived the loyal fubje(5l, the tender father, the obliging friend, and a go3»d commonwealths-man; but their habitations, as with one fwecp ,of a fcytlie, are rdl cut off, and they thrown on tl:e charity o'f their friends : And is this all ? Alas there at eilill more, heari- ])i3rcing-fceries ; walk through the ruin?, and take a n:ore particular account ; here lived the laborious tradef- m.\H, on whufs daily induftry depended the fuflenance of a fium^rous family ; there lived one whofe ciicum- Itances were ftraitened with poverty, and diftrKlfed by ficknefs : hccQ 'ived one jnil eni:,;jr,nT uC'ti indigence, .atVi reapingthe firil fruits of honsfl indnllry ; tlierelivfid thofc whofe comfoi table circumllances amjided a refuge for th3 needy: and an habitation fot the friendtefs ; hero lived th.>fe whofe fabfiftence depended on their frtuation ( for bafuicfs ; there lived thofe whofe all was ip their houfes, and here tliofe who are ftill unhappily aafwera- blc for all they loA j there lived, and there v.-as the fub- fiftonce of thtt agad and infirm, whofe frugal indiifcry in youth, had procured them the minted fupport of eafy old age,whea the body nnftrang for labor can no longer fup- port itfelf^ — But all cut off, their induftry appears no more, and the fatigues of youth overtakes them,n'hen age fhould be at reft ; the children muft bag, and ti.a indufliiuus muft be dependent, tiie forehanded repeat his toil anew, and the debtor lay at mercv ; the friendlefs muft feek for otUer patrons, and they wlio pitronized implore coin- pafuon ; the afflvient a,»ed muft forget ih?ir cafe, ?.nd loo foon lofe the benefit of that fubftance which they could not carry hence. c ji .5 '~ — . S 2 5 S-^ « :^ c- §J 4-i J2 " ' " ^ v.. c cj w (U M G"^ i!l ~ V ^ ^ ■— '6 Whfr? (ball Die mifer beno'.v his hoardftor t,ie cx- .ner his ill gor.en cuns, or ])ow f.iall flie worl.lly | fcciirc Ins h;."pincls u lu-n flames lurrouiul them j lutcpi'.lHrNof firrak. which v/e beheld fl»>at.ng to • iVy wet at oncecnV.l n a u'al uf v^r poifefiions a^a ,-iivc of their lofi: liuc whnt f-»y thefe mighty vu- ihcy ri'eiv v.: rt how micei t.iin atsnurc we hol-.l oar ments, for Dfxi ur/Jer a fove reign j.rov.dence we :, indv!.t--J even to the ftaMhcy of the wiml that it did noi \ nry .-ind roll the C.imes over i!ic whole town. \\ nh I.ovv much eafc then c:\n we fhifc the fcene ana fuppofe ouilelves in the filurition of t'.e prefent diftrcfled ; ut>s iKHjr FO)Jncf>, orvicila-ue tii.it protcdcv. us ? And if btiucd--ftrovcd, uc lliould have felt foi row ; hemg fo narrovv'.y favcd can we f..il to me't with fympailiy ? and If c.-ci t!ie goMan rule was capable of a benevolent appl'- , ; •) t'lt moft infcrfjblc mull now feci it, aiid tl»e n.olt '.:ncd put it in piafiice ; and he who on this occa- . .. .'o-tr.Dt b:-f^ow bjniUifuUy to the relief of tlie inmie- j diaie h.fT^TCrs, mnft eitlkerflatt'tr himfelf wjih fuir.c pe- { cv.\\.\c infall'ble proteiflion, or being defoerate in ; incfs, bid a bold defiance to ail calamity. Nor . ny one, though nut immediately expofed to this -fiion, r:r itiO' (hrtant from this capital, furmifethat ive no pyt in its general admonition ; 'tis natuie's ., .,i!:at ucll known herald of the Almighty which ! ,' It b>! now utltrrd here, yet echoes every uhcre ; 'tis Mt one 1 \ih of that amazinj fcourge, brandifhed by tlie .?.'.)■} r.f vcngca-icr, agaii.ft a guilty world ; the fame fire 1. iv parch uo t'lat land which it does not confume, aivl ■: -;;i'|.»3kes make iH (Ufplation u'orfe tlian tlie j rcfcr.t; ( 'j'Tiefoie wc are common tenants of a fVat^ varicgalef! !'. joy and fnrrow, nerhiaks '^s natural v.e fhould in : me a Cure (hare the good of it which wc all want, ;j we are e(j\!.\lly expofed to the evils of it, under . ; h we all defii e tf> l(e i cUcvLd. ( ', rr.y fi.jl, whnt a t!iou?ht a'lifes ! can it vith truth be' ' '., th^t any in liurnnti Oiape, though their du!;-; fCipport robbery, fhould hirk forthr canfiifiOnot a public calani- , jnd plundir the prop-rty of the di'VeU'ed.; or that any - c3ol deliberation, upon wh.itloever pretence, Ibould ci- |.i'Mickly or priwt ly difcount^nnnce that relief to (he -rlTed vKirh wc rr.iv all at fo.nc time want,and which hu- ty fug;c{\«; ? forbid it hcv/rn ! . '. a;, VIC fojourn in avilc of tears, forrovv on every Td? ..r-Tjndsus, and lalls f.»r tlofe duties whi.h v/e feci im- '•:'.r;d m out natures, duties fo endeliably erp,ravcn, th it a r'.cn fail, " In rolhin* do we more imrr.i:at.c the ir'mor- ''/0-l% than in doing a£ls of Iri.ndncfs," ths voice of rcve- ri 15 ftiil mere explicit, and fo plain, that te who nm? ■read. PofTcfTicns tzkc to themfclvcj wines ; to what — -^Ic ii it ihcn, tlmi v.e diilrcfs, perplex and corrupt our . .l%in petting r.cakh, the polufHoii of which i"? fo preca- r - IS > V.'jth what face can w; fweH w;lh the conceit of riches r- 1 alViimc air« of irr.poTtanrc, difdain, opprefs, rnd tyran- ; Iff over lhf»lc Ucpcaih us (perhips only) in fortune, when a fc^v hour? may fet us all on a level ? Hew inucli does it become 1 ' while in jfF.uence to demean cuil'elve* with li<' h honefty, '-.inity and beneficence, as that if cal.imily Ibould over- j • ,:•: u% v"e may fland c.V>^ Paftor of the Weft-Church in Boston. ** The fwcet remerabrancc of the just *' Shall ilourifh when he flceps in duft. " Psalm CXII. 6. BOSTON'. printed by Richard Draper, in Newbury-Strcct Edes and Gill, in Queen-Street ; And Thomas and John Fleet, in Corahill. MDGCLX. J*V J^ i*y^ <<% i¥ic i¥i^ ^•^ ^'*t^ j-fk ^>^l^ »-«3^ jf*l5j ^v/^ ^l|, ^•ri^ ^"f^ ji*K ^ « T*r ^4? ^.♦.r 't*^ 1** ''J' ^ "^ ^ -'^ '*«^' "•*J' ^«-*" 'A'^ '■-^ ■**!' ^^"^ ''-♦^^ '«.■■' ■^ **■ ' «^ ^♦^^ ^^-^ '**"■ "'-*^ ^ Funeral Difcourfe. I Samuel xxv^ i. And Samuel died, and all the Ifraelites were gathered together^and lamented him, and buried him in his houfe at Ramah — - WOULD to God ( if I may fo ex- prefs myfelf without feeming to blame thefovereign will and wifdom ) Would to God, I had not fo melancholy an occafion as I have, to de- fift at prefent from the profecution of that important fubjeft, on which I have for fonie time been difcourllng ! ButGod, who B doeth A FU N ER AL docth his \vill in the armies of heaven, and amongft the inhabitants of the earth, hath, in his holy and infcrutable provi- dence, given me this occafion, by the death of an honorable perfon lately be- longing to this fociety. And altho' 1 have ever had, rather an averfion to, than any fondnefs for, the common pradice of making long encomiums on the dead, con- Tidcring how often they are proftituted, fo as to pafs with many people, even when they happen to be juft, for little or nothing more than words of courfc ; vet I thought you would hardly excufe me, and, indeed, I could not eafily excufe myfelf, if I neglecled to take a particular notice of the life and death of fo diiiin- guiflied a pcrfoil as JudgcSEWALL; or did not endeavour to lead you into fome pro- per refledions on this difpenfation of di- vine providence. But in truth, tho' I know not well how to be filent on this occafion ; yet, on the other hand, I am io deeply touch'd, fo penetrated hereby, that I hardly know how to fpeak For alas! one, indeed the far better pan of my heart, feems torn away from me, while the other is left wounded, panting and bleeding. So that if my difcourfe iliould appear broken and unconneded, your can- dor DISCOURSE, dor will, I hope, raggeft fome apology for me. Whatever I fhall fay of this excel- lent perfoa's chara6ter,will be the genuine dictate of my heart, not the fruit of lludy or invention ; for forrow,yoii know, does not aim much at being corretl, or methodical, I had indeed reafon to love and honor him as my father ; tho', fo great was the humility and condefcention of that good man, that had I even call'd him my friend, or brother, I beUeve he w^ould fcarcely have been offended at it. And it would be a juft and great reproach to me, if I did not now fincerely love and honor his memory ; and fhew fome public refped: to it ; efpecially fince the doing this, by recolleding fome of his many good quali- ties, may be a means of exciting us all to imitate his virtues. And fmce the mouth fpeaketh out of, and according to, " the abundance that is in the heart ; '* I muft, in juftice, forewarn you that my difcourfe on this occafion, unlefs my fpirits and flrength fhould quite fail me, will be con- fiderably longer than it is ufual for me to be. But amidft all my forrow, and great heavinefs of heart, I (hall have at lead one confolation ; that of affuring myfelf, as I go along, that whatever, almoft, I may B2 fay 8 A FUNERAL fay in honor of this excellent man, none of my auditors will think mc cxceffive in his enlogiirm ; but heartily join with me in paying this public regard to his memo- ry ; which will be fome alleviation of n>y grief. And, as an introduction to the defign which has been mentioned, of making fome reflections on the life, charader and death of the worthy perfon lately deceas'd; it Icems not am its to make a few obfervati- ons on the life, character and death of Samuel, many years the chief judge and magiflrate of Ifrael; one of the moll ex- cellent characters which we meet with amongll thofe of the ancient worthies ; .and therefore, as it is conceived, the more fuitable to introduce what is propofed as the main bufinefs of this difcourfe. It is not defjgned,how^ever, either to give a large, and' very particular account of Sa- muel, or to labour a parallel between thefe two judges : but only to feleft fuch parts of the conducl and charafter of the former of them, as feem directly pertinent to the prcfenr occafion ; or at lealf, fuch as may eallly be acco.nmodated thereto* We D ISC O U lis E. We have, in effe^l, a very honorable teltimony to the worthinefs of Samuel's chara61:er, in that paiTagc of lacrcd hiftor}^ on which my difcourfe is grounded ; altho' nothing is faid therein, directly, or parti- cularly concerning it. When he died, "^// the Ijraelltes were gathered together, and lamented him' ) attending his funeral rites with the greateft demonltrations of grief. The unfeigned tears of an whole people, collected together to folemnize the burial of a perfon of his rank and ftation, are a ftrong evidence of his fuperior merit. Eulogiums falling thus from the eyes of a w^hole people, ( if I may fo exprels it) faUing in unbidden tears ; or burfling from the heart in involuntary fighs ; are louder, and more authentic teltimonies of real w^orth in the perfon, who is the occafion of them, than the labourVl praifes of a thoufand tongues, however eloquent. Such tears, fuch fighs, on fuch an occafion, reveal the real fentiments of the foul ; w'hile a great pomp of words often ferves to no other purpofc, than to contradieT:,or difguife, them. Thus it was that Samvf i^ was praifed when he died ; thcfe were the panegyrics which all Ifrael bellowV] oit him ; or rather, which the remembrance of his virtues, in conjunftioix with the fad fpedaclc lo A FUNERAL fpe(?lacle of his venerable remains b.eforc their eyes, extorted from them. Bat we need not be implicit believers in groans and tears, even in thofe of an whole nation. For if we look into the hiftory of Samuel, we fliall eafily difcover the grounds of them ; and fee how naturally and JLiftly, as well as copioudy, they burll forth on that occafion. We have a particular account of Sa- MU E l's birth, and fome extraordinary cir- cumrtanccs which both preceeded and fol- lowed it, in the firil chapter of the firll book, which goes u'nder the name of that c m i n e n t p e rfo n . Butt h efe 1 1 1 i n gs a re h e re palled over in filcncc, as not material, or indeed pertinent, all of them,to the prefent occafion. It is intimated to us in the fecond chapter of that book, how early Samuel diftinguilhed himfelf, or rather, was diitinguiflied by God ; and pointed out as a perfon, from whom great things were to be expccled in due time. ' For ir is faid, " the child Samuel grew on, *' and was in favour both with the '^ Lord, and alfo with men. " * -^nd in the bcgijuiing of the third chapter, we read • Ver. 26. DISCOURSE. II read of " the (:/;/W Samuel's minidring " unto the Lord before Eli " the prieft. So that, even in his tender age, he was a icrvant and minifter of the Lord ; who foon after called him to, and honored him with, Lhe facred office of a prophet. And it is obferved of him, towards the latter end of the lall-mentioned chapter, that he ." grew, and the Lord was with him, and *' did let none of his w^ords fall to the " ground. " f It will not be impertinent to obferve here, that in the time of Samuel, there were in Ifrael certain academies, or col- leges, ufaally called the fchools of the fons of the prophets ; becaufe under the immediate direftion and government of the prophets. In thefe, youth were in- ftrucled in ufeful learning, efpecially in the knowledge of God's law ; and from amongft them, God ufually raifed up, and chofe the prophets, which he fent to his people lirael. Nor is there any reafoa to doubt, but that Samuel had his edu- cation in one of thefe fchools. For one of them, named Naioth, was in the city of Ramah,^ the place of Samuel's birth, where his father lived, where he himfelf waa t Ver.19. * Vid. I Sam. XIX. 19, c 2, and a^^. iz A FUNERAL was brought up from a child, where his own houfe was afterwards, where he com- monly lived, and where he was buried. And we are particularly informed, [i Sam. XIX chap.] that during the troubles, and pubUc commotions, occafioned by Saufs perfecuting David, Saul's meffengers being lent in purfuit of David to Naiotby " faw " the company of the prophets prophefy- '• ing, and Samuel Handing as appointed *^ over them ; " f he being at this time ad- vanced in years. Now, confidering the cuftom of thofe days, and that iV^/c?//;, that truly iUujlrious fchool^ was in Ramah, where Samuel was boxn and brought up ; and that he was afterwards himfelf appointed an inftruftor and governor therein ; there feems to be no room to doubt, but that he had his education in it in his youth ; tho' I do not remember, indeed, that this is any where particularly aflerted. But to return: After Samuel had been fome time cloathed Avith the facred charafter of a prophet, when he was about thirty or forty years of age, he was invef- tcd with an high civil office; that of judge, or the chief magiftrate in Ifrael. For in thofe days, before the introdudion of mo- narchical f Vcr, 2^. DISCOURSE. 13 narcliical government, the fupreme civil ruler in I^-ael was (tiled a judge, or the judge. In the execution of which office, S A M u E L ufed to travel from one part of the country to another, holding his courts, and diftributing juftice to the people,in the moil convenient places; and then returning to Ramah: which, even in thofe days , was called going in " circuit". Of thefe fads we are informed i Sam. chap. VII. Viz. that SaiMUEl " went from year.to 3^ear in " circuit toBethel, andGilgal,andMizpeh; " arid judged Ifrael in all thofe places. *' And his return was to Ramah ; for there ** washishoufe: and there he built an altar " unto theLord.J" And we are informed in the fame chapter, that he thus judged " Ifrad all the days of his life. * " From which latter circumfl:ance,as well as from other things, we learn, that Samuel held the office of a judge in Ifrael, when he was no longer the chief ruler therein, under king Saul, when the form of government was changed. For Samuel was the pcrfon chiefly concerned, and employed, under God, in raifing Saul to the throne of Ifrael ; as appears from the particular account of thefe matters in facred writ. At prefent I pafs them over with a bare ' men- t Vcr. 16, 17. * Vcr, 15. 14 A FUNERAL jmention. I alio pafs over, even with- out a mention, many fignalferviccs which Samuel did to the people of Ifrael ; and many bleffings which he was inftrument^l of procuring for them from heaven. This renowned man appears to have been an excellent patriot; one of the greateft and beft that the w^orld has known. He intireJy loved his country ; and was ever properly jealous for its laws and liberties. He not only exerted himfelf fuccefsfully in their defence againfl: foreign enemies ; but did whatever lay in his power to fe- cure them againil the equally, or more dangerous efforts of ambition, intrigue, and tyranny within. His great zeal for the laws, rights and liberties of the people, appears not only from his fteady and up- right conduft in the capacity of a judge, of wiiich more particularly hereafter ; but from his behaviour upon fome very fignal occafions, which fhould not be intirely omitted here. When the people w^qre difgufted, not without fnfficient reafon, at the conduct of two of Samuel's fons, and doubtlefs had their pafTions blown up by fome evil- minded perfons, dcfirous of novelty and change ; DISCOURSE. IS change ; they manifefled themfelves weary of the free and excellent form of govern- ment, which God himfelf had inftituted amongft them ; they required a change therein, and requefted Samuel to fet a king, or abfolute monarch,over them,'' like " all the nations §" about them. Samuel earneftly expoftulated with them on the fubje6t of this mad propofal ; not for his own fake, left his power fhould be dimi- nifhed, but becaufe he forefaw the evils, the oppreflions, and the grievous flavery, they would bring upon themfelves by fuch a change of government. But having " protefled fde-mnly unto them, and fhew- ^' ed them the manner of the king " ; and w^hen nothing elfe w^ould appeafe them, he gave w^ay to their importunate cla- mours ; h^ "hearkened to their voice, *^ and anointed Saul to be their king, accor- ding to the divine direction. For it feems that God himfelf would not preferve them a free people, againft their own will ; and therefore '' gave them a king in his anger ;" to fcourge them for their folly, and for their rebellion againft himfelf. However, at length, when Samuel's prediction hadf doubtlefs, been fufficiently verified, and Saul's reign was grown infupportable, Samuel § Vid. I Sam. VIII. at large. i6 A FUNERAL Samuel was a principal inftrument of fetting him afide ] and he anointed David the fon of Jefle, a man after God's own heart, to fit upon the throne of Ifrael in his flead. Now amidft all this madnefs of the people, thefe turns and revolutions of government, Samuel ftill difcovered himfelf to be a true patriot, zealous for the liberties and interefls of his country : Equally fo/ui difcountenancing, and enter- ing his proteftation againft, their firft de- mand of a king ; in complying therewith when nothing elfe would fatisfy them ; in fetting aftde their king, when his be- haviour became intolerable ; and anoint- ing a far better man to reign in his ftead. All which,it mufi: be remembred,SAMUEL did, not without the particular permiffion and direction of heaven ; as appears at large from the remarkable hiftory of thcfe tran- factions. It may not be amifs to obferve farther here, that while Saul fat upon the throne, Samuel did not only continue in the ex- ecutive office of a judge in Ifrael ^ but was, at lead for a time, one of his chief coun- fellors. We read of his giving him advice from time to time ; and freely reproving liim for his faults : Tho' he adhered to him DISCOURSE. ly him, till God fignificd his intention to de- ftroy him for his bad behaviour. After which, Samuel renounced him, anointed David, adhered to him and his caufe ; and was his chief advifer and counfellor, as long as he [ Samuel ] Uved. But having jufl: obferved thefe things, it is now time to fpeak more particularly of SaxMUEl's integrity in the capacity of a judge : For this is the character under which he is more commonly confidered. And to his fideUty in this important trull, we have one very authentic, indeed a very lingular, teftimony, in facred hifto- ry ; one, which is fo full, that it will fuperfede the occafion, at leaft the ne- cefFity, for any others. It h in the 12th chapter of that book which has been fo often mentioned already, at the beginning. It appears from the lalt verfe of the fore- going chapter, that all the people were gathered together at Gilgal, to confirm the kingdom to Saul, and to eftabhfli him in the throne of Ifrael ; he having been before anointed king by Samuel. And they being thus gathered together, Sa- muel, already grown old in their fervice, took this moft public, and folemn occa- iion, to appeal to their own confciences for i8 A FUNERAL for the uprightnefs of all his conduct to- wards them ; when he alfo challenged all, ' or any of them, to bear witnefs againfl him before the Lord, and before Saul his anointed, who had now power to punifli him, if they could alledge any thing a- gainft him. There is at once fuch a noble boldnefs, fuch a limplicity, and fuch a dignity, in this appeal and challenge of Samuel, that I quellion whether the repetition of it at large, will feem tedious on this occafion, to any who have a true tafte and judg- ment : I rather think it will be agreeable and entertaining. It is as follows : " Be- " hold, I have hearkned to your voice in " all that ye have faid unto me, and have " made a king over you. And now be- '' hold the king walketh before you : '' and I am old, and gray-headed ; and " behold, my fons are with you ; and I " have walked before you from my child- " hood to this day. Behold, here I am, " witnefs againft me before the Lord, '' and before his anointed. Whofe ox " have I taken ? or whofe afs have I ta- " ken? or whom have I defrauded ? *' wham have I oppreffed ? or of whofe " hand have I received any bribe to blind " mine DISCOURSE. 19 ^' mine eyes therewith ? and I will reflore *' it to you * " Wc may lee, in this chal- lenge, that inimitable kind of boldnefs which a good confcience infpires ; fuch a boldnefs, as furpaiTes all the power of art, and the deepeft hypocrify, to counterfeit fo exactly, but that fomc difference might be difcovered by a penetrating eye. And you will be pleafed to obferve, that this appeal and demand are general. Tho* Samuel here fpeaks with particular refe- rence ^to his conduct in the capacity of a judge ; yet he refers the people to his manner of life in general, even from his childhood to that day. His demand ex- tends to his whole conduft towards them. He does not only acquit himfelf of cor- ruption, or receiving bribes ; but, "Whom " have I defrauded ? " fays he ; " Whom •' have I oppreilcd : " i. e. in any refpe6l wiiatever, from my youth to old age, not- withflanding my opportunity and power to opprefs,in the high ftation which I have filled ? Let my accufer now (land forth ; and freely bear witnefs againlt me before God and the king. This is the evident purport of liis words, Alas! * I Sam. Xn. I, 2, 3. A FUNERAL Alas ! how few judges, or other perfons in high ftations, wherein they have op- portunity to opprefs, and to do iniquity, are there in moft countries, who would dare to make the like demand in the face of a whole people I Or, if they prefumed to do fo, how many mouths would, pro- bably, be at once opened againft them, to teftify their iniquity to their faces, be- fore God and the king ? — -I fay, " in moft countries ; " for I would, by no means, be fupppfed to fpeak thus of all without ex- ception ; which might be a very injurious refleftion ; and, at beft, a great indecency. -*~But was there a tongue in the whole congregation of Ifrael, tho' there were doubtlefs many falfe and unruly ones therein- — Was there a tongue, fo intempe- rate and flanderous, as to lifp a word a- gainft Samuel, or his integrity ? No ! All the people anfwered as one man, " Thou *' haft not defrauded us, nor opprefted us, " neither haft thou taken ought of any *' man's hand. And he faid unto them, " The Lord is WMtnefs againft you, and his *' anointed is witnefs this day, that ye have " not found ought in my hand. And they •* anfweredjHe is witnefs/' * — O happy ! O venerable man! fo long the chief judge and * Ver. 4, ^ D ISC O U. RSE. 21 and magiftrate in Ifrael, with fo much opportunity and power to do iniquity ; yet fteady in the praftice of all righteouf- nefs, till thy reverend head was covered with thefaow of age ; and then approved by the united voice of thy own confci- ence, thy country, and thy God I — Hap- py, venerable Samuel ! — • It might naturally have been expefled, that at the death and burial of fuch a judge, fuch a patriot in Ramah, there would be " a voice heard, lamentation " and weeping, and great mourning, [like that of] " Rachel weeping for her chil- " dren", when fhe " would not be com- " forted * " : Or like that, when the bloody tyrant, Herod, commanded the children to be flain. It would have been indeed ftrange, if all Ifrael had not lamen- ted when Sa MU E l died ; when they were afTembled to bury him, and his venerable remains were before their eyes, to be re- pofited in the filent tomb, not to awake till the laft day ; tho' then to arife all glo- rious, *' mortality being fwallowed up of " victory ! " C Their *Matt. II. i6. 17. 18. Rama aod Ramah were the famcclt^* A FU NERAL Their lamenting him thus, was but the natural confequence of that high and jull veneration which they had for him while living ; which was fo great, that on a certain occafion we find it cxprelbd in the ver}^ remarkable manner following : All the people greatly feared the Lord *' and Samuel, f " And let me here juft remind j^ou of two or three other paffages, wherein he is mentioned with the hif^heft honor, in company with the moil renown- ed perfons of antiquity. So inPfalm XCIX. '' Mofes and Aaron among the priefls, " and Samuel amongthem that call up- '•^ on his name '\ And in Jeremiah XV, at the beginning, God feems to exprcfs his anger againfl his people for their ini- quities in the ftrongeft manner poflible, almoft, by faying, that " though Mofes " and Samuel Itood before him ", [ as intcrceflors for them ] '^ yet his mind " could not be towards this people : Caft *' them out of my right,and let them go— I Thusalfo Samuel is mentioned, Hebrews XI, amongil thole, " of whom the world was not worthy. " — " The time would " fail me, ' fays theapoftle, '' to tell of Gi- " d'con, and of Barak, and of Sampfon, " and of Jepthae, of David alfo and ''I of Sa^jIUel ;•— who thro' faith fubdued " kingdoms, t -»m. XII. i8. D ISC O U RSF. 23 " kingdoms, wrought righteoufaefs, 8cc/' Theie all obtained a good report thro* faith ; and died therein ; even in the hope of '• obtaining a better refurrection." BUT it is time for ns to make a tran- fition ( indeed a very eafy one ) from Samuel, the renowned judge of Ifrael, to that mofl worthy judge, whom the laft evening we attended to " the houfe ap- pointed for all the living " ; at leaft, what- ever was mortal of him. — And fince, up- on fimilar occafions, people ufuallyexpecl fome (hort hiftorical account of the decea- fed,efpecially if aperfon offuch eminence ; rather than difappoint any, I will begin with a few words concerning the birth and parentage of this excellent perfon ; tho' thefe are matters of much lefs im- portance than mod others which I have to fay of him ; and which, in the mean time, are prefling, as it were, to be the foremoft. The late chief juftice Sewall was fjo» norably defcended ; to ufe a common phrafe^^ tho' one hardly applicable, in ftriclnefs, to any of the degenerate race of mankind. He was of a family of diftinftion in New- C 2 England. A FU N ERAL England. Nor was he the firft of the name of Sewall, who fuftained the fame titles and offices. The honorable Samuel Sewall, Efq; his uncle, had before for many years, been chief juftice of the pro- vince, and ametnberof his majefly*s coun- cil ; a gentleman, eminent in his day for his learning, piety, and great probity, f The father ofthe late judge Sew^all, was Stephen Sewall, Efq; oi Salem ; ou all accounts a very worthy, refpedable gentleman ; and univerfally fo cftecmed in his time *. His mother was a daugh- ter of the Rev'd and celebrated Mr. Jo- N a T H A N Mi T G H e L, paftor of the church in Cambridge ; a gentlewoman of great virtues, and uncommon accomplifhments. His parents were bleft with feventeen children ; divers of whom, befidcs the late judge, were perfons of dillin^f ion, and of great worth in public life. § He was the youngeft •j- Since delivering this dlfcourfe, the author has been in- fo- v-ed that the late Rev. Mr. P'-ince c\\o{c the cha- ra^'ler of Samuel to be the ground of his funeral fer- nton on ^n^t vcRerable gentleman; which difcourfe was pobUfherl • but which the author of this, has not, fo fiir as he remembers . had the pleafure of reading. * He was the county-reoifter, a very noted jnllice of the peacr a m ior in the miHtia. !}nd captain of the fort at Sal m : all which pofts he fulbined with great repu- tation .ind honor. §'Pdrti-ul^rly the late Major Samuel Senvall, Efq; of BofioTif and Mitchel Sewall, Efy, late o^Sahm. DISCO U RSE. 25 youngcn:, except one, of many brethren ; and WHS bovn in December 1702. Being duly prepared, he was admitted into Harvard-College in Cambrifigey in the year 17 1 7, when he was in the 15th year of his age. He was a " plant of renown'* in that feminary of learning, even from the time of his being tranfplanted into it from an inferior fchool. He was early diftinguifh- ed by the fprightlinefs and brillancy of his genius, and by the rapid progrefs which he made in academical learning : which, in conjunftion with an agreeable perfon, a chearful, affable difpofition, and fingular delicacy of manners, rendered him at once the delight, and the admiration, of that fo- ciety. And altho' he was, of the two, ra- ther of a gay than of a grave turn, 3'^et this was never indulged to excefs ; but always rertrained within the rules of virtue, and a itricl decorum. His morals were ftill unblemifhed ; and his life, not only inof- fenfive, but exemplary. This is not faid at random, or as a thing of courfe; but up- ^ on the authority of thofe who were co- temporary with him in that fociety. So that there is reafon to think, he truly fear- ed God from his youth. On z6 A FUNERAL > On his leaving that fchool of the foris of the prophets, foon after receiving the firft public honors of it at the iifnal time, anno 1 72 f , w hen he was confider'd as one of the brighteft fcholars it had ever produced, he took up his refidence in one of our fea- port towns*. Here his fine talents were for foiTie time very ufefully, tho' humbly employed, in keeping a fchool. For, be- iides thac his patrimony could not be great, as may eafily be fuppofcd, he never thought himfelf above doing any thing, by which he might be ferviceable in the world. And he was in high efteem amongft the gen- tlemen of that town ; who, as all wife and good men have ever done, confidered rather the perfonand his accompliflimenls, than the fphcre in which he acted. However, at the expiration of about three or four years (for I do not exactly know the time) he returned to Cambridge, and betook himfelf to a collegiate life ; where he purfued his ftudies with great fuccefs, and a growing fame : For while he was thus a liudent at the college, he was ef- teemed one principal ornament and honor to it. After * Marhhhead. DISCOURSE. 27 After refidiDg therein a fuitable time ; and when, befides other very vaUiable ac- quirements in the literary w^iy, he had made great proficiency in ilicred learning, and the lUidy of theology, he became a preacher of the gofpel, minillring before the Lord and his people ; tho' not while " a child," as Samuel did, and as fomc others fince, without Samuel's extraor- dinary call, or qualifications, have prefum- ed to do. — It were almoft necdlefs to ob- ferve, that his public performances as a preacher of the gofpel, were truly excel- lent : For fuch a genius, fo cultivated and m.acur'd, join'd witli a good, devout and warm heart, like his, could, certainly, pro- duce nothing but what was fo. He was, without doubt, one of the moft accom- plifh'd preachers of his time ; and was ac- knowledged as fuch by all competent and unprejudiced judges, efpecially by the bell. It was indeed his felicity in every ftation and capacity, a felicity almoft peculiar to him, to be moft efteem'd and honored by the wifeft and worthieft men, while all others, even the common people, could not but fee and acknowdedge his fuperior merit. He was at length, upon a vacancy, in the year 1728, chofen a tutor of the col- lege, 28 A FUNERAL lege, where he was (till a refidcnt : A Na- tion, for which his talents were uncoin- monly adapcd; and which he continued to fill feveral years, without laying afide that facred employment wherein he had •before been engaged. However, after {o'rix^i time, he laid that wholly afide ; de- voting himfelf to the difcharge of his truft as a tutor of the college. And, as may eaiily be concluded, he, who was fo bright an ornament of that learned fociety, even during the time of his own pupillage, and before his years of puberty were paft, fhone with a very diiiinguilli'd luilre in the capacity of one of the governors and inftructors of it ; when he had attained to fuch a maturity of age ; when he had been all alo!ig adding to his great ftock of learn- ing an.l knowledge, and had alfo gained confiderable experience, f His genius and talents, as before obferv- er^, were wonderfully adapted to this em- ployment. And it was in this capacity, that fome of his excellent endowments, both natural and acquired, appeared to more advantage than they had ever done, or could, in any other, wherein he had acted before. It w^as in this ftation, that his t ;Etat 26. DISCOURSE. s^ his learning, before indeed well known, became ftill more confpicuous ; and not only his learning, but his great happinefs and facility in teaching, and communica- ting knowledge : Both, now difplay'd themfelves to the full, there being proper fcope for them ; while he took a pleafure, not in an oftentatioua difcovery of his own fuperior talents, but in making them ufe- ful to others. It was in this capacity, that his admirable fpirit of government became manifeft to all. It was in this capacity, that his exquifite prudence and difcretion became more apparent, by his manner of conducing towards the youth of that fo- ciety, in the happieft medium between too much aufterity and rigor on one hand, and remilTnefs, or familiarity, on the other. In this ftation he, at leafl continued to difcover a great, inviolable regard, to re- ligion and virtue. I fay, " at leafl con- tinued'' to do fo ; becaufe it was, perhaps, hardly poffible to difcover that particular quality in this ftation, more plainly thain he had done before. However, he now made it one principal part of his care, to guard his pupils againft the fnares of vice; and to form their minds, as far as this was in the power of man, to the love of piety and virtue. In doing which^ he negleft- ed 30 A FUNERAL ed neither the moft kind, ferious and pa- thetic counfels on one hand, nor the exer- cife of his authority on the other, when- ever there was a proper occalion and call to employ it. In this flation he Ihew'd, in a way almoft peculiar to himfelf, how confiftent the mod refolute and vigorous exertion of authority is with the moft courteous, condefcending temper of mind, and the moft gentle, complacent manners. For I believe he had hardly a pupil fo abandoned, as not at once to love him as his beft friend, and to revere him as a father ; I had almoft faid, as his guardian, angel I Vice turn'd pale, trembled, and fled at his frown ; or even at the caft of his countenance without one. Virtue ap- proached, exulted, and was improved at his fmile : while learning and arts flourifh'd under his eye in that feminary, like the goodly flowers in Eden under the warm, all-eniivenino; beam of heaven. And there are now amongfl: us many perfons, great bleffings both in the church and ftate, as well as in more common life, who had the happinefs to receive their education im- mediately under him. In one word, I be- lieve there is no perfon, however worthy, who would think his own merit impair'd, or his honor touch'd, if it fhould be added, that D ISCOU RSE. 31 that confidcring his ftation in the college, and the time he continued therein, that learned fociety never enjoyed a greater blefling and ornament in any one man, than in Mr. Sewall. And I can hardly think of him in this ftation, without hav- ing my thoughts carried back to Samuel, , at Naioth, amongft the fons of the pro- phets, as one " appointed over them." J While Mr. Sewall was arefident at the college, more efpecially towards the latter part of the time, he applied himfelf to the ftudy of the law, as much as he well could without neglecting the proper du- ties of his ftation ; in the difcharge where- of he was ever diUgentand faithful. This he did with a view to changing his man- ner of life, and betaking himfelf to the bar. And only to have mentioned his applying his mind in any meafure to this ftudy, is equivalent to faying, that he foon acquired a very confiderable knowledge in the law. For his genius was fo piercing, and his na- tural penetration at once fo deep and quick, that no fcience, however crabbed, intricate or involved, could long make oppofitioa thereto In whatever he engaged, he be- came J T he author of this difcourfe did not indeed enter into the college, till the year after Mr. Senva/Ileft it: But nothing is faid abOTei but upon good authority. 32 A FUNERAL came a confiderable proficient therein, as it were at once : fo furprifingly quick was his apprehenfion of things ; fo clear his iicad ; fo acute and deep his difcernment. Being thus qualified, he was, in the year 1739, called from his collegiate, into an higher fphereof hfe ; viz. to take a feat on the bench of the fuperiour court of judica- ture for the province. This w^as done without his making any intereft for it. — • And it was well for his country that many perfons, and amongft them, gentlemen of authority and influence in the government, were acquainted with his great abilities and merit ; to which he himfelf ever appeared more a flranger than any other perfon, "who had any knowledge of him. And Samuel's being cloathed with a civil charader, after being fome tim.e in other employments, is here brought to mind — In this new ftation he became more generally known, and therefore more ge- nerally eflecmed; as well as, perhaps, more exteniively ufeful. His wiidom and in- tegrity were fo confpicuous herein, and gave him fuch an acknowledged pre- eminence^ that on the death of tlie ho- norable and learned chief juftice Dudley, he DISCO U RSE. 33 he was, in 1752, appointed to fuccced him in that important office ; to the general fa- tisfadion, and even joy of the province ; altho' he was not the fenior of the thea worthy furviving judges. This promotion, which was not only unfollicited, but even opposed by himfelf, without altering his mind or manners in the leaft, ftill enlarged the fphereof his in- jRuence ; that influence, wiiich was ever ufeful juft: fo far as it extended ; being ne- ver emplo}^, biit in doing good, or pre- venting evil ; which is in effeft the fame thing. He fuftained this high office witli the reputation of great wifdom, and of ftrift fidelity. He alfo fupported the dig- nicy of it, by his conduct in it. For, tho' he was truly a mofl humble and modeft man ; yet he well knew what was due to his ftation. Nor did he, by any means, want the refolution to maintain, and to vindicate the honor of it, as occafion re- quired. He had indeed the quickeft, as well as the exaclcft fenfe, of true honor : And he difcovered in this capicity, from firll to lad, that admirable fpirit of go- vernment which was mentioned before on another occafion. He preferved a great decorum in the court : He mode- rat^"^ 3+ A FUNERAL rated the debates with a becoming calm- ncfs and dignity, in conjundion with a ftrid impartiahty : Shewing himfelf at once the man of honor and fpirit, the knowing lawyer, and the upright judge. Altho' his reputation was great, even at his firft coming upon the bench, it was daily growing till the time when heaven was pleafed to take him from it. He was both " a terror to evil doers, and a praife to them that did well," in the adminiftrati- on of juftice ; in which he went from one part of the country to another, like a fe- cond Samuel. And, where " his return w^as," we all know. Nor is there the leaft reafon to doubt, but that he might to the very laft, have appealed to the whole pro- vince, asSAMUEL did to alllfrael, boldly challenging them to witnefs any wrong, or unrighteoufnefs in him, in the very lan- guage of that good judge; — "Whom have " I defrauded ? whom have I opprefTed I " or of whofe hand have I received any " bribe to blind mine eyes therewith ?" — And had he done fo, this whole people in general, unlefs they had been lefs grateful andjnft than the Ifraelites (who were not, however,very remarkable for thofe virtues) would doubtlefs have anfwered as they did— DISCOURSE 3j did — ' " Thou haft not defrauded us, nor *' opprefTed us ; neither haft thou takea ** ought of an3M"nans hand." Yea, it may be queftion'd, whether ever any perfon a- mongft us, was {o impudent as to make an attempt upon his honor, by the offer of a bribe. For his heart was not only mcapable of admitting the leaft venaHty, or corruption of this fort; but univerfaliy known to be fo ; and more immutably fixed to the love of juftice, than the nee- dle to the pole : For even that varies and deviates ; and may, at any time, be fhaken from its proper point to a contrary direc- tion ; While his juftice appeared as un- moveable as the " everlafting hills ;" or rather, purfu'd its appointed courfe in his circuit, like the undeviating fun in the fir- mament of heaven. — Juftice muft, ho^v- ever, be here underftood, only in contra- diftijiftion to wrong, injury, or pofitive injuftice ; and not, as it is fome times, in oppofition to mercy and compaflion. For in criminal matters, I believe he always in- clin'd to the fide of clemency and mercy, \s^here there was legal room for the exer- cife of them ; and whenever feverity was not apparently neceffary for the common good, which he ftill kept in view : Herein imitating the fupreme governor of the world. 36 A FU NERAL world, who does not " willingly," much lefs wantonly, afflift and grieve the child- ren of men ; but, either for their own pro- fit, or for the prefervation of order, and public good ; that others may " fee and " fear, and not do fo wickedly." It mull not be forgotten here, that foon after he was promoted to the important truft of chief juftice, he was eleded a mem- ber of his Majefty's council for the pro- vince; and continued to be fo eleded every year fucceffively to the laft. He had indeed been in nomination for a feat at that honorable board feveral years before; and many worthy perfons were very preffing and urgent in the affair. But he himfelf made oppofition to it ; and this, partly at leaft, becaufe he doubted the expediency of his being at once a judge of the court, and at the council table ; thinking that, hereby, he might be brought " into temptation and a fnare ;" or, in plain words, fubjedl himfelf to fome undue influence. This may be depended on as a certain faft. So extremely tender, fo delicate was his confcience ; fo nice his kwk of honor ; and fo great his diilidence of himfelf ! He therefore utterly declined all propolals of this fort, and perfifted therein, DISCOURSE. 37 therein, that he might keep himfelf as in- dependent as poffiblc. However, his friends, who knew him incapable of being unduly biafs'd by any means or circumftanccs \vhatever ; and were fatisfied, he would be very ferviccable at the board, would not dellll : And he was accordingly elcft- ed a member of the council, againit all the oppofition he could well make. Nor was it without confiderable difficulty, that he was finally prevailed upon to drop his objec- tions, and to accept, after he was chofen. Thus, like Samuel of old, after hav- ing been many years a judge, he became one of the king's council. And at that honorable board, as in every other capa- city, he (liew'd himfelf the wife and up- right man : And not only fo ; for he was one of eminent diflinclion araongfl: others -of the fame character. This was more efpecially the fphere in which his pa- triotifm difcover'd itfelf For while he wasftriftly Ipya], and attached to the pre- fent royal family on revolution-principles (which were al(b the principles of Sa- muel ;) while he was Heady, on one hand, in alTerting the rights of the crown, and of his Majefty's governor; he was, on the other hand, a moft zealous friend to his D country, 28 A FUNERAL country, its laws and liberties. If at any time things were in agitation, as they fomctiines were, which he apprehended inconfillent wirh, or hazardous to, the juft rights and liberties of the people, or pre- judicial to them in any other refpect ; he had always the integrity and magnanimity to oppofe fuch meafures, whoever ap- peared as the firfl: promoters, or compliant fautors, of them. Nor did he fear to give his negative to the nominations to civil oilices, whenever he conceived the per- fons nominated, to be wholly unfuirablc for, or unworthy of them. In one word,, he ufed, " to the beft of his judgment at " all times, freely to give his advice to " the governor, for the good management " of the public affairs of this govern- ^' ment/'f This he ever gave in the in- tegrity of his heart, without fear, favor, or criminal prejudice# And though it might be too much to fay of any man., that be was never, in any refpeft, miftaken in his judgment; yet there have probably been but few men in the world, lefs inci- dent to fuch miftakes, than the honor- able perfon of whom I am fpeaking. It f The words of thr oath taken by the members of hts» Majcrty s coancil for this province. DISCOURSE. 39 It fliould be remember'd here, that, as a member of his Majeity's council, he was one of the overfeers of the college : At which board he w^as eminentlv fervicea- ble, by his fuperior knowledge in literary matters ; and by what experience had taught him concerning the belt methods of inilrucling and governing that fociety, while he was a tutor in it. But, if you pleafe, we will for the pre- fent take our leave of the excellent fcholar, the accomplifh'd, upright judge, the wife and faithful counfellor, the loyal fubjed:, and zealous patriot ; provided we can, for a moment, leperate thefe ideas and cha- rafters from this extraordinary perfon ; and confider him only in hjs private capa- city. And here we have prefented to our view, the mod agreeable companion, the accomphfh'd gentleman, th,e warm, difcrete and faithful friend, a good mafter and neighbour, a perfon of uncommon candor, and an exemplary chriftian. He was the moft agreeable companion, and an accompli(h*d gentleman. He was the moft remote from all appearances of van- ity and afTedation. He was o|^a very fecial and courteous make; and his manner of D 2 addrefs 4C5 A FU NERAL adclrefs was particularly engaging. His converfation was often inftruclive, al- ways fprightly and entertaining ; and in- deed never failed to charm. He " honored all men ;'* treated every one with due ref- pe6l, and never gave caufe of offence or uneaiincfs to any, whether prefent or abfent, by words or anions : of which he was very fingularly cautious. His behaviour v/as pohOi'd, his manners re- fined ; and had in them that peculiar de- licacy, which all can fee and admire, but none can exadly defcribe. His counte- nance, his whole air and mien, Jlritck at once^iil may fo exprefs it ; and attrafted the efteem and regard of the fpeftator, by telling even his eyes, what kind of foul informed the body which he faw before him : While he converfed with people, both of the lo well and higheft ranks, with- out the ' leaft tinfture of haughtinefs on one hand, or of meannefs on the other. He was aAvarm, difcrete and faithful friend. He could never be prevailed on to difeard, or even to neglect, ; any one, for -whom he had profeffed a regard, on mere fufpicion, or rumours,; or without exa- mining things to the bottom. Nor was he backward to advife on; occafion, efpecial- DISCOURSE. 41 ]y when his advice was aikcd ; for other- wife he was far from being forward or oiRcious. Nor indeed do I doubt, but that he was as willing to hear, ns to give advice, tho' no n:an lefs needed it; he being a kind of oracle to himfelf, tho' lefs fo than he was to others. He was ex- tremely kind and obliging in his temper ; and, in fhort, difcharged all the offices of friendfliip in general with the utmoft punftuality, and the mod nice precifion. T-It were needlefs, after faying thus much of him in the capacity of a friend, to fay any thing of him as a relation ; only, that if any fliould imagine he was not the very beft and kindeft, it would be a proof that they knew but little of him He was a goodmader; no ways mo-r rofe or auftere ; but as kind and indulgent as was confident even with the good of his fervants ; not to fay, with the duty dnd fervice which they owed to him; which were fuperfluous in fpeaking of fo reafonable and juft a man. He treated all his domeftics in a proper manner ; who muft indeed have been very bad ones, had they not thought thcmfclves happy in fuch a mafter, as they doubtlefs did. ■ ■ . ' 42 A FUNERAL He was the bed of neighbours ; ever courteous and obliging. None ofthofe who liv'd near him, could help looking on it as a part of their felicity, that they were i.i the neighbourhood ol fuch a perfon, even though they had no particular know- ledge of him : While thofe who knew him better, had proportionably an higher fenfe of their happinefs in this refpeft. He was a perfon of uncommon candor. He did not only, not allow himfelf to de- tract from the merit of any perfons of real worth ; but would not fpeak contemptu- ouily, or reproachfully, of the capacity, the accomplilhments, or the behaviour of others, however juft a foundation there might be for it. He apparently took a pleaiure in thinking and fpeaking well of all worthy perfons ; and often found fomcthing to commend even in thofe, in whom others could find nothing deferving, commendation. But if there were any^ the fubjcd of converfation, in whom he could find nothing praife-worthy, he would at leaft be their apologiil ; driving to extenuate their faults by fome means or other, while others could hardly think of any thing but what feemed to be an aggravation of them. This was really his temper and difpolition,. And DISCOURSE. 43 And this brings me to what all truly wife and good men will acknowledge to be the bell: part of his character : — He was an exemplary christian. This, indeed, is implied in what was faid before, concerning the great regard w^hich he all along manifefted to religion and virtue, while a ftudent, and tutor at the college ; while a preacher of the gofpel ; and by his llri6l fidelity both as a judge, and as a counfellor. But it feemed proper to fpeak more particular of his religion here, where we are confidering him in his pri- vate capacity." — He appeared to have an habitual and deep reverence ofalmighry GOD upon his mind. And I have more than once heard him fpeak with great pleafure of that circumftance in the cha- ratfler of Sir Matthew Hale, chief juftice of the king's bench; That he was never known to mention the holy and Venerable name of GOD — without mak- ing a paufe at it in his difcourfe.f He was a firm believer in Jesus Christ, the fbn of GOD ; and in that religion which bears his name, as contained in the holy fcriptures. He was none of thofe who are too wife to be taught of God ; too great to wor- fhip ^ The fame is faid of Sir /. N'ci'jfofi, 44 A FUNERAL fliip and bow down before him, or coo good and gracious to need the ineans of grace. He condantly attended (as yon, my brethren of this fociety, are witneffes) He conftantly attended the worfliip of God, and the ordinances of the gofpel, with great reverence, gravity and devo- tion : Winch, tho' he was an enemy to oitcntation in every thing, and efpecially in reUgion, v^ere fometimes fo apparent in liis countenance, that one could not ob- fcrve it without having his own devotion raifcd and improved, if he had any: and hardly, if he had none before, without catching thereby fomething of the fame fpirit from him. And as he was exempla- ry in his attendance upon the public wor- iliip of God, I have fome particular rea- fons to a (lure mylelf, that he alfo worfhip- ed God in his family ; having as it were, like Samuel, an altar at his own houfe,* on which to offer up fpiritual facrifices to the Lord: Tho' I have indeed never made it my bufjncfs to" creep into houfes ;" or to pry curioufly into peoples domef- tic concerns, like the heathen priefts of old. J '" ■ He * Sec as above i Sam. VII. 17. X Scire volunt fecrcta domus, at(juc iade.timcrh PcrC DISCO RU SE. 45: He was a firm and zealous friend to the principles of religious liberty, and the fa- cred rights of confcience. No man was more free from all fuperftition, or from the fordid, illiberal fpirit of party. No man was more catholic towards chriftians of different denominations ; or fartherfrom a fpirit of bigotry, contention and cenfo- rioufnefs. It was before obfervcd, that he was a firm believer of the chriftian re- ligion in general ; and he was fo in parti- cular, of the atonement made by the death of Ch R I ST for the fins of the world ; and of that *' life and immortality, brought to ** light by him thro* the gofpel ;" m which heexpreflTed an humble hope, in my hearing, a few hours before he expired. He appeared to have a great concern for the intereft of chriftianicy in the world. And, by repeated converfations with him on the fubjecl, I know he had very much at heart the coming into fomefcheme, or method, for propagating the -gofpel a^ mongft the natives of thefe northern parts of America : Often exprefTing his great forrow that a certain Society beyond fea, had done nothing, or but very little, to this important end ; important^ not on- ly in a religious view of things, but lecon- darily, in a civil and political. But 4(5' A FUNERAL But not to digrefs : His whole life in general was apparently conduded under the influence, and according to the pre- cepts, of our holy religion : Which is the mod authentic evidence, at leall to others, of a perfon's being a thorough chriliian. For men do not " gather grapes of thorns, " or figs of thiltles ;" and " oy their fruits " we are to know them." But if there was any one virtue more confpicuous in this good man, than another, it feems to have been the charity and bountifulncfsof his heart. And, " by this lliall all men ** know that ye are my difciples," fays our Lord, " if ye have love one to ano- ** ther." ^ A more loft and tender, a more fympathizing, or more bountiful heart, no man, perhaps, ever had. He appeared, in reality, to " love his neighbour as him- felf." His heart feemed, not only always open, but expanded wide ; even wider than the earth, and " broader than the iea." And had his fortune been of th truly worthy perfon, as a common, public lofs ; and a great frown of divine providence 58 A FUNERAL providence upon the whole province. Thelofs of fuch a perfon infuch a flation, is doLibtlefs a public calamity ; and great, iu proportion to the extenfivenefs of theblef- ^w^g once enjoyed in him ; who was fuch a friend to learning and religion ; fuch a lover of his country, it's liberties and laws ; who fcatiered the wicked with his eye ; wdio ilppped the mouth of iniquit}^ ; and, vinder God, caufed judgment to flow down as a river. In Ihort, in what one perfon among 'us, could the republic of letters, the law, the courts of juilice, the common-wealth, thechurch of God, have faftained a greater lofs f ? Nor are we, I hope, {o degenerate as the people of Ifrael were, at the time when it was faid, ■ — " The righteous dieth, and no man ** Ia3^eth it to heart." No ! we all in gene- ral lay to heart the death of this one righ- teous mm, at lead. And it may be quef- tioned, whether ever a perfon died among us, before him, at once more univerfally, and more fincerely, lamented. There is not, Ibelievc, an heart but what feels this lofs in fome degree : For, indeed, that man who is wholly infenfible of it, if there be (uch an one, cannot be faid to have any he-art at all ; at lead: not an '* heart of flefh, " f Pcrfons 0^ z/uperiorrank ought always to be fuppafcdl excepted, when this manner of expreilion is ufed. Disco u rse. sf fiefh ", but only an " heart of (lone ", or of iron ; an heart infenfjble to every thing worthy, great and good. But we onght not only to confider the lofs it felf ; we fliould, as was intimared before, confider the holy hand and provi- dence of God therein. God, by the pro- phet Ifaiah, amongft fonic other lore ca- lamities which he brought, or threatned to bring, on his people of old for their fins, fpeaks of taking away fuch eminent per- Tons ; and leavhig their places to be filled up by thofe w^ho are wholly unequal to them : " Ceafeyefrom man whofe breath " is in his noftrils : for wherein is he to *^ be accounted of ? For behold, the Lord, '* the Lord of hofts, doth take away from ** Jerufalem and from Judah— the judge, '" and the prophet, and the prudent — *' the honourable man, and the counfel- ** "lor — ' and the eloquent orator. And I ** will give children to be their princes, ** and babes fhall rule over them •^. " We have now before us a very itrikingexample of the judgment exprefi^.:d in the former part of this pafiTage. God, of his grea: goodncfs, grant that the latter parr there- of may never be veiified in Us ! May He in mercy return to us, and heal the breach v^hkh Ifdi. 11. 22. 6o A FV N ERAL Avhich his hand has made : For with him is '• the relidue of the fpirit ; " the ipiric of wifdom and prudence, of J u (lice and judgment, and of a found mind. Our fuitabl}^ confidering his holy providence In this grievous vifitation of it, may be a means of concihating his favour. And if gracious heaven fliall pleafe hereafter to give us fuch judges and counfcllors as the lafl dcceafed, I think we need not pray for fuch as were at the fir ft \ Whicii is faid, however, without the leaft intention to reflect on the memory of any of the Avorthy fathers of this country. There are, to be fure, but very few pcrfons, equally quanfied in all refpecls to fill that important ilation, which is now left vacant by the death of judge Sew^ali,. Nor will faying this, I am perfu^aded, give fhe leafl: offence to any ; particularly, not to the honorable, and very worthy sur- viving judges of that bench, who have all along manifcited the greatcft regard ' for their dear brother deceafed ; who are amongll the fnicerefl: mourners for him ; and Vvdio are now paying a public honor to his memor3'% by their prefencc here, on this occafion. They will doubtlefs be excited, by thisdifpenfation of providence, to DISCOURSE. 6t to great fidelity in the difcharge of their important truft ; purfuingthefteps of their departed brother with zeal and vigor : Being thus reminded of their own mor- taUty, and of an higher tribunal, to which all who are judged here below, have a right of appeal ; and the judgment of which will be decisive I The colleo-e, as well as the p-eneral af- fembly, and the fuperior court of judica- ture for the province, is particularly con- cerned in this vifitation of divine provi- dence ; confidering how long the De- ceafed was a great bleffing and orna- ment to it, while he refided therein ; the great concern which he always manifefted flnce, for the intereil of learning and re- ligion there ; and his great abilities, and equal zeal to ferve it, in the capacity of one of its overfeers. The relatives of the Deceafed, thofe of them that are prefent, will allow me to exiiort them while they forrow, not to " forrow as thofe that have no hope :" — • And alfo, while they mourn the Dead, to live as he lived; in expe(fl:ation of a joyful meeting with him another day ; when the times of refrelliing fhall come from the prefence ^% A FUNERAL prefence of the Lord. " For if we bc- '" lieve that Jelns died, and rofe again, .*' even fo them alfo that fleep in Jefiis *^ will God bring with him." In which thrice glorious day, that will be in a jneafure applicable to each one ofChrift's faithful followers, which he once fpake of himfcif, and indeed ftill fpeakcth to lis all from heaven : — " I am HE that " liveth, and was dead ; and behold I am " ALIVE FOREVERMORE, Amcn'M * We, my brethren of thisaflembly, have fome particular reafons to lay the death of this excellent man to heart ; and to attend to the voice of providence therein. He, for many years, came up to this houfe of the Lord in company Vv'ith us, to worfhip at his footftool. We have in him loft, not only an hearty friend to this fociety; but a wifeand prudent adviferon all occafions, a principal ornament and pillar of it. But you will remember that a " pillar,'' and the " fo'-^ndation,'* the " head of the cor- ~ 1" ner," or '* chief corner-ftone,'' are not "the fame thing, orof equal importance to a building ; whether a material or "fpiri- ." tual houfe." The former mentioned, tho' indeed a noble " pillar," whih it flood ere(^l:^ was -yet a decaying ore: It n * Rev. I. i§. DISCOURSE. . 6i is now, alas ! fallen quite down, foon to moulder away, and be reduced to powder and dufl: ; fo as never to afford us any- farther fupport ! But the *' foundation," the " head of the comer," fall remains unlliaken, unimpaired, an ever " living ftone," able to bear up the whole build- ing. For WE, I trull, were not built, neither did, or do we depend, forpur main fupport, on any mortal man. We were built on a broad and firm foundation ; even *' on the foundation of the prophets *' and apoftles, Jesus Christ himself *' being the chief corner- llone :" To whom coming as unto a living ftone, dif- allowed indeed of men, but chofen of God and precious, we alfo as lively ftones fhall be built up in him, a fpiritual houfe, an holy temple in the Lord, for an habi- tation of God thro* the fpirit ; that we may offer up fpiritual facrifices, accepta- ble to God by Jefus Chrift. And, I truft, *' the gates of hell fliall never prevail a- '' gainft us :" For other foundation [or better] can no man lay ! Let us therefore, my beloved brethren, take encouragement to ourfelves under this bereaving ftroke of divine providence; and " ftand'faft in the Lord." Let us neither defpife this chaftening of the Lord, nor <$4 A FUNERAL Bor yet faint, being thus rebuked of him. Let us not defpond ; let us not be weary or faint in our minds, wliiie we look unto Jefus, the author and finisher of OUR FAITH ; whom '' God hath made " head over all things to the church." And let us live in the obfervance of all his commandments : For, as you well know, he compares thofe that hear his fayings, and do them not, to a foolifh man that " buildeth his houfe upon the fand ;" ivhich v/ill fall at laft, and great will be its fall 1 But thofe that hear and do them, he likens, on the contrary, to a wife man •that " buildeth his houfe upon a rock ;' which defies all rains, and winds, and ftorms, and floods, from whatever quar- ter they come, and Ihall never fall ; '' for " it IS founded upon a rock:" And, to apply the w^ords of the apoitle, fpoken with particular reference to another point •—'' That rock is Christ." To conclude : While I was fpcaking fo particularly above, of the character and •virtues of that good man, whofe lofs w^e all deplore, I confidered myfelf, not merer ly as paying a fmall part of that tribute and honor which are juftly due to his me- mory ; but as reminding you, my bre- thren, DISCOURSE. 65 thren, and this whole afTembly, of your duty; thinking you would, of courfe, be excited to imitate the virtues which were io confpicuous in him. For you will re- member, that altho' we are not all judges, or counfellors, and do not a6t in the fame fpheres of life that he did ; yet we are all bound, in our own, to praftife the very fame virtues, w^hich he did in his ; the fame piety towards God, by a due regard to his houfe and w^orfliip, and in other refpefts ; the fame juftice, beneficence and charity towards man ; the fame humility and courtefy ; the fame condefcenfion and goodnefs to all. For though our blelTed Lord is our primary, and great, and mod perfeft example ; yet we are admonifhed to follow others aifo, wherein they fol- lowed him; and to be followers of all them, who thro' faith and patience inherit the promifes. This good man is taken a- "way ; poffibly from the evil to come 011 us who furvive : We know not. But cer- tainly the warning voice of this providence to us all, is, " Be ye ahb ready :" — " Boail '^ not yourfelves of to-morrow; for ye " know not what a day may bring forth.*' — If we truly fear God, and ferve him in holinefs and righteoufnefs, as this good man didjhis late departure from us will not prove a/"//^/ adieu 1 Wefliallfee him again; not in- deed 66 A FU NERAL DISCOU RSE. deed in thisf^ate of darkticfs, affliction and trial ; but we (liall be prefented together with hirn before the prefence of God with exceeding joy, and with crowns of glory from his hand. But as there is '" one " glory of the fun, another glory of the " moon, and another glory of the (lars ;" and as cvx^n '' one ilar differeth from ano- '' ther (tar in glory : So alfo is the rcfur- *' redion of the dead." — When therefore God himfelf, who is light, and in whom there is no darknefs at all, fhali fhine on all theblciTed in heaven, we may well fiippofe that his fervant lately decealed, will ap- pear with a diftinguiflied luftre and glo- ry ; even tho' all " the righteous llialt '' fhine forth as the fun in the kingdom " of their Father." Now unto HIM, the GOD, the JUDGE, the FATHER OF ALL, who only hath immortality; dwel- lini^ in li^ht that mortal men can- not approach unto, wiiom no man hath ieen, or can fee, and live; of whom, and thro' whom, and to whom are all things: — Even imto HIM be given all glory and lionor, dominion, and blcffins:, and praife, thro' JESUS CHRIST our Lord, AMEN ! -^WH'--:v!^tiW: ^m LJM.