E302 .P3C5 mmm my- 1^ ill 5 ; '^^ 4 o O. "-.. s* A ^. ."^ A7 • " " •» o > - '^ ^^--^^ '- -^^0^ ^^•:^: ^-^^^ A SERMON ON THE DEATH OF THE Hon. WILLIAM I^ATERSON, Esq. L.L.D. ONE or THE ASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF TH« SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO DIED ON THE NINTH OF S?:PTEMBER, EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIX, IN THE SIXTY-FIRST YEAR oy HIS AGE ; PREACHEn IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, IN NEW- BRUNSWICK, (NEW-JERSEY) ON THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER. BY THE RE FERE YD JOSEPH CLARK, A. M, MINISTER OF SAID CHURCH. " Mark the perfect man, and behold 't^s opri'gbt: '. : > " For the end of that man is peace. "-i—iP^. xxxviri 37. NEW BRUNSWICK: PRI,NTED BY A. BLAUVELT. 1806. 'C/ RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Board be presented le Rev. Mr. Clark, for his well adapted discoui'se, preach- ed oiMhe death of the Honourable Judge Paterson — and that he be retiuested to furnish a copy thereof for publication. Extract froir the minutes of the Trustees of the Pres- byterian Church, in New-Brunswick, Sept. 22, 1 806. JOHN NEILSON, Clerk. &i SERMON. 2. SAMUEL, III. 38. ^ " Ajid the king said unto his ser'vants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ^''^ JL HE loss of men, truly great, has ever been considered, in all countries, a pub- lick calamity. When such men fall, ^ country is called to mourn ! An occasion of this kind drew from the pious king David the words before us. Abner, the son of Ner, had been com- mander in chief of the armies of Saul ; a man of an enlarged mind, possessing, in a high degree, the talents of a great mi- litary commander ; strongly attached to the interests of his country, and faithful to his sovereign. Saul was now dead; his son, a weak prince, early discovered that he possessed not talents equal to the task of governing; [ 4 ] the affairs of the house of Saul were tot- tering, and the hearts of the men of Israel were drawing towards David. In this state of things Abner became ful- ly sensible that, to continue any longer the ^ truggle in favour of Saul's house, was vain : ithat the good of the country required, at the whole tribes should be united un- der!^ avid, v/hom he perceived the Lord had chosen to be king over his people Is- [i|«^el. A personal affront from Ishbosheth, Llhe son of Saul, determined him to hasten an : event which he saw to be of so much im- i portance to the peace and welfare of his coun- try. He accordingly repaired to king David 5 communicated to him his views, and pledg- ed himself to do all in his pov/er to bring ' about a union of the tribes, and to estab- lish the kingdom in David's hands. The interview resulted in a manner most P agreeable to his benevolent views. He took his leave of the king, and was just set out to execute with patriotick ardor, the generous enterprise in which he was n gaged, when Joab, the chief captain in the armies of David, returned from pur- suing an hostile troop. Joab was informed of the interview ;— - was told that Abuer had been entertained C 5 ] by the king in the most friendly manner, and was gone away in peace. Burning with jealousy in the view of such a rival, and stung with rage on account of the death of his bro- ther Asahel, who had fallen in battle by the hands of Abner, Joab immediately dispatcb||^ ed messengers, and brought back Abner ^^™^ the city, where, in the most base and treach- erous manner, he thrust him through wuh the sword that he died ! The whole of this base and inhuman business had been transa6led without the king's knowledge. But when it came to the ears of David, he was affected with the deepest grief. He put on the garments of mourning, and commanded all his servants and all the people to movirn for Abner. As a mourner he followed the bier ; and at the grave he wept and lamented over him, as did all the people. " And the king said unto his servants, Knov/ ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ?" From the language here used it is mani- fest that, the king considered the fail of Ab- ner as a loss to the nation ; and that, on this account, as well as from the respe^l: he had for the character of the deceased, he wept and lamented over him. I e } The words before us are not chosen on this occasion, with any view to a compa- rison of the character of our deceased friend, with his alluded to in the text ; but as a declaration of the high importance oly great men are to their country ; and great loss their country sustains, when men are removed. eating the subject in this vievv^, I shall consider, I. What constitutes the truly great man. II. The high importance of such men to their country. I. I shall consider what constitutes the fndy great man. Certain it is that, neither v/ealth, nor rank, nor titles, nor splendid equipage, can confer true greatness. Nor cm he ever merit the noble distinction v/ho, through the lust of a boundless ambition, dis- turbs the peace of the w^orid ; deluges countries in blood ; robs weaker na- tions of their independence, and renders them tributary to an insatiable avarice. Well were it for the world, could the memory of such greatness for ever rot •' and its footsteps be never more found amongst the dweilings of men'! C 7 ] The truly great are indeed rare charac- ters in every country ; which makes their deaths the more a cause of lamentation ! - To be truly great^ men must possess great natural talents, talents that are solid, and suited to advance the best interests of man- kind ; — -a strong comprehensive undejBB|L standing-— a sound judgment— a firran^^^H||^ of purpose — a mind, elevated by noble dig- nified views — a prudence in conduct ; 6r a natural facility in accommodating to the oc- casion, and improving times and circum- stances to the best purposes ; and a majes- ty mingled with mildness, that both inspires veneration and creates esteem. These natural talents must also be im- proved by literature and science. On this foundation, laid by nature and improved by science, must be ere6led the moral and Christian virtues, to dire6l and adorn the whole a profound veneration of the majesty of heaven and earth '.—-a reverence for hi^authority, institutions and laws— :-a deep respe6l for the august tri- bunal of heaven, where all characters and every deed done in the body shall be final- ly tried — a rejoicing in the divine govern- ment ; a dependence on the divine aid ; a sincere regard tg the divine glory in every C 8 3 undertaking, and an integrity and upright- ness of soul that detests deception and fraud in all their forms, and aims always to preserve a conscience void of offence to- w^ards God and towards man ! Sentiments like tViese give a noble elevaijj^ tJon of soul ; and, in persons of distinguish- ed stations, afford a sufficient security that, 110 tru is will be betrayed ; no prhate rights sporu d with ; no publicli interests treach- ercr.sly sacrificed; no encroachments made on lIh:- rig Its of conscience ; nor any con- tempt or disregard manifested to the sacred laws of religion. While men of the greatest natural talents, if destitute of the princi- ples of religion, are but so much the more calculated to be publick scourges ; and are the more likely to live, either the contempt, or the dread of mankind ! The truly great man lives, not for him- self alone ; his enlarged mind embraces the general interests of his country, and of mankind. It is his glory to be ex- tensively useful. " The liberal soul de- viseth liberal things." Raised above sor- did selfishness, every useful, every great and benevolent objed meets his warmest patronage, and his liberal aid. [9 ] Is he entrusted wiih the management of publick affairs ; no base regard to popu- larity, to his own personal aggrandize- ment, or to serve the interest of a party, will ever make him swerve from the paths of re6litude. Alo'-ceof right; a greatnessjj|^ mind that dares to do ivhat h right^ will ^J^^^Bk lead him to pursue what he deems the cor- • | re6l line of his duty, unswayed by the frowns or the flatteries of any. As the servant of God ; the friend of man ; the lover of truth, righteousness and peace, he employs his talents, exerts'- his skill, and uses all his influence to promote those things that have the honour of Gcd, and the good of mankind as their great ob- ject. Such IS the tndy great n:aii I am II. to consider. The high im- portance of such men to their country. And, indeed, such is their importance that, no country can be great and happy where such men are wanting. The respectability — the security — the prosperity — the internal peace — and the the moral and religious order of a nation mil St depend, under God, on the aid and influence of such men. There are concerns to be managed, and B C 10 2 interests to be promoted in every country, to which the weak, the ignorant, and the little minded arc totally unequal. Who shall devise the plans ; adapt the means ; call forth the energies of the na- n, and employ them all successfully for national honour, its security and de- ■ce ? Who shall discern and opsn all le sources of improvement and wealth, anB give a spring to the spirit of enterprize ? -—Can minds of inferior mould reach to undertakings like these ? No ! T/jese are the^work of superior minds! And to every ^^4i!S*!fbuntry these are all undertakings too im- portant to be overlooked, or negleded ; wherever they are neglected, or injudici- ously managed, the chara6ler of a coun- try is degraded and sinks ! In short, the respe6lability and prosperi- ty of every country are in exact proportion to the weight of talents and charader cal- led forth to dire6l and manage its publick concerns. Where, but to the great, the wise and the good, can a country with safety and with certainty lo'.i: for wise and wholesome laws, adapted to its exigencies, and calcu- lated to promote its best interests? On whom, but on such, can a country rely to C 11 ] preserve pure and unsullied the fountains of justice ? To whom but to such, can it ever look for a wise and vigorous adminis- tration of its government and laws ? And such only are truly qualified to guard the majesty of religion, and preserve the re pcdl due to its sacred institutions. Let these scats of high responsibilit degraded by weak and insufficient ^en ; let these fountains of power and in- fluence be corrupted by unprincipled, time- serving, and self-seeking men ; let ma- gistrates, strangers to the influence of%reli- gion themselves, cease to be a " Terrou evil doers, and a praise to them that do well," and who can calculate the mischiefs that, in such a state of things, must ine- vitably flow in upon, and overwhelm soci- ety ! " When the righteous are in autho- rity, the people rejoice ; but when the wick- ed bear rule, the people mourn." Vice, in such a case, will want its vigor- ous check ; virtue, its proper support ; soci- ety will gradually sink into a sickly, disor- dered state ; and the base and the profli- gate will become more and more embolden- ed and hardened in their iniquities : for it is a truth equally confirmed by experience and the word oi God that, " The wicked rien ; 9k C 12 ] walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted." But it is not in piiblick stations only ; but in the private walks of life, that truly great men are of so much importance. Skilled ^ove others in the knowledge of men and tngs, they know better how to reach and move the secret springs that govern human mind^ ; to control the passicns of the tur- baient \ to inspire the love of order; to give a proper tone to the publick sentiment and the publick manners, and unite the common mass in views and habits, essen- tial to their comfort and their peace. Prompted by their virtue, and love to the best interests of mankind, they seize the occasions of doing good to ail as they have opportunity. They exert their influence in frowning upon vice ; encouraging virtue and religion ; in ameliorating and improv- ing the state of society ; establishing or cherishing useful institutions ; aiding the industrious poor; encouraging genius ; re- warding merit ; providing for the instruc- tion of the ignorant, and the relief of the distressed. In short, as fathers of the publick fam- ily, all the weight of their counsel, their example, their influence, and their benevo- r 13 ] lent exertions are employed to advance the best interests of 'their fellow men. Such is their importance that, should a country be once left destitute of their weight and influence, it would soon become the contempt and scorn of neighbouring nations ; and exhibit within itself, a see of the most pitiable disorder and wretched- ness ! And if they are of that importance to a country, which has been now stated , then surely their country have just cause to mourn when any such are called off by death ! My brethren and fellow citizens, we are now called, in the providence of God, to mourn an event of this nature. The Honourable WILLIAM PATERSON is no more / On the ninth instant, and in the sixty-first year of his age, he reached the period of his valuable life, and breathed his last ! Scarcely could death have removed from our country, a citizen of whom it may be more fitly said," A prince and a great man is fallen in our American Israel." His life, spent and closed as it has been, has afforded demonstrable proof that, he was truly a great man. C 14 3 I feel that I hold not a pencil capable t» do fall justice to his cbara6ter. But, caU led to this service, I shall attemit such de- lineation as my own knowledge and the in- formation I possess may enable me to give. He was descended from reputable pa» ^ts, and possessed from nature a strong Jpiprehcnsive understanding ; a clear dis- m<|uishing judgment ; an elevated imagin- ation and the powers of a commanding eloquence: and, though amiably modest, he had a native dignity and independence of rniiid. :From his earhest years he was indefatigable in his application to literary |p5rsuits. While a student at Nassau Hall , the honours of which he received as one of its distinguished sons, he was esteemed a youth of more than ordinary talents, and of singular application. At the close of his collegiate course, he entered on the stu- dy of the law, under that celebrated law charader, the Hon. Richard Stockton, Esq. Mr. Stockton testified a very high esteem of his pupil, and the greatest resped for his talents ; and used often confidently to predia that, /' Youii^. Mr. Paterson would soon be at the head of his profession." This predi6lion was indisputably verified ; for, notwithstanding the overbearing influ! [13] ence which, at that time, was used against all rising young men at the bar (not in a certain conne6tion) he very early rose to that eminence that, he was considered the Brightest ornament of the profession the bar of New- Jersey could boast. Risin in fame as a lawyer, and revered for hiiii t^ents and integrity as a man ; he was too distinguished to be long unnoticed by his country. America was, at that time, deeply in- volved in her revolutionary struggle *^ith Great Britain. She needed the counsel?lnd the aid of her best citizens. Having declar» ed herself free and independent, the seve- ral states were necessarily called upon to form their constitutions, or plans of civil government. A convention, for this purpose, was cal- led by the state of New-Jersey, to which Mr. Patersonwas elected, and of which he was a distinguished member, and its secre^ tary. Although, at the time, and ever af- ter, he disliked many of the principles and features of the instrument then formed and adopted, and gave his decided vote against it. From that time till his death, he was al- most constantly employed in important pub- Uck services. He received an appointment. [ 16 ] as commander of a regiment of foot ; was ele6ied a member of the legislative council, and appointed attorney general of the state. In that critical period of our country's airs, when a general convention of the |ites was called, to prepare a constitution and^form of government for the United States, Mr. Paterson was ele6led a member of that august body. Here he shone con- spicuous, as the real patriot and statesman; and^iterwards, for four years, he served as member of the senate of the United tates. On the death of that truly eminent man, Governor Livingston, Mr. Paterson was unanimously ele6ted to be his succes- sor, as Governor of this state, and received, on that occasion, the mc^st respeclful and affectionate addresses from all classes of his fellow cidzens. This high office he held, with honour to himself and his country, till he was appointed one of tiie Associate Justices in the Supreme Court of the United States. In this honourable sta- tion he continued, the boast and the glory of hi^ountry, till death, at once, put a pe- riod to his labours and his life ! The ele- vations of office he never courted ; nay, h c C 17 ] modestly declined the acceptance of sta- tions more distinguished than those he held. Strongly was he urged by the immortal Washington, that discerning judge of real merit, to accept the iiigh office of Secreta- ry of State ; but, without hesitation, he de- clined the honour, preferring the morereti ed duties of judicial office to all the ponS'pl and eclat of the department of state. Motives of delicacy led him, at another - period, to decline the offer made him to fill the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. On all occa- sions he appeared to be governed by the wish, rather to do honour to office by an able and faithful discharge of its duties, than to receive honour from it. From his prevailing desire to be extensively useful, it seemed to be his great maxim, To lose no time. Amidst all his other labours, and the fa- tigues of office, he undertook, at the request of the legislature, to revise, digest, and make supplements to the code of lav/s of this state; and which, though conside a- bly altered from the original spirit and form in which it came from his hands, stilfbears his name. For this work h'^ ■ -eived, through thelegislature, the pro^ - thanks ©f the state. -C L 18 ] He was the distinguished friend and pa- tlron of* Hterature ; took a lively interest in promoting literary institutions, and every species of valuable imDrovement in our country. For several years, he was an ac- tive and highly useful member of the Board Trustees of the College of New- Jersey. hen the plan was adopted, by the Ge- nerc^tf-^ssembly of our churcli, for promot- ing evangelical missions to the rising set- tlements OD our extensive frontiers, and to other destitute parts, he entered with zeal Into the views of the Assembly, and was ever ready to contribute, in the most gen- erous manner, to that important work. Indeed, it is not too much to say that, his pen, his purse, his counsels, and his influence were employed in every way, in which he saw it probable that he might be- nefit the interests of society. It was his lot to live in times that tried men's souls ; but she ue^er ivcrjcrcd, ^n all the flu6luations and heats of par- t) he was temperate, but stood Jinn. He d a soul above the low arts of po- pula: . -igue ; and he cordially abhorred every t ^g like cmming and duplicity I True honour ap)^.aredto mark the whole course of his life, hkI the love of his country to be his ruling passion.," [ 19 ] On the subje^l; of religion he rcad and studied much. Few men, not of the cleri- cal profession, appeared better to under- stand the dotlrines both of natural and re- vealed religion. For the sacred scriptures he had the highest reverence, and was th^ roughly satisfied with the evidences of tl being of divine inspiration. He v/as a con- stant and serious attendant on the publick worship of God, and manifested much con- cern for the reputation and support of the gospel ministry. Certain doubts, respecting himself deterred him from making, iii the usual way, a publick profession of relig^^^^^^^» and joining in the communion of tn^^^^^ church ; a circumstance he greatly regret_ ted in his last moments : nor could he leave the world in peace, till he solicited the privilege and, on his dying bed, united with some pious friends in receiving the holy communion. And, in giving his dying advice to his son, he urged this duty on him in the most impressive and af- feclionate manner. I need not remind you, my hearers, of his virtues as the neighbour, the citizen, and the friend. You knew him v/ell; and the grief you manifest for his loss is the best evidence, how affe6lionately you re- Tnembcr his virtuous example — his distin [ 20 ] guished prudence— his love of justice— bis fidelity in friendship — his readiness to obi'.ge— his kindness to the poor — his gene- rous hospitaUty, and the dignity of his de- portment, tempered with all the mildness of amiable citizen, the agreeable, the tqrestihg-, and ever instructive companion. Pa:ssingall further notice of the virtues that adoillbd his private life, let me lead you to the last scene, and shew you this great man, truly great in death. For more than a year he had been gra- dually sinking under the weight of compli- catv(i disease, which he sustained with truly Christian fortitude and resignation.^ Seeing his end fast approaching, he sent for a par- ticular and intimate friend,from whom I have been favoured with the account of this last interesting interview.* When his friend arrived he found Jiim in the full exercise of his reason, entirely tranquil ; but evidently near his death. With the utmost composure he ob- served to his friend, " I have now done with the world, having disposed of all my affairs in it— I have no longer a wish * Mr. Paterson died at Albany, at the liousc of liis son- in-law, the Hon. Stephen Van Ransalaer, ■where he arrived, a few weeks before his death, on liis v/ay to try the effect of ^he waters of Balls-Town. * C 21 ] to live, nor a wish to die ; desiring only that my Heavenly Father may do with me as seems good in his sight. For some years past, my mind has been more than ordinarily imprest with the sub- ject of religion. Often was I almost per- suaded to make a publick profession of it,' and join in the communion of the church. I regret that I did not do this : but" added he " my whole trust is in the atonement and merits of the Lord Jesus. Here rest all my hopes of eternal life. I know in whom I have believed, and I feel firmly persuaded that he will not disappoint^*^y hope." Thus did this truly great man resign his departing spirit into the hands of his Sa- viour and his God, in the full belief of the Christian religion, and died without a strug- gle and v/ithout a groan ! Such was his end. We presume not to say, he was perfe6t. He, knew, he felt the reverse. Perfe6lion belongs not to man in this life. He doubtless, with others, had his imperfe6lions, and often erred ; but whatever his imperfections were, a life so far blameless and so highly useful to men, has the fairest claims on our Christian cha- rity. My country, it is thy glory to have en- [ 22 J joyed the labours of such men ; nor is thy viiiuc so InVv* as not to laniunt wlioi such men fall ! 'I'he real patriot hears the sad tidings with grief, and lets fall the tear of sorrow and respect. The bench of justice weeps ^'^'^bathe, who so ably and so faithfully aided to preserve her dignity and her lustre un- tarpjshed, is now no more ! Learning, religion, and publick virtue v;eep, that so distinguished a friend, so bright an ornaraent is gone 1 His connc6tions, his friends, his faiTiily mcura iiis loss ; but O ! consoling thought : to them his life has bequeathed respecl ; to them his death administers instru6tion, consolation and peace ! This church mourns the zealoUvS friend, that so adively aided to rear these Vvalls, to maintain God's v/orship here, and that has so often united with us in the solemnities of these sacred courts. No more shall we see him taking his seal with us, in this earth- ly sanctuary. But Heaven forbids us to repine : he has gone to worship in the courts above ! Ye real patriots of '76 ; ye tried fric7uh ot virtue and your country, how are your ranks fast tlnnning avv'ay ! How are your numbersj one by one, melting down. — He [ 23 ] that stood "by you ; that Went with you that jointly lent his best efforts to promote our country's prosperuy and glor}', has Viow finished his course ! — Let not the patriotic ilame be extinguished in your bosoms. Be it your chief concern, like hirn, to pursue, undeviating, the paths of rectitude, and be''-^ faithful to the death* Citizens of Nev/ Brunsv/icl?:, vvhile^you remember, emulate his virtues. Let noKpub- iick spirit wither ; let it appear thaS we have profited by his great examph Ye youths, the rising hope of your coWkry, what a model has his life afforded for^iir imitation ! Like him, Ihe to be useful. And cherish, while you live, that virtue and pie- ty, essential to a character truly great ; and that can alone prepare you for a peaceful and a happy death. Ye that liave hitherto thought too lightly of religion, let a death so instructive teach you its infinite im.por- tance ! Ah, let me lead you to the deatii- bed of our much honoured friend ! Let the dying Paterson speak ! Methinks I hear him address you ! '' Friends, companions, accjuaintances of my former days, let not a vain world deceive you. That religion, to which Heaven hath set its seal, claims your first, your most serious attention. Death will soon place you, like me, on the verge [ 24 ] of eternity I Soon, from the borders of the grave, must you take your retrospe6l of life ! Preparation for this momentous pe- riod admits no trifling nor delay. Let a dying friend conjure youto fly, without delay, to the sanctuary of the Redeemer's grace — to make the religion of Jesus the great busi- J^ess of life ! Possessing this religion, you have an anchor of the soul, sure and sted- fast. You will descend, undismayed into the valley of the shadov/ of death ; and, when every earthly joy is parting forever from^you, you will enjoy a heavenly peace, of v/hich not death itself can rob you." Believers in Jesus, another noble testimony is given to the truth and eternal importance of that religion you profess. The peace, the serenity of soul, and the last words of our departed friend, like a voice from Hea- ven, bids you " Not to be asham.ed of the gospel of Christ ; " but, " To hold fast the profession of your faith, without wavering, unto the end." I^et scoffing infidels boast no more the long ranks of sceptick philosophers that mock at the Christian's hope. — In this hope, with a soul tranquil as the summer'.s setting sun, and beaming with heavenly joy, the wise, the learned, the truly great Pater- son breathed his last ! With such a death in view, who would not join in the wish, " Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his !" Amen. VD ao i . V • o . "^:i. < > . s • • . 'V^ rv~ » . « -^^ .0- > ^ ^ - ■ay ^i&^o ^^. A^ /^fe\ V..'^'' /^Wa\ ^. 'b K LIBRARY OF CONGRESS I lllll 11 1 III iiii I II HI' I' 1 <"' "" '■ 011 769 455 4 |v;m.':-TtV