#*' o^ ■'.. s' A DISCOURSE^ DELIVERED ON THE FIRST SABBATH AFTER THE COMMENCE-^ MENT OF THE YEAR 1802. By JOHN ELLIOTT, a.m. CASTOR OF A CHURCH IN GUILFORD, PuhliJJied hy requejl. Your fathers, where are they ? and the Prophets, do ihev live forever ? Profnat Zecharlak^ Remember the days of old ; condder the years of many gene- rations. Diut. xKxii, 7, Middletown : PRINTED By T. '^ ]. B. DUNNING, March I So?, tl A DISCOURSE, &c. 1 Corinthians, vn. 29. " Brethren, the time isJJiort.'"- REFLECTIONS an the mortality of man and the fleeting nature of all worldly good, cannot too of- ten, or too ferioudyy employ our minds. Fading are the honors, uncertain the enjoyments, and imperfetl the blifs, of the preCent (late. SuccefTive fcenes ; the beauties of the morning, the fplendors of noonday, and the fhades of evening, prelent themfelves to our view. The gentle breeze, the howling tempeft, the gliding ftream, the boirtrous deep, alternately, refrefH, alarm, delight, and overwhelm us. The voice of experience loudly gives the folemn warning, " Boafi not thyfelf of to morrow : for thou knowell not what a day may bring forth." The events of tomorrow are as far beyond the fight of mortals, as ihofe of an hundred, or a thou- fand years. Another morning's fun rn.^y rife with fplendor, and irradiate the eanh with his effulgent beams, hut multitudes, who now gaily, or bufily, walk the round of life, may not behold (he light. They may have finifhed their earthly courfe, and gone to the bar of GOD. Viciffstude attends all eanh'.y fcenes, and inftabiliiy is engraven upon the highef} monuments of human art. The affairs of men rarely proceed in one continued courfe. Unforeftcn events crcur, the mofl promifing profpeftsare clouded, and the faircft proje61s terminaLe in difaopoinimcnt. i he clouds foon gather after the clrarcft funfliine, arid the d.irknefs of night f$ Succeeded by the moll enchanting day. Man himfelf, with all his noble powers and diftin- ;7uif]iing faculties ; man, the lord of this lower world, the glorious refcniblance of his Maker, is deflined, by a righteous decree, to fall a vittim to death, and (ink jiuo ihe grave. Divine teflimony and human expe- rience unite in fupport of thcfe pofitions, that '* one generation pafTeth away, and another generation com- i.th :" that " man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the flreets," The millions, who n(nv inhabit the earth, are not the fame, who inhabit-^d )! an hundred years ago, and fhofe who now dwell on ihc earth, will, before another revolution of this period, pay the debt of nature, and be feen no more. The children of nfien have found, here, no abiding piace. Every age renews the teflimony, that mortals have, on earth, no continuing city. Kvery hour, and every mo;^Tent, witnefleth the departure of fome of our fel- low men. Neither the elevation of a throne, nor the horrors of a dungeon, will exempt from the blow of the ;;rcat deflro}er. Innumerable have already gone to^ ihc grave, and all, who now live, are following with hafly fteps. When a few more funs have revolved, vhen a little longer fpace haih puffed, all who now move, and aB, will be laid in the lonelv manfion. While fhedding the tear of undiilembled forrow around the graves of thofe once held dear, how proper and how profitable; to bring near in view that iolemn liour, when our names will be blotted from the cata- logue of the living, and our unimbodicd fpirits appear before the divine tribunal ! The apf)(tle fpcaks with peculiar cmphafis, in this paffage, '• The lime is fliort." Ji will apply to us, and to every fucceeding generation, r.ot only with iiigh autluHity? but with that accumula- tion of force, that iirciiilab'e conviBion, derived from xh.T univerfal experience of pall a^:;c%. Let it be OMr bufmefs, at this time, to contemplate fevcrai particulars, with reference to which it m.ay be iiid, that " the um,e is Ihort." T. " Time is fliorl" confidered as an opportunitf to do good and be ufeful. Mutual dependance and mutual wants, firongly challenge mutual kindnefs and l)eneficence. The great Creator liath furniflicd Tome with more exalted powers; with talents more fplefidfd, than thofe beftowed on others. In higher i'pheres f'ome are deftincd to a6t ; in humbler walks, others are to fpend their days. Various are the allotments of divine providence ; but in every fituation, high and important duties are incumbent oti men. — However diftinguifliing the talents, or elevated the ftation o'i -^ny individuals, the circle of their ufefulnefs, of the goud they are enabled to perform, is bounded by narrow limits. Their exertions may be gieat and unremitted, and fuch they ought to be, but they fpread their influ- ence, in moil cales, only to a fmall extent, and will foon ceafe. The man of piety ardently defires to im- prove all his powers in the fervice of (jOD, and for the benefit of i^is fellow-men, not from the principle of vain ollentaiion and popular app!aufe, but from the rational and holy view, of glorifying the one, and promoting the happinefs of the other,— But how narrov; is the fpace to which thefe dehres and rhefe views are cot)fjned ! How foon do we ice the liigl^efl; aftivity ceafe, the mofl noble endeavors end ! Tiie moft hopeful meafures come to naught! In the mid(t of the mod humane and benevolent defigns : while tlie Tno{t exalted and philanthropic p'ans are ripening into execution ; plans, which promife greaily to aUr viate human mifery, and extend their beneficial influence over the community ; do we behold the charitable, the lighteous, the friends of afflfled humanity, cut off I Church and fociety are called, at times, to bemoan the untimely exit of their firmefl fupporters, and greatefl; 'benefa8ors. From the hijjlveft fphere of ufefulnefs are mortals called awav- Their liopes of doing good are fruflrated, through toiiure or liiccefs in the means applied, or by iheir fummons from time. Admitting, all chat can be fuppofed, that a man enjoys length of day», is blelTcd Wilh healih, crowned with alTlaence, and elevated to high honors ; fuppofe thai he employs all his lime, and diretls all his aims, to the divine objed of doing good : how fhort is the fpace allotted ! how many improvements docs he fee, at the ctofe of life, (till to be made ! How many beneficial defigns are beyond his power of execution ! How ma- ny objeBs of public good, are beyond his attainment ! How few were the years erjoved by a Washington, to adorn civil fociety, fliine in public life, and enhance the honor, and the happinel's of his country, and of man. Let this conHderation, fo far from difcourag- ing any in their lauddble defires and endeavors to do good in the world, animate them to the immediate and diligent purfiiit of this great objeft. I'hcy will not be accountable for thofe talents, which they do not pof- fefs, and for that opportunity, which they do not enjoy. As thefe talents will foon be taken from them, and this opportunity foon ceafe, the ditUte of wifdom is, that they diligently and faithfully, apply themfelves to ac- compiiHi ihe great work, in which they are engaged: remembering, that their days are few, and the period, allotted them, fhort. II. " i'lME is fliort" viewed as a fta'e of probation.. Thofe who have enjoyed no more than the glim- merings of the light of nature have fuggefted the idea, and DIVINE RKV ELATION hath fully eflablifhed it, that man is immortal ; that, as his origin is high, fo al- fo his dellination. By the glorious gofpel life an» IMMORTALITY are brought clearly to light. The n)o(l difccrniiig of the heathen world rather hoped, than believed, in a future Itate. Their hopes are re- alized, and their reafonings are now fuperceded, by the cle..r fplcndors of heavenly light. They beheld fcarce- !y the dawnings of a day, of which we behold the me- ridian glory. The faCl is now fully afcertained, the' point placed bevond all doabt. The material part alone moulders in the duff, while the fpiritual enters into an invifible Hate. From the fame infinitely high authoritv, 've alio learn, that an inleparable connexion ii-cliabiinKAij between the moral conduct of men, in tills world, and their everlafling condition, in iha world to come. There are two regions of fpirits beyond the grave j one of the holy, and one of the unholv ; one happy, and the other miferable. The obedient are, afier death, received to pure manhons of uninterrupied blifs ; the difobedient are doomed to the doleful abodes of howling defpair. Heaven will be the blefl refidence of (he redeemed, " and there, will they rejoice to dwe!l forever. That world will never want for fongs, nor GOD for praife. There, fiiall daily arrive from thefe lower courts, after a triumphant flight from fenfe and pain, the fpirits of the juft. There fliall cherubs ever fmile, and fcraphs ever burn before the throne of GOD." — For the enemies of GOD is refcrved the blacknefs of daiknefs forever. They will be fentcnced to the bottomlefs pit, the fmoke of which will never Geafe to afcend. There will be woes exquifiie and without end. There will they be companions,, through endlefs ages, with the devil and his angels. All mankind mufl give an account, at the bar of the inEnitely wife, holy and righteous Judge, of their conduct in the prefent life. " For GOD /hall bring every work into judgment^ with every f:cret things -aiJiether it be good, or whether it be evil.''* Conformed to his law and will, it will be approved, and highly rewarded : op- pofed to his law and will, it will be condemned, and awfully punilhed. An eternal feparation will be made between the righteous and the wicked ; a reparation founded upon their different charaQcrs. The former *' fhall enter into life eternal," but the latter " fhall go away intoeverlafting punifliment." The part which man is here to aft, affumes a vafl importance, from its connexion with another world, and another ftate of being. Infinite and eternal con- fequences are to be the refult. They do not regard the empty pageantry of worldly grandeur, the fafcinat- ing found of empty titles, or immenfe treafures of golden ore. Compared to thefe confequcjices, '* how f £cdf xiit 14. 8 little is this world ! Its pomps, its pieafures, nonfenfe all ! The ciowns of nionarchs, and tlu* wealth of worlds. how trifling in this view !' The iriterefts to be fecur- td, bv the ooedicnce of the jult, are inconceivably valuable, they are immortal. They refer to the iiappinefs of the foul, through the countiefs ages of eternity ; to joys which will experience no interruption, no alioy, and what renders them unfpcakably more important, will have no end. Saith the Redeemer, " What /hall li profit a man. if he JJiall gain the whole tuorli, and Icfe his own foul."* I N proportion as the obje£l before us, in a probation- ary ftate, is great and glorious, that itate mull, in itjeif^ appear cloathed with folemnity and importance. A moft arduous work demaiids high exertions and a great length of lime. As the failure of fuccels, or rather the negle6l of the precious op{)ortunity, in this cafe, will produce an infinite lofs, that period, in which the blcf- iings are to be fecured, is invaluable, — Can it then be fuppofed, that human life is longer than is neceflary, to lay up treafure in heaven ; to fecure the favor of the Lord and art interefl in the once bleeding Lamb ; to difcharge thofe various duties, which pertain to a life of godlinefs, on earth, and are preparatory to a flate of glory, in the kingdom of heaven ? Does not the good man often Wifh that it were longer, that he might more fervently love, and more faithfully ferve, and obey, his heavenly Father ? Human wifdom ufually allots to every branch of bufinefs, a length of time, propordoned to the difnculty of its performance, and the necefTity of its completion. Calculating upon this principle, with reference to our prefent fubjefi, who will helitate to declare, that none is to be loit, none mifimproved ? -Is any one about to lake a journey into a very diftant part of the country, or to fail on a voyage to a remote region of the earth ; \vhat preparations does he make f what time does he confume ! what care and alTiduity does he manifeft; that every thing may be in order^ for health, for bufi- * A'lark viii. .56. 9 nefs, for comfort, for pleafure? And if men thus la- . bor, to prepare for a journey on earth, fhall they not more abundantly labor to prep.irc for that world, into which, after death, we are to pafs ? Is it lefs important to be prepared to enter into ihe invilible ftaie, than to vifit didant countries or climates ? Is temporary good preferable to that which is eternal; that which en- dures for a few raontlis or years, to that whfch endures forever ? Theallwife Creator hath placed us in the world, af- fi^Tned us our lot and courfe, opened to view an un- changing and eternal Hate, pointed out the method to obtain infinite treal'ure, and declared that '• 7io-a> is ths accepted twie and ihe day of jalvation." Our everialt- ing All depends on its right and diligent improvement. Were man, like t'ne brwies, to perilh, and return to his original nothing; were there to be no judgment- day, no {late of retribution, no exidence beyond the grave ; wfcre no everlaUing conicquences lo reiult ; the motives which are now urged to virtue and obe- dience, would iofe more than half their force. Thcie are drawn, though not entirely, yet principally, from that high view, that dWlant profpe6l, afforded by the word ot GOD. — A great work is to be done, in the prcfent woild ; to prepare for that which is to fucceed. Every day brings u.s nearer to the period, wiien we muft ceafe from this work, whether hnifhed, or not. Mortal life doth not [o loon conclude, as to forbid the hope of obtaining the great objett, and thus to 'efiett upon the goodneis of the Sovereign of t'ne univerfe; but in a rational view of it, compared with the defignt- of heaven in its bellowmcnt, as a period of prepara- tion for a more glorious and eudlai's (late, " the time" may juPtly be cubed " fliort."' Ill, Confider "time" as the fpace allotted to hu- man life, and it v.iil appear '* Ihort." The fcenes of the prefent ftate are various and lluftuating. The ac- tors on the gveat theatre are coniinuaily changing.--- One performs the p^rt ailigned. ar.d retires. Anoihcr B 10 ftjcceeds, continues for a fhort fpacc, and is quickly gone, Tiie aniazir.g concourfe who furround us on c- Tcry fide, and people, and fill the earth, are liaftening to the congregation of the dead. We ourlelvcs are not to be excepted. '■• h there not an appointed time to man upon earth ? arc not his dayi aljj, likt the days oj an hire- View an individual in his earthly career, and how foon doth the end arrive f He rifes from the cradle, he pafies through the fcenes and period of youth, he af- ftjnies the bufinels, and performs the functions and du-» ties of man : and the hoary head, the harbinger of dif- Iblution, loon is fcen. He bov»s under the infirmities of aiTc, and finks into the grave. Even what he term- ed length of days is but a narrow fpace. I'he aged, in the review of life, acknow'edge that it is vanity. ---Bc- frde this, by far the greatell proportion of the human race are fusnmoned from time, in infancy and youth. The grave never faith, ''I have enough," but opens its jaws, to devour, the young, the blooming, the vi- gorous, the ufeful.the pious and the honorable. The flight of an eagle in the fls.ies, darling upon its prey; the velocity of a fiiip, fiiimming the furface of the ocean; the fpeed of a poll: or meffenger, fent on matters of urgent neceffity, and public concern ; a flower, the beauty of which fades in a inoment, a fhut- t!e, which quickly flies through the loom, are fame of the lively images, by which the fleeting nature of the life of man is dclcribed, Saith Job, in the view of our tranfirory (iate, " Man that is born of a xooman is of few days and full of trouble. He covieth forth hke a flower ^ and is cut down : he fUeih alfo^ as a jhadow^ and conti- wwc^A 72o;,'"t— Saith the pious Pfalmirt, ''^ Lord make me to know viine cnd^ and the intafare of my days, what it is : that I may know how frail I am. Behold thou hafl made my days as an hand breadth : and mine age is a;, nothing before thee : verily every man, at his hflflate, is altoge- ther vanity.'"'^ -Saith the word of unerring truth, " All flefli is grafi, and all the goodlinefs of man as the fower * Jab vii. I. i Job xiv. i, 2. X Pfalnis xxxix, 4, 5, li ^^ of graf, : The grc.f\ xvithereth, an^'^ thr fiozvir there ■[ fall- eth awciy.'^*- -^^ Stircly the people. i> g}-aji.''i' With fuch decfarafions accords the experience of men in every age. When Pharaoh enquired of Jacob his age, Jacob replied, " The days of the yean of 7ny pil- grimage, are an hiindjed and thAvty yean : fcxo and evil have the days of the year ^ oj my life /Yd-^r/'J- -llius man- kind fpend their ycarj-, as a tale that is told, and (inifli their earthly courfe. Their houresare hoiifes of clay, and their foundation is in the du(L The fliadov.s flee awav, and they die, and return to the earth. IV. Consider *' ti!ne"as it regards worldly enjoy- nienis and connections, and the fame ^aQi will be e'lab- liflied." Tlie experience of every aue ha h fneuMi, that all dependence upon the things of time is hnilt on fand,and may foon be undermined. No fooner is the mighty f hinted into mourning, and the crgaji into the voice, of thtm that w(cp.''* Whofe heart lias not bled ? wiiole eyes have not flowed with tears? Vifit the chambers (jf the dying! behold the paOing funeral ! fee the fond parent bending over the remains of a beloved child \ iee the kind hufband fol- lowing to the grave, the mc^rtai part of lier, whom he moft tenderly h)ved ! or, ihe alfeBionatc wife, taking the laft farewell of iier beloved hufband ! hear the Ijiricks and piteous moans of the weeping children, * Job XXX. 31. 2.3 Cy when the mother, to whom they were chained hv a ihoufand endearments, is configned to the grave! — But why attempt to defcribe fceiies which are beyond the power of defcription ? fcenes, not the lefs diUrcf- fing, becaufe familiar ! Hear the plaintive languap^e of the devout IMaimill, \\\ the day of divine vihiation ; " Lover and friend, haf, tliouf tit far from me, and mine acquaintance into darknefs."* Bitter are the lamenta- tions of afflicted Job, '" Have pity vpnn me, Jiave pity upon me, ye my friends ; for the hand of GOD haih touched me.""^ Under f(ue bereavements, mourners arc conftrained to adopt this language, from generation to generation. How fuddenly, how unexpe61edly, do ihefe events occur ! Who carmot recount indances of the tendereft friendfhips foon broken ? Who can with certainty prediB, that this will not be the cafe, with thoi'e that now exilt.— - — — Let us even fuppofe the longefl poffible continuance to thcfe endearing con- nexions, yet the period of their duration is foon pafTed away. A lapfe of ycrirs will foon bring to old aoe, and this will open the door of the invifiblc world. Thus, in this point of view, it appears that " the time is fhcrt." V. " Ti ME is fliort" compared with eternity. — Confider "time" as the whole duration of the world, from the creation to the final confummation of all thing?-, and it appears, comparativeh , but a moment. Mighty proje8s have, from age to age, engaged the at- tention, and called into exertion, all the energies of the ambitious and aipiring. Extenfive monaichies have been eltablifhed ; long fuccefiiors of kings, in vajious quarters of the globe, have adorned or dif- graced the throne. Kmpires have rifen, and have fallen. Revolution rath iticceeded revolution, in a1- moft every ftate and kingdom. Sp'endid cities have jiiifed their tall fpires, I'hone in opulence and fplendor for a Jeafon ; and their lofiy domes, their fuperb fu- perfirwnures, have fallen into ruins. Proud heroes have f'.mght, and bled, and conquered, and died. Fertile trat.i i have become barren, populous countries depo- * P:'.ilrr!$ l:vxxviii. 18. -\ job xix. 2i» 14 pulated, new regions difcovered ; Tea?, before un- known, explored ; powerful nations have loft ihcir ftrenglh, and thofe, which were weak, have become great. Vaft improvements have been made, in arts and fciences, in hufbandr), commerce, and navigation. Society hath afiumed a new and more j^lealing form; hath gradually emerged from a barbarous, to a polifh- ed ; from an untutored, to a refined ; from an igno- rant, to an enlightened ftate, Nunierous and impor- tant events are now in train of execution, and unknown changes, unforcfeen events, and uncxpcfted revoUi- tions will Ril!, probably, lake place, before the end of ihc world. But the time in which all thefe fcenes have paffed, thefe events happened, thefe changes taken place, ihelo improvements made, will bear no comparifon with a period of endlefs duration. " A ihoufand years are*^ with GOD, who is eternal, " as one day, and one day as a thoufand years." What are a few thoufand years compared with millions, with unnumbered ages ? Time bears no more comparifon to eternity, than a finglc fand to the grains on the fea fliore ; than that which may be numbered, to that which is numberlefs ; that which may be meafured, to that which is immcafurable; that which is finite, to that v;hich is infinite. To a be- ing who could furvey the whole fyflem of earthly events, from the foundation to the diil^luiion of the world, and bring them into comparifon with the endlefs ages of eternity, they would appear but as a drop to the ocean, a ray to the glorious orb of light, a moment in the exiftence of the univerfe. Human conception is fwallowed up and loft in the fathomlefs abyfs ! Thus, from various confiderations, does it appear that " lime is flion." REFLECTIONS. I. Our attachment to the richeft outward comforts (liould be regulated by the view, which religion ad'ords. Rfligion teaches us to confult our whole nature, and the different iiates of our exiftence. While it i'. cautions us agalnf! placing the afTcftions too ftrongfy upon worldly ob]c6Ls and concer!^^, it draws alide the veil, and gives us clearly to difccrn, objeth and pof- ieifDns, higher and more durable. While it weans from the vanities and attachmenrs oFtime, it places be- fore us the biifs and glory of the upper world; while it calls off from that which fades away, it points to that which is unfading and c'.ernal. " Sei your affec- tum on thin^js abovr^ not on i/iiriga on the earth,''* is the ditlate of infpited wifdom. The value of obje6U flioiild be eltimated, not by the motives which govern thofe who are wife r:)r this world, but by the direftions of the divine word. Earthly poffcffions are enjoyed but for a fealbn, but everlalling riches are treafurcd up in the heavenly kingdom. The foul is of more va- lue than the body; riches which endure forever, than ihofe, which foon fly away. The future, then, juftly claims our attention more highly than the prefent. While engaged in the latter, tiie eye fhould be con- flantly fixed on the former. To negicft the mod im- portant intereft is the mark of the moft ex'reme folly. To place our highell happincfs in the polfefTion of thofe things, of which every day may deprive us, is to lean on a broken reed, or build on a fandy foundation. ConneBed as we are with both worlds, our love and at- tachment to each fhould be regulated by the pure and exalted motives of the gofpel. The tranfitory fcenes of time cannot fo deeply intereft the feelings of a ra- tional being, while in reality, undei the influence of rcafon, as the ceafelefs joys of eternity. Hear the in- ference of the Apoflle from the conlideration of the fhortnefs of life ; in the verfes fucceeding our text ; *• It remaineih, that both they that weep, be as though they zucpt not ; and they that rejoice^ as thou,(^h they rejoiced- 71.4; and they that buy, as though they p'^f/^fed not; and they that ufe this world, astiot abi'Jing it ; for th" fajhion of this xvorld pojftth azuay"f Let your affedion to- ward all thefe things be moderafe. Confider the fitu- aiion in which you will foon (land with refped to them ^ * Cul. iii, 3, t t Cor, vii. 30* 311 i6 for changes mav take place, vvliich will elTcntiaily afTccl your connexion vith iheni. Be not too highly elattd' viih tKeir pofrtfTion, or loo deeply jtfllitlcd with their removal. Meithei love inordinately any ohjcd enjo\ cd, nor mourn immoderately for any blelling, of which you are deprived. The fame hand ol li^ave" which i^ivo-, may alfo take awa)'. Outward bitfnngs are bedowed by the Divine Benefactor, th;U you fhould improve tliem to his glory, and the good of your fouls. If you contravene this defign, you bring down upon your guilty heads fwift deftruftion. The confideration of the fhortnefs of time, and the uncertainty of human life, fhould inlpire us with mo- deration toward the hightf^ earthly good. We (iiou'd carry ourlelves forward, in imagirjation, to the eternal vjorld, and contemplate the incfraole fee nes, of which Revelation haih given us affurance. While tiie falhion of this world chan<;eth, we fiiouid lift our eyes to that GOD, who dwelieth in heaven, and livcth forever. While wc are forbidden to love this world, we fiiould fupT"-vneiy love hun, who is GOD over all, forever blrfTed. II. Tke profpefts of immortality are high, and glorious. Since tlie ol'je61s with which we are fur- rounded, are far inferior to the nature, or drfires of fuch beings, as we are ; how happy, how ravifhing the thought, that a fiaie, every way adequate to tiiis naiure and thefe'dcfircs, is clearly revealed ! 'i'he gofpel gives nobie and exalted views, opens a profpect without bounds, a profpefct which flretches forward through endlefs duration. Infpired with the animating idea, that he is to live forever, man looks upwards with high exultation, and upon terreltrial things, with fovereign contempt. Thefe are to endure but for a little while^ and even while they endure, afford but imp. rfeft feli- city ; but in the world to come, are objects permanent, friendfhips unbroken, and fcenes of the higheft and everlailing delights. The jull now live by faith. The difcipes of Cbrift now live in hope. The obje61s of ihis fai;h and iiope will ail be realized. They '• n^-at ^4 IL / Aefcre. a heiUr cb'uniry, ihat is, ah heavenly ; nhtrefore 'GOD is not 'aflravi'ed to bt culled their GOD : for he hath prepared for them a ci/y."* Into this glorious city they will finally enter. Tiranflatcd from a world of toil, of forfow, and of fin, to regions of tranquility, ofjoy,ahd of purity, ih€ friends of GOD will reach the coufuinma- lion of ail their wiiliesjand drink from beatific 'ftrezlins, which will forever (low. The idea of annihilation, of ceaHrtg to ex\% is one of the mod gloomy and diftreffing which can alXiidthe mind. From this awful and horrid apprehenfion, the gofpel hath mercifully delivered us. The deliverance is great, and juftly challenges high expreflions of gra- titude and praife. — What is man ? 1^ he a child of yefterday ? Is he a worin of the dud ? He is more. He hath an inimortal fpirit. '* The dull," of whicli he is colli pofed, ^'Jhall return to the earth, as it zcas ; biU the fpirit jhall return unto GOD who gave 2i."t His fpirit is immortal. He will live, v/hen the earth, with all that is therein, fhall be burnt up, and the fun in the firmament (hall fet, to rife no more. How implacable an enemy to man is he, who attempts to deftroy the hope and expe6lation of a future ftate ! He would de- prive man of his higheft dignity, his moft exalted glo- ry, his moft fubftaniial fupports ; would bieak down the very pillar on which rcRs the fuperdruftuie of his richeil confolation ; would fpread a dark and im- penetrable cloud over his brightell profpe8;s ; would fink, him to a level with the brute creation,, and de- ftfoy one half his earthly blifs, by aiming a deadly biow at that which is heavenly. To adopt the language of a late writer, " Shall liimfy argument, fhall fubiii fu- phiftry, and nicewrought fcepticifm, unfoul the nian, and reduce to a level with the lower creation, the image of GOD ? Shall not the foul of the mother meet the foul of the child in the world of glory j" if wafhed in the blood of Chrid, andfan6li!ied by the Spirit of GOD ? " Shall not the fon, who in his youth, was funk into a watery grave, fee his father again .? Yes ! the graves * Heb, xi, J 6, i Ecclcs. xii. -7. »8 fliall give up their dead, and friends, who parted with aching hearts, fhall," if duly prepared, "meet in a world, where tears fhall be wiped from every eye." " Let others boaft that they are brutes, I glory that I'm a man. Let others wi(h for eternal fleep, I fiiali be forever awake. Let others fpend their golden hours in proving that GOD is faMb, 1 feel fome- thing within which proves that his word is true. Tho' others confign loul and body to the duft, the clods of the valley cannot cover my foul. No ! Legions of angels can't confine me to the grave. My body was^ defigned for the dul\, but my foul fhall inherit the world of fouls. Alas ! what is life, if we live not forever !" True believers may look forward with affurance to the moft delightful and enrapturing fcenes. — The un- failing promife of the Mofl High hath fecured to them an undefiled, and incorruptible inheritance. How high are the honors, how rich and undeferved the re- wards of fpirituai conquerors ! " To hnn that ovcrcom- tih will I grant to fit with me in my thmm^y even as I alfo overcame, and am fct down with viy Father m his throne,''* Many have already attained, and are now in the hlifs- ful enjoyment of the glorious prize. Through floods of tears have they waded, pangs of deep diftrefs have they endured, the buffetings of Satan have they under- gone ; the raging billows have rolled on the tempef- tuous ocean of human life ; the winds have howled, and the confiifting elements have fiercely contended; but they have been fhielded by the wings of the Al- mighty, been protected by Divine care ; — the deluge hath fWept, but they have been fafe ; the inundation, hath deflroyed, but their mountain hath flood flrong : - and now have they reached that world, where furrow is an eternal ftranger ; where difgrace never covers the head; and where crowns are not the obje£l of en- vy, of ftrife, and of every evil work. — We are encou- raged by a " great cloud of witneffes." Could the veil which obfcures heaven from our fight be drawn afidcj * Rev. iii. 21, \v'c fliould behold a glorious and happy throng of our once fellow-mortals furrounding the throne of the AK inighty, and pouring forth loud ho(annas to his hoi)' name.— -There— fhould we behold the long lift of Pa- triarchs, Prophets. Apoftles, and faithfal Believers--^ fhould bthold Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob-Ifaiah, Je- remiah--ihe learned St, Paul, and the eloquent Apol- los, together with an *' innumerable company" who perfevered unto the end--- whole robes are wafhed in the blood of the Lamb, and who arii now admitted into the celeRial kingdom. In the world of everlafting blifs will all the redeemed unite with the angelic choir, and tune their golden harps to that triumphant long ; «* The. Jong of Mofes, thefcrvani of GOD ^ and, the Jong of the Lamb ; faying, Great and marvellous are thy works Lord GOD Almighty ; juji and true are thy ways, thou King of faints.'"*' III. Contemplate the conftant fuccefTion of men on the theatre of the world. Generation paffeth away after generation. The page of hiftory exhibits to our view kingdom, after kingdom, and people, after people. Where are our fathers, who firft fettled this country, this town, or this fociety ? Where are the ven- erable men of GOD, who preceded me, in the work of the miniftry, in this place ? And where are the people, who hearkened to their voice, and liftened to their words ?--They have gone to the land of filence, and reft in their graves. How vaft the congregation of the dead ?--There lie the minifters, and there lie the people ; and there muft the prelent fpeaker, and the prefent hearers alfo, fhortly lie. These reflexions have paved the way for the ufual information at the commencement of the vear, which fhali be preceded by a brief fketch of the hiftory of this Society. AMERICA was difcovered by Columbus in the year 1492. The firft fettlement in New- England, by our anceftors, was at Plymouth, in the ftate of Maflli- chufctts in 1620. A permanent fettlement, in Ccn- * Rev. XV. 3, so aeclicut, was made at Weathersfield in 1634. The firf?; emigration to New-Haven arrived in April 1658. The colonies of Connefticiu s^nd New-Haven were united in 166^. The town of Gullford* was fettled the next year after New-Haven. The inhabitants who firfl; purchafed, and fettled this town, were among the ad- venturers who arrived at New-Haven with Gov. Eaton, They came from a town of the fame name, in England. The traft which lies weft of Eaft- River, was purchafed of a fachem fquaw, who, with iheothernatives, were to remove from it. '^J'he tra8: eaftward of that, to Tuxis- pond, of Uncaj», a Moheagan fachem. It appears that the land from this pond to Hammonafiet-river, which ii the eaflern boundary of the town, was a prefent from Mr. G. Fenwiclc of Saybrook, upon condition, that the town fiiould accommodate Mr. Whitfield, the fird minifter, who had expended a large property in the fervice of the plantation, with land, according to his choice and to his fatisfa6ion.t Immediately after the purchafe, in the fall of 1639, planters took poffeffion. The conveyance was made to fix perfons,+ as tru flees until 3 future arrangement. Parts of thcfe fame trafts were alfo purchafed of other claimants.. Our ancef- tors fied from the iron rod of opprcffion, to enjoy, in the wildernefs, liberty and rights of confcience. In 1643 a church was regularly gathered under the paOo- ral care of the Rev. Henvy Whitfield, who came into this country, with part of his former congregaiion j — ilc was not ordained here, as he had been confecrated by a Bifliop, in England. This was the cafe with al- molt all thefirft minillersin our churches.--- After the gathering of the church, thofe who hcM the property * Called by t]\t natives M^'ifjicituck. ■^ A ftreng, Hone hcule built by Mr. Whitfield \» ftill flar.ding, and a comfortable dwelling. i I'icury Whitfield. Robert Kitchel, William I.cct, Vv'illiam Ghif- jenden, John Bifhop, John Caffinge, <; The manner o} gathering ihe church was nrt£>ulaT. Seven princi- pal perfons were choifn, cali&d thc/>- fc/.'/Zar/, and to thsfe the oihes jjKinbcrs were ^^athered. 2i ^^. of the plantation in trufl, refigned to the chiirc|\ their righr, and the four perfons, who had been previonfty invefted with civil power, for the adminiftratiort of juf- tice and prefervation of the peace, declared tkat their truftand power, had, by the forming of the church, ter- minated. It was then exprefsly agreed, that the body of freenften fhould confilt of church-members qnly, and that they fliould be the fole eleftors of raagiftraies, de- puties, and all other officers of importance. The form of civil polity eftablifliedy was as follow^. A fixed General Court v/as to be holden yearly, for the elc6lion of town officers. At this time, deputies for the Particular Courts, who were to be ehurch- m^mbers, were chofen. Thefe Particular Courts were compofed of a magiftrate,* and deputies chofen for this purpofe. They held quarrerly feffions, and had cog- nizance of all civil cafes. Their power extended, alfo, to the probate of wills, and dividing inheritances. — Other General Courts were holden, at different times, compofed of the great body of freemen, and planters^ which managed all the affairs of the town, relative to the divifion of lands, fence?:, and all bylaws for the well- ordering of the plantation. f The lands, which had been purchafed, were divided in the manner fpecified in the original agreement, ac- cording to the fum put into common liock, and the j number of perfons in a family. Thefe divifions were, however, fubjeft to two reltriftions; the one, that np planter, without fpecial liberty, fiiould put in more than /'.500 ; the other, that no divifion of land ffiould, in any way, be alienated, without the confent of the * Samuel DefLoroagh is tl;ic £ix& magiftrs)te on re^'or^. He returi;* cd to England. + By the regulations, it appears that planters, who did not atten4 public meetings, or who came late, were (ubjed to be fined, a church- member more, a planter lefs. The rr-anncr of chufing deputies was bf marking on the boolc of records, againft the name of fojne perfon. — Medicines, the firft half century or more, after the fettlement of the town, were purchafed and ufcd ascommoa itock. In 1646 the plant- ers were notified, as a matter of courfe, to bring in their CcUeff corv, hy a given time, Thjy contiibuti^n was c»B.tin«j^d, Uo.Bi Jiear ^o.jcai. 22 community. PunilTimentswcre, at different times, in- fiitled, for the violation ofthe laft of thefe rellridions.* The firft fettlcrs kept conflant watch, through fear ofthe natives. + The place of worfliip was guarded on the fabbath. Many ofthe houfes were fecured by palifadocf. A nieeting-houfe was ereQed in the early periods of the plantation. In 1645 it was ordered, that no more trees be cut down upon the green before the meeting- houfe, and in Oci. 1651, the General Court appointed the meeting houfe to be thatched and clayed+; before \^inter. In 1668 a gallery was built, and the houfa repaired. In 1672 a porch was, alfo, built. Thi^, probably, ftood, until a new one, upon a large con- ftru61ion, was erefted in 1712, and finifhed in 1713.5 In 1676 it was agreed by the town to fortify two hoii- fesjij and to bear in common all damages done bv the enemy. ---Several polical chara6lers of eminence have refided in this town.f The lirfl inhabitants of this fociety** attended pub- • In cafes tried before the Particular Courts, It was cuftomary t© write^ at fuU lenj^ih, the teftimony of each witnefs. + The original number of planters cannot be accurately known. Book A of our records goes back only to 1645. '^^^ original deeds, aereementj ic are however tranfcribed into book B. Book C. is loft ; leport fays, it was burnt. In 0(ftober 1 64.6, upon a further divifion of land, the number was 47. In i6jo there were 49. In 1665, from a military order, it rip^)ears, that the number of men capable of bearing arms was 68 In 1672 one hundred and one perfor-.s gave in lifts. The town mil* was purchafed by the town, in 1646, for / .75. Deputies were, this year, chofen by 1 3 votes. A bridge was built over Eaft ri- Ter in 1 649. ■*■ \t appears probable, that this was the fecond time of thatching. 1$ R.ev. Henry Whitfield — removed 1650. Rev. John Higginlon became fole teacher, Odober 1650— ordained Sept. 16^3 — removed iSzq. Mr. John Bowers preached fome years, but was not ordain- g(j^ Rev. Jofeph Elliott was ordained Jan. 1664 — died May 24, j5q4 .Rev. Thomas Ruggles was ordained 1695— died June i-jz\i. {[ Mr. Elliott's was one. ^ VViUiam Leet, Gov. of New-Haven i66i,and of Connecticut in i6'6. Andrew Leet, Jofiah Roffeter, Abraham Fowler, Affillants. — C'w. Leet was buried at Hartford, without any monument. ** As early as 1645 tbceaftern part ©fthis Society was improved as a common field, and fundry legulations concerning it made by the tojva. 25 Uc worfliip at Culirord. After the fetilement at KJU hiigworth, they found it more convenient to attend at the latter p'ace.* In 1672 feme quefiions arofe, and committees were appointed, by the two towns, to confer on the fubjeft. Liberty was granted that the people on the ealt borders of the town might attend^ and afTift to fupport, public worfhip in Killingworih, until matters fhould be ripe for a new village, as it was then called. This privilege was afterwards relinquifli- ed, and thofe, who enjoyed it, united with others, in a petition to be made a new Society, and in the toil and Mr. Fenwick's conveyance of this traft, in the form of a lettcri bears date Oft. 22, 164.5. ^y ^^i* letter Mr. Whitfield fo far claimed thi» land, that he gave to the town a deed of it in 1650, having received land according to Mr. Fenwick's requeft. The land received l/y hira was» after his removai, fold to Maj. Thompfon; his heirs difpofed of it, before tlie Revolution. In 1646 the lame traft was farther iiTi- proved for the common benefit. In this f^ate it continued for feveral years. In 1650 the town encouraged a removal to it, by granting the ufc of a certain portion of char land to every fettler, for the term of five years. Whether any, on this condition^ removed is not afcertained. in 1656) the upland was furveyed and allotted to iach planter in the town, according to his liji. This principle was adopted in all future divifions, and to render them equal, every member of a family was included ia the lift. In i663 the meadows, in the Eaft quarter, were afliaed, and, at different tinges, afterwards, divided. In 1675, it was agreence, and that thofe who built afterward, fliould fence their dwelling-lots at their own charge. This traft of land early claimed attention, as it was re- markably pleafant, fertile and eafy of tillage. A large field had bfca cleared by the natives. The marfh was very rich and extenfive. It ia. faid, that women ofcen n^alked to Guilford, ©n the Sabbath, attended public exercifef, and returned. Tradition is, that N. Bradley, Jsniea Hill, Luke Hill, Seward, T. Hand, E. Thompfon, were the firiK who came to this fpot. In 1672, it appears by a letter on record, thaj the following perfons were there ; E. Thompfon, N. Bradley, W'illiam Leet, JohnMeigs, John Scranton^ James Hill. What is now called The ^tarter was laid out in the early periods of the town. N. Guilford was furveyed and divided in 1705. In 1752 the inhabitants in the Northeaflern part of the town were incorporated as an ecclefiaflical fociety, by the naaie of North-Briftol ; the principal part of whom be- longed formerly to this fociety. The Rev. Richard Ely was ordained over the church there eftablilhed June 1757. * In old records, Ke.nd'iMQrth ; Rev. joha Woodbridge was fettle«l therein \^'](i^* «4 expenfe attending this ftaie. In i6g^,* it appears by a petition, that the number of families was "about thirty." A petition dated Augu(t i2ih 1700, figned by thirty-three perfons, addrelled to ihc town of Guil- ford, requefted liberty to become a di(lin6l Society, for the purpofe of public worfhip. This liberty had not been granted in May lyoi. Previous to May 1703, it had been granted. This appears by peiition* and votes on the fubjed. The boundary between the town and eaft Society was not fixed at the time of thfe grant to become a Society. This was done at a town-ir.eeting in 1704, and ratified by the AfTembly as late as 1707, after the fettlement of a Paftor. This boundaryt was Neck- river. Our fathers, on obtaining the privilege, engag- ed with affiduity, in preparing to enjoy, a fettled mini- llry. A meeting-houfe was eretled in 1705.;]; It ftood near the prefent. The next year a houfe was built for the accommodation of a miniller. Whether more than one candidate was employed, or at what particular time he began to preach, is not to be fi^und. The winter of 170-,, Mr. John Hart rcfided and preached, in this vSocieiy. In June 1706, he was in- vited to fettle in the work of the minilhy. lie was ordained in November 170;^. Five of the neighbour- ing Elders were prefent, and folemnly confecrated him to the fervice of God, and his people. { A church vas alfo, at the fame time, gathered, coniifling of thir- teen male members. No w, my hearers, let us paufe for a moment. Hear now, no more, the liowling of wild bealts, which roam * * In i6go a bridge was built over HammonalTst-river. In 1714, the town direfted that ihere fliould he an ofieH highi^iaj to ihis bnd^e. + This line was carried wellward in 1744-. % For fe'cral years after this houfe Was built, Watch viaskept, Ih fiine of public worfliipi § R€\r. Thomas Buckingham, froth Saybrook, Jam»s I'ierpont, .. NeW-Haveh, Noadlah RulTel, .. Middletawn, ^Jamuel Ruffsli .. Branford, M hoiiias Ruggles, .t Guiliotti. ^^ 25 "t^e foreds. and the infernal yells of favage men. Sec the fplendors of the fun of righteoufnefs, burning from behind the clouds ! Hark, on the wings of the wind, a fweet, melodious found falutes my ear; it is the •glorious found of the Gofpel of Jefus Chrift. Trace our fathers from the land of opprefiion ; refleft upon the numbers v/ho have fallen by the way ; Trace them in their various vifits to the houfc of GOD, at a dil- tance ; and through every progrelTive ftep of their im- provement, until the prefcnt hour ! — How would their eyes flow with tears of joy, how would their heartvS burft forth in lively emotions of gratitude and praifc, to hear the trumpet of the gofpel found, in the midft of ■their habitations !---What reflexions -fwell the foul, when contemplating the auguft and ravifhing fcenc; a wildcrnefs, made an habitation for our GOD, and the children of poor outcads from foreign lands, bro't to worfliip in his holy temple I— One thing ought never to be forgotten, the unv/earied zeal (hewn by our fathers, for the honor and worfliiip of GOD !--- Should you, my hearers, conftantly attend divine fervicc, were there no place of worfhip within eight miles ? Were the gofpel and its ordinances, now, for the firfl: lime, eftablifhed in this place, would not the people of GOD greatly rejoice ? The Rev. John Hart was born at Farmington, April X2, 1682. He received the honors of the infant Col- lege,* in Connetticut, in 1703, and was immediately appointed tutor. In this honorable and ufeful office, he continued three years, during which time he was Jicenfed to preach, and a confiderable part of which, he fpent in this Society. t In the evangelical work, to which his life was devoted, he was zealous and en-' gaged; "^ Jcrihe. well injiruBcd, to the kingdom ej hfaven. He is defcribed as " one endowed with a large treafure of natural abilities, quicknefs of invention, clearnefs of * Then at Kiilingwonli. He ha-.l partly completed his education at Cambridge. i Mis chih pjclwbiy rcfidcd with him, D 26 thought, loundnefs of judgment, and great (Irength of reafon.* His preaching was powerful, fweet and per- fuafive. The graces of the chriftian fhone, with com- TTianding majefty, in his life and converfation. It pleafed GOD to viCit him, for a courfe of years, with fore bodily infirmities : but in the dark and tcmpeftu- ous night, his faith, his patience, his refignation, his confidence in GOD, appeared with peculiar glory. --- Having ferved in his day and generation, according to ihe will of GOD, he was gathered unto his fathers, March 4? 1731 ; in the 24th year of his miniftry, and 49th of his age.t The fermon occafioned by his death, preached by the Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey, of Durham, was pub- lifhed, at the expenfe of the fociety. — A folemn day of fafting and prayer was, alfo, kept, on account of his death, and for the purpofe of imploring divine direc- tion for the bereaved flock. While deftitute, the fociety not only received ad- vice from the neighboring clergy, and from the affo- ciation, but the Governor and Council addrelfed a let- ter to them, in confe(^uence of ihe unhappy divifions into which they had fallen. Several candidates were invited to fettle, but from various caufes, declined "^ —In May 1733, Mr. Jonathan Todd was invited to preach, which invitation was foon extended, to his preaching with a fpecial view to fettlement. Augufl; 27, 1733, the fociety gave him a call to fettle, and on the 17th September he gave notice, that the invitation was accepted. Five Paftors,^ with meffengers, attend-, ed his folemn confecration, which was OQ.. 24, 1733- Thus the Lord returned, to his mourning people, in love, in about the fpace of two years and an half. * Mr. Chauncey 's fetoion on the death of Mr. Hart. + He admitted to communion about eighty. X MefTr*. Abraham Todd, Thomas Weld, Job Parker. § Rev. Jacob Hemingway, from Eaft-Havcn, Jared Elliott, KiUingvvorth, Jofeph Noyes, Nexv-Haven, peached the Ordin?^ tiamuel Ruffelf North'Guilford [tioQ Sermon, Ifaac Stiles, Morih-Haven, Soon after the refettlement of the m\niftry, the fo- ciety found that their numbers were fo inoreafed, that the houfe for public worfhip, was inconvenient. In 1739, this houfe was ereQed, which, for that day, was commodious and handfome. A fernion was delivered, at its dedication, by ibe Rev. N. Chauncey, which was in May 1743. A fteeple* has fince been ere£ledvand, a bcllt purchafed. In 175©, and 1751, this fociety was vifited with an awful epidemic. The numbers fick, and neceflary attendants, were fo great as aimoft to fufpend the common purfuits of indtittry. Several heads of families, and forae of thefe, the moft worthy and refpeftable, were taken away. The unufual mor- tality which prevailed, may be feen from this fa8, that forty-three died, in the laft of thtfe years, when our prefent average bill, though our numbers are very con- fiderably increafed, is but eleven. I'his period was peculiarly afflitling to Mr. Todd. His friends and fupporters were fwept down around him, and he was called to aimoft inceffant labors, among the fick, and dying. The 19th of May 1782, was memorable to this fo- ciety. In a fkirmifh on the fealhore, a moft valuable citizen fell.+ At the lime of the fettlement of my immediate pre- d^ceflbr, the church confifted of fifty-one members. In the firft 24 years of his miniftry, he admitted to communion '234. On the fuppofuion that the fame number tvas admitted, in the lame term dur- ing his miniftry, they amounted to ^S^.^-—\x\ the year 177c, the number of baptifms was about thirty. This, perhaps, will not be too large an eftimate, for a medium. The number, therefore, baptized by him, * 1799. + 1801. \ Capt. Phinehas Meigs. The facrlfice of ihis family to nations! independence was great. Capt. Jehiel Meigs, who married his only daughter, died inthearmy, in Dec. 1776. He was an efteemed cid^ zen, and refpeftable ofSeer. 5 Our church records have, unfbrrunately, been materially injured !>y fire. From fome firagmenu faved, I sra ;ibU£ to make (he ilatcitigut ^- feove. ^'p.r, feventeen hundred and forty. At Icngtiij having; feoi one ^feneration pafs away, and anoiher rife up to fill their places,; ("nil ©f days and ripe for glory, he fell adeep, Feb. 24, 1791, in the 78th year of his age,, and 58th of his niiniflry.* The Rev. Jonathan Todd was born at New- Haven,. March 9, 1713. He graduated at Yale- College in 1732. He entered at an early period of life into the field of minifterial labors. For ufefuinefs in tliis fphere, to which he was promoted by his inclination,, and called by the providence of GOD, the foundation was laid, while in his academic walks. Scientific pur- fuits were delightful and refrelhing to his a£live and inquiFitive mind. " lie was a diftinguifhed fcholar, and a judicious critic, in the three learned languages : had given conliderable attention to philofophy, and had thoroughly ftudied hillory, both ancient and mo- dern. "t The Hebrew was his peculiar favorite. Pof- lefled of an ardent thirft for knowledge, he was highly gratified in every acquifnion. " Through a long life devoted to (ludy, he acquired a rich treafure," and this " thiril for knowledge, united with an unbiaffed mind, led him to a fair examination of every fubjetl/'t But ihough his capacious mind was delighted to drink from every flowing (beam, yet his higheft pieafure was de- rived from thofe (Utdies, which had for their fpecial t)bjeti, divine glory and the falvation of immortal fouls. " Affiduous in his application to reading, and preparations for the fanftuary, making the facred oracles his guide, he fed iiis he-drers with knowledge a7idun'- derjlandnig.'"-]' His fermons were not adorned with the (tudied ornaments of language, or the flowers of rhetoric ; his ideas were not clothed with that tinfel', which glitters, hut docs not enlighten : neither did he fludy to embelliih his writings with "round" and har- monious " periods," or to fliine as a graceful orator. * A well adapted difcourfe was preached at his funeral, by the Rev, Amos Fowler. Rfv. J. Devotion (providentially prcfentj and Dr, Dana, preached ihe two labbaths Tucceeding his deaths + Dr. Dana's iVl. 6. rcrmon. ^^A 2^ Tliey were, however, replete with fentiment, with ej?-*- hibitiorts of important truths, with forGible arguments^ folid reafoning aid much praBical inflruftion.— -— — CiiKisT J If s US, and hi?n crucified was the lumaivd fub- ftance of his preaching. To the rpiritual wants and peculiar circumftanees of his ilock, he paid particular attention. He knew ho\/ lo fpeak a word in iealon, and always fpread light about ihe paths of enquirers, when the great fubje^ls of the gofpel were- brought into view. " He had an happy talent, at Gonvcrfation."* " Sweet and pleafant has been the friendfliip between vou and your late pador, whofc inilniBive convcrfaiion has been your delight ;'" was the language of airelleemed friend, to the people of his charge, £»fier his. ideceafe. In times of uncom- mon ficknefe and hnorulity,; he devoted almofi the ■whole of his time, t;o vifitingi and praying with the Tick and dying, and adniiniilering confolation to the afflift- ed. In this benevolent work did he engage, almoft beyond example, by day and by night. This fatherly kindnefs greatly endeared him to his flock. He was beloved as a good Shepherd, who in all " their afflic- tions was afflicted. "* To their fpiritual interefts was he faithful. , '• He could take them to record that he "^diS pure from, the blood of all men, not having fJiunntd to diclare the whole counfel of GOD."* On abltrufe and difficult queftions, '' a clear difcernment and found judgment made him an able counfeilor. He was fin- gularly mi|d and amiable in his difpofition, clothed with humility and phiinnefs."* As he entered early into the vineyard, fo it pleafed the Lord to continue him in it '• more than double the iifual term. In this long period his labors had fcarce any intermifTion, until the lail year of it. At his death, not one of the facred order, in this flate, had been of fo long (landing in it. Not one head of a family was then living, of all who were living at the time of his ordination. During his Tirinillry he buried about twice, his whole congrega- tion. The calmnefs and refignatioiT for which he:.was * Dx. Dana's M. S, fcrmon. ^1 dHtirtguifheti under all the afiliQions of life and of th& gofpel, were confpicuous in his moft painful vifitation, through the laft year of his life/'* Having uniformly and " eminently exemplified the fpirit of chriftianiiy, he clofed life," with ferenity, with peace, with hope, with joy. " Supported by the precious promifes of the gofpel, he received the meflage of dea^h," with Undifturbed compofurc. Previous to the death of this excellent man of GOD, the prefent fpeaker had been invited to fupply this pulpit. His firft fermon was preached in this defk. Aug. 23, 179I) the fociety proceeded to give him i call to fettle in the gofpel miniftry, and the 29th of the fame month, he accepted the propofals. November fe- cond he was ordained. t At this time the church con* lifted of 84 members. It now confifts of 1 10. In the ten years of my miniftry, 1 1 1 have died, 284 been bap- tized, and upwards of 270 have removed. The whole liumber of perfons, at prefent in the fociety, is 939, ift the whole town, 3597. X The Lord was with your fathers, when they traverf- cd the pathlefs ocean ; he led them by the way, and brought them to a goodly land. But their hardfliips and their dangers were great, before the wildernefs tould become a cultivated field, before they could ereQ: Comfortable habitations to dwell in, before they could fecure themfelves from the attacks of their favage io€s. You inherit the fruits of their laboris. You have fields, and orchards, and houfes, and, what is infinitely more important, yon have the Gofpel and its ordinances, you are furniftied with means of inftru(5tion,§ both in human and divine things. You alfo enjoy reft, and | peace, and fccurity. No murderoui favage lurks by ^ the way-fide, by day; no terrific warhoop difturbs * Dr. Dana's M. S. fermon. + The ordination fermon was preached by the Rev. Achilles Manf- %t\d, and publiftied. ^ Town 1629 i In the fociety are four convertient Sthool- N. G, 540 houfes, all built fmce my fcttlcment. A Library N. B. 489 is alfu eftabliiTicd, at prcfeat baadfonic, and in- creatinj^i 3t ; your midni : '♦ flumbers. With your fathers it was nctt fo. JiE -.v'ho walketh in the midftof tl.t gidJei candle, flicks hail, renf: to generations paft, aid lo he prelent, one fon of Le /i, after another, to break t. bread of life. Although refrefhing fhowers have n«. d^fc, i- ed, in copious efiTufions, upoB this part of the /ineyard, yet have drop? fallen, here and there, and fcr,.e plants been caufed to flourilh. In every age, a number have, hopefully, drank from the ftream which flows from Horeb's rock, have fed on manna in the wildernefs, and, befide the flowing of Jordan, have lifted the eye of faith to the land of promife. Humble and faithful followers of the Lamb, we hope, have gone from this militant church, to unite with that which is triumphant* Under the regular and fiated miniftration of divine or- dinances, this church and fociety have, for a long time, enjoyed much order, tranquility, and union of fenti- mcnt. While we rejoice in thefe, and ufc every pro- per mean to preferve them, let me folemnly remind you, that fomething more than mere morality, than the inoft punctilious obfervance of external rites and cere- monies, is indifpenfibly neceffary to falvation : the re- generating and fanftifying influences of the holy SPIRIT. The fathers of this towns of this colony and of New- England, were a pious and godly race. They prized the word of GOD, they reverenced the holy fabbath, they taught their little ones to love, and obey, the great Creator, and trained them up in habits of order> of virtue, of undefiled religion. It is to be lamented that a relaxation of morals, highly alarming to the friends of religion, of Zion, has, fince their day, taken place. The gates of hell feem to be opened wide. Infidelity has affumed an appearance much more bold ^nd brazen, than it dared, formerly, ad'ume, A vain philofophy, the corner-ftone of which is atheifm, and which hath for its object, the complete deftruftion of the gofpel fyftem, with all it^ bleiTmgs, its hopes, it$ }ySf has been broached in Europe, and fpread iis • uad;) !^ to thi.. v/eltern world. In ail jK^ in- Vii)u>eic • 'ods, v.hich ingenuity can dcvilc, ma- •^H > qppTO^"^ and vcngcnro rf^light tft'exectife, are ihe pie^'r-of^ Sr forefathers, and the reHgious habits of ■their re '''ty, traduced, mifreprereritcd, Contemned M^'i^iJi: Jidown. Nothing, it fcetn?,, would fatisfy ih'i ».: 'er» "s of Chrifl, and his relihior, and friend^s ; but the I' ^>tting out oT his name f rem under heaven. How far^ tiow long, GOD will perfnit his fo^s to tri- umph, the wiles of fatan to enfnare, i.'?, to us, -unknown. He hath, infome meafure, lifted up hisftandard againft them, by the out-pourings of hi? fpirit, in various parts of our land. This fhould encourage GOD's people to hope and truft in Him. Be not beguiled, my hearers, by this falfe philofo- phy, to forfake the truth, as it is in Chrift. Dare to be, as your anceflors were, pious and religious. Scoffs and ridicule will uever deftroy the divine authenticity of the Bible. Revealed religion alone will aObrd true and folid confolation, in a dying hour. The phantoms of infidelity will then vanifli, the mill which obfcured the fight will be difperfcd, and naked truth appear, in all its glory, or in all its horror. Should the fcheme cf infidels prove true, it will land its votaries on the bleak fliores of annihilation ; if untrue, it will leave them to fink down into unquenchable fkmcs. Is this the boafted age of reafcn, and does this reafon appear, in difcarding the holy fcriprures, in rejeQing and mocking the Lord that bought us, in dcfpifing the fab- bath and the inflitutions of the golpel, in trampling morality under feet, in counting every thing ferious and religious, a mere farce, a piece of craft and de- ceit ? As you would avoid eternal death, cleave to the gofpcl of the Redeemer. Your fathers, when incorporated as an ecclcfiaftical fociety, an hundred years ago, were few in number; but you have become, comparatively , a great people.--- We have alfo, the laft year,' entered upon a new cen- tury in the chriftian a^ra ; the end of which, few, if any ©i'us, will live to fee. As llie events of the lait were momentous and highly interefting, f: , probably, will be thofe ®f the- prefent. A convulfed \ r!d is exhibit- ing awful evidence of human deprav. Garments rolled in blood are ftill to be feen, anc' iC nations to be gathered to the great day of the bat e.j^^GOD Al- mighty. Thunderings, and lightnings, .avif,'^t, ..;'ih. quakes, are to be heard, and feen, and fe"^, i. ,,.-l< era places. Amidftthefe mighty revolutions, ^tfe amaz- ing conflifts, thefe flupendous fcenes, which involve the liberties, the profperity, the very exiflence of na- tions ; tTiere is one event which comes nearer ftill to every individual, that of death. In the day of tri- al, put your truft in the Lord of Hofls, and remember, that, although, you may be called to endure much in tlie caufe of the Redeemer, your fufferings will be in- finitely repaid, by the " exceeding and eternal ueight of glory:' In the review of the period of my miniftry, let me afli myfelf the queftion, '• Have I been faithful to my Divine Lord, and the fouls of my people ?" Say, O my foul, in the prefence of my GOD, have I fet before my flock, the bleffing and the curfe, life and death ? Have I befought, and charged, and commanded them, to obey and love the Lord ? You will refleO, my hearers, that ten years is a laige portion of human life. It becometh us to adore GOD for the difplay of his goodnefs, in preferving our lives through another year, I congratulate you on the return of this joyful anni- verfary. May this year be a year of health, of prof- perity, of joy, to you, and to yours ! As you behold its beginning, fo may you behold its conclufion ! Or if fummoned from time, be ripened for endiefs glory ! May it, in fpecial, be a year, in which the Lord fhall gracioufly remember, and build up tliis part of Zion, increafe the prefent earnells of his holy Spirit, and caufe the dews of grace abundantly to diftil ! When you enter the confines of this year, my hear- ers, make a foleran paufe. Rcmeraber that for another year's probation you mull give an account. My duty demands that I enquire of vou with earneftneff, in wlur k 84 manner you have improved the paO:, and what your rcfolutioiis are, with refpeB; to the future. I come to you, this day, with a moil ihterefting meflage. Should an apollle arife from the dead, or an angel defcend from heaven, nay, did the Redeemer himfelf (land in this holv place, as he once flood in the temple at Jeru- fdlcm, he could challenge your attention by no fubjeft, more interefting, than that, to which I invite you, the wile improvement of time and preparation for eternity, "^'ou have not yet been called to explore that diltant and unknown region, but divine preicience alone can tell how foon the awful fummons of death will be ii- fued. Many who entered the year paft, with as faii- guine hopes of future life, as you enter the prefent, have been configned lo the grave. Death hath (pared neither the fmiling infant, the blooming virgin, or the hoary head. You have feen, that fome of your num- ber have gone, fince the laft new-year, into the world of fpirits. At that time, they beheld ihe light of the fun, and dwelt on the earthy as you now do ; but they have been arrefted by the great deftroyer, and the light of the fun, as to them, isextinguilhed forever. By the revolution of another year, you may be laid in the duftj in that lonely manfion, where all is darknefs. — Heark- en, then, my fellow-wiortals ! What if, this year, nay, this night, you Ihould be called to the bar of GODj are you prepared to give your account ? Had you been called away the year paft, what would have been your prefent fituation ? In the world of glory, or the regions of torment ? You are not already funk down in hopelefs defpair ; but have you any fecurity that this will not be the cafe ? No. For I afTure you, up- on the word of GOD, that it will be, when you are called frojn the world, uniefs you, m time, repent of iin, and fly unto Chrift.— -Tremendous thought, that of being forever loft ! But tremendous as it is, I am bound to utter it, and give you folemn warning of impending danger f--Do you intend ever to repent and prepare for eternity ? Could you. afk one of the damr,ed fpirits in the world of defpair, he would dc- dare, that he intended to have repented, and made his peace with GOD, in this (late of probation. And why^ did he not? He negle6ied the all important concern, until death cut him oflF, and his day of grace was pad, —Alas ! my hearers, take warning. If you intend ever to repent, now is the time. Death may fvveep you from the earth, and you may be made to repent, when repentance will only add fuel to the flame. Thanks to GOD, your cafe is not hopelefs, you need not def- pair. The Lamb, who was (lain, bled for tiie falvation of finne^s. O fly to him, before this year, rhis day, this houi this moment, is gone. When the folemn hour of leaih arrives, an end is brought to all labor, to all pv^r. ration. The fun of human life is haltening to go dow:., vou will foon, very foon, launch into the boundiefs ocean of eternity. O prepare to die in tlie Lord. Prepare to meet thy GGD, Ifrael. When the frame of nature is ready to be diffolved, how precious will a dying, bleeding Savior appear ! Were I to point you toanobjeO; completely wretched, it fliould be an impenitent (inner on the bed of^ death. On the page of futurity we are not permitted to read, but perhaps, before the return of another new-year's fab- bath, thefe lips may be clofed in li'ence, or you may be removed beyond the found of my voice. Should the fpeaker be continued, the conclufion is rational, that fome of thofe who hear, will not be prefent. To fuch I m-^y be confidered as giving my laft charge on this anniverfary. Record it, then, in your hearts ; carry it with you to your dying hour, and let each one bring home the fubjeft to himfelf-'-GOD grant, that the teftimony of this difcourfe be not ggainft yowi in the day of Judgment ! Died. AgeL Feb. 19, 1718 48 Feb. 14, 1753 76 Dec. 17, 1745 66 Sept. 14, 1751 38* Dec. 26, 1774 74 July 17, 1763 74 Feb. 7, 1781 59 Feb. 1O5 1797 77 APPENDIX. T/ig following perfons have held the ojice of Deacon^ w this Church. John meigs, Benjamin Stone, John French, Timothy Meigs, Jofiah MeigSj John Grave, Timothy Hill, Thomas Stone, Benjamin Hartp Levi Ward, Timothy Hill. The following perfons have been Jufiices of the Peace^ in this Society, Died. jfged. Janna Meigs, June 5, 1739 67 Benjamin Handy^ Aug. jo, 1744 72 Thomas Hodgkin^ April 24, 1 754 77 John Grave Jofiah Meigs, Timothy Todd, Jan. 3,1779 56 Timothy Hillj Elias Grave, Jonathan Todd, Daniel Handjjun, * He had received a liberal education 1 was graduated in i-Jta : *^ a man in whom we kad great and high hopes," ' Mr, TiM's Sermx^ The following perjons have commanded the Military Com- ipanyy in this Society » Nathaniel Stevens "Ir- , f 1704 Stephen Bifhop J * I 1709 Stephen Bifhop (Captain) 1714 Janna Meigs — 1716 John Scranton — ^IZ^ Thomas Hodgkin — i737 Nathaniel Stevens — 1741 Jofiah Meigs -- ^747 Jehiel Meigs — *754 Timothy Hill .- 1762 Daniel Hand - ^773 Elias Grave* — ^772 Gilbert Dudley -- 1778 James Munger* — 1780 Timothy Field — 1782 Jonathan Todd — 1780 Jofiah Monger — ^79^ Benjamin B. Willcox -- 1797 €J the 111 perfons who have died during my Minijlry^ 5 between 40 and 50 6 30 40 9 20 30 under 20 42 under 35 ^s 4. was 99 1 97 i6 between 80 and 90 14 70 80 12 60 70 5 50 ^o From this ftatement the degree of health and lon- gevity enjoyed by the people in this place, compared ■with that of mankind in general, may be learnt. Ac- cording to the common eftimate, in populous cities, one half die under u years of age ; in the world in general, one half under 17 : in this country, one half Hnder 20 : whereas according to this bill of mortality * Alarm Lift, 3477-79 70 ^/ for ten years paft-, half the number have lived to the age of 35. Atone time there was no death, in this fociety, for twelve months, wanting ten days. The greateft number of deaths in anyone year was 18. Life in New-England, is at leaft one third longer than in the world in general. The annual bill of mortality, for the ftate of Connefticut, upon the beft calculatiori that can be made, is between four and five thoufand. The earlielt date in our eaftern burying ground is 1682. The firft perfon buried in ihe weft grave-yard was Samuel Frenchj fonof John Frenchj born in 1682, and died 1688. j^w *# V .*J.VL'* <^