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Obituary of Rev. William Boardman.

COMMUNICATED FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

Died, on Wednesdsy morning the 4th inst., about one o'clock, the Rev. Mr. William Boardman, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Newtown, Long-Island. He was a man of unquestionable personal piety, and most sincerely desirous of promoting his master's glory in the salvation of sinners to the utmost of his abilities. In the discharge of the duties of his office, he was a popular and faithful preacher, and a diligent conscientious pastor. His people were tenderly attached to him, and deeply mourn his loss.

During the course of his long protracted, and severe illness, the exercises of his mind were generally comfortable, manifesting throughout an entire resignation to the will of God. To one of his brethren, who saw him on the Lord's day previous to his death, in reply to the question which was put about the state of his mind, he quoted the words of the prophet, "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God!". And added, "Oh! for the light of God's countenance as I once enjoyed it!" but closed his reply, "God is good! Oh, he is good! I feel him to be good to me.' After a pause, occasioned by his weakness, he proceeded, "My dear brother, God frowns upon my people; there is great coldness among them." And that he might not be mistaken, distinctly referred to the little success of his ministry among them for some time back; when he was reminded of the words of the prophet, "Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength." And the consolatory truth which they taught, that a minister's personal salvation and eternal reward did not depend upon his success, he was silent for a moment, but again broke forth, "Oh, my brother, God frowns upon my people!" repeating it once or twice. evidently regarded, in this hour of severe trial, the spiritual interests of his congregation as much as his own.

He

The following were his dying words, as recollected by his friends who were with him during the last conflict.

"On Tuesday morning the 3d inst., having been the patient subject of a stubborn fever for seven weeks, his disorder suddenly assumed a more alarming aspect. His brother-in-law having been sent for, arrived about ten o'clock in the evening. Mr. Boardman was then dying. His brother was requested to acquaint him of his situation. As he approached the bed, Mr. B. addressed him with, "How do you do, Doctor?" "How do you do, Mr. B." "I am not so well as when you saw me last--I am much fatigued, and want rest-I know my situation to be a critical oneI feel my weakness; but God is able to raise me up, and I trust he will. I think I shall not die, but live to declare the wonderous works of God to sinners. O, J-, Christ is a great Saviour; his merits are infinite; his blood is precious, it cleanseth from all sin; embrace Him, J-, and secure the mercy of God, for it endureth for ever. Do you think me near my end?" "Mr. B-, your symptoms indicate approaching dissolution." He heard

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Obituary of Rev. William Boardman.

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his brother without the least possible discomposure, closed his eyes, and rested himself about one minute. "Well, if I am dying I have no time to sleep. Raise me up and call my family around me. "He was raised, and his family assembled. "Where is R. ? where is my dear wife? My dear and loving wife, I love you sincerely-we have been permitted to live together for many years in much love and harmony, and we ought to thank God for it. I am now about to leave you; but our separation is not an eternal separation." Being affectionately asked by his wife, if he could assure her that he felt perfectly safe in the hands of God, he answered with emphasis, I hope I can-I have not left a preparation for death till now--I trust I have long since given up my soul unreservedly, and I hope sincerely, to Christ, and he will keep that safe which I have committed to him."- "Can you say so, my love? then I can, if it is God's will, give you up : for my loss is your gain. This world is now a wilderness to me. No, my dear, I leave you in the hands of that God who has promised to be a Father to the fatherless ones, and the widow's God and portion." He then most affectionately committed her to the mercy of God in Christ, and said, "We shall meet in a world where parting is not known-I now bid you farewell! Where are my children? where is M-? My dear M-, you are about to lose your earthly father; but God will be your Father, if you will love him and keep his commandments, &c. Fare you well! Where is E-? My dear E-, you are now to have your earthly father taken from you; but God will take care of you, and provide for you, if you will listen to his counsel, as I have always told you. I now bid you good by!" (He then called for his mother-in-law.) "My dear old mother, I bid you farewell! But our separation is short; we shall meet in a world where trouble is no more, and where there are no storms, &c.-Now, my friends, one and all, I bid you an affectionate farewell!" He earnestly recommended the religion of Christ to his friends, and said, "Fare you well-fare you well! I go a long journey; may God bless you. I can say no more-lay me down." After a short pause he said, "My manuscripts I leave to the care of Mr. Spring, for him to examine, and if he finds any thing worthy of publication, to have it published for the good of my people." (Seeing his black girl stand by the bed,) "M-, you know I always told you to seek the Lord Jesus Christ, and put your trust in him, if you would be happy hereafter."

After a short pause, be exclaimed, "The mercy of the Lord endureth for ever. He will never leave nor forsake those that put their trust in him." He then lay still for about five minutes; then pronounced these words, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly : why is thy chariot so slow? But I wish not to be impatient; not my will, but thine be done." Shortly after he said, "He that has an interest in the blood of Christ has no need to be afraid of death." The doctor then felt his pulse-" How is my pulse,

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Notice to Subscribers.

Doctor?" Very weak."-" Is it possible for me to continue five minutes longer?"-" That is impossible for me to say. "Sit by me, and tell me the moment of my departure.".... His breath grew gradually shorter, and he expired about twenty minutes afterwards, without a struggle.

Who. on reading this plain unvarnished account, does not exclaim, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.

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THE CHRISTIAN HERALD,

VOL. IV.] Saturday, March 21, 1818.

EXTRACTS

[No. 26.

From the correspondence of the British and Foreign Bible Society, published December, 1817.

Extract from the Sixth Report of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society.

To the members of this, and every other Bible Association, as well as to all persons interested in the diffusion of that knowledge which alone can be instrumental to the eternal happiness of man, it must afford the highest gratification, that many of the nations of India, Mahommedans as well as Hindoos, evince not only a willing, but a solicitous, disposition to receive and peruse such versions of the Holy Scriptures as are intelligible to them; and the friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society will rejoice to hear, that of 5000 copies of the late Rev. Henry Martyn's Hindoostanee translation of the New Testament, which were printed in the Persian character, at the expense of that Society, in the year 1814, so few now remain undistributed, that the Corresponding Committee at this Presidency have already found it necessary to order another edition to the same extent.

The noble example given to Europe and Asia by the Russian Bible Society, (described by one of the Secretaries to the Parent Institution, as its most powerful coadjutor,) its patronage in church and state, its numerous auxiliaries, the activity of its members and agents, the wide field of its labours, and, above all, the spirit and zeal which prompt and direct its operations, render it an object of peculiar interest. That interest is most lively to those who have contemplated the spread of the Gospel in the oriental parts of the globe; and the members of this local Association, in particular, cannot but feel the purest satisfaction in finding themselves addressed by a sister community from Russia in the following terms:- However far separated, we consider ourselves as fellow-labourers with you, in the great and glo ious work of extending the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, by disseminating the oracles of divine truth; and great as the distance between St. Petersburgh and Calcutta is, we hope ere long to meet you, and to join hands with you in sowing the seed of eternal life in Armenia, Persia, and Tartary.'

From the Fourth Report of the Columbo Auxiliary Bible Society,

1816.

In speaking of the transactions of Jaffna, the Committee must not omit a most gratifying account which they have received of the successful introduction of the Scriptures among the prisoners in the jail of that place. When Mr. Linch first visited them he found only two who could read, and he gave to each a Testa

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ment, which be promised to read to his fellow-prisoners. In the course of a week one of them had read the whole to several who were anxious to hear it. There are now four who can read, and some others that are learning; they read a chapter or two every morning and evening, and repeat the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and Ten Commandments; about twenty assemble for this purpose, and also regularly attend Divine service on Sundays at the Malabar Church.

The jailor reports, that since this humane attention has been shown to the prisoners, the prison is no longer disturbed with the same drinking, noise, and gambling, which before too frequently prevailed. It is most satisfactory to hear of such an improvement among these unfortunate outcasts, who leave the jail, it is to be feared, in general, more depraved in their character than when they went into it. The two great objects of criminal justice are to correct offenders, and to prevent offence. Severity of example may deter others from the commission of crime; but it is only by a strict attention to the interior regulations of a prison, and by such means of religious instruction as the zeal of Mr. Linch has employed, that the effect can be produced of reformation in the criminal.

From the Appendix.

1 From the Rev. T. H. Squance.

Columbo, October 2, 1817. I have often witnessed with much gratification the pleasing result attending the dissemination of the Sacred Scriptures. In proportion as they have been received and read with attention, they have always improved the morals of mankind. This observation has seldom been more remarkably exemplified than in the case of the poor prisoners at Point de Galle; for a considerable time they bave been much neglected, and left destitute of all the means of Christian instruction, until one of our assistant missionaries, Mr. Lallman, (under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Erskine,) began to visit them for the purpose of reading and expounding the Scriptures for their instruction. At first Mr. Lallman met with many discouragements; for the prisoners appeared to be abandoned to almost every vice, and they listened with much indifference to any thing he advanced. He did not visit them, however, many times, before he witnessed a great reformation among them. They began to listen with attention, and immediately as he entered the prison, they gathered around him with much eagerness, to hear the word of life. Many of them have remarked that they have derived much benefit from his instructions, and they have evinced the truth of these remarks by the uncommon respect which they have shown for the Sabbath. They were formerly in the habit of cleaning out the jail on a Sunday morning; but now they work after their usual hour on Saturday evening to avoid breaking the fourth commandment. I have no doubt that a continuance of the same means will produce a still greater reformation among these unfortunate men.