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whom he had been preaching the kingdom of God should see his face no more: this may, or may not, be the case of the speaker. I am willing to say something on the occasion-which I esteem solemn and interesting, hoping that I shall be enabled to address you with all that plainness and prudence which becomes one who expects to give an account. apostle reminds the Ephesian brethren of some things that had transpired while he was with them.

MY BRETHREN AND FRIENDS,

The

The church of Christ in this place was organized forty-two years ago the 20th day of October last, by the assistance of the Rev. Benajah Roots, my worthy predecessor.

It was thirty years ago the 28th day of March last, since I took the pastoral care of this church and people; the church then consisted of forty-two members; since which time, there have been about three hundred and twelve added to it; about sixty have been removed by death, and about four hundred have died in this society, including those above mentioned. There are only ten of the church now living in this place who were here when I first came among you; the greater part sleep in death. I have preached about five thousand five hundred discourses: four hundred of them have been funeral sermons. I have solemnized more than a hundred marriages. During this period we have had two remarkable seasons of the outpourings of the Spirit, as well as some refreshings at other times, which many of us who are yet alive recognise with emotions of joy. Twice I have been brought, in my own apprehensions, to the borders of the grave; but God has spared me to see this day of trial, which I desire to meet with resignation to his will.

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The flower of my life has been devoted to your service and while I lament a thousand imperfections which have attended my ministry, yet, if I am not deceived, it has been my hearty desire to do something for the salvation of your souls. He that provided the

motto of our discourse could say, on his farewell, "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessity." The appropriation of such language is, in a degree, congenial with the testimony that many present could give, and might be admitted, were it not for the danger of comparison. I have sometimes thought that perhaps God designed that I should spend the few of my remaining days among you; and, with a degree of satisfaction, I have looked into the repository of the dead adjoining this house, intending to sleep with them; claiming a sort of kindred dust, intending to rise with them; but the ways of God are mysterious, who often destroys the hope of man. In my solitary reflections I cast a look towards this house to bid it a final adieu; but, in spite of all that fortitude, dictated by reason and religion, can do, the sympathetic tear will betray the imbecility of human nature. Can we suppose that even a Paul was unmoved when " They all wept sore, and fell on his neck, sorrowing most of all that they should see his face no more?" Acts xx., 37, 38.

A three years ministry had excited such reciprocal endearments as made the parting like tearing soul and body asunder. More than one thousand five hundred Sabbaths have I spent with you, the most of them in this house. More than one hundred and thirty seasons of communion have we enjoyed around the table of the Lord. Oh! how many sweet and comfortable days have I spent in this house with you that are alive, and those who are dead! We have taken sweet counsel together; I trust I have at times felt the powerful presence of Christ, while speaking from this desk; cannot we adopt the language of the Psalmist,

""Tis with a mournful pleasure now,

I think on ancient days:

When to thy house did numbers go,
And all our work was praise?"

It appears in the course of Divine providence that my labours among you have come to an end. We have done meeting in this house; I am called to give you

the parting hand; but let us all remember that a very solemn meeting awaits us at that day suggested in my text, when we shall all have finished our course.

Our meeting at that day will greatly differ from what it has been in this house: I have often been here and found but few within these walls; some trifling excuse has detained you; but at that day it will not be optional with people whether they attend or not; all will be there; the congregation will be full, not one in a town, state, or in the world, but what will appear. Sometimes you have manifested great stupidity, and I have witnessed drowsiness and carelessness while I have been speaking; but at that day you will be awake and be all attention. You will believe, realize, and feel interested in the things exhibited. Often through the depravity of the human heart, and the prejudice that sinners have to the truth, and to the servants of Christ, they will turn their backs on divine worship, and leave the house of God: But when ministers and people meet before the tribunal of Christ, there will be no deserting or quitting the assembly; there they must hear, however disagreeable their preaching will be, and tormenting to their consciences. In this house our meeting has been promiscuous or indiscriminate; saints and sinners sit on the same seat, around the same table; we cannot certainly say who has and who has not on the wedding garment; but at the day of judgment there will be an exact separation; Christ will separate the sheep from the goats,

In this house we have often met, not less than four thousand times; we go and we come: Although we see no fruit of our labour, we do not wholly despair; we hope God may yet bless his word; but when ministers and people meet before the bar of God, it will be the last interview, none to follow it: The case of sinners will then be for ever hopeless and helpless.

One great design of our meeting together in this world is to offer salvation to sinners, to entreat and to beseech them to be reconciled to God; but at the day of judgment an irreversible sentence will be pronounced

on the righteous and on the wicked; the saints will be rewarded, and sinners condemned, and sent to endless perdition.

When the ambassadors of Christ have finished their course, and meet their people, a critical examination will take place: I must give an account concerning the motives which influenced me to come among you, and how I have conducted during my thirty years residence in this place the doctrines I have inculcated: whether I have designedly kept back any thing that might be profitable to you, or have, through fear of man, or any other criminal cause, shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. Also, as to the manner of my preaching, whether I have delivered my discourses in a cold, formal manner; and of my external deportment. You, who have been the people of my charge, must give an account what improvement you have made of my ministry; whether you have attended as you ought; whether your excuses for withdrawing from public worship at any time were sufficient. God will attend to them, and they will be weighed in a just balance; not a single neglect will escape divine notice. We have a thousand excuses, which, when put in the scale of the sanctuary, will be lighter than a feather.

You must give a strict account as to the manner of your attending in this house: whether you have received the word with joy, and obeyed its precepts. Parents must render an account, whether they have taught their children, by precept and example, to reverence the word of God, and respect the servants of Christ. Whether they have endeavoured to maintain or support the influence of their minister among the youth or rising generation, and so been workers together with him. Whether the servants of Christ do not fall into contempt in a measure through their instrumentality. People will be examined whether they have contributed to the temporal support of the ministers of Christ; it will not be left with men how much they ought to impart; but God will be the judge how much was suitable, and whether it was agreeable to the word of God, and the exigences of the preacher.

On the separation of a minister from his people, there are often very criminal causes existing, either on the part of the minister or people, or both. There may be pretended reasons, while the truth may be kept out of sight, to escape censure. Ecclesiastical councils may think it inexpedient to make any inquiry into the matter; but they will have a plain, candid, and thorough investigation before the tribunal of Christ. No deception, no hypocrisy will be concealed under religious pretences; but it will all be detected and exposed before the assembled universe, and the hearts of all men be revealed.

"Nothing but truth before his throne,

With honour can appear;

The painted hypocrites are known,
Through the disguise they wear."

The accusations brought against the ministers of Christ will be examined. Ministers will fare no better for the name they sustain; their wickedness will be exposed; they condemned or exonerated, not according to popular noise and clamour, but coincident to truth and equity. These are scenes, my brethren, that are just opening before us, and to which we are hastening with the utmost rapidity. These are things that should move us, and call up our attention. It is a small, very small thing to be judged of man's judgment. Oh! let us labour to be found of God in peace. This day to me in some respects is very solemn and interesting, on which I am called to give you the parting hand; but its importance is eclipsed when contrasted with that awful period when we are to meet before Him who is to judge the quick and the dead.

There you and I must shortly appear. Much has been said on the subject of my dismission-that it has been in consequence of my request. I think I have been sufficiently explicit on the matter; but I am willing to repeat it in this public manner, that, had the people been united, wholesome discipline properly exercised, a firm and unshaken attachment to the cause of God manifested among all the professors of religion,

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