very apparent. He never seemed so much in his element, as when conversing with experienced Christians upon the things of the kingdom of God. He was, indeed, free and cheerful in conversation upon general subjects; but always discovered a desire to divert discourse, from worldly topics, to subjects, of religion.

In respect to doctrines, it may be sufficient, without particularizing, to say, that he was a firm believer in those, which are usually styled, the doctrines of the reformation; and was zealous for the defence and prevalence of evangelical truth.

The efficacy of religion in cheering the prospect of death, was not less satisfactorily illustrated in his experience, than its peace, and joy, and consolation in life. As it had enabled him to meet with quiet composure, and Christian resignation, the many trials and afflictions of life; so it eminently removed all fears of death. He even appeared, for a number of his last years, to be preparing for it, as an event which he anticipated with satisfaction. -It is very observable, that irreligious people are averse to the contemplation of death.They consider it as an evil day, and put the thoughts of it far from them. But it was far otherwise with him. He seemed indeed more ready to converse upon this subject, than any other; the thoughts of dying and entering the invisible world, having been long familiar to his mind. Nor was a preparation for this solemn event delayed until the summons arrived;

B

but, in the midst of health and active labours, he began to set his house in order for his departure. And as the spiritual good of his children lay with deep interest on his heart, his first step was to leave with them his parental instruction, counsels and admonitions. For this purpose, therefore, he convened them in his seventieth year, and delivered the Farewell Address contained in these pages. He now began the arrangement of his temporal concerns, which he nearly completed before his first shock of the palsy. This, he said, was a premonition to be ready; and in obedience. to the call, he appeared to trim his lamp, and gird up the loins of his mind; and for many months before his decease, seemed patiently and cheerfully waiting for his summons of departure. To some of his particular friends, he several times observed, that, whenever he went to sleep, he did not know that he had any choice in which world he awoke; but if any, it was to awake in another. Nor was it for a moment to be doubted, whether his tranquility upon the subject arose from an experimental preparation for his change, or from that callousness of feeling, which a constant attendance upon the sick and dying is apt to produce in an unregenerate heart. His tenderness and sympathy in these distressing scenes, was very obvious, from his faithful exertions for the spiritual, as well as bodily health of his patients. He was always ready for the performance of those services to the sick and dying,

which are usually expected from persons of a different profession. It was too evident to admit of doubt, that his willingness to die arose from a well tried faith and hope in the Lord Jesus. And this faith and hope seemed not in the least shaken, at the near approach of death; but evidently confirmed and strengthened. During the many paralytic shocks with which it pleased God to visit him, and which greatly debilitated his whole system, his mental faculties, though in a measure weakened, were not essentially impaired. For several of his last days, his bodily weakness was great, and his speech entirely prohibited; yet his rational powers were retained to the last hours of life. And even when he had drawn near the gate of death, so that it was judged by attendant friends, that every mental faculty was entirely extinct, their mistake was several times corrected, by the mention of some interesting fact relating to the Redeemer's kingdom, which uniformly excited the plainest visible emotions. Upon every other subject, he was perfectly unmoved; but upon this, his feelings vibrated to the last.

On the 9th of September, 1816, his spirit departed; and, no doubt, entered upon that blissful state of perfect holiness, to which, with stedfast faith and prayer, it had so ardently` aspired.

The reader is informed, that whatever is found in the following pages inclosed in brackets thus, [] is added by the Compiler.

JOURNAL.

THE following extract from Doct. Coleman's Journal, was found among his papers, addressed to his children.]

MY DEAR CHILDREN,

Having arrived to the seventy-second year of my age, and feeling that I must, according to the common course of nature, soon leave you, and aware of the difficulty of your perusing my lengthy journal, I have transcribed some parts of it, which I thought would be the most interesting and useful to you. This short extract will exhibit some of the exercises of my mind, and the dispensations of Divine Providence towards me in different periods of my life and I cannot but earnestly hope and pray, that the perusal of it may lead you to shun those follies and gross neglects of which I have been guilty; and excite you to follow my very imperfect example, as far as I have been enabled to walk in the steps of my Lord and Saviour.

I was born in Hatfield, in the State of Massachusetts, March 17th, (old style,) A. D. 1740.