the stated pastor might enjoy the benefit of the annual proceeds. To this fund, humanly speaking, the congregation of St. George's now owe the stated preaching of the Gospel among them; for without it they could not pay their propor tion for the support of a pastor, for even a small part of his ministerial labours. Dr. Rodgers, therefore, though long since removed from them, and now dead, may be said to be preaching to that people; not only by his many pious, pathetic instructions; but also by laying up in store the means of supporting a preacher to break to them the bread of life. What a striking proof is this of the propriety, (and what an encouragement to those who are thus engaged,) of adopting and pursuing measures which are calculated to be permanently useful, and especially to the church! How pleasing the thought, that even after they are dead, and their bodies, which had been engaged in the important object, have mouldered into dust; the seed which they had sown will be bringing forth abundant fruit in the salvation of souls, and to the glory of God!

So much was Dr. Rodgers respected and beloved by the people of St. George's, that they parted with him with the utmost reluctance, and

the deepest sorrow. Even after an application had been made to the Presbytery for the dissolution of the pastoral relation subsisting between him and them, a reference was made of the subject to the Synod, with a view to arrest the proceedings, and continue the relation. After the dissolution had taken place, and the day arrived for the Doctor to preach his farewell sermon, the moment he rose in the pulpit, a paroxysm of grief seized every heart, and the swollen tear stood in every eye. The impression was felt by every individual, that although they were about to hear him preach, he was no longer their pastor, and they should never more hear him as such; and they sorrowed most of all, because they should see his face as their preacher no more. The so

lemnity of the silence which generally prevailed during the preaching of this discourse, was only exceeded by the audible expressions of bitter lamentation, which now and then issued from every quarter of the church. Every head was bowed down with grief, and every heart bled with sorrow.

After Dr. Rodgers left St. George's, the Rev. Mr. Spencer, a zealous and animated preacher, settled there, and continued four yours. Dur

ing his continuance, the congregation was nearly as large and prosperous as it was whilst Dr. Rodgers was their pastor. The first symptom of their decline was the departure of some of the people from the church, before the afternoon service *. When Dr. Rodgers preached there, none of the people thought of withdrawing till the whole service of the day was concluded. In consequence of this disposition in the people, to leave the church between sermons, increasing, they have had generally, for a long time, but one sermon preached on the sabbath.

Upon Mr. Spencer leaving the congregation of St. George's, it began rapidly to decline, and

This is neither a new nor a solitary fact. Perhaps there is no symptom of decline in religion more common or more infallible. It may be safely asserted, that no individual, in whom the religious principle was strong and lively, ever habitually neglected a second service on the Lord's day, when it was in his power to attend upon it: and that church in which there is a prevailing negligence of the public worship of God on sabbath afternoons, may with confidence be pronounced to be languid and declining in its spiritual condition. The excellent minister whose memory we are endeavouring to honour, whenever he remarked a circumstance of this kind, as existing in any church, always lamented over it, as a symptom highly unfavourable and distressing in its indications.

has ever since continued to decline, till within these two years, during which time it has somewhat revived, in consequence of enjoying a part of the stated ministerial labours of the Reverend Samuel Bell, who is a warm and animated preacher.

Thus you have ascertained, that Doctor Rodgers was much respected by the congregation of St. George's; that his labours were greatly blessed to them; and that by his removal from them they sustained a severe loss, and experienced a shock from which they have never yet recovered; and perhaps never will recover, till the general effusion of the Spirit take place, when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the "Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

Your very respectful and affectionate brother in the Gospel,

Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller,

JOHN E. LAtta.

On the 19th day of September, 1752, between three and four years after his settlement at St. George's, Mr. Rodgers formed a matrimonial connexion with Miss Elizabeth Bayard, the eldest daughter of Colonel Peter Bayard, of Cecil

County, in Maryland. In his alliance with that lady, and her family, which was one of the most respectable for piety, wealth, and influence, in that part of the then American colonies, he found much happiness. She was a woman of excellent understanding, of eminent piety and prudence, and proved truly a "help meet" for him. By her he had four children; two sons and two daughters. Of these one son and one daughter died in infancy; the others yet survive *.

In the year 1753, the Reverend Messrs. Samuel Davies, of Virginia, and Gilbert Tennent, of Philadelphia, were appointed by the Synod of New-York, at the request of the Trustees of New-Jersey college, to visit Great-Britain, for the purpose of soliciting donations for the support of that college. During their absence, of more than a year, on this mission, their respective pulpits were supplied by order of the Synod. Mr. Rodgers was sent, by that body, in the spring of

*Dr. John R. B. Rodgers, an eminent Physician of New-York, and, for a number of years, one of the medical professors of Columbia College; and Mrs. Susannah Tennent, relict of the late Rev. Dr. William M. Tennent, of Abington, Pennsylvania.