And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us; unto Him be glory in the Church, by Jesus Christ, throughout all ages, world without end! Amen.

A Poem found among Mr. Whatcoat's Writings.

Fair Salem, the seat of I AM; the region where

pleasures do grow,

The grove where contentment doth reign,
Where transports for ever do flow;
When shall I remove to thy joys,

When shall I behold them in full ?
Thy glories my bosom do warm!
All earth is but heavy and dull.

When, Jesus, will sighs be all over?
When shall I to earth bid adieu ?
When shall I 'midst angels rise?
And all thy bright ravishments view?
See how I'm encompassed about
With trouble, temptations, and wo;
Mark how I my banishment mourn,
And how I mourn home for to go.

This region 's insipid and dry,
There's nothing my joys to increase;
My craving all centred in God,
And only in him have I peace.

I burn with contempt for the world,

I spurn all its pleasure and store;

While God, and his ways, and his word
I choose to be mine evermore.

O could I this moment depart,
And with my Redeemer arise
From earth and its sorrows, my heart
For ever with angels shall live,
The fields of ambrosia to walk.
These plains of ineffable sweets,
The streams of salvation to drink,
And shout as I pass through thy streets.

[58]

Portrait of Bishop Whatcoat, &c.

Bishop Whatcoat's personal appearance was interesting so much so, as to invite and please the good and wise. The form of his body was competently genteel and grave: his soul comprehensive, vigorous, noble, great, and active. His presence and aspect smooth and pleasant, yet solemn,-often striking reverence and awe into the minds and deportment of such as looked upon him, especially when exercising the offices of his function.

I may say of him, as was said of Basil, "that so much divine Majesty and lustre appeared in him, it made the wicked tremble to behold ;" and, in like manner, this most exact and holy man's solemn deportment was such as to command respect. In him were seen majesty and love-well expressed by the following lines:

"Shall I not again on earth behold

That countenance, so grave, so bold,

Which, with a look, could daunt the face of sin,
And make offence to hide itself within?
Most perfect image of the God above!
Without was majesty, within was love;

One drawn with sweetness by an infant's hand,
Not driven by violence, or base command."

His whole deportment was so beautiful and adorned with personal graces, that of him may be said, as of one of the old Puritans," He was made of love."

His amiable, heavenly, and courteous carriage was such, as to make him the delight of his acquaintance, and to prepare them for the reception of his counsels and reproofs. His compassion for mankind in a lost condition-his acts of charity to those in want-his tenderness for such as were culpablehis affectionate language and deportment in the exercise of his ministry especially-and his love-were set forth in his ardent longings after the souls of his

hearers. His rejoicing in their spiritual prosperity -his bleedings and, heart-breakings for their backslidings-his labours among them, both public and from house to house-his frequent and affectionate letters to them when absent-his earnest desire to spend and be spent for them,-always evinced what - share they had in his affection. He was a man of fortitude: he appeared to fear no danger when duty was plain (as his labours and troubles showed,) believing that he who walks uprightly, walks safely, though he "pass through the valley and shadow of death." He feared not the face of man; but where there was just occasion, he would boldly admonish and faithfully reprove what he saw amiss; but with so much prudence, and with such expressions of love and tenderness, as made way to their hearts, and rendered his work successful in winning souls to his heavenly Master.

Bishop Whatcoat was a man of peace, and a great peace-maker among his brethren where dissensions arose from want of understanding, or from want of sober and peaceable principles. He had a reverend esteem for the laws of the country, abhorring all insolent expressions or mutinous actions, keeping by him a copy of the laws of the State where his labours were directed-so that he might not violate them in any of his sacred functions (whereby the Gospel might be blamed): therefore he kept a manuscript of the municipal laws, so that he might know how to act in every place, and keep himself unspotted in the world. He was a great lover of truth and righteousness in his own practice, and a great presser of them on his hearers, especially upon religious professors, exhorting them to be just in all their doings, and true in their words; to be cautious in promising, and punctual in performing; sharply reproving promise-breakers and deceitful dealing.

He was anxious for the conversion of sinners, and for the success of the Gospel. To promote this end he poured out his soul in prayer and preaching. He imparted not only the word, but himself, as it were, to his hearers. His supplications and exhortations were so affectionate, so full of holy zeal and power, as to greatly move his auditors, and melt his congregation into tears and penetential sorrow, not by vain repetitions, crude expressions, unintelligible sense, or mysterious nonsense in place of prayer. His spirit was serious-his gesture reverent-his words well suited, well weighed, pithy, solid, and truly expressive of his truly humble and fervent desire after the things he asked. He was nigh to God, as became a creature overawed by the Majesty of his Creator.. He prayed with the spirit and understanding, with faith, fervency, and humble importunity-his affections working, but rationally as well as strongly; by which he prevailed with his Redeemer, and on his hearers: because they found it to be exactly the habitual and constant frame of his mind; for he was always composed, serious, and grave. He set God always before him; and, wherever he was, he laboured to walk as in his presence. His main design in all things was, to study to "show himself approved of God, the Father, who seeth in secret and rewardeth openly;" and to keep a conscience void of offence both to God and man. Much of his time he spent in private devotion and converse with Christ and his own soul, delighting in secret prayer and retirement, when opportunity offered, that he might freely use his voice to his heavenly Father.

His deportment was such, as if at every moment he saw Christ, and had God's law, his own conscience, and covenant with the Holy Spirit, and the day of Judgment before his eyes.

When he awoke in the night he was in meditation or prayer, exulting and praising God, like St. Paul and Silas, speaking to himself in spiritual songs, making melody in his heart with grace.

This holy man was sent to the church as if a sample, to show to what a life of peace and holiness Christians may attain on earth, where sincerity, privation, diligence, watchfulness, love of divine communion, and humble and active faith do meet and centre.

My first journey with him was over the Alleghany mountains to the frontiers of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. I found him so fixed in the ways of God, that nothing could disengage him, or move his patience, so as to make him murmur in the least degree. He was not wearied with fatigue of riding, or of preaching, so as to make him abate his private devotions; but after, lecturing and praying several times a day in public, on retiring, he poured out his soul before he laid his body to rest; by which means he was ever ready to sound forth the high praises of his gracious Redeemer, at all times and on all occasions. His tours through the back woods were very dangerous; the Indians were not then at peace with the United States, but remained hostile, and made frequent incursions, and destroyed many families, as well as single persons, whenever they met them; so that some whom he preached to and baptized, in those parts, were killed and scalped a few weeks after. I think not less than seventy were miserably mangled and killed within one year and a half, in and about their own houses.

Mr. Whatcoat appeared to be the same at all times, and under all circumstances;-to be as calm in the wilds as in the cultivated fields-in the smoky cabin as in the carpeted parlour-amidst the cla