thirty years ago heard him for some time in his own meeting-house, says, "I well remember a searching sermon he preached from these words, "What went ye out. for to see?" &c. Although at that time I had no experi mental acquaintance with the truth as it is in Jesus, yet. his grave appearance in the pulpit, his solemn, weighty, and energetic way of speaking, used to affect me very much. Certainly his preaching was close, and his address to the conscience pungent. Like his Lord and Master, he spake, with authority and hallowed pathos, having himself tasted the sweetness, and felt the power of what he delivered." If the style of his printed sermons should not please the, more polished reader, his own congregation will attest, that such was the earnest manner of his delivery, as to, make it scarcely possible to hear him, and not be deeply and seriously affected. Avowed infidels have sometimes been, struck with this; and though they laughed at others, when they heard him, were forced to listen with gravity and deep attention, He was never backward to preach, if sinners were willing to hear. Instead of reckoning it a burden, he accounted it a grace given to him to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. It was his usual practice, both before and after he came from public, worship, to retire to his closet and pour out his heart in prayer. Trifling conversation at any time, but especially after being engaged in the solemnities of Christian worship, he peculiarly detested. In visiting the sick, he was very industrious. His visits were never tedious; but, ac-, cording to his opportunity, frequent. When any of his. people were in affiction, he visited them immediately, if possible, on being informed: nor was he backward to shew sympathy to those of other denominations, when told that his visit would be acceptable. His public prayers were commonly short, except on days of fasting and thanksgiving; and then he prayed with such fervour and importunity, as had a remarkable tendency to elevate the devotions of his fellow-worshippers. None more earnestly wished the spreading of the blessed Gospel. He gladly undertook many long and severe journies to congregations destitute of pastors, where he might have access, to preach the glad tidings of salvation.. He greatly rejoiced in the success of Brainerd, and other Missionaries; and often in preaching, when his subject would admit, descanted with much pleasure on Missions to the Heathen world. Of this he was peculiarly fond, a few years before his death. Meetings for prayer and religious religions conversation, he laboured to encourage, not merely by recommending them from the pulpit, but by frequently attending them himself. Those in the town, he visited, if possible, once a-week; those in the country, as often as he had opportunity. Persons weak in knowledge, who attended them, he kindly encouraged, by shewing respect to such remarks as they made on divine truths. Early religion he warmly pressed. Sometimes he preached a sermon, or a course of sermons, to the young;* and, in the application of his other discourses, he frequently introduced an exhortation to them. He often catechised them, either in the schools, or in the meetinghouse; and seldom met with young persons but he introduced some observations respecting the misery of their natural state, and the method of recovery by the Redeemer. Several of these hints seem to have had a good effect. For some years, a meeting of seven or eight children was held in his manse+, for prayer, praise, and spiritual conference; and though it was commonly on Saturday evenings, he frequently left his studies for half an hour, went into the little religious society, conversed familiarly with them, and, after giving thein good counsels, recommended them to God, in prayer, while the dear young ones were kneeling around. He met with trials from the irregular behaviour of some few members of his church; but when any fell into open and heinous transgressions, it grieved his spirit so much, as not unfrequently to deprive him of his night's When he understood that differences existed between members of the church, he made it his business to have them speedily removed; and was particularly active this way, especially in view of the dispensation of the Lord's Supper. His success in the ministry was very considerable. In his own congregation, it is hoped, that a number claimed him for their spiritual father; and that others acknowledged him to be the helper of their faith and joy. Nor was it at home only that he was instrumental in doing good to souls; in various parts of the country where he had access to preach, there were seals of his ministry. It it true, the success was frequently hid from himself; and while his Master secured the honour of making the word efficacious, he left the servant to cry, "I have laboured in vain; I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain." His natural modesty prevented The Parsonage-house. him him from cultivating acquaintance with many who valued his writings. He was honoured, however, with the correspondence of the late Rev. Messrs. John Mason, of New York; Annan, of Boston; Archibald Hall, of WellStreet, London; with that also of the Rev. Mr. Philips, late of Sarum; the Rev. Mr. Simeon, of Cambridge; the late Countess of Huntingdon, and others. He received a kind and earnest invitation from the Dutch church in the province of New York, to be their tutor in divinity. This invitation, as well as his correspondence with the excellent personage last mentioned, he modestly studied to conceal from the knowledge of all. As a member of society, he endeavoured to know the mind of God in regard to every particular part of his duty; and having found the truth, he avowed and acted upon it without disguise. When truths of importance were opposed, zeal for his Master and regard to mankind, brought him forward in their, defence. This gave rise to such of his writings as were controversial. His peculiar principles, as a Scceder, never appear in his practical treatises. From conviction of duty, he first joined the Secession, and continued its steady friend as long as he lived; while, at the same time, he discovered the strongest affection to Gospel-mini-zers and private Christians of the established church, and other denominations. His prayers were always liberal and catholic. He seemed peculiarly concerned for the Anti-Burgher congregation in the neighbourhood, and for the parish-church, especially at the time of their sacramental solemnities. In regard to what is called Church-communion, he was strict; but as to the communion of saints, as distinguished from it, he was truly liberal. For years, a praying society met in his house; some of the members of which belonged to the Established Church, and some to the Secession. He manifested singular readiness to forgive his enemies. Notwithstanding the abuse which he received while he was a student, it was remarked that he was never heard to open his mouth against the authors of it, or so much, as mention the affair. To certain writers who reviled him from the press, he meekly replied, “Whatever they wish me, my heart's desire is, that they may obtain redemption, through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Whatever they call me, may Jehovah call them the Redeemed of the Lord, Sought out, and Not forpaken." To a minister of another denomination, who had had treated him with much incivility, he was enabled, by the grace of God, to afford supply in the day of his brother's poverty, by secret remittances of money; and after his decease, he offered to take one of his destitute orphans and bring him up with his own children. On the settlement of any of his students, as fixed pastor to a congregation, he usually sent him a paper of excellent counsels in regard to the exercise of his ministry. There are many valuable letters in the possession of the children of deceased ministers and private Christians, full of scriptural and suitable comfort and advice, which he sent on the death of their parents. Many a time did he wipe off the tear from the widow's face, by leading her faith to the promises of the covenant, and ministering to the supply of her necessitics. He was singulary backward to believe ill reports of any, but especially of those who fill public stations; being convinced that such reports have very often no foundation, and produce the very worst effects. Therefore, as he would not suffer others to attack characters in his presence, he himself most conscientiously avoided the defiling practice. As tutor to candidates for the holy ministry, his care was to give thein a connected view of Gospel-truth, both doctrinal and practical: and that they might be able to support and illustrate the several articles of our holy religion, he endeavoured to render them mighty in the Scriptures. In his System of Divinity and Cases of Conscience, the public have a view of the particular topics which he used to explain to his pupils at large. It was his concern also to make them acquainted with the history of the church; and what he published on this subject he had compiled chiefly for them. He urged with great earnestness on their minds, to make themselves well acquainted with the oracles of God in the original tongues. Next to these, he recommended, the Compendium of Turrentine; Owen's Works; Fisher's Work on the Assembly's Catechism; the Writings of Boston, and the Erskines; the Marrow of Modern Divinity, with Boston's Notes; Marshal on Sanctification; Cole on God's Sovereignty; Hervey's Theron and Aspasio, with his Defence against Wesley; Beart's Vindication of the Law and Gospel, Halyburton's Defence of Revealed Religion; his Memoirs, together with those of Alexander Archibald, published at Edinburgh in 1768. He earnestly warned his students against a merely philosophical way of studying divinity; and strenuously pressed on their minds the the absolute necessity of heart-religion, that they might make proficiency in their studies. His address to them, prefixed to his system, clearly evinces that he regarded this as a matter of the very last importance. No man could bear more patiently with the imprudence and weakness of some of them; and yet when there was occasion, he most faithfully admonished them. His admonitions indeed deeply impressed the consciences, and were long and gratefully remembered. He was, in truth, among them, as a father among his children: he loved them, and studied their good; and they loved him, and regarded his counsel. No season of the year was so pleasant, either to the professor or to the students, as the time of attending the Divinity-Hall. The serious and solemn addresses which, on particular occasions, he made to them, and especially when they parted, were affecting indeed, and calculated to leave the best impressions. Many of his sayings at those times, it is believed, will never be forgotten by those who heard them. The many able, useful, and acceptable ministers, both in Great Britain and Ireland, whom he trained up for the sacred office, evince the ample success with which the Lord crowned his labours. He fell asleep in Jesus, June 19, 1787. [His death-bed sayings will be given in a subsequent number. A SOLEMN VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH AND CONGREGATION IN THE SOUTH PARISH OF NEW MARLBOROUGH: To be read at the Close of my Funeral Solemnities, in the House of God. BY THE REV. J. STEVENS, WHO DIED JAN. 6, 1799*. THE HE solemn, yet, I humbly trust, the joyful moment is come, when I am no longer an inhabitant of this lower world. My breath is gone, my eyes are closed, my tongue is become silent, my voice will be heard no more on earth, the paleness of death covers my face. Whether the invisible world of spirits admits of looking back, and seeing the funeral solemnities performed or not, I leave. Methinks, I see solemnity on the countenances of those who are assembled on this affecting occasion. This ad+ See Evan. Mag. for Dec. 1801, page 457. Ee VOL. X, ress, |