he was kindly dismissed from his Master's service in this world, and, as we have reason to think, was taken to praise God in the sanctuary above, in the 69th year of his age. On the 8th day of October his funeral was attended by a numerous assembly of neighbors and Christian friends."

When we view the successful service of this departed saint, the uniform piety which he maintained through a long life of trials, and his entire submission to the Divine will through his last illness, we can not but admire the grace that enabled him thus to finish his course.

ELKA NAH COMSTOCK.

Eld. ELKANAH COMSTOCK was born in New London, Ct., Sept. 30, 1771. He was blessed with a religious education. At what age he publicly embraced the religion of Christ is not known; yet early in his adult years he was found among the followers of Jesus. His mind soon began to be impressed with a sense of the great work of the ministry, from which he attempted to flee, as Jonah; and, like him, tried his fortune at sea; but it pleased God to frustrate all his plans, and render unsuccessful every attempt in worldly prosperity, while he lived in rebellion against the dictates of the Spirit. Under repeated disasters his mind was led to reflect seriously on his course of life, and soon came to the decision, by God's assistance, to take up the ministry for his lot.

In 1797 he was married to Miss Sarah Green, a very amiable and pious young lady, in whom he found an helpmeet indeed. She most cheerfully divided the sorrows of life with him, and patiently endured the complicated trials that an all-wise Providence saw fit to apportion them. In the year 1802 he moved to Albany, N. Y., or rather in the county of Albany, and in 1807 he moved to Scipio, Cayuga Co. He lived in the county of Cayuga, in the towns of Scipio and Owasco, about seventeen years. During this period he itinerated in the new settlements of Pennsylvania and the western part of New York. Many dear children of God were made to rejoice, and joyfully testified to his labors of love, while they were built up in the truth under his wholesome instruction.

His labors in the Cayuga Association entitle him to the grateful recollections of the church in that body, and, in fact, the whole region of country around. Not a council, hardly, was called, but he was one of the members, and the labors of the scribe fell upon him. He had many privations to contend with a large family to think of, with narrow means; and yet, no man was more punctual to all his appointments. His Master's business seemed to be first in his regards, and his own last. He not unfrequently felt the neglects of brethren in supplying his wants according to their obligations; but he bore all with astonishing submission. It was rare that you heard a complaint from his lips; he met you with a smile in his humble mansion, even when straitened for the necessaries of life. His children were always kept in remarkable order, and occupied in some useful industry. His early advantages had been very small; but he had so improved his time, after entering the ministry, that he acquired a good education, and his theological knowledge was not surpassed by any of his brethren.

In the year 1824 the Territory of Michigan was rapidly settling, and the few scattered sheep in the wilderness sent forth a Macedonian cry. Br. Comstock was appointed a missionary by the N. Y. B. State Convention, and removed his family to Michigan, and located in the village of Pontiac. At this time there was not a Protestant minister in the whole Territory. He sought the objects of his Master's love by many an obscure path amidst the recesses of the wilderness. The Baptist churches in Michigan, which received the labors of our brother in their incipient state, gratefully acknowledge his labors of love and fatherly counsel. In 1826 or 7 was formed the first Baptist Association in Michigan. He aided in forming a sound creed, and sowed the good seed of the kingdom. Not long after he came to this place he was brought very low by a distressing fever; his family despaired of his life, but the Lord was merciful, and restored him to a comfortable state of health. His constitution, however, was much impaired; and with regret his friends saw him sinking under the weight of years and infirmities. In Dec., 1830, it pleased the Lord to visit him again with affliction, in the death of a dear daughter; and on the following February he was called to drink yet deeper

in the cup of affliction, by the loss of his dear partner-a woman of uncommon amiability, and possessing apparently all the desirable qualities for a minister's wife. In this dark providence his faith was called to a severe trial which resulted in much holy joy, while he trusted in God, believing that "all things work together for good to them that love God." Not long after the decease of his wife, he resigned the pastoral charge of the church at Pontiac, over which he had presided since its organization. His health gradually declined; and in the fall of 1833 he went to New London, the place of his nativity, in hopes that a change of air and climate might in some measure restore his health; but a wise Providence ordered it otherwise. Soon after his arrival in his native place he was taken with the dropsy, which terminated his valuable life on the 13th of May, 1834.

After the death of Br. Comstock was announced in Pontiac, as soon as circumstances admitted, a funeral discourse was delivered in presence of a crowded assembly. The discourse was founded on the passage in Ephesians iii. 8: "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ"-the text chosen by Br. Comstock nearly two years before his death.

Br. Comstock left a very respectable family-six sons and two daughters-most of whom have arrived to manhood. One son and one daughter are worthy members of the Baptist church in Pontiac. Br. Comstock was an able and bold supporter of the doctrine of Christ. He sought to please his Master, and was "determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified." He was a man, therefore, that had imperfections; yet it is just to say he was exemplary in his course as a man and a minister; his counsel was sought by the friends of truth; he was ever ready to assist the feeble churches; and the people of God have reason to be grateful to the Lord of the vineyard for such a faithful servant in laying the foundation of correct principles in a new country.

For the space of about thirty-two years spent in the vine. yard, under all the complicated trials that fell to his lot, he never swerved from the spirit of the gospel. In the afflictions of God's people he took a deep interest. He was a ready

scribe, and his general knowledge of business rendered him very acceptable to the public. As a private citizen, he was much respected, and his death much lamented; as a father, he was rarely excelled; his pious example in his family, and his very affectionate parental kindness, rendered him peculiarly dear to his children; and they sorrowed most of all that he died far from home, and that they should see his face

no more.

Thus died our Br. Comstock, in the sixty-third year of his age, and was gathered home to participate in "the rest which remains for the children of God."

OBED WARREN.

Eld. OBED WARREN was born of pious parents, in Plainfield, Ct., March 18, 1760. At the age of seven he was a subject of the awakening, and he afterwards thought of the saving, influence of the Spirit of God. This, however, he kept to himself for several years. His parents removed, while he was young, into Dudley, Mass., where he made a profession of religion, and united with the Baptist church in that place, at the age of fifteen. Here he entered the ministry, and on the day he was twenty-one years old delivered his first sermon. He had a call in Halifax, Vt., where he was ordained, and continued for several years, until he removed to Salem, N. Y. Here he spent a great part of his public life, and was instrumental of building up a respectable church and society. He was favored with several revivals of religion among his people, and was extensively useful in that region of country, in his visits to the churches that were destitute, and in the Vermont Association, of which he was a member.

After laboring successfully in Salem nearly twenty years, he had a conviction that his work in that place was done, and that God called him to another part of his harvest. This, however, did not accord with the wishes and judgments of his people. Their parting was painful, yet in his view a duty. He labored for a time with neighboring churches in Cambridge and Hoosick, and at length removed to Delphi, in the county of Onondaga. He spent about two years in that

place, in which time the church built them a house of wor. ship, and were favored with a revival of religion, which greatly increased their number. The cloud on which his eye was constantly intent then directed his removal to an afflicted people in Scipio, with whom he labored, much to their satisfaction, the following year. Before the expiration of the year, however, he received a call from the 1st Baptist church in Eaton, which, from various circumstances, he deemed it his duty to accept. By this removal he was placed near the centre of the Madison Association, the Hamilton and Madison Missionary Societies, and near the Bap tist Literary and Theological Seminary, in all of which he took a very decided interest. It is presumed that in no part of his life was he more active, or more useful in the general interest of the kingdom, than in the three years he resided in that place. He was an active member of the Board of the Hamilton Missionary Society, and was one of their agents. He was also a firm supporter of the Theolo gical Institution. At different times he filled the office of President of the Board, of Chairman of the Executive Committee, and of agent for collecting funds. His correctness of judgment, known integrity, and weight of character, gave him much influence in removing the fears and obviating the prejudice of many against the Institution. He embraced the object as a very important one, and entered fully into the principles of the constitution, and the measures adopted for its support.

When he came to Eaton, he considered that as his last remove; but He, who directs the steps of man, had a work for Warren to do in Covet. The winter before his death he was called to that place, and went in "the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." In July following he wrote to a correspondent as follows: "It will be agreeable to you to hear that I am in health, and have full employment in this destitute region. There is a little revival in this church; nine, beside myself, have joined it by letter since I came here. Last Sabbath a large assembly went from the meeting-house to the lake-shore-a very pleasant situation for the occasion: there was much water. Some others, we hope, have been brought out of darkness into the light and liberty of the gospel.'