the wilderness, where were no vineyards at all, was well suited to render the believing Israelites eager and almost impatient to possess the promised land. Alas! too often through our own unwatchfulness, we indeed experience but transiently, and with many interruptions, these holy joys; our strongest comforts are always imperfect and of comparatively short continuance: and a succession of joys and sorrows is all we can here attain to. But, when "absent from the "body and present with the Lord," we shall have unclouded skies, our Sun will always shine. "We shall see him," even our God and Saviour, "as he is, and "be made like him."

"

What a transition from the languor, pain, and suffering of a death-bed, to joys unspeakable, inconceivable, uninterrupted, and eterna!!

Methinks, I hear the enraptured spirit exclaim, 'I thought, and read, and heard much, and I anticipated much of glorious joy while I was on earth, and raised my conceptions and expectations as high as I possibly could: "but the half," the thousandth part, was not told me." Well might the prophets ⚫and apostles say, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear "heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the

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things which God hath prepared for them that love “him." I believed, that to die would be gain: but I 'never could have conceived the immensity of that gain! "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!"

I am persuaded, my brethren, that few, if any, present are disposed to doubt, but that our departed friend, whose decease gave occasion to our present assembling, is now actually possessing this gain, and VOL. III. ૨

presenting these praises; and is blessed beyond all our powers of conception. It remains therefore, that I conclude with some application of the subject to this recent event, the source of much sorrow to many present, but of such unutterable joy to him, the loss of whom we are now lamenting.

My acquaintance with your beloved and revered pastor, was of too short continuance, to enable me to do, what perhaps some may expect; namely, attempt a delineation of his character. But I was led to choose this text, under an idea, that you would think of him as I proceeded: and, remembering his conduct among you during a term of fifteen or sixteen years, would almost involuntarily apply the several particulars to him; convinced, that in good measure he was a follower of the apostle, even as the apostle followed Christ. From my little intercourse with him, and from all I have heard concerning him, I am induced to believe, that most of the ministers of Christ, even such as are well known and justly approved, might have looked up to him, as an edifying pattern, in humility, meekness, patience, unwearied disinterested diligence, faithful love to the souls of men, especially those intrusted to his immediate care, and zeal for the honour of his God and Saviour. "To him, indeed, to live was Christ, "and to die was gain."

But I shall not enlarge. He lives, I doubt not, in the hearts of many present. You, my christian brethren, have no need of my commendations of him: You are his best commendation: "The seals of his minis

try are ye in the Lord." May your future lives, conformed to his scriptural instructions and his edify.

ing example, recommend his memory, and all his words and actions (that will no doubt be long recollected in this neighbourhood,) to your children, your families, and all with whom you have to do. "Remember him "that was guide over you, who spake to you the word "of God; whose faith follow; considering the end of "his conversation," and his happy entrance into the joy of his Lord. You best knew his excellency-Oh, copy his example, and more and more reduce to practice his instructions, that "by well doing ye may put to "silence those who falsely accuse your good conversa"tion in Christ."

But he also lives in the consciences of numbers, who have not hitherto effectually profited by his labours. Oh that his death may be made more useful to you, than his life has been! I appeal to all present, who have had personal knowledge of our deceased friend, that "he commended himself to your consciences in the "sight of God." You knew him to be an upright, peaceable, kind hearted, and pious man. You knew his life was consistent with his profession, and the instructions and admonitions which he gave to others. You are conscious that he would have done you good, if he could; and that, had you followed his counsels and example, you would at this time have been far better men than you are. You are sensible, that even his reproofs, and warnings, and opposition to your sins, were the dictates of love to your souls. Yes-" He sought not yours, but you." "He was willing to "spend and be spent for you; though the more he lov

ed you, the less he was loved of you." Indeed it seems probable that he wore himself out prematurely

by his incessant labours, and chiefly for your salvation. And I am confident, that there is scarcely one present, who, if he thought he should die this night, would not secretly wish, and even be ready to say, 'Oh, that I may go to be where Mr. Newell is!" This is the highest commendation: and this you cannot withhold from him. I have no design to panegyrize. I can do our brother no good. He needs not our praise: he enjoys the honour that cometh from God only. He has heard his gracious Saviour say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou "into the joy of thy Lord." But I speak what I am confident is true, and what I hope may be of use to you and many present will say, 'You might with truth have said far more of him.' And one thing more I will add. He was to the last, most evidently and deeply conscious of his sinfulness, and simply trusted only in the Saviour's righteousness, atonement, and mediation, as the sole ground of his hope of eternal life: and, (which I especially marked in him,) he was peculiarly willing to sit down in the lowest place among his brethren, in honour preferring others to himself; and, though "apt to teach," he was ever ready and glad to learn, with childlike teachableness and simplicity.

I doubt not but there were flaws in his character observable by those who were intimate with him; but they did not fall under my notice: and I am persuaded, his most accurate observers saw nothing inconsistent with what has been stated, or with our Lord's commendation of Nathaniel; "Behold an Israelite indeed, in "whom there is no guile." In one particular, how

ever,

I am apt to think he was in some degree faulty; I mean, that in some respects, he carried his disinterestedness to far, and while he was "willing to suffer “all things,” and give up his right " rather than hin"der the gospel of Christ;" he acted so entirely on this principle, that it may be questioned, whether he did not intrench on that duty, which ministers as well as other men owe to their own families. I trust, you will give me credit, that I am no advocate for ministers being tenacious of their utmost due: nor should I have touched on so delicate a subject; but to turn your thoughts to the family of our deceased brother; and to hint to you, that his amiable disinterestedness should stimulate every one to come forward decidedly to propose and support such measures as may prevent their feeling the effects of it, in addition to their present heavy affliction: as also to encourage others, who are labouring in the sacred ministry, and who cannot but sometimes feel anxiety about their families, for whom they can make no provision, except by neglecting their proper work, or throwing a bar in the way of their own usefulness.

It is allowed, that this anxiety arises from weakness of faith: for, that God, who wrought a miracle in the days of Elisha, to rescue the widow and children of his deceased servant, one of the sons of the prophets, from the consequence of his unavoidably leaving his family, not only unprovided for, but in debt, still liveth; and he can provide for his people and their families by ordinary means as readily as by miracle: for, as the earth and its fulness are the Lord's, so all hearts are in his hands, and he, as" our heavenly Father, knoweth