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time, he exclaimed, in the words of a favorite poetical extract:

"Come death, shake hands, I'll kiss thy bands,

"Tis happiness for me to die ; What! dost thou think, that I will

shrink?

I'll go to immortality."

With respect to his character as a man, a Christian, and a minister, it is believed, there is but one opinion; nor will envy itself so far detract from his merits, as to refuse him a high and honorable standing in the list of the excellent of the earth. The character of a faithful servant of God, we have reason to think, is not misapplied to him; when in lamenting his death we unitedly cry, in the words of the prophet, My father, my father. the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof He was indeed a child of Adam, and therefore not free from imperfections.

and desultory manner, on the, you see me gasping, do not, do day but one, and the day imme- not dishonor God." At one diately before his death, and which were faithfully penned at the time, are still more interesting and distinctive of the Christian character. If, said he, I know my own heart, all is right -but I am afraid of self-deceit. Christ has employed me as a laborer for him, but I have been a poor unfaithful one-my good works are of no value-they are nothing, and I deserve nothing for them. If I have been an instrument in God's hands, the praise is his, not mine. It is he that builds the kingdom. If I work in it, besure it is a privilege for which I desire to thank God my Saviour. I do hope in Christ my Saviour, and trust he will not forsake me, when I go down through the dark valley. I shall be dismissed in a few days. I think I can see the other side of Jordan. Then I shall be cleansed from sin-how beautiful it is to be cleansed from sin-Oh, how desirable to be freed from this body of death. I think I have a spirit of prayer. I heartily pray for you my children-I pray for the whole world. I fear to express all my feelings, lest I should appear ostentatious; but many times I have glorious discoveries of the heavenly world. I have got nearer home. I hope soon to see my dear friends in heaven-many of my dear people-my parents-my brother, my sisters; and one whom I wish still more to see. -Making a solemn pause, he was asked, whom?

Christ," he replied. "When

His own

sinfulness however, he appeared deeply to feel and lament; and he professed to found all his hopes of divine acceptance, in mere sovereign mercy, through the atoning blood of the Lamb of God.

As a companion, his society and conversation were engaging, edifying, and instructive. His address was peculiarly pleasing, kind, and conciliatory; manifesting a mind richly stored with

the treasures of divine knowlledge, and a heart warmed with the love of God and his Saviour. In all the various relations of domestic life, as a husband, a parent, a brother, a neighbor,

*The late Rev. Dr. Robbins, of and a friend, he constantly man

Plymouth, Massachusetts.

ifested the most kind and tender

affection, in a conscientious discharge of duty, animated and directed by the principles, precepts, and promises of the holy word of God.

sively known and appreciated to uced public recital. To many, they will long be the themes of admiring and grateful recollection. But, alas!

"How lov'd, how valu'd once, avails him not."

Neither talents, nor learning, nor office, nor piety, nor usefulness afford any security from the

from the all-devouring grave.— "The fathers where are they, and the prophets do they live for ever ?" He has finished his earthly course--finished the min

Jesus, and gone to his everlasting home. His immortal spirit has returned to his God and Judge; escorted, as we humbly trust, by angels to the bosom of Abraham; and welcomed by the voice of redeeming love, to the bright and blessed abodes of them that sleep in Jesus.—While all must unite to lament the removal of this excellent man of God; the trembling friends of

As a preacher of the everlasting gospel, his talents were distinguished-uniting ease and elcgance, with plainness and pungency; and happily adapted to please, to persuade, to convince, to instruct, and to edify his hear-shafts of death; any indemnity ers. He was a scribe well iustructed in the things of the kingdom of God. His tongue was as the pen of a ready writer. He appeared in the fulness of the blessings of the glorious gospel-istry he received of the Lord a son of consolation to the broken hearted penitent, and a Boanerges to the stupid conscience of the impenitent sinner. Al ways attentive to the concerns of his people, and desirous to promote their best interests, his labors have been instant, in season, and out of season. In ministering to the sick and afflicted; in preaching lectures, attending conferences, prayer-meetings, funerals, and all religious occa-Zion, with their eyes raised to sions; in visiting the families of heaven, and their hearts fixed his people, kindly soothing their on covenant mercy, will united. sorrows, and rejoicing with them ly cry, Help, Lord, for the in all their joys; in frequenting godly man ceaseth, for the faiththe schools, and catechising the ful fail from among the children dear lambs of his flock; in in- of men." structing, and guiding, the awakened, the convicted, and the converted sinner; in healing divisions; exercising the discipline of the gospel; assisting his brethren in the ministry; serving in the public counsels of the churches; and laboring for vacant and destitute parishes, how diligent, unwearied, faithful, and useful he has been, in all these various branches of ministerial duties; are subjects too exten

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Christian Edification.

O edify primarily signifies to build; and edification

primarily signifies the progress made in building. Architecture is one of the fine arts, and the structure of a large and elegant building is one of the greatest monuments of human power and skill. It is, therefore, with pe

of an extensive signification; but in the writings of the apostles, it usually signifies the fundamental doctrines of the gospel. The truth means the gospel of truth, or that system of truths which the gospel reveals and inculcates, and which every true believer embraces as far as his knowledge extends. As every Christian church is built upon the great and fundamental truths of the gospel; so the promoting the knowledge of these doctrines directly tends to strengthen the very foundation of a church.

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culiar propriety and beauty that the sacred writers so often speak of the increase and enlargement of the church, under the metaphor of building up Zion, of building up the walls of Jerusalem, and of edifying the body of Christ. The chief things, which constitute the strength, convenience, beauty, and durability of a building, are its foundation, its design, its materials, and its furniture. The strength of a building chiefly depends upon the magnitude and solidity of its foundation. If these are wanting in the foundation, the super-Hence the apostle says to the structure cannot be stable or Ephesians, Now therefore ye magnificent. The convenience are no more strangers and forof a building greatly depends eigners, but fellow-citizens with upon the wisdom displayed in the saints, and of the household planning its various parts. The of God; and are built upon the durability of a building greatly foundation of the apostles and depends upon the quality of the prophets, Jesus Christ himself materials, of which it is formed. being the chief corner stone; in And the beauty of a building whom all the building fitly fragreatly depends upon its extern- med together groweth unto an al decorations and internal fur- holy temple in the Lord in niture. It would be easy to whom ye also are builded togethshow, that in all these respects er for an habitation of God there is a great similarity be- through the Spirit." And the tween a beautiful building and apostle Jude exhorts Christians the church of Christ, which is "to build up themselves in their the living temple of the Lord. most holy faith." Every Chris... But in our present attention to tian church ought to make conthis pleasant and important sub- tinual advances and improveject, it is proposed to show how ments in the knowledge of the the members of a Christian great truths of the gospel. The church ought to promote their gospel is put into their hands, and spiritual edification, and also to other means of instruction, for offer some reasons to enforce this this very purpose, that they may duty. And here I would ob- become more and more perfect in the knowledge of divine truth. They ought to be continually seeking after clearer and more extensive views of the great scheme of redemption and of those distinguishing doctrines, which lie at the foundation of it. They ought to search the

serve,

That they ought to edify one another by maintaining and promoting the knowledge of truth. Upon truth the church of Christ is founded. It could not stand if it were not built upon this foundation. Truth, indeed, is

same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that
ye be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and in the
same judgment." The gospel
contains a perfect rule of faith
and practice. And a perfect
conformity to that rule would
perfectly unite the members of
any church in their sentiments,
affections, and conduct.
hence there is proper ground of
encouragement to Christians to
promote their mutual union.—
They may all contribute to the
attainment of this desirable ob-

And

scriptures, and employ every other proper method, to obtain greater and greater degrees of divine knowledge. They have no reason to rest in any present attainments, but abundant reason to press forward, and make more rapid advances in searching into the deep things of God, which the gospel unfolds. And as each member of the church ought to seek instruction for his own mind, so he ought to be able and disposed to instruct the minds of others. The apostle blames Christians for their negligence in promoting the knowl-ject, by cultivating the spirit, edge of divine truths in themselves and others; and upbraids them for their ignorance, that when they ought to have been able to teach others, they themselves needed to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God. Would all the members of a church properly exert themselves to obtain and diffuse divine knowledge, they might greatly edify one another, and become valiant for the truth.

The members of a church ought to promote their mutual edification, by cultivating union among themselves. The strength of a building greatly consists in having its parts properly connected, united, or cemented together. So union in a Christian church serves to give peculiar strength and stability. It ought, therefore, to be their constant endeavor to cultivate greater union in sentiment and practice. The apostle Paul abundantly inculcated it upon Christians to promote the most entire union. To the Corinthians he says "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the

and performing the duties, which the gospel requires. They would make great progress in their inutual edification, if they would only become united in holuing the same sentiments, speaking the same things, and pursuing the same course of conduct.There is nothing like union in any body of men, to give them wisdom, strength, zeal, courage, and activity, in promoting their mutual interest and happiness, and in bearing down all opposition. While the first Christians were of one heart and one soul, and mutually engaged to promote each other's edification, they struck fear and consternation into every soul, that refused to unite with them. Every member of a church may do something to promote union, and this ought to be his constant aim, by walking by the same rule. The members of a church ought to be united in nothing but the truth; but in that they ought to be perpetually united. And this may be the case, though all have not the same attainments in knowledge and holiness. The strong may strengthen the weak,

and the knowing may enlighten the ignorant. And if the members are mutually united in affection, they will thus mutually edify one another, by being joined together in the same mind, and in the same practice.

which Christians may do to each other, which no particular law of God or man expressly requires. But these acts of kindness have a peculiar tendency to promote peace among the members of a church, as well as among the rest of mankind.Brotherly love, as well as broth

peace among Christian brethren. There may be such acts of kindness, as do not appear to be actз of brotherly love. The act of brotherly love is doing good to the household of faith, because they are the household of faith. Christians should love as brethren, and treat one another with brotherly love; that is, with the love of complacency, and not mere benevolence. When Christians are of one heart and one soul, they love to express their complacency, not only in words, but in actions. Nor does it less tend to promote peace among Christian brethren, to treat one another with faithfulness, by

The members of a church bught to promote their mutual edification by cultivating mutu-erly kindness, tends to promote al peace. The apostle plainly intimates that the cultivation of peace tends to the edification of Christians. "Let us follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." Peace is necessary to the edification of any church, which cannot be promoted without it. If Chris tians would cultivate peace, they must treat one another with justice in all their intercourse and dealings together. This will always prevent any just ground of complaint or uneasiness. This is doing to others, as they would wish others to do to them. And surely Christians ought to observe the immu-watching over, and rebuking one table rule of justice towards another for deviations from the each other, and towards all men. path of duty. The neglect of And should they do this, they this, the scripture calls hatred; would so far follow the things and therefore the doing of this that make for peace. There is is an act of love. And all exanother thing, which will have pressions of true love tend to the same happy tendency; and peace. While the members of that is to treat one another with a church thus cultivate peace kindness. The law of kindness among themselves, they take is not so definite, as the law one of the best methods to proof justice. But a benevolent mote their mutual edification. heart will seldom mistake the Peace prepares them to open true import of this law. It is their hearts to each other, and the dictate of Christian benevo- to take pleasure in all the public lence to do all the acts of kind- and private and secret acts of ness, which we have either abil- devotion, by which they enlightity or opportunity to do. A be-en each other's minds, strengthnevolent heart will devise bene- en each other's hands, and encouvolent actions. And there are rage each other's hearts, in the a thousand benevolent actions, cause of religion. Again, Vol. VI. No. 12. Kkk

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