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It was written immediately after Dr Ogilvie's Death, and preached in two of " the Churches of New-Tork the Sunday after he vyas buried. It now appears nearly in its original Form, as it was delivered from the ^uipit, having undergone only a few verbal Alterations, Whilft tranfcribing it for the I^rels, I flung in a few Notes— fuch as then occurred to me, and I thought might eluci- date the Text. I ihall make^o Apology for printing it, as one principal Motive was to eftify my Efteem for Dr. OciLviE-rather than forego the Opportunity of doing fo, I would even run the Rifn uc of Cenfure for any little Inaccuracies which might be naturally expected in a hafty Gompofition, written when the Mind laboured under the Pre/Ture of Grief, and the Heart was penetrated with the Lofsofa worthy Friend. No Difficulties * or Difcouragements, (hall ever deter me from dilcharging the Duties of Friendf ' •t* me %^X) 5^ »l r— X [ iv ] me remifs in complying with its Calls.- May the Truths here delivered be attended with the defired Eifedt to each Reader ; and may the Virtues of this excellent Clergyman* a few only of which are here delineated, be an Incentive to others to tread in his Steps and imitate his Example. New-York, Decemb. lo, 1774. ERRATA. Page 6, Lines 26, 17, »8— for— and this partly with Defign to counteraft the infidious Endeavours of fome falfe Teachers, who endeavoured to ali«nate,— -read— and this partly to counteraft the infidious Defign of fome falfe Teachers, who endeavoured to alienate— Page h, Line 26, for flumbering, read flumbering. a .4^ "^ II Corinth, v. 6. Therefore we are always confident ; knowing that whilji we are at Home in the Body, we are abfentfrom the Lord, 3 « I e N the Worlci^ ye fhall have Tribula- tion"— was oneofthelaft Declarations of our blefled Saviour to his Apoftles, He forefaw the Trials that awaited them — that neither the Innocence of Life which diftinguifhed them, nor the Purity and faiutary Tendency of the Dodlrines they taught, could defend them from Obloquy and Perfecution. Of this he warned them, that they might be pre- pared for thofe afflifting Events. He aflured them that the World would " hate and perfecute them — " yea, the Time would come that whofoever killed " them would think he did God Service." Th.se Predicflions were all literally verified. The Apoftles and other primitive Chriftians fuffered whatever could be inflided by unbounded iVIalics and Virulence. They were loaded with opprobri- ous Calumnies i the fanguinary Decrees of the abandoned Jews and idolatrous Heathens were executed againil them with the mort favage and unrelenting Cruelty, as the A£i5 of the Apoftles and other ecclefiaftical Records amply teftify. To be a Chriftian was then the fame as to be an Objeft B of f 6 ] of implacable Hatred; accordingly, thofc who embraced the Religioa of Jefus, p^e^pared to take up the Crois--to rcfign all earthly Profpeas and Enjoyments--even Lite itfcU; for the Teftimony of their divine Mailer. ciuiuony , Under thefe oppreHive Circiimftances, Chriftia- nity mu Ihave been totally overwhelmed, had not the Hand of Gou been ftretched out to fupport it ; not only by the Miracles which he enabled the Apoftles and other Believers to work daily, but alfo by the extraordinary Effufions of his Spirit whkh were poured otit on the meek Followers of the Z- Ueemer. During three tedious Centuries it ftruegled agaiiift aU the Uppofition it could receive from the with thofeof Darknels, and combined tocrulh it Agamft thele.t only oppofed the Patience, Suffer- ings, and unblem.fhed tondudl of its Profeffors • Nor can any Thing be a more irrefragable Proof tf^DimZ- """'r'^ ■^'^^" J^^^ ^^ iurmounted thole Diificulties-rofe triumphant over them, till m the Beginning of the fourth Century, itatoded the imperial Throne of Rome f. '^'-cnaea rh^l'l^"^^' '" thisEpiftle pathetically reprefents the Sufferings to which Chriftians were expofed partly with Defign to counteraft the infidious En- deavours of fome falie Teachers, who endeavot^ed to alienate the Corinthians from him, and the tT,llZ r""' 4'^ ^^^^^ "^^^^ '^^^'^ Sufferings ^^Zl^^?^' ^' ^'■^ ^'•""bkd on every Sidl %s he, but not dUbeffed , we are perplxed, " but t CONSTANTINS the Great began to re.Vn Am. Dorr., -.v- tc (« t( iC [ 7 ] " but not in Defpair ; perfeciitcd, but not forfa- ** ken ; caft down, but not deftroyed ; always *' bearing about in the Body the dying of the Lord " Jefus, that the Life alfo of Jclus might be made " manitcft in our Body|." He then proceeds to lay before the Corinthians the great Advantages arifing from Afflidions, to anmiatc them m their Chriftian Courfe, and re- concile them to thofe Prcfilires. " We faint not, " fays he i but tho' our outward Man peri(h, yet the inward Man is renewed Day by Day. For our light Affliaion, which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory.*" The greateft SufFerings here will foon have an Lnd. Compared to Ltemity, their Duration is but as a Moment. A State of endlefs Glorv fuc- ceeds, which will mcif than compenfate for them. This bright Profped beyond the Precinds of Mortality outweighs all the Chriftian's Trials, however fevere. A Ray of chearing Light and Hope is hence darted on him, which difpels his Gloom, railes him from Defpondency, and invi- gorates his Relolntion. With this Refledion he may fit down, not only refigned, but even joyful under the keeneft Afflidions. In the Chapter from which my Text is taken, the Apoftle piiifues the fame Point, tho* placed in a different View. He tells the Corinthians, chat luppofing even the worfl:— fuppofe his Perfecutors were carried fo far by their malignant Rage as to put the Chriftian ro Death i he would only change an i il Coiinth. iv. »— lo. V. IS, 17. Ill t 8 ] an earthly for an heavenly Habitation. « For wc ** know that if our earthly Hoiife of this Taber " naclc were (iiflblvcd, wc have a Building of God *^' an Houlcnot made with Hands, eternal in the ,^ Heavens, lor in this we groan earneftly, de- linng to be cloathed vpdn with our Houfe which IS from Heavenf." Our Saviour informed his Apoftles, that in his leathers Houle were many Manfions to receive them, and all his Followers* ; St. Paul had told the Corinthians in a former Fpiille that the Souls of the Faithful would finally be clorhed with fpiritual and immortal Bodies || : To both thefe he feems to allude m thde Words, and thence deduces an Argument of Conlolation. Our Bodies are frail and continually verging to decay-they are tranfient! like occafional, temporary Tabernacles, not per- manent Abodes. Chrirtians are burdened, whilft in them, with various Calamities ; they groan under this opprtfTive Weight, earneftly defiring and fiah- ing tor thole everlading Habitations prepared for them in Heaven, where all their Fvils will be u'^Tnu l^'''^'''' Death need not be dreaded Dy the Chriftian, fince it would only dilTolve this th'-^e^nd' "I;.;'! ,'■ iT*""', V°''"' Of^rcurityin the Conneaion"o^f h^^^- mst nn I. "•^^''"'- '^?"' ^•^'"-' Corf mentators i, ag ne fed I; P,A T ' .fP^P^^' «''^"^ for Olory ; and it is luppo- r,r f V"'/"^''^'^;::"^".. 'f 't were poir.hle, and the W.ll of S deWiandUin at- ^' i '^«^'*'^'/-- ^»d not found naked, fome un- further ,n,.v confult\{;, w "'"'V" '"'"^'"^ ^'^^ ^^^^ Whithv n ,^^"'"" ^^'LL. Wall's Critical Notes, Locke WHITBY a d Doddridge, on the Place. -^ocke, Jolin xjv. ». u r r-.- .. [ 9 ] fleeting Tabernacle, and place him in his heavenly, unchanging Abode. on To imprtTs thcfe important Truths more deeply the Minds of the Corinthians, the Apollle tells them, that God liimTclt was the Author of this whole CEconomy. From Motives of Love he had wifely fubjecled them to Trials, the more effedually to fecure their Salvation. By his Grace, operatino- in their Hearts, he raifed them to thofe ful^ime Views, and Defires after Immortality. 1 lis Spirit had wrought this Temper in them, and was a Pledge and Earnefl: of their future Glory. Nothin«< can be more conducive to fortify a Ciirillian againft Affliiftions, Sufferings and Death, than what is urged to this Purpofe,at V. 5. ** Now he that hath *' wrought," or prepared and framed, " us for *' the lelf lame Thing, is God, who hath alfo " given u'^ro us the Karneft of the Spirit." The Confequence of tliefe Particulars, and the Iiffeds produced by thejn in the Apoftle and other fincere Chriftians, we have in my Texr, which immediately follows—" Therefore we are " always confident ; knowing that whilil we are " at Home in the Body, we are abfent from the IVe cire always c.,:fiJent—t\\?,t is, undifmayed at SuiTenngs or Death, and undaunted in the Dilchargeot each Chnftian Duty. KNOiriNG that wbilj} zve are at Home in the Body--ihu is, whilO; we Ibjourn in the ijjv.iv • lor the Apoftle refers to what "he had laid bcto:v,\-.nd wants to iliew that the Body is not our proper llauic 11 [ lO ] Hoiife, but only a tcmpora-y Tent or Tabernacle — whilft in it, we are Pilgrims and Sojourners. IVE are ahfent from the Lord—viQ are detained from his blefled Prclcnce, and i-'rom the Happineis refulting from it and ine Enjoymeni of him. We may Oppofii perceive an evident Uppolition ^ made between our Continuance in the Body, and the Enjoyment of God. Wh-'It prefent with the one, we are abfent from the other. This Confi- deraiion was dill more animating than thole before mentioned. I'he former indeed might reconcile Chriftians to Trials, and fupport them under the Approaches of Dcfaeh •, but this Refledion-- that our Sray in the Body, detains us from the Prefence of the Lord— that when we leave it, we go imme- diately to God— this Refledion, I fay, makes Death even defirable. Accordingly, St. Paul in the next Verfe but one declares, that in his own Choice he prefered a Departure from the Body that he might be with God. " We are confident, I lay, and willing " rather to be abfent from the Body, and to be " prefent with the Lord." t( It was neceflary to elucidate the Context in this Manner that we might fully know the Scope of the Apoftle's Argumt-nt, and the Force of his Reafoning. Thus explained, my Text affords an ample Field for Meditation— abundant Matter for the moil ufeful Refleftions. Permit me to felea: a tew for your Confideration. MRS1\ From this PalTage we learn a moft important Truth— a Truth which too many arc apt to forget— that this Earth in not our Home. We [ " ] We are only Sojourners and Pilgrims here Travellers to that Place where God has prepared everlalling Habitations for thofe who love him. Tho' every Page in the Book of God— tho* Reafon and daily Experience inculcate this Leflbn, trumpeting it aloud in our Ears i yet how many are deaf to the Admonition ! How many who will not liften or regard it ! See the Children of this World in the different Walks of human Life— immerled in Pleafure plunged in Bufinefs- -goaded on by Ambition, or fome orher relllefs Paffion : How diftant from their Thoughts is the fleeting State of Man's Exillence here ! That his Life is a Vapour, which foon va- nillieth away ! That here he hath no continuing City •, and that he fhould therefore feek for one to come ! These Refleaions find no Admittance in their Bofoms. They are placed here in a State of Trial —their Happinefs for ever depends on the Im- provement they make of this fhort Span of Life ---every Step they take Ihortens their Diflance from the Grave— Numbers around them are daily crouding into it, and many of thefe fnatched off by fudden unexpected Deaths : Yet they are fecure and flumbering ! They are hanging on the Verge of an awful Eternity, yet no vigorous Effort is made to prepare for it ! They feem to think this Earth the only Stage of Exiftence ; and they ad: as if they were to remain on it for ever ! Not fo the pious, prudent Chriftian. He knows that Man who is born of a Woman, is of few Days V 12 ] Days and full of Trouble— that he cometh up as a Mower, and is cut down --that he fleeth as a Shadow, and continueth not Senfible of the Shorcnefs and Uncertainty of Life, that his Time is fhort, and his Work great ; the confcientious Chriflian carefully improves his Time, and prepares for Eternity. To be at Peace with God, thro' the Redeemer— to regulate each Part of his C ^nduft by the Will of Heaven- to be purged fr^om Sin, and findificd by the Influences of the He. Spirit —to have the divine Image planted in his Bo. m, the Lite of God Ipnnging up, and growing to Maturity within him : Is his fupream Ambition and Defire— his daily, earneft Endeavour. He is therefore confident and undaunted in doing his Duty •, knowing that his Continuance here is un- certain, and that whilft he fojourns in the Body, he is ablcnt from the Lord. SECONDLY. This Text affords the trueft Confolation under the various Preiiures and Cala- mities we meet with here. If we caft our Eyes along the rude, tempeftuous Coaft of this World, we fee a gh.iltly Wreck of human Happinefs. No Age or'Scx, no State or Station, is exempt fnjm a Share in the ceneial Ruin. Not to mention the imagmary Evils with which poor Mortals fwell the Catalogue of their Sorrows, many are the real Woes which itr bitter Life i and every Heart poflcffed ot Benevolence and Senfibility, whilft it partakes of the common Lot of Humanity, muft feel tenderly for the Mi- fcrics of otiiers. How t "3 . How often are the mod liattering Profpefts deftroyed by fome difaftroiis Accident ; like early Blonbms and the blooming Growth of Spring by fome malignant Blaft ! See the wide-fprrad Rava- ges of Death, Dii'eafe and Poverty, around this habitable Globe— the various Shapes in which Afflidlion aflaults the Children of Men ! Does Charity weep over the melancholy Scene ? —The / noftle in the PafTages we have been con- fiderir^/nv^pes off her Tears, and minifters Com- fort V() all who fufferj efpecially to the faithful Servant of God. His Afflidtion which is but for a Moment, will work out for him a far more ex- ceeding and eternal Weight of Glory. He knows that if his earthly Houfe of this Tabernacle were diflbived, he has a Building of God, an Houfe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. He knows that whih'l he is detained in the Body, he is abfentfrom the Lord ; but that the Moment of Diflblution brings him to the Bofom of his God. He is therefore chearful and undifmayed under Sufferings, fenfible of the happy Effetls reiulting from them, when fancl:ified. As Silver is tried and purified in the Fire, fo is he in the Furnace of Affliftion, and fnines with brighter Luftre. For Trials are falutarv Means, Ihro* divine Grace, of preparinp; us for Glory— of ^tting us for our heavenly Habitarion, when we put off thefc frail Tabernacles : They flow from infinite Love, from un-erring Wifdom, and are deficrned for our trueft Good, ° THIRDLY. This Text furniflies a fovereign Remedy againff the Fears of Deatli ; and indeed this feems to luvc been the principal Obied: which t!ie Apoftle JKid in View. C Death 11 '.\ [ 14 ]: Death is the Separation of Soul and Body from each other ; when the one returns to Duft, and the other launches into Eternity, and returns to God who gave it. The Terror of Death arifes chiefly from ics Contcquences -, and hence Sin is faid to *' be the Sting ot Death*," becaufe Death configns the impenitent Sinner to everlafting Mifery. BtJT to the fincere Chriftian, Death is difarmed of his Sting and of his Terrors. The grim Tyrant may either make his flow, deliberate Approaches, and rack the Body with Anguifli, or fuddenly lay this earthly Tabernacle in Ruins •, yet the Chriftian has a Building of God, an Houfe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. To this Death admits him— conveys him from a State of Imper- feftion and Trial, to a State of Glory, where he Ihall be prefent with the Lord : So that he may ufe St. Paul's triumphant Exclamation — " O Death, where is thy Sting ? O Grave, where is thy Viftory ?— Thanks be to God who giveth us the Vidory thro' our Lord Jefus Chriltf ." TmeAefore, aitho^ Death tnay be the King of Terrors to the Vicious and Impenitent j yet, ac- cording to this reviving Truth, he is a Meflenger of Peace to the pious Chriftian —a kind Deliverer from the Bondage of Corruption into the glori- ous Liberty of the Children of Godf /* ti lds a pirafing Inccrcourie with God— is fanclified by his Spirit, and it walks by Faith : The Grace of our Lord Jcfus Chrilt, the Love of God, and Fellowfliip of the Holy Ghoft, are its Portion. But according to this Scheme, the Soul would be fo far from enjoying ev^'n this Intercourfe and Fcl- lowrtiip with the Almighty, that it would be as infenfible, as far from any Enjoyment of him, as the trodden Clay ! Ov this Principle, how poor and cold an Ar- gument of Conlolation had it been to the Corin- thians to tell them, after all their Suffering: for Jelus, whom they loved, and earneftly wilhed to enjoy— That at Death their Souls would be in a State of Sleep and Torpor, infenfible of him as their Bodies vvhilft mouldering into Duft, and as deftitute of his Prefence ! Evidently this is alto- gether contrary to St. Paul's Defign and Meaning, which was to affure the Corinthians that after Death, not only their Sufferings would be ended, but that they would adually be bieft with the Pre- fence and Enjoyment of God, in a fenfible State of Life and Aftivity. And fuppofing it true that the Soul flceps after Death, the Apoftle's Afler- tion would not only be delufivc and falfe, but his Argument would be as confolatory to the moft abandoned and profligate Sinner, as to the de- voutcft Chriftian ; for according to this Do6trine, both would be equally infenfible and free from Suffering. This is not the only Place where this Point is touch.L'd on in the New l^ellament ; there arc levcral others in which tiie Notion of the Soul's iiiicnnbiiity )* : t [ >7 ] Inlenfibility after Death is refuted. St. Paul tells the Phiiifjpi.ins - " I am in a Strait betwixt two, *' having a Defire to depart, and to be witli Chrilt •, " which i;, f.ir better. Ncverthclefs to abide in " the Ficfli is more needful for you*". '■To be with Cbrijiy mult ncceflariiy inean a fenfible State of Happinefs in his Prtfence. The Words— -/^r better— -1XQ very emphatical in the Original ; they fignify"-^f//*'r beyond all Expreffion ; for the Apolllc here, as ellc\vhtre frequently, iVcms to labour for Expreflions tuily to convey the Greatnefs of his Ideas, and Intenfenefs of his AlrTedlions. But how could any of tliis be true, if St. Paul after Death funk, into a State c f Sleep and Inlenfibility ? He would, in that Cafe, bf no more with Chrift, than if he had totally ceafed to exlft : Nor would it be far better for him to depatc \ becaufe during Life, he had the Confolations of our Saviour's Spirit to chear and fupport him, and was always rejoicing in a CflRfcioulneis of his Smiles and Favour. Our blelftd Lord himfelf frequently throws Light on this Subjedl. Thus when he quotes the Words fpoken by the Almighty to Mofes— " I " am the God of Abraham, Ifaac and Jacobf,"— he infers, " He is not a God of the Dead,- but of *' the living ; for all live unto him §." This is a diredt Aflertion that the Souls of thefe Patriarchs were not afleep or infenfible, when thefe Words were fpoken out of the burning Bufli, but alive, ^nd enjoying Happinefs in the Prefence of God;]:. Our . 2;, :4. f Exod. iii. 6 § Luke xx. 38. (iitii in tfie Ye.ir of the Julian Peiiod, 2893. God X Abiaiiniii fpoke to Moifs \:\ t!;e Dclt-it nenr Hoieb in the Year 3323 of the fame Period ; lb that 430 Years had elapfed from the Death of Abraham till the i imt- wlieii this Declaration was made, which according to our Saviours Interpretation, pronounced Abraham to be then exiftmg and m.wzxc, viuu. ot-c Aichbiiiiop UsHfcK'b Annals m isw above ic<«i» of the Julian Period. !l I S .:. , \il 1 1 [ /S ] Our Saviour is here reafoning witli the Sadducees, who dcniec the Refurredlion on this Principle, which was ihe chief Foundation ot their Error— That the Soul was annihilated and ceafed to exift at Death. Our Lord entirely refuted their falfe Principle from this Inftance -, and in fuch a Manner as wholly overturns the Soul-fleeping Scheme alfo. When our Saviour tells the penitent Thief on the Crofs — " To Day fhalt thou be with me in *' Paradife*" — it manifeftly fnews that the Soul of this Perfon after Death would not be afleep and infenfible, but alive, and in a State of Happinefs. I pafs over, to avoid Prolixity, the Parable oi the rich Man and Lazarus, with feveral other Places of the New Tcilament, which evince the fame Matter. A State of Sleep or Infenfibility is, in Truth, utterly iiconfiftent with the cleared Ideas that we have of the human Soul ; for being an immaterial Subftance, on that very Account, Confcioufnefs, Life and Perception are efTential to its Nature. It is created with an innate Power of Motion or Adivity, which its Separation from the Body can- not polTibly deprive it of; Nor can any Thing be more abfurd in itfelf, or contrary to the Principles of found Philolbphy, than to fuppofe, that the Activity of a fpiritual, immaterial jubilance, fuch as the Soul is, (hould depend on its Union with inert Matter, fuch as our Bodies are||. Scripture * Luke xxiii. 4.:5. y He that would fee this Semi-pagan Notion of the Soul's Sleep or Infenfibiiity after Death refuted at la7ge on Principles of found Philo- lophyand ju(t Realonin^, may confult an excellent Treatile, entitled ^17! i^aqutry miu .'/■c i\uiii>c vj ihc human Soui \ particuiariv Vol. 1. SeaionlV. '^ ' [ >9 ] Scripture indeed by a well known Metaphor, frequently exprtfles Death by Sleep j but this every where refef-s to the Body, and not to the Soul. Thus when St. Paul fays—** David after ** he had ferved his Generation by the Will of *' God, fell on Sleep, and was laid unto his Fa- '* theis, and faw Corruptionf---" and Daniel when he tell us--*' Many who fleep in the Duft of the ** Earf.h fliall awake, fome to everlafting Life, *' and fome to Shame and everlafting Contempt||"— : In thefe Inftances, 1 fay, the Expreflions feeing Corruption^ and Jleepin^ in the Duji 0} the Earthy plainly determine the Scnfe of the infpired Authors — they cannot pofllbly be true of the Soul, but of the Body only. In the fame Senfe are to be underftood fimilar Expreffions in the Pfalms and Book of Job, which are ufually alledged to countenance the Sleep of the Soul — fuch as thefe—*' Man lieth down, and *' rifeth not till the Heavens be no more •, they " (hall not awake, nor be raifed out of their *' fleepj"---*' in Death there is no Remembrance *' of thee •, in the Grave, who fhall give thee " Thanks § ? — The Dead praife not the Lord, " neither any that go down into Silence<[." It is well known that the Pfalms and Book of Job are written in a Poetical Style, the Genius of which, efpecially of the oriental, is highly figura- tive •, and to expeft philofophical Precifion in fucli Compofitions, is contrary to Reafon and every Rule of fober Interpretation. This is not faid, however, to evade the Force of any Thing con- tained Afls xiii. ifi, § Pfalm vi. 5, II Danie! xi t Job xiv. II. ^ PiUlm txv. i; 1. "fl i i i H r 2U J taincd in tli^ft- Pafr.i^ ^ave it!." The Words are Solomon's, and inform us how the two com- ponent l»4i-ts of Man arc dilj^ofcd of when fepa- ralti^l from each other. liie Body returns to Duft, acc()rding to tp.e ongir.al Srntencc pronounced on it attcr the Fall ; but tiic Soul returns to God, to be juvigod by him according to what it hath done in the Body, whether G^od^ or Kvil, and have its Portion accordinalv ei-her of Happincfsor Milery. This IS the plain iVleaning of the Words ; and in thi"-- Scnie both Jewi;h and Chriltian Interpreters unanitnoudy agrcc^. But to proceed-— I.ASTLY. + TccI f'S. Xli. • Tluis the r.;.-;.-, or T'-j/./.y P.tt^^V.,/? explains this Verfc. I hr to. .nvm? ■> a Irer^l Trarllition of n-Av.irby FLnb ii.^b ivat . / /,-; :i.^c«^,,;/, /f,v. r«rfxw on Eerie*, x.i. -. .r. B.ihou >V M rov » .-.-.re.;.'; S;>^.. Th« Sr-.timtr.t. of the ianer J«rs are co!.c>^><,{ ;n WinJet, Dt air.i/«.^^- i:s:-j. Se^. vi , ix. Thev ^xr.-.ofvl rvu ShjIs 4t:.: Dc.th mr: iai:recMtf;v into a S»:e cf Hao- , ir,iii ci Aiuct-v i iv. u-.e tea V •: in« biv^auciti wis ainjcit cxanpiiibed at [ 21 ] LASTLY. This Text is moft confolatory to thofc who have loft pious Friends, and of whofe Salvation they have a well-grounded Hope. For furely we fhould not lament thole that are happy—- who are freed from the Mil'eries of this World, and e tered into Glory. If their Peace was made with God, if they were fit for his Prefenre, how much better is it for them to go into that bleffed Prefence, than to remain in this Scene of Sorrow— this Vale of Tears .'' Their Conflidls and Trials are now over--- their Griefs and Pains arc ended ---all Tears are wiped from iheir Eyes— Sin or Temptation will no more aflault them, nor will they any more offend their God. They look back with Tranfport to the troubled Ocean from which they have efc. jed ; delivered from all its Storms and Tempefts, and fafely arrived in the Haven of everlafting Reft. They live with God, with the holy Lamb who redeemed them by his Blood. They fee him Face to Face, without any intervening Cloud. They bafk in his Smiles, and drink in Life, Joy and Immortality at the original Fountain ! D I AM at the Deftruftion of Jerufalem. We hear little of them after that Period. The modern Jews utterly rtnouncc their Errors. That the Jews, antecedently to Solomon, were Strangers to the Doihine of the Soul's Sleep or Lifenfibility after Death, is evident from many Incidents in their Hiltory, and Paflages in tiieir Scriptures. I Ihall mention one Particular only to this Purpofe, which was their confulting the dead on different Emergencies, particularly to learn future Events, and is what we call Necromancy. This moft deteftable and impious Practice is prohibited under the fcvereft Penalties by the Law of Mofes. Levit. xix. 26. XX. 27. Deuter. xviii. 10, 11. Yet we find that Saul in his Extremity, and when delerted by God, h?d Recourfc to it, and con- fulted Samuel, i Sam. xxviii.---Can we fuppofe the Jews would at- tempt to confult the dead, if they thought they were infenfib'e and lifelefs ? Does not this infamous Pra6\ice clearly evince that the Jews believed departed Souls were not only alive and lenfible, but that they were endued with fupcrior Knowledge, even with that of future Event* ? For why elfe would they confult them ? "i4 ,»1 [ " ] 1 AM fully fenfible there is no Anguifh more poignant than what arifcs trom the Lois of a dear and pious Relative. The tender Love wc bear to Jiich is the Caufe of our Grief; but if we reflcft as wc ought, that very Love (hould in fome Mea- fure reconcile us to the Lofs, fincc our Friends arc infinite Gainers. Wc lament ourfelves, and not them. For r rtainly it is far better for them to depart, and be with Chrift in Happinefs and Glory, than to continue in this State of Suffering and Trial. Wherefore, you that have loft a pi- ous Relative, comfort yourfclf with this falutary Truth-- -that your Friend, the Objed of your Affeftion and Grief, is now prefent with the Lord. Let this afluage your Anguifh— let it be as Balm to your wounded Spirit ; and grieve not that a Saint is added to Heaven, tho' torn from your Bofom. This Subjed, and thefe Refledions were fug- gefted to me by the Death of a late worthy and excellent Perfon, well known to each of you by his Labours of Piety and Benevolence — I mean the Reverend Dr. Ogilvie, whofe Death is an Affliftion to you, and a general Lois to the Church ot God. Nine Years have I lived with him in perfed Harmony and Friendfhip. Much was he endeared to me by his many amiaMe Qualities •, by a Union of Affedlions and Principles, and by our joint Endeavours in the Miniflry of the Gofpel, in that clofe Conneflion, which, from our refpective Sta- tions, necefTarily fubfifled between usf. 1 o men- tion t Gregory Thaumaturgus has a fine Sentiment in his Panegyric Oration to Origen. He is mentioning the Friendftiip of Davui and Jonathan, wliich he compres to his own with Origen i and .nfetting forth the Ardour o<^"it on his Part, ne declares it cannot be extinguiOied, [ n ] tion him therefore in this Place, which now, alis ! mult know him no more, is not only a Debt of Friendfhip which I owe to his Memoiy, and is cxpedcJ from me ; but it may alfo be of Service to you to lay fome Parts of his Charadler before you, and remind you of your Duty in Confequence of having enjoyed the Benefit of his Miniftry fo many Years. He was born in this City : and many of you know, that he remembered his Creator in the Days of his Youth. Even at that Period, he had deep ImprclTions of Religion, and drove to turn others to Righteoufnefs ; which alfo feemed to be the principal Objedt of his whole Life afterwards. He devoted himfelf early ro the Service of the Altar ; and his firft Station after he entered into Holy Orders was fuch as fuited his glowing Zeal to promote the Honour of God, and the Salvation of Souls*. I may fay that he was placed on the fartheft Limit of the MefTiah's Kingdom ; for all beyond it was one dark and difmal Gloomt, unen- lightened by any Ray from the Sun of Righte- oulnefs. Here he faithfully laboured, and with Succefs, to add the Heathen to his Matter's In- heritance, and the uttermoft Parts of the Earth to his Pofleflion. Those extinguiflied, but will fubfift after this Life is ended. " This David," fays he, meaning; Origen, " hath bound up my Soul in fuch necef- " fary Fetters of Love, hath fo tied nie to him, that if I would even " try fo difengage myii^lf, I could not etfeft it. No— altho' we depart " out of this World, our AfFeilion, which is founded on the divine " Principles of ScHpture, c.nnot die---it mult remain for ever." Gkec. Thaum. Ornt. Pane^. in Orio. «/>«;/ Orig. 0pp. Vol. iv. inter Opera aJ Okig. fpe^.'a/iiia. p. 6s- Edit. De La Rue. 1759. * He was appointed MilTionary to Albany and t!ie MihanvklnAizm ;,. 4!,~ \%--- ' ' -^ ■- ■• " -^ Jerehn Parts. •/ 3<-» "■•'"•L'. / l/>'Mrt«»»U 'C w 'Jfii iU f w I [ 24 ] Those Qualifications, which enable a Perfon to Ihine antl be uleful in the facred Miniftry, were poflefled by hin. in an eminent Degree. His Perfon was tall and graceful — his Afpeci fweet and com- manding---liis Voice excellent— his Elocution eafy and pleafing— his Imagination lively— his Memory retentive, and his Judgment folid. His Temper was even, unclouded, and fuch as fcarcely any Accident could ruffle. His Heart was humane, tender and benevolent— burning with Zeal for the Good of others. Piety to God is the Source of every other Virtue, and His was lively and adtive. It was a facred Flame, kindled from above, which ever glowed with a pure, regular, and unabating Warmth. It was fervent, tho' not violent— gentle, tho' not languid. He deeply felt the Power of Religion ; and this prompted him conftantly to hold up the Lamp of heavenly Truth to others, that they might rejoice in its Light, and experience the fpme (iikuary Effects from its Influence which he himfelf had experienced. With what unwearied Afliduity he attended the Dudes of his Fundion, you all know. To the Difcharge of thole, he devoted his whole Time. Like the firft Heralds of the blefled Gofpcl— Daily in the Temple of God, and in every Houfe he ceafed not to teach and preach Jefus Chriftf . Indeed I may apply to him what St. P-.ul fays of himfelf to the '1 heifalonians— " Ye are Witneffes, *' and God alfo, how holily and juftly, and un- " blameably he behaved himfelf among you : As " you know how he exhorted, and comforted, and " charged every one of you, as a Father doth his •'- Children, that yc might walk worthy of God^ *' who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory^." The ^Acliv.^i. ^IThefs. ■■ II. 10-— II. [ 25 ] The Number of thofe who reforted to him for Advice, was very great •, and few were capable of giving better on every Occafion. He knew how to comfort the Afflided, to confirm the Wavering, to inftruft the Ignorant, to chear the Defpondmg, to ftrengthen the Weak, and check the Self-opini- onated and Forward. The perplexing Occurrences of human Life are frequent. Many of them are fuch, that the Mind, even after Deliberation and weighing Circumftances, is at a Lofs to determine which Procedure is beft. In fuch Cafes, where a judicious Friend is moft neceflary, he had a Pene- tration that was quick in difcerning on what Side the greateft Evidence laid ; and in this Refpeft he has been of fingular Service to many. In him the poor and needy always found a generous Benefaflor. He had that fympathetic Tendernefs for the DiftrefTes of others, which the Religion of Jefus inculcates. Often has he cheared the gloomy Retreats of Want, by relieving the Indigent •, and caufed the Orphan's and the Wi- dow's Heart to fing with Joy. How diligent was he in feeking the Children of Affli«5tion I In difpelling the Horrors of a Sick-Bed, where perhaps the pale Vidim of Difeafe groaned under the complicated Pains of Mind and Body, and languiflied alfo under the Miferies of Indigence 1 Clergymen often find it neceflary to relieve the bodily as well as fpiritual Wants of the Sick j and on thole Occafions both were liberally fupplied by our worthy, departed Friend. Frequently has he furnilhed the Sick with Suftenance, and then revi- ved his drooping Heart with divine Tmth. Thro' his pious Aid and Inilrudion, a Gleam of Joy has lighted k .■ I ■ • ! ! h' I i » i-i > ■ I [ 46 i lighted up the Countenance of the relenting Pe- nitent. Nay, the Soul that was juft taking its Flight into Eternity, has been, thro* his miniftring and affeftionate Care, railed from Defpondency, and infpircd with Vigour and heavenly Hope. The Time would fail me to trace this excellent Man thro* the various Scenes of Life, and tiiC different Characters he fuiiuned with lb muc'^ Dignity and Luftre. His Condudt and Mann; s were regulated by the calm Diclares of Benevolence, Piety and Prudence ; and were fo happily tempered, that even thofe who were no warm Friends to Religion, revered him. The Confequence was fuch as might naturally be expeftcd— few Clergy- men have been fo extenfively ufeful— few fo much beloved and efteemed, as Dr. Ogilvie. The concluding Scene of his Life was fuitable to the former Part of it — fuch, in my Eftimation, as would be defirable to every faithful Minifter of Jefus Chrift ; for he was about his Mailer's Bufi- nefs, when the awful Meflcnger cjune to fummon him into Eternity. In the Houfe of God, after devoutly addrelfing his heavenly Father in the excellent Evening Service of our Church, he took his Text, to proclaim from thence the glad Tidings of Salvation and redeeming Love — to difplay the Faithfulncfs, Juftice and Mercy of the Supream— the ftedfaft Reliance of the humble, believing Soul upon Him— (for all this is implied in the Text^ he chofe — :) After this, I fay, and whilft the un- finifhed Sentence yet hung upon his Tongue— his Mafter called him ! Called iiim to leave this Scene m His Text wns from Pf-dm xcii. j ^---To /heiL' that the Lord h upright, be is my Reck, an.l there is no Unrighleoufnefs in him. [ *7 ] Scene of Sorrow and of Trou* 'e, to be prcfcnc with himfelf*. To mark the Difpenfations of Providence with a careful Eye — to apply and improve them fo that we may advance in the Chriftian Life ; is our in- difpenfible Duty. Whilft therefore we contemplate this dark Dilpenfation with reverential Awe and Submifllon— whilft our Hearts bleed under this afRifting Lofs — for you have loft in him a faithful Guide and Inftruftor— I have loft a fincere Friend : Let us endeavour to draw ibme Thing beneficial from it. We have here an awakening Inftance of our Mortality — of the Uncertainty of human Life. In the Midft of Life, we are in Death— expofed each Moment to his Affault, and liable to be torn from every Thing here. Should not this roufe us from Security and Slumber .? Should it not put us on enquiring how we are prepared for luch a Change, * On Friday, Nov. i8, he went to Church in fecmingly good Health, to Le6hire in the Afternoon, which was his conttant Pradice on Fridays. He read Prayers as iifual, and baptifed a Child ; he gave out his Text, but before he could proceed further with his Leaure than to repeat a Sentence or two, he lunk in the Reading Defk, and was deprived of Speech, by a Stroke of an Apoplexy. Under the Ef- fefts of this fatal Diforder he languiftied for fome Days ; tbo' he recovered fufficiently to fettle his temporal Affairs— thofe of afpiritual and more important Nature he had provided for by a well-ipent Life- During this Interval, a great Part of which was fpent in Prayer and devout Ejaculations, he /hewed the moft refigned Patience and Submifllon to the Will of Heaven— fuch indeed as could flow only from leal, unaffeiled Piety, and the firmed Reliance on the adorable Mediator. Altho' the Symptoms of his Dilbrder were fometimes flattering, yet it finally baffled every Effort of human Skill, and the Power of Medicine ; for early or Saturday Morning, Nov. a6, 1774, without a Struggle or a Groan, he expired, in the fifty-first Year of his Age. By his lalt Will, he bequeathed £. 300 to the Charity School in this City; ;C-»oo ^° Xi«?V Coikjie, and.^. 100 to the CorporatioH for the Relief of the WiJoivs and Children oj Clergymen in Communion with the Church of England in America ; hereby exhibi- ting an Inllance of that Benevolence— that uniform Attention to the Happinefs and Welfare of Mankind, which regulated each Step cf iiu L'uiiiiucl tiuu' Liiv. (I ui* i ! [ 28 ] Change, and to meet our God ? Muft we not follow thofe who are daily dropping into the Grave around us ? Have they not marked out the Path which we are fpeedily to tread ? Why then Ihould we not liften to thefe Admonitions, and comply with their Defign ?— O let us beware of being overtaken, unprepared, by divine Juftice, after fo may merciful Warnings to the contrary ! With Refpeft to our worthy Brr'^^nr, however neceflary it might be for us that he f d continue here ; yet certainly it was far better for him to depart— to be abient from the Body, and to be prefent with the Lord. Indulgent Heaven gives fuch Friends, fuch eminent Perfons, to blefs the prefent Scene ; it refumes and takes them away to prepare us for another World. Their Inftruc- tions ferve to enlighten our Minds, and teach us how to live ; their Example alio, in their laft Moments, teacheth us how to die. Such Inftances of triumphant Faith in the Hour of Death, are cqnfolatory to all who are anxious about their Sal- vation. They manifeftly fhew that God is ftill prefent with his fincere and faithful Servants- ready to fuccour and to own them in their laft Conflicts. The Death of a real Chriftian is one of the moft inftruilive LefTons to his Brethren. Whilft it animates their Hope, it alfo kindles their Zeal, and is a Spur to their Diligence in working out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling. Whatever Trials or Afflidions may be their Por- tion thro* Life, yet here they learn that Deliverance awaits them — that the Hour of Diflfolution which Iheds Terror and Dilmay on the Guilty, to what- ever Height of envied Diftindion they have been exalted, brings Peace and Confolation to them •, whilft- t 29 ] whilft Heaven, with all its Glory, opens to their enraptured Minds. Reason and Confcience mufl: tell us, that we are accountable to God for the Life we make of the Advantages and BlefTings he now beftows upon us. Revelation coincides with the Didtates of Confcience on this Head, and afTures us-—" That " unto whomfoever much is given, of him (hall *' much be required*." The Intlrudions we re- ceive, the Time we enjoy them, our Opportunities and Motives for Improvement, will all be taken into the divine Account. " Behold," fays the Mafter of the Vineyard, " thefe three Years I " come leeking Fruit on this Fig Tree, and find " none j cut it down, why cumbreth it the " Ground t?" ^, • V- ■ t You will readily gr.iiit that it was a fingular Advantage and BlefTing to have enjoyed the Mi- nillry of our d parted Friend •, and that not only three, but ten YearsJ. What Fruit then have you brought forth worthy of fuch a BlefTing ? Examine your Hearts, whether you have been duly thankful for it, and have improved it to the Ho- nour of God, and your own Salvation ? Or whe- ther you have" not deferved the Removal of this burning and fhining Light, becaufe you vould not be illuminated by his Do6tnne, nor warmed by his Zeal .'' Whilst he was with you, I know you loved him much j and that you now cherifh his Memory E w':h • Luke xii. 48. f Luke xiii. 7. J Dr. Ogilvie was elcded one of theAflilfnnf Mimlters of Tri- nity Church in the Autumn uf 1764, and he immediately fettled here ; the Author had been chofen into the lame Office prior to him, but did not move to Nc-w-i'ork till Dwcember 1765. Ji [ ] with affeftionate Tendernefs. He is often in your Thoughts i and Ellecm mingled with Grief are inieparably joined with the Remembrance of him. The molt cffedual Way to CncW'/ your Regard and teilify your Afitdion for him new, is to follow the Inltrudions, ihe L xhortr-tions which he fo often, and fo earnellly delivered to you. Need I tell you that this is alfo your Duty ? Be afiurcd ic is i and fuch a Duty that the Negleft of it will be attended with this melanclioUy Conlcquence— He who wiflicd and laboured lo faithfully for your Salvation, will be a dreadful Witnefs againft you at the lull Day ! 1 1 e frrvent Prayers he offered in your Erha't — t!:e C iiriilian lixample he fet before you— the Inltrudlons, the Reproofs, the Exhortations you received from him — , Will all rife in judgment ag.;iiut you, and be your fevere Accufers. i.i' # O THAT you may be wife — that you may un- derftand and lay thele 'i'hings to Heart, and con- fider your latter End, while the accepted Time and Day of Salvation are with you. Awake to Righteuufnels •, and fo live with Chrill here, that to die may be Gain. Go on earneilly and undaunted in your Chriftian Duty j fo that when you depart, and are ablent from the Body, you may be prelent with the Lord in the bright Regions of unfading Felicity. T'h^J this may he the Ccfe^ nnd f,:id For linn cf each of you^ Cod of his infinite ?,krcy ^rant^ for the Sake and JVhnts of Jefus Chrift •, to "ivbom, dec. I N S. ■■^t.jmBf- f^ %^ » • • • ,-«■■