* < .» ^ /, ^J^ V > 1^^ ^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-^) '/ 1.0 12.8 .1^ m.Uk I.I 1. III lU 2.2 US.. 12.0 1.25 J.4 1.6 •> ^ ./ «<- * A" o Riotographic Sciences Corporation • * 33 WIST MAIN STRICT WnSTIR.NY MStO (7U) ari^soa •..V ^ v> V- • -«► CIHMACMH Microfiche Series. .>!i eiHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. ^ . 5 Canadiap Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions hJ*V>riqu«s / Tschnical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquaa at bibliograpliiquaa Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha bast original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibliographicalty uniqua. which may altar any of tha •magas in tha raproductioh', or which may signiffcantly cbanga tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. D a D D n n n Colourachcovtfra/ Couvartura do couiaur I I Covara damagad/ Couvartura andommag^ Covara raatorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura raatauria at/ou pallicultba rn Covar titia nriiaafng/ -^ Lf titrai da ciouvartura manqua Coiourad mapa/ Cartaa gAographiqtioa an coulawr"' ' Coiourad ink ji.a. othar than blua or black I/' En4r« 4« ceutaur (I.*, autra qua blaua ou noira) '■ ' » Coiourad plataa and/or illuatrationa/ Planchaa' at/ou illuatratipna an couiaur h Bound with ottiar matariai/ RalM avac d'autraa documanta , Tight binding may eauaa shadows or diatortfon along intarior margin/ La rt llura sarria paut cauaar da I'ombra ou do la diatorsion la k>ng (la la marga intiriaura Blank laavas addad. during rastoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar poaaibia, thaaa hava baan omittad fronri filming/ II sa paut qua cartainoa pagas blanchaa afoutAaa' lors d'una raatauration apparaissant dans la taxta, mais. lorsqua cala Atait poaaibia, eaa pagaa n'ont paa «tA fUm4«a. L'Inititut a rriicrofilmA la maillaur axamplaira qu'il lui a i:tA possibia da sp jgrocurar. Las details da -cat axamplaira qui sont paut-Atra uniquas du' point da vua bibliographiqua, qui pauvant modifiar una imaga raproduita. ou qui pauvant axi^ar una modification dans la mithoda normala da filmaga sont indiquAs ci-dassoua. □ Coiourad pagaa/ > ^ ' Pagaa da couiaur □ Pagaa damagad/ Pagaa andommagAas 1^ □ Pagaa raatoracf and/or laminatad/ . Pagaa raataurAaa at/ouf*palliculia« 0'^agaa disceUburad. stainad or foifSd/ Pagas dAcoioriaa, tachat^as ou piquAaa □ Pagas datachad/ <* Pagaa d*tach«kas ^ QShowthf ough/ Tranaparanca D Tranaparanca Quality of prii QualltA' inAgala da I'lmpraaaion r~| Quality of print variaa/ f Comprand du material supplAmantaira rn Includaa supplampntary matarial/ I — I Ortly adition availabia/ V Saula Adition disponibit Pagaa wholly or partially -obscurad by arrata slips, tissuaa, ate, hava baan rafilmad to anaura tha bast possibi* imaga/ Laa pagaa totalamant ou partiailamant obacurciaa par un fauillat d'arrata, una palura, ate. ont Ati filmAas A nouvaau-da fa9on A ototanir la maillaura imaga. poaaibia. D Additional eommanta:/ Commantairaa supplAmantairaa; Thia itam is fllmad at tha raduction ratio chackad baiow/ Ca documant ast fllmi au taux da reduction indiquA cidaaaoiia. 10X 14X iiX , 22X 123t ItX i.iv'- SM a«x » •f lOX 5^ 32X ' li -i'- »> I> trrata to p«lur«. % Th« copy fllRiMl h«r* has baan raproduead thanka to tha ganaroaity of: <• > .Library of PariiamMit and tha National Library of Canada. Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara ttia baac qualfty poaaibia ciyiaidaring tha. condition and lagibiHty of tha original copy and in icaaping with tha filming contract ipao ific aifona. Original eopiaa in i^ntad papar covara ara fNin«4^^ baglnriing with tha front covar and anding on tha laat pdga «with a printad or illuatratad impraai* aion. or tha baeic covar whan appropriata. AH othar original eopiaa ara fllmad bagirming on th« first paga with a printad or ill uatrat a d Impra a ' Wion. and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraaalon. ^ Tha laat racordad frama on aach mieroficha ahaU contain tha aymbol — 1» (maaning "CONi> nNUEO")^or tha aymbol T (mawMng "WHO"). whichavar appliaa. Mapa, plataa. charta. aflMu,,jiM(^ba MnnmI at d i ff a rant radueddn ratida. Thoaa too larga to ba andraly ineludad in c^ aiipoaura ara fllmad bagtoining in tha uppar laft hand comar. iaft to right. and top to bottom, aa many fr amaa aa. ra^irad. Tha following diagrfma Uluatrata tha L'axampiaiQi fitmd fut raproduit grica i la gdndroalt* da: La BibliotMqua du Parlamam at la BibllothkiiM nationala du Canada. Laa Imagaa auhfantaa ont «td raprodultaa 4vao la plua grand soln, comptd tanu da la condition ft da la nattatd da I'axamplaira fllm4. at an oo nformltd avac laa condMona du coiitrat da iNmaga« Laa a w a m pla k aa originaux dont la (BouvarturaT an papiar aat imprimda sont fHmda an common^ant par la pramiar plat at an tarminam aoit par la "datnMra paga qui comporta una ompiyhta di mi i ia aa lu ii ou dlHuatradon. solt par la aacond plat, aalon la caa. Toua laa autroa aiiami^irao originaux aont fUmda m% commanoant par la p r a ml ^ra paga q61 comporta una ampralnta dHmpraaaion ou dINuatration at an Mrminant par la damMra paga qui comporta una taUa Mit daa symbolaa aulvanta apparaltra aur la imaga da chaqua mlerofleha. salon li iola — »> algnHla;'A SUIVRI". la algnlfia "nw. f I. ate., pauvant Atra flNnda i daa taux da rdduotldli dlff«rants. ioraqua la doeumaiK aat trap grand pour *tra Nprodidt m un aaul cUehd. U aat flimd i partir da I'angia a u p dr l a u r gaueha. da gauoha i droita. at da haut 1% baa. an pranant la nombra .dnmagaa n dcaaaaira. Laa diagrammaa aidvanta Huatrant la iiidihoda. 1 j, , . ' 1 • 1 2 3 ^ ■-: - -■ -^__,,=L„ ■ i. ! 4 '« bT 1 6 * — — — i 32X . , « .,._ , . ' ^^ 1 r^ OF TifK TA'i'? HIA ¥ T ^ f T KM^ICi; wf M. P S Pa 4th, »»3 'X ¥ r^ ■-T.-, ;.,afc 'ri"t^^^v\k\t\.. o MEMORIAL SERMON X)F THE LATE HON. JOHN McMURRICH DELIVERED IN KNOX CHURCH, BY THE REV. H. M. PARSONS, Pastor, ON SUNDAY. MARCH «th. Mis. / B^ -? * ' • GLOBE PRINTING COMPANY, KING STREET 1«T.- ^: ,;. ' ►1883. '^ ■m -J>'^,f^~f!f St f'^-^WPf^t.'i*^-' ■>--■» t^ "■ TTDP'^ ''Ti^■t^i ■ The Memorial Sermon of the late Hon. John McMurrich was preached on Sunday mornings the 4th of March^ by Rev, H. M. Parsonsi in Knox Church. * There was a large audience present ^ almost every seat in the building being occupied. 4 . 'i" ^1' ^Mii,-> jA*ft^"yL' .i^i »!i&^tJj1 «^f<.-i:A. -v^, W t til- « ■w SERMON. I ^V^^i*Stj Text : 2 Timothy, iv. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of rigihteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." A Christian man is a divine man. He |ias in him two natures, the human and the divine. By thb mystical and mysterious union in Jesus Christ, through fhe Holy Spirit,, he is a partaker of the divine nature. Thej words selected to guide our meditations were uttered by One who in con- scientious ignorance had persecuted the Lord upon whom he was then gazing by faith. When Stephen, the proto- martyr, beneath the cruel blows of his murderjg, looked^ into the open heaven, and saw the Son of God i^is glory^ the outer garments of the men who stoned him were laidl at the feet of " a young man whose name was ^Saul." That same young man we now find in the evening of life, pre- maturely aged, sitting chained in the dense darkness of a Roman dungeon, and uplifted by the inspired hope he here describes. No hope of escape from the unjust doom awaiting him on earth could arise in his breast. Calmly he waits, expecting every moment to hear the footfall of the messenger sent to execute the l;)lojdy behest of the tyrant Nero. What are his thoughts ? We are not left in doubt. ^1 a m JiQW ready Jto^ be offer e d ypr^»Hi departure is at hand." These words are significant. Paul had laid himself on the altar, and was now being poured out as a libation before God. He was ready to loose the cable; ^*. t- !Y~ 'j*ft' ^^^ ( ^ *'^^ / the time to set sail for another country ):iad come. No thought, na fear of death — for him death was overcome, and forever aboHshed. The word in the original is not from kataluo — to dissolve, itc die, dissolution, but from analuo — to loosen from the shore, to set sail, departure for a better land ! The man who was saying this had said, in the full cons iousness of his sinful nature, " Sinner^, of whom I am chief ;" and by the grace of God the same man said, " I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longlpr live, but Christ liveth in me, and the life I now live in 1 the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved rhe, and gave Himself for me." There is no vain boasting 'in this triumphant paean; No pride of intellect or of heart prompted this calm and confi- dent assurance of the apostle. With unfeigned humility this testimony to redeeming grace was given. Looking through the gloom of his prison-house, he saw the bright light which dawned upon him as he journeyed to Damascus. And in the same faith and hope, a great multitude since have looked into the opening heavens, and in the same spirit testified, " I have finished my course ;" " I have died my death in- the crucified One ;" " Christ in me is the hope ^ of glory." God has been of late emphatically reminding us of the transitory nature of this present lite. Many great names of earth have been blotted from the current roll of the world. The ravage of death among the noble and learned of Church and State, as well as among the lowly, has been relentless and Startling. Within the month three of the older mem- bers of this church have been summoned from earth, to share, as we trust, with the great apostle this immortal and illustrious hope. No more fitting theme need be sought ^w^ihe kistrtietion r him, and upon what He h^d done in him. The finished, work of our Lord is outside oNs^ and when that is applied within us by the Spirit of God, and received by faitli, then the sinner becomes a member " of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." It is, so to speak, taking his sacrificial offering as it issued in r^rrection, and setting a part of that' risen life into the dead^ck of a sinner's nature, and ihen . causing it to grow forever. This is what Paul means when he says, " The life I now live 1 live by faith of the Son ot God, who loved me\ and gave Himself for me." The sub- stitut on of the Redeemer in his place was to him an evident and personal fact, upon which he always stood, resting with firm assurance, confident in exi^ectant hqpe, therefore always equipped for the battle of life. Again, it was a-life of victory in conflict. At no time in the^nspired account of his career do you find Paul sayi<%, lmnbeyond^HcDiiTfe,yamab^\^^^^ no sin." Quite the opposite of this is ^constantly recorded as his experience. He exempts no moment, when he says, " I have fought a good fight." That fight becan when he I ' ^Ktff^^^^' '^ " mmmmmmmmmmm "TfWWiJ ^ .< . 6 '^ ^enlisted under the great Captain df our salvation, and lasted t^irough his whole life*-. "I have kept the faith" was his dying cry. He had made the most masterly defence of the faith given to the saints, and if' was aga-nst pressing and malignant foes. Reviewing the scenes of his stormy history^ he could add, 'M have finished my course," because he had* passed through the. measured distance of time; and novy was calmly expecting the crown, as the meed of victory in the' constant conflict. In accord with these facts, examine the seventh-^chapter oC Rpnuans, ' Read the aCcounJ: of his^ missionary 'trips ; the treatment he (experienced on every hand ; his conflicts with' Satan and invisible foes. It was a hand to hand contest for supremacy every stej) of the way, and by grace he was victorious in the struggle all the way to glory. . , ' • Perish the thought, if any one of yoit think there is an easy way to final salvation^ — if any one thinks he can pass through the enemy's land and not be assaulted-^if any think they can take the hand of Jesus and hold it, and be held by it; and sfill strike hands With the wdrld, the enemy of God and of theilr own souls. ' " ■ ' " . The life w-are observing was a life of incessant toil and care of the cnurches. '. Separated by the Holy Spirit to carry the gospel to the heathen, lie went boldly forward. to encoupbr obstacles and dangers, unknowfi and unseen, rfe might have preferred to stay among his own, and redeem his character in Jeru- salem, where he had been noted, for hostility to Christians, and the injury he inflicted on the Church. But no ; not tonferring With flesh and blood, he eht|^rs.on the work, and braves the elements in his zeal to flflfil the entrusted mission. Rejected by the Jews— cast out, stoned, arid left "for dead. * . ^v i ; • ^' -he revtyes, and ttjmrixr^he Oentiies,procteim?^^^'^^^ of love, ahd j)lants churches in all the large cities of the world. And then th?Qare and charge of these churches^ t V / . y ^\ 'Wm> ■^^^^^^^^^^Rs^^^^^^^^^p^^^^^i^F^^^P^^^^^^^^^^^^i ,r ■a . » 'I i \ 1 r;' • - 7 ^ ■ ■ - teaching them and building them ;jip in the knowledge of the gosfiel. The Epistles fully illustrate this thought. His ciare for^ their ministi^ led him^ under the Spirit} ' to train Timothy and Titus for the. work.' In tH^e writings he covers the whole gro\ind of Christian service. . Biit a^ain^ his life reveals the divine hope by. which he-w'as constantly sustained and comforted. We hear him> slay, " Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown." "If by any means. I might attain unto the resurrection, from the dead." " ytnbw whom I have Relieved, and am perstiaded 'that He is able to keep that which I have Committed unto Him against thaPday." At another, time he exhorts us to be ** looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious apjgar-' Ing of the great God a^id our Saviour, Jesus Christ." In the vision held before his admiring gaze by the Saviour'^ oVvru/^ hand, we can almost see' the prisoner, still held by his chain,„ in the joy of liberty- reaching with outstretched hands" for the crown ; so strong was mQyhope by which his life had been sped forward, from th^ time he €rst heard the voice of his risen Lord to this moment 6i departjire to be with Him. J II. — Con^der now the hope Paul cherished. li yfSiS personal, not vague and general. Nojt'a hope that sometirhe he would be raised up from the grave, and that meantime heaven would be all he desired. He hajd dis- tinctly befpre his- mind and his^ heart the crown^i righteous- ness held out by the ri'ghteous judge, before whose judgment seat he, with all saints who have loved His appearing, shall appear' to receive their rewards. With true humility he also .says, **for me." He* believe-d his Lord. This definite object ihcited his course, and so operated lipon-his human nature^ that he was the' most devoted and consecrated man ^ of history^ With what vividness this object held his gaze-I Xooking for no emoluments of earth, no fame of learning, or wealth, or position, but looking into th^ face of hils risen Lord, the King of glory, he ever r'an the race, pressing >i %\ -A. %i 1 - 8 forward for the prize that God has promised, in the^ up- calhng of His saints at the resurrection. ^ ~ ^ In considering this hope we must riot overlook the char- acter of this crown. The croWn of righteousness must have an appropriate relation as a reward to the work the Apostle had done. His heroic zeal in the maintenance of that great truth, for which afterward Luther stood so valiantly, is displayed in the Epistle to the Romans. There he affirms and establishes the righteousness of God, revealed in Christ ^ alone, and received jpy faith alone. So clearly and cogenUy i« this argued, that no one accepting the word of God as the Divine Revelation can attempt to substittite any work of his own, or insert even a thought of his own, as a plea for acceptance with* God. We have other instances of •. thn relation of rewar^^to service. Thus James speaks of victory over temptation : - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord shall give him." And the Apc^stle Peter, when speaking of the fidelity of elders, whom God has placed over the-fl^ck, says: "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." We cannot doubt that this triple pown will surmount the brow of the great Apostle to ' the Gentiles, when the Lord shall come for His saints. But the masterly exposition and defence of the righteousness wA^ is by faith, as contrasted to and opposed to righteous- ness by law, undoubtedly gives the form of this inspired expi-ession. The crown also is peculi^ly significant in the word used. It is jftot the diadema, the crown of royalty, but Stephanos, the crown of laurej, placed on the brow of the conqueror m the games, or the winner of the race. And so our Apostlfe places before us the crown his Savipur held before h iiD- Not for him on l y , but f o r a ll w liu aie with < patience running the Christian race, "looking unto Jesus," and"loq^ing>rHim/' . V \ V it i? \>i P^ :f.^^^:i- >■ ■■■/«^-*-w^ (t ■I k) Our Captain leads us on, He beckons from the skies, And reaches out a starry crown, And bids us take the prize. •• Be faithf)il unto death. Partake my victory, And thou shalt wear the glorious wreath, And thou shalt reign with Me." i ^^tf/«, this hope is connected with a certain date. "The righteous judge shall give me at M«/ day." rife 'did not expect this crown at death ; he looked forward to M^ day. It is the day of which our Lord spoke in his argument with the Sadducees, when He said, "they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain 11^ a^e and the resurredian from among the dead/* the day to which He referred when He said, " Thou shalt Tdc recompensed at the resurrection of the just" — and the resurrection of Jh^ just is at the coming of the Lord—" they that are Christ's at His coming." That our Lord does come on that day is most certain from His word, but the date is unknown, and therefore He has bid us " w^tch " for it. ." That day " had been imminent to the Apostle through his toiling life; it was imminent in the dungeon; it is immi- nent to him now by thie side of his glorified Master. The promise and the hope gave him zeal, and courage, and * patience throughout the earthly journey; it has been equally a motive and an incentive in the heavenly state. It was near to the prisoner, who ^with the eye of faith pierced through the walls around him, and in the full liberty of Christ gazed on the glory revealed. It is nearer now, as he basks in the sunlight of heaven. The ^^ersons to receive this crown are not omitted in the comforting hope given to our faith. The blessed hope is ^^' f not confined"tolhe Apostle nor to the martyrs of lhee«i7 Christian churches, but is to be given 'i to all them also that love His appearing." It is in the perfect tense, " that have .,.-,,. ID l*f loVed His epiphany." It is quite wonderful that so little attention has been paid to this fact, so often emphasized* that the great hope of the church is the return of her Lord td^eceive her unto Himself. "And unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without ^n unto salvation." • The principles set forth in this life and this hope^ as they enter into and fdfm that Christian character, which God will reward, wholly and freely of His grace, find full confirma- tion and illustration in the life of our beloved friend, and brother, and father, whom we miss from our assembly to- day, and for whose removal we have great sorrow. By the mercy of God he was spared to us beyond the allotted limit of life, and, till within a few months, in u'husual vigor and strength to the fourscore years. His sickness was attended with great clearness and peace of mind, and the glory of the Gospel found most wonderful manifestation through his patient^durance and joyful victory to the end. Could the. mute lips of that wasted form, the temple of the Holy Ghost, which paused for a little at this wonted altar of prayer, dn its way to the sepulchre, speak but once again, they would forbid me to say a word of that life which he lived among you for more than forty years. But if the elory of God shall be magnified by what divine grace has done in this life, no one more gladly than he would suffer that to be said, which thus might prove of help and comfort to others. The great truth which won the crown of righteousness for the apostle was the one on which ^1 the hopes of our dear friend were founded. In my earliest visits to him, after his sickness began, he said, " All my trust is in and on the finished work of my Redeemfer." Many 1 4i times during the last few months did he repeat this testi- mony, with such satisfied contentment, such glowing delight, as to communicate something of his own great joy and \ II t t -.1 comfort to all wW^Hpihed and witnessed his gentle depart- ure to glory. As \^^eview his life, so rich in grace, so full of benevolence, so loyal to his Master, we first remark his ^eat humility. No one can recall any self-exaltation in him. He shrank from notoriety. He was a true witness for his Lord. He loved to commune with Him, and to manifest unconsciously the results of such daily communion. He loved to speak for Hfm, and his voice, whenever the opportunity occurred, would always be heard on the side o< truth and righteousness. His life was filled with those silent testimonies, often more effective upon the onlook- ers of the world than the most brilliant and fascinating eloquence. He was fanud for honest dealing in all the relations of business, as well as of religion. And his honesty arose from personal faith in his personal Lord * He could not brook at any time, or in any person, duplicity, cunning, or subter- fuge. On occasion he could and did rebuke ijie unworthy and insolent conduct, even of those in authority, with Chris- tian dignity and with tremendous force. His fidelity to the civic trusts laid upon him in former years was such, that he was honored by his fellow citizens in many ways, and never found wanting in true and loyal service to the full extent of his strength; He took great interest in the thorough organization of the schools of the city ; and in those institutions of charity for which our city is justly celebrated; he hot only felt the deepest sympathy, but was an able and firm supporter, with his wisdom and his means. His name will always be honorably associated with the growth and history of the Home for Incurables, in the western, suburb of the pity. With the late pastor of th ia church he labored diligently to establish its foundations^ld to secure its future success. The last two years, with the greatest energj^ Jie applied himself to the work of completing plans that will prove the :a> 12 greatest blessing to the unfortunate sufferers who seek its shelter. He ceased his personal exertions for that noble charity only to retire from all earthly scenes and rest from his labors. jPis life was full of thought and care for the churches. He was a willing and efficient co-laborer with my honored and lamented predecessor, the late Rev. Dr. Topp, in all the combined efforts so happily culminated in the union of the various branches of the Presbyterian Church in this Dominion. At the time when so many conflicting interests were to be harmonized, there was great need of caim and fair judgment, wise and firm counsels, cordial and concilia- tory sympathy. These qualities of mind and heart, possessed m an eminent degree by this good man, fitted him to be an instrument, with others of like character, moved by the Spirit pf God, to cement a union which every year justifies a^ most providential and beneficial to the best interests of religion. Every Session of General Assembly since the Churches united in one organization h^ been favored mth his, venerable presence; and no layman has wielded a greater influence in the sessions and decisions of that court. He had the broadest views of the service of God, and of means for the promulgation of truth. They ' coipmanded respect and attention, becaiise all who knew and heard him felt that he was moved in all he said and did-b^ the supreme desire for the glory o\ God. He was deeply interested in the cause of college education for the ministry, feeli»g the vast and increasing call the Church is making for pastors and teachers competent to lead them in the work/6)f evan- gelizing the world. His hand, laid the foundation stone of Knox College; in its prosperity he always Relighted, and ■t e d in tl»c cndu vi^ among his Jast acts- ment to perpetuate and secure to the Church its advantages and facilities for ministerial education. Though at times .his ju4gment of plans might differ from dear friends of the ■■■. ,■'.., ■■ ■ ;.■: . . ' - ^ ., .^ ■■-... ■ ■■ jA^ - i- ,i :!■ 4 13 cause, he never swerved in his devoted ^yalty to all schemes % and plans for thei extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, through the efforts of the church in which he had been i trained, and to which so much of his life was giyen. He was deeply interested in the cause of Sabbath Sqhools. Forty years since he w^s a superintendent in this church. He was the chief mover in establishing a Sabbath School at the west end of the citjy^, which afterwards was committed to his son, and now is seen in the flourishing West Presbyterian Church. His sympathies were not confined within one sect.. In the Sabbath School cause at large, the Bible cause, the Tract i cause, his name, and work, and means were associated with the wise and good of other churches. He labored actively in these later years with the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, in theii; laudable effprts to reach the masses outside of Christian privileges. In a wonderful way he delighted to advance every object which, in his view, would promote the influence and the spread of the knowledge of God's word and the purification of the Church. His life was so full of aptitude for good works, he was so in sympathy with every measure, and abreast of every movement that promised good to the world, that I do not make too wide a statement when I say, in view of the character and the works of ovm- departed friend for the last twenty years, he has been the forei^st layman in the Presbyterian Churches of Canada. His life was devoted to the interests of Knox Churth. His presence in this assembly was so constant that his absence created instant inquiries. Always punctually present, and a most able counsellor in the meetings of Session and the Deacons' ^ Court. A firm and sympathizing friend of the poor and \McU wHUag 4o advance itc ic sts of the cohgregation in every, measure that he* could with conscience support. Especially present, deeply interested, and bearing ^lisDart with great edification, in the prayer U: ■.!■ jJi^' . t''. )f. 14 meetings of the church; and this he did increasingly to the end of his earthly strength. The source of all these varied activities, these warm and loving sympathies, extend- ing over so large a period, and to the extreme limit of life, will be found in the devotion and delight our revered brother had in his habitual and thorough search of the word of God. With increasing diligence during the last few years he de- voted himself to it, and came to realize in some good degree the power of that blessed hope^hich sustained the great apostle. ' - He to th*e last spoke of this church with tender interest, rejoicing in its prosperity, and in the readiness of its mem- bers to undertake service, and grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. ^ During the last few weeks, while his Hfe work was rounded out and*finished by his good confession, he simply awaited the messenger the Master would send for him. Looking into the open door of heaven, he testified the full sufficiency of the sure foundation, the blessedness of the assured kope^ that departing he would be with his Lord, and that soon He would come again in glory. Said he at one interview, " 1 rest in this hope." Under this truth in the Spirit he rapidly ripened for glory. '' Looking unto Jesus, and looking for Him," he patiently waited for the c hariot to come. He had finished his course: he had striven the strife : he had kept the faith. " Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ, Xhc battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy." Henceforth before him is this crcfwn of righteousness. " Not to me only," said Fauljhe aged, but to all therp t ha i: have loved His epiphany. Qur dear brother embraced this hope lully. He looked into the heavenly places with serene amd- humble delight, his work all done, ready to depart and \ A -■•7. If' ' '-yti- igs^-T^'T?/ .^^ 15 rest with that vast company of apostles, prophets, martyrs and saints of the age, who wait at the right hand of God, before Him who, crowned with many crowns, is seated on the throne, " henceforth expecting till His enemies be m^de his footstool." While thanking God for such a long, laborious, beautiful and finished life, as His grace alone perfected, let us remem- ber : '* God buries His workers, but carries on His work." Upon whom shall the mantle of our ascended Elijah rest? Who will fill the place made vacant ? Who will take up the work that is left ? Who will enter the list yvith the same devotedness,. under the same Divine direction, and go for- ward to the victory that is sure to him who ights in the name of the Master ? ^ ' " He being dead, yet speaketh." Yes, to his bereaved family. What a legacy ! What 'a -perpetual beiiediction-to them, to see the angel of God so gently lead him, their devoted husband anci father, down the steep descent of life, through the narrow gate, to the throne of God and the Lamb ! "I repeat, a perpetual benediction! vFor his prayers have beenjaeard and recorded, and they shall be answered to the glory of God, in His protecting grace to the farthest generation. ' " He being dead, yet speaketh" to the office-bearers of this congregation. We are admonished, dear brethren, that "time is short," and we should be incited by this shining example to increasing diligence in the Master's service. I cannot speak of my personal loss in his departure. I have known him for the short time of our acquaintance more intimately than many friends of longer duration. His coun-. sels, and encouragement, and almost fatherly care, have been -» g re at ^uppoi4r ^i d d eli ght 4n- m y minis try ^mong you. "^ His tender, loving sympathy with all in trouble, sorrow and bereavement, are well remeftibered by many before me, whose hearts still throb with grief. They are well known ♦ • and prized in my experience of the past year, and never shall I forget the largeness and thoughtfulness of his love. ^ "He being dead, yet speaketh," and his voice may be heard by every one who will listen What word does he proclaim to us ? What would he say, if now we could hear him speak from the skies ? No new theme would be heard from those lips, so often opened in praise in this house and in the meetings for worship. He would still sing in fervent accents: " Saviour, iT.ore than life to me, • ,' I am clinging close to Thee ; Let Thy precious blood applied. Keep me ever near Thy side." .And as the ^pg seemed to dawn*' on him in the weary moments of waiting, and he was heard m the night watched chanting, *' I am coming, I am coming, Coming, Lord, to Thee for rest," - * ■ So we believe he is resting yonder, " till that day," when the samecrown^ held before the admiring gaze of the martyr apostle, shall be placed upon his head, and not aldhe upon him, but " also on all them that have loved the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." ** Tis but a little while, And He shall come again. Who died that we might live, who lives That we with Him may reign." ■«:•■ P-.V S) I V **-