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EAST. 1869. •',, -■ » ■Y':i-.''J{,,.T';',ij-^T*i^'-*:'* -^:YT-Ei'iT.'f>»^ ft.l'^i'^P^'' 'i''7. ..' '< P (Nfr inav ' time. leto ill entioii '8 is to >(.'. It clause;, )r con- L'COlld. lifo'.s h and Christ'b will, which is simply faith in another form ; that is just to tight the good fight, to finish the course. Let it bo understood, then, that tlM! Aj)ostle sjieaks in this verse, and we, to-day, aftt-r liiin, of hut one sul)- ject ; the Christian life on earth, — his own life as a servant of the Lord Jesus. In further considering his words, I ask you to notic(; : Fir.st, tlu^ testimony which they hear to the character of this life as one of conflict and toil, one needing daily exertion and endurance. You have not failed to observe tlie terms employed by the Aj)ostle to designate the Christian life; in this and other passages. He calls it ii^fic/hf. that is, a contest, a struggle for the mastery in presence of and against antagonists strong enough to dispute our attainment t]iereof,ca})able of com- ing between us and tlie |)rize, if we are either indolent or unskilful; a course, or rac(% in which not all who enter the lists come in as winners at the goal, requiring for its successful running both discipline and perseverance, ardor of spirit and straining of nerve. The figures are often employed by the Apostle. As representations of the believer's life on earth, they are among the most common in Scripture. Their employment for such a. purpose would be altogether inappropriate and mislead- ing, were that life in any case one of easy, unimpeded [)rogres8. To satisfy ourselves that it is never this, that this certainly is not its normal character, it is only necessary to pass from figure to fact, and to en- quire what it is to lead a Christian life — the life of a Christian man or of a Christian minister. It is, in the language of our text, to keep the faith ; to keep it, not {IS a body of truth, a complet(^ and consistent scheme of ' a (loctriiK! — lor that is m>t the iiioiiiiiii<^ot t lie word here- out (IS u vital iind vivifying priiu*i}>l«'. The two, in- deed, are closely coniieeted; the preservutioii of the doetriue in its integrity, with the niainteniince of tlie fjiith in its huhilutd and healthful exi ise. But it is tlie hitter that is mainly icferrcid to here. To lead tlie Christian life, then, is to keep in exereisc^ faith in Christ, and in the wi(h' ivalni of truth, and ol)lioation, and motive, and aim, and hope, and joy, of which fie is the centre; to presen'e it as ours, amirofith',ss fonn ; to have our life sustained l>y it, living "hy the faith of the Son of God who loved" UH, and "gave himself for" us; to give it expression in all suitable forms of speech and action, and in all circles. Otherwist! stated, it is to preserve love to ( 'hrist's person in our affections, loyalty to Christ's truth in our opinions, allegiance to Christ's will in our whoh* eonduct; bringing not only every act and word, but "every thought to the obedience of Christ;" "keeping under the body and bringing it into subjection," that its "members" may be "instruments of righteousness unto God;" and to do this, or aim at doing it, while yet compassed with an evil world, and carrying about "the body (jf this death." Words. are not needed to show — not needed at least by those of you avIio are endeavouring to live it — that the life in which such an aim is steadily kept in view, is, and must be, one of conflict and toil, one, not compatible in its successful pursuit with indolence or self-indulgence, rather need- ing strenuous exertion and self-denial — a race, a fight. ' d Jiere— two, iti- i of tlio t! of tlic Uit it is lend the fiiitli ill li<^atioij, liich He il littlr i, auvd to an i.staiiu'd > loved" )res8ioii [ ill a] I love to 's truth L- whole 'd, but :eepiiig ," tlijit )UsiieH,s while about lied to ho are icii ail )iie of ^essful need- fight. yViid it partakes still more largely and clearly of this character, when it is led, as the Apostle led it, and as our departed and venerated father led it, with the obligation recognized, not only to hold the truth, but to preach it ; not only to care for his own soul, but to have in solemn charge the souls of others ; not onlv to do homage to the truth and the Saviour in th(^ sanctuarv of his own heart, or nmongat Christ's friends, but to witn(\ss for a full gospel and a sovereign Redeemer in the midst of his enemies, and in the endurance of re- proach and loss; to make surrender of position and income, and do violence to dierished feelings that the rights of the Redeemer's crown, and the liberties of His people might be preserved inviolate. Tn any case, however, — in the case of the private Christian, as in that of the preacher — amid the subtle and ensnaring hindrances of the davs in which we live, as amid the fiercer and more pronounced antagonists of earlier times — the Christian life is oni^ of conflict and toil. Whatever may be its helps and securities from above, and they are many and strong ; whatever its consolations within, and they are pure and lofty ; whatever its reward in the end, and that is unspeakably and inconceivably preci- ous, the life itself is one of arduous, persistent and, as might sometimes seem, vain or doubtfully cfHcacious effort. With the Christian life in this aspect of it, the re- vered servant of God, whose unexpected removal occu- pies the thoughts of all of us to-day, has for ever done. Into that land, which we are j)ermitted to believe he has entered, the strain and sweat and uncertidnty of the earthly conflict are not carried. They fight not , 8 yonder, for there is no foe. Tliey race no longer, for the goal is reached. They keep not any more; the faith as a sacred, hut (iver imperilled treasure, for thither "no thief enters ;" "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all" (jlod's "holy mountain." Oh! it is surely a very blessed truth that there is for us all a fix<(l limit in the divine foreknowledgij biyond which tlie strain and etl'ort ainl anxious uncertainty wliich enter so largely into the present experience of all earnest hearts, shall nijt he able to })rolong themselves ; a deternnnate point in our history, and one which we are every hour nearing, when thesi3 shall altogether ci'ase, and cease for ever ; a boun- daiy beyond wliich faith shall no longer he an effort, for it shall have been perfected in sight, nor olx'dience aught but a, joy, tlie homage which perfect h)ve shall pay to a Saviour at once present and visible. I ask you to notice, .second, the attribute of honor with which the words of the Aposth; invest tln^ C'hris- tian life. It is, if a fight, a good light ; a noble and lofty contest, intrinsically so, and apart altogether from the position and circumstances (»f those who lead it; nay, the good light — for so the words read in the origi- nal-— the one contest which ennobles all who with true ;:nd honest hearts engage in it, and the, issues of which shall make them eternally bh'ssed. To keep the faith; to believe not in pleasure, money, worldly success of any kind, 1)ut in Christ; to regard fealty to Him, and fellowship with Him, as the one path to blessedni^ss ; to seek the enthronement of (Inist in intellect, conscience, will, emotion; "whatsoever we do in word or deed, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus," "heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men;" to aim at this, if not to attain ^ 'ngor, for tlic faith r thither uatroy in y a very lit in thf 11(1 (.'tfoit ' iiito the I not ))«' it in our ig, whon J I l)oun- II effort, x'diencc. Vii .shall i honoi- B Chri,s- hh an on(» good fight, the on(» worthy race, the one amlntion, whicli corres- ponds to the greatness of man's ])Owers, and to thtj still more wonderful greatness of the i-ansom which has Ixmmi paid for him. There is no other. We need not Jicsi- tate to claim this (exclusive glor}^ for the (Christian life. Only l(>t us take cure, i]i doing so, to conceive of this life in no narrow spirit, to nvoid identifying it with any paiticulai" })rof(\ssion or forms of activity. Rightly viewed, it can p<'.netrate, and hallow th(^ activities of the politician or the mechanic as really, if not as readily, ns those of the evangelist or the apostle. 'i'he man who is striving to purify the administration of justice, (^i- to soften it with mercv ; the man who is lahorino- to remove tlni ol)liquities of trade, to writ(3, Holiness to ihv Lord, on Iniying and selling; or the servant avIio is trying t<:) maintain a sense of the Saviour's pres- ence amid the humble offices of domestic^ life, is fighting the good fight as truly ns, and it may sometimes he more bravely than, the man wlio is engaged in preaching the everlasting (xospel. The main thing is not the form of the activity, nor the field in which it is exercised, but its predominadng spirit and aim; its connection with the redemptive work of the Saviour, or its want of connection ; its subservience to the advancement and triumph of that work, or its want of subservience. All this, I dare say, is well known ; is not denied in Christian circles at least, but it cannot be too often or too earnestly urged. We must not be afraid to say, we must not tire saying, that all plan- 1-"' 10 nil \U ning and working, all activity of brain and muscle, which does not connect itself in its spirit and purpose with Him who has been made Lord over all ; nil fight- ing which is not directed against e\dl within and around us, which does not aim at the subjugation of pride, and lust, and self-will, and oppression, and wrong, and at the establishment of faith, and righteousness, and charity; all racing which does not carry the runner uj) towards the one sinless and perfect model (^f human excellence; all keeping which fails to guard faith and a good conscience as the soul's chief treasure, is vain, is among the "wood and hay and stubble" which the fir(» of the coming trial shall consume, not to be counfounded with the imperishable gold. The stnigghi in l)elialf of Christ and with C'hrist, under his benign leadership and inspiration ; the aspirations of the soul after truth and purity and goodness ; the pressing "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Clu'ist;" th<^ keeping the life of the soul piu'e and full in the keeping- its connection close and continuous with Him who is the Life as He is the Light of men; this, and this only, is the good fight, the ambition altogether answering to the image of God in which we were made, and the lilood of Christ by which we were redeemed. And at the end, if not before, it is seen to be so. What a disen- chanting wand is not that which death carries i What illusions, cherished as life itself, and for almost as long a term, are not dispelled by its approach ? AVlio dreams of putting the believing and the unbelieving life, tlie life of faith and the life of sense, on a level then ? Witli what different feelings do wc not regard, when it is just passing away, or quite past, the life that has been ■P M l j.lM ii JUii Pll w muscle, purpose ill fight- d caround ride, and , and at ess, and inner up ■ human li and a vain, is the fire founded ehalf of ship and uth and e mark Lst ;" the keeping who is y, is the to the > l)lood at the disen- What IS long dreams fe, tlie ' With ■ is just s been H merely worldly, however successful and, even in a way, virtuous, and one- like that of the revered father who has just gone from our midst — not perfect, indeed, but •levoted in the main to Christian ends, and filled with holy and beneficent activities. Compared with such a life, how poor and mean the mere scramble for pleasure, or power, or wealth, or worldly favour! how far beneath it, ev(!n devotion to the interests of science, or the glo- ries of art, unless when that devotion is hallowed by faith in the Saviour, and its results made subservient to His glory ! I ask vou to notice, unne more, the evidence which the Apostle's words supply of the satisfoction with which the close of such a life is contemplated b him who has led it, "For I am now ready to be offered, and th(^ time of my de})arture is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I liave finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness," &c. There is no mistaking the spirit in which these words are uttered, the tone of satisfaction, even triumph, which runs through them. We almost forget that it is of death, his own death, that the Apostle speaks ; so completely Jibsent from his language is all that we usually associate with that change. Here is no trace of pain, or sorrow, or sinking nature. The pi(;ture is bright with the mild glories of dawning im- mortalitv. Looking ;it it, we instinctively exclaim, "0 (U'ath, Avhere is thy sting f O grave, where is thy vic- tory <" The Apostle's words are words of inward satis- faction, of assured confidence, indeed, of exultant tri- umph. There was a time when, "girding on his har- ness," or later still, amid the thick of the fight, he could II I 12 not tliiiH boast; when he could ouly suy, "f keep under my body uiid bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should bi! a castaway ;" but that time is past, the goal is reached or fully in view now, and he cimtemplates with liveliest H:itisfaction the course over which he has been brought, the work which he has been enabled to accomplish, as well as the reward on which he is about to enter. It is the satisfaction springing from the former with which alone we have to deal to-day; the ha}>piness which the soul experiences in feeling that its powers have not been altogether misdirected, that the life has been led in ;i spirit not dtogether unworthy of Him Avho has bestowed and sustained it, that it has pleased the A\- miohtv to make its activities tributarv to some extent to the advancement of His Kingdom of riijhteousness and peace and joy. That satisfaction was the Apostle's as he stood on the Aerv verge of the i^arthlv life, as in a, greater or less degree it is that of all who share his faith and devotion. "I have fought," he says, "the good fight, I have finished tlitj course, I hav(i kept tlie ihith." What must be th(! emotions with whicli those who have devoted life to purely selfish and worldly ends reoard its close ? Oh, I think a feelinsf of intense niiserv must often seize the mind of such when the end at len«Cth di'aws near, and as they look back on activities ami aims purely earthly, on a life disconnected from its begjinning to its close with Clod and Christ and Chris- tian aims. They can hardly escape the painful convic- tion, that they have been guilty of utter yet irretrievable folh^ in giving to Avorldly or sinful ends the energies " eep lUider t by any :;lf should is reached li liveliest hroiight, iplish, as liter. It th which hieh the lave not l)een led ^vho has i the. Al- 3 extent eousness Lpostle's 'e, as in lare his s, "the ept the se wh(> :y ends misery end at tivities i'om its Chris- 'onvie- tevable iiergies 18 which were bestowed for higher purposes ; tliat the true end of life has been missed, and that there is not another life in which to rectify the mistake. In striking and happy contrast therewith is the feeling which meets us here, and with which the Aposth? and men of his spirit contemplate the close of the earthly life. That feeling, indeed, must often, if not always, be a mixed one. There will be room for humi- liation and regret, as well as for satisfaction and thanks- giving. But the latter predominate, as in the case before us. T'lirough the blessing of (rod, ti)e life has been redeemed "from the vain conversation received by tradition from their 'fathers.'" Christ Inis been served in it, often imperfectly and with much of human weak- n(;ss and failure, but really served. Tt hiis not been wholly thrown away. /Llie fight has not ])een as of "one that beateth the air," nor the race as of one that has mistaken alike the course jmd the goal. The close of life finds him still clad in the whole armour of (}od, that armour indented by many a blow, but not laid aside, "a good soldier of Jesus Christ," even when "such an one as Paul the aged." The evening hour of a long find toilsome day finds him wearied in the service, but not wearied of it ; waiting for the Master's appearing, but working as he waits : a believer still in Him wliom lie once reviled, steadfast in the faith ; and therefore glad, nay, triumphant, thankful for the past and exul- tant in the future. This satisfaction it was not permitted him to feel in the last hours of life, with whose death our thoughts are this day occupied. These hours were, so fav as man could judge, hours of comparative unconsciousness. I < :i; 14 Froiri the timi! that a fatal is«ue to the ilhiesy, so mild m it8 first stages, became a probability, the mind ceased to perform its wonted fuuetioiis But while disease, attacking first or very early the organ of thought, dim- med or altogether took away the sweet consciousness of victory in his case, it could not affect the fiict of it. He knew not tlie triumphant end that w^as being reached. (Jthers knew and rejoiced therein. He could not say it himself, but others, privileged to wait around his death bed, said it with thankfulness to (lod. ' Hti has fought the good fight, he has accomplished his course, lie has kept t\w faith, hencefortli there is laid \i\) foi' him tlie crown of right seemed to forl)id such an anticipation, to prophecy a ministration of the word that might still last for years. But if it had been otherwise, if the anticipation oi' approaching death had been present, there is no reason to believe that the triumphant (exclamation of the Apostle would have l)een less confidently uttered. In point of fact, at any rate, that was the key-note of tli(^ last discourse which this laborious and honored servant of (Tod was to speak. It was arrangcid by that Master whom he served, that a ministry extending over almost 15 «o mild in iiul ceased le disease, Light, dim- Lseiousness fact of it. g reached. I not say L'ound his ' H(} has is course, k1 u]) for Lord, tlie lie nearest in which e petition, preaciied, •h always no anti- ir. Tiie tones, in quoted » )phecy a or years, ation of reason 1 of the red. In te of the servant t Master r almost ^ sixty years, and which had not l^een without its share of discouragement and trial, should close in th(? appro- jniate strain : ** Now thanks be unto (lod, whicli always causeth us to trium))h in C'hrist." It will be exptvttMl that, in bringing this discourse to a clos(>, I should speak somewhat more in d(>tail of the character and services of our revered and disparted fath(M-. You hav(^ ah-cady l>een niadi^ ac(piainted through th(» public press with the leading events in his history, and the important servi(M»s nnidered by him to the cause of literature and to variiography of the deceased than in a sermon designed to impro"\'c tlie occasion of his death. I think it l>etter, in what remains, simply to call attention to one or two prominent and distinguishing ex- cellencies in his character, as that lias been seen by us who hav<^ known hira chieHyin his later years; and in dwellino- on these, our aim would be at once to do honor to his now sacred memory, to rpuckc-n in our own hearts the love of tlie gracious cpialities by which he was marked, and, above all, to honor the gvaoe of the Saviour, to which, what was excellent in these qualities, and what of good resulted from them, were due. 'J'he first featun^ which attracts attention, in coji- t(^mplating the character of the departed, is the extra- ordinary activity which characterized him, his unceasing application to work, the wonderful enthusiasm and energy which he carried, even in age, into every under- taking. Sabbath and week day ; morning, noon and night, till failing sight made it imprudent or inipos- 1 16 sible for liim to roaci mucli in tlio ev(*iiiug Iioiu'h ; S(5ot- laud aiul Canada ; our city, whoro liis form was 8o well known, and th(i romot(^ aettlenionts of th(» Provinois in many of whicli it was as readily recognizod ; tlie ( Villegc and his own reaidenco : in short, all times and })la('es found that husy mind employed, working or planning work, preaching, teaching, gUvncing through books with (Urn eye but with quick and surt^ discernment of their spirit and worth, writing noticc^s of brethren who had ]n'o- ceded him to the grave, or reviews of works of literature, advising with students as ^o their difficulties, arranging the Libraiy or taking means for its enlargement; never inactiv<' unless when compelled to cease exertion through sheer exhaustion ; and never satisfied with any past achievement, but Ibrthwith embarking on new en- terprises, laying new plans of work for himself — occasi- <.)nally too for others — which looked far ahead. Acti^•ity was his delight : idleness in others — he did not; know it in himself — Ids grief and annoyance. His very holidays, his periods of relief from his regular duties, were only times of, if possible, more continuous and exhausting toil; occasions of long and fatiguing journeys, and of almost daily public services. His activity, moreovei', was at once wise in its aims and varied in its charact^'r. It was on the Avhole the activity of a sagacious and far- seeing mind, conceiving its aims in a large and gener- ous spirit, and pursuing them with singular constancy and courage ; and, as has already appeared, it was many- sided. Nothing, no form of labour which promised to advance vital godliness among us, came amiss to it. It is pleasing to state in how large a, degree it appeared to root in love to the Saviour and genuine interest in I 17 lours; Scot- was so woll Province, in tiic CoUeoc and placcH or planning ])ook8 witli ent oftlicir lioliad )»r<'- f litcratniv, , arrano^ino ilargenicnt; Mi exertion d with any )n new (>n- H — occasi- I. Acti\itv ot know i( i iiolidays, wor(^ only istingtoil: of almo.st ^r, wns at acter. Jt 5 and far- nd gener- !onstancA' as niany- )mised to liss to it. appeared terest in His cause. Yory far was the zeal of this revered ser- vant of (lod from being that of tln^ mere Churchman or ]>artizaii, hent on the advancem<;nt of his own Church or party without any very muchl)etter reason than that it is his own. It was only necessary to have a very slight intimacy with his inner life, in order to gain the dee[) and delightful conviction that a high a})preciation of gospel truth ami a profound symi)athy with what is highest and most valuahle in religious life, underlay and ennobled tlitj unceasijig activitv which marked his entire course. And as a eonse(pience, while he was eager in his attachment to his own branch of the Church of (Jhrist, he rejoiced in indications of spiritual life, wher- ever they appeared, and he loved, his heart, warmed in these later vcars, as manv of us can testifv, to oood men of every uanu'. JUit whatever its character and spring, work Avas his joy ; a task to some, a duty to others,. it was a. necessity to him. And he wrought to the hist. The illness which cut him otf had assumed a form, that was quite alarming and might have been almost immediately fatal, before it took the pen from his hand. There was gr(!at mercy in this for one so constituted : but one Sabbath laid aside from active duty and left free to hold quiet converse with the invisible, and ere another dawned, the door opcmed and he was called to enter. " Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing."' VY'rv closely connected with the |)receding, and vet entitled to a sei)arate place in even an imperfect an- alysis of his character, was flic breadth of interest by which as a Minister of the word and Professor of The- ology in the Canada Presbyterian Church, the deceased u v/aa characterizecl ; tho solicitude, which he uniformly evinced for the Avelfare of the whole Church, und for all tliat could jjroniote its efficiency and honor. He was never the person to be satisfied with the prosperity, however great, of one congregation, or one corner of the field, especially his own; while other paits of it might be lying waste, given over to neglect and barrenness or something worse. His soul was too large, find his in- terest in the things of (-hrist too deep and intelligent, to be contented with so narrow a satisfaction. The whole field, so far as observation or report could make it known to him, was in his eye, and the weakest and neediest parts were just the ones to excite his deepest solicitudt, and evoke his heartiest efforts. The Presby- terian Church, since it attained any considerable pro- [)ortions, has never had a Minister Avho could with «^qual truth adopt the language of the Apostle of the Centiles : "Who is weak and 1 am not weak? Who is offended and I l)urn not ?" "Now we live, if ye stand fast in the l^ord." This rare but most serviceable (piality: this l)readtli of view and interest, was in part the cause and in part the consequence of the extensive evangelistic journeys in wliicli lie engaged from the first, and in which he persevered to the last. During theii* course, it Avas his happiness to break ground in many a district wliicli has since borne abundant fruit, and in others, to revive what was weak and ready to die; his exuberant energy and resolute will serving in not a few cases to rally the friends of Presby- terian order, in districts where he found them weak and disheartened. The country was ripe for such a labourer when he came to it, and he saw and seized ! S-' J - Ul ' f - W lUWHtM. ' -ff. ' HIWJ I 19 e uniformly X'h, {iiid for lionor. He "' prosperity, ■oriier of the "it might be irrenness or find his in- telligent, to The wJiole (1 make it weakest and liis deepest 'he Pre-sby- crable pro- oiild with stle of the ik ( Wh(» live, if ye lervieeable as in part 'xtensive from the iJuriuo- ■round in mt fruit. ready to servino- o Presby- ni weak such a d seized the opportunity ; preaching far and near, lUidetciTcd by (listances and severities of weather, which nuinv persons of mucli younger years would have hesitated to encounter. In tliis way he contributed, we are safe in saying, mor(^ tlian any other individual, to giv(^ to tli(^ Presbyterian Church in this Province the wid(^ influence for good which it liolds to-day. It will be well for our (•hurch if its gracious Head lu'stows on it, from time to time, a goodly number of men in whom this excelltaict^ of character is re-pro- <1uc(mI in any similar uu-asure— men, who cannot limit their sympathies and interest to a single congregation, or even district, whose affections embrace the remot(^ as well as the nwu", and g(j out only more strongly towards the weak and struggling, "taking pleasure; in Zion's stones, and favouring the dust thereof" No. so a})parent, perhaps, to those who knew him only in th(3 distance, as his wide and irrepressible ac- tivity, but not less real, as forming part of the man and the Christian, Avas his great benevolence of heart. All knciw him to l)e alnmdant in lal)ours ; not all, though many, knew how strong and tender were his attachments, how unexacting he was in the attentions which iie claimed from those around him, how prompt and active his sympathies with suffering friends, and within how wide a circh; these were exercised, how open his hand to help a good cause or a needy person, how ready to oblige on every oi^casion, and— what is more difficult — how ready to forgive and forget a personal wrong, with all his pertinacity in adhering to what lie believed to be truth and right ; how uniformly kind and cheerful, in these later years at least, his bearing towards young 20 Jiml old. To tliiw Icatiin! of liin t'liaraetcr, to itH beiitvo- Icnce still more than to its strength, to the. chciTt'iilnesfl of ago in his case, even more; than to its extraordinary energy, is the affection ' years. To you, the meml)ers of tliis congregation, tliat memory will he especially dear. He was one of your- selves, and never fiiiledto speak of himself as such. At 51. critical period in your history, when y(nn- very exis- tence as a congregation was hanging l)y ii thread, he came to your help witli singular generosity, and witli no less singular courage. In your prosperity he con- tinued to take ii deep interest. In the providence of (Tod you were privileged to hear his last public dis- course. The ministry which had opened so many years ago, and under circumstances so different, closed among vou, and within these walls. Is it necessary that I should ask you to cherish the memory of this honored and be- loved servant of God i While doing so, aim at a con- gregational life that shall in some measure be confornK'd to his personal life ; that shall possess something of its breadth of interest, healthfulness of tone, generosity of spirit, readiness to labour, and above all, its blessed spring, love to the Saviour and fellowship in His lite. This will be the best and most lasting tribute you can raise to one who ministered to you for nearly two ycnirs in holy things. "Eemember them which had i\m rule over you, who spake unto you the word of God, whos(i faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." " Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us un with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus." Looking unto Jesus ! His best servants have i ML 28 ciiiotioii. It vv('V(T, whicli oii^' years. .\g'ation, that one of your- a.s suf'l). At ir very exis- •d thread, Ik- by, and with Tity he eoii- •ovidenee of public dis- mally yc'u-s osed amoiio- liiitlshoidd red and ))c- ni at a con- eonfornied ■hing of its snerosity of its blessed ill His life, te you can two y(»ars ul the rule od, whose r'ersation." t with ,s() ry weight nd let us ang unto a-nts have their failings. Their goodness is ever marked by some l)lemisli. He is the sinless, perfect On(\ They pass away. He al)ides ; the same yesterday, to-day, for ever. . Or if they abide too, in a ver}' precious sense, it is with Him, in Him, beautified with His likeness, made resplendent with His glory. "Wherefore, holy l)rethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ ' — Amen.