IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (Mf-3) // ^ p.^ ^ /<' >% ids 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^ IIIIIM IM 2.2 ! Ill 1.8 iA ill 1.6 ^. VQ

r^^ #: c*^ 0>. ■'•> ^ ^W 7 sss / Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 W^ :\ V \ ^9) o ;\ '% W CSHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de micrcreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a eti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques dj point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier una image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiquis ci-dessous. Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur D D Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ I 1 Couverture restauri«« at/ou peiltculde D D D D D Cover title missing/ Le titre de couvertur>' nanque Coloured maps/ I I Cartes giographiques en couleur I I Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsqua cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6ti filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires: n Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur D D □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es Pages discoloured, stained or fcxed/ Pages ddcolorees, tacheties ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages d^tachees EShowthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Quality inigale de I'impression r~n Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplamentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. une pelure. etc., cnt 6t6 film^es d nouveau de facon a obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessousi. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X J 1 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Tha copy filmed hara has baan raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, McGill University, Montreal. Tha images appearing here are the beat quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'axampiaire filmi fut raproduit grica d la gin^rositi da: Department of Rare Bocks and Special Collectioris, McGill University, Montreal. Laa imagea suivantea ont iti raproduites avac la piua grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at de la netteti de rexemplaire fiim4, at an eonformitt avac lea conditions da contrat da fllmage. Original copiea in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or Illustrated imprea- sion, or tha back cover when appropriate. All other original copiea are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated imprea- sjon, and ending on the last page with c printed or illustrated impresaion. Laa axemplairas originaux dont la couverture en papier eat imprimte aont fiimte an commandant par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la darniire page qui comporte une ampreinte d'Impression ou d'iiiustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autres •xamplairss originaux sont fiimAs an commandant par la premiere page qui comporte une ampreinte d'lmpreaaion ou d'iiiustration at en terminent par la darniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The laat recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever appliaa. Un dee symbolea suivants apparaitra sur la damiire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols "^^signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole ▼ signifie "FIN". Maps, plataa. charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirety included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand comer, left to right and top to bottom, aa many framea aa required. The following diagrama iiluatrate the method: Laa cartea, planchea. tableaux, etc., pauvent dtra filmte ik dea taux de rMucticn diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour itre reproduit en un seul cliche, ii est IWmi it partir da I'angle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche i droite, et do haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imagea nteessaira. Lea diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 is 5^ THE V^N^ITY OF ►♦-♦-♦^ A SERMON, PREACHED IN ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, MOifTREAL. ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF JAMES HEBVEY, Esq., BY ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. m (For Private Distribution.) PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 1864. f\l\KW\Esovi, AvexAH>:i^E:^ l/'rf ,^ ',^^ 21 ■3 4 THE VANITY 09 wtti ►♦-♦-♦^ A SERMON. PREACHED IN ST. AxVDREW'S CHURCH, MONTREAL. ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OB" JAMES HERVEY, Esq., BY ALEXANDER MATHIESON. D.D. (For Private Distribution.) putttwnl: PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 1864. f ■ SERMON. » •■_ I Psalm lxxxviii. 18. — Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. No subject has been more frequently presented to the contemplative mind, or has been the theme of such universal complaint, as the shortness of human life, and the unsatisfactory nature of all our enjoyments. Instabili ry and decay, are stamped upon every thing earthly, and present a strange contrast to the unbounded desires, and flattering hopes of mankind. In his best estate, — on the highest pinnacles of power, of wealth, and grandeur, man is altogether vanity; and not one individual can be selected from iiie humblest stations in society, who has not at one period of life or another, lamented over blighted hopes and disappointed expectations. "Surely every man walketh in a vain shew." There is nothing substantial, nothing real or permanent in his con- dition. Even those affections and feelings that are essential elements of our nature. — affections and feelings that shall outlive the fluctuations a,nd changes of mortal life, are, in relation to the objects of time, changeable. The gentle emotions of love, the endearments of friendshij), and sym- pathies of human intercourse, have, in this world, no proper sphere for their exercise or enjoyment. Often in the full How of the delight which they impart, they are suddenly and unexpectedly terminated, and in the bitterness of disappointed hope is heard the lamentation, " lover and friend, thou hast put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness." Without enquiring into the circumstances, which led the Psalmist to give utterance to those mournful complaints which pervade every part of this sacred song, or adverting to those events in the life and passion of the Redeemer to which they evidently point, we shall in humble depen- dence on God, make the words which we have selected for our text, the basis of a few observa- tions, on the imperfection of that happiness which results from the exercise of our affections, when they are placed on worldly objects, on the insta- bility of earthly friendships, and the deceitfulness of that trust which ^is reposed in human wisdom and power; ard endeavour to point out some of the lessons which God designs to impress upon the heart of man, through the vanity of temporal enjoyments. Of all the pleasures that derive their origin exclusively from this world, surely the tender, and mysterious emotions of a holy love, and the endearments of virtuous friendship, are by far the noblest and most satisfactory. Yet these are far from being pertect. The silent, and almost imperceptible changes that are continually passing upon our minds, — the alterations which are con- stantly occurring in the world around us,— the short duration of our lives, in this precarious state of existence, combine to render all our sublunary joys trarisient and unsatisfactory. Distance or time may efface the deepest impressions from the heart, an unguarded action, or a rude and incon- siderate expression, may sever in a momeit the bonds of friendship. Even that love is chilled by time, which we fondly imagined was stronger than death, and would have survived the wither- ing influences of the grave, and that friendship is no more remembered, which we vainly thought was peimanent as the everlasting hills. Other feelings possess the mind; other objects engage the affections, and the passion which once swayed the heart with supreme authority, failing by slow and inperceptible degrees, is at length utterly extinguished. The darkness of oblivion soon hides the past from view, and conceals in its impenetrable shades, those objects that once delighted us : and if not in bitterness of spirit, yet with a feeling of disappointment, we are led to exclaim, " Lover and friend, hast thou put far from me, an(J mine acquaintance into darkness." But supposing that our loves and friendships instead of experiencing the slow process of gradual decay, were on the contrary to increase in strength and disinterestedness with the progress of years, yet death would at length put a period 6 to them all ; and it might be in an unexpected moment. How often does that destroyer of human happiness, dash from the impatient lip the untasted cup of bliss, and dissipate in the very hour of expected enjoyment, those fair visions of delight which hope has spread before the imagination, and sustained and cherished amidst many disappointments and fears. But^ to pass from these general illustrations, which may not come home to your hearts with such a moral force, as those which speak to your individual sympathies, let me request your atten- tion to the exalted happiness which results from domestic love, when sanctified and sublimed by the religion of Christ Jesus. Notwithstanding the cares and anxieties that are mingled with domestic happiness, it is the purest relict of prim- eval bliss, the brightest emblem on earth of heavenly happiness, or rather, I might say in truth, it is a portion of heaven's happiness, vouch- safed to man here below : for we have at least some reason to believe, inat the redeemed shall know in a future state, those who were near and dear unto them on earth, and that those feelings of affection and esteem, which they entertained towards one another, though interrupted, shall not be destroyed by death, but, purified from all that is earthly, shall exist in heaven in undecay- ing and undisturbed exercise, throughout the ages of eternity. But pure, elevated, and permanent though such affections are, they are yet,~in so far as they have 4 I a relation to this terrestrial state,— interwoyen with many sorrows and disappointments. We cannot, while we " tabernacle in houses of clay,'* soar BO far abo^^e the world, as to be completely removed from its trials, and its cares. However spiritually minded we may be, these must in some degree aflfect us. We cannot but feel the dis- appointments of life,-and grieve for the dissolution of those tender ties, which unite us together in this sublunary scene. We cannot so entirely divest ourselves of those associations, which lead us to imagine, that our happiness and protection depend in a great measure on our earthly unions. Yet, often are we doomed, in the inscrutable ap- pointments of providence, to lament the departure of that happiness, which results from the exercise of the holiest feelings of the heart. Can earthly love be more pure, than that which subsists between parents and children, or can dependence be more complete, than that of the infant on parental care ? Even before its eyes are conscious of the light, it seems to look up to the Mother's love, for that support and protection which it needs ; and with what warmth of affection, and with what tenderness of care, does her answering, heart respond to that silent supplication— Or look we to the years of childhood ; that trust is not diminished, — that love is not abated. All the little hopes and fears, the joys and sorrows that aflfect it, are poured forth v/ith confiding trust, into a bosom that anticipates every wish, and pro- vides for every want. — Or look we to the froward 8 and impetuous season of youth, when restraint is apt to be shaken off, and pious advice to be spurned, we shall yet find there,— unless there is a deplorable, and an irremediable ' arruption of heart,— a deep and reverential respect paid to parental authority and parental advice; and with what endurance does the father toil, and with what anxious care and fervency does the mother watch and pray for the welfare and guidance of their offspring. As the surrounding temptations of life are multiplied, their diligence is redoubled. Many an anxious hour and sleepless night is spent in planning their future course in life. Many a trembling thought, is turned to the dangers which surround them, or to the hardships to which they may be exposed in an unfeeling and sinful world, and thus, when all as it were, seems to depend on human skill and prudence, and the continuance of that connection, which is cemented by mutual love— as if to mock the labours and expectations of man, suddenly, the fair fabric is demolished. The child is taken away, and the parents are left to mourn the extinction of that love, which made their hearts throb with raptu- rous delight ; or the parents are removed, and the children are left exposed to all the ills of life, perhaps it may be without a protector, or a pro- vider, but that Gracious Being, who hath promised to protect the fatherless, and who feedeth the young ravens that cry. Let us look to another instance of the imper- fection of human happiness, resulting from the i i 9 mutability of the objects on which we fix our affections. — Let us look to the wedded pair — con- geniality of taste and feeling first led to a union, which every year and day made more intimate, and seemed to render more stable. They appear but to live for each others happiness. Their days, checquered only by the little ills that give zest to rational enjoyment, glide away like some delight- ful dream. Their happiness seems to require little to make it complete, but indefinite duration, — and that, with unfaltering hope they anticipate. Vain hope ! Those hearts so firmly united, are torn assunder. The husband is taken away ; and the wife, looking on a cold and selfish world with feelings allied to despair, finds not in it, any thing to soothe or comfort her. Or the wife de- scends into the grave, and the husband is left like a tree stripped of its leaves, and exposed to every storm. Nothing can survive the mutations of time, but the bonds which unite us in feeling and affection, as brethren and friends in Christ Jesus. Nothing else, can resist the corroding rust of age, or triumph over the " King of terrors." There is no need to advert to individual in- stances illustrative of these remarks. Into those families where happiness reigned, we often see suddenly introduced sorrow and anguish. The gay visions which prosperity presented to vieVv^, are hid by the dark clouds of adversity ; and instead of the voice of gladness, or the gentler whispers of peaceful contentment, is heard the voice of weeping, and lamentation, and mourning and woe. 10 2. Nor are our friendships more stable. They too participate in the mutability and frailty of our nature. Yet, surely of all the pleasures which we are permitted to taste here below, those which spring from virtuous friendship, are among the purest, and bid fairest for perpetuity. We speak not now, of those connections which men often form for their mutual benefit, and are founded entirely on the reciprocal exchange of good offices. It is not to be wondered at, that these should be transient, and that they should disappear, when the causes that produce them are removed. But the friendship that is founded on the best feelings of the huoian heart, and that is cherished and strengthened by mutual acts of love, is by no means an imaginary blessing. It alleviates sorrow— it soothes anxiety— cheers dejection— and multiplies all the enjoyments of life. Man feeling how much he stands in need of such aid, and how tasteless all the blessings of life are' without a friend to participate in his joy, natu- rally seeks for one, in whose confiding breast he may with confidence repose his thoughts; and happy is the man who finds one of kindred senti- ments, to wliom at all times he can impart his joys and sorrows, in the assured hope of sym- pathy and assistance No earthly blessing can compensate for the want of a faithful friend. However elevated a man's station may be, or however numerous the train of his dependents may be, he is much to be pitied, who cannot num- ber one at least, among his fellow men, as a true and an attached friend. 11 or It is impossible to enumerate all the advantages of sincere friendship. Many of these are too prominent to be overlooked, even by the most careless observer. But like the modest tlowefret that lifts its head unseen amidst the flaunting beauties of more conspicuous blossoms, by far the most delightful exercises of friendship, are hid from the gaze of the world. To be known, they must be experienced. There must be a reciprocity of affection and kindness. There must be heart answering to heart — an implicit confidence on one side, and a corresponding fidelity on the other. Friendships thus formed, have been known to survive the shocks of political strife— to have remained unaltered amidst the vicissitudes of fortune— to have surmounted many discouraging circumstances, fitted to excite suspicion and dis- trust, and yet have been destroyed at last. But admitting that no general inference can be deduced from such cases, the disruption of the ties which unite men in friendly union, is not a thing of rare occurance. Even those friendships, that are founded on the best feelings of our nature, have scarcely time amidst the agitations of life, to develop themselves ; before th^y are terminated by death, and perish forever— or linger but for a. fleeting season, in the memory of the sad survivors, as things that once have been. 3. Neither is the trust which we repose in the social institutions of mankind, more secure, nor is the happiness derived from such arrangements more permanent, than that which flows from our 12 loves and friendships. It might be supposed that the imperfections which attach to the exercise of love and friendship, arises in some measure from the selfish nature of these affections-and that were our individual interests more closely con- nected with the interests of mankind at large they would possess greater stability, and our hap- piness derive greater permanency, from the ex- pansion of the principles on which it rests. This however in experience, we will not find to be the case. The leading elements of the social system are not exempted from decay, any more than the ties of friendship or the bonds of love. There is a social feeling in mankind, that leads them to unite for their mutual benefit and pro- tection. Confederacies of this kind, when founded on just principles, and conducted with integrity are essential to the peace and happiness of man- kind. They inspire the mind with fortitude in the hour of danger. They encourage us in every good work. They enable us to present a more determined resistance to every encroachment on our property, our liberty and lives. In truth without some degree of confidence in each other' the wheels of life vrould stand still. Every one would look with a jealous eye on his neighbour, and in the selfishness of his heart, would embrace every opportunity of advancing himself at the expense of another's interests. To counteract the operation of principles so destructive of human happiness, the beneficient Author of our nature hath endued us with social 13 feelings and affections, and made it a law of his kingdom, that we ahall derive a great proportion of our happiness from their exercise. Even where they are not so concentrated, as to constitute that state of mind which is properly denominated love, or friendship, they are highly favorable both to our security and comfort ; and the happiness and improvement of the human condition, seems to correspond with the number and efficiency of our socifil institutions. One of the purposes for which the ever blessed Son of God came into the world, was, by elevating and purifying the elementary principles of these institutions, to set them on a more solid and permanent basis, and free them from that selfishness, which would retard and destroy their beneficial operations. It is therefore perfectly consistent with the will of God, that we place a certain degree of con- fidence in each other. But the danger ; is that we put our undivided trust in an arm of flesh. We are often reminded of the frailty of such supports.— Often warned to " cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils." But instead of putting our trust in God, and looking to man as the, instru- ment only, by which he effects his purposes, we are apt to regard the presence of those, on whom under God — v/e have been dependent, as essenti- ally connected with our happiness. No one who is acquainted with the state of his own heart, or who casts a glance at the pursuits of men — will deny, that there is a fearful tendency in the hu- man heart, to forget God. That there is a 14 •cherished enmity there, which would thrust him from the throne of his empire, and exclude him from the government of the world, which he has made for the manifestation of his glory. Do we not often find men, in utter defiance of the re- quisitions of Gcd's law, form their worldly schemes, and in utter disregard of its threatenings, prose- cute them with all their heart and with all their mind? Do they not in the exercise of their pre- scribed social duties overlook his agency, and cast off all dependence on him ? Do they not in the enjoyment of his bounties, fail to recognize his beneficence, and ascribe their success to the strength of their own arm, and the well-directed energies of their own mind ? And do they not, when the comforts of life are wrested from them,' grieve for their loss, in a way that plainly indi- cates their hearts were set upon these things, and not upon God, as the well-spring of their blessed- ness. And that they distrust his power to protect them— and his wisdom to provide for them, in- dependently of those sublunary protectors of which they have been deprived. And wonderful it is J that all this is felt and done, amidst hourly demonstrations of the vanity of those objects on which we lean for our happiness. How often do we see the destinies of a nation suspended on the life of a single individual. He is taken away— the political atmosphere is changed— and all that seemed permanent and prosperous in the national policy is scattered to the winds. How often are the interests of a mercantile community, in a 41 15 great measure involved in the successful projects of a few enterprising men. They are removed from the busy scenes of life, — commerce seeks another channel, or for a time, languishes in a more slug- gish stream. How often does the success of individuals, and the comfort of families seem to depend on the continued energies of one lofty intellect, or on the tender care of one watchful Guardian. Death unexpectedly terminates the connection. They who have lived in affluence ; are obliged to descend into the vale of humble life, with their trust in God alone, whose mercy faileth never. Thoy who have been tended with more than a parent's love ; are left to the care of strangers, with no other hope but that which springs from the promises of Him who spreads his sheltering wings over the destitute and forlorn. Nothing can support the soul amidst the muta- tions and sorrows of life, but the faith, that the unchangeable God is a " present help in the day of trouble." This is a refuge always open to the believer. He can look beyond all.that is distress- ing, or unsatisfactory in his earth-born joys, and draw his happiness from a pure and never failing fountain. Though the separations of life, are, and cannot but be painful to the children of mortality, com- pelling them in bitterness of spirit to exclaim, '* lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness :" yet the gra- cious purposes of God are thereby most wonder- fully accomplished. A moment's reflection might 16 convince us, that whatsoever conduces to call oft' our affections from the objects which withdraw our hearts from God, and concentrate them on him, is a merciful dispensation. — That whatso- ever relieves us from the burdens of life, and introduces us to the ^;. appiness that is at God's right hand, is a most desirable appointment. It may present a different aspect to us. It may come in a moment when we looked not for it. It may wear the attributes of divine indignation ; and appalled and desponding we may exclaim, " hath God forgotten to be gracious, and will he be favourable no more ; hath he shut up in anger his tender mercies, and doth his promise fail for evermore." But, as when the blackness of the storm has somewhat passed away, and the sun begins to break through +he dark impending clouds, revealing the long parched earth, begin- ning to smile in renewed freshness and beauty ; so when the first gush of sorrow is passed, our afflictions, — if they are received in meek submis- sion to the will of God, and sanctified by the grace of the Redeemer — viewed in connection with their ultimate effects upon our principles and con- duct, will appear the most expressive tokens of God's tenderest love for our souls. In their blessed results we will have much reason to be thankful, that rather than we should be left at a distance from God, and to seek for our happine^ J in objects which cannot bestow perfect or perma- nent felicity, we should be subjected to the seve- rest trials, and those objects on which our hopes call oft' thdraw ) them fcvhatso- fe, and b God's mt. It H may for it. nation ; sclaim, will he 1 anger fail for of the he sun ending begin- teauty ; ed, our iubmis- by the ►n with id con- vene of L their I to be jft at a ppinesi perma- e seve- : hopes 17 and joys were centred should be taken away from us or the message sent to ourselves, " Arise ye, and depart. This is not your rest ; because it is polluted, it will destroy you with a sore destruction." It is only as pilgrims through this valley of tears that we have cause to mourn over the be- reavements of life. It is only, in so far as our affections are interwoven with the objects and events of time ; that we are destined to lament that " lover and friend have been put far from us." That state of mind which constitutes love, or friendship, or philanthropy, has in reality noth- ing in common with the materialities of the world. These feelings are of a spiritual nature, and can- not be essentially affected by the mutations of material things. They flow from the intercommu- nings of soul with soul,— intercommunings that are indeed maintained on earth, through the medium of things that are seen and tangible, but they are distinct from these things. Death may suspend their action, but it cannot destroy the sentiments themselves. They are spiritual, and over them death has no power. The very strength and constancy of true love and virtuous friend- ship plainly indicate, that they have not their origin in time, and that they shall survive " the wreck of nature." Tr8,nsferred to a region where everything is pure and permanent, they shall have full scope for their exercise, and forever " flourish in immortal youth." It is only the links that connect them with the things of time that can be 18 broken. The heavenly qualities that evoke these sentiments ; perish never. Viewing the several trials of life from this stand point, how kind and gracious do they appear. Surely it is in '" very mercifulness, God afflicts us." By destroying the elements of our affections which are earthly, and separating what is mortal, from what is spiritual, God gives to the holy feelings, — which in a subordinate degree, we are permitted to rest on material objects, — imperish- able objects to rest upon. By giving the objects of our love and friendship, immortality, he makes them, in some measure commensurate to the capa- cities and desires of our immortal souls — he ele- vates the happiness which flows from the exercise of the holy affections of our nature, above the troubles and vicissitudes of thh fleeting world, and establishes a permanent connection between our souls, and the dear objects of which deiith has bereaved us. Death does not destroy the spirit- ual intercourse that subsists between relatives and friends — it only destroys that which is earthly ; it leaves untouched that which is heavenly. The ties that bind the parent and child — the husband and wife — the brother, the sister and friend, are spiritual, and indissoluble — and freed from their earthly element, shall exist, when the world and the things of the world shall have passed aw£.y forever. To the believer in Christ Jesus, what unspeak- able consolation does the reflection afford, that when f:ieparated from his beloved friends, it is 19 only a temporary interruption of holy aflfection, for which he has to mourn. Or I should rather gay,— he has only to grieve for the departure of the visible form ; for there still subsists a myste- rious intercourse between the soul, and the spirits of his departed friends in Christ. They are all members of the same family— having .he same Father— and under the same gracious care. " Ye are come" says the apostle Paul, " unto Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven. And to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just ' men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel." Nothing is so well calculated to comfort and console the mind, under the bereavements of life, than the conviction, that they, who have been removed from the manifestations of their love, and the expressions of their friendship, are gone to enjoy in its ineffable fulness, the love and friendship of the Redeemer. He loves them more intensely than we possibly can ; he gives them to enjoy a happiness more elevated and pure, than could possibly spring from the exercise of our tenderest affections. This consolation is the « sure portion" of all those who have resigned, in faith and hope, their believing friends into the hands of the God of love. In the view opened 20 up to the mind of the ChriHtian, by the Gospel ; time and space are annihilated. The keen eye of faith reaches far into eternity — the soul, forget- ting the earthly medium of communication, and asserting its birth-right privilege, enters into the spiritual world, to hold communings with those who are around the throne of the Most High, and to participate in some degree of their joy. If they cannot while they are in the body always remain in a state of spiritual a])straction — yet, when they descend to the duties and cares of the world, like the face of Moses, which shone with resplendent lustre, when he descended from the nount of communion with God, their faces will shine as it were, with the radiance of heaven. Their minds will be more spiritual, their affections more pure. Their expressions of regard for their families and friends will not be limited by this world's happiness — but ranging through the infin- ite expanse of blessedness, shed on them through the love of God in Christ Jesus, they will earnestly implore that the riches of heaven's gifts will be bestowed upon them. With respect to those who have gone before them into glory, they will be heard no longer to exclaim, " Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness," — but rather, — "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies, that he hath translated them from a land of darkness and death, unto a land of unclouded light and everlasting life.'* The lessons which our text inculcates are 21 ilie numerous anfl important. To one or two of these, let me call yiur attention. 1. It admonishes us, not to place our affections on the things of this world, since every thing in it, apart from God, is insufficient to confer on us true happiness*. The blessings of Provi- dence are gifts from God. When we receive them with thankful hearts, and endeavour to apply them to the purposes for which they were given us, they become instruments in his hands of the highest importance, for elevating and improving our moral nature. They are not only encouraging assurances of divine love, but they also animate us to prosecute with diligence the " things of our peace." They inciease our desires for perfect and enduring happiness ; —at the same time, that their unsatisfying nature and precarious enjoyment, prevents us from lingering here, while unmingled happiness awaits us hereafter. Even in the height of their enjoyment, we readily enter into the spirit of the Patriarch, when he exclaimed, " I would not live always."—" that I had the wings of a dove^ that I might flee away and be at rest." But instea/1 of making our temporal blessings subservient to our spiritual progress, too often, when they are multiplied, we set our hearts upon them, and not upon God, as the well-spring of blessedness. More especially, if they come to us through the channels of human love and friend- ship. These agencies become so associated with our happiness, that, if they are removed, we 22 distrust the goodness and Almighty power of God to comfort or protect us. 2. We are taught by our bereavements that the Almighty designs to draw off all undue attach- ment to the things of sense and of time, that our trust may be placed upon himself, the fountain of all true blessedness. Implicit trust in God, is one of the most exalted, yet one of the most difficult exercises of religion— difficult !— not because we are unwilling to acknowledge his per- fections ; but it is a hard thing, to make us renounce all dependence upon ourselves, and those who are disposed to befriend us, and cast ourselves implicitly on his care, both for the things of this world and the next. This is a lesson that our sinful hearts can only learn in the gloom of sorrow and affl'3tion. We must feel the vanity of those things on which we are so apt to repose our con- fidence, before we can practically acknowledge, that in God alone our rest is to be found, and that in vain would we seek for repose apart from him. 3. We are taught, that the Almighty designs to give full scope to the exercise of those holy feelings and affections of our nature, by giving immortality to the objects on which they rest. The happiness that results from the exercise of our sanctified affections, however elevated, is yet from the frailty of the objects on which they are fixed, far from being perfect. Disappointments, mar our earth-born joys. Death, terminates them for ever. What we want to make our happiness I 23 complete, is pemanency-is freedom from death -is life-eternal life ! The only way that we can acquire this element of true felicity is through faith in Christ. "He is the way, the truth and. the life " " Whosoever liveth and beheveth in Me," said he, '• shall never die." To obtain this life, we must go to Him-we must follow him into the darkness of death. " The body canni>t be quickened unless it die,"-but through the process of dissolution our natural bodies are made spiritual bodies, fitted for an endless life. Such, my friends, are some of the gracious purposes which God has in view; when he sends severe aillictions to his people. Thus he reminds them, that here, they have no resting place-that here, they can expect no solid or permanent de- light-that their home is in a better world-and that to enjoy its comforts and happiness, he pre- pares them by making them pass through great tribulations. The events of providence come to illustrate and enforce the truths, which the scrip- tures reveal concerning an endless liie. And u how impressively they teach us-if our minds are capable of receiving serious instructions-the necessity for making due preparation for an eter- nal world. They have often uttered their warn- ing voice of preparation in our ears. May God give us grace, not to receive their intimations in vain They will soon carry the message to each one of us " the time of your departure is at hand-- this is not your rest. Arise ye and depart unto the rest which the Lord God giveth you. And 24 it o may God grant that an abundant entrance may be administered unto us all into his presence in lory. A sadder illustration of our text seldom occurs, than what has brought mourning and sorrow to ma»y a heart, by the sudden removal by death, of one of the members of this congi:egation * It was but last Lord's day we found him in his cus- tomary place among us, a devout worshipper of the living God. Since that time— short as it has been,— we have laid his body in the dust. His spirit has gone to God who gave it ; and we are not left with- out " the well-grounded hope " that through the merits of his Redeemer, in whom his hope and confidence were placed ; it now mingles with " the spirits of just men made perfect " around the throne on high. It has not been my custom — as you are aware —specially to advert to the death of individual worshippers among you — or even, except in a very general way, to enforce the lessons of the uncertainty of human happiness, which incidents unexpected and sad may give us. But the sud- denness of this event, — the sorrow it has struck into the hearts of so many who looked to him as a father and a friend — and who* now mourn his departure, giving utterance to their emotions in the expressive language of the text, may warrant me to crave for a moment your attention, while, on this solemn occasion, I advert to a few char- acteristic traits of that generous hearted man— '1^ James Hervey, Esq. a o t t I 25 and it may be, that after an unbroken friendship of more than half a century, I may be permitted to mingle mv plaints with the deeper wailmgs ot their sorrows. Unselfish, kind, and affectionate, he bound to him the hearts of his family, with a tie almost too strong •, wherewith to be bound to any object of earthly affection, consistently with a supreme regard to Him, to whom we can alone look with confidence as oar Protector and the Giver of every good and perfect gift." His heart, flowing with human sympathies, attracted the fond love of his relatives, and secured the lasting esteem of his friends, while he was ever ready to reUeve the distresses of his fellow creatures, ot whatever country or religious profession they mi-ht be. Nor were his acts of kindness the mere impulses of a generous nature. They were based on Christian principles-they sprung from sincere piety-from love to God and love to men. His piety was rational, eminently practical, habitual and cheerful, manifested in a dutiful observance of religious ordinances-m a tender attention to the spiritual progress and temporal exigencies of those dependent upon him,---m the integrity of his transactions-and m the last moments of his life, in his sincere and humble trust in the mercy of God, his Saviour. Review- ing his past life, he confessed his utter unworthi- ness of God's manifold mercies, and expressed his thankfulness for the afflictions which he sent, assured that it was good for him to be afflicted. ' Though suddenly cut down, with a disease that 26 generally prostrates every mental faculty as well as every physical energy, God was mercifully pleased to preserve his consciousness almost to the last moment. After giving a few directions rela- tive to the settlement of his worldly affairs, he turned his mind to his solemn position before God. The concentration of his thoughts on the great truths of religion was remarkable ; and the fervency with which he poured out his heart in prayer, has left with his sorrowing friends a token of his firm faith in Christ Jesus, to console them, amidst their fond — but sorrowful remembrances, and stir them up to secure the same comforting hopes for their dying hour. " I know that my Eedeemer liveth." " Christ is my only hope, my all in all." "Into thy handb I commend my spirit, Lord God of Truth, thou hast redeemed me," were a few of the devout exclamations he uttered in his last moments. On the last Sabbath evening, as was h custom, he assembled the several members of his house- hold ; and the les&ons drawn from the instructions which they had heard that day within the house of God, were, — I have been informed, — peculiarly earnest and impressive, confirmed as they have been by the solemnities of his last moments. May they make a deep and lasting impression on the minds of all who heard them, to the praise and glory of God. Amen. «