' IN M*EMORI AM. ) A DISCOURSE OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OE e^i THE LATE A. W. LILLIE, AND DELIVERED IN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 6UELPH, ON SABBATH EVENING, OCTOBER 18th, 1868, BY Rev. W, F. CLARKE, Pastor. \ PRINTED py KBQUBST AND INTENDED fOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY. GUELPH 1869. m mEmomAm. A. D I. & O O [J R S 'E oi:cAsroN::ji r.v nii: death or r a::d delivered i.s' the rOXGRKGATION V'- (^nrJK'Il. GUELPH, ON Sabbath Evemri'\ Oofcabsr 18th, 1868, BY REV. W. F. GLARKE, c^/// To my ninch esteemed Tutor and friend, the Rev. A. Lilme, D.D.' THIS MEMORIAL of a beloved son ruid ot the grace of God in him. '\^ .'irreciionutelv inscribed. . Heb. tl : i. '^'Be hduif dmd yet speakethJ' Thc'i'o is ;nanitkst propriety in the etuk'uvour to improve those providential occiirrcm es, which startling aiid impressive in ihoir ehaiacter, are pregnant with most momontous lessons of instruction. Great public cahwiiities, or sudden or sad bereavements, ure legiti- mate sources of waining, rebuke and exhortation. The religious teacher is not restricted to the Bible for his themes of pulpit ad* dress. The books of nature and providenre are open to him as weli as the book of ilojy Scripture, and these three form a seiies of text books, all of which have God for their ai hor, irutli for their contents, and human salvation for their object. Death is not voice* less when it happens in the ordinary course of thing?, and mows down such as come to the grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn Cometh in in his seai^on. There is even then a breaking up of na- ture, a sundering of tender ties^ — allogelher a tremondous change, constraining us 'tO a^k whence and whj is all this. In reply to th»rse questions, we learn that sin has wrought the dreadful wreck we be- hold when the grave swallows up its prey, and tliat death is God's loudest preacher of his own lighteousness, and of our duty to repent and believe the gospel. Some one asked Archbishop Leighlon if he had been to hear a sermon. '' I met a sermon,'' he answered, '"' for I met a corpse." And another has well observed, " The best pre- paration for our own funeral, is to meditate seriousl}'' and ['rayer- fully over another's grave, and take home with us the solemn trnlhs it enforces." If thus '' the great teacher Death,' admonisho;^ us wiicn in thi) natural order of things he appears on the scene, he does so far more impressively when his coming is premature and unlocked for. When he blanches and chills the beautiful face of infancy ; when the young sicken and die; when the grave clo.ses over those who have not yet lived out half their days; when "one dieth in his lull strength, with his breasts full of milk and his bones moistened with marrow ;" when parents are called to close the eyes of those whom thoy expected to have watching beside iheirown death couch; when life becomes a broken column; vrhen vieions of love and hgp* are 4 qucnchi'd in sudden blncKne?iJ i^-at; sucli ;i t'11,1', Dontt: loudens its voice, until ••(lust-, ihou ;;rt, mid v.w'-.) dast thou sii.dt, :ctuir."' ''Be ve theret'on.' readv also." levorb'Mat'. Linouij!! every cliainlfr of lln^ s(M!', aivl aiiel llie a'teMlio:; 1 v:;M. ct' I'l.-, most unc >ii'.'Crp,..'d and /."•iddy iunon^s*: tl.c i'liiidicii of m. n. :;Mi!tly the pidnil: s'lould echo tli'.'se vo'i (--, an-! ihc .-a(aed tcachci' seek L'> lix ihoir iiiflntiit.o ai!'! incuiory in the i-.eavis of those •«•.!;•? -it undci- his irdniiiliy. But lam Ui)t hfr. aiorely b> my ow:; ;oase ot [)e!sni;:d au 1 ofiii ia' duty ill t'ui jiie-("ii cr.x . It i> a/, il.c iii.s'.aiice of t'.e dfpart'.'ii (hit this t'isk i^ mih!>'! !akt.;ii. Kai !y i:i !iis idiiess, a.a'l \\hiio yet ;ea-oii h-'id its thnaio, !i.- dietat.'d this mcs-a^e tj \nc ; -'TAl Mr. (,'laike \io!: to in'cach a fuai-ral >eiinun f r 11, e, h it to iiiiprovo iny death for the- g'ooil <:)f oiheiv."' T!)i.>.-e tw \v;:!'iii thi^ del very of (]:i> ir.c.s-afi'o was entrusted, ei.iicur v.i h me in lu.di^! stan'lia'j; i', to ir.t'ai-, "Do not bestow euhviv an! cuniim.::;'.-! "on "ii me, Imt make use l4' niy exauiple as a hji-SiHi to saw' is."' Such a eireiuu-taiiCe invests v/hat wo ar-' la)// eai^a.',ei in w'.i]) .■^nccial ititrre^t. Ki^hlly viewed what a i-ol.-mii .-(Ca'm this i.-- ! I'iio ! ii'idt i^; always lillcd hy *jiiu wlioni II ladils •'To p'eaeli as iln iiju !.(- laj'-i' s!:' idl prea.eh again, To jii-acli as dyii'g- uatt.) dyin'i' ir;eM,'' but then^ is ruA a 'ij'.nj; Jo la meicly, — tliero is '( daiJ iiiar. i'.\ ihe [.uipir, to-niL;ht, wlso s-peahs lo you ihr(.ai'.;Ii lips at, pre.^-cn^ waini with liib as his so hitely wc:'e, iiut sooii to 1 u (a.nd who knows IkjW soon?) cold and still a< his now are I !;• llio lanouaoo of the, tcx!, "HE BEING DEAD YtT .SPEAK: ill." I am. bllt as it WOtC his mouthriccG and oc'.io, as he tliseourses io you 'he le-sons of his un- timely and lamented dcccas", and. yi)n a;o to lioar nc-t so nnic'a the living speaker, as the deatl one, — ratlier you are to hear wl.at God the Lord will ppL^ak tlirouL-Ji him who-^e tonj^nc Death has for ever' silenced. 1. He speaks to us, Jirsf, (;.aieeinia'.'; I.!/\:i nni'iifn'nii'j and the worlcVs vault//. These trite liomily tiuth.s b'.eatne invested with leahtv, when, as nov/, tliey .■.ot.nil for h iVum tiie ne.viy-.'i'ade t'olfin and grave of one who so shoit a time :)-j;<^ bid as fair (or luialth and life as any ot us, but has [la.-sed a.way to le ni.> moio .'eon .among men. AVe weave britrht vidons of (Ic t'atuie, we iorm ^wtet ties that are to last a lifet'ine/.ve dovis'^ business plans that reach forward 5 f.'ir into ll;c futuro, we count on long years of pleasure here, but Dfiuli nifikes nuhle.-^s wi-rk in cur ouitlily paradise. What fell de- sol iiirn lii?f piesenci; bririos with it ! "Man dietli and wa.stcth aw^y; ye;i. man ulvdh i.p t.li(^ <^hi)>t a;id whore is lie? As the wateis fiiil !ro:M the s;'a, and llu'il(ol d'jcaveth and (iriolh \\\)\ so man lieth :!i>\\M ;i!i'! i-i.--tli noi ; "till tlio iw'avens lie tio ii.or(* they shall not awake iv)!' be rai.sel ouL of >iet.'|).'" It is very aftecting Mud ve.'ry dreadlid to tliink (['a nos.n bviiir/ hurried out of the woi Id bv ;i sad uccide!;t w; 'ivii-f iiln'.Hs, and fo-.' over separated from nil his foriiior association-- and .:e.i\ iiii s ; — Iii- iheerful face never ag;dii to be i^een i;i tli.i d.uii .Jib'. ri;.:!o; liis mrry laugh never again to wake the e:.'ii< e.s ill )e-pfui:-ive heat is; liis hand never again to retr.rn the warm iiia.'^j* (>f frie'.id.-iiip ; his voiee never to be heard again; his form luncr \. , li' seen agaii'. Alas! "' How frail at be&t is dying man, ho\v- Vain am all his hone.-; and fears I"' '" As n tlower of the field sw lie ll nri.-lu;il). i"or the wind passelh ever it and it is goiie ; and f !;o I'iai'c tb.(>io:)f-diaH know it: no more." Poets have longsuno- of the bv'Viiy t I liib. Luiipides >{ieiks of tlio "little wojk of life;"' Homer of '• nil n living a liule vdiile and then t'oming to an end," and Horace glvis till, connii;!,"' i>e mindful of how short u life tb.ou art." His- . t(>:y ri.cM'!.'. it a.-; a pr.iof of wisdom in the father of Al(>xander the (Treat, that l;(! rerpdred himself to b» aroiised every morning with the t-ry,'' Phdip thou ait mortall ' What wonder the rtalmist €.\p;esso? himself eoneerning human frailty as wo find him doing in the 'lOih Psalm: My heart was hot within me; while 1 was ' iiius'ng t!;e tire burned ; then spake I with my tongue, Lord make mo to k':ow mine cii'l and the measure of my days wdiat it is; that 1 mav know how f;ail 1 am I Behold thou hast made mv davs as a hai;i".! leadth and mine ago is as nothing before thee: verily every marj at Ids Ix^st state is altogether vanity." Surely every man walk- (•:h in a va.in show; surely thev are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches and Icnowoth not who shall rather theni. ' When amid the e\( itomcnt of the Pristid election his eompetitor died, IJurke ex'daimed : '' What shadows wc are, and what shadows we pursue !" How eagei- and anxious we beeome in this pursuit of the ^hadowv things of tliG present world ! See men oompasdng land and sea; toilinn- and travelling dav and niiiht, their hurried ffait and anxious look showing that they are ill at ease, nod yet how vain it all i». e Now and then one gains a pinnacle of success, but it is a comfort* leps peak where he painfully balances himself and shivers in bleak loneliness. Here is a man who cannot sleep for eagerness to make money, anon tlic same man has gained wealth and its very abun- dance will not suft'er him to sleep. The thief may steal, the ocean engulf, or the fiio consume all that he has made, and lie tremble?* at the dread of poverty. Full ?oon he must lie down stripped of all with no comfort hut the reflections : "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked must I return thither." «' Vanity of vanities all is vanity! '' 2. He speaks to ua concerning the folly and danger of neglecting Salvation. These also are familiar topics of pulpit exhortation. We preajh a salvation which while purchased by the precious blood of Christ, and freely offered to every creature in gospel invitation and promise, must nevertheless be sought after if it is to be obtain- ed and enjoyed. It comes to no heart unsought and 'masked. It is not like the air, light, sunshine and rain, which come in and take possession without our will or wish being consultad. Though all things pertaining to human redemption, were finished in purpose and preparation from tlie foundation of the world, we have a part to act, and a work to do. The pursuit of salvation involves the abandonment of sin, and choice of holiness. It necessitates a new birth unto righteousness. It foi'ras a tu»^ning point in our moral history. No heart is ever gladdened by it until a full surren- der is made to Christ, and he is enthroned in the affections as Lord and King. Salvation is thrust on no one. No one is saved by ac- cident. The sinner must come to Christ, and impressed with the urgency of the matter, cast himself at the divine Saviour's feet, a sup* plicant for mercy, and expectant of it. To know that salvation may be had fjr the asking and the seeking is not enough. To purpose at some indefinite future period an earnest pursuit of it is not enough. "Now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." To bring the matter to a final isswe in the actual embrace of Christ, is a prominent object with all faithful preachers of the gospel. With a view to this we urge many powerful motives. The present value of salvation, the joy and peace that follow believing, the sweetness of a Saviouf^s love, the safety of euch as are in Christ, and among th« rest the folly and peril involved in delay. But, alas, how vainly arc these things urged in the case of many with whom gospel truth is '* familiar on their lips as household words.'' It is not that they deliberately and finally refuse to be saved. On the contrary they sincerely intend the attainment of salvation. But they delay the matter. They are not quite ready to close with Christ. X thousand objects of present alluremeut engage them and though siilvation is the great business of life, they put it off, until a multitude of less important affairs are disposed of. x\s the poet YouTig says : '• The thing they can't but purpose they postpone." And how replete with danger is this postponement, — danger lest " the one thing needful "' should dwiniUe fnto seeming insignificance —danger of worldly absorption, — danger of provoking God to take ftway his Holy Spirit, — danger '* Lest life's bright golden beams should die, Iq sudden, endless night." The case of our departed friend speaks to us most eloquently and touchingly on this point. When stricken with death as he believed? and in so critical a state that his medical adviscra on being peremp- torily conjured to divulge the whole truth about him, frankly stated that he might expire at any moment, the appalling discovery burst upon him of utter unpreparedness to die. There he was face to face with the grim king of terrors, — in the very valley of the shadow of death, — but unable to say to the Almighty Shepherd and Bishop of bouIf, *'Thou art with me, Thy rod, and Tiiy staff thoy comfort inc." In these trying circumstances, he gave me a biief but marvellously fjlear and comprehensive account of his religious history ; and in its leading features, it if the history, oh ! of how many hundreds of thousands ! It was in substance this. " I w.as religiously brought up, and in my early years had many seasons of deep conviction, and earnest longing to bo a Christian, but I held out against these feel- ings and put off the matter. I grew indifferent, and at last in the pride of hterary attainment and pursuit, I grew sceptical. Under the preaching of Dr. Stuart Robinson my laith in divine truth was re-established. I believed in Christianity more firmly than ever. 1 often felt the power of its truths, and many times was almost per- suaded to be a Christian. Again and again I war^ upon the point of yeiiJing to the force of re-awakened conviction. When my brother .8 William died, I felt more deeply than ever on this subj-^ct. In bid- cling me (areweli, he made mo promise to lead the Bible dnily and to meet him in heaven. Bat I got .-ibsorbed in in; profoision, was ambitious to rise, r^^ad law instead of mv Bible, fura'ot mv i>rom!ses and my vows, rind here I am a dyhig mun, without lioju) 'a Christ I" It was indeed a touchinn; and heurt-nicltinu" recital' Rarclv, if ever in the course of my ministerial experience, have 1 n.et with a case in which so vivid a coascionsness was had of innnincm exposure lo the consequences of unbelief and neglect. Along with perfect re- alization of hisconditiDn, there was an awful calimieis a;-; of one wtio measured the full extent 'fan impending calamity, an tiie thru-aud;- <'i' hearts, that on the day of 'Pentecost asked wiih intense.-t anxiety ; ^- Mrti and hi'ciltrcu. wJiat f::cd thii.)UL,h the agony he desciibcs P,-'. i 1 o. o : '-'{'he pain.-< of death uat hold upon me, I found trouble and sutrow'"; it w;'s the sanKi cxp 'rieiico liuit tiic Plid- ippian jailor had when a mora! e trthqu dee sho ik hii unconverted soul and lie. '• called l\)r a light, and sprang in ami (■an:e trembling and Icl! before Paid and Silas, ami said, Sirs, what musi, I do (o be save! ? '' And bethink yourselves, my hearers, how many of y^u, were .leath's cold hand feeling fur yU8," " oauie to seek and *o SHve the los.." He is fu'l of piky^ love and tendorne^p. It is ihp bii>iness of tlie Clui-tian ministrv to prrclaim at once His power ind grace. He is (xhili ed in the Divine woid as stat ding at the door of the human heait, kncck'ng for adtniitanc*', and his whole beaiiiif' toward a sinf d world betokens anxiety to ^aoe. Wo dlnte on ;.ll this wiihoul efi'ecf in the heaiing of such as arc se»uie and unalarm ed, but it is go«»pel in jeed, — good new.*, g1«d liuii g*, — to tlio-e who have been brought to feel the want of a Saviour. " They that a' e whole need not a i hjs'cian, but they that are sick." It was delightful to feel authorized to set forth the Lo:d Jesus in th^ ciicuM. stances I have narrated, as "able to save to the utte»nio t," —as p ssessed of "power on earth to forgive sirs,"— -as the D vine provii.!or of that feast of salvation which is announced in the gracicUl words, '"Co/we, for all things are now leady," — and as the issu'r of that go<-peI invitation, so welccme and precious to the peri'-liirg, "whcsofcver will let him come and take the water of life fuly." For a time our fiiend heard these things with a sort of wis'ful in- creduli:y, while a sense of unworibiness and shame came upon liira BO Btiongly that he fcarcely dared think these promises could be for him. " Is it po-s ble there can be hope for such a sinner as I liave been"? "Oh I doesn't it seem mean for me to have icj-cted CI Hit 80 long, and new whei I ieA myself to be a dying man, to ask 1 im to save me," are sampl 's of utterances that showed how real and deip was his compunction, how sincere and thorough hi'* con- viction of unworthiuess and guili. For u while, there s cmei danger rf depaii- setting in. But God was grac'ous to him, and enabled liiin to see the willingness and love of the compa lion- ato Kedeemei. The story of the penitent th:ef on the croil wasalvero! to, and he se'Zfd with eager avility the encourage- xceut it ufibids. " Ah," he exclaimed, " that fiti my case oxawtly* I > I ' 10 L'f" i-i eV ing away with me m it was with him, »nA Chiiist is f^s willii g 10 hear my prayer m He was to hear his." 'But then,'' he «H«'ei'j " he dll n^'t loject the Saviour a)! his life as I h»vc done." II' w.s rtn inded that Christ Jesus came into the woild to lave, ev n the chief of sinners, — tlut the God with whom wj hav«> to do ''.L»"vetli to «ll men liberally and upbraideth not,'^ — that our warrant to coine to Cl)r''t is not our goodness but our very badness, that the woive the caS', tlie more glory ledounds to the ph\>ician whe effects the y the simplest of dirtctior.s. ''Come to Christ as to a kind and loving fiiend ; cum ' to Him as the Almighty God perfectly able to Sive you ; come to Him as the great piopitiation for sin who baf tas:ed deMk for every n'an, and therefore for you ; come just a« you are ; c m.^ without vv-jiting for fitness, preparation, or qualification > come in the tpirit of those words, ■ "Just as I am without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bids' t me come to Thee, Lamb of God I ccme." .... J, ■ F.iiih is the heart's reliance on gospel promises. Treat them as true R '9t on the unchang rg word of the hving God. Take Christ to be your Saviour. Accept Hijii and believe that he accepts you. Ycu are as weKonie as ever poor sinner was to embrace the great ualva* tifui." SuitaMe portions ot Scripture were read to him, and prayer wasolTered in which heji^ineJ with mi oh apparent earnestness. At Ln, sudden and gloiious as a flash of heaven's own lighf, the w.iy of salvft'ion was made plain to him. " Oh" 1 he exoUiroed, " I fco 't all now. It is clear as noon-day. I can trust in Christ. I I'.iiiu he accepts me. I am perfectly happy. I can die in peai-e nn '•,' My sins are all fo given." The t ansition was pe f^cily ami.'.ing. It was as if the all-glorious Christ,—" Sun of Rightenus- no!»««" as he i-", had sudlenly burst forth amid a scene of dnrkiiess doub , and fear,— instantly dispersing every cloud and even chasing u away every trace of mist, enabling the entranced soul to sing, "Not a cloud doth arise, ' "• ■" " To darken my akies, ' '^ Or hide for a moment the Lord from my eyes." It was a time of Di vino manifestation, akin to that which thi Ap^s'!c Paul recalls in the expressive woid^*, " When it |)lea?ed God x re. Veal his Son in me." It was indeed a rc^ elation sowonde ful, that again and agai < the privileged sulject of it exclaimed "I iievoi' thuught it po"!«ible for mortal man to see and feel what I du ui;w Oh it is glorious beyond expres.-ion !" For fome six hours or more, he lay in a state bordering on ecstasy, and jet in such perfect po^se8 ion of his mental powei', that invry thing he thought if seemed to standout wiih ainaz'n^ sliarp' ess and distil ctuess of outline. He o.^tnly arranged his worldly aft". i;rt and wondered meantime at the serene composure with win. h 1 o could now survey the piospect, beiore so painful to him, of leaving dear ones vvhom bo loved belter than lile. A business letter to his partner, a portion of which he wrote with his own hnud wmi of strength comp lling him to dictate the remainder, gives eviden e of his I erfect intellectual soundness at this stajje of his illues-. He was urged to seek rest in sleep, and tried to dj so, but activity of mind and joy of heart kept him wakeful. It was well, forciuriig those few hours of rationality he gave evidence of the great spititu il change that had passed upon tim, which is more precious than lu i.^s toihorc "who loved him. The fruits of the Spirit '' love, joy, | cac, lonfr sufferii g, gentlenes", goodness, fa'th," showed themsel.C' very plainly. Giateful love to Christ prompted the desjiro to do i-ome- thing lor Christ. While willing to die, yea havmg I kePaul "a de^ro to depart and ba with Christ," he longed to do some goo I in the world ere he left it forever. He bemoanel with much tender cut- pouring of heart hi long-continued indecision, rpoke of his in^ a i- tttde in turning his hack 9>t tnany t'mes on tlie Lord's Su:)| or, — " but,'' said he, " I nevordid it without a twing?, and \\'Goi\shiruinent ill-, I doulu not, the disclosure to him of the alarming nntuie of liis i Iness bv l.i-< pliy. Bioian, was the ciiit^f means emp!i.»yed l»y Gud to lead liiiii to s.ilva. tion. It brought him face to face wi.h rosse.| on h in the alternative "now or never." Mt-dio.l meu r.vQ aitema ely blamed for wiiholding and for imparting sueh di-iolcjtire-', «nil it must be a delicate and perplexing question with th"m ho\T to ..ct, in ^u*■h cases, but in view of a k!i0Wledg§ of the Acts in tin* pr«« vt instance possessed by no other human bein p, I unh*>ita 1 f y a.^^im that if ever there was a leal kindness d.)i.e hr one mm to «n.)ther, it was when the i hysici^in told our decff.sffd fiietxl ho^ cniical a lOnMiinn he WH8 in. The information could not but induce alami, but .niarm when not over-masteiin**, is the very feelino; to imp^l tlic aciion which an emergency d«iiRnd§. With a mtud so eonsiiiutcd as was that of our deceased fiiead, the irtell gene* given d d not excite a nervous bewildeiment, but rotlsed t» iniell g?r,t piec.'ution, and earnest preparation for the event thftts-feined imminent «i,d mc.it^blo. Such an idea as that the intiraation of hia danger threw his mii.d mS' its balance, and induced the deHriura that subscquetnly set in, orliHd anything whatever to do witti it, is wholl. uii9up|)orttd by 'act?. That delirium came in the natural course of discai-e, and supervened upon several hours of calm pea^.« an>l unspeakable j y. Siipj» sc that under the delusicn of no present danger, our friend IjaJ 1 &t the few precious houis of reason that precede I \m menial cclips*, what tetrible consequences mit,ht hive follovfsd. Wc hrvo hi%iwnicsii- mony on this p(dnf. He had ft trjins-ent but alainiirg aiiack o^ illness the night before his fiual and fatal bcizure, and in reference to it he more than once exclaimed after he had found the S vi.inr> *♦ Oh if 1 had died last ni,dit» whftt a. drta.ful thing it wo.ild have be n 1" Let Goii be praised who 8o ordered it, that he distinot'y saw the approach of the last enemy, and bad time to gird up hii luiai for the terriMe encounter. The circumstanuttd I ha?d rarrated bring us in'.o dirc:t aiid felt 14 . contact ^vith the suprrnatural. The supcmrJural is c^nspicinus in evr-ry oc , nine conversion, whether it be jjentle and o;radiial iike timt of Ly^iirt " w\iOMi heart ilio Lord o;»eiied" or boisterous and Kudd-n like that ot tlie j lilor at Pidii])})). It is p'O-ent in every c!iri>tiHn evp lieiiiv wlivUier it (0 i!ri t ot a ^lowly.lri kiing r U ot peace and couit'it, or a mighty i'.v.^r ot'j >y thit ^u.idMlIy ove -l-ap« i'^ banks, and as in the case ofoiir departed fiiend, deluges ilie stul with the thd liliss ot fiCriven. li is the promin-'nt agency in tlie sdvation of ewry sinner. Tne saved are Divinely '* turned fiotn darkness to liuhi an 1 I'ro n the p 'ffi-r of Saiaii unto God." Thtr*, wliere ll.o C 1.8. i uu d is a liJiibin^er of peiice ani M herald ot lo\e. Atid thi> l^* not tic )ry merely, tor it c^n readi y be b"onglit to the ordeal of indivi.injil e.\|ipii» nce, tliat unfolng test of truth. My hearer-*, 0' d is able and willing thus to sHVe }0ii and me, so that we Bliall be witnes-es to his gtHCd atd po^^c. From lowest depths of sin, front daikH'>l realms of'doub', from ro,-kie>t wiMetnesses of heait- obiiuracy. tVoin de»pest sbys-es of de-p>ndencv, fr^.m piofoutide-*t sUmbdis of .spirnunl it.diiit-rence, from the utternrost helplessness and h"pclesf:t cs ol seli-Je.-pair, he cm bingus to himself, and innke us ba>k in his 1 ght an I love. 1 have little to say now to the uareless,--if any can be . aivleNS amid thef^e echotsftoni the grave, therp is little hope of them, — hut if theie b» here A .-oul ihAi isdistrfssed and oveiwh)k nnto me and be yes«ivei all ye end« of thecirth, for I am God, and 'heis is none else." V r-sjioi.d; " F'om. the end of the earth w)ll I cry un:o thee, when my heait is over- vheimed ; leid ro to the lock that is higher than 1," and year cry j-hnll enter eurs that weie never deaf to penitential pi^yfr, w.d move in \oiir hehnlf hands th it are mighty, y^u alndghty to save. 4. But I hasten, fourthly and briefly to obseive, thnt " he be'ng deaij y^t speaketh," (onccrntng the cftvenant f^i h^lne^s cf God. O^ir d.CM^ed friend -was a baptized chilil, a rh Id of m ny vows an I lUHiy privets. When he w^s an infant, ti e G 'd of Alnaham, I-aiC, u'ld .1 c -b was invoked to be his Gel, ?> I piT«titd tilth laid del U-rH e and Qnn hold of that ''pTO.*? ise" of r!iean •i*-'t,eveil'ist:ng covenant whi.h iS '^ unto \\% ani^ to our oliilo'Sn, ftnd t*« th«m that aie i.fjir ort', even to as jnany as t!*.?; L'lid oni God sliall ohH"' ; — •• / v'ill he a God unto thfc and fo thy seed nftcr thee,'' Thi-» proni'se is tl.o only groutid of hope Chiisitan parenliihAve that tb«ir ehildtta 15 will ever be «av<»(1. "Without it par^ntajje wouM be a terrible un. curtail ty, ur.d 1 ?«' to piouH liea'Sa <.f fHinllicsa Jonu'inf; raCA. T'o idea of our '-hiUrtO liti'nj; rcijeueiHted in ami by Ijip'isin is a wtu-f,)! deiiji'on and '"c'al snaic, but tlie pfr-ice p'e ljr<* in the case be ote UB. tli»t pr.'-e ass.rtiiijij it!?».]f"and irovini; linw real aiul efficaci-U' it !<•. What cncourai; Ua'il li.ere is h»re to Cliristian |>.iifiiits tu sup- plicate the throne '4 g'^v.o in th« spirit of t^iose moving lives : "I ear S.n'ou'", if 'uhese Umbs slioulJ stray, From thy • CoTo otioU'SuiVs louiid, Atifl, lurt'cl by worldly joyi away, Anii'l iiiie tiiovjghtless crowd be found ; Hpmpmher still that ihey are Thine, T lat '^'ly (ia'^r sacred name th^y hear, Thi; k, that ihe seal of Icve divinf^, The sign of covenant grace they wear I In all their errin;?, sinful ycirs, Oh 1ft tlipjn neVr forg' tten b**, KemcmbHr all the vows and teirs That Dii.di ihcm consecrate to Tliee !" This example ppeaks eloquently to tbe 'taptized cliildren of the church as we 1 as to thfir paient?. What a piivilege it is to have a pious ancesiry. That j)l ?a is of no s-liuht avnil in prayer. " God of our flaherp, he the God •• _^; Of their succeeding race." "r. ,1'' When Jacob was in u common trouble his cry was, " G'^d of f my f ther Abraham, and Gol of my lather I.-aac." Win^n Pav d -y. WHR wrought up to special earnes'tle^p, his aigiiment was, " () Lord, I . I a'Ti thy servant, and the son of thy hand:iiaid," Infinitely hfiier than a wealthy, educated, or famous ancestry, is a pi^us one. Cowper was tight when he wrote, '' My boast i^ not tliat I derived my birth, Fmm loins eiithroned and minarclis of the earth, But, higher far my proud ))re'en-p, The son of p.uenis parsed into the skie*." :, . It is thus with some of you. Y nts yet living up^n earih who^^e language coi c^^rning \ou i>. "31\ son," — inv daus^hter "if thine h»'ait be wise, my heait sh» II nj • ce f\en miup." HnVrf you assumed for yours' Ive 'I e vows thex m dr? f» r you f Have you ever aaid concerning the Lord God of your fullers, "Til's Cor{ is our Go] forever and ever?" If not, oh ! be <3oiijared to (!<• fi' M>\\. Hour i\T\'\ ()he\ the voice from heaven wl.ich asks: '• v> ill tb-h- inu' iVi'iii tlifin the Cliris^jan pysteni, thfy are ready to litigihe knell jiiid utieiul the j-niial of ''old jpiith" ns tligy disies[iectfully pt\!e the tinif find oiernn vh 'noured scheme of redemption through the blood of tJM* of.s. W»^ll, we accept the term of coutoncpt and weave it into a 5.';iilan I of honour. " Ul.l Fii'ih" WH clinp: to thee ! Thou art indeed old, yea hoary wiih y>zc. Thou wast old whpn tho v oild was young. And thou sh It 'ivH to I e oMer. '• The eternal yans of God are thiney Wc not d spi^e thy n-iey hair' I They arc a cr()v\n of gloty to thee! Thou I'.asr Insted while inviiad mush'uom faiths have sprung up, di.M', ai;d I'ceii foront'en. Thou didst live in Abiaham's day, a* d through tilt e he became a piltriim and f^tranger on the eaith, "Irokii g \'vT }) cifv whiih lifitii tbuidations, whose builder and maker is G d. ' 'I liou h^pt (ome down to u-* certifi'-d by a lonsf list of T^oithics of the < Idcn tim^, who '-thirugii faiih pubdu«-d kingdoms, \vi(iii<>ht liglitei nsn sp, ob'ained promises, stopped the moutiis of ] on«, fjUfiichcd ih'a violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, ( u' < f woaknt ^s weie made s"odl', waxed valiant in figlt turn«^d to fliihi ihfi aimns of the alivup." "Old Fai.h" we love thee! Thou lia-t a liome in many a t'ue and tnisling heart. And there is work for thee yet anvng the (fwellers on earth. Many who despite theo now will woo ili<--H when heait arid f^?^h fail, a"d ask thy help when tiny ptis-i the daik stream whiih separates embodied from dit^em. bo-ed -piiiis. Thou otily can'st act the paxtofgu.de to man whcii the Gitat Cieator "Shall bid his frembling spirit fly, Tn:o a woild uikncwn." " Oil Faith'' be with us in the walks of life. Take us often aside nrd'fll isabuul the "tliig» not spen" wi'h which thou ait so familial. Save is Ijom Hipcifidal tliec ries which make iho love of the woild ^tl0. g. find tlip h ve of Go 1 weak— ficm I'alfee lights which " cad to bewilder, and da/z'e to blind." " lend thy 'eal'zirg light, Ti I clouds (lippeise and ^h^doW8 fly, The ii'visib'e appe^r^ in siyhf, A lid Qjd is sjeu by moital eye." .-^--" \ \ '\ ' v«^