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Comorend du matArittt r . /r. . ; (.
V /
THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED,
A SERMON,
BY
The Rev. W. Agar Adamson, A. B.,
CHAPLAIN TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF
CANADA, AND ASSISTANT MINISTER
OF CHRIST CHURCH.
MONTREAL :
PRINTED BY ARMOUR AND RAMSAY.
1846.
This tract has been published, with the view
of reminding some, of the importance of duties too
often neglected.
I
m)
I
lew
too
Book of Ruth, 1 8t Chapt. 8tli Verse.
(( The liOrd deal kindly witlii 3 ou$ as yc liave
(i dealt wltln the deady and with me**'
These were the words of Naomi, addressed to
her daughters-in-law, as she was about to depart
fromMoab, where 8he,l.er husband Elimelech, and
her two sons, had found refuge and sustenance,
when the Almighty displeasure had visited the
land of Judah with famine and sore want.
How altered were the circumstances, in which
she was about to revisit her former home !
The God of Nature, it is true, had reversed his
decree, for he had poured forth plenty and abun-
dance in the place of scarcity and famine. The
fields of Judah, which lately refused to requite the
toil of the husbandman, were now standing " thick
with corn." The pastures, which were marked
by sterility and waste, were now beautified with
flocks and herds.
The vineyards again indicated by their fruitful
fulness, that the wine of gladness would be added
to the bread of abundance ; that a bountiful Pro-
vidence had again clothed the fields and forests
with his goodness, and generously be&towed the
means of subsistence upon that favoured portion
of his creation, which he had formed for his glory,
and chosen for his praise.
But the beauty of Bethlehem, rejoicing as it was
in plentiful abundance, was sorrowfully contrasted
with that famine and desolation of soul which
oppressed the bereaved Naomi. Her heart had
been agonized by the dissolution of nature's best
and holiest ties.
She, who had left her native land the joyful and
contented wife, was now returning a poor, and
disconsolate widow. She, who had entered Moab
a grateful mother of children, was now retracing
her steps to Bethlehem, childless. She, who had
fled from a place of scarcity, that she might pre-
serve her family alive, had, in the land of plenty,
been deprived of " the desire of her eyes." She,
who liad departed from the territory of Judah,
joyful at the prospect of preserving her name and
perpetuating her race, now returned humbled by
the certainty that her husband's family was extinct,
for she could never behold her children's children.
It is not for us to inquire too minutely into the
dealings of the Almighty with his creatures, and
5
therefore, we do not presume to express any
opinion upon the nature of those sins which pro-
voked God's anger, and which, in the instance
before us, had called down scarcity and famine
upon the inhabitants of Judah.
It is true, that like their fathers in the wilderness,
they sought their God in seasons of perplexity and
peril, but then they forgot Him in times of prosperi-
ty and peace. When their enemies were in the
gate, they prayed for assistance ; when their deli-
verance had been effected, they refused to bo
grateful.
What wonder then that foreigtj war, internal
strife, and domestic want, should have been made
the instruments of humiliation to a people, who
remained unsubdued by the repeated manifestations
of God's gracious providence and care.
For ten long years, the famine continued in
Judah. No record has been left of the miseries of
the inhabitants during a period of so much suffering,
nor are we informed of the number of those who fell
before the scourge of the destroyer, but we do know
from the narrative before us, that, in escaping from
his own land, Elimelech did not find safety.
The malediction of the Almighty appeared to
6
pursue him to Moab, where he, with hi8 two sons
Mahlon and Chilion, in the place of their imagin-
ary security, were stricken by the shaft of death,
and Naomi was left alone with her daughters-
in-law.
She determined to remain no longer in Moab.
The sepulchres of the deceased, the ashes of the
beloved dead, could not, precious as were these
sad memorials of departed joys, prevent her re-
turn to the beloved city of her birth.
But now, the smiling season of her life had
vanished, the happy days of her youth, and her
beauty had departed, she had begun to descend
into the vale of years, and to the increasing infir-
mities of age, was superadded the bitterness of that
cup of sorrow, which all have tasted, but of which
few have drank more deeply than the careworn
Naomi.
Depressed in fortune, deserted by friends, for
none in Moab appear to have been present to witness
her departure, bereaved of her children, her hus-
band dead, all the most tender and endearing con-
nexions broken and dissolved, she arose, a solitary
and dejected widow, to return to Bethlehem, and
live the brief remnant of lier days amidst scenes
vvliich might call to her mind, sad, but pleasing,
visions of bygone happiness.
She did not^ depart alone j two gentle s ouls
attended her, and left the land of their birth that
they might cheer and share her melancholy journey.
The widows of her deceased sons, repressing
their anguish, endeavoured to mitigate her suffer-
ings by blending them with their own, and to
soothe her sorrows by sharing them.
Fond hearts were these !— love in its purest, and
duty in its simplest qualities,quickened them to action.
Holy and precious must have been their emotions !
acceptable and well pleasing to Heaven was the
manifestation of their fond and faithful service.
Let their example teach us, that compassion is a
quality of the heart most becoming to the Chris-
tian— an emotion of the soul which is most pre-
cious in the sight of God. No jewel is more
graceful to youth, than the tear of sympathy which
is awakened by the sorrows of others ; and man-
hood need never be ashamed at possessing an
heart, which can be melted into pity by the voice
of misery, and can beat responsive to the notes of
mercy.
8
Oh ! friends, let not ease or inilifterence contract
our alfectiona. Let not plenty and prosperity make
us Bclfish in our enjoyments. Let us discipline
our minds to look beyond ourselves, and to dwell
upon the afllictions of mankind. Let us carry onr
thoughts to the miseries of human life— the solitary
cottage— the silent chamber— the dying father—
the widowed mother— and the weeping orphan.
Naomi, while she appeared deeply and gratefully
affected by the dutiful care of her daughters-in-law,
seemed equally sensible that the sacrifice they were
so willing to make for her, would be prejudicial to
their own interests, and injurious to their future
prospects, therefore it was that she designed, at
whatever cost to her own feelings, to tear herself
from her beloved companions, and depart alone to
the land of Judah.
« And Naomi said unto her two daughters -in-
" law, Go, return each to her mother's house : the
« Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt
<« with the dead and with me, and the Lord grant
« that ye may find rest, each of you in the house
« of her husband." And then she kissed them,
and they lifted up their voice, and wept, while they
answered her, " Surely we will return with thee
9
« unto thy people/' Still Naomi felt that the
love, which she owed them, urged her to repeat
her counsel, even though she did violence to her
own inclinations. « Turn again, my daughters,
" of what avail is it that you should go with
" me?" « Turn again my daughters, it grieveth
" me much that the hand of the Lord is gone
" out against me."
This was the moment to test the affection which
animated her daughters-in-law. This was the
crisis for the trial of their love. The fond attach-
ment of Orpah shrank from encountering the
privations of the future. She kissed her mother-
in-law, and, in silent acquiescence, went bark to
her own people. The enduring fidelity of Ruth
triumphed over the prospect of poverty and want.
Undaunted by impending perils, she « clave unto
"Naomi," and exclaimed in the imperishable
language of courage and devotion, « Intreat me
" not to leave thee, or to return from following
« thee : for whither thou goest, I will go ; and
" where thou lodgest, I will lodge ; thy people
" shall be my people, and thy God, my God :
" where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be
"buried: the Lord do so to me, and more
10
" also, if ought but death part thee and me."
Of Orpah, the eacred record says nothing more.
We turn, therefore, to journey with the sorrow-
ing widows till they reach Bethlehem. And, oh !
friends, what must have been the nature and extent
of that change, which grief, and poverty, and death
had wrought in the once happy, contented and
beautiful Naomi. What must have been the altera-
tion in feature and appearance, which occasioned
surprise among all the inhabitants of the city, who,
as they met her, were moved with astonishment,
whilst they exclaimed, " Can this be Naomi ?"
It is really her. But why so sad, and wherefore
a mourner ? Where is Elimelech her husband,
and Mahlon and Chilion her sons ? " Can this
" be Naomi ?" Poor widow ! She had borne
up till now — but the remembrance of her former
self filled her eyes with tears, and her soul with
grief.
The tale of misery was briefly told—" Once I
" had a husband, now I am a widow. Once I
" had children, now I am childless. Once I
" had importance, now I am without influence,
" Once I had substance, now I am destitute. I
" went out full, and the Lord hath brought me
S.-t
11
" home again empty j call me no more Naomi,
" that is pleasant, call me Mara, that is bitter,
" for the Lord hath dealt very bitterly with me."
And is the case of Naomi a rare and unusual one ?
Is it one confined to Jewish history, and chroni-
cled in the first Testament alone ? Oh ! friends,
let us answer the question that we ask. Is it
not true, that when we leave our homes, we little
reflect on what may befal us by the way ? Elime-
lech left the home of his fathers, for safety and
for sustenance; but he never returned. Some
of us may be induced to depart in search of fortune,
or of health, or of fame, but accident may overtake
us, and extinguish the lamp of life ; some may
be arrested by disease, and die unassisted among
strangers ; all having believed, when they left
their own door, that they should enter it again, and
none imagining, when taking leave of their family,
that they were saying farewell for ever.
Nor does the parallel end here, for, as in the case
of Naomi, so, in many an instance which meets
our view in the daily walks of life. Death, having
smitten his victim, and borne him to the grave,
leaves as a substitute for « the whole stay of bread,"
misery and want, desolation and despair. The
12
gloomy crape of the [wiJovv, and the mourn-
ing garb of the orphan, in language more eloquent
than words, speak to the soul, of the existence,
aye, and of the departure of better days, and
prompt ua to exclaim, as did the inhabitants of
Bethlehem, " Can this be Naomi 1"
There can be little doubt that Elimelech was rich
—there can be none that Naomi was poor ; and though
the narrative does not disclose how it was that she
became destitute and impoverished, we conceive it
by no means an overstrained inference, that he died
without making any testamentary disposition of his
substance — that he left no will.
And are there none amongst us, who forget or
postpone this important duty ?
Are there none here, who^ by their thoughtless-
ness or timidity, are in danger of leaving, at their
death, poverty and want to those whom, in their
life, they desire should be the possessors of compe-
tence or plenty ?
Is it not true, that often the most beloved objects
of our regard, those for whom we toiled with eager-
ness and laboured with pleasure, are deprived of all
the benefits of our industry, because we omit to in-
13
dicate our will in writing, or do not complete it in
accordance with the law ?
Are there not too many within the circle of our
own knowledge, who are now suffering privation or
destitution, because their parent or guardian died
in the neglect of this duty ?
Are there not many, exposed to the overbearing
arrogance of the person, who, being the heir at law,
has constituted himself the heartless tyrant of those
unfortunates, who were certainly better beloved by
him whose property he has inherited ?
Is there no fond and loving wife, who, like
Naomi, in losing her husband, loses her protector
and defender, becomes the prey of the subtle and
designing, and sees almost all that wealth which
she contributed her industry to acquire, with-
drawn from her by fraud or treachery, and diverted
into the hands of stranger or the enemy.
My friends, I know that I incur the risk of giving
offence to some, who but imperfectly understand the
nature of those duties which devolve on the Minis-
ter of the Gospel, when I ask ; Have you made
your will ? when I demand from you, if, now
whilst you are in health, you have " taken order for
" the settlement of your temporal estates ?"
14
But, my brelhren, it is not only my duly to a*
w e. e y„„ have ,„ade yc. vviiis, L I L Mt
m ed by tat Church ofvvhich I am a Minister,
at.il.ly, when do.ng so, to be liberal to the poor."
I am enjoined by that Holy Revelation,vvhich God
has vouchsafed to Man, to exhort you b; your love
to yo„,. Saviour_by the disclosures of the Judgmen
day-and by the awfulness of eternity- '.hafyou
be melte to pity at the sufferings of L wid vv-
that^ou^be moved to charity by the he,^^^^^^^^^^
hav?thr;:at: *;:•", r. ''-' ^-^ ^"^ ^-"
andyo„sh2::;e.irb,:::jr^'""''^^"'
The will is the highest faculty ofthesoul~i, is
i. oHgina.es ^:.^^:72Zzi'::^
am.dst the decays of age, it remains^o ct 'o "to
than th,. ,t outlives the dissolution of our bodies
" ^°'' ^'^"'^ "^ to j-dgment, God grant i, ' ''
not precede us to condemnation. ^
T.me would fail us, were we to enlarge upon the
15
e^ercbe of ,hi. high function of the .oul. Our
observafons must therefore be confined to th
arncular dut, .hich appears to have been oL e
7 El-melech, ,n the narrative before us. Havin.
demanded ofy„u,whetheryouhave made ,.o"vrif
-let us pause to enquire in what spirit that dutv
has been discharged. ^
In that solemn deed, the consideration of which
of IhTh"' '''' "'■*""^'"' ^'^'^ 'he performa
of winch has occupied many hours of care, how
have you devised the bounty, of which the AI „i h .!
has appointed you the steward ? ^ ^
In the solitude of your chamber, your own hand
hasw„„e„y„„ jyi„g,^^^^^_ The eye of ma„
wm never behold those words, till ,he fi„"'s
wh.ch ...ced .hem are stiffened in death. Tol
pen, obedient to the dictation of your wiH
has transcribed that, which, while it is h dden fT m
and from whom no secrets are hid." shal
remam silent and inoperative, tili the shroud and the
wmdmg sheet shall be your only apparel, and he
cold earth shall have closed upon your silent grale
Imagme, my friends, that the last office which can
bererformedby,hel,vi„gftr.hedead,hasbee„
16
fulfilled for you. The tear of sorrow has mingled
with the dust, that covers all which remains of you,
as a husband or a father. " The dead is buried
out of our sight," and the only memorial of you,
who so lately had life, and love, and energy, is one
small mound of earth.
In the certainty of the general resurrection at
the last day, the mourning group around your grave
express the hope, that you « will rise to the life
" immortal." Then are you left alone. With a sad
and stricken heart, your relatives and friends return
to the former abode of him whom they have loved
and lost.
With trembling hand and anxious mind, they
proceed to break the seal, which holds in sacred
trust the decree, which was to slumber in inactivity
till he who made it had slept in death j a decree
which is to tell survivors how the dead one loved j
how he thought, when living j how he felt, when
dying.
The casement which has remained darkened
since he breathed his last, is now opened, and by
the returning light, is read, the last deed of him
whose soul is gone to j udgment. No sound is heard
in that silent chamber, above the voice which
i 'k:
17
audibly states, item by item, his last will and testa-
ment. His family are provided for, and they are
satisfied. His friends are remembered, and they
are grateful.
Though sometimes it happens that a hasty word,
or a youthful indiscretion, has excluded a wife or a
child from his regard. An unwelcome remark, or a
thoughtless jest, may have hardened his heart to a
friend or a brother. But mankind acquits him of
blame, for he never forgave them — he never forgave
them ! He, who affecting to trust to his Saviour's
merits, pleaded for pardon by his forgiveness of
others, has entered that Saviour's presence, with the
guilt upon his soul of having lived, and died, with
the determination never to forgive.
Oh ! friends, if human frailty cannot pardon the
slight offences of human frailty, how can the Divine
Purity overlook the iniquities of those who have
never learned to forgive.
The testimony of the world, however, speaking
by the practice of its votaries, but ill accords with
the testimony of the Church, speaking in the
precepts of the Gospel. Both will comment on
the motives which animated the dead j but one will
c
J
if
4
18
argue from the practice of men, the other will rea-
son from the commandments of God.
It is true, to a certain extent, the world and the
Church agree in their testimony, for both declare
that the dearest of earthly ties, is that which binds
us to the wife of our bosom, and the claims which
nature most cheerfully acknowledges, are those
which exist between parent and child. There
can be no more beautiful communion of hearts
than that which is witnessed in a united family a
famil)', whose love has not been quenched by
domestic strife, whose affection is purified by the
interchange of kind offices, and perpetuated by
acts of disinterested devotion. Of these, the
world and the Church unite in urging you, as you
loved them in your life, to bequeath to them some
memorial of your fondness at your death.
If in the company of your kindred, there is one
upon whom the hand of misfortune has pressed
heavily ; one who has been the victim of fraud, or
made poor by losses, whose integrity has not
won for him honour, or whose industry has not
secured for him competence ; oh ! think of him
kindly, and let not his poverty teach you to forget.
If there be one sad and widowed soul, whose
19
tenderness and love have enable.! her to suffer
gnef without complaint, and who.se smile of kind-
ness but ill conceals a broken spirit ; oh ! be
move by Christian pity, to help herf helpless-
ness, lei your bounty mitigate the anguish of the
canker which death has wrought in her heart, let
your remembrance of her necessities enable her to
encounter the future difficulties of life.
If there be one young and lender child, who
claims your kmdred, one who has been deprived of
father and mother, forsaken by the guide of his
."fancy, and the adviser of his youth, without
fnends or counsellors, without education or res-
tram,, then act kindly, I entreat you, to the poor
orphan. Think of the mis-directed energies of the
boy, the perilous solitude of the girl, and as far as
m you Iieth, shelter their young and eenerous
hearts from the snares and seductions of a w d
full of temptation.
But, my friends, your own relatives should not
stant ""'r.^'^J^''' "f yo"' regard. That sub-
stance, which you hold in trust for the Aimi»htv
ai Z^ """'"f '° *« -""-- of yourtn
family this IS not the condition of your steward-
ship. It ,3 not the purpose for which God has
20
blessed you with abundance. Do not perpetuate
beyond youf life the abuse of his gifts, leaven your
bequests with charity, evince that you have been
mindful of your Redeemer, by remembering the
poor who are His representatives, and that in
thinking of his Body, the Church, its claims and its
wants, you have been actuated by love to Him
who is its divine head.
Why should one man be rich, and another poor ?
Why should one live in the lap of luxury, and
another be denied his daily bread ? Why should
one be splendidly clothed, and sumptuously housed,
and another be starving, and ragged, and shelter-
less 1 — are questions which the presumption of phi-
losophy cannot fathom.
But the difficulties which human reason cannot
comprehend, are solved by Divine Revelation,
which informs us, that, in this stat^, of probation
and trial, duties are devolved upon us, and talents
are committed to us, which we are enjoined by the
most solemn sanctions, to use for the glory of God,
and the extension of his kingdom, for the good of
man, and the supply of his necessities, and, whe-
ther these gifts are mental or physical, whether
they consist in influence or riches, they should be
21
employed in the service of our Maker, and conse-
crated to the praise of Him who « wns rich, but for
" oursakes became poor." For the same revelation
which commands us to honour our father and
our mother, demands also that we should « consi-
« der the poor and needy," if we ourselves would
be delivered in the time of trouble. The
same God who has commanded, « Thou shall
« do no murder," has also spoken, « Be ye kindly
*| affectioned one to another, forbearing one ano-
"ther, and forgiving one another, as God for
« Christ's sake hath forgiven you." The same
God who has said, « Thou shalt not steal," has
likewise commanded, « Thou shalt not harden
« thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor
« brother." The same God who has commamJed,
'^ Thou shalt not covet," has also enjoined, « That
« ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child."
« If thou afflict them in any wise" says the Lord
« and they cry at all unto me, 1 will surely hear
" their cry, and my wroth shall wax hot, and I
« will kill you with the sword, and ycur wives
shall be widows, and your children shall be
" fatherless."
If we would behold our Redeemer in peace, we
I
r
22
must noi only trust for salvation through Iiis death,
but our conduct nnuat be regulated by the Voice of
His Word. Our praclice and demeanour must
be assimilated to his precepts, and his exam-
pie. And it is in this, that the distinction is
observable between the way of the world, and
the way of the Church. The one will be content
with tlie profession, without the results of godliness,
with a faith, which being dead is unfruitful, but
which having been professe•- "J'l^J
I'"' "^'""'J ^'''"'='' i» 'o fl<'Uiish unimpaired, when
exchanged for enjoyment. Be warne.l, I entn;at
you, that the revelations of your dying Will do not
agomse the hearts of your survivors, with the
terrtble apprehension, that, in remembering your
ftmdy, you had forgotten yourself, that in enridting
othe«, you yourself were beggared. Beware, lest
that deed which you have prefaced with the divful
name of God, which you have executed, being of
"sound m,„d,» should testify, not only t'hat „^„
earth, the scene of your toils, you have left yVur
golden heap, but that you have laid up no treasure
.n heaven. Be warned, lest your temporal gifts can-
not become eternal rewards, for you have bestowed
them ,n violation of the requirements of your God,
your bequests not having been sanctified by charity •
that to others, you have left the use of your wealth'
and carried only its abuse with you to judgment
24
X
and in the language of the world have made
your friends, in the language of heaven have " un-
" done yourself." Oh ! bethink yourself in time,
whether it is safe to act thus towards Him who is
the Lord of all ; whether it isho nest to defraud
your Maker of that portion of your substance, which
He requires for His service, for He demands of you
not only worship, but tribute also.
Oh ! be persuaded to place in the treasury of the
Church, some part of your possessions ; let the poor
and the indigent, the widow and the fatherless, be
the objects of your bounty, and the seeds of charity
which you have scattered on earth, in the path of the
destitute, shall in heaven bear fruit, beyond your
powers of computation. As in the case of Naomi,
those whom you succour will praise you, those whom
you benefit will bless you, and like Ruth, your
faithfulness will, even in this world, be rewarded.
In becoming the wife of Boaz, the affliction of her
widowhood was alleviated; in becoming the mother
of Obed, the reproach of her barrenness was remov-
ed ; more than this, upon her, an alien to the Hebrew
commonwealth, a daughter of Moab, was conferred
the honour and the blessing, which was the hope
of every Jewish maiden, of being the chosen pro-
25
genitor of Him, who, in future times, was to be a
"light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his
people." She obtained mercy, because she };ad
been merciful j she secured honour, because she had
fulfilled duty ; verily God dealt kindly with her,
because she had dealt kindly « whh the dead."
Nor, with returning prosperity, did she forget her
widowed mother-in-law, the desolation of poor
Naomi's heart was healed, her life was renewed,
her old age was nourished, her declining years
were comforted, by the kindliness of Ruth and the
affection of iier child.
Although I have said but little on the especial
claims of the Clergy to your consideration and
regard, I trust you will not suffer my apparent
omission to narrow the measure of your contribution
to their widows and fatherless children.*
Remember that the branch of the Church in this
Province, is, in a pecuniary point of view, poor and
needy. Its Ministers, who are mostly missionaries,
*This Sermon was preached in behalf of the Widows
and Orphan's Fund, of the Church Society of the Dioceses of
Quebec and Montreal.
1
20
have no hope of preferment, and are without the
ability to make any provision fur their families -, in
labouring in the forests, they are content if their
daily wants are supplied, and they are happy to
toil on, till God shall call them to their reward.
But to whom, then, shall they entrust the care of
their families,if the Church refuses to provide for their
support. Oh I friends, mitigate by your bounty
the only bitterness which attends their dissolution,
enable the Church to fulfil her duty by accepting the
trust, and thus by sustaining the living, you will deal
"kindly with the dead."
Are you an husband? then look upon her,
whom, in the spring time of your life, you led proudly
to the altar, and who, were it her Maker's will,
would now rather accompany you to the grave,
than part with you by death j think of her agony'
should she be left a widow, and destitute, and let
your thoughts influence your offerings.
Are you a parent ? Then, whilst you are grate-
ful, that your life is spared to your children, think
of them, as they would be, were you taken from
them by death j think of your son, the inheritor of
your name, his youth uninstructed, his habits un-
controlled, his passions unrestrained, a disgrace to
I
II.
— i._
3ny,
let
,
27
the dead, and an affliction to the living. Think of
your daughter, whose tender infancy has won your
heart, and, whose gentle love has bound her to
your soul J think of her, without your aid and pro-
tection, without your counsel and advice ; think of
her, as an uncared for and destitute maiden, de-
serted and solitary, with a heart full of feeling, in a
world full of danger; and as you think, be moved,
I conjure you, by the helplessness of the orphan,
to aid the living, and thus deal « kindly towards
" the dead."
Are you an orphan? and were you, when
young in years, deprived of your father? then
recall, if you are able, those bitter moments, when
you saw the guide of your youth perish before your
eyes ; when sorrow, and suffering, and death,
brought anguish to your soul j when your tears
fell fast into the lap of her, whose imprisoned agony
was too deep for utterance ; when she, who gave
you being, and who would have sacrificed her life
to save you pain, led you by the hand, to look for
the last time upon the lifeless form of him, who was
her husband, the father of her children, the pro-
vider of bread. Do you remember,~.you do, for
you can never forget, when she awoke from the
\L
I
28
stunning blow inflicted on her by death, to conscious-
ness and duty, how she strove to make you happy,
has she cloaked her own anguish, that your lieart
might not be saddened ? Then I conjure you, by
your mother's love, close not your liands, seal not
up your heart ag'iinst this appeal, but comfort and
sustain the living with your bounty, and thus will
you « deal kindly with the dead."
If Providence did not visit your childhood, by
the bereavement of your father ; if your young heart
was not clouded in grief by your mother's widow-
hood ; if the t>tay of your house was not removed,
until after time and experience had pointed out
your path of life; then be thankful to your God for
his mercy, and as you express your gratitude, think
of those, who, in their tender childhood, have been
left naked and unsheltered, in a cold and heartless
world. Look at your own children, who are so
dear to you, and let their helplessness, the tie which
binds them to your heart, speak for me in behalf of
those as young, as loving, and as well-favoured as
themselves, but who have been deprived, by death,
oftheir guide and support. Can you who are a
father, resist the appeal of your child, when that
child pleads in behalf of children who are fatherless ?
29
As sons of the Churcli, as servants of Christ,
as stewards of his bounties, T beseech you, turn not
away from the supplication of those, who have been
placed by Providence in the path of your benevo-
lence, and in now making your thank-oiTering to
your Preserver, be not unmindful of your Saviour's
words, «« the merciful shall obtain mercy," and
" the measure you mete to others shall be measured
" to you again."
I entreat you to believe, that your charities will
sweeten the journey of your life, will comfort you in
the « hour of your death," and that these evidences of
your faith, will not be unacceptable to your Ret
deemer in the " day of judgment." Widows whom
you have relieved, and orphans whom you have
supported, will raise their supplications to the
throne of grace in your behalf j they will implore
the Giver of all good to shov^^er down upon you his
choicest blessings ; and they will invoke their
Heavenly Father, by the remembrance of your
kindness, to deal kindly with you, even as you
have dealt kindly with the dead, and with them.
FINIS.
I —
Subscriptions and Donations to the Church S«,iely, „i„ b.
ankfuny received by T. B. A»z,.kso., Es,., Montreal.
cirjy '^^^•.«-bec. Treasurers, and by all the
JFoms of ascquests ana BeMses bn
mm.
P.MTn[ V """ °-^^'"'^!'' »'• "/ «'«"■« of stock or
Puihc Debenture, for He general purposes of i SoX^
of OuT °^?.''^'"'^«"' '0 "><= " Church Society of the Diocese
of Quebec," .neorporated by a Statute of the Prov]neerf
Canada, passed in the seventh vear r ■ ih. t f™"'"" "f
Majesty. Q„.., Vtcxo«,::.heC::^ ^ ''''=" "^ ""
pounds, Currency, (or cu
ofStockinthe Bank of ^^""'^
or rif n'!r"f ° '" ""^ "'"'^ ^" '^^ ^'^^' of the said Bank
or, (If Debentures, describe them briefly) upon trn.t Tk
by the said Church Society anuliprl .^"^ "P°"^*'^"s*> *« be
/'o^iw.es o/Me said Society, as specified in the said Acf nf
Incorporation, and none other. ^"^^ °^
JJebenturesforoneormnranf*f,. -^ "tt^c«,6 or
-S-ode/y. -^ ' '^'"'^' -^'^^^^^'^^ 0/ the
(Same as the foregoing,only instead of the ,vords in Itah'cs
s^ rjt^; ™;~ s -rcB
of poor Clergymen of the said United Church within Jsdd
Dioce8e5,-and making provision for those who ma. be
incapacitated by age or infirmity, and for thewdoT/ana
orphans of the Clergy of the said Church in the said i^oceTe
Or,
For and towards the encouragementof educaUon and th.
urrr. u r.'''' conformity with the principles of the
United Church ofEngland and Ireland. i' ^^'^^
Or,
For and towards a Fund for assisting persons preparing for
IheMmislry of the Gospel in theUnitedChurc^^
and Ireland, within the said Diocese of Quebec.
of ftu'ebef T'h ', ' f "^ ''' ^'^'*^^^'^^^"^> ^" ^^« -'d Diocese
of tWT ; ^ r?° ^ ^'"^'"^^'^ '^' ^°°^ °f Common Prayer
1v!ct ^'^"'l\°^^"°'-^ -^ '-land, and the Book
and Tracts approved by the said Church Society, forcircula'
tion within the said Diocese of Quebec.
Or,
anfe'ofcwr'''^' the erection, endowment and maintea-
ance of Churches, according to the Establishment of the United
Church of England and Ireland within the Diocese of Que c
-the erection and maintenance of Parsonage House7-the'
Endowment and supp^
ing to the said Establishment within the said Diocese.
III. ^Devise of Real Estate for the general purposes ef the
Society.
I give and derise unto the " Church Society of the Diocese
of Quebec," incorporated by a Statute of the Prorince of
Canada, passed in the seventh year of the Reign TfHef
Majesty, Qu.en VrcTOBU, all and singular, &c (Describe
the Real Estate clearly.) To have and to hold the .aid, To
((
unlo the said Church Socielv of ,h» n-
their successors, for ever ,1 . °°"° "'^ <*"'•■''«. and
um and purpose, o/tCZ^J'l^''''^' '" '»"'>'• "'^
t>- -id Act of lucoi^oX^^^" ;':c r*' " ^''""'"' '"
provisions of the aforesaid Act „f ,1 '•" """*'" "■=
Church Society. ""^ l-'corporation of the said
IV. ^ Devise of Real Po/,,/„ ^
«anie as in iVn •? i .
'-art the speeiflf pu^^e!':, '^^T' '""'' '" '"■-'
V. .^ Devise ;o the Society of n c,v ^
» '0 -. ; Upon trLr hoU trsl'! J™'' ''""'"-^.".at
and for the place and site of a Ch. ?'"■ *""•"'■'"■' «»
Burial Ground,for the sole us»M """ Ch>"-ch-yard, and
United Church of En^ „d „d Ire^f ""■"'""''^^' "^ *»
adjacent to the said »ite and n"!"'*' ''"'"'"S''' P'aces
or Qnehec, being in X^ZZ^j;:^^ "^ ^""' ''--
to the doctrine and discinh'n, 171 " '"'"''' according
England and IralantanX no 0^" '""''' *='"'^"' "^
the provisions of the aforesaid Act nr? '""■*'°'''' "■"' -""J"
Church Society. ^"' ""^ '"'^O'-poration of the said
N. B.— Should it be the wish nf ,„
P^perty to the Church Societ7;;:iT .;;?""-
-cessary to subsUtute » Toronto'' for 4' L™'^ "'
preceding Forms. Q"ebec,» m the
■O
obec, and
apply the
'ndfor the
pecified in
under the
^the said
re of the
i Italics,
=n go on
»g, that
fter, as
rd, and
s of the
places
)iocese
ordins
rch of
under
e said
Revise
y be
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