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 THE 
 
 REIGN 
 
 O F 
 
 DEATH. 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 Occafioned by the DECEASE of the 
 Rev. JAMES HARTLEY, late of Haworth. 
 
 By JOHN FAWCETT, 
 
 WITH 
 
 A FUNERAL SERMON, 
 
 
 On 
 
 the fame 
 
 Occafion. 
 
 By 
 
 WILLIAM 
 
 CRABTREE.- 
 
 
 I 
 
 E 
 
 D S : 
 
 Printed 
 
 by G. WRIGHT and SON, 
 
 for the Authors 5 and fold 
 
 by Keith, Vallance, 
 
 and Macgowan, London ; and by all other 
 
 Bookfellers in Town and Country 
 
 . 17S0. 
 
 
 [ Price 
 
 ONE SHILLING. ]

 
 [ 3 1 
 
 hoa 
 
 The Reign of Death. 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 The Nature and Extent of Death's Dominion. 
 
 AMIDST the gloomy darknefs of the night, 
 While the dim taper fheds her feeble light* 
 Sweet folitude, I feek thy lov'd recefs, 
 To vent thofe griefs, which mortals can't redrefs 
 Creation now in mourning weeds appears 5 
 In pearly dews me fheds a thoufand tears ; 
 And, wrap'd in fhades, laments the abfent day, 
 Depriv'd of all her joy, the folar ray. 
 Thick darknefs, now, her awful rule maintains 5 
 And filence, univerfal lilence reigns. 
 No grazing herds upon the mountains low ; 
 Hufht is the fprightly mufic of the bought 
 Sweet Philomel, alone, her note prolongs, 
 To chear the night with her unrivall'd fongs. 
 
 A 2 In
 
 4 T&e Reign of Death. 
 
 In lawlefs banquets and unchafte delights,. 
 The ions of Belial join to fpend their nights-, 
 Black horrid oaths and blafphemies abound ; 
 And jefts obfcene pollute the air around ; 
 The fick'ning moon indignant wears a fhrowd, 
 Or hides her filver light behind a cloud : 
 The conflellations tremble from afar, 
 And fierce refentment burns in ev'ry ftar. 
 
 Some revel at the lawlefs mafquerade, 
 And all the rites of houfhold peace invade, 
 Some throng the ball, and fome at cards or dice 
 Profane the night, by ev'ry hateful vice. 
 Some crowd the tavern, fome the theatre, 
 And fome the public cofFee-houfe prefer ; 
 Where politicians fit, in clofe debate, 
 Propofing plans to fave the finking ftate. 
 
 Nocturnal revels ftupify the foul ; 
 And death is in th' intoxicating bowl. 
 Th' inflaming liquor fets the man on fire, 
 And into madnefs ftimulates defire. 
 Attending fiends the vileft thoughts fuggeft, 
 And raife a hellifh ferment in the breaft. 
 Reafon is loft, the brutifh paffions reign, 
 And lead the wretch to everlafting pain. 
 
 But, pleafing folitude, I court thy made, 
 Thou waft for reft or contemplation made.
 
 T6e Reign of Death. g 
 
 At dead of night, I hail thre folemn gloom, 
 And penfive ftroll along the founding room. 
 Content, that neither foe nor friend is near, 
 My fad complaints and broken fighs to hear. 
 If fome relieving thought my bofom fire, 
 With eager hafte, I drive to tune the lyre ; 
 And try my faint unfkilful voice to raife, 
 And foothe my plaintive foul, with ferious lays. 
 
 I count you happy, Tons of facred rhyme, 
 "VVhofe weighty words ftand all the mocks of time. 
 Whofe flowing verfes ev'ry theme adorn, 
 To give delight to ages yet unborn : 
 To aid devotion, in her clofe recefs, 
 And lead the foul to God and happine/s. . 
 
 ... 
 Some nobly tell of ancient conquefts won, 
 
 Or worthy deeds, which mighty chiefs have done. 
 
 The learned hear with awe, while Homer rings 
 
 The victor's glory, and the pride of Kings. 
 
 Virgil's Harmonious numbers fweetly roll , 
 
 And Pope and Milton captivate the foul. 
 
 But thee, immortal Younz, I mod admire, 
 
 The nobleft ardor tunes thy matchiefs lyre. 
 
 A humbler province to my mule belongs, 
 
 To mourn the dead in fad funereal fongs. 
 
 Amongft the fhades, flic {till delights to dwell, 
 
 A ncf death's tremendous fway attempts to tell. 
 
 A 3 Death
 
 $ The Reign of Deatfi. 
 
 Death reigns by fin : 'tis curfed fin, alone, 
 That rais'd at firft, and ftill iupports his throne. 
 'Twas fin, that angels from perfection hurPd j 
 And fin brought death into this guilty world. 
 He enter'd by the breach that fin had made ; 
 Sin plac'd the crown imperial on his head. 
 
 He for a fcepter holds a dreadful dart ; 
 Prepar'd to wound the inattentive heart. 
 A thoufand terrors in his vifage dwell, 
 Fierce as mount JEttta^ or the gulf of hell. 
 Infatiate hunger preys upon his maw ; 
 Rapacious cruelty is all his law, 
 
 Behind him yawns the wide extended tomb, 
 With this infcription, " Here is man's long home.** 
 There fextons digging with inceffant toil, 
 Enlarge the ftore-houfe, for the victor's fpoil. 
 Darknefs and horror overfpread the ground j 
 The air is fjll'4 with ev'rv frightful found* 
 
 Clofe by his fide, a formidable train 
 Of fierce difeafes recognize his reign. 
 There fevers, burning with malignant rage, 
 Extend their flames, which nothing can affuage. 
 Their lighted torches fet the world on fire, 
 And by their force the fick'ning crowds expire. 
 
 Confumptioti
 
 Hhe Reign of Death. y 
 
 Confumption mews her meager vifage there ; 
 Her naked bones thro' the pale fkin appear. 
 She feems a flceleton expos'd to view, 
 With deep funk eyes, and lips of deadly blue. 
 Slowly me moves ; yet, by her wafting hand, 
 The tyrant death depopulates the land. 
 
 There peftilence premeditates her way, 
 To conquer towns and nations in a day. 
 There apoplexy mufters all her pow'r, 
 To ftrike the blow in fome unguarded hour. 
 Gout there awaits , and there the tort' ring Jlone 
 In fecret lurks beneath the victor's throne. 
 Mad phrenzy grins with a diffracted air; 
 Black melancholy finks in deep defpair. 
 Ulcer, o'erfpread with ev'ry putrid ftain ; 
 Convuljion, tortur'd with interline pain. 
 Swoll'n dropfy too, with afthma near ally'd ; 
 And various maladies un-nam'd befide. 
 
 Intemperance there prepares the lufcious banc, 
 By which, ten thoufand victims fhall be (lain. 
 They from her hand will fnatch th'empoifon'd bowl, 
 Which kills the body and deftroys the foul. 
 
 Bettona too with blood befprinkl'd o'er, 
 And garments, dipt in tides of human gore, 
 Here ready waits, her implements to weild, 
 That death may triumph o'er the hoftile field. 
 
 A 4 He
 
 3 "The Reign of Death, 
 
 He, thro' her arts, extends his awful fway, 
 And thins contending nations in a day. 
 
 Thefe areth' attendants of the gloomy king, 
 Whofe deadly rule the mufe attempts to fing. 
 Thefe crowd his court, in ghaftly order Hand, 
 And wait the awful fignal of his hand. 
 
 Thus armed, death, with univerfal fway, 
 Sweeps all the tenants of the globe away , 
 He fpares nor age nor fex, nor great nor fmall ;: 
 So heroes perilh, and proud monarchs fall ! 
 
 From houfe to houfe, he ftalks with equal foot \ 
 The prince's palace, and the peafant's hut, 
 Are equal in his view \ nor does he know 
 To fpare the crowned head, or miter'd brow. 
 He claims his victims, by one gen'ral law. 
 On downy pillows, or on beds of ftraw. 
 He pays no defPrence to the honor'd name ; 
 The king and beggar are with him the fame ; 
 Athirft for blood, with undiftinguifh'd rage, 
 He treats the matter as his meaneft page. 
 Unaw'd by lofty tow'rs, or rooms of flate, 
 Or num'rous guards that round their fov'reign Wait, 
 With winged fpeed his killing arrow flies ; 
 The mighty monarch trembles, groans and dies. 
 
 m
 
 The Reign of Death. 9 
 
 His wealth and pow'r their mafter could not fave, 
 
 Nor yet procure a refpite from the grave. 
 
 Vain were his gilded roofs, his charming bow'rs, 
 
 His gardens, groves and beds of painted flow'rs j 
 
 The royal victim yielding to his fate, 
 
 Lies breathlefs, tho' in all the pomp of Hate. 
 
 The hero ftrives to gain a mighty name, 
 And mine refplendent in the fphere of fame. 
 He dreads no danger ; nothing mall retard 
 His courfe ; fmce glory is his wifh'd reward. 
 With rapid fpeed, he flies in hope's career, 
 And wild ambition is his charioteer. 
 As foon may Syren-fongs the florm appeafe, 
 Silence the winds, and fmooth the ruffled feas ; 
 As foon the wren may drink the ocean dry, 
 As foon a glow-worm lighten all the Iky, 
 Aslaftingreft and fatisfaftion fpring, 
 From breath propell'd by fame's unliable wing. 
 
 Perhaps Honorus, while he ftrives to climb, 
 With hafty fteps, the pinacle fublime, 
 Is blafted by difeafe's killing ftroke, 
 And fees, at once, his airy bubbles broke.. 
 He raves, he groans, laments and pants for breath, 
 As confcious of the near approach of death, 
 A thoufand terrors overwhelm his foul, 
 And o'er his head the threatening thunders roll. . 
 
 Each
 
 : 
 
 io The Reign of Death, 
 
 Each med'cine, now, difowns its pow'r to fave 
 The deftin'd victim from the gaping grave. 
 In vain, the fons of Efculapius boaft 
 Of drugs* collected from a foreign coall. 
 In vain, the fam'd practitioners prefcribe ; 
 The king of terrors fcorns to take a bribe. 
 Attending friends, officious, ftrive in vain, 
 The ftruggling, flying fpirit to retain. 
 Death Hops the motion of the throbing heart ; 
 And life reiires from ev'ry vital part. 
 In gloomy mills, the languid eye- balls roll, 
 The quiv'ring lips yield up the fleeting foul. 
 Fate intervenes to blaft his pomp and pride, 
 
 And in a pitchy cloud, his glory hide, . 
 
 
 
 Surviving friends the fun'ral rites prepare ; 
 No pains are wanting, no expence they fpare. 
 The undertakers all their cares bellow 
 To furnifh out the mimicry of wo. 
 The gloomy hearfe, amidft the gazing throng, 
 And train of mourners, (lowly moves alon^ ; 
 The blazing torches folemnize the fcene, 
 And each attendant wears a ghaitly mein. 
 
 When heroes die, the grateful nations raife, 
 Hiftoric monuments to fpeak their praife. 
 The fculptur'd Hones, in lofty numbers, tell. 
 How this man conquer'd, that in battle fell. 
 
 This
 
 The Reign of Death. u 
 
 This is thelaft, the dying breath of fame; 
 Funereal pomp is all the great can claim. 
 Vain oftentation ! impotence of pride ! 
 Yet no diftin&ion death allows befide. 
 " The moll renown'd is interred here ; 
 Here lies his grace, or there the noble peer. 1 * 
 This, this is all the flatt'ring ftone can boaft ; 
 
 The ftone conceals a heap of fordid dull. 
 
 In the deep grave the putrid corpfes lie ; 
 No chearing ray falutes them frourthe Iky. 
 
 Should ev'ry grace of blooming beauty rife 
 In all your form, and fparkle in your eyes, 
 Death will not fpare the well-proportion'd frame, 
 Leah and Rachel are to him the fame. 
 
 Among the crowd, Florella lately fhone, 
 And vainly fancy'd ev'ry charm her own : 
 She labour'd much, by ev'ry guileful art, 
 To pleafe the eye and captivate the heart. 
 'Twas all her ftudy how fhe might adorn 
 The piece of clay, for vile corruption born. 
 The wild extravagance of drefs fhe try'd, 
 And often with the gawdy peacock vy'd ; 
 So empty was her mind, of all but female pride. 
 
 I 
 
 A fcorching fever feiz'd the haughty maid, 
 At once her rofes and her lilies fade. 
 
 Then
 
 12 The Reign qf Death. 
 
 Then fhivVing, on the verge of death (lie ftands, 
 She groans and cries, and lifts her feeble hands, 
 *' Permit me, yet, a little while, to live !" 
 Death ftrikes the blow, and grants her no reprieve,, 
 Yet her gay. filters ftill as vain as fhe, 
 forget, that they, like her, mull fhortly die. 
 
 Strength nought avails in that important hour j 
 When death appear'4 e'en Samfin had no pow'r, 
 Sam/on could be if *he two-leav'd gates away ; , 
 His prefence fiU'rl whole armies with difrnay * 
 He needed not the conq'ring fword to- draw ; 
 A thoufand champions with an afs's jaw 
 His mighty arm fubdu'd ; yet from the grave,. 
 E'en Samfon had not ftrength himfelf to lave. 
 Mov'd by his touch, the mighty ftrucrure falls, 
 The wide-extended roof, and mafiy walls. 
 The pride of all the Pbilijlines he flew , 
 But, death himfelf, he could not ftill fubciue, 
 
 
 Here, all the depths of human wifdom fail ; 
 
 Learning, with all her ftores, could ne'er prevail 
 
 Againft the dart of death; e'en Solomon, 
 
 "Whole equal was not found beneath the fun, 
 
 Could not efcape the grizly monfter's pow'r, 
 
 Nor overcome in thatdecifive hour. 
 
 The wife and learned, as the fooiifh die, 
 
 And in the grave, they both forgotten lie, 
 
 Some
 
 T?he Reign of Death. 13 
 
 Some part with life, before they quit the womb j 
 Some, from the breaft, are carry'd to the tomb. 
 Maternal cares the infants cannot fave, 
 They foon exchange the cradle for the grave : 
 And, like the num'rons leaves, which autumn fheds, 
 They lie promifcuous in their clay-cold beds. 
 One day, indulged with the gift of breath ; 
 The next, infolded in the arms of death. 
 
 Some die, before the ufe of fpeech they know ; 
 Some quit the world, who fcarce have learnt to go; 
 Some rife in youth, and leave the childifh toy, 
 Become their parent's hope and only joy ; 
 But death beholds them, with an envious eye, 
 
 Blaftsthe young blooming twigs, and bids them die." 
 
 . 
 
 Some by a fudden ftroke are fnatcht away, 
 In the full profpecl of the bridal day ; 
 Amidit the pleafing dream of nuptial joys, 
 Death lies in ambufh, and the biifs deftroys. 
 
 Some, borne like bubbles, down the tide of time, 
 Are doom'd to part with life, in all its prime. 
 'Midft fcenes of bus'nefs, and tumultuous care, 
 The infidious fowler lays the fatal fnare. 
 The flatt'ring profpects of extenfive gain, 
 And growing wealth folicit them in vain. 
 They quit the golden bait ; refign their breath ; 
 And fall a prey to unrelenting death. 
 
 The
 
 1 4 he Reign of Death, 
 
 The carelefs finner oft in vain chaftis'd, 
 Who, obftinate in fin, reproof defpis'd ; 
 Borne down, from year to year, in folly's ftream, 
 Is rouz'd by death, from his bewitching dream. 
 Thoughtlefs he liv'd, and deftitute of fear, 
 But now, he fees the king of terrors near. 
 Difeafe, in all its violence and pow'r, 
 Attacks his frame, in this alarming hour : 
 With fad remorfe and fecret horror flung, 
 He groans and cries, but with a faltring tongue, 
 " Wretch, that I am, in fuch a courfe to run, 
 By which, I am eternally undone !'* 
 
 Attending friends the mournful accents hear, 
 And turn afide to drop the gufhing tear. 
 Aghaft they ftand, the tragic fcene they view, 
 And each refolves to lead his life anew. 
 They look again, with fympathetic grief, 
 But none can give the dying, man relief. 
 
 His awful diflblution now is near; 
 Defpair and terror in his looks appear. 
 Behold him, gafping in the pangs of death,- 
 With ling' ring agonies, refign his breath. 
 
 A train of dreadful demons ftand prepared 
 To drag the. pris'ner to his juft reward. 
 
 Their'
 
 he Reign of Death, 15 
 
 Their baleful eyes, with hellifh fury, glare ; 
 Fell hilling fnakes fupply the place of hair ; 
 Each fiend, for breath, a fi'rey vapour draws, 
 Their hands and feet are arm'd with harpy's claws. 
 Th' affrighted foul is with a difmal yell, 
 Chas'd headlong, downwards, to th' abyfs of hell. 
 Hoarfe cries are heard, and hopelefs fhrieks abound, 
 And long the trembling air retains the found. 
 
 In realms of endlefs darknefs and defpair, 
 Where none but fiends and damned fpirits are 9 
 In gulphs of execration and of wo, 
 He learns, the fruits of curfed fin, to know. 
 
 PART
 
 I I* ] 
 
 PART SECOND, 
 
 Philander s Death, 
 
 EXTENSIVE ufefulnefs will not fecure' 
 The wafting life of man ; or yet procure 
 A prolongation of its feeble thread ; 
 Philander* too, is number'd with the dead.- 
 
 In active life, the dear Philander fhone ; 
 His neighbour's cares and griefs he made his owf*. 
 What proofs, he gave, of piety and zeal I 
 How much, he labour'd for his country's weal I 
 Anxious, that commerce, once again, might fmik* 
 And peace and plenty crown our native ifle. 
 With warm affections glowing in his breafl, 
 He fed the poor, and fuccour'd the diftreft. 
 The pious widow did his bounty fhare, 
 The helplefs orphan witnefTed his care. 
 Virtue adorn'd his foul ; with fteady aim 
 He fought to glorify his Saviour's name. 
 
 Bat 
 
 * Mr Adam Jltlden, late of Haijfax,
 
 T'/je Reign of Death. if 
 
 But what is life ? a vain fantaftic dream ! 
 A fleeping frenzy's tranfitory fcheme ! 
 A flying fhadow, an uncertain breath, 
 A meteor, foon enwrap'd in fhades of death. 
 'Tis as the mift which morning-beams exhale; 
 Or like a pleafing melancholy tale. 
 'Tis like the grafs, or the more fading fiow'r, 
 Cut down by death, and wither'd in an hour; 
 Midft fcehes of bUs'nefs arid domeftic cares, 
 Death's hand unfeen the fatal (haft prepares. 
 A fierce difeafe Philanders life affails, 
 Baffles the healing art ; and ftill prevails 
 O'er all the efforts learn'd phyficians try ; 
 Their drugs are vain ; they fee Philander die. 
 His God fuftain'd him, in that gloomy hour, 
 When all created comforts lofe their pow'r : 
 When nature faints arid death's impending made, 
 In awful darknefs hovers round the bed. 
 
 .1 
 
 The conflict ends ; the dear Philander dies ( 
 fcleavirig the air, the fpirit upward flies, 
 And darts like lightning thro' the mining Ikies 
 As late Eumenio fled,* Philander goes, 
 To the bleft realms of undifturb'd repoie. 
 Now fafely landed, on the blifsful fhore, 
 Earth's difappointments ne'er fhall vex him more/ 
 B Far 
 
 See my Death of Eumenio, price 6d. fold by Vallance; 
 Gheapftde, London,
 
 i8 Tfo Reign of Death. 
 
 Far from the reach of ev'ry hurtful fnare, 
 From noily tumult and diftracting care. 
 Victorious, o'er the king of dread he lives, 
 And the bright crown of endlefs joy receives. 
 
 But who can dear Sophronia's woes relate ! 
 Mufe, (top a while, to mourn her widow'd ftate. 
 Her blafted hopes, her earthly comforts- fled, 
 Her good, her kind, her own Philander dead. 
 
 If here fome tranfient hour of joy we ce\ y 
 'Tis but the prelude to fome threat'ning ill. 
 Diftrefs is near, when we pofTefs delight, 
 The Ihort-liv'd day precedes a tedious night. 
 
 So in a fudden calm the billows flecp,. 
 Smooth is thefurface of the gloomy deep ;. 
 The treach'rous winds, their gath'ring breath, deny 
 Prelaging fome destructive tempeft nigh. 
 
 Young Jofepb once his aged father chear'd i 
 How happy, then, the Patriarch appear'd. 
 His foul was fill'd with fympathetic joy, 
 While in his arms, he clafpt the fmiling boy. 
 But foon, the darling from his heart is torn, 
 And Jacob lives in plaintive (trains to mourn-, 
 His Jofepb gone ; in whom his life was bound, 
 Wide was the breach, and lafting was the wound. 
 
 Yet
 
 T/je Reign of JDeatL 19 
 
 Yet providence, for ever good and wife, 
 Conceals our future troubles, from our eyes : 
 Why mould we then ridiculoufly mourn, 
 In view of future griefs as yet unborn ? 
 Now breaks the ftorm o'er dear Sophronia's head 
 She fees it ftrike the kind Philander dead. 
 
 A folemn fadnefs in her looks appears, 
 Beyond the foft relief of flowing tears. 
 Her gloomy thoughts no jufl expreflions find* 
 To paint the deep affliction of her mind. 
 What pleas of reafon can the force controul 
 Of that diftrefs which overwhelms her foul ? 
 Her fpirits droop, her head with grief oppreft, 
 Dejected finks upon her penfive breaft. 
 
 In fome dark hour, me thinks I hear her fay, 
 cc Why do I live to fee this trying day ? 
 Why do I live, of earthly joy bereft 5 
 My other half is gone, and I am left 
 Difconfolate, affii&ed and forlorn, 
 With five dear orphans, and a fixth unborn ! 
 
 Philander' s tender love 1 ftill review ; 
 And recollection wounds my foul anew : 
 The future profpect darker ftill appears, 
 And unbelief fuggefts athoufandfears. 
 
 B 2 Maternal
 
 2o %he Reign of Death. 
 
 Maternal cares and gloomy thoughts arife. 
 And paint the joylefs fcene before my eyes. 
 This ftroke doth all my earthly hopes confound* 
 My grief is great ; incurable my wound. 
 
 Ye mourning doves, your own complaints forbear ; 
 To my diftreffes lend a lrft'ning ear. 
 Ye pitying echoes, in the hollow vale, 
 Be ye refponfive to my plaintive tale, 
 Ye lofty pines and beeches, as ye grow, 
 Witnefs the fad expreflions of my wo. 
 
 But ah! I hear the all-commanding word, 
 Befiill and knew I am thy fov'reign Lord. 
 I will, to all thy humble cries, attend, 
 And be, thro' life, thy never-failing friend, 
 Truft in my grace, thyfelf and babes fhall Jhare % 
 In me, a hufband's, and a father's care. 
 
 May he my weaker paflions all compofe ; 
 J Tis right, 'tis beft, whatever my Maker does. 
 Be thou, my foul, to all his will refign'd; 
 He is too wife to err, too good to be unkind." 
 
 'Tis juft, 'Sofhronia, let your faith rely- 
 E'en on that hand, that bids your comforts die. 
 Believe his fov'reign right to all you have ; 
 Whate'er he takes, he takes but what he gave. 
 
 At
 
 i 
 
 \Che Reign of Death. 21 
 
 At his command, the dreadful tempefts rife, 
 With rapid fpeed, the florm obedient fees -, 
 Th' etherial vault is rent from pole to pole, 
 Ked lightnings glare, and vengeful thunders roll 
 While, confcious terrors feize the guilty foul. 
 The bluftring winds, o'er the rough mountains blow, 
 And mighty torrents fwell the brook below. 
 Rouz'd by the ftorm, the troubl'd oceans roar, 
 The foaming billows breaking on the more. 
 Conflicting waves, with awful fury .rife, 
 And in wild tumults, mingle feas and Ikies. 
 With ceafelefs noife, the awful deeps refound ; 
 The fhelving rocks repeat the thrilling found. 
 The fhatter'd bark now floats upon the wave, 
 And inftant finks in the deep watry grave. 
 
 So, in the itorms of adverfe life, we find 
 The gath'ring tempeil dofe upon the mind, 
 Thick clouds and darknefs intercept the fkies 5 
 Defponding fears and gloomy thoughts arife. 
 The waves of trouble fwell and break our peace, 
 And death is threamed by the angry feas. 
 A penfive fadnefs dwells within the breafl, 
 And none, but God, can bring the heart to reft. 
 
 His fmile, divine, can ev'ry fear controul, 
 And, with immortal pleafure, fill the foul. 
 
 B 2 His
 
 2,2 The Reign of Death., 
 
 His gracious prefence drives the gloom away, 
 And turns the darknefs into chearing day. 
 So, when the rifing fun the mountain gilds 
 Dull night, to him, his tranfient empire yields ; 
 To diltant realms, he takes his hafty flioht, 
 And nature welcomes the returning light. 
 
 Religion is no vain fantaftic thins ; 
 From this, alone, fubftantial pleafures fpri/ig. 
 Its comforts foften each corroding care, 
 And turn the defer t to an Eden fair ; 
 Revive the heart, when earthly joy is fled, 
 And eafe the pains, that wait a dying bed. 
 
 Whilft you, Sophronia, with maternal cares, 
 Watch o'er your babes, and nurfe their infant years j 
 May providence your ev'ry want fupply, 
 And keep your orphans with a father's eye. 
 May angel-guardians all your fleps attend j 
 And JESUS be your everlafling friend. 
 
 Let not your foul be funk in fad defpair; 
 Still hope in God, and to his throne repair ; 
 Omnipotence will ne'er the fuit deny 
 Of humble fouls, who on his grace rely. 
 
 When JacoFs fon purfu'd the dang'rous road 
 Appointed by their great deliv'rer, God, 
 
 The
 
 T/je Reign of Death. 23 
 
 The cloudy pillar led the hoft by day, 
 
 At night, it chear'd them with a lightfome ray. 
 
 So truft, my friend, for heav'nly guidance too, 
 To light your gloomy path the defert thro'. 
 The chearing beams of fov' reign grace mail mine, 
 And lead you, in the path of peace divine *, 
 Point out a folid bafis for your hope ; 
 Exalt your views and keep your .courage up. 
 The ftormy voy'ge of life ihall but be lhort, 
 You, foon, mall reach the much-defir'd port. 
 Philander calls you to that peaceful more, 
 Where forrow, pain and death are known no more. 
 
 4 PART
 
 t H } 
 
 PART THIRD. 
 
 Quphronwt ; or the Death of the Rev. James 
 Hartley, late of Hawortb. 
 
 EUPHRONIUS, partner of my joy and care. 
 No more, thy gen'rous fympathy, I fhare. 
 Thy ear is clos'd to ev'ry plaintive ftrain ; 
 Thy friendly cqunfels, now, I afk in vain- 
 
 Friendfhip, which, ev'ry pious bofom, warms^ 
 Euphronius fhew'd, in all its pleafing forms. 
 As points the needle to the northern pole, 
 So, upright views directed all his foul. 
 He knew the arts of flatt'ry to defpife -, 
 His mind was open and without difguife. 
 Succeflive years his faithfulnefs can prove, 
 His kindnefs, candor, fympathy and love j 
 His fkill to counfel, and his pious care 
 To warn his friends of ev'ry hurtful fnare. 
 
 O may
 
 tfhe Reign of Death. 25 
 
 may my foul his footfteps oft review ; "1 
 
 Obferve the track, his bright example drew , f 
 And, with a fteady zeal, the heav'nly path purfue ! J 
 
 'Twas ne'er his aim to mingle with the great ; 
 He liv'd contented, in a low eftate : 
 Secure from noify pride's ambitious ftrife, 
 Which often poifons all the fweets of life. 
 
 The lowly mind, alone, contentment knows ; 
 A haughty fpirit robs us of repofe. 
 So lightnings blaft the tow' ring mountain's brow 
 While humble vales, in fafety, fmile below. 
 Contentment will the happy portion be 
 Of heav'nly patience, tho' in poverty. 
 
 Faflofus foars aloft, and ftrives to climb 
 In worldly fplendor, with the wings of time. 
 Of various gifts of providence poffefs ? d, 
 JsTor wealth nor greatnefs can procure his reft. 
 No interval of folid peace he knows ; 
 Tormenting paflions give him no repofe. 
 His anxious heart, pppreft with inward ftrife, 
 Can fcarce fuftain the weary load of life. 
 
 When the bright crown the monarch's head adorns, 
 The mining jewels, fcarcely, hide the thorns. 
 With mighty pomp, and regal enfigns grac'd, 
 His height of grandeur makes him more unbleft.
 
 2 6 T/je Reign of Death. 
 
 Involv'd in cares and woes, an endlefs train., 
 His weighty honors but increafe his pain. 
 
 Euphronius fpent his life amongft: the poor ; 
 Contentment was to him a conftant ftore. 
 The golden bait, hefteadily defy'd, 
 And in his native village liv'd and dy'd. 
 Some only feek the fons of wealth to plea&s 
 They hunt for lucre, precedence and eafe ; 
 And care not for the flock, but only mind the fleece 
 Pity thefe poor, thefe ftarving fouls, O God ! 
 Pity the purchafe of a Saviour's blood ; 
 And fend them faithful guides, whofe pious care, 
 Shall pluck tjiem from the captivating fnare 
 "Who will not fhun publifli all thy will, 
 "With warm affection, ftcadinefs and zeal. 
 This was my friend's concern ; but now he lies, 
 Inactive in the grave, till JESUS bid him rile. 
 
 His mem'ry was, betimes, divinely ftor'd 
 With the rich treafures of the facred word. 
 .Strong and tenacious, ftill it kept its pow'r 
 Thro' age and ficknefs, to his dying hour.. 
 
 Vaft was his ftretchof thought, and large his foul ; 
 I^is judgment kept the helm, and could controul 
 His weaker paflions, and the reins command, 
 In almoft ev'ry work, he took in hand. 
 
 Wrong 
 
 }
 
 The Reign of Death. 2J 
 
 Wrong not the mufe ; ihe means not to relate 
 Things, inconfiflent with this mortal ftate. 
 The man that moft his Maker's image bears, 
 Boafts not perfection, in this vale of tears. 
 But grace in dear Euphronius kept the throne, 
 And in his temper and his actions fhone. 
 
 As flow'rs, attracted by the genial ray, 
 Expand their blofToms, with the op'ning day. 
 To meet the fun ; fo did Euphronius live 
 On nought this dark, benighted world can give. 
 He look'd to Jefus, with a fixed eye, 
 For life, for growth and ev'ry kind fupply. 
 Faith points to him, her magnet in the fkies, 
 When tempefls blow, or ftormy troubles rile. 
 
 No low, difhoneft arts, Euphronius try'd, 
 In terms obfcure, his fentiments to hide. - 
 His heart was open, and his language clear, 
 Suited to gain the inattentive ear. 
 
 His little flock, the faithful fhepherd fed ; 
 In paftures fair and green, their fouls were led ; 
 " All things," he cry'd, "ye humble fouls, are yours.'' 
 And then, he open'd, grace's richeft (lores ; 
 Then did his words, with heav'nly pow'r, impart 
 Rich confolation, to the wounded heart. 
 In ftrains of comfort, with a mild addrefs, 
 He clear'd the doubts and foften'd the diftrefs
 
 28 The Reign of Death, 
 
 Of humble minds , directing them to fly- 
 To Jefus j and upon his grace rely. 
 
 Wonder and joy, alternate, feiz'd the foul, 
 While ftreams of gofpel-eloquence did roll 
 From his dear lips : and his majeftic look, 
 Prov*d, that he felt the force of what he fpoke. 
 \t was a feaft divine, with dainties ftor'd ; 
 The richeft viands crown the gofpel board. 
 
 The foul, entangl'd by fome hurtful fnare, 
 Witnefs'd the fhepherd's kind, reftoring care, 
 Unruly men had faithful warnings giv'n ; 
 The weak were ftrengthen'd in the way to heav'n, 
 
 The fcriptures were the rule of what he taught ; 
 He ftudied thefe, with clofe and fteady thought : 
 He, text with text, compar'd i and brought to view 
 From grace's ftorehoufe, things both old and new : 
 Thcfe were his conftant joy, his conftant fong ; 
 They rul'd his heart, and dwelt upon his tongue. 
 By thefe, as by a chart, he fhew'd the way, 
 To fhun the dangers of the rocky fea. 
 
 He introduc'd not fancy's airy dreams -, 
 Nor the dull round of philofophic themes. 
 'Twas not his aim to teach Platonic rules \ 
 IvTor yet the foojim jargon of the fchools. 
 
 On
 
 The Reign of Death* ffi 
 
 On ufelefs queftions, he difdain'd to dwell ; 
 To lull the confcience, on the brink of hell ; 
 While ruthlefs death, the tinner's fteps, attends, 
 And fure deftruction, o'er his head, impends. 
 *' Reafon's a gift divine, Euphronius cries, 
 A precious gift, the off-fpring of the ikies : 
 It dignifies mankind ; by this preferr'd, 
 We ftand diftinguifh'd from the brutal herd. 
 But human reafon fhould not ftill prefume 
 To guide the foul, in revelation's room. 
 Let reafon humbly learn to know her place, 
 And bow fubmifiive to the word of grace. 
 Dim-fighted reafon mufl the helm refign, 
 And be directed by the page divine; 
 Hence form her judgment, hence her notions draw* 
 And own the page divine her fov'reign law." 
 
 With gentle fpeech, exhortative and mild, 
 (So fpeaks a father to a fav'rite child) 
 He preft his flock to ev'ry pious deed, 
 And in the paths of virtue to proceed. 
 Be witnefs, ye, who have, from year to year, 
 Had large experience of his pious care. 
 Remember ftill the folemn charges giv'n, 
 As he enforc'd the facred laws of heav'n. 
 Walk as he walk'd ; his bright example trace ; 
 So will you beft adorn the truths of grace. 
 
 With
 
 3p 28r Reign of Death. 
 
 With ftudious care, his preaching was defign'ci 
 To fix convi&ion, on the thoughtlefs mind ; 
 By gofpel bands, the humble foul to draw ; 
 Or rouze the guilty, by the thund'ririg law. 
 The terrors of the Lord, the preacher knew, 
 And often brought them, to the Tinner's view ; 
 Death's fure approach ; th' eternal judgment near ; 
 The folemn reck'ning, at the awful bar ; 
 "With ferious air, he fet, before their eyes, 
 The certain procefs of that grand affize ; 
 The fentence paft, the guilty held in chains, 
 In outer darknefs, and eternal pains. 
 
 And while he fpafce, the thunders feem'd to roll y 
 Convictive terrors feiz'd the ftupid foul. 
 His juft rebuke, the haughty finner felt; 
 The haughty finner trembl'd at his guilt -, 
 Before his view, his youthful follies rife j 
 His crimes, enormous, reaching to the Ikies ; 
 Rouz'd from his impious dream, 'tis now his crv,- 
 " O mercy, fave a wretch, condemn'd to die !" 
 With humble heart, he thus begins to pray, 
 And, on his bended knees, is heard to fay, 
 
 Almighty Maker ! God of boundlefs love ! 
 Look down, propitious, on a guilty worm ; 
 Vile, wretched, worthlefs, loathfome, felf-abhor'd y 
 Yet, craving mercy, thro* the blood divine, 
 
 By
 
 The Reign of Death. ^i 
 
 By Jefus, fhed for men : my only ground 
 Of hope, for pardon, and accefs to thee. 
 Behold me, trembling at thy awful feet, 
 Suinn'd with the thund'ring voice of Sinai's curfe ^ 
 Opprefs'd with guilt ; defil'd with fouleft ftains ; 
 
 warn me, in the Lamb's redeeming blood. 
 
 And thou, Redeemer kind of mind man, 
 Once bleeding, on the fhameful tree, to fave 
 My guilty foul from hell, and curfed fin ! 
 To thee,,I look, thou healer of mankind ! 
 With weeping eyes, and deeply mournful heart ; 
 In tender love, behold my proftrate foul, 
 Helplefs and felf-condemn'd : I fmite my breaft, 
 And loud, for mercy, pard'ning mercy, cry ; 
 Of merit deftitute, I nought can plead, 
 But what from thy own goodnefs, freely fprings. 
 My mouth is ftopt, and multiplied crimes 
 Call for thy vengeance, on my guilty head. 
 And, O thou Judge fupreme, fhouldft thou difplay 
 Thy awful wrath, on this devoted breaft, 
 
 1 muft pronounce thee, juft in my deftruclion.- 
 Yet O f let heav'nly pity plead, and fave 
 The vileft wretch, that ever fued for grace. 
 
 The God of mercy hears the humble cry, 
 And faves the foul, that Hood condemn'd to die. 
 
 , He r s
 
 32 The Reign of Death. 
 
 He's pardon'd, cloath'd in righteoufnefs divine-, i 
 And heav'nly graces, in his temper fhine. 
 Now faints rejoice, and angels ftiout above, 
 To fee the wonders of redeeming love. 
 
 But dear Euphronius felt his frame decay, 
 By (low degrees, his vitals wafte away. 
 His happy mind, compos'd to fweeteft peaces 
 Wilh'd only for the day of his releafe. 
 
 Calm was his temper, and his foul ferene. 
 With patience arm'd, amidft the trying fcene : 
 No murm'ring thoughts diflurb his happy mind - 9 
 Like the fmooth fea, unruffl'd by the wind^ 
 Its billows fleep ; it feems a mighty plain, 
 And one majeftic fmile adprns the main. 
 
 Clear was his profpe<5t of the vaft reward 
 Of heav'nly blifs, by fov'reign grace prepar'd. 
 His fetting fun was cloudlefs, bright and clear, 
 Rejoicing, that the happy goal was near; 
 Celeftial comforts all his pow'rs fuftarn, 
 Support his fainting heart, and eafe his pain ; 
 Till he refigns the laft remains of breath, 
 Infolded in the friendly arms of death. 
 
 His happy foul, then, takes his deftin'd flight 
 To reach the coafts of uncreated light , 
 
 Releafed
 
 ^the Reign of Death. 33 
 
 Releafed from the weight of cumbrous clay, 
 
 By angels guided in th' etheriai way, 
 
 To the unclouded realms of everlaiiing day. 
 
 They quickly reach the paradife above, 
 Where boundlefs pleafures and immortal love 
 Extend their fway ; thro' all the wide domain, 
 For ever flourifh, and for ever reign. 
 
 The blifsful fields and fweet etheriai bow'rs, ; 
 Adorn'd with painted ranks of deathlefs flow'rs, 
 Breathe heavenly fragrance 4 : profpects ever nev/ 
 Invite the eye and open to th view. 
 
 The beating ftorrh of adverfe life is o'er, 
 The noify temped ftuns his ears no more ; 
 With heav'nly tranfport, glowing in his bread, 
 He gains the port of everlafting reft. 
 
 The gath'ring crowds around the corpfe attend 
 Each one laments the lofs of fuch a friend ; 
 The penfive widow heaves the deep'ned %h 3 
 And briny tears defcend from ev'ry eye. 
 
 PART
 
 [ 34 I 
 
 
 PART FOURTH. 
 
 Death's Dominion deflroyed. 
 
 BUT fee, the mighty ruler of the day- 
 Advances, with a mild and gentle ray. 
 Til quit the folemn theme, fufpend the lyre, 
 Walk o'er the mead, the blooming fcene admire i 
 Shake, from my bofom, each corroding care, 
 And tafte the fweetnefs of the balmy air. 
 
 The rofy-finger'd morn bedecks the eaft , 
 For ev'ry fenfe, prepares a plenteous feaft , 
 And jocund day, with gaudy luftre, gilds 
 The hills and vales, the purling ftreams and fields. 
 The feafon temp'rate, and the asther pure, 
 Inchanting fcenes the ravifh'd fight allure : 
 Lo cheerful fpring adorns the flow'ry plains, 
 In ev'ry field, refrefhing fragrance reigns ; 
 The gentle zephyrs fan the blooming trees, 
 And wafted odours fwell the vernal breeze ; 
 
 The
 
 The Reign of Death, 35 
 
 The flow'rs expofe their lovely charms to view, 
 Their op'ning tufts drink up the filver dew. 
 
 The fiercer winds in gloomy caverns lie ; 
 No roaring tempefts difcompofe the fky , 
 'Tis all ferene ; creation fmiles around, 
 A beauteous robe adorns the fertile ground ; 
 While fofteft mufic warbles thro' the grove, 
 And ev'ry note is innocence and love: 
 
 The fprightly lark attunes her matin lay ; 
 The cheerful linnet hails the new-born day. 
 The fhrill-tongu'd thrum, in lofty ftrains, abounds* 
 The diftarit hills reflect the pleafihg founds. 
 
 The pearly dew-drops ev'ry leaf adorn, 
 Refrefh the grafs, and blcfs the fpringing corn , 
 Earth's kind productions quickly fhall appear, 
 And fmilihg plenty crown the jocund year. 
 Harvefts lhall fpring from the manured foil, 
 And ripen'd crops reward the peafant's toil. 
 
 The fertile earth and the extended fkieS 
 Proclaim their Author infinitely wife, 
 And irifiriitely great , but ftill we trace 
 Sublimer wonders in the world of grace. 
 
 He form'd the fun, that central fource of light, 
 tVith all the rolling glories' of the night ;
 
 36 T&e Reign of Death. 
 
 Pale Cynlhia, moving in her filver car ; 
 
 Each roving planet, and each fixed liar. 
 
 He kindled up, at firft, their glowing flames ; 
 
 He tells their numbers, and he calls their names. 
 
 What woTlds on worlds, th' aflifted fenfe may view, 
 
 High in the concave of etherial blue ! 
 
 He form'd, fuftains, and manages the whole, 
 
 From the equator to the diftant pole. 
 
 He bid them all perform their my flic round; 
 
 The morning flars, in joyful fongs, abound. 
 
 Man is the fruit of his creating breath ; 
 Nay more, the purchafe of his pain and death. 
 Th' Almighty's call fir ft wak'd him from the ground; 
 The moving clay obey'd the vital found. 
 The creature role obedient to his word. 
 But, by his blood, the retells reftor'd. 
 Myflerious proofs of fov'reign mercy fhine, 
 Andboundiefs wifdom, in the plan divine. 
 
 To dwell below, the great Redeemer came, 
 Affum'd our nature, bore our guilt and fhame. 
 He funk beneath pur woes, a heavy load, 
 And gave his life to make our peace with God. 
 His hands were bound, our liberty to gain ; 
 His blood was med to walh away our flain ; 
 He groan'd, that we might fing with chearful voice ; 
 He wept aloud, that finners might rejoice. 
 
 He
 
 The Reign of Death. 37 
 
 He dy'd, the king of terrors to deftroy, 
 
 And make the gate of death the gate of endlefs joy. 
 
 The faithful foul can now in triumph fing, 
 *' O death 1 where is thy formidable fling ? 
 Where are the terrors of thy vengeful eye ? 
 Thy dart, from which, the guilty wifti to fly ? 
 No fting appears, no killing dart I fee ^ 
 No terrors brood upon thy brow, for me. 
 Thou haft a heav'nly finile upon thy face ; 
 I long to clafp thee, in a fond embrace. 
 Come, thou bleft meflenger of peace and love, 
 Tranfmit my foul, to the bright realms above. 
 But whence haft thou this fweet c'eleftial air r 
 Once, black as hell, but now an angel fair. 
 Strange transformation ! but the caufe I fee, 
 JESUS has dy'd, has fhed his blood for me ; 
 Thanks be to God, who gives the victory \ 
 Faith in his name forbids my flavifli fear, 
 And makes me triumph e'en when death is near." 
 
 Ye echoing fkies 1 repeat the Saviour's name ; 
 His love, thro' all the ftarry worlds, proclaim. 
 Ye circling fpheres ! dwell on the charming found ; 
 Bear it, ye winds \ the wide creation round. 
 
 Death (hall not o'er the juft for ever reign ; 
 No ! he, that conquers all, (hall foon be flain. 
 
 C 3 - Him 
 
 I
 
 3# The Reign of Death. 
 
 Him to fubdue, the kind Redeemer gave 
 His precious life ; he dy'd, the dead to fave ! 
 Death could not him, a pris'ner long detain -, 
 He quickly broke the adamantine chain. 
 Vain were the Roman watch, the Jewifo feal, 
 And all the traits of pharifaic zeal : 
 The deftin'd hour arrives *, the conqu'ror rofe, 
 And nobly triumph'd over all his foes. 
 The rofy morn had fcarce unbarr'd the Ikies, 
 But vanquifh'd death precipitantly flies, 
 With all his ghaftly train , and Jefus gave 
 Full proof of vi<5r.'ry o'er the gloomy grave. 
 Pris'ners of hope ! the glorious day is nigh, 
 When Chrift your bands fliall loofe, and deatty 
 himfelf fhall die. 
 
 
 .* 
 
 
 THE
 
 The Chrijlian Minijlers Farewell 
 to his Flock. 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 OCCAJIONEB BY 
 
 THE DEATH 
 
 of the 
 
 Rev. JAMES HARTLEY, 
 
 Late of Ha worth, Yorkshire. 
 
 By WILLIAM CRABTREE. 
 
 Your Fathers, inhere are they ; and the Prophets, do they 
 live for ever? Zech. i. 5. 
 
 The Memory of the Jufl is blejfed. 
 
 HMHHHHBOHBS 
 
 Pro. x. 7.
 
 
 HHBi HHHHMB 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 f 4 1 3 
 
 PM 
 
 To the congregation at large, and the church 
 of Jefus Chriji, at Haworth, late under 
 the care of our honoured brother in the Lord, 
 Mr James Hartley ; grace and peace he 
 multiplied. 
 
 Beloved Brethren, 
 
 c 7 m 'HE unfeigned regard I had fir that emi- 
 nent feryant of God, whofe death occafi- 
 oned the following difcourfe, and aflrong dfire 
 to contribute my poor mite towards perpetuating 
 the memory of Jo good a man, andfo valuable a 
 ::: ember offociety -, together with, a concern that 
 we may all attend to the important charge he 
 left with his flock, have induced me to make the 
 following meditations public, in conjunction with 
 The Reign of Death. An intimate and en- 
 deared friendfhip fubjifled between me and your 
 late pa/lor, without interruption, for more than 
 thirty years. It fomewhat refembled that be-> 
 tween David and Jonathan. He is fled from 
 this world of toil andflrife, and I am left be- 
 hind, to weep and rejoice at the re?ncmbrance 
 
 of former times. 
 
 Ton
 
 [ 42 ] 
 
 Ton will eajily perceive, that the following 
 pages contain the fubfiance of what was delivered 
 to yon from the pulpit. Some things indeed are 
 here contracted, which were then more largely 
 infifted on ; andfome thoughts are added for the 
 farther illujl ration of the fubjeft. For this 
 liberty, I juppofe you will allow, that no far- 
 ther apology is needful. 
 
 Iamfenfible, this difcourfe is not formed on a 
 popular plan, nor have I the vanity to think it 
 will be acceptable to every reader. 'The things, 
 however, recommended in the text, appear to me 
 of great importance, and particularly needful to 
 be infifted on, in the prejent day. And if any 
 thing her? fuggefted on thefubjeel, may, under a 
 divine blefpng, become fer vice able , for the con- 
 viction of the fecure finner, the comfort of the 
 mourning foul, and the happy revival of primi~ 
 five order and difcip line in the houfe of God, the 
 publication of this fermon will fully dnfwer the 
 end, defire and earneji prayer of 
 
 Dear Brethren, 
 
 Tour affectionate friend^ 
 And devoted fervant, 
 
 In the gofpel of Chriji, 
 WILLIAM CRABTREE. 
 
 Bradford, 
 April 10, 1780.
 
 t 43 1 
 
 T S E 
 
 Chrijlian Minijlefs Farewell^ &c. 
 
 2 Corinth, xiii. n. 
 
 Finally, brethren, farewell : Be perfect, be of 
 good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace * 
 and the God of love and peace jhall be with you* 
 
 A Very mournful difpenfation of Divine 
 Providenee has occafioned the reading 
 of thefe words in your ears,* this day. A 
 difpenfation which, no doubt, is feverely felt 
 by many in this alTembly, as well as in other 
 places. A breach is now made, which had 
 been long expected, and greatly feared. 
 Death, our laft enemy, difTolves every con- 
 nection among men, whether natural, civil, 
 or religious ; however clofe, however firm 
 or ftrong they be. He cuts the ties which 
 unite us together, in the feveral relations in 
 life. We have alarming proofs of this, from 
 
 day 

 
 44 be Chrifiian Mimjlers 
 
 day to day. Death is frequently makiag 
 breaches in families, neighbourhoods and 
 churches. But, perhaps, none are more 
 painful and affecting, than the breaches made 
 between gofpel miniflers ' and the people cf 
 their charge, efpecially when the union has 
 been clofe, firm and hearty; as was the cafe, 
 I have reafon to believe, between you, my 
 jdear brethren of this church, and your late 
 worthy pallor, who is now numbered with 
 the dead. 
 
 The laft time I found him capable of con- 
 veriing, I a/ked him, if any portion of God's 
 word lay upon his mind, which he could wiih 
 %o have preached from, upon the occaiion of 
 his deceafe. He immediately mentioned the 
 words I have jufl read. You fee, then, dear 
 brethren, we have a text of your late venera- 
 ble pallor's chufing ; and if is the laft text he 
 Chofe for your edification. Had he himfelf 
 been employed in opening and applying tlie 
 fubject before us, you might have expected 
 great things. But this is not the cafe. He 
 is gone to his everlafting home, to his father's 
 houfe above ; and we are left behind, in the 
 regions of forrow and pain, to make the belt 
 improvement we can, of the time, talents and 
 advantages yet in our hands.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 45 
 
 The bleiTed apoflle is here clofing his ex- 
 cellent letter to the church at Corinth ; and 
 in the words now under our regard, with a 
 very ferious wifh for their welfare, he takes 
 an affectionate leave of them ; fums up, as it 
 were, the whole of what he had wrote to 
 them, gives them his beft advice, and allures 
 them of the prefence of the God of love and 
 peace with them, in a practical conformity 
 to what he recommends. 
 
 It was fcarce poffible for your late paftor to 
 have felecled a paffage from the infpired vo- 
 lume, with a particular application to you, 
 more expreffive of his love to you, and his 
 deiire for your welfare and happinefs, than 
 that which we have read. The text, I be- 
 lieve, contains the fentiments, and was the 
 index of his dying heart, in refpect to you. 
 You may confider it as a token of the fincereu: 
 regard for you -, you may confider it as his 
 laft advice to you. 
 
 Men are apt to pay great regard to the 
 cautions, counfels and charges of dying 
 friends. And tho' fome may carry this to 
 fuch a length, as that it borders on fuperfK- 
 tion j yet certainly there is fomething folemn 
 
 and
 
 46 The Chrijlian Minijlefs 
 
 and (hiking, in the requefls and admonitions 
 of a man on the verge of the eternal world. 
 The lair, accents of a tongue juft going to be 
 bound up in the filence of death, demand clofe 
 attention, and often make a deep impreffion. 
 The circumftanccs of the fpeaker have a na- 
 tural tendency to enforce what is delivered 
 by him. Hence, the all-wife God has fomc- 
 times infpired his fervants, in thefe circum- 
 ftances, with fuch MefTages, as he defigned 
 fhould make a deep impreflion on the hear- 
 ers, and be long kept in memory. The pa- 
 triarch "Jacob \ when jufr, ftepping Into the 
 eternal world, by a fpirit of prophecy, fore- 
 told what mould befall his offspring for ages 
 to come. He called his forts, and faid, Ga- 
 ther yourfehes together , that I may tell you that 
 which Jh all befall you in the I aft days. Hear, 
 ye Jons of Jacob, and hearken unto Ifrael your 
 father * He fignified, in the mofl folemn 
 manner, his difapprobation of fome parts of 
 their conduct, and gave them fome important 
 hints in reference to their future proceedings. 
 And when Jacob hud made an e?id of command- 
 ing hisfons, he gathered up Ms feet into the bed, 
 and yielded up the ghoft, and was gathered unto 
 his people, , 
 
 God 
 
 * Gen. xlix. 1, z, Ver. 33. 
 
 >
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 47 
 
 God fends his fummons to his fervant 
 Mofes, who had been faithful in all his houfe, 
 to go up to mount Nebo and die, and be ga~ 
 thend unto his people. And in order to this, 
 he rhuft deliver a melTage to the chofen 
 tribes, as a dying man ; and leave them a 
 parting bleffing. And this is the blefjing 
 wherewith Mofes the man of God bleffed the 
 children of Ifrael, before his death * Jojhua, 
 the fon of Nun, calls all Ifrael together, to 
 hear his farewell fermon. And to enforce 
 what he had to fay upon his audience, Be- 
 hold, fays he, this day I am going the way of 
 all the earth. And having delivered his dif- 
 courfe, and difmiiTed the people, the next we 
 hear of him is, that "Jofiua the fon of Nun, 
 the fervant of the Lord, died. We have 
 alfo, the lail words of David, the fweet 
 finger of Ifrael. From all which it appears^ 
 how reafonable it is to pay due attention to 
 the advices and counfels of dying faints, as 
 they are conformable to, and founded on, 
 the divine word. Upon this principle, the 
 apoftle Paul thus addrefles Ti??iothy ; / charge 
 thee before God, and the Lord Jejus Chrijl, 
 who /ball judge the quick and the dead, at his 
 appearing and his kingdom, preach the word; 
 
 be 
 * Deut. xxxii. 49, 50, and xxxiii. i. i ]oh. srxJii. z, 14. 
 and xxiv. 9
 
 48 "the Chriftian Minifteri 
 
 he injlant infeafon, out offeafon ; reprove, re- 
 buke ; exhort, with all long-fuffering and doc- 
 trine ; and afterwards adds, i" am ready to be 
 offered up, and the time of my departure is at 
 hand.* So when we hear a dying brother, 
 with a panting heart, a faltring tongue, and 
 quivering lips, thus befpeakus, Finally, bre- 
 thren, farewell; be p erf eel ; be of good comfort -, 
 be of one mind, live in peace ; and the God of 
 love and peace Jhall be with you : Should we 
 not be all attention ? Should we not ponder 
 thefe fayings in our hearts ? You can have no 
 doubt of the dying fpeaker's fincerity and af- 
 fection ; you need not be told that what is 
 &id, is the refult of the clofeft thought, and 
 maturefl deliberation. 
 
 In the famous and flourifhing city of Co- 
 rinth, the apoftle Paul had, by the fpecial 
 direction of the Almighty, publifhed the glad 
 tidings of free and full falvation, in the name 
 of Jefus. The Lord had told him, he had 
 much people in that city, to be called out of 
 darknefs into marvellous light . Accord ingly, 
 the word had great fuccefs. Many were 
 turned to God, and became obedient to the 
 faith. A numerous church was gathered, 
 
 and 
 
 * Tim. iv. i, 2 ; Act. xviii. I, 10.
 
 Farewell to bis Flock, 49 
 
 and large gifts, and great grace beftowed on 
 the members of it. This ambaflador of 
 Chrift, continued preaching the word among 
 them for a confiderable time; and an abun- 
 dant bleffing attended his labours. But be- 
 ing called into other parts of the vineyard, 
 great irregularities took place among the Co- 
 rinthian converts, and many fhameful things 
 were done by them. Yet thefe things did 
 not abate the apoftle's love to them, and zeal 
 for their welfare. He wrote to them an ex- 
 cellent epiftle, and after that a fecond ; of 
 which, the words now under confideration 
 are a concluding part. Finally, brethren, 
 farewell, &c* In which we may obferve, 
 
 I. The affecting manner in which the 
 apoftle takes his leave of the Corinthia?i 
 church. Finally, brethren, Farewell. 
 
 II. The folemn charge he gives them : Be 
 perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, 
 live in peace. 
 
 III. A precious and comprehenfive promife 
 annexed : And the God of love and peace 
 Jhall be with you. 
 
 D I. Obferve
 
 50 %he Chrifiian Miniftefs 
 
 I. Obferve the affecting manner in which 
 the apoflle takes his leave of the Corinthian 
 church. 
 
 I. He falutes them under the endearing 
 appellation of brethren. Heufes this term, not 
 by way of compliment, without any mean- 
 ing, as is but too often the cafe. In the 
 mouth of an infpired meffenger of Chrifl, 
 this word is emphatical. Hereby he indi- 
 cates his affection for them, and would 
 quicken their attention and regard to what 
 he has to fay. The Corinthians had behaved 
 to the apoflle in a very difrefpectful manner. 
 They had defpifed him for his natural de- 
 fects; particularly for fome impediment, as 
 it mould feem, which attended him in fpeak- 
 ing. They had preferred others to him, who 
 was the chief of the aportles.* Notwith- 
 itanding which, he null loves them, and ftiles 
 them brethren. A bigotted, cenforious fpi- 
 rit knows not to mew mercy, even on the 
 moft. refpedable character. What pity is it, 
 that the profefling followers of the Prince of 
 peace, mould be fo unlike their divine 
 Matter ! O that chriftians of all denomina- 
 tions among us, were more concerned to live 
 
 under 
 
 * 2 Cor. x. io. and xii. n.
 
 Farewell to his Flock, 51 
 
 tinder the governing influence of that charity, 
 which thinketh no evil-, which beareth all 
 things ; believeth all things -, hopeth all things ; 
 endureth all things.* 
 
 ChrifUaris, true chriftians of every name, 
 are brethren. They have ail one Father ; by 
 whom they are begQtten again to a lively hope.% 
 They are all partakers df the divine nature t and 
 bear the divine image. There is a ftriking 
 likenefs between them, in heart, fpeech, and 
 behaviour. Their fpirit, temper, and difpo- 
 fition, are materially the fame; for they have 
 all the mind of Chri/l.-f They all fpeak the 
 fame language; the language of Canaan. X 
 Their lips are as threads offcarlet ; and their 
 tojigue as choice fiver. Their walk, for fub- 
 flance, is the fame ; for it is fuch as becometh 
 the go/pel of Chrijl. (a) They are, as the fins 
 of God, blamelefs and harmlefs, in the midft of a 
 crooked and perverfe generation. They deny 
 ungodlinefs and worldly lufis ; and live Jbberly, 
 right eoujly, and godly in this prefejit world, (b) 
 Like brethren, they all conflitute one fpiri- 
 tua] family; called the houjhold of faith. They 
 
 D 2 all 
 
 * 1 Cor. xiii. z Pet. i. 4, and 1 Pet. i. 3. f 1 Cor. 
 ii. 16. X Zeph. iii. q. (a) Phil. i. 27, and ii. 15. 
 
 (b) Tic. ii. 11, 12.'
 
 j 2 The Chrifiian Minijleri 
 
 all look to, depend upon, and are richly fup- 
 plied by, the hand of their heavenly Father* 
 Their fpiritual interefts are naturally involved 
 in each other. They weep and rejoice toge- 
 ther. They partake of each other's forrows 
 and confolations. They mingle their pray- 
 ers and praifes together. They throw, as it 
 were, their whole flock into one promifcuous 
 heap ; no one caring for his own things -, but 
 every man for the things that are jfefus Chrtft's. 
 And they are entitled to, and interefted in, 
 the fame glorious patrimony, fettled on them 
 by their heavenly Father. They are heirs of 
 God, and joint heirs with Chrifl. As fuch, 
 they ought to love as brethren, and chearfully 
 attend to the advice given in our text. 
 
 2. The apoftle expreffes a parting wim for 
 the Corinthian church, FarewelL This was 
 not, as obferved above, a word of courfe, 
 without any thought or concern. It is ex- 
 preffive of his iincere defire for their welfare 
 and profperity in every view. The Englijh 
 word, is a compound of fare, and well. Fare 
 is put for the entertainment a perfon is fa- 
 voured with, at home or abroad : and to 
 farewell, is to be well accommodated, and 
 plentifully fupplied. This term, then, feems 
 
 to
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 53 
 
 to imply a wifh for the happinefs of the Co- 
 rmfhians, both as men and as chrifHans ; both 
 in body and foul. 
 
 He wimed them well in their church- flate. 
 He had this in view in his preaching while 
 among them, and in both the excellent epif- 
 tles which he wrote to them. In which, he 
 points out their defects, anfwers their objec- 
 tions, folves their enquiries, and reproves 
 them for their irregularities ; with the firmeft 
 integrity, and warmefr, aifection. In a wordj 
 he does all in his power to eftablifh good or- 
 der among them. And here he exprefTes his 
 earneft wifh, that they might profit by all he 
 had done for them, fpoken and wrote to 
 them. It was his defire that God might 
 dwell among them, rule over them, and ia 
 them -, and fo make them a happy, honour- 
 able, peaceable and fruitful people, in their 
 relation one to another, as brethren in el- 
 lowmip together* 
 
 He wifhed them well as individuals. His 
 defire and prayer to God for them was, That 
 God would grant them according to the riches 
 of his glory, to, be Jlrengthencd with might by 
 hisfpirit in the inner man. $hat Chrijl might 
 D 1 dwelt
 
 4 *The Chriftian Minifters 
 
 dwell in their hearts by faith, that they being 
 rooted and grounded in love, might be able to 
 comprehend, with all faints, what is the lengthy 
 and breadth, and depth, and height, and to know 
 the love, of Chrifl, which paffeth knowledge-, 
 that they might be filled with all the fulnefs of 
 God* He affectionately defired that their 
 fouls might profper, as the foul of Gaius is faid 
 to do; that they might grow in grace, and in 
 the knowledge of our Lord fefus Chrifl-, that 
 they might abound in hope, thro the power of 
 the Holy Ghojl -, enjoy accefs to, and commu- 
 nion with God, and be filed with the fruits of 
 righteoufnefs to his praife and glory. Such 
 was the apqflle's concern for the dear faints 
 at Corinth, for whom he was willing to fpend 
 and be fpent. May fucceeding miniflers 
 breathe the fame fpirit ! 
 
 3. This farewell w&sfinal: finally, brethren, 
 
 farewell, q. d. To come to a clofe j to fum 
 
 up all in a word, and fo take my leave of you. 
 
 This term finally, feems to have reference 
 to what had already been done. The apoftle 
 here would lead them to recollect his preach- 
 ing among them, and review what he had 
 
 wrote 
 
 * Eph. iii. 1619.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 55 
 
 wote to them. And permit me, my dear 
 brethren, on this occafion, to remind you, 
 what your late worthy parlor has done for 
 and among you. He has ferved you in the 
 gofpel of Chrift, with unwearied diligence 
 and fidelity, for more than thirty years. He 
 has wat-ched over you, as a fhepberd over his 
 flock. He has fed you with the wholefome 
 words of our Lord Jefus Chrift. You dwelt 
 on his affectionate heart. His care for vou 
 was natural. He was gentle among you as a 
 nurfe cherifieth her children He opened up 
 to you -the truths of the gofpel, in their beau- 
 ty, harmony, and rich variety. In this pul- 
 pit, he maintained and enlarged upon the 
 feveral parts of doctrinal, experimental and 
 practical divinity, in a judicious and mafterly 
 manner. While health would permit, his 
 public preaching was accompanied with pri- 
 vate vifits, in which, you, no doubt, can re- 
 collect his wholefome counfels, his pious ex- 
 hortations, his faithful reproofs and fervent 
 prayers. All which rendered him, under 
 God, a helper of your joy, and ajirengthener of 
 your hands, in the way to heaven. And all 
 his labours among you, were with a defign 
 to promote the great ends fpecified in the 
 text. Perfection, comfort, unity and peace, 
 D4 were
 
 3 6 8fc Chrijlian Minijlers 
 
 were the great things to which his doctrine 
 and conduct led. For the truth of this, I 
 appeal to your confciences in the fight of 
 God. And I believe you have not the leaft 
 inclination to deny it. 
 
 But your dear paftor has now bid you a 
 final farewell. He has often bid you fare- 
 well, when he has taken his leave of you for 
 a feafon. This hath fometimes been with 
 heart- felt pleafure, occafioned by the fteadi- 
 nefs and fervor of your minds in the ways of 
 God -, at other times, perhaps, he has taken 
 his leave of you with pain and forrow, on 
 account of what he has heard from you, or 
 feen among you. But thefe kinds of faluta- 
 tions are now over. You hear his voice no 
 more. How often have you heard him pour 
 out his foul in prayer to God for you ? But 
 his prayers are now turned into praifes. And 
 he is reaping the fruits of a good confcience 
 to God and you, in the regions of peace and 
 undiiturbed repofe. He will, I trufl, have 
 the unfpeakable fatisfaction of welcoming 
 fome (O that I could fay, all] of you, to the 
 realms of blifs. So mail you be his joy and 
 crown of rejoicing for ever. But till then, he 
 has once for all, in the language of the text, 
 
 bid 

 
 Farewell to his: Flock. $j 
 
 bid you farewell. This farewell is a final 
 one. We pafs on to 
 
 II. The folemn charge here given. Be 
 perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live 
 in peace. This charge coniifts of four 
 branches. 
 
 I. Be perfeSl. A perfect freedom from fin 
 in the prefent flate, is not intended here -, 
 nor indeed in any other part of the infpired 
 volume. The faints of God, 'tis true, are 
 faid to be complete, and to be without Jpor.* 
 But this is to be underftood of them in point 
 of j unification, as found inChrift, and clothed 
 with his- fpotlefs righteoufnefs. Compara- 
 tive perfection is afcribed to God's people, 
 with refpect to their converfation. So we 
 read of fome being perfect in their generation ; 
 i. e. when compared with thofe among whom 
 they lived. Perfection in other parts of 
 fcripture feems to intend, uprightnefs ovjince- 
 rity. So fob was a p erf eel and an upright 
 man -,-f he was throughly lincere ; but at the 
 fame time, he utterly difclaimed all pretenti- 
 ons to finlefs perfection. 
 
 But 
 
 * Col. it io. Cant. iv. 7. Gen. 
 
 f Job. i. 8, and ix. 30,
 
 58 The Chrijiian Minijlers 
 
 But the perfection here intended, as I ap- 
 prehend, is to be underftood of thofe things 
 which belonged to the church at Corinth, 
 in a foetal capacity. On this head, very great 
 imperfection had appeared among them.. 
 And it moll: certainly was their duty to rec- 
 tify what was out of order. Some had been 
 awfully criminal among them, and others 
 had connived at their fin. Thefe, the apof- 
 tle had fharply reproved ; he had charged 
 them- to repent of, and turn from, thofe 
 evils which were fo pernicious to their peace, 
 comfort and profperity ; and fo be more per- 
 fectly conformable to the rules of Chriit. 
 
 He here implicitly charges them, alfo, to 
 labour after the ftricteft difcipline in future. 
 It is certain, there can be no fpiritual prof- 
 perity in the houfe of the Lord, where there 
 is no concern for purity of difcipline. We 
 mould not contract the doors of the fanctu- 
 ary, fo as to fhut out him that is weak in the 
 faith , yet we mould, on the other hand, .be 
 careful not to open them wider than what 
 God's word allows. If men of corrupt prin- 
 ciples, or of a vain converfation, are admitted 
 into the connection, or any are furfered to 
 continue, when they appear of that ftamp, 
 
 the
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 59 
 
 the purity, peace and comfort of the church 
 will be greatly injured, if not overthrown. 
 The prefence and fmiles of the Holy One of 
 Ifrael, will be withdrawn. On the other 
 hand, if gofpel order is duly attended to, tho' 
 our number be fmall, and our circumftances 
 low ; yet peace will be within Zioris walls, 
 and profperity within her palaces. 
 
 This perfection, likewife, includes a fleady 
 adherence to the grand and leading doctrines 
 of the gofpel. While fome expend their zeal 
 and vigor in favour of circumftantials in re- 
 ligion, and fome particular modes of expref- 
 fion ; ftriving about words, to no profit, hut to 
 the fubverting the hearers ; there is in others, 
 too much coolnefs and indifference, refpect- 
 ing the fundamental articles of the chriftian 
 faith. Thefe ought to be dearer to us than 
 our lives. We fhould buy the truth, but not 
 fell it, at any price whatfoever.* We fhould 
 be valiant for it. Contend earneftly, and fi rive, 
 together for it. This is the church's crown 
 and glory ; and fhe fhould hold it fail unto 
 the end. The bleffed Redeemer highly ap- 
 proved of, and commended the churches at 
 Pergamos and Philadelphia, for their fteadi-r 
 
 nefs 
 
 * Pro. Jude iii. Phil. i. 27,
 
 60 rfhe Chrifiian Minifters 
 
 nefs in the truth.* And, fuch a conduct 
 certainly contributes to the perfection of the 
 church of God. It indicates great weaknefs 
 to be perpetually tojfed to and fro, with every 
 wind of doBrine. 
 
 Add to this, a zealous difcharge of every 
 duty, civil or religious. A daily care to -live 
 in ftricl conformity, as far as may be, to that 
 divine rule, which is boly,juft and good. An 
 endeavour to ftand complete in all the will 
 of God : to conduct ourfelves in the family, 
 the clolet, the church, and the world at large* 
 as becometb faints. O that the profefTors of 
 chriftian ity had but a juft fenfe of the im- 
 portance of this ! There are moft certainly, 
 greater degrees of holinefs, both of temper 
 2nd walk, attainable in the prefent ftate, 
 than even christians in common are acquaint- 
 ed with for want of diligence in the ways 
 of God. Hence there fhould be a going on 
 towards perjeclion. Not as too we had al- 
 ready attained, or were already perfect ; but 
 we mould, with unabating vigor, firefs for- 
 ward in the pleafing path of holinefs. The 
 Searcher of hearts complains of fome, that 
 he had not found their works perfeB. 
 
 It 
 
 * Re*, ii. 13, and iii, iS. Rev. iii. 2.
 
 ; 
 
 Farewell to bis Flock. 61 
 
 It mould feem, the Corinthians had been 
 very deficient in their duty one towards ano- 
 ther. Chriftians in church relation ought 
 not to live to themfeJves, nor only mind their 
 own things; but every one alfo fhould mind 
 the things of others. The beauty and ad- 
 vantage of church fellowship very much de- 
 pend, on each member's being found in the 
 conftant difcharge of thofe focial and relative 
 duties, which are enjoined in the word of 
 God. They are to caution, exhort, fupport, 
 relieve, ftrengthen and edify one another, 
 according to the ability beftpwed on them for 
 that end. Had not the blerTed apoftle thefe, 
 and fuch like things in view, when he gave 
 this charge to the Corinthian church, Be per- 
 fect ? Do not thefe feveral particulars contri- 
 bute to the perfection of a gofpel commu- 
 nity ? But I forbear to enlarge. 
 
 II. Be of good comfort. Tho* the children 
 of God have great reafon for grief and for- 
 row ; tho' they are often, on juft grounds, 
 weeping and complaining while in this world, 
 yet they have frequent exhortations to re- 
 joice. They are often in heavinefs, thro* 
 manifold temptations ; their fouls are, at fome- 
 times, cafi down within them ; and they are fo 
 
 oppreffed 

 
 6 2 tfhe Chrijiian Minifters 
 
 oppreifed with forrow and affliction, that they 
 can fcarcely fpeak to God or man ; yet at the 
 fame time, they are never without folid and 
 fubftantial ground of comfort. God has 
 given them everlajlmg confolation, and good 
 hope thro* grace. It is their duty, as well as 
 privilege, to be of good comfort. It is fuitable" 
 to their profeffion of faith and confidence in 
 the Moft High. It is Well-pleafing in his 
 fight, and honourable to his caufe and intereft 
 in the world. And certainly it muft be of 
 advantage to themfelves. The joy of the Lord 
 is their Jirength. A ferene, vigorous, chear- 
 ful temper of mind, gives them the boldnefs 
 of a lion in the face of their enemies. It is 
 ferviceable in the difcharge of duty, and in 
 fighting the good fight of faith. 
 
 The God of all grace, in infinite conde- 
 fcenfion, mews regard for the comfort of his 
 faints. He charges his minifters to comfort 
 them. The apoftle Paul, under his direc- 
 tion, laboured much for the comfort of the 
 flints, Phil. iv. 4. 1 Thef. v. 15. He prayed 
 earneftly for it, Col. ii. 2. He laid before 
 them the grounds of corifolation. And was 
 much concerned for the promotion of their 
 fpiritualjoy, andchriftian chearfulnefs ; that, 
 
 being
 
 Farewell to bis Fleck. 63 
 
 being infpired with courage and magnani- 
 mity, they might glory in tribulation, rejoic- 
 ing in hope of the promifed reft. , A melan- 
 choly, dejected, timorous fpirit, is an afflic- 
 tion to a man's felf, uncomfortable to thofe 
 about him, and difhonourable to God. 
 
 Permit me juft to touch on the grounds 
 and reafons which real faints have, for being 
 of good comfort. i..They are interefted in 
 the free and unchanging love of God in 
 Chrift Jefus. This is a folid ground of con- 
 folation to them. It .comforts their hearts 
 more than the choiceft wine. It may ferve 
 to animate the mind, andinfpire it with holy 
 courage, and humble triumph, under the 
 darken: difpenfations. For who Jhall feparate 
 us from the love of Chrift? Shall tribulation, or 
 diftrefs, or perfecution, or famine, ornakednefs, or 
 peril, or /word ?Nay, in all thefe things, we 
 are more than conquerors, thro him that hath 
 loved us. For I am perfuaded, &c. Rom, 
 viii. 35' 39- 
 
 2. The blood of Jefus has atoned for all 
 their guilt, and they are clothed in his fpot- 
 lefs righteoufnefs. The obedience of Chrift 
 unto death for his church, makes void every 
 
 indictment
 
 64 The Chrifiian Minijlefs 
 
 indictment againft her, removes the curfe 
 of the divine law, and puts to filence the cla- 
 mours of a guilty confcience. This difarms 
 death of his dreadful fting, and difpels the 
 gloomy horrors of the grave. Yea, it bright- 
 ens the profpect of approaching judgment, 
 and the eternal world. This makes room 
 for the faints in the bolieft of all, and gives 
 them boldnefs before the throne of God. 
 This, confequently furnifhes out the faints 
 with folid grounds for joy and triumph. 
 Theyy<?y in God, thro' "J ejus Chrijl, by whom 
 they have received the atonement. They fing 
 a new fong to him that hath loved them, and 
 wajhed them from their fns in his own blood.* 
 Hence they are clothed in the fpotlefs robe 
 of a Saviour's righteoufnefs, znd jufified from 
 all things, from which they could not be juflified 
 by the law of Mofes.% They are made the 
 righteoufnefs of God in jefus ; who is the end 
 of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that 
 believeth. As fuch, it affords them matter of 
 folid joy and comfort. Surely, mail one iky. 
 In the Lord have I righteoufnefs andjlrength. 
 And again, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, 
 my foul Jhall be joyful in my God ; for he hath 
 clothed me with the garments of falvation, he 
 hath covered me with the robe of righteoufnefs. \ 
 
 * Rom. v. ii. Rev. i. ?. Eph. i. ^. A6t xiii. 39. 
 f Ifa. xlv. *4, and lxi. 10.
 
 Farewell to his Flock, 6$ 
 
 3. There are immenfe treafures of grace 
 laid up for them in Chrift Jefus, whofe riches 
 are unfearchable. The needs of God's peo- 
 ple are many ; if we confider, the fins they 
 have to 'ftrive againft, the temptations they 
 have to grapple with, the afflictions they 
 have to bear, and the duties they have to per- 
 form ; but my God Jhall fupply them all, ac- 
 cording to his riches in glory, by Chrijl "Jefus, 
 Phil. iv. 13. All their fprings are in him. 
 Thro his poverty they are made rich ; and his 
 grace is fufficient for them. 
 
 4. The good work of grace and falvation 
 is already begun in them. They are born of 
 God ; called out of darknefs into Gods marvel- 
 lous light -, and adopted into the family of 
 God. So that they may well fay, The Lord 
 hath done great things for us, whereof we are 
 glad. Pfa. cxxiii. 3. And that falvation 
 which they have begun to experience, is full, 
 free, complete and everlafting. It will furely 
 put an end to all their fins, and all their for- 
 rows. It will leave neither its guilt to fting 
 them, its power to oppofe them, nor its pol- 
 lution to defile them. Let them, on this 
 ground, be of good comfort, and fay, Behold, 
 God is my falvation : I will trujl, and not be 
 
 E afraid ;
 
 66 The Chrijlian Minijiers 
 
 afraid ; for the Lord Jehovah is my ftrength 
 and my fong ; he is alfo become my fahation /* 
 
 Moreover, 5. They are heirs of the king- 
 dom of glory in the world to come. This 
 is iriled, an exceeding great and eternal weight 
 of glory. The fuff'erings of the prefent time are 
 not worthy to be compared with it. It is the 
 blejjed hope of the faints, and the grace that is 
 to be brought unto them at the revelation of 
 Jefus Chrijl. It is their Father s good pleafure 
 to give them this kingdom ; and therefore it is 
 fit and reafonable, that they mould rejoice in 
 the hope of it. Thefe things, with many 
 others that might be named, furnim the chil- 
 dren of God with a folid foundation for com- 
 fort and joy. And fince they are charged to 
 be of good comfort, how necef]ary is it, that 
 they have thefe things much in view; that 
 they may encourage themfelves in the Lord 
 their God^ and comfort one another with the 
 words of everlafting life ! 
 
 III. The third branch of the exhortation 
 is, Be of one mind. This advice is often 
 given, and therefore mufl be of great im- 
 portance. 
 
 * If. xii. 2, 3. 1 Pet. i. 5, 6. z-Cor. iv. 17. 
 
 Rom. viii. 18. Tit. ii. 13.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 67 
 
 portance. The difciples of Chrift are charged 
 to be of the fame mind one towards another ; 
 to be all of one mind-, and to endeavour to keep 
 the unity of the fpirit* Thus it was in the 
 primitive church, Acts iv, 32. The multi- 
 tude of the difciples were of one heart, and one 
 foul. And moft certainly, this ought to be 
 the cafe ftill. There is as much neceffity for 
 it now as there was then. It is as needful, for 
 theprofperity of the church, and the glory of 
 God, as ever. And the bad confequences 
 attending the contrary, are as numerous, and 
 as much to be dreaded as ever. Confe- 
 quently, the arguments enforcing it, are as 
 powerful as ever. It muft be allowed, that 
 a perfect agreement in religious fentiments, 
 is not to be expected, fo long as we are im- 
 perfect in knowledge. It never was the cafe, 
 nor ever w r ill be, while we are in the body. 
 
 The Roman pontiff affects to tyranize over 
 men's confciences, and even their under- 
 ftandings -, by requiring them to believe only 
 as the church believes. But this is as oppofite 
 to the fpirit of the gofpel as darknefs is to 
 light. The religion of Jefus requires no man 
 to aiTent to that which he cannot fee reafon 
 for, and fufficient proof of. It requires none 
 E 2 to 
 
 * Rom. xii. 16. Eph. iv. 3. 1 Pet. iii. 8,
 
 68 The Chrijiian Minifters 
 
 to do violence to their own understandings ; 
 or to pretend a belief of that, of which they 
 cannot fee the evidence. 
 
 I take the general fenfe of this claufe to 
 be ; That care fhould be taken, as to the 
 admiilion of members into a gofpel church ; 
 that none be received, who are ftrangers to 
 the neceffary and important truths and duties 
 of religion. That the members of fuch 
 church mould guard againft a whimfical, 
 fanciful turn of mind ; a perpetual fondnefs 
 for Angularity; and an ambition to difcover 
 what no one has ever feen before -, that they 
 mould beware of difturbing the brethren with 
 their own nojimms, which are, perhaps, not 
 at all iuited to inform or edify, but only 
 calculated to puzzle and perplex ; and that 
 they mould lay afide all inclination toftrive 
 about 'words to no profit. 
 
 The preferring followers of Jefus, and 
 members of gofpel churches, can never be 
 too much guarded againft. fuch a temper as 
 the above. It has done immenfe mifchief 
 in the focieties of the faints ; and is fpreading 
 its baneful influence in many places at this 
 day. It originates in that pride from whence 
 
 cometh
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 69 
 
 cometh contention -, it betrays much vanity of 
 mind ; and has a tendency to draw off the at- 
 tention, from the moil weighty and import- 
 ant things. It favours ftrongly of carnality j 
 and is what the apoftle blames the Corinthian 
 church for, more than once. For whereas 
 there is among you envying and Ji rife, and divi- 
 Jions are ye not carnal, and walk as men f 
 1 Cor. iii. 3. 
 
 To rectify this, the apoftle fet out in his 
 firft epiftle to this people, in the following 
 manner ; Now I befeech you, brethren, by the. 
 name of the Lord fefus Chrijl, that ye allfpeak 
 the fame thing, and that there be no divifions 
 among you : but that ye be perfectly joined toge- 
 ther, in the fame mind, and in the fame judgment . 
 He takes his leave of them here as he begun 
 there : which may intimate, that the things 
 mentioned here and there, were what he 
 principally aimed at, in both his epiftles. Be 
 of one mind. q. d. M Pay the fame uniform 
 attention to the great and fundamental truths 
 of the gofpel ; evidence the fame zeal in pro- 
 moting them ; attend to the fame thing; and 
 engage in the fame laudable deligns, for ad- 
 vancing the common caufe of chrifrianity, in 
 which ye are all embarked. This I take to 
 be the fpirit of the exhortation. 
 
 E 3 1 . This
 
 70 The Chrijlian Minijlers 
 
 i. This onenefs of mind, then, mould be 
 preferved as much as may be, in the moft im- 
 portant doctrines of the gofpel. Men may 
 widely differ in their ideas of many texts of 
 fcripture, and of many circumstances relative 
 to the truths they believe in common, and 
 yet preferve the unity of the fpirit. But if 
 the effential doctrines of the gofpel, in their 
 fubftance and reality, are deny'd by any, iri 
 the relation of^hurch members, they are far 
 from the apoftle's rule lai'. down in the text. 
 How can two walk together, for mutual edifi- 
 cation, except they be agreed, in the moft im- 
 portant things ? How mail they zWfpeak the 
 fame thing, if they are not of the fame j udg- 
 ment ?* 
 
 2. In all the branches of inftituted wor- 
 fhip. Such as, the miniftry of the word, 
 prayer to God, and the obfervation of the pe- 
 culiar ordinances of the gofpel. Thus the 
 primitive chriitians continued Jledfajily in the 
 apoftle's doctrine and fellow '/hip, in breaking of 
 bread, and in prayers. Act. ii. 42. 
 
 3. In reference to the order and difci- 
 pline of God's houfe. In this it is a happi- 
 
 nefs 
 
 * Phil. i. 27. Jude xx. Eph. iv. 3.
 
 Farewell to bis Flock. 71 
 
 nefs for church-members to fee eye to eye. A 
 church is the bouflwld of God; there are ru- 
 lers there : which idea fuppofes rules by which 
 it is governed ; things are to be fet in order ; 
 and done decently and in order. Now the rules 
 and orders are laid down in the word of God ; 
 and it is neceffary that the faints fhould be 
 acquainted with them, and of one mind about 
 them : that they may fiand per/eel and com- 
 plete in all the will of God. Col. iv. 12. 
 What is done in the houfe, and by the family 
 of God, fhould be with unanimity. Nothing 
 fhould be undertaken, or profecuted, thro' 
 fir if e or vain glory. They mould not befelf- 
 willed ; but fubmit one to another in the fear 
 of God; and not be wife in their own conceits.* 
 
 Here, my brethren, give me leave to fpeak 
 freely to you. You have not now, as formerly, 
 a judicious paftor to go before you in the ma- 
 nagement of church-affairs. No ! You are 
 now left in the wildernefs, zsfieep without a 
 jhepherd. Let it be your lludy and endea- 
 vour, to act with unanimity in every weighty 
 concern that may come before you. See that 
 ye fall not out by the way. Thus it will ap- 
 pear to all, that you have profited by the la- 
 E 4 bours 
 
 * Phil. ii. 3. Eph. v. 21. 1 Pet. v. 5. Rom. xii. 16.
 
 yz The Chrijlian Minifters 
 
 bours and example of your late paftor. No- 
 thing would have diftreffed him more while 
 living, than the thought of your being in- 
 volved in ftrife and contention after his de- 
 ceafe. But / am perfuaded better things of 
 you, my brethren, tho' I thus /peak. Yet let 
 me put you in mind of one thing, and be- 
 feech you, in the bowels ofjefus Chrift, to 
 endeavour after it. I mean, unanimity in the 
 choice of another minifter. I hope, thro* 
 your prayers, and the intercerlions of others 
 for you, God will, in his own time, fend you 
 a paftor after his own heart. You have his 
 promife to plead on that head, Jer. iii. 15*. 
 But be perfuaded not to fix your expectations 
 too high. You can hardly think, humanly 
 fpeaking, to be provided with one in all re- 
 fpects equal to the laft. Be that as it may ; 
 labour to unite in one object. It has often 
 fallen out, that churches have fplit and been 
 divided upon the death of a paftor.. Hence, 
 I hope, you fee the propriety and force of the 
 exhortation, be of one mind. 
 
 IV. Live in peace. 
 
 Peace is an elfential ingredient in true fe- 
 licity, whether in this world or the next. 
 
 The
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 73 
 
 The gofpel is a proclamation of peace. To 
 procure peace, the Son of God fried his blood 
 on the crofs. To bring it into the heart and 
 confcience, the Spirit of all grace is given. 
 God is not the .Author ofconfufion, but of peace, 
 in the churches of the faints. To live in peace, 
 therefore, correfponds with the whole defign 
 of chriftianity, and the great ends for which 
 the Redeemer lived, fufFered and died. 
 
 Now in order to a church's living in peace. 
 -Care mould be taken/as hinted above, who 
 are admitted to fellowfhip among them. 
 That they be fuch as give evidence of their 
 faith in Chrift, love to God, and fubjection 
 to the gofpel. There were added unto the 
 
 church daily, fuch as Jhall be faved. Party 
 
 debates mould be avoided. Every one mould 
 fill up his place with fteadinefs and honour -, 
 they Jhould notforjake the ajfembling of them- 
 felves together. Unchriflian - like tempers 
 mould be mortified. Envy, wrath, bitter- 
 nefs, prejudice and malice, mould never be 
 cherifhed. Their direct tendency is the de- 
 ftruction of peace. 1 Pet. ii. 1 . Care mould 
 be taken not willingly to offend one another, 
 in word or deed. The wifdom which is 
 from above fhould have its due influence upon 
 
 every
 
 74 ^he Chrijiian Miniflers 
 
 every mind ; it is pure, peaceable, gentle, and 
 eafy to he entreated % we mould give none of- 
 fence to few or Gentile, or the church of God. 
 On the other hand, we mould not be for- 
 ward to take offence on every flight occafion. 
 This argues great weaknefs, and naturally 
 remits from a high opinion of ourftlves. 
 Such a temper makes a man very uneafy to 
 himfelf, and has a direct tendency to break 
 the peace of fociety. He that is flow to anger 
 is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth 
 hisfpirit, than he that taketh a city. Prov. 
 
 xvi. 32. All evil furmilings, groundlefs 
 
 fufpicions, and ram cenfures mould be avoids 
 ed, with the greatefl care. If thefe are in- 
 dulged, peace will foon be wounded, if riot 
 deflroyed. Why doft thou judge thy brother, or 
 fet at nought thy brother f We muji all jljznd 
 before the judgment feat of Chrif. Let us not 
 therefore judge one another any more. Rom. 
 
 xiv. 10, ?i 3 . There mould be a readinefs 
 
 to reprove one another, to confefs our faults 
 one to another, and exercife a fpirit of for- 
 givenefs. Reproof mould be faithfully given, 
 and thankfully received. To defpife reproof, 
 is brutim, and occaiions grent pain and diftrr.fs 
 to thofe who are concerned for peace and 
 holinefs. We mould rather fay, Let the 
 
 righteous
 
 Farewell to his Flock. J$ 
 
 righteous fmite me, it fa all be a kindnefs. And 
 we mould be ready to confefs our faults, and 
 not conceal, or itxive to extenuate them, 
 much lefs to juftify ourfelves when in the 
 wrong ; that would certainly finite at the 
 root of peace. Confefs your faults one to ano- 
 ther, and pray one for another, that ye may be 
 healed. Jam. v. 1 6. A ipirit of forgiven efs 
 is likewife exceedingly neceffary. There can 
 be no living in peace without it. Nor have 
 we reafon to believe ourfelves forgiven of 
 God, if we are not ready to forgive one ano- 
 ther. Mat. vi. 14, 15. What a powerful 
 argument does this apoftle ufe to engage 
 to this ; when he fays, Be ye kind one to 
 another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, 
 even as God for Chrijl'sfake hath forgiven you. 
 For the fame purpofe, there mould be 
 great prudence ufed in the management of 
 the temporal affairs of the church. In con- 
 tributing towards the fupport of the Re- 
 deemer's intereft, and the relief of the poor, 
 every one ought to lay out according to his 
 ability. That there may be an equality, and 
 one be not eafed, and another burdened. 
 2 Cor. viii. 14. The rich fhould not give 
 according to the rate of the poor ; but every 
 one according as God has profpered him. The 
 Deacons fhould faithfully difcharge their of- 
 fice,
 
 7 6 The Chrijlian Miniflers 
 
 fice, and be able to give a good account to 
 the church, of their ftewardmip. J Tim. 
 iii. 13. Thefe are fome of the things which 
 make for the peace of christian fociety, and 
 without a due attention to which, a church 
 cannot live in peace. We pafs on to 
 
 III. The precious promife made to thofe, 
 who are enabled to conform to the advice 
 given - 3 The God of love and peace Jhall be 
 withyou. 
 
 The all-feeing God, as the God of provi- 
 dence, is with all men. And as the God of 
 all grace, he is ever with his people, while 
 in this world. But there is fomething pe- 
 culiarly emphatical in thefe words, the God 
 of LOVE and PEACE Jhall be with you, He 
 hath faid, I will never leave thee, nor for fake 
 thee.* And this word mall fiand faft to a 
 thoufand generations. Yet this is perfectly 
 confident with the fufpeniion of divine com- 
 forts, on account of what is difpleaiing to 
 God, in the temper or walk of his people. 
 For the prefence and fmile of the God of 
 love and peace, are only promifed to thofe who 
 duly attend to the charge given in the text. 
 
 He 
 
 * Heb. xiii. 5.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. yy 
 
 He is filled the God of love and peace, 
 with the greateft, propriety, becaufe both 
 thefe center in him. God is love. * The 
 lengths and breadths, the depths and heights 
 of love, are with, and in him. He is alfo 
 ftiled, the God of peace ; yea, the VERY God 
 of peace. Love and peace have been mani- 
 fefted, in our election, redemption, andjufti- 
 fication. And will farther appear, in our 
 fandification and complete falvation. Thefe 
 bleffings are all of God : aud the fruits of 
 that love, and thofe thoughts of peace he had 
 towards us. He loved us, and therefore <ravc 
 his fon to die for us ; Jefus Toved us, and 
 wafhed us from our fins, in his own bloody 
 
 He is the author of love and peace in the 
 hearts of his faints. He circumcifetb the 
 heart to love him. Hejheds abroad his love in 
 our hearts, by the Holy Ghoft. The dear 
 Redeemer has left hy peace with his people, as 
 a legacy ; and given it to them, as a portion. 
 His peace pajfeth underflanding, and it keeps 
 and rules the heart. 
 
 Moreover, the Lord requires love and 
 peace of his people, and difcovers his appro- 
 bation 
 
 * i Joh. iv. 2. Eph. iii. 18. $ Rom. xvi. 20. 
 t Joh. iii. 16. Rev. i..
 
 78 The Chrifiian Minijlers 
 
 bation of them, where they are found. As 
 they are good and pleafant in themfelves, fo 
 they are acceptable in his light.* Now, this 
 God of love and peace Jha/I be with y on. The 
 meaning of this promife feems to be given, 
 in the apoftolic benediction below. The grace 
 of the Lord Jefus Chrijl, and the love of God, 
 and the fellow/hip of the Holy GhoJi y be with 
 you all. 
 
 1 . The God of love and peace mall be with 
 you, to counfel and direct: you in the way 
 of truth and righteoufnefs. Ye know but in 
 part. Ye fee but as thro a glafs, darkly. 
 You are often crying, Of en thou mine eyes, 
 that I may behold wond'rous things out of thy 
 law. In anfwer to this, the God of love 
 and peace mall be with you, to guide and 
 keep you in the truth. Chrift is the anoint- 
 ed prophet of his church ; the infpired vo- 
 lume is put into your hands ; and the gofpel 
 of the grace of God is preached to you. You 
 hear the voice behind you, faying, This is the 
 way, walk ye in it. tlence, the path of the 
 jujl, like afiining light, Jhimth more and more 
 to the perfeft day.% 
 
 2. The 
 
 * 1 Joh. iii. 23, and iv. 21. Pf. cxix. 18. If. xlv. 13,
 
 Farewell to his Flock. yg 
 
 2. The God of love and peace mall be 
 with you, for your protection and defence. 
 You are in the midft of enemies ; like fheep 
 among wolves ; befet on every fide. The 
 powers of darknefs encompafs you round.* 
 But the eternal God is your refuge, and under- 
 neath are his everlafting arms. He covers you 
 from danger, with his feathers, his wings, as 
 a hen protects her callow brood ; his truth is 
 
 your Jhield and buckler. He is a wall of fire 
 round about you ; and the glory in the midfl of 
 you. As the hills ft and round about Jerufa- 
 lem,fo the Lordftandeth round about his people, 
 from henceforth, even for ever. So that the 
 church may boldly fay, 'The Lord of hofts is 
 with us? the God of Jacob is our refuge. We 
 Jhall be more than conquerors, thro him that 
 loveth z/j\ 
 
 3. The God of love and peace, mail be 
 with you, in a way of fellowship and com- 
 munion. He has, in every age, indulged his 
 people with nearnefs to himfelf in his ordi- 
 nances. He meeteth him that rejoiceth and 
 worketh right eoufnefs.\ He looketh forth as 
 the morning on fuch as worlhip him in fpirit 
 
 and 
 
 *Pf. lvii. 4. $ Deut. xxxiii. 27. Zech. ii. 5. Pf. exxv. 2. 
 t If. lxiv. 5.
 
 8d The Chrijlian Minijiers 
 
 and truth ; he brings them to his banqueting- 
 houfe ; and fpreads the banner of his love over 
 them. He caufeth them to fit under his jha- 
 dow, with great delight, and pluck the fruits 
 of the tree of life, which are divinely, fweet 
 to the tajle. They pour out their hearts before 
 him, tell him their joys and forrows, their 
 fears and complaints, their burdens and 're- 
 liefs. And the feayt of the Lord being with 
 them,heJJjews them his covenant-, unfolds unto 
 them the fure mercies of T> avid -, and they are 
 encouraged to fay, This covenant contains all 
 myfalvation, and all my defire. The King Jits 
 with them at his table ; he comes into his gar- 
 den, and eats his pleuf ant fruits. ' He manifejls 
 himfelf to them as he does not to the world. So 
 that when the promife in our text is accom- 
 plifhed, the children of God can fay, 'Truly ; 
 however aflonifhing it may feem, it is a real 
 fad -, truly, our fellowfmp is with the Father, 
 and with his Son, J ejus Chrijl.* 
 
 4. The God of love and peace mail be 
 with you, to rule and govern you. It is the 
 glory and felicity of the church, that the Lord 
 reigns in the midfl of her : That he fway s 
 his fceptre there; makes his people willing, 
 
 in 
 
 *Pf.xxv. 14. 2Sam. xxiii. 5. Cant. i. 12, &c. 1 Jo. i. 3.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 8i 
 
 in the day of his power -, and brings them ttt 
 acknowledge themfelves his loyai fubjects i 
 That he puts his laws into their inward parts, 
 and writes them in their hearts. Hence they 
 fchearfully fubmit to his authority.* 
 
 $. The God of love and peace lhall be 
 with you, to beftow a conftant fuccefiion 
 of gifts for edification. Gifts for private and 
 public ufefulnefs, are from God; Every good 
 and every perfeSl gift cometh from the Father 
 of lights. The fpirit of grace dndfupplication 9 
 he has promifed. The fpirit of wtfdom and re- 
 velation in the knowledge of Chrijl, is his gift; 
 It is the happinefs of the church of God to 
 be filed with all knowledge, and that the mem- 
 bers thereof, be able to admonijh one another '. 
 Minifterial gifts are from God. If one mi- 
 nifter die, the Lord can raife up another. If 
 Mofes muft be called home, there is a beloved 
 jfo/hua ready to fuoceed him. If Elijah 
 mounts the fiery car, and ibars up to the re- 
 gions of blifs, a double portion of his fpirit 
 falls upon Eli/ha. -You have loft a prophet 
 of the Lord -, but the God of love and peace 
 will be with you, and fend you another, I 
 
 F truft 
 
 * I&XXxiii. 22*
 
 32 *Xhe Cbrjftian Miniflers 
 
 truft he will. May he alfo be*z pafior after 
 God's own heart.* 
 
 6. The God of love and peace will be with 
 you, to blefs the provifions of his honfe. It is 
 the prefence and bleffing of God, that render 
 the ordinances pleafant, and profitable to the 
 fouls of the faithful. There is ifeaft of fat 
 things, in the mount of the Lord. There are 
 green pa/lures^ where the meep of Chrifl lie 
 down. V/e read of the fatnefs of God's houfe ; 
 the river of b>s pleafures -, and the abundant 
 fatisfadtion of the faints therewith. But the 
 reaioa is, the God of love and peace dwells 
 there, and abundantly blefTes the provifion of 
 his houfe. This being the cafe, the church 
 is plentifully refreihed with the river of God, 
 which is full of water. The father of mer~ 
 cies, and God of all comfort , fills his faints with 
 all joy and peace in believing ; extends peace to 
 them like a river, and righteoufnefs as the 
 waves ofthefea-, fo that their heart becomes 
 like a watered garden. And by the word, and 
 ordinances, the whole body, by joints and bands, 
 having nourijhment miniftred, and knit together, 
 increafeth with the increafe of God. % 
 
 Moreover, 
 
 * Jam. i. 17. Zech. xii. to. Eph. i. 17. Rom. xv. 14. 
 Pf. xxiii, 2. and xxxvi. 8. andcxxxii. 14, 15. Col. ii. 19-.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 83 
 
 Moreover, by the bleffing of God on the 
 means, finners are convinced and turned to 
 the Lord. The divine word is direcled, like 
 an arrow to the hearts of God's enemies; it 
 becomes the power of God to Jalvation ; and 
 turns Jinners from darknefs to light ; and fo is 
 inftrumental, in increafing the church with 
 men like a flock. But then, all this is owing 
 to the arm of the Lord being revealed, and his 
 prefence granted to his church.* 
 
 In a word, the accompli fhmetit of this 
 promife is the church's glory. The prefence 
 of a wife and judicious prince is the glory of 
 a ftate -, how much more honour then, muft 
 the prefence of the LORD, put upon his 
 people. This makes them, beautiful as rfirza, 
 comely as ferufalem, and terrible as an army 
 with banners. Cant. vi. 4. 
 
 Now, the certainty of the Lord's dwelling 
 with his people, as above, may be concluded, 
 from his love to them. He loveth the gates 
 of Zion, more than all the dwellings of facob. 
 The church is faid to be his reft, and his por- 
 tion, where he will dwell. In that everlaf- 
 
 ing covenant, which is ordered in all things 
 F 2 an d 
 
 Aft. ii.41. Ifa. liii. r.
 
 84- The Chriflian -Minifier? 
 
 and fure, he has engaged, not to turn away 
 from his people, to do them good -, and he has 
 promifed, io put his fear in their hearts, that 
 they may not depart from him. Jer. xxxii. 40.' 
 Of this covenant, the Lord hath ever been 
 mindful-, he will not break it, nor alter the 
 thing that is gone out of his mouth. 
 
 - - 
 
 The relation fubfifling between God 
 
 and his church, is clofe and lafting; and from 
 this we may conclude on the certainty of his 
 prefence with her. He is the head, and his 
 church the body : he is the hufband, and they 
 the fpoufe ; he is their Father, arid they his 
 children: he is their Sovereign, and they his 
 fubjefls i he is their Shepherd, and they his 
 flock', he is their Majler, and they his fcho- 
 lars. The hufband dwells with his fpoufe* 
 the fither with his children, the fovereign 
 with his fubjedts, the fhepherd with his flock, 
 and the matter with his fcholars. So,, the 
 God of love and peace Jhall be with you.* 
 
 This is no more than what he ha& 
 
 given you the firmed affurance of, by pro- 
 mife. In all places where I record my name, I 
 will come to thee, and I will blefs thee. Exod. 
 xx. '24. Ouf 
 
 * Col. i. 18. Rev. xxi. 9. Jer. III. 19. Ifa. xxxiii. 22-. 
 1 Pet. ii. 25. If. lir. 13.
 
 Farewell to his Flock, $5 
 
 Our adorable Redeemer, has repeated, and 
 confirmed this promife to his people, under 
 the prefent difpenfation. Mat. viii. 20. 
 For where two or three are gathered together, 
 in my name, there am I in the mi&ft of them. 
 And he that has made thefe promifes, is not 
 a man, that he jhould lie, nor the Son of man, 
 that he Jhould repent : hathhefaidit, and ft hall 
 he not do it? hath hefpoken it, andfialthe not 
 make it good?* 
 
 If any object, that in many places where 
 there were once flourishing churches, the 
 glory is now departed, and fcarcely the form 
 of godlinefs remains : I would obferve ; that 
 this is but a confirmation of the truth under 
 confideration : Be of one mind, live in peace; 
 and the God of love and peace jhall be with you. 
 We have feen above, that there is a fenfe in 
 which he will never leave norforfake his peo- 
 ple. And there is alfo a fenfe in which he 
 will not be with them, when they walk contrary 
 to the rules of his word. i. e. He will not 
 then be with them, as the God of love and 
 peace, to afford them his gracious fmiles. If 
 they link into lukewarmnefs, or impurity; 
 no wonder, if their church-flate is over- 
 F3 thrown; 
 
 * Num. xxiii. 19.
 
 86 The Chrifiian Minijlers 
 
 thrown ; they fcattered here and there -, and 
 the candlefiick removed out of its place. No 
 wonder, if their wood, hay and fiubble are 
 burnt up ; but the true faint (hall ftill be re- 
 covered andfaved, yet Jo as by fre. All this 
 fhews.the Lord's juft abhorrence of fin, and 
 vindicates the faithfulnefs of his word. 
 
 The records of all ages prove, that the 
 ruin of a gofpel church-ftate, hath ever en- 
 fued on the lukewarmnefs, contentions, and 
 other diforders of nominal chriftians. Wit- 
 nefs the overthrow of the churches in Afia, 
 and other parts of the Eaftern world. Let 
 God be true thd every man be found a liar. 
 His promife is fure. Nor can an inftance be 
 produced of a church being diffolved, while 
 God was in the midfl: of her $ or of the 
 Lord's departing from a people whofe works 
 were upright before him.* 
 
 Thus, my dear brethren, I have attempted 
 an improvement of this precious portion of 
 God's word, recommended to me for that 
 purpofe, by your late worthy parlor. 
 
 Suffer me to fubjoin a few remarks by way 
 pfufe. I. Hence 
 
 * Waltin on the text.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 87 
 
 1. Hence learn, the happy connection there 
 is between duty and privilege ; between 
 practical godlinefs and the comforts of chrif- 
 tianity. It is in vain to expect the latter fe- 
 paxate from the former. Thofe who walk in 
 the darknefs of impurity, can have no fellow* 
 Jhip with the God of light. None can enjoy 
 his gracious prefence but fuch as are con- 
 formed to his will, and obferve his ordi- 
 nances and commands. He dwells with 
 none, as the God of love and peace, but fuch 
 as love, reverence and obey his laws, put on 
 his yoke, learn of him, copy after his exam- 
 ple, and follow the Lamb whit her -foevsr he 
 goeth. In keeping his comj?iandments, there is 
 great reward. The Lord never deferts his 
 church in general, nor believers in particu- 
 lar, while they walk con&ientioufly before 
 him. Kour iniquities feparate between you and 
 your God, and your fins hide his face, that he 
 will not hear. The reafon why the church's 
 Bridegroom abfented himfelf from her, as 
 reprefented in the Song of Solomon, was her 
 negligence, and finking into a carnal (lumber, 
 upon her bed of eafe. Nor did he manifeft 
 himfelf to her, till me was rouzed from her 
 fecurity, and went forth into the fireets, the 
 lanes, and broad ways of the city, to feek him 
 whom her foul loved. 2. Mud
 
 88 The Chriftian Minijlers 
 
 2. Muft gofpel minifters die, as well as, 
 others, and bid a final farewell to their dear 
 people ! How mould this confideration ferve 
 to quicken their diligence in their great 
 Mafter's work ? May I, may my dear fellow-la-r 
 bourers in the Lord's vineyard, improve our 
 time and talents in the ben: manner we are 
 able, for the good of mankind at large ; but 
 especially, of the particular flocks committed 
 to our care ! The truths of God, and the 
 fouls of men, are, in fome fort, committed to 
 our truft. It is an awful and folemn charge. 
 There is none in this world equal to it. 
 How ought we to labour in the word and 
 doflrine ! To be inftant in feafon, out of fea- 
 fon ; to keep back nothing that may be pro- 
 fitable to the fouls of men ! What fervor, 
 what zeal, what painfulnefs, what fortitude 
 and patience, are needful to be exercifed and 
 exerted here ! And, who is fujjicient for thefe 
 things'? May we obtain mercy of the Lord to 
 be faithful! The feafon allotted us will 
 quickly be over ; our ftrength will be weak- 
 ened by the way; our tongues forget to move; 
 and our lips be fealed in perpetual filence. 
 Shortly the Judge of all will fay to us, Give 
 an account of thy Jlewardjhip, for thou mayefi 
 be no longer fieward. O may we acquit our- 
 
 felves
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 89 
 
 felves in this great work, with wifdom, fide- 
 lity and affection in the fear of God ; that we 
 may be pure from the blood of all men I How 
 awful will it be in the day of accounts, if the 
 blood of any fhould be required at our hands f 
 And, on the other hand, how happy to hear 
 the God of heaven and earth, fay, Well done y 
 good and faithful ferv ant, enter thou into the 
 joy of thy Lord I 
 
 3. Let the churches learn to prize, and 
 profit by, their minifters while they live. 
 Your fathers, where are they, and the prophets, 
 do they live for ever ? No ! They die like 
 other men. Be their lives ever fo precious, 
 their numbers ever fo fmall, or their labours 
 ever fo extenfively ufeful ; yet they muft go 
 the way of all the earth. This mould -remind 
 thofe among whom they labour, not to de- 
 fpife them on the one hand, nor idolize them 
 on the other. There is a medium between 
 the two extremes. As the fervants and mef- 
 fengers of the Moll: High, they are entitled 
 to fome regard, efpecially when they make 
 full proof of their miniftry, and mew a wil- 
 lingnefs to fpend and befpent, for the good of 
 immortal fouls. This refpecl fhould be 
 fhewn, in a conftant attendance on their pub- 
 lic
 
 90 The Chriflian Miniflers 
 
 lie labours -, a chearful reception of their 
 wholefome inflru&ions and godly advice ; a 
 concern and endeavour to make them eafy ; 
 a difpofition of mind to fympathize with 
 them in all their afflictions, and remember 
 them affectionately at the throne of grace. 
 "What our gracious Redeemer faid to his dif- 
 ciples, deferves due attention. Luke x. 16. 
 He that heareth you, heareth me -, and he that 
 defpifeth you, dejpifeth me. 
 
 4. Tho' the church's miniflers die, yet the 
 Lord liveth. Miniflers mufl take their leave 
 of, and bid a final farewell to, their dear 
 people, in whofe happinefs their lives were 
 bound up ; but the living God dwelleth with 
 his faints, and mail be in them. He will 
 never leave the?n ?jor forfake thsm. If he 
 hides his face, it is but jor a moment. To 
 chear their drooping hearts, he fays, Fear 
 thou not, for I am with thee. A woman may 
 forget her fucking child, that fie fiould not have 
 compafjion on the f on of her womb ; yet will I 
 not forget thee. Comfort one another, brethren, 
 with thefe words, inyourprefentcircumflances. 
 
 5. Let us keep the parting hour in view, 
 when we mufl bid a final farewell to all be- 
 low.
 
 Farewell to his Flock. gt 
 
 low. The time of our departure is near at 
 hand. Shortly we mufl put off this taber- 
 nacle. We too are going the way of all the 
 earth, and mall foon reach the houfe appointed 
 for all living. May we be divinely taught, 
 to number our days, and apply our hearts unto 
 wifdom ! And may we be looking forward to 
 the happy, happy day, when pallors and 
 churches mall meet together at the right 
 hand of God in glory ! What a bleffed affem- 
 bly will that be ! When we mall lit down 
 with Abraham, Ifaac and 'Jacob, at the mar- 1 
 riage fupper of the Lamb; and the churches 
 of Chrift be the joy and crown of their mi- 
 nifters for ever, i Thef. ii. 19, 20. Here 
 we live feparate, and at a painful difUnce 
 from many whom we love in the truth, and 
 for the truth's fake which dwelleth in them 5 
 but there will be no fuch obftruction to our 
 communion in the heavenly world. We 
 fhall bid farewell no more ^ but fhall be caught 
 up together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in 
 the air -, a?idfo fhall we be ever with the Lord. 
 
 Yet I greatly fear this will not be the cafe 
 with all here prefent. Are not many of you 
 yet in your fins, unrepented of, and as fuch, 
 unpardoned ? How often have you been 
 
 warned
 
 92 The Chrijlian Miniflers 
 
 warned of your danger, with plainnefs, faith- 
 fulnefs and affection, by our deceafed bro- 
 ther ! Your ftate, as dinners, has been laid 
 before you; the evil nature of fin fet forth in 
 a finking light ; and the awful confequences 
 of continuing in a flate of impenitence clearly 
 pointed out. The only remedy which infi- 
 nite mercy has provided, has been fully made 
 known. You have been warned to fee from 
 the wrath to come - f and perfuaded, by the ter- 
 rors of the Lord, to leave your fins, confider 
 your latter end, and enquire after the one 
 thing needful. Yet you have been deaf to all 
 his counfel, and defpifed all his reproof. You 
 now hear the voice, you fee the face of this 
 fervant of God no more ! How awful for you, 
 if he mould be a fwift witnefs againfr/ you in 
 the great and terrible day of the Lord ! You 
 difregarded his labours of love, while living ; 
 O that you might recollect, and profit by 
 them, now he is dead ! 
 
 What mail I more fay on this mournful 
 occafion ? There is in this numerous arTem- 
 bly, the difconfolate widow of our deceafed 
 friend ; who moft fenfibly feels the weight 
 of this providential ftroke. Your lofs is 
 truly great. Your prefent circumftances de- 
 mand
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 93 
 
 tnand our pity and chriftian fympathy. The 
 painful feelings of your mind cannot well be 
 defcribed. The breach which death has 
 made is irreparable. Yet be not fwollowed 
 up of overmuch forrow. Look forward to 
 the heavenly world, where your dear com- 
 panion is now at reft, and waiting for your 
 arrival. Your age, and many infirmities and 
 afflictions, forbid us to hope, and you to fear, 
 that your ftay will be long behind him in 
 this wildernefs. And remember, farther, 
 that tho' your earthly hufband is dead, your 
 Maker is your hufband, and he livethfor ever" 
 more -, he will take care of, and provide for, 
 you. No doubt, the dear man who is now 
 taken from you, did, while living, in the moft 
 affectionate manner, often recommend you to 
 the care of him who hath faid, Let thy widows 
 trufi in ?ne. Jer. xlix. 2. 
 
 A word more to you who conftitute the 
 church of God in this place, and I will draw 
 to a clofe. We fympathize with you in your 
 prefent circumftances. You have loft a friend 
 indeed. I hope you have many friends yet 
 alive. Yet, I know not where you will find 
 one equal to him who is dead. His time, 
 his ftrength, his life were fpent in the fer- 
 
 vice
 
 94 ^he Chrijlian Mintfiers 
 
 vice of God for your good. He fcarcely 
 thought any thing too much he could do for 
 you, and was always content and eafy with 
 what he received from you. The good of 
 your fouls, and the glory of God, in the ad- 
 vancement of the Redeemer's intereft anion? 
 you, were the objects he kept in view. His 
 pious and prudent behaviour in civil and fe- 
 cial life, you have known for many years. 
 Whatever trials or difcouragements he met 
 with, fuch was his regard for you, as deter- 
 mined him to abide by you, and live and die 
 among ft you. Were any of you in a back- 
 Aiding fbate ? What pains did he take for 
 your recovery? How forcible, were his words, 
 and how- penetrating his addrefs, to perfons 
 in thefe circumftances ! 
 
 Nor was his concern for your welfare at all 
 abated, but rather increafed, in the courfe of 
 his laft illnefs. An inftance of which I have 
 from his own hand, in the laft letter I re- 
 ceived from him, which, at his delire, I laid 
 before you in public, on the day of his inter- 
 ment. Part of which I beg leave here to re- 
 peat, that in future days you may recollect 
 the workings of his heart toward you, and 
 the earned, delire he had to the laft, for your 
 
 advancement
 
 Farewell to his Flock. 9$ 
 
 advancement in holinefs, your continued 
 peace and profperity. 
 
 " I could wifh you," fays he, " to addrefs 
 the church in a clofe and affectionate exhor- 
 tation ; directing them how to behave them- 
 felves in their families ; their clofets -, their 
 monthly meetings for prayer -, the public 
 worfhip of God ; and in their whole conduct, 
 both to one another, and to all men." 
 
 Thefe are the very words of your dying 
 minifter, which I hope you will never forget/ 
 I have often heard him exprefs much fatis- 
 faction of mind, in your flability in the doc- 
 trines of the gofpel, your peaceable difpofi- 
 tion ; your readinefs to comply with the 
 Order and difcipline of the houfe of God, to 
 fill up your places, to fupport the interest, of 
 Chrifr, and the like. Thefe things, together 
 with your being thefeals of his miniftry, and 
 the children which God had gracioufly given 
 him, rendered you dear to him. You will, 
 I hope, give further proof, that the good 
 opinion he had of you was well founded. 
 Remember him who has had the rule over you, 
 who has fpoken unto you the word of God: 
 whofe faith follow, conjidering the end of 
 
 his
 
 96 The Chrifiian Minifteri 
 
 his converfation : Jefas Chrifl, the fame yeflef~ 
 day, to day, and for ever. Then may you reft 
 affured, that the God of love and peace mall 
 be with you. 
 
 I mall clofe with the following memoir.- 
 
 Mr James Hartley was born in the month 
 of March, 1722. His parents- being but low' 
 in the world, he had not the advantages of a^ 
 liberal education, to brighten and improve 
 his good natural abilities. I have heard of 
 nothing remarkable in the firft twenty years 
 of his life, excepting fome traces of ingenuity 
 and good fenfe, which he then gave proofs 
 of, on various occauons. But about the year 
 1744, the gracious Redeemer, who had 
 marked him for his own, and fet him apart, 
 as a chofen vej/el to hear his name before the 
 Gentiles, arretted his confeience, and brought 
 him under deep conviction of the nfulnefs 
 of his heart and life. He was, for fome time, 
 a hearer of that zealous and indefatigable- 
 fervant of Chrifl:, the late Rev. Mr Grim/haw, 
 of Ha'worth; whofe preaching was greatly 
 owned for the converfion of fouls. Yet, I 
 believe, ourdeceafed brother, hadthegreatert 
 advantage, under God, from the minifteriaf 
 
 labours
 
 Farewell to bis Flock. 97 
 
 labours of that pious and fteady man, whofc 
 character he has fo juftly reprefented, in the 
 beginning of his Trial of the two Opinions, 
 try'd. I mean, the late Mr Richard Smithy 
 of Wain/gate. Under the miniftrations of 
 this good man, Mr Hartley was led into, and 
 eftablifhed in, the truth as it is in Jefus. 
 Being throughly convinced that it was his 
 duty to follow the Lamb whitherfoever hegoeth, 
 he fubmitted to the ordinance of chriftian 
 baptifm by immerfion, as he was well per- 
 fuaded, that this is the one baptifm inftituted 
 by the great head of the church. He for fome 
 time flood a member of the church at Wainf- 
 gate. But fuch gifts and grace were be- 
 ftowed on him, and he made fuch progrefs 
 in divine knowledge, that his judicious 
 friends foon perceived him defigned for pub- 
 lic ufefulnefs. 
 
 About the year 1748, Mr. Hartley began 
 to exercife his talents in a minifterial way, to 
 the fatisfaction and fpiritual advantage of 
 many. He was an exception to the general 
 rule, that a prophet bath not honour in his own 
 country, and among his own kin. The Lord 
 made him the inftrument of railing, and ga- 
 thering the church, of which he was after- 
 G wards
 
 9 8 fbe Chrijlian Minijlers 
 
 paflor to his dying day. This church was 
 fettled, and he ordained over it, June 12, 
 1752. He ftudied the facred fcriptures with 
 great clofenefs, . which are able to make the 
 man ofQodperfeB, thoroughly furnifhed to all 
 good works. His method of handling divine 
 fubjedU, was clear and natural ; his reafon- 
 ing nervous and manly ; and his ideas were 
 clothed with found Jpeech, which could not be 
 condemned. His natural turn was fedate and 
 thoughtful. He never difappointed his hear-r 
 ers, with crude and indigefted harangues. 
 He ftudied, by the words of truth and fiber- 
 nefsy to inform the judgment, rouze the con- 
 fcience, and lead the foul to God and hpli- 
 nefs. Thofe that heard him with attention, 
 could fcarcely forbear exclaiming, How forci- 
 ble are right words I His difpofition was open 
 and communicative ; and as he was of a can- 
 did and peaceable temper himfelf, fo he had 
 a talent for compofing differences among 
 contending parties, which was much ad- 
 mired. In this kind of work he was often 
 employed, in the neighbouring churches ; 
 and he had fuch a method of reafoning per- 
 fons out of their prejudices, that he very 
 often fucceeded. On all thefe accounts, his 
 ufefulnefs was very extenfive, both at home 
 and abroad. But
 
 Farewell to his Flock, 99 
 
 But the earthen vej/'el had long been going 
 to decay, and is now darned to pieces. Mr. 
 Hartley was afflicted with an ajlhma for many 
 years. But this diforder feemed to have en- 
 tirely left him, for fome time before his 
 death. Laft fummer, he had a flight ftroke 
 of the palfy. This was followed, with all 
 the fymptoms of a decline. Thefe increafing 
 more and more, he was fully perfuaded, that 
 he was going the way of all the earth. But 
 this did not at all difcompofe his mind. His 
 only fear was, that his diforder would be te- 
 dious, and himfelf become burdenfome to 
 the people ; as he was now incapable of pub- 
 lie exercife. In a letter, bearing date, Aug. 
 j 8, 1779, he writes thus ; 
 
 " I fay little, unlefs I am put to it. But 
 think within myfelf, there is no apparent 
 probability of my recovery. Sometimes, 
 death would look a little gloomy ; but in the 
 general, am not difcouraged at the profpect 
 of it. Sometimes I long to fpeak to the peo- 
 ple again ; at other times, am pretty willing 
 to refign. Sometimes diftreffing thoughts 
 for the intereft here, will needs crowd upon 
 my mind -, and then, again, I think, I ought 
 to leave it with him, who is infinitely more 
 careful of it, than I am, or ever was."
 
 ioo The Cbrijiian Minijlers Farewell, &c. 
 
 Such were the workings of his mind, under 
 the languifliments of declining nature. He 
 lived fweetly on thofe evangelical truths, 
 which he had faithfully preached to others. 
 As his diforder prevailed, his confidence in 
 God, and hope in Chrift, increafed. He was 
 quite compofed in the views of death, and 
 fometimes filled with the comforts of the 
 Holy Ghoft. He could not bear any to ex- 
 prefs their defire for his recovery, or even to 
 pray for it. I having one evening preached 
 to the people, upon my return into the houfe, 
 he faid, he hoped we had not been praying 
 for his recovery. I told him, we had not ;, 
 with which he feemed much pleafed. Being 
 a little more chearful than ufual at one time, 
 his affectionate wife expreffed her hope that 
 he might yet recover. He, with fome de- 
 gree of warmth, replied to this effecl, * That 
 he would not recover for ten thoufand worlds; 
 it is cruel," fays he, " to defire it. But I am 
 perfuaded, God will not inflict fo great a pu- 
 nimment upon me." He was reduced to fo 
 weak a ftate, that for fome weeks he could 
 fcarcely bear to fpeak. Till at laft the glim- 
 mering lamp of life was extinguished, Feb. 
 2, J780, in the 58th year of his age. The 
 church's lofs is great, but his gain is greater. 
 May we all be followers of thetn, who thro' faith 
 and patience now inherit the promifes! AMEN!
 
 [ ioi 3 
 
 EPITAPHIUM. 
 
 FAR from affli&ion, toil and care, 
 The happy foul is fled ; 
 The breathlefs clay mall flumber here, 
 Amongft the filent dead. 
 
 Slowly his earthly frame decay'd, 
 His end was long in fight ; 
 
 Nor was his fteady foul afraid 
 To take her awful flight. 
 
 The gofpel was his joy and fong, 
 E'en to his lateft breath ; 
 The truths he had maintain'd fo Jong 
 Were his fupport in death. 
 
 Now he refides where Jefus is 
 Above this dufky fphere ; 
 
 He was no ftranger to the blifs, 
 While he fojourned here. 
 
 Hi
 
 [ 102 ] 
 
 His body refts beneath the ground, 
 
 Till that tremendous day, 
 When the laft trump mall give the found 
 
 To rouze his deeping clay. 
 
 The church's lofs we all deplore, 
 And Ihed the falling tear , 
 
 We fhall behold his face no more, 
 Till Jefus fhall appear. 
 
 But we are haft'ning to the tomb * 
 
 O may we ready ftand ! 
 Then, deareft Lord, receive us home, 
 
 To dwell at thy right hand. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 P. S. In 1755. Mr. Hartley publifhcd, The 
 Head-ftone brought forth, A Sermon, 
 occafioned by the Death of Mr. Jofepb 
 Greenwood. 
 
 In 1767. The Trial of the Two Opinions 
 tried, &c. 
 
 And 1 774. The Chrijlians Triumph over Death 
 and the Grave. A Sermon, occafioned 
 by the Deceafe of Mrs. Beat/on. 
 
 d" Sold by Keith, Rivington, &c. London. 
 
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