iously training you. Still there will remain in this mournful dispensation of Providence, much that is painful, trying, and, for the present, inexplicable. In one respect, however, it is calculated to afford us the most important instruction and consolation. During the lengthened and afflicting illness which terminated in the death of our lamented friend, he exhibited an example of the infinite excellence and value of the Gospel, of the solid peace, the firm hope, the joy unspeakable, which it inspires; of the meekness, the patience, the submission, the resignation, the spiritual and heavenly temper of the true Christian; an example which infinitely exceeds the most laboured and finished description of those blessings, and was doubtless intended, as it is eminently suited, to produce the deepest and most beneficial impressions upon our minds.

"The hour of sickness and the bed of death are the times which more especially try the stability of the foundation on which the Christian hope is built: it is then that the real character appears, that the genuine dispositions of the soul are manifest, and that the supports and consolations of Divine Grace are most abundantly vouchsafed to the faithful servants of Christ. It was thus with the pious and excellent subject of these remarks. Living as he had done the life of the righteous, it could scarcely be doubted, that he would in sickness possess his peace and comfort, and in death enjoy his blessedness and hope. Accordingly, your departed Minister afforded a most animating and edifying example

of the reality and power of religion, of the faithfulness of God to his promises, of the triumph of the Gospel of Christ over all the miseries of nature, over sickness and pain, and anxiety and fear, over sin and sorrow, and over the last enemy, even death itself. Our dear and valued friend was exercised, during his illness, with long-continued and excruciating pain; yet, amidst his severest sufferings, no impatient or complaining word was heard to proceed out of his lips. His language was uniformly expressive of patience and resignation to the holy will of God; and once, in the very words of a most devout and distinguished Christian (the learned, pious, and judicious Hooker,) whom in many respects he nearly resembled; 'Since I owe thee a death, Lord, let it 'not be terrible, and then take thy own time; I sub'mit to it! Let not mine, O Lord, but let thy will be 'done.'

"That filial confidence in God, which had ever formed a distinguishing part of his character, was strikingly displayed in his last illness. Few men, perhaps, had stronger ties to bind them to this world, or more powerful and affecting motives to the love of longer life, than your departed Minister: yet all was subdued to the will of God; all was resigned to his infinitely wise and holy appointments. He doubted not the wisdom, the mercy, and the goodness of the dispensation which was about to separate him from the duties of his ministerial service, and the objects of his tenderest earthly affections; and under the influence of Divine Grace he soared above the VOL. I.

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present world, and anticipated the society, the em ployments, and the pleasures of the blessed inhabitants of heaven. Yet as long as he remained in this state of trial he was occupied in prayers for his flock, that the great Head of the Church would bestow upon them a faithful, able, and laborious pastor; for his family, that they might be guided and supported, comforted and blessed; for himself, that patience might have its perfect work; that he might be sanctified in body, soul, and spirit; that he might be guided by the Divine counsel whilst here, and at length be received to glory. Thankful for the abundant blessings he had enjoyed; full of consideration, tenderness, and love to all around him, he looked forward to the hour of dissolution not only without dismay, but with hope and joy. He declared that the light affliction he was then enduring was working out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; that the sting of death was taken away; that although he walked through its dark valley, he feared no evil; that the rod and staff of his heavenly Shepherd supported and comforted him; that he knew whom he had believed, and was persuaded that he was able to keep that which he had committed unto him against that day; that, though heart and flesh were failing, God was the strength of his heart, and his portion for ever. The language of praise was indeed almost constantly heard from his mouth. Though so frequently tortured with pain, and exhausted with weakness, these were the

strains in which he often expressed his gratitude and

love to his God and Saviour.

"I'll praise Him while he lends me breath;

And when my voice is lost in death

Praise shall employ my nobler powers;

My days of praise shall ne'er be past,
While life and thought and being last,

Or immortality endures.

"I should detain you too long, if I were to detail but a small part of the truly divine and Christan words which proceeded out of his lips, during the progress of his long and fatal illness. What I have just stated will, I am persuaded, be sufficient to convince you, how eminent and undoubted an example your deceased Pastor afforded of the power and excellency of that Gospel which he had so faithfully preached; and how earnestly it is to be desired by every one of us, that we may resemble him in our lives, that so our last end may be like his!

"And here I should at once proceed to exhort you to be followers of him as he was of Christ, if I had not a far more interesting and impressive Address to present to you than any which I could imagine. I hold in my hand part of a Pastoral Letter intended to be addressed to you by your late invaluable Minister; dictated not long before his lamented death, but interrupted by the unexpected and rapid progress of disease and weakness. Yet though it is, alas! but a fragment, you will, I am sure, receive it with all that reverence and affection which it so justly demands. It is thus entitled:—

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"A Pastoral Farewell Address from the Rev. John Venn, Rector of Clapham, to his respected and beloved Flock.

'My dear Friends,

"I cannot quit the pastoral relation which I have so long held over you, without expressing my deep sense of obligation to you, and without giving you my last friendly advice. For twenty years I have lived amongst you, and preached to you. With respect to myself, I have humbly to request you to pardon the many deficiencies in my ministry and conduct of which I am now deeply sensible. But with respect to one thing, I can truly say that I have acquitted my duty faithfully and conscientiously. I have taken much pains to understand accurately, and impartially to preach to you, the Gospel of Christ, as it appeared to me to be delivered by Christ and his Apostles. In this respect I have called no man master; nor have I ever, in any one instance that I know of, for the sake of system, given an interpretation to any part of the Word of God which I was not fully convinced, after the most mature deliberation,to be just and right: so that I can truly say, I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.

""And now, with respect to yourselves, I have to return you my most sincere thanks for your kind, and tender, and candid acceptance of my labours amongst you. I have met with daily instances of attention, civility, and affection; and I cannot recol