instructive and more precious than all your pages of human lore and learning; go and learn from a lovely example, how to live and how to die. If I seem to be describing these blessed truths and facts with a minuteness and a particularity and a real resemblance, it is because I am drawing from the life; because they have been so recently embodied before my eyes in the person of a Christian friend and minister—your deceased pastor. You know that he lived unto the Lord: and I have enjoyed the privilege of attesting the fruit of that living in his latter days—days of severe pain, but days of comfort and serenity. He spoke thereof in a manner, which convinced me, that he wished his views and experience to be made public; possibly looking forward to the day, when I might be fulfilling this very office. He said “I wish you distinctly to understand how I am: I have no ecstasies, no rapturous flights, but a calm composure, a quiet resting, a peaceful waiting for the Lord: and I desire the Lord to deal with me as seemeth to Him good: to give me patience, to give me his grace that I may endure unto the end; and to continue or remove me at His pleasure.” It was an affecting communication, an overcoming moment. By these and similar words, it was manifest that he set his great value, not upon any peculiar notions or points of doctrine, but upon a living and fruitful faith, upon the practical influence of the spirit of God; upon the state of mind and heart and character and life, as resulting from christian principles and views. Such undoubtedly then has been the scope, such the transcendent object of his ministerial endeavours and exertions—to produce like faith and fruit in you: and you, brethren, will bear a willing testimony to his holy zeal and faithfulness; through a period of well nigh thirty years have you made trial of him, yea full proof of his labour of love. The memory of him is bound round your hearts by a multitude of the tenderest holiest ties. Many of you he baptized into the church of Christ; he has been all along your spiritual guide, training you up from childhood in the way you should go. To many has he delivered the blessed elements, the signs of the body and blood of Christ, as ye were assembled around him at the table of your Lord, and feasted together upon redeeming love. Many has he visited on beds of sickness, relieving your wants and comforting your sorrows, and teaching you to improve them all. And not a few of your relatives and friends, gone to rest, he attended in their last moments; and instructed and confirmed and soothed their lingering spirit. You remember the scene: you saw and loved him there: and you owe him now a debt of gratitude. And in many a walk of kindness and usefulness, and many a place of righteous resort, you have watched and honoured and applauded him: but his race is run; he is gone; and the place that knew him, shall know him no more.