I am come this morning to perform one of the most painful tasks that ever fell to my lot. I am come to take farewell of those who are dear to God, dear to angels, dear to each other, and dear to my heart upon the most noble principles. Though I trust it is but a temporary farewell in general, yet to many it will be perhaps a long farewell, even till we meet in glory, where parting shall be known no more for ever; and to others who live and die enemies to the dear and adorable Saviour—to hypocrites in Zion, to formalists and pharisees, dying such, I say it is an eternal farewell. We shall meet no more perhaps on praying ground—but be it known unto you, my testimony for God and truth you have heard many times, will never be out of your consciences, either in heaven or hell; it will be for or against you, either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. And now behold, many among whom I have preached the gospel will see my face no more—painful thought! but I bow to the solemn, awful, just, and I may add, I am sure, merciful dispensation; fully persuaded it is my duty, nay, more, it is my salvation, to bow to the will of the great head of the church. Nature shrinks, but faith looks forward to the grand end which my heavenly father has in view—and being already assured by his word, and by his spirit, that I shall be favoured with his manifestative presence, I prefer submitting to the mind of infinite wisdom, to any other plan which nature, friends, and present interest may suggest. My heart sinks, my spirit fails, my mind is distressed, when I take the painful retrospect, accompanied with the grief of my friends, the troubles of my family, and my own situation; and what is most mortifying, the triumph of the envious, the joy of the enemies of the cross; the pleasure of Satan, and the satisfaction of his emissaries; these things all meet in my mind, and perplex me not a little; but perhaps the grief of the former may be but comparatively for a moment, and the joy of fools is compared to the crackling of thorns under a pot, which make a noise and a blaze, but soon will expire, for so the word of God assures us. And then, what have my enemies effected? What advantage have they gained? Are they any the better? Will their cruelty add to their felicity on a dying bed? Some perhaps may suppose they have done God service; others have not God in all their thoughts; while others, who ought to act better, because they profess better things, join with worldlings, pharisees, and formalists, against a man they know nothing of, but by hear-say. While erroneous characters of every description hate me for the truth’s sake alone, and rejoice if they can find any fault as a ground of persecution; and if not in reality, an evil report is quite enough for them, that they might have cause to oppose the truth, as it is in Jesus. But perhaps before many years roll along, they may hear that John the Baptist is risen from the dead; that