the office of Christian servants, let us now give the more earnest heed to the apostolic injunction, “Let every one of us please his neighbour, for his good, to edification.” II. Such being the office, which the Christian servant sustains, let us consider, in the second place, THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE DISCHARGED. “He is to Serve his own generation by the will of God.” Here, you perceive, is a course of conduct regulated by an important principle; both of which are to be included in our consideration of the manner in which this office is to be discharged. On an ordinary occasion, I would have described and illustrated this conduct, and this principle, by an express reference to scripture doctrine, precept, and example. But it is our privilege to have had among us an individual, well and publicly known, who sustained this office, and whose life and character afford an impressive illustration of the manner in which it should be discharged; and therefore, as Peter “freely” spake to the people, of the patriarch David, who served his own generation by the will of God, I shall now freely speak to you of our departed friend and brother, as an example of the same religious service. In the first place then, A CHRISTIAN IS TO SERVE HIS OWN GENERATION. He may indeed be the means of serving _future generations_ also. While David was serving the men and the institutions of his own time, his prayer was, “Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not, until I have shewed thy strength to this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” And the God to whom this prayer was addressed, enabled him to accomplish his desire, by the preparations which he made for the erection of the future temple, and by the Psalms which he composed, and which have contributed so richly to the instruction and comfort of our own and of preceding generations. Martyrs and Reformers of old, who, as servants of Christ, were faithful even unto death, and sealed their service with their blood, were also thereby the means of securing benefits to the church and the world, which have come down from their days to our own, and by which we ourselves are established and blessed. And our beloved friend too, who has served the present generation, will serve the future also. “He, being dead, yet speaketh,” and he will continue to speak, not only by the remembrance of his holy example, but also by the vigour which he has imparted to many of our benevolent and religious institutions, and by the books which he has published, and which future generations will read. Of every truly Christian servant it may therefore be said, even when he rests from his labours, that his works do follow him. His years are thereby prolonged to many generations. He lives on earth, and in heaven, at the same time. And blessed is that servant, who, amidst the repose and joy of his celestial home, is crowned by the benedictions of men of generations