Such, brethren, is our eventful and varied history, as a church and congregation, during the last thirty years—a history which, on the review, most impressively reminds your pastor of many imperfections and infirmities, which have been connected with him as a man, a christian, and a minister; and on account of which he finds it needful every day to humble himself before God, and to say, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord;” and yet a history which, even so far as he is concerned, has afforded many remarkable manifestations of divine love and mercy. He had, for many years, an abundant degree of bodily health, which enabled him to do the work of the Lord laboriously and happily; he has had a large share of domestic comfort and privilege, and now is surrounded by a beloved family, most of whom are his spiritual as well as his natural relatives, and some of whom are gone to be for ever with the Lord; he has been privileged with a large degree of public friendship and approbation, and has many beloved and esteemed friends in surrounding churches, some of whom are of other denominations, and some of whom are the fruits of his ministry; he has, above all these things, been abundantly honoured and blessed by the Great Head of the church, in promoting the conversion of sinners, and the peace and union of the church, in whose affectionate confidence it has been his privilege to live; and though latterly health has occasionally failed, and now and then he has been admonished that his master will soon require his services in another world, yet, thanks be to God, for that degree of vigour and buoyancy which yet remains, and which he is more desirous than ever should be consecrated to your spiritual welfare; and, thanks be to God, for that good and joyful hope which he cherishes, that when his earthly labours are concluded, he shall be gathered to the fellowship of the redeemed and the Redeemer, in the many mansions of his Father’s house.