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ed to those who have suffered martyrdom, who have died for, that is, on account of the Lord; who have borne witness to the Gospel, and have sealed their testimony with their blood. But, though the faithful martyrs are unquestionably included in this beatitude, there is certainly no ground, either of Scripture or of reason, for asserting that it includes not ordinary Christians. I would rather say, and I am borne out in the assertion by various passages of holy writ, that the dead in the Lord are all true and faithful Christians departed this life; all who have persevered, through their lives, in righteousness and holiness; all who, through the grace of God, and by sincere repentance or conversion, have been brought into the state of servants and sons of God; all who, in the pilgrimage of this mortal life, have died unto the world, and had their life in Christ, to Christ, and for Christ; all those, in a word, who are described in the very chapter from whence the text is taken; who have had the name of the Father inscribed on their foreheads; who have followed the Lamb, whithersoever he went; who have kept the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. These are they who, whether they live, live unto the Lord; or whether they die, die unto the Lord; and of whom it is declared by the Apostle, that whether they live or whether they die, they are the Lord's. These are they, in each of whom Christ's saying is fulfilled: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

These, the text proceeds to say, are blessed from henceforth; that is, from the moment of their dissolution. No interval, no obstacle, is interposed between the death and the happiness of the faithful Christian. "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." This is our Lord's own account of the matter; and who can doubt our Lord's perfect know

ledge of what takes place at the separation of soul and body? Away then with the comfortless notion, that the soul sleeps, and is unconscious in its separate state! "This night shalt thou be with me in paradise," was Christ's declaration to the penitent thief on the cross. "We are willing to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord," saith St. Paul. "I have a desire," saith the same Apostle, "to depart, and be with Christ." These, surely, are the expressions of one who was confident, that death is the immediate gate of glory. And be it remembered, they are the expressions of an inspired Apostle. Well, therefore, may we affirm, as our church has done in the solemn service of this day, that" the spirits of them who depart hence in the Lord, do live with Almighty God: that with Almighty God are the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burthen of the flesh, in joy and felicity." In this hope, my brethren, may we live; in this hope may we die! And, in order that we may die the death of the righteous, let us strive and pray continually, that we may live the life of the righteous; for this, be assured, and this alone, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, will bring a man to peace at the last.

The manifold blessedness of the dead which die in the Lord, it is not for the lips of man to speak, it is not for the heart of man to conceive. But two great and comprehensive characters of this blessedness are briefly sketched in the text; the one expressing an exemption from all pain; the other, implying an enjoyment of blessings and rewards. In the first place, the dead which die in the Lord do rest from their labours; in the next place, their works do follow them.

The labours here intended, are assuredly not those which the Apostle terms labours of love. In the future state, such employments

will, indeed, cease to be laborious; they will be the natural, easy, unforced movements of the disembodied spirit. But the energy, the zeal, the activity, the holy occupations of good men after death, will be increased in proportion to their enlarged sphere of intelligence and action. The truth is, the original word in this passage properly means the sufferings, the toils, the sorrows, and the trials of this mortal life. From all these, the dead are happily exempt. From want, from hunger, from thirst, from peril, from nakedness, from sickness, from the sword, from the provoking of the wicked, from the misconceptions of the good, from the strife of tongues, from the opposition of sinners, from all inward struggles of conscience, from the allurements of the world, from the temptations of the flesh, from the yet more subtle, and, to the advanced Christian, more prevalent temptations of the spirit; from all these, the dead who die in the Lord are at once and everlastingly delivered. " They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away; and the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and the Lord God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

But the happiness of good men after death, is not the mere absence of pain and sorrow; it is the enjoyment of blessings and rewards: for their works do follow them. The phrase in the original is here peculiarly expressive-their works follow with them; they are in their company; their good deeds, their acts of benevolence, kindness, brotherly love, and charity, are so many companions or attendants, escorting them on their way to the

kingdom of God. The meaning is sufficiently clear: and the best commentary on it is afforded by those parts of our Lord's discourses, in which he enlarges, as it was his delight to do, on the rewards and blessedness of the righteous. "He that receiveth a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; he that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward; and whosoever shall give to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."-" When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and the King shall say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? and when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these: my brethren, ye have done it unto me." the works which, to use the language of our church, “are the fruit of faith; and which, though they cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment, yet are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith; insomuch, that by them

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a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a tree discerned by its fruit." These are the works which time cannot abolish, and which eternity alone can properly reward. But if there be any works which, at the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, shall beam forth with pre-eminent lustre-they are the labours of those faithful ministers of Christ who have kept the faith -who have fought a good fightwho have finished their course; ever in humble dependance upon that grace, without which we can do nothing; and trusting not in their own righteousness, or to any thing which they have done or can do; endeavouring to extend the limits of Christ's kingdom; to convert sinners from the error of their ways; to strengthen the feebleminded; to comfort the weakhearted; to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. With what holy rapture must such servants and followers of Our Redeemer look around them at their entrance into the realms of light! How must they rejoice to receive, at that blessed moment, the first fruits of their labours, entering into the joys of their Lord, and inheriting the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world! Here all human language fails; and here we shall leave the blessed, till that day of final retribution, when, before an assembled universe, and amidst angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever."

And now, my brethren, it is proper that I should turn to the solemn and melancholy occasion which, at this time, has drawn us together into this the house of God. We are assembled to pay the last tribute of affection and respect, to the mortal remains of the Rev. WILLIAM DEANE HOARE; a man

long and deservedly dear to the inhabitants of this city; and whose name, it is not too much to say, will be handed down with blessings to their children's children.

For myself, though I have not known him long, I have known him well; and I can say with truth, that to know him was to love him. In the official and friendly intercourse which I enjoyed with this good man, he never came into my room, that I was not cheered by his look and set at ease by his manner. There was a cheerfulness, a simplicity, an openness about him, which flowed from unaffected goodness; which came from the heart, and which spoke to the heart, unconsciously and without effort on the one side and the other. Frank and manly, he avowed his opinions as he held them; and he safely did so, for they needed no disguise.

But his social qualities, if, in the first instance, they flowed from a happy nature, were enhanced and elevated by that spirit of religion under the influence of which he habitually lived. If the love of kindness was on his lips, it was because the love of God and man was in his heart; and, out of the abundance of his heart, he spoke precisely what he felt. He never used a harsh expression, because he never allowed himself to entertain a harsh feeling; and, as it was his delight to do good to all within his sphere of action, so it was his wish to speak well of all within his sphere of observation, putting the best allowable construction on every doubtful fact. Nor have I known any person who more largely exercised that charity, which is not easily provoked; which thinketh no evil; which rejoiceth not in the exposure of iniquity, but rejoiceth in the discovery of truth.

As a private Christian, his delight was in the law of the Lord; and in that law did he meditate day and night. Of that devout exami

nation of Holy Scripture, which he constantly recommended to others, he was himself an eminent example; and, while he frequently entered into his closet, and shut his door, and prayed to his Father in secret, he was in the constant habit of family devotion; and he and his house were edifying in the service of the Lord.

As a Christian pastor, he was zealous, devoted, indefatigable, instant in season and out of season. Through evil report and good report, he performed the work which his divine Master had given him to do caring for the souls who looked up to him for their spiritual food; taking oversight of his flock, and labouring for their good; preaching faithfully the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ; and never ceasing to enforce the necessity of that practical and inward holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. During six and twenty years, he was the pastor, in this city, of a large and seemingly attentive congregation; many of whom doubtless have reason to bless God for his successful labours, and all of whom are deeply accountable for the instructions received in the course of his ministry.

But when I turn to his deeds of munificence, and exertions in the cause of charity, I am truly at a loss for words. For, what charitable institution is there in this city, that was not indebted principally to him for its existence, or at least for its prosperity? The fatherless, the widow, the poor, the lame, the blind, and those who were about to bring forth children in sorrowall were the pensioners of his bounty, all were the objects of his tender care. It is usual with those who are eminent in works of mercy, to select some one or two charitable institutions as objects of their peculiar attention; but his large and liberal heart embraced them ALL.

“He delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless, and him that

had none to help him; the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy: he was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame; he was a father to the poor, and the cause which he knew not he searched out." This day his works have followed him. At this moment, in this sacred place, the sighs, and the tears, and the deep though silent lamentations, of those who prayed for him while living, are united to embalm and consecrate his loved remains. Yes, ye fatherless and widows, whom he visited in your affliction; ye children, whom he clothed, and fed, and taught, and trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; ye hungry and thirsty, whose souls fainted within you, whom he gathered from the streets and pestilential lanes of this over-peopled city; ye mothers, whom he cherished in the hours of your sore affliction, whom he sustained, and watched over, and prayed for, while ye were enduring the great pain and peril of child-birth-well ye may weep, for when will ye find such another benefactor? I do not tell you to restrain your tears; they are natural, they are allowable, they can plead the greatest of all authorities-for JESUS WEPT! But I say unto you, weep not for him that is gone; but weep for yourselves and for your children. He is gone to peace; he is gone to blessedness! And were it possible, were it placed within our choice, we could not be so selfish as to recall him from the bosom of his God to this miserable mortal life.

No, my brethren; we have a good hope, nay, we have a blessed assurance, that he died in the Lord. His whole life and conversation bore witness to the faith that was in him; and though, by one of God's inscrutable dispensations, he was snatched away without a moment's warning, he wanted not a special preparation. In the midst

of life, he had meditated on death. He was wise, he considered these things; and therefore, though his death was sudden, he was not unprepared. A little week ago, and, to all human appearance, he had many years of health, activity, and usefulness before him. Yet the very last morning that he assembled his family in prayer, the devotions which he offered up to God were chiefly drawn from the office for the burial of the dead; and, on the evening of the same day, in addressing his beloved congregation, he concluded with these remarkable words, that "possibly, before the setting of another sun, the summons to the great tribunal might issue to himself." And so it was. Before the setting of another sun, the summons had gone forth; and, after some hours of insensibility, his spirit returned unto God who gave it...

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My brethren, I am unwilling to prolong this discourse. It is my hope and my belief, that the solemnity of this occasion, and the interest which you all take in it, will speak to your hearts and minds with more practical force, than any words of mine could do. May it please Almighty God, that the impression made by this event, may lasting as it is profound! One consideration I would recommend to your serious thoughtfulness, not only in this place, but in your closets and upon your beds. Are you prepared to meet your God, as our departed brother was prepared? "In the midst of life we are in death; watch, therefore, and pray: for the Son of Man cometh as a thief in the night:" we know not the hour; and as we are found at the hour of our death, so must we stand at the day of judgment.

HYMN FOR A CHARITY, OR SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ETERNAL God! whose power extends
O'er earth below and worlds on high;
Before whose throne the seraph bends,
At whose command the angels fly.

JAN. 1824.

Yet thou wilt condescend to view
Thy children now assembled here;
Who come to bring thee honour due,
And seek thy face in humble fear.
We worship thee, we bless thy name,
O Father, Lord of heav'n above!
The goodness of thy Son proclaim,
And all thy Spirit's grace and love.

O let our souls before thee live,

And now embrace the word of truth;

Our follies and our sins forgive,
And kindly guard our days of youth.

Unite our hearts to thee alone,

And let us walk in ways of peace;
Our prayers receive before thy throne,
Our heads support, our strength increase.
O Lord, on these thy servants shower
The richest gifts of heav'nly joy;
Who make us know this happy hour,
And in thy works our souls employ.

J. B. C.

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