a saving change, and made a public profession of religion. There is, therefore, good ground to hope, that God has given him many souls, as the seal of his ministry and the crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus.

He was formed for activity and extensive usefulness. He never appeared to be more at ease and in his proper element, than while he was conversing or acting in large public bodies. He was often called to attend the ordination of ministers, and oftener still to attend ecclesiastical councils, where he dsplayed great ability and powerful influence. In this way, he has been extensively useful, and done much to promote the cause of Christianity in various parts of this State. Many churches and congregations, who have derived great benefit from his counsels and exertions, will hold him in long and grateful remembrance.

Though he had lived to the common age of man, and though he had been, for some time past, taken off from his public labors, yet his death is to be sincerely regretted. It is a loss to the world to have godly men, and especially godly ministers, removed from it. This Association, with whom he had been so long connected, and at the head of which he had presided with so much dignity, will lament his decease; and improve it as a solemn admonition, to be ready also to leave their flocks and their friends, and to prepare to give an account of their stewardship to Him, who died for them, and gave them the peculiar privilege of preaching his gospel to perishing sinners.

The people in this place have abundant reason to bless God, that he sent such an able and faithful minister among them, and continued him so long in their service. You have been, my friends, highly distinguished; and there is no doubt that many of you have highly revered and respected your late pastor, who has preached, and prayed, and labored so long to promote your everlasting good. You will soon meet in a better world, where you will be for ever each other's joy and crown of rejoicing. But if any of this church or people have remained impenitent and unbelieving, under the instructions, warnings, reproofs, and prayers of their deceased pastor, let them seriously consider, that the time will come when they shall know, with astonishment, "that a prophet has been among them." May God graciously grant, that the seed which his servant has sown in their minds may spring up, and bring forth fruit to eternal life. And may the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls take this bereaved church and congregation under his merciful protection, and in his own best time send them another pastor after his own heart.

The children and grand children of the deceased, who are

principal mourners on this occasion, will suffer me to sympathize with them under their sore and heavy bereavement. They have no occasion for instruction, because they have been instructed by one of the best of teachers. They have no occasion to be reminded of their great loss, because they most sensibly feel it. They know that death, by one stroke, has taken away their father, their minister, and their best friend on earth. But let them sing aright of mercy, as well as of judg ment, and exercise that gratitude, as well as submission, which they owe to God. Let them imbibe the pious spirit, follow the bright example, and live the heavenly life of him whom they this day lament; and may their last end be like his. Amen.

SERMON X X V.

CARE OF A GOOD PASTOR FOR HIS PEOPLE.

FUNERAL OF REV. JOHN CLEAVELAND, A. M., WRENTHAM, NORTH PARISH, WHO DIED FEBRUARY 1, 1815, AGED 65.

FOR I have no man like minded who will naturally care for your state -PHIL. ii 20.

THOUGH Paul was now a prisoner at Rome, yet he felt such a tender regard for the Philippians, that he proposed to send a friend of his and of theirs to inquire into their spiritual concerns, and to inform him whether they were growing or declining christians. And in order to prepare them to receive his messengers cordially, and to open their minds to him freely and without reserve, he mentions his name; and, by one masterly stroke, he draws his whole ministerial character in miniature. He says, "I trust in the Lord Jesus, to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state. For I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that as a son with the father he hath served with me in the gospel. Him, therefore, I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me." The apostle does not mean to insinuate, by the comparison he makes between Timothy and other ministers, that they were totally destitute of piety, and benevolence; but only to represent the brightest trait in Timothy's character, in a very strong and striking light. Though Timothy had many ministerial gifts and qualifications, yet that which principally adorned and beautified his character, was his peculiar concern for the good of souls. In this important

point, in which ministers are so apt to fail, he greatly excelled. It seemed to be as natural for him to seek the good of others, as it was natural for others to seek their own good. This, we may presume, was the apostle's meaning in drawing the character of Timothy. And according to this construction of the text, it suggests a truth very proper to be considered and applied on the present solemn occasion. It is this:

That every good minister feels a tender concern for the good of his people.

I shall endeavor to show that this is true, and why it is true, of every good minister.

I. I am to show that every good minister feels a tender concern for the good of his people.

est.

Every good minister is a good man. He possesses a spirit of pure benevolence to all mankind. Good ministers, like all other good men, have experienced a saving change. Their stony hearts have been taken away by the special influence of the Divine Spirit, and tender, benevolent, feeling hearts have been given them. True benevolence always disposes men to love others as they love themselves, and to seek the good of others as they seek their own good. As this spirit reigns in the heart of every good minister, so he naturally feels a tender concern for the good of his people. While Paul was under the entire dominion of selfishness, he sought his own things, and violently opposed the things of Jesus Christ; but when the love of God was shed abroad in his heart, he preferred the cause of Christ and the good of souls to every personal inter"Brethren," says he to the Romans, "my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." With this benevolent language the heart of every good minister readily accords; but he expresses his ardent desire for the salvation of others in much stronger terms. "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." The sincerity of these desires he sufficiently confirmed through the whole course of his ministerial life. He cheerfully sacrificed his ease, his interest, his reputation, and every earthly enjoyment, to carry the gospel round the world, and promote the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles. He also tells us that Timothy was like minded, and felt the same tender concern for the good of souls. There is no doubt but the apostles and primitive preachers of the gospel had a larger portion of love, and zeal, and fortitude, and self denial, than even their pious successors have generally possessed; but we must believe that

every godly minister has such a sincere concern for the good of his people that he would, if called to the trial, sacrifice every personal interest, to promote their spiritual and everlasting benefit. The spirit of benevolence is the spirit of a martyr, and knows no bounds to self denial. It will give up any inferior for a superior good. The state of the Christian world is very different now from what it has been, and from what it may be again, in times to come. Few ministers now are called to make the same sacrifices of personal interest for the good of their people and the cause of Christ, that some of their fathers in this country were called to make. Many pious ministers at this day, however, do make such sacrifices of personal interest, as to leave no room to doubt but that they would freely give up all, for the honor of Christ and the salvation of souls, if their duty required it. They display the same spirit, though not to the same degree, that the apostles and primitive preachers of the gospel displayed, in all their trials and sufferings in the cause of Christ. But whether ministers in general do or do not discover so much benevolence as their duty requires, and as the times give them opportunities to discover; yet it is certain, that all those who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, carry their people upon their hearts, and feel deeply concerned for their spiritual and eternal good. This leads me to inquire,

II. Why this is true of every good minister. Here several obvious and weighty reasons occur, why a faithful minister naturally feels a tender concern for the good of his people.

In the first place: He realizes that God has committed them into his hands, and, for a time, suspended their present and future good upon his care and fidelity. When God confides this sacred and solemn trust to a minister, he virtually says to him, as he said to Ezekiel, "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me." This solemn consideration lies with continual weight upon the mind of every faithful minister, and serves to fix his eyes and his heart upon the people whom God has committed to his particular care. Though he wishes well to every religious society, still he feels a stronger obligation to take peculiar care of his own flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made him an overseer. While he obeys the divine command in watching over his people and feeding them with knowledge and understanding, he naturally feels a strong and warm attachment to their spiritual and eternal interests.

Secondly: A faithful minister feels a tender concern for the good of his people, because they have freely and voluntarily committed themselves to his pastoral watch and care. It is one