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to merit, and that every man finds perspicuous, and he was generally his proper place and standing. successful. He was unobtrusive on the world for fame, and no fortunate circumstances brought his merits extensively before the public.

His style will bear just encomium. Language in the most extensive use of the word, was a subject with which Mr. Wheaton was familiar. Few, even among the learned had so quick and clear a perception of the different shades of meaning, of different words, or were able to choose words with such uniform propriety. He well understood what Melmoth calls the " numer. ous composition" and had an ear for a harmonious period. In a word, his style was worthy of the man who wrote, and, of the impor tant subjects on which it was employed. He seemed to think with Addison that good thoughts ought to be well dressed. He had, also the authority of a wiser man ; who " because he was wise, sought to find out acceptable words," and considered "words fitly spoken to be like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

But it may, however, be acknowledged, without depreciating his attainments or usefulness, that his intimacy with learning, led him unconsciously at times to a literary phraseology, which though it was intelligible, yet did not come home so well to the minds of men-as if he had always spoken in a style more akin to their modes of conception. His intention was, to be

As it respects the delivery of his discourses, it was natural, and the animation of which we have already spoken, united with the rich materials of his sermons, made him a highly acceptable speaker. Yet "the start theatric," &c. he had never practiced. And perhaps it may be said of him as of most preachers in this part of our country; that he did not pay proportionate attention to the delivery of his compositions. Since I have assumed to act the part of the crit. ic I will take the freedom to ob. serve what perhaps was less noticed by his ordinary hearers; that he spoke too fast. His own quick apprehension and warm temperament led him to a delivery of his discourses, which was too rapid to permit every auditor fully to apprehend, all the thoughts with which his sermons abounded.this defect, his benevolence, would undoubtedly dispose him to permit to be mentioned, if it might guard others against a fault, which is not unfrequent. It is certainly matter of regret, that after a preacher has with anxious and laborious study, collected valuable materials for his discourse, he should deliver his thoughts so rapidly, that if much is understood, still much must be lost by the hearer. This defect however has been more remarkable in thousands of others, than in Mr. Wheaton; and is the more to be regretted in this in

tance, as it made his preaching so imated christians, reproved the much more wearing to his consti- lukewarm, and denoted him to tion and may have been somewhat be a man of prayer in private as instrumental in cutting short his well as in public. valuable life.

His faithful preparations for the pulpit ought not to be left unnoticed. He carried beaten oil into the sanctuary, and seemed unwilling to offer to God an offering of that which cost him nothing. Few ministers of his age, could, perhaps she w such proofs of their care and industry, by the number and condition of their manuscripts.

He extemporised occasionally; and although he usually did this when time permitted him only a hasty preparation; yet the quickness of his conceptions, the ardor of his feelings, and his well furnished and well disciplined mind, made his performances on such occasions very creditable to his talents and useful to his hearers. There appeared indeed on these occasions more nature and power in his delivery and unusually striking illustrations and expressions. Had he purposed to have become an extemporaneous preacher, and thus have devoted as much time to his extemporary, as to his written discourses, he might have increased his usefulness, by adding this to his other attainments.

It was delightful to listen to, and join in his prayers. Not only was there extensive compass, and happy pertinence of thought, and and great ease and fluency of expression; but a charming sincerity and fervor of devotion, which an

His piety was ardent; and humility was well known by his acquain. tance to be a distinguishing feature of it. His trials in respect to his own piety, though not without example, were peculiarly severe and at times caused painful sensations in his friends who had so much confidence, that he possessed religion, and wished that he might go on his way rejoicing.-But his sun was not always overcast; he hoped in God; resigned himself with confidence to his disposal; and often had joy and peace in believing. Mr. Wheaton was a valuable and interesting friend; as well as an affectionate and kind husband and parent.While his family and relatives, his church and people calljustly for the tenderest sympathies, his brethren in the ministry with whom he was most intimately associated, mourn that they must see his face no more. They always received from him a cordial welcome, and felt it a great privilege to enjoy his conversation and counsel. They saw in him a mind of the first order, both for the acquisition and the retention of knowledge; they witnessed his constant application and rapid growth in knowledge and grace and predicted his eminence and increased usefulness to the church and the world. He still lives in their affections. May the example of his diligence and piety

animate them to increase in diligence; and more entire devotion to the cause of the Redeemer.His health was declining for nearly three years before his death. His disease was obstinate and peculiar; not only causing a frequent alternation of hope and fear in him, but in his friends also. It appeared peculiarly trying to be the subject of a disease, of so doubtful a nature and issue.

The

trust to an unclouded and perennial day.

This servant of the Lord expired Feb. 4th 1825 having not yet completed his 37th year.

SERMON No. XII.

MARK, IX. 40.-For he that is not against us, is on our part.

He was interred on the 10th, and an appropriate discourse, containing a concise but just and affectionate notice of his character, was delivered by Rev. Mr. Ide of Medway from the 77th Psalm 19th verse. "Thy way is in the sea, variation of the prospect presented thy path in the great waters, and to him, now of life and a protrac- thy footsteps are not known." tion of his duties and labors, now of death and an end of all earthly pursuits-caused the trial to be in his case, constantly repeated; and it seemed as if divine Providence intended to try his resignation by the severest test, and make him an example to others of patience and submission. But let pious but humble christians know that this man of God, was not in his last sickness, at all times delivered from every fear, but, as might have been expected of him, he was always patient, usually serene, and sometimes even joyful. As those will witness who were present, when the communion, was administered to him at his house. Then it seemed as if unusual strength was given him; so that he sung through an hymn of some length, and greatly enjoyed the divine ordinance. Though shut out from the natural light, as he was, entirely, for months during the last of his sickness; the "heavenly light at times shown inward," an antepast as we

It is very easy to distinguish the rich from the poor, the learned from the unlearned, the moral from the immoral; but it is not so easy to distinguish the gracious from the graceless. This most important of all distinctions is the most difficult to ascertain. The disciples of Christ were unable to determine, who were his real friends, in distinction from his real enemies. They often formed wrong opinions concerning the religious characters of men. They took one of their own number to be a cordial friend to Christ, who afterwards turned out to be his mortal enemy; and they took another man to be his enemy, whom he declared to be his friend.This they were constrained to acknowledge. Christ having illus trated the character of a true dis

ciple, they acquaint him of their pure benevolence or holy love.—

opinion of a certain man, whom they found casting out devils."And John answered him saying, Master; we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us, is on our part.-“As if he had said, he that is not unfriendly to me is friendly; and he that is friendly to me in the least degree, is a real friend or one of my true disciples: because there is no medium between love and hatred, grace and sin." Hence the spirit of the text warrants us to

say,

That the least degree of grace constitutes a real saint. I shall show,

1. What is meant by grace.

The scripture more frequently speaks of the gracious exercises of God towards men, than their exercises of grace towards him and one another. But the term grace is very often used to signify the holy exercises of the renewed heart. In this sense Paul uses the word, when he exhorts christians "to sing to the Lord, with grace in their hearts." And when he says,

In an

"Let your speech be always with
grace seasoned with salt."
other place he says, "Let us have
grace, whereby we may serve
God acceptably with reverence
and godly fear." And again, "It
is a good thing that the heart be
established with grace." The
apostle Peter also exhorts christ-
ians to grow in grace and in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ." In all these instances,
the word grace, is evidently used
to denote holy and devout exercis-

II. That the least degree of it es of heart. And from this

constitutes a real saint.

III. Why it does this.

And,

use

of the word in scripture, it has become common and familiar to

I. Let us consider what is to be call holy affections, the exercises

understood by grace.

By this word we commonly mean to express some holy exercise of heart; and when we say any person is in the exercise of grace, we mean that he is in the exercise of some holy affection, which is peculiar to a good man. By grace in God, we mean that exercise of holiness or benevolence, which is called compassion or forgiveness to the guilty. But by grace in men, we mean every exercise of

of grace. Accordingly when I use the phrase, the least degree of grace, I mean the least or lowest, exercise of holy love or true benevolence, in which all holiness consists. I proceed,

II. To show that the least degree of grace constitutes a real saint. This will appear from various considerations.

1. The least degree of grace is represented as the fruit of the renewing or sanctifying influence

holy and virtuous affection be th fruit of regenerating or sanctifying influences of the spirit of God; then the least degree of grace must constitute a real saint. For every one who is renewed and sanctified, or born of God, is a good man. This is an infallible criterion of a true believer. John says, "We know that whatsoever is born of God sinneth not." And again, "Whatsoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil." Or in other words this is the essential difference between saints and sinners; saints are born of God, but sinners are not; saints have some grace, and sinners have none. The least spark of grace, therefore, forms a real saint.

of the Holy Spirit. The least degree of divine love is represented as flowing from this cause. The apostle John says, "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God." And the apostle Paul says, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." True faith also is said to be the fruit of the Spirit. The apostle John says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." Agreeably to this Paul tells the believers at Corinth, "Ye are risen with him, (that is Christ,) through the faith of the operation of God." And receiving Christ, or what is the same thing believing in him,is represented in the same light in the first chapter of John. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." The first and lowest degree of grace is ascribed to the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, by Christ in the third chapter of this gospel. "That which is born of the spirit is spirit." That is, every holy or spiritual affection is the effect of the regenerating influence of the divine spirit. And in perfect consistency with this, we are told, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle- him, and will manifest myself to ness, faith, meekness." Now if him." Now if him." And the apostle Paul asevery degree of grace, if every serts, "All things shall work to

2. Divine promises are made to the least degree of grace, which is another evidence, that the least degree of grace forms the christian character. If we look into the bible, we shall find gracious promises made to all gracious exercises. God declares, "I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me." The apostle John says, "God is love and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him." Christ says, "He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love

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