tears from our eyes. His farewell address to his dear wife, his children, his grand-children, his colleague, and the servants of his family, all standing together by his bedside, was such a scene of grandeur and awful solemnity, and attended with such a variety of circumstances so moving and pathetic, that I was never witness to the like.

His dying instructions to me, (delivered with a pathos and an earnestness which pierced my very soul,) his anxiety for our flock, and his extreme concern for the poor of it, shall never drop from my remembrance.

When he perceived his last end to be nearly approaching, he composed himself a little to rest, in order to acquire as much strength as might enable him to recommend to us the important concerns of religion; and he performed this last duty with such dignity and composure, such noble elevation of soul, as brought to our remembrance the words of our great Lord," Weep not for me, but weep for "yourselves and your children." Luke xxiii. 28.

About twenty minutes before he expired we prayed by his bed-side, and after the prayer was done, he returned me thanks in distinct and articulate words.

Thus, Reverend Sir, I have given you a short account of the dying behaviour of my dear and much beloved colleague. I shall only just acquaint you, that on the Sabbath (the 17th of December) he was seized with his last illness in the pulpit, near the conclusion of the service; and he had been confined to his house ever since. His complaints arose entirely from the stone and gravel. About the middle of January he seemed to be greatly recovered; but it so pleased the supreme Disposer of all events, that he relapsed again; and about ten days before he died, was seized with a kind of pleuritic fever, which, in conjunction with the original disease, brought on his dissolution. He

died on the 7th of February, and it is remarkable that on the 7th of February he received his call to be minister of this church thirty-six years ago.

As I-was no stranger to the friendship between my worthy colleague and you, Sir, I thought it would not be unacceptable to you if I returned so full an answer to your letter. I sincerely recommend you and all your concerns to the blessing of God, not doubting of your wishes and prayers in behalf of an afflicted fellow-servant, a fatherless family, and a sorrowful congregation. I remain with much esteem, Rev. Sir,

Your most obedient and very humble servant,

Amsterdam, Feb. 12, 1776.

N. C.

SECTION VII.

HELPS FOR CONVERSING WITH SUCH OF THE SICK AS ARE FIT TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT, AND A CAUTION AGAINST GIVING IT IN TIME OF SICKNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN A FIT STATE TO RECEIVE IT.

A caution against giving the Sacrament to improper

persons.

Too many who have led a careless, and perhaps wicked life will, when they apprehend themselves in danger of dying, send for the minister to give them the Sacrament: this they consider (strange infatuation!) as a passport on the road to heaven, which they expect will answer their purpose at once but, alas! they will not find that the way of salvation, prescribed in the Gospel, is so easy they absurdly imagine it to be. Ministers should be cautious therefore to whom they administer the Sacrament. Some make it a general rule not to give it to such sick persons as would not receive it in

as

health, unless they can bring them to a due sense of their guilt; to an hearty repentance of all that is past, with sincere resolutions of amendment, should they recover; and to a determination to make every kind of restitution in their power, if there be any whom they have injured for till strong proofs have been given that they are brought to such a disposition, there is no warrant in Scripture, nor by the Rubric, for administering the Sacrament to them; as the Rubric expressly enjoins the minister," to examine whether the sick person has truly repented of his sins; is in charity with all mankind; forgives all who have offended him; and has actually recompensed, or solemnly promised to recompense, as soon and as far as in his power, the parties to whom he has done any injury or wrong;" till, therefore, you are fully satisfied of this, it is your duty to reprove such persons, and to refuse them the Sacrament. Yet (as Bishop Burnet has observed in his Pastoral Care, page 172)" the worst of men may be reproved in so soft a manner, that, if they be not reclaimed, they shall not be irritated, or made worse by it; which is but too often the effect of an indiscreet reproof. By mild and prudent reproofs a minister perhaps may save the sinner's soul; he is at least sure not to endanger his own by a culpable conduct towards his people," and by a prostitution of so solemn and important an ordinance, as the holy Sacrament most certainly is.

Helps for conversing with a real Christian, who in his sickness is desirous of receiving the Sacrament.

Your desire is both commendable and reasonable, because it is your highest privilege, a fundamental duty of the Christian religion, and peculiarly proper for you, who by the grace of God have been brought into that heavenly disposition, which you have manifested, particularly during

your sickness; because it is God's seal (or confirmation) of pardon to you, and to all who receive it with repentance and faith; because it will fortify you against the fears of death, by setting before you Christ crucified, who suffered on the cross for you, and thus disarmed death of its sting; because it assures you of your resurrection from the dead, by making you a member of Christ's body*; because if it be received (as it undoubtedly will) with true devotion, the comfortable assurances of God's love in Christ, with which you here meet, will never leave you till you see God face to face, "be-"ing presented by our Lord Jesus Christ faultless, "before the presence of his glory." Jude, ver. 24.

Helps for conversing with the sick on the valuable purposes which may be answered by the frequent remembrance of Christ at the sacramental table.

It will confirm your faith in him.

It will promote your humility and godly sorrow. It will excite your gratitude to such a Saviour. It will increase your love to Christ, and hatred. of sin, for the expiation of which he suffered crucifixion.

It will promote your obedience to his commands, and your imitation of his example.

It will support you in sickness, and amidst all the difficulties and sufferings of life.

It will confirm your faith in the divine promises of mercy to pardon, and grace to help you.

It will promote love to all your fellow-creatures. It will make you zealous for his cause and interest in the world.

It will lead your thoughts upwards to the world where he is gone.

It will reconcile you to a dying bed.

It will confirm your expectation of a glorious resurrection and everlasting felicity.

These are some of the happy consequences of a serious and devout attendance at the Sacrament, considered in the view of a remembrance of Christ.

Here I shall suggest three different methods of self-examination before the reception of the Sacrament, suited to the different situations of those who intend to communicate.

I. The first of which is the consideration of it, as a comfortable and strengthening* ordinance suited for general use, but principally for those who have been accustomed to view it as a renewal of the baptismal covenant, as the forgiveness of sins, and as the means of obtaining comfort, by pleading the merits and promises of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. As for instance, you should consider the Sacrament as a memorial of Christ's dying for you. How comfortable to remember your deliverance from satan, sin, and hell!

2. You should consider it as an assuring sign, not only as the remembrance of your redemption from sin, and reconciliation to God, but as a seal and pledge of his pardon and favour. How refreshing such an assurance!

of

3. You should consider it likewise as a renewal your covenant with God, and a solemn pleading before him the merits and promises of Christ. Who, that is conscious of his many breaches of this covenant, and of his great need of the merits of Christ, can be indifferent about them!

4. You should further consider it in its happy effects, as the use of this ordinance comforts and strengthens the soul. It is the proper means of obtaining comfort and strength from God to sup

See the late Bishop of London (Dr. Gibson) on the Sacrament, page 82, fifth edition. A very judicious little tract, well deserving a perusal.