disease, was no suitable period for the believer to expatiate on the great truths of faith, or to enlarge on his experience. He expressed it as his desire, that the tenor of his public ministry and life should be considered as his decided testimony to the value of the doctrines he faithfully embraced; and that it might not be expected of him to enforce them with lively feelings, when exhausted by bodily weakness, and in awful view of approaching dissolution. He Respecting the time of his being called hence, his habitual wish seemed accorded; but in God's own way. For although his stay in the body was lingering after he had been summoned from his work, yet was he summoned while in the full career of labor; and this had been his constant desire. had adopted for almost his motto, "Better wear out than rust out." And when urged to desist from extreme bodily and mental exertion, would reply, that "he expected to drop like a horse in harness, and not like one in a stable." It was the fate of his own chaisehorse above twenty years before, which he familiarly alluded to, as furnishing him with a simile on this topic. The horse was aged, but still conveyed his master to attend his stated round of duties; when one day, on reaching reaching the church door, he instantaneously dropped, and expired on the spot. This event Mr. Brown considered as a lively represen. tation of the end he looked to-and such, indeed, it proved! But before a nearer approach is made to the closing view of so valuable a life, a few sketches remain to be given on points of his character not yet brought forward. His zeal and perseverance continued alike eminent to the last; and his character, conduct, and intellectual strength, brightened more and more: as the fine setting sun, of which Dr. Watts observes, after the morning's mist and showery day, that "When the fair traveller's come to the west, And the poet's beautiful application is equally touching and just, considered in reference to Mr. Brown: "Just such is the christian: his course he begins "Like the sun in a mist, while he mourns for his sins, "And melts into tears; then he breaks out and shines, "And travels his heavenly way: "But when he comes nearer to finish his race, "Like a fine setting sun, he looks richer in grace, "And gives a sure hope at the end of his days, "Of rising in brighter array." In one respect, he was peculiarly exemplary, both in his private and public character. From the moment he perceived himself to be misjudged, and unjustly or ungratefully treated, he set himself to make "a cove"nant with the door of his lips, lest he should "offend with his tongue: he was dumb with "silence, he held his peace, and restrained "himself even from good words." For he would observe, "of what use is it to justify myself, and convince those who have mistaken me that they are wrong? this they do not wish to perceive, and will only be the more inveterate against me, if I force open their eyes.' And the strongest symptom he betrayed that any person was at variance with him, or had treated him unbecomingly, was, that he observed utter silence concerning them; with the exception only of speaking in their favor when he justly could, and of setting himself to seek out opportunities of rendering good for evil, by promoting the views and advantage of the very characters who had tried to injure him. ، He had had enemies and traducers; but they were few in number, and impotent to injure: for his God whom he served, shut the the lions' mouths, and gave them no power against him." His meekness and forbearance outlived their enmity; and he descended to the grave in charity with all men. "When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." It may be said of Mr. Brown most literally, that "he grew in grace and in the fear of the Lord." In his early days, the fire of zeal, as well as the fire of youth, had warmed him; and the love of souls preserved him from the power of sins, too customary at the unguarded season of life when all is new, all is attractive. In a slight sketch he once drew up of this period of his life, for a communication to some particular friends, his own words are: Through a merciful Providence I escaped the pollutions of youth; and through the same Providence I was disciplined by sickness, just before I went to Cambridge. At this time I experienced the gospel to be the power of God unto salvation, in a most sensible manner." And in another retrospection he speaks of that sickness as a severe illness near to death, before I went to college, which was greatly blessed to my soul." If he had the master passion strong in death," it was ambition; but it was unto God, and not unto man. It was to do more than others for Him, who had done ALL for others. And though the ardor of youth might diminish, and more sober-minded plans and views would naturally be cherished by increased experience, yet the principle of his conduct could not become superannuated, nor die of old age. His strength and spirits were at times, exhausted; but, these renewed, the force of that principle which had grown with his growth and strengthened with his strength, renewed also, and increased his courage in his beloved Master's cause: and as in his latter days his body obtained some degree of com parative rest, his mind and spirit became more lively, and he evidently increased in the divine life as the outward man drew nearer to his appointed time. The christian graces of prayer and praise, and devout diligence in searching the scrip tures, ripened fast as he approached the end of his mortal career, and now seem indeed to have announced his change to be at hand. The word of God became more delightful to him, and opened more fully to his understanding, and he more frequently indulged himself |