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joy, gladness and great was the joy of Abraham and Sarah at his birth; and before the birth of Christ his parents were directed to call his name JESUS, for he should save his people from their sins, and great was the joy in heaven and on earth when a multitude of the heavenly host praised God, and said, Glory to Godin the highest, on earth peace, good will to men.

5. Eminently did Isaac typify Christ in being offered in sacrifice. To illustrate this, mark the resemblance between them.

(1.) Isaac was the only and affectionately beloved son of his parents; and Christ was the only begotten and beloved son of his Father, was daily his delight, rejoicing always before

him.

(2.) Necessity was laid upon Abraham by the command of God, to offer up Isaac his son; and it was of absolute necessity that Christ should die, the just for the unjust to bring sinners to God. If there had been a law which could have given life, verily righteousness should have come by the law.

(3.) When Abraham was tried, he withheld not his son, his only son; and so God spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, that with him he might freely give us all things richly to enjoy.

(4.) Isaac had committed no particular crime for which he was to suffer; and Christ, who did no sin, offered himself as a lamb without spot to God.

braham must officiate as priest, and he stretched forth his hand, to take the knife; and when Christ was to be made sin for us, his Father must immolate him on the altar of justice, and he said, Awake, O sword, against the man that is my fellow.

(7.) Abraham accounted that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure ; and God raised up his son Jesus, that his holy one might not see corruption.

(8.) After this symbolic transaction, Isaac returned to his place; and when Christ by one offering had purged our sins, he ascended on high, to heaven from whence he came, and for ever sits down on the right hand of the majesty on high.

(9.) In offering up Isaac, Abraham gave the most deci- * sive evidence of love to God; and God commendeth his love to us, in that when we were sin-. ners and without strength,

Christ died for us.

(10.) For the obedience of Abraham, God renewed his promise and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and thy seed shall possess

the gates of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations. of the earth be blessed, and because Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall ex-bow-hath promised that he

(5.) Isaac bore the wood on which he was to be offered as the victim; and Christ bore the cross on which he was to piate the guilt of the world. (6.) In offering up Isaac, AVOL. VI. NO. 7.

shall see of the travail of his soul

and be satisfied-that a seed LI

culcated, were enforced, notonly | ration, of repentance, faith and by arguments drawn from rea-good works; the importance of son and revelation, but by the holiness in believers as an eviweight and authority of an il- dence of grace, and preparatory lustrious example of true piety. for future glory; and the cerHe manifested that he felt the tainty that all true saints will be force of them on his own mind, kept by the power and grace of and that what he taught he fully God, through faith unto salvabelieved. He went in and out tion, were doctrinal truths which before his flock, evidently in the he believed, taught, and enforfear of the Lord, keeping him- ced. He stood boldly in deself unspotted from the world, fence of the gospel, and endeavand carefully abstaining from ored, with wisdom and prudence every appearance of evil. His to declare the whole counsel of whole life was a standing testi- | God, rightly dividing the word of mony against the enemies of truth, and giving to each one a Christ, and in favor of pure portion in due season. In preachand vital religion. In every do- ing, he was solemn, pungent and mestic relation in which he engaged-in prayer, devout and stood, he was faithful, kind and fervent-in conversation instrucaffectionate. As one set to tive in counsel, judicious-in watch for souls, he was faithful, hospitality, rich. zealous and laborious. He spared no pains to promote the cause of his divine Master, and the salvation of sinners. On every favorable occasion, he spake a word for him whose servant he was; and the dilgent attention he paid to the state of his flock, evinced his willingness to spend, and be spent for the good of souls. Neither were his labors confined to his own particular flock; but, with a ready mind, he assisted his brethren on proper and various occasions.

He faithfully consulted the oracles of divine truth, that from this source he might learn the will of God, and the doctrines which he taught. And what he clearly conceived to be divine truth, from faithfully searching the holy scriptures, he shunned not to declare.

His constitution was naturally firm, and had never been essentially impaired by sickness until he was attacked by the fatal maland his life. This attack, at ady, which terminated his labors, first, not formidable and alarming, by degrees assumed a more threatening aspect, till it put a period to his life, September 19th, 1804.

In the death of this truly excellent and worthy man, his family have sustained an irreparable loss, and the church and people over whom the Holy Ghost had made him an overseer, a most severe frown of Providence.→→→ Yea, in him a bright star is extinguished, and a pillar fallen in the house of God.

During the first part of his sickness, which continued severDivine sovereignty and de-al months, he was greatly op crees, man's absolute depend-pressed with doubts and fears ence on God, election, the total concerning his spiritual state.→ moral depravity of the human Clearer evidence of grace, and heart, the necessity of regene- a greater degree of holiness

and hope (and I think earnestly desire) to see the assembly of the saints again the next Lord's day. I trust I do not prize the house of God the less, by being detained from it. I think of the 122 Psalm."

In another letter to the same friend, written about a month before his death, he writes thus: "My brother, if you could see my heart through these scenes, you would have an idea of weakness, emptiness and unbelief, such as you never had before. If there ever have been, or ever shall be any thing good in me, I am sure I must say, Not I."

were objects for which he pant-through favor I am now better, ed. But in his darkest, and most gloomy seasons, his hope, which was an anchor to his soul, he did not wholly lose; and at times it was strong, almost to assurance. The state of his mind may be more fully learned from his own observations during his sickness, and from some extracts from two letters, written to a ministerial brother in the western country, which I will here insert. The first bears date, Tuesday April 25, 1804, in which he writes thus : "I hope through divine favor, that I am a little better. I yesterday had a visit from Doctor M. of New-Haven. He speaks In the same letter, a few days favorably of my prospects after he adds: “My soul is vethinks my case deserving of very much in bondage, but, blessry careful attention, but not ve-ed be God, not in despair. Last ry alarming at present. I pray night I was greatly distressed, that I may avoid Asa's sin, and I was almost certain, that a which, I think, was not merely malicious accuser of the brethseeking to physicians; but in ren, was concerned in it. I got seeking to physicians, and not some relief by praying to God unto the Lord. To the Lord I against him. This morning desire to commit my case. In Job's case gives me some hope his hands, all will be well. I and comfort. I should be sure think no sentiment is more ha- of light by and by, but this terbitual with me, than the perfect rible doubting, as to our interrectitude of his government; est in the promises, cuts off the and it seems to me that I do hand that takes hold of them. daily rejoice in it. As to the May all this prepare me for the little corrections he his pleased rest to deal out to me, nothing seems mysterious or strange about them, except that they are so infinitely lighter than I deserve. If I were in the bottomless pit, it would be abominable to murmur or complain-how much more, when surrounded with numberless mercies, and at the footstool of sovereign grace, with the hope of glory, and immortality set before me.

I have been detained four sabbaths from the pulpit; but,

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The next morning he thus writes in the margin of the letter." Not having sealed my letter yesterday, on finishing it in the morning, I am enabled, by the grace of God, to fill this little corner with information, that yesterday afternoon, I experienced one of the pleasantest seasons of light and comfort that I have enjoyed since my sickness." "The Lord can clear the darkest skies, &c. Blessed be his name!"

there is no deficiency on God's part. I never have the least doubt of his sufficiency, ability, or willingness. It is my own vile hypocritical heart, that I fear is deceiving me." These seasons, however, were not of long continuance.

In general, he complained much of great stupidity, that he could not think with fixedness and connection, which was to him a great grief. In seasons of darkness, he considered them as evidence against himself. His exercises, in general, were such, as would have afforded him satisfying evidence of a renewed

he could not see them to be such in himself. He often observed that doubts and fears in his situation, could not be dismissed till a more convenient season, as was apt to be the case in a time of health and prosperity.

On the 24th of June, it being the sabbath, he called his sister into his room, at a very early hour, to whom he manifested great distress of mind. He said he had obtained very little sleep during the night, and was much exercised with doubts and fears concerning his spiritual state."I cannot," said he, "obtain those clear views of the divine character, for which I long ;" and added many other things naturally arising from his state of mind. He desired to hear a portion of scripture, which was read. Soon after he expressed himself to this effect. "I feel much better. I have seen some-heart in any other person, but thing of God. I think I have experienced something of those outgoings of soul after him, which David expresses in the Psalms which have been read. Oh! how glorious! how transscendently glorious is God! I can trust myself in his hands for time and eternity. I know he will do right. This is a merciful, refreshing view he has given me of himself; but I long to see more of him," &c. For six or eight weeks, the state of his mind was alternately bright and gloomy. He had two seasons, in particular, of extreme distress, in many respects similar to the one mentioned above. He appeared to have a great sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, his own depravity of heart and life; and said, that his sins seeaned to be set in order before him. Those committed in childhood 'which had long been forgotten, now came fresh to mind and stared him in the face.

He was tenderly solicitous for his people, and lamented that he was so much deprived of seeing and conversing with them. He desired strength more fully to enforce the doctrines which he had before preached, and now firmly believed. He was always anxious to see his ministerial brethren, and other Christian friends, by whom, he said, God always sent him some cordial. In examining the evidences of his good estate, he could never admit much doubt, in that of love to the brethren.

About four weeks before his death, he had some brighter views than at any previous time, which he thus communicated to a friend." You cannot be sensible of the great goodness of God to me, in all his dealings. He has sometimes hid himself till

Being told, that God was still on a throne of grace, freely dispensing mercy to the humble penitent, he said: "Oh! I know I was almost ready to sink; then

he darts some rays of light and
comfort into my soul, kindly ma-
king me feel my dependence.
He has shown me myself, which
view I exceedingly needed to
humble me.
This forenoon I
have had such clear, distinct,
and admiring views of Christ in
all his offices, as I never had be-
fore, particularly his kingly of
fice, whereby he subdues us to
himself. I think I do most cor-
dially receive and embrace him
in them all. How amiable! |
how glorious!"

strong and elevated language. But I have not lived the life of an eminent Christian, and have no reason to expect that God will reward me as such, either in life or in death. All is of free, sovereign grace." When his little daughter was about to be sent to her aunt at N—, he desired that she might be bro't to him. After kissing her he said; "She is no more mineI have given her to God-I have before this, given all my children to him. He can take care of them here, and fit them for a better world." He often conver sed with his children as he had strength, and in a way suited to their capacities.

After this, he was free from any particular distress, and enjoyed a happy degree of peace and comfort, in that hope, which before, even in his darkest hours, had been, in some measure, an During two or three weeks anchor to his soul. He, howev- before his death, he was exerci→ er continued to express a long-sed with great bodily pain and ing desire for greater assurance, distress. But his greatest anxand to see more of God. Heiety was, a fear that he should daily wished to hear as much of dishonor God and religion by the bible as he could bear, and impatience. "Oh, for patience! took peculiar delight in the Oh, for patience!" he would Psalms, and in our Saviour's frequently exclaim. "Do pray Jast discourse to his disciples. for me, that I may have patience He conversed more about the tobear, and patience to wait God's friends whom he expected soon time. I know that will be the to meet in heaven, than those he best time. It is always safe waiexpected to leave behind. He ting on God." These were commanifested an uniform resigna- mon expressions. In seasons of tion to the divine will, which great distress, he would say, “ It he would frequently express is my Father's hand, my heavwhen his pains were most se-enly Father's hand. That tho't vere. When his side was dres-will sweeten the bitterest cup." sing, he said; "Now I have a A few days before his death very corruptible body, which will soon become food for worms; but another day, I shall have one incorruptible. What kind of body do you think that will be? It is sufficient for us to know that it will be fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body." On hearing some passages in the life of Mr. P. he said, "I cannot follow him-I cannot use such

he said, "I am afraid my will is not wholly subdued to the will of God." Being asked if he wished to recover, he replied, that he felt a reluctance to return, and live in this troublesome world; but "let God's will be done." On Saturday before his death, being in great distress, he said to a friend standing by; "Can this be dying "

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