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of your choice nearly destroyed. But, my brother, fervent prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for you. The prayer was heard, and is this day most fully answered. To God's name be all the praise. May the life which has been thus wonderfully spared, be this day renewedly devoted to the service of God in the gospel of his Son. May I be permitted on this occasion, to use the language of Paul to Timothy his dearly beloved son-and say with him-When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the. gift of God, which is in thee.-My dear brother, to the grace of God I commend you. May you long live with this people in uninterrupted peace and harmony, speaking to them the truth in love; and, after having turned many to righteousness, may you shine as the stars, and the brightness of the firmament forever and ever.

We present no ordinary congratulations to you, my respected friends of this church and congregation. In addition to the satisfaction we experience in beholding your speedy resettlement of the gospel ministry, we have not, as on many

occasions, to sympathize with you in the removal from this present life of your late much esteemed and beloved pastor. Called by Providence to another and a different sphere of usefulness, his connection with you has been dissolved in the most perfect harmony. Though absent from you in the flesh, yet we have no doubt he will always be with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. Suffer me to request for your pastor elect the same kind attentions which you delighted to manifest towards his predecessor. He is a young soldier. Leave him not alone to fight the battles of the Lord against the mighty; but, by diligent and constant attendance on his ministrations, by a zealous co-operation in all his plans and exertions for the increase of truth and piety, and by an uniform and affectionate remembrance of him in your prayers, endeavor to strengthen his hands and encourage his heart. Receive the truth from his lips with a spirit of love. Remember that, if it is his duty to preach the truth in love, it is yours to attend to it with a like Christian and charitable spirit. Listen to it without prejudice. Imitate the example of the Bereans, who were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with

all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether these things were so. Much of the comfort and happiness of your pastor in this life, will be dependent upon you. Be not unreasonable in your expectations from him. If you desire to be edified by his ministrations on the Sabbath, you must not make too large demands upon his time during the week. By those little attentions and kindnesses, which, though trifling in themselves, contribute much to a minister's comfort, you will endeavor to render his residence among you pleasant and happy. But I forbear. I know your attachment to him, and I cannot doubt you will do all in your power to contribute to his happiness. May you long rejoice in his light, and may he long enjoy your esteem and affection;—and, when the connection now to be formed shall be dissolved, may you meet together in that better world, where prayer shall give place to praise, ordinances to realities, and faith to vision.

And now, brethren, we commend you to the blessing of God. Be perfect, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of peace shall be with you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all, AMEN.

67

SERMON III.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN A HOUSE OF WORSHIP AND THE MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL.

EZRA viii. 17.

That they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

THE book of Ezra contains an interesting portion of Jewish history. At the period in which it was written, that unhappy though distinguished people, were enduring the verification of their own prophecies. By the rivers of Babylon they sat down; they hung their harps upon the willows; they wept when they remembered Zion. The spirit of patriotism and attachment to the land of their fathers' sepulchres, though smothered and enfeebled, was not extinct; and there were some among the captive Jews, in the

reigns of Cyrus and Artaxerxes, who breathed the sentiments so beautifully recorded in the 137th Psalm.-If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Among these, Ezra was pre-eminently distinguished. He was a man of superior learning, and unquestionable piety, a ready scribe in the law of Moses, and a great favorite at the Persian court. Such was his influence with the reigning monarch, that he granted him all his request according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

An attempt had been made by some of the captive Jews, under the patronage of Cyrus, between seventy and eighty years previous to the time of Ezra, to rebuild the city and temple of Jerusalem. In this attempt they experienced great opposition from the enemies of Zion; but, through the blessing of God, they finally succeeded in rebuilding the temple. And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house with joy. It was after these things, when probably the zeal of those who had erected the second temple had in some

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