XRit MDMOrns Or DR. WATTS. intellectual faculties were notvigorous, they yet continued to perform their office to the last: Wheir iufull possessionefhimself hecommitted bis soul into the hands of his Redeemer, triumphing over all the terrors of death. Thus glorifying his profession and the ministry of the gospel, adminis- .tering the consolations of hope to his sorrowing friends, and displaying the faith, fortitude, and joy, which form the noblest conclusionof a lité de- voted to God. Soon after, Mr. Henry Grove, who contracted an intimate friendship with Dr. Watts, had published a fdneral sermon on the fear- of death ; the subject was treatedin so masterlya manner that a person of considerable rank in the learnedworld declared, that after reading;it lie couldhave laid down and died, with as much readiness and satisfaction as he had 'ever.done any'thing in his life. 'Some similar effects may, it is hoped, be produced by reviewing the circumstances of an event, where theory was most unusually realized in expe- rimental fact. It is not from books however finely written, but from the lips of the dying' disciple of Jesus, that we shall learn the exercise of patience and courage inthe anticipationofthat state where we shall flourishin everlast trighealth and vigour. Let ns mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, and see how peace- fully 'he reposes on his dying pillow, with what chearfulhess he.bids adieu to his friends, and how hedescends tosthe grave in a full age, like as a shock ofcorn cometh in his season. The day of this great man's life was not more useful in its progress, than serene and glorious in its close. Without pertur bation he readhis summons tó appear before the Judge of all, and without reluctance he obeyed. -After a long and rough voyage he came witha propitious gale within sight of the peaceful harbour ; and how fully he en- joyed the prospect, his own language in that happy period will abundantly testify. With application to himself he often repeated the words of Paul to the Hebrews, " Ye have need patience that after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive the promise." Not that he was exercised with bodily pain, but, retaining- his desire to do-good inundiminished force, he was not at times so resigned to his providential disability as he should have'been. In such a li-ame of mind perhaps, he once said, " I wonder why the great God should continue me in life, when I am incapable of performing hint any further set,: vice." Butnow he had finished the work given him to do, he must quietly wait till the Lord ofthe vineyard shall bestow the promised, the desired re- ward. . With these considerations he would check the encroachments of im- patience, " The business of a christian," said he, " is to bear the will of God, aswell as to do it. If I were in health I couldonly be doing that, andthat P may do now. The best thing inobedience is a regard to the will ofGod, and theway to that is toget our inclinations and aversions as much mortified ad we can." He discoursed much of his dépendance upon the atoning sacrifice of Christ; and his trust in God.through` the Mediator remained unshaken to the last. " I should beglad," he said, " to read store, yet not in order to be confirmed more in the truth ofthe christian religion; orin the truth of its pro- mises, for I believe them enoughto venture an eternity on them." How big soul was absorbed-in the faith ofthese promises, and the certaintyof their ac- complishment,all who visited him during the illness which terminated in his tlissolution, could bear testimony.
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