Watts - BX5200 .W3 1813 v.1

tirtmotai Y'DR: WAafiS. rxid On retiring to rest, he has been heard to declare, that if his Master bad no morework for him to do, he should beglad to bedismissed that night. " I bless God," he would say, at other times,. " I can lie down with comfort at night, not being solicitous whether I awake in this world or another." When he was almost worn out by his infirmities, heobserved in conversation with a friend, that he remembered,anaged minister used to sey,.that the most learned and knowing christians, when they cane to die, have only the same plain promises of the gospel for their support, as the common and unlearned : " and so," said he, " I find it. It is the plain promises of the gospel that are mÿ support, and I blessGod they are plain promises, that de not require much dabourand pains to understand them ; for I can do nothing now but look into my bible''fbrsomepromise to supportme, and live upon that." In this way the promises became a present inheritance of support and consolation both as the security and prelibations of his future exaltation before the throne of God;. and " As the setting sun appears of greater magnitude, and his beams of richer gold than when in his meridian, so this dying believer was richer in experience, stronger in grace, and brighter in his evidences for hea- ven than was usual in anyperiod of his life." With seme view, no doubt to this happy state of mind, Dr. Grovesnor, being at the funeralofDr. Watts, a friend said tohim, " Well Dr. Grovesnor, you liave seen the end of Dr. Watts ; and you will soon followhim : what think you of death ?" "Think of it."--he replied, " why when deathcpmes I shall smile upon him, if God will smile upon me.'? Hisfreedom from corporeal pain, and his uninterrupted assurance that all was well, excited the strongest sentiments and expr0ssionsof gratitude inhis last moments, when without a struggle or a groan, November 25, 1748, in the 75th year of his age, he departedthis life, eminently beloved of God, and lamented by all wise and good men. Stich are the joys and honours derived from the doctrines of Christianity. Such are the joysand honours by which the tritebeliever shall be faithfully attended through the valley of the shadow Of death, and which will be consummated in the fruition of an eternal weight ofglory. Let those who doubt and despiseour faith considerof whatimport- ancereligion is to the sick and dying, and till theypossess thepower of healing, andof restoration from the borders of the grave, let them not take away the only support of our hopes, the only solace of our afflictions: Let them not in- terposebetween us and the brightprospects oflife and immortality. The remains of this great man were deposited in Bunhill-fields burial- ground, London ; and to give a final testimony to his affection and liberality, his pall wassupported by six ministers, twoof the presbyterian, two of the congregational, and two of the antipoedo-baptist denomination, Dr. Samuel Chandlerdelivered an oration atthe grave, andDr. Jennings preached his f'u- peral sermon to the church of whichDr. Watts had been pastor, from Hebrews xi. 4. "$y it he being dead yet speaketh." Several otter eminent men gave similar testimonies of respect to his memory. But whilehis various ex- cellencies procured him these honours, he in his life time, was concerned to prevent whatever might be considered as inconsistent with the humility of his character. lIe gave directions to have only a stone erected over the place of Isis interment, with this humble inscription

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=