Mr. David Clarkfon's Funeral Sermon. Sanctifying Grace.. 'Tis that gives him a tender Senfe_ of till' worth of Souls, that warms h tS Hea rt wtth ardent Requefts to G?d, and with zealous Affections to Men for thetr Salvatton. Befides, _an unholy Mmtfter unravels m Jus Actions his moft accurate Dtfcoutfcs m the Pulj)tt; and ltke a Carbuncle that feems animated with the Ltght and Heat of Ftre, buttS a cold dead Stone: Sothowtth appearing earneftnefs he nn y urge Mens Duttes upon them, yet he ts cold and carelefs m his own Practice and his Example enervates the Efficacy of his Sermons. But this Servant of God was a real Saint, a !tving Spring of Grace in his Heart diffus'd it felf in the Veins of his ConverC1tion. His Life was a filent repetition ofhis.Holy Sermons. rh~~,~~i~~~~~~i:l~;~~~~,J~mf:r~~~·d0Jo;1;j,;{~~£0~r~,J~1igf~~{~;~~~tno;~~dt!; Example upbmds many Mtmfters, who are ftrangely carelefs of their Duty and fquand~" away precious Time, of whicl1 no part is defpicable and to be negl~cted, The ~hogs of Gold are t? be preferved. We cannot ftop the Flight of Time, nor reca l 1t when paft. Volat z.rrevocabtle temptlf• . The Sun returns to us every Day, and the Names of the Months every Year, but Ttme never returns. But tllis Servant of God was faithful in improving this Talent, being veryfenfible (to ufehisownwords) Tbat the Blood ofthcSolll r11m out ill wafted Time. When depriv'd of his PublickMiniftry, he gave himfelf wholly to Reading and Meditation, whereby l1e obtain'd an emine(\t degree of Sacred Knowledge, ancl was converfant in the retir'd Parts of ~:J~:~f.' in which many who are qualified to preach a profitable Sermon, are unacHis Humility and Modefty were his diftinCl:ive Characters wherein he excel!'d. What a Treafure was conceal'd under the Veil of Humility? What an illuftrious Worth was ibadow'd under l1is virtuous Modcfty? He was like a PiCture drawn by an excellent Mafter in Painting, but plac'd in the Dark, fo that the exactnefs of the Proportions, and the beauty of the Colours do not appear. He would not put his Name to thofe_ excellent Tratl:s, that ar~ extant, wherein his Learning and Judgment are very confptcuous. He was well fat1sfied to fcrve the Church, and illuftrate the Truth, and to remain in his beloved Secrecy. , In his Converfation a comely Gravity mixt with an innocent PJea(antnefs, were attractive of RefpeCI: and Love. He was of a calm Temper, not ruffied with Paffions but Gentle, and Kind, and Good ; and even in fame contentious _Writings, he pre: ferv'd an equal tenor of Mmd, knowmg that we are not hkely to dtfcover the Truth in a Mift of Paffion: his Breaft was the Temple of Peace. fn the difcharge of his Sacred Work, his Intel!eCI:ual Abilities, and Holy Affections were very evident. In Prayer, his SoJemnity and Reverence was becoming one that faw him who is invifiblc : his tender Affections, and fuitab!e Expreffions, how melting and moving, ~~~~ i~i~~~i~f;:;·:JnaT~~bs~eat and Life to dead Hearts, and diffolve obdurate SinIn his Preaching, how inftruCl:ive and perfuafive to convince and turn the Carnal and Worldly, from the love of Sin, to the love of Holinefs; from the love of the Earth, to the love of Heaven. The Matter of his Sermons was clear and deep, anc! always judi cioufly derived from the Text: the Language was neither gaudy and vain, with light Trimmings, nor rude and negleCted, bnt fuitable to the Oracles of God. Sucl1 were his chofcn acceptable ·Words, as to recommend Heavenly Trnths, to make them more precious and amiable to the Minds and Affections of Men ; like the colour of tl1e Sky, that makes the Stars to ibine with a more fparkling Brightnefs. na~;i~lra1:ri~~~ ~!fe~~t~d'~Ts ~~{f;~~~he;,i;i111,1~ci~:~ui~~g0g)fi~:~r:,n~v~'~cl, natural Means could not remove, prevailed upon him. But then the beft Phyfician provided him the true Remedy of Patience, His Death was unexpected, yet; as he declared, no furprize to him, for he was entirely refigned to the Will of God ; he defired to live no longer, than to be ferviceable: his Soul was fupported with the bleffed Hope of enjoying God in Glory. With Holy Simeon, he l1ad Chrift in his Arms, and departed in Peace to fee the Salvation of God Above. How great a lofs the Church has fuftain'd in l1is Death, is not eafily valued;· but our comfort is, God never wants Inllrurnents to'accomplifh his Bleffed Work. A
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