SIMPSON. 409 many years, and done much service : but for God to take away his faithful labourers in the midst of their clays, and cause their sun to set at noon, is a providence of a dreadful aspect upon unfaithful and unfruitful hearers. Oh! what would many a condemned wretch give at the great day of the Lord, to have Christ, and mercy, and pardon proffered him, as they have been proffered by this glorified saint! God took him away immediately upon his release front prison, when you had some hopes of the further enjoyment of his labours ; at a time when there is the greatest want of such faithful and zealous labourers ; especially of such as are 'enlightened in, and are zealous for church-work ; such as have a heart and abilities to encourage the people of God in their separation from the world and antichristian defilements. " There was a near relation between this servant of the Lord and many of you present. He was to many of you a faithful pastor and teacher, labouring amongyou in word and doctrine. If the Lord prevent not, now that the shepherd is smitten, you will be scattered. It will be hard to find a person so ready to venture life and liberty to serve you. To many of you he might be aspiritual father, ameans of your conviction and conversion ; and oh ! what hard hearts must you have, if you cannot mourn over a dead father, a dead shepherd, a faithful pastor, when taken from you. Consider those blessed qualifications with which this servant of Christ was endowed, and by which he was enabled to promote the glory of God and the welfare of your souls. He had love for all the saints. He had room in his heart to receive every one whom Christ received. He held communion with the saints, not on account of their names, or forms of worship, but on account of their union to Jesus Christ. He loved no man on account of his opinions, but his union to Christ, as he often declared in his congregation. He made known to the members of his church, to whom he gave the right hand of fellowship, that their union to Christ was the ground of their communion with saints ; and that the reason of their admis- sion was not because they were of this or that opinion, but because they were looked upon as interested in Christ; and that they who were heirs of glory ought to receive all saints, not as presbyterians, or independents, or anabaptists, but as saints. " He had agreat insight intothe doctrines of grace. Having cast anchor within the vail, he understood well the great mystery of the mercy-seat. It was the glory of his ministry to hold forth the riches of the grace of God in Christ Jesus.
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