fideration of Age advancing upon him, and in Hopes that by the Goodness of God they might enjoy his Prefence and Labours the longer, were at the Expence of affording him Affiftance by young Candidates, every Sabbath, for one part of the Day: and with the like Views, his Brethren and Sons in the Miniftry, particularly in the Neighbourhood, were always ready to give him their Help, as there was Occafion

In short, Mr. Wäller feem'd to be as univerfally lov'd and respected as any Minifter of his Time in all New-England. In the Beginning of his Miniftry, his Fathers, the aged Minifters (in particular, that venerable Man, his ancient Colleague, as before obferv'd) very highly efteem'd and lov'd him; his Brethren in the Miniftry continued, or rather increased, in their Regards for him; and in his Age, the Junior Minifters always rofe up before him with Reverence, not only honouring the Face of the old Man, but venerating him as a Man of God, and honourable, for the fuperior Wisdom and Holinefs fo confpicuously shining in him. And it may be proper to note here, that his Excellency, the late Governor DUDLEY, a Gentleman of fine Accomplishments and a good Judge of Worth, was his Parishioner, and one of us has often heard him exprefs the great Satisfaction he had in Mr. Walter's Ministry. Indeed he feldom heard him preach, or administer a Sa crament, but it was obferv'd he wept and to the day of his Death, he honoured his Minifter with many Honours. And the Governor's Son, who succeeded him in his Seac at Roxbury, the late Hon. PAUL DUDLEY Efq. who was for many Years one of his Majefty's Council, and chief Juftice of the Province, equal'd (if not exceeded) his excellent Father in Love to Mr. Walter's Person and Miniftry and memorable are the Honours he did him, living and dead. And other Gentlemen of the greatest Diftinction among us, in the Civil (as well as Ecclefiaftical) Character, delighted to fhew their Refpects toMr. Walter, by receiving his Vifits and returning them, by fometimes attending his publick Lectures, &c. And truly it is to

their own Honour they did fo.-As for the Church and Congregation,over which the Holy Ghost had made, and coritinu'd him, fo wife and faithful and affectionate an Overfeer, he was conftantly belov'd and admired among them, from first to last. May the Lord deal kindly with them, who bave not left off to fhew Kindness to the Living and to the Dead!-And a rare Thing it is indeed, for a Minifter to live in fuch uninterupted Harmony and Endearment with his People, especially for fo long a Tract of Time.-Yea, bis Praife was in all the Churches, in Proportion as he was known to them by Face, or by his printed Works, and by Report. Scarce any Man ever pafs'd through the World with a more unexceptionable Character, or a more univerfal Reputation with all that knew him: every one speaking of him with high Efteem, for his Piety, his Judgment, and his Minifterial Accomplishments and Performances. In fhort, he has long shone among us,as a Chriftian and a Divine of the first Figure in our Zion. And in very advanced Age, his Wifdom ftill remained with him; his mental Powers retaining their Vigour in an uncommon Degree, and his Graces daily rifing towards Perfection. But alas, the beft and longeft Life muft have a Period!

2

On Decemb. 25. 1749. he was confined to his House, by bodily Indifpofitions, which gradually increased upon him, and at length terminated in his Deceafe. It is remarkable, the Circumstances, both natural and moral, of his final Ilness and Dying, very much correfponded to the general Habit and Tenor of his preceeding Life. For, although he had nothing robuft in his Conftitution, but rather was of a feeble Make, and although he led a very ftudious, fedentary Life (which is much Weariness to the Flesh, and exhaufts the Spirits) yet through the Divine Bleffing, by means of his ftrict and steady Temperance, his keeping to an exact Regimen in almost every Thing, and preferving an habitual Tranquillity of Mind, he ufually enjoy'd a confiderable Share of Health, and Eafe; for many Years fcarce knowing, by any Experience, what

Pain or Sickness meant. Even fo, in the laft Stage of Life, and under the Approaches of Death, he found himself ftill very gracioufly dealt with in this Regard; being never exercised with any fevere Dolour, or very diftreffing Malady, during the whole Time of his long Confinement and Decay. And, what was a greater Mercy, he ftill enjoy'd much of his ufual Compofure of Thought, and Sedatenefs of Temper, free from the Ruffles of Paffion, and not overborne by difquieting Reflections, or difmaying Apprehenfions: but with much Humbleness of Mind lying at the Foot of a holy, wife, gracious, and fovereign GOD, he was calmly fubmifive to the Divine Will, and in Faith refigned himfelf to the Hands of a dear Redeemer.-His waking Hours, for the most part (as it appear'd to his Attendants and Friends about him) were continually employ'd in filent, but fervent Devotion. He liv'd and died in the Belief of the holy Angels Miniftration to the Saints. A Friend having observed to him, that although the Miniftry of Angels was not now fo fenfible as in ancient Times, yet doubtless it was as real; he reply'd, I am fully of that Mind, and believe that God now uses the Ministry of Angels to the Saints, in their Life and at their Death. Adding withal, I am waiting the few remaining Days of my appointed Time. Which (in his modeft, and ever-cautious way of ipeaking) might import as much as if he had faid, more peremptorily and boldly, in the Language of the memorable Mr. NEWMAN (of Rebobot) on his Death bed, "Now, ANGELS, do your Office !"-As to his Intereft in the Promiles, which are in CHRIST Yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of GOD. he appear'd to have a good Hope through Grace, without any difreffing Doubts, or the leaft Fear of Amazement. To a Minifter, converfing with him on his Death-bed, he had (among others) fome fuch Sayings as thefe: If Hatred of Sin be a good Evidence, I think I have THAT.-CHRIST is precious to them which believe : but the Damned in Hell are perpetually blafpheming and dishonouring CHRIST; and I can't bear the Thought of doing THIS!-To another d Minifter,

Minifter, fpeaking fomething for his Confolation not long before his Death, he reply'd, Ibope to find Mercy of the Lord in that Day !-And to a Chriftian Neighbour, he fpake more fully in the Language of Affurance, repeating with Self-Application thofe triumphant Expreffions of the Apofile (2 Tim. i. 12.) I know whom I have believed ; and am perfuaded, He is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day. Thus, having lived by the Faith of the Son of God, he alfo died in Faith, and fell afleep in Jefus fatisfy'd with long Life.

He expired on the 17th of Sept. 1750. when he wanted but about 3 Months of being 87 Years old. The longeft liv'd Mini in all New England, we fuppofe, excepting a few Inftances; two formerly, Mr. WARD Of Haverhill, and Mr. HIGGINSON of Salem; and two more lately, Mr. CHEEVER of Chelsea, and Mr. STONE of Harwich. And it feems worthy of Remark, that the Continuation of Mr. ELIOT's and Mr. WALTER'S Miniftry, who (as already obferv'd) were for a Season contemporary Paflors of the fame Church, extended to almost a Score of Years above one intire Century; the former being Minister of Roxbury Church near 58, and the latter above 60 Years, fucceffively. An Inftance without a Pa-. rallel in this Part of the World, and the like perhaps not to be met with in all History !-Though it ought to be noted, in the mean while Roxbury had two other Minifters; viz. Mr. SAMUEL DANFORTH (Brother to the memorable Deputy Governor DANFORTH) Colleague with Mr. ELIOT, for about a fifth Part of the Time, and died (if we miftake not) in the 49th Year of his Age, who has been fam'd for an excellent Scholar, and a very judicious, methodical, pathetical, and truly evangelical Preacher and many Years afterwards, Mr. THOMAS WALTER (before-mention'd) Colleague with his Father.— Alfo more lately another was chofen in Mr. WALTER'S Life-time to be his Colleague, and was Succeflor to him, viz. Mr. OLIVER PEABODY, an accomplish'd and very ingenious young Gentleman: but he liv'd not many.

Months

Months after his aged Predeceffor's Deceafe.-And Mr. ADAMS fince has fucceeded him; for whom we wish, that he may attain to the Days of the Years of the Life of his Fathers, who preceeded in his Charge, and have their GOD to be with him, as he was with them.-O how highly favour'd and diftinguifh'd has this ancient Church of Rox. bury been, in the Enjoyment of fuch an excelling Dif penfation of the Word! Efpecially, under the long protracted Miniftry of the late incomparable and ever-memorable Mr. WALTER A rich Favour of Heaven to his People, was the Gift and extended Life of fuch a Minifter; whereby very eminently a Price was put into their Hands to get Wisdom; for which they have Reafon to be exceeding thankful, as well as have a great Account to give. And be being dead, yet fpeaketh,-particularly by thefe following and other his printed Difcourfes, putting them in Remembrance of the Gospel, which he preached to them; which they have received, and wherein (we trust) they ftand; by which also they are faved, if they keep in Memory what be preached unto them, unless they have believed in vain.His printed Works are abiding Remembrancers to them of bis Thoughts in Religion, and of the Leffons of VVijdom he taught them, as well as ftanding Atteftations to his Soundnels in the Faith, and to his Fidelity and Skill in Preaching. May they ftill remember him who has fpoken to them the good Word of God; and none of them be forgetful Heaters, or unfruitful Readers, of his excellent Sermons.

To our Account of Mr. WALTER we shall only add, as ufual, the following Particulars. He marry'd a Daughter of the late venerable Dr. INCREASE MATHER (who was long a Minifter of the North Church in Boften, living to the Age of about 85) and had by her a numerous Offspring. His valuable Confort with four of his Children survived him, viz. two Sons, and two Daughters; but the younger Daughter fince dead. The younger Son has for many Years been the worthy Minifter of she fecond Parish in Rexbury.

May