AT A MEETING OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY, IN BOSTON, FEB. 27, 1820,

Voted, That Deacon P. Snow, jun. Deacon J. Loring, and Major Oliver Johonnot, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Dr. BALDWIN, and present the thanks of this Church and Society for his appropriate and sympathetick Discourse delivered at the interment of our late beloved Pastor, Rev. JAMES M. WINCHELL, on Friday last, and request a copy for the press.

BOSTON, FEB. 27, 1820.

JAMES LORING, Moderator.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY

Gentlemen,

IN BOSTON.

At your request, a copy of the Sermon delivered at the Funeral of your late lamented Pastor, (though prepared under peculiar disadvan tages, arising from bodily indisposition,) is, with a few verbal alterations, most respectfully submitted to your disposal,

By, Gentlemen,

Your affectionate and sympathizing Friend,

Dea. JAMES LORING, Moderator.

THE AUTHOR,

FEB. 29, 1820,

SERMON.

JOHN v. 35.

HE WAS BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT.

THESE words contain a part of the honourable testimony, which our Lord bore to the character of John his forerunner. He had on a former occasion testified, that among all that are born of women, there had not risen a greater than John the Baptist. Prophets, who foretold the coming of Christ, also predicted, that a messenger should go before his face. "This is he, (said Jesus) of whom it is written; Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." "

John was, indeed, more highly honoured than any of the prophets which preceded him. They prophesied of Christ; and of the manner in which his coming should be announced. They beheld in perspective the child born, the Son given, and the government securely resting on his shoulder. They saw the herald which was to go before his face; and heard the voice, crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert an highway for our God. The history that is given us of John, though

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brief, is nevertheless highly interesting. The peculiar circumstances of his birth deserve our notice. An angel was sent from heaven to announce to Zechariah, the joyful tidings of a son. He also predicted what manner of child he should be. "Thou (said the angel to the astonished father) shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Time flew rapidly over the intervening period, from the birth of John until his appearing in public, without recording a single event in his history, excepting, that "the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his shewing himself unto Israel."

John's ministry, though unadorned with Jewish rites, was peculiarly luminous and instructive. His fame spread throughout Judea, and multitudes repaired to the Jordan to hear his doctrine, who were baptized upon their profession of repentance. His ministry, according to Prideaux, continued three years and a half. During this period, he was actively engaged in preparing the way for Christ, by calling the people to repentance, and proclaiming the approach of the Messiah.

The purity of his life, the simplicity of his manners, the novelty of his doctrine and practice; and above all, the ardent zeal which he manifested in calling sinners