selves; so as not only to prevent any spiritual advantage, from an occasional administration of the word and ordinances of the gospel; but to prevent their uniting in the settlement of another, to guide them, in the way of peace. How often does it happen,

when a faithful minister is removed by death, or otherwise, that his flock are not only scattered, but become so divided among themselves, that nothing but the bitter fruits of their dissentions can effectually teach them the importance of forbearing one another in love, that they may unite in pursuing the things, which make for peace. How distressing, and how unfriendly to the most important interests, even the interests of the soul, are the bitter envying and strife, in which religious societies are often involved, in attempting to repair the loss of a minister, by the settlement of another, in whom their hearts are not united.

5. A faithful minister may be peculiarly endeared, to numbers of his charge, by his having been blessed of God, as the happy instrument of their salvation. Thus, no doubt, was the apostle endeared to many, and probably to most, of the church at Ephesus. It seems evident, from the sacred history, that the church, in that city, was first organized, by St. Paul; and that it was, afterwards, greatly enlarged, edified, and comforted, by his faithful labors. Many of its members must have regarded him, as their spiritual father, by whose means they were translated from the kingdom of darkness, and brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Hence the endearing attachment, which so embittered the scene of parting, when he prayed with them, for the last time, and bade them an affectionate and final farewell.

This is one circumstance, by which the loss of a faithful minister is rendered the more afflictive, to numbers of his charge. They can remember the time, when the divine word, proceeding out of his

mouth, was " sharper than a two-edged sword;" when it pricked them in the heart, so that they could take no rest, till they were hopefully renewed, by the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, and washed from their sins, in his blood. Hence their living affection, for the man, whom it had pleased God to honor, as the instrument of opening their eyes, of turning them from darkness to light, and of making them heirs of the great salvation. But certainly, in proportion to the endearment, arising from a circumstance so interesting, must be the painful sensibilities, which are awakened when the object thus endeared, is torn ̈ from their embraces. Yet,

6. The loss of a faithful minister may be still more afflictive to others, because they have reason for the most painful reflections, on their misimprovement of his ministry. This is a view of the subject, in which it may be deeply interesting to many. Some may have seldom attended on his ministry; or even have wholly neglected to hear him. Others, who seemed to be glad, when it was said unto them," We will go into the house of the Lord," may have contented themselves, with barely hearing the word of God, without doing it, and hence have been the betrayers, and murderers of their own souls. "The word spo

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ken did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them who heard it." Their spiritual watchman was faithful; he could say, with the apostle, "I will very gladly spend, and be spent for your souls." He accordingly testified repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; and kept back nothing, which might be profitable to his hearers. often warned them, to flee from the wrath to come, and affectionately besought them, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled unto God. But alas! their ear was uncircumcised, and they would not harken. The word of the Lord was unto them a reproach; they had no delight in it. Hence the occasion, which was

often found to say, in view of those, who forsook the assembling of themselves together, and of others, who rejected his message concerning Jesus, If ye will not hear, my soul shall weep for you, in secret places. To such of his charge, how justly, and how sorely afflictive must be their loss, when his work is done, and he is summoned away to render up his account, at the judgement seat of Christ. How painfully embittered the reflections, which must be poured in upon their hearts, like the wide breaking in of waters, when they consider, that their minister, now gone to the world of spirits, had labored for them in vain, and spent his strength for nought; that in making light of the gospel, which he preached, in the name of Jesus, they had despised the Son of God, and pronounced themselves unworthy of eternal life.

7. To all such their loss must be rendered more deeply afflictive, by the fearful expectation, that their departed minister will appear, as a witness against them, in the judgment of the great day. They must then meet him for the last time; and, if their sins have not been forsaken, and washed away, in the blood of atonement, they must be separated from him for ever. In rendering an account of his ministry, and of the treatment which he received from those, to whom he was sent, he must testify, that some of them were scarcely willing to hear him, and that many others, when they heard his message, made light of it, and went their ways, saying of Christ, "We will not have this man, to reign over us."

If such are not past feeling, with what deep remorse, and anxiety, must they look forward to that dreadful day, in which their departed minister, who had faithfully warned them to flee from the wrath to come, shall testify against them, before an assembled universe, and in the presence of that infinite Judge, whose eyes are as a flame of fire.

8. The loss of a faithful minister must be a sore affliction to the church, and people of his charge, because they shall see him no more, in the land of the living. Such was the affliction, sustained by the church at Ephesus, when they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all, for the words, which he spake, that they should see his face no more. Might he have returned to them again, after a short season, as he had done before; the separation would have caused them but little pain. But the thought of all which he had said to them, and of all which he had done, and suffered, for them, when joined with the assurance just given, that the parting was for life; that they had now heard his last sermon; and united with him, for the last time, in social prayer; and that they should see his face no more, 'till they should meet him, amidst the amazing scenes of eternity, no wonder they were overwhelmed with grief and tears.

And

such, my brethren, must be the deep affliction of any religious society, when their faithful pastor and minister, who was united, and endeared to them, by a thousand ties, is called to bid them a long, and last adieu..

The following reflections are suggested, by the preceding view of this subject.

.1. Is the loss of a faithful minister an event so affictive, it must then be regarded, as a grievous. frown of Providence. In such a bereaving stroke, the hand of God is to be seen, and specially acknowl-edged. If he cut off, and take away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What dost thou? Few events are so painfully felt, by so many hundreds of people, at once. That it must be regarded as a frown of Providence, is naturally inferred from the circumstances, by which multitudes are so deeply afflicted. Hence the occasion, for a church and pecple, thus afflicted, to humble themselves under the

mighty hand of God, and to inquire, with the deepest submission and reverence, Wherefore hath the Lord dealt thus with us, in anger, and in sore rebuke? Whether such rebuke be designed in mercy, to humble and purify his children, and to awaken, and lead sinners to repentance, will be best decided by the result, when it shall be seen what improvement is made of his dealings.

2. Is the loss of a faithful minister a sore afflic-. tion, for such reasons as have been assigned, then certainly the church and congregation, in this place, must have been greatly afflicted, by the late death of theirs. I trust, that all those who knew him will admit the following tribute of respect, as justly due to his memory, and as seasonably offered, on this occa

sion.

The Rev. JOSEPH WASHBURN, was born at Middletown, in this state, May 13, 1766. He was born of respectable Christian parents, from whom he received a religious education. Being hopefully sancsified, by the grace of God, while young, he was inclined to devote himself to the service of Christ, and the good of his fellow men, in the work of the ministry. For this purpose he obtained a collegiate education, and was graduated, at Yale College, in September, 1793. Having completed his preparatory studies, he was licensed, as a candidate for the ministry. In the month of October, 1794, he came to this place, and in May of the succeeding year, was. ordained the Pastor of this church.

Mr. Washburn was a good scholar, a good divine, a good man, and a good minister. His mind was rather formed, for critical investigation, than for works of taste. His ideas being the result of much study and reflection, he acquired a knowledge of truth, rather by a process of patient reasoning, than by a sudden glance of the mind. His perceptions were not rapid, but clear; and his imagination rather