the HOLY GHOST hath made thee overseer, to feed the church of God."

Such is the language of the Almighty to the Pastors of His Church. Is not our line of duty then plain? Can we be too earnest in promoting that great work, in which the only begotten Son of God spent his whole life, and for which he shed his most precious blood? How unfounded is the charge of enthusiasm against those who pursue the objects of their ministry with enlightened zeal and persevering diligence! Men of this world are earnest in the pursuit of the perishing objects on which they place their affections; and shall not we be diligent in saving souls, each of which is of infinitely more value than the whole world, and all that it contains? What would have now been the condition of your departed Minister, whose day of reckoning is, at length, come, had he ceased to warn you "night and day," in sickness and in health, in public and in private, to break off your sins by repentance, to "cease to do evil, and learn to do well," to turn from dead works, to serve the ' living GOD? Instead of being welcomed, as we hope and trust, with the joyful sounds, "Well done good and faithful servant," GOD would have said unto him, The blood of the people of thy charge, who have died in their sins, I require at thy hands; depart from me.

What also would have been the state of his mind in his last illness, had not his conscience testified

that he "was clear from the blood of all men?" It would have been anguish and remorse, instead of patience under his sharp affliction, entire resignation to the Divine Will, unshaken faith in his Saviour, and even when his last hour approached, calmness, serenity, and peace.

2dly. Let me address those amongst you who have disregarded his repeated calls to repentance.

It is high time for you, my Brethren, to awake from the sleep of sin and death. You have long been disobedient and despised the riches of God's goodness, and long suffering, which endure to this moment; but O, do not presume upon their continuance. The day of death will soon come, and it may come suddenly when you are ill prepared to render an account of the talents entrusted to your care. It will be no excuse to say that you have neither robbed nor defrauded, that you were honest and industrious, and respected by your neighbours. The question will be, have you improved your talents? You have had the Bible in your hands; have you studied its contents, and followed its directions, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the Word of God?" You have had a Sabbath, and a house dedicated to the Divine honor have

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e you sanctified the one by a holy rest, and statedly assembled with your brethren in the other? You have had the Sacrament of the LORD's Supper, ordained for your great and endless comfort, and you are invited to approach it; do you accept the

invitation, or turn your back upon that sacred feast? You have the Holy Jesus as your Saviour; do you rely upon him as such, or do you expect to merit heaven, by your own imperfect services? You have the HOLY GHOST as your Sanctifier, and it is written that, "without holiness, no man shall see the LORD;" do you ever pray for his direction, and guidance? These are talents entrusted to your care, and by the right use of which, you must increase in the knowledge and practice of religion. This is their proper use, and unless this is done, you will be condemned with the unprofitable servant. Observe, he neither spent nor misemployed his talent; but was condemned for burying it in the earth, or not improving it. So, every religious privilege you enjoy through life, whether the instructions of pious parents, or the reproofs and admonitions of ministers, must be improved, or it will rise in condemnation against you. Every sermon from the lips of your late affectionate and faithful Pastor will be a swift witness to condemn you, if you repent not. But what his life could not accomplish, let his death effect. The voice, indeed, that affectionately exhorted, and solemnly warned you, is silent in the grave; but the providence of God, in his removal hence, cries aloud, repent,-repent ére it be too late. Oh! disregard not the silent eloquence of the grave, then, through the grace of GOD, shall his temporal death be your spiritual and eternal life.

3dly. What shall I say to you, my Brethren, who have profited by the ministry and example of your departed Vicar, and are making religion the grand concern of your lives? How shall I attempt to comfort you for a loss so great,—a loss that I feel equally with yourselves, which has deprived you of a kind and good Shepherd, and me, of a wise Counsellor and valued Friend? The arm, indeed, that supported you in the hour of distress is withdrawn ;-the eye that watched over you in all your ways is clouded in darkness; the voice that directed you in difficulties and doubts, and reclaimed you in your wanderings, is hushed in silence. Your loss is great indeed; but do not sorrow as men without hope. Turn your eyes to brighter scenes and fairer prospects. Be thankful that he has been spared longer than you had reason to expect. Your earthly Pastor and Friend is indeed gone,-gone from the society of men, to the society of angels,-gone from the bosom of his family and his flock, to the bosom of his Father and his GOD; but you have an Almighty Friend and Great Shepherd who is still with you, and careth for you, who has promised never to leave you nor forsake you,-who will comfort you in all your sorrows, and sanctify this, and all other afflictive dispensations of His providence to your eternal welfare. Only "be faithful unto death, and He will give you a crown of life."

Finally, my Brethren, let me "exhort you all by the LORD JESUS, that as you have received of him, how ye ought to walk and to please GOD, so ye would abound more and more." May this season of privation be a season of deep meditation and prayer! May you grow and increase in the knowledge and love of GOD, and of his Son JESUS CHRIST, our Lord," till you come, with your beloved Pastor, to encircle his throne for evermore!