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employed in his Master's service. Except when sickness prevented-and it was only to serious illness that he ever yielded scarcely a sabbath passed, in which he did not engage twice, or thrice, and occasionally four times, in some public religious exercises, beside many visits paid in the intervals of worship to the sick and the afflicted.

On the sabbath on which his beloved wife expired, we find that he preached in the morning, and attended her death-bed in the afternoon. Her complaint was a decline, so gradual that the time of her departure could not be foreseen, either by herself or others. She was probably not in appearance more likely to expire, on the day on which she actually breathed her last, than on many that had preceded it. There was, therefore, no want of sympathy, or attention, on his part, in leaving her for two or three hours in the morning, that his public usefulness, which it was her desire as well as his to consult, might be interrupted as little as possible. The only written memorial which he has left of his wife is that quoted from his journal, which in the manuscript is surrounded by broad black lines. The following inscription appears on a monumental stone, which he caused to be erected over her grave

In memory of Ann Eastburn,

The wife of Joseph Eastburn;
Who departed this life,

In the full assurance of her eternal happiness,
Through the merits of Jesus Christ,

The 2d day of June, 1811,
Aged 66 years.

The following letter from her aged brother, on the occasion of her death, bears a pleasing testimony to the excellence of Mr. Eastburn's character as a husband and a friend

"Dear Brother-I received your letter, which announced the death of my last and most beloved sister: and though it is inherent in human nature to mourn the departure of our dear and valued friends, yet when we call to mind her advanced age, her long and painful illness, her resignation and desire to be removed, we must ac quiesce in the dispensation of that kind providence, which hath taken her from this life of pain and misery, to

the enjoyment of an eternity of bliss, in the presence of the God whom in this life she loved and adored. Yet but a short time, and we shall follow. The longest human life is but a short space of time, and we may consider ourselves verging on the close-particularly myself, who am a number of years older than you. I can perceive my faculties, both bodily and mental, rapidly on the decline. My sated appetite for what is called the good things of this life, has often reminded me of old Barzillai's reply to king David, when invited by him to spend the remainder of his life at court.

"Please to tender my best respects to Mrs. Hall, if she still lives, and let me know, from time to time, how you and my other friends are: for be assured I shall always regard with sentiments of esteem and friendship, the man who has, for so many years, been the tender and indulgent husband of my dear departed sister.

"Your affectionate brother,
"WM. OWEN.

"Sullivan County. Aug. 17, 1811.

"MR. JOSEPH EASTBURN."

On the death of his wife, Mr. E. relinquished altogether his mechanical occupation. The expense necessarily incurred by her long illness having now ceased, he found that his income. from the investments in public stocks, which his industry and economy had enabled him to make, was fully adequate to his own comfortable support, and also for contributing to the support of an aged and necessitous sister, as well as to some public charities of which he highly approved. From this period therefore, he devoted his time exclusively, and with augmented assiduity, to his evangelical labors.

That part of the German Calvinist church in Philadelphia, to whom the English language had become more familiar and intelligible than that of their ancestors, dissatisfied with attending on the preaching of the gospel in what was to some of them almost "an unknown tongue,' separated from their brethren in the year 1809, and formed a society by themselves. They at first met for worship in a large public hall, in what was then and still is usually

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known by the name of the Old Academy. They applied to Mr. Eastburn to preach to them statedly, and it appears from his journal that he did so, from the latter part of July, 1809, till December of the same year, when the Rev. James K. Burch, to whom they had given an invitation, arrived among them. This people, who have since become a flourishing congregation, in connexion with the Reformed Dutch Church, have always considered Mr. Eastburn as, in a sort, the father and founder of their religious society. When his stated labors among them terminated, they addressed to him a very affectionate letter, containing the sum of one hundred dollars, which they begged him to accept, not as a remuneration of his services, but as the expression of their sense of obligation to him, for what he had done to promote their spiritual interests. He immediately subscribed and paid over this sum to their treasurer, to aid the congregation in building their church. To the end of life he was peculiarly attached to this people, and was much beloved by them.

The Sixth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia was, in like manner, greatly indebted, in its infant state, to the faithful labors of this devoted man of God. While they worshipped, in the court-house of the city, before the erection of the church edifice which they now occupy, he scarcely ever failed to minister to them publicly, when they were not otherwise supplied: and his kind and assiduous attentions in visiting their sick, and in attending funerals and speaking at the grave, gave him a strong hold on their affections, which he retained to the last. For a series of years, indeed, he seemed to be considered a kind of common property of the whole religious community, in the region where he was known. If an effort was to be made to establish religious worship, in a place where it had seldom or never been known-if appearances indicated that a revival of religion was commencing-if a destitute portion of country called for some occasional preaching if extraordinary services were required at sacramental seasons-if a minister of the gospel, by reason of sickness or infirmity, could not perform his ordinary duties-if addresses were to be made on extraordinary occasions on all these and numerous other occurrences,

Father Eastburn was always looked to, and always, if compliance was possible, he cheerfully undertook, and most acceptably performed, the services to which he was called. Such was the tenor of his life, till he in a measure became stationary, as stated preacher in the Mariner's Church.

CHAPTER VI.

Continues to preach to the sailors, and in various other places-sickness and death-reflections.

MR. EASTBURN, as appears from his journal, began to preach statedly to the Mariners toward the close of the month of October, 1819. At the opening for worship of the building now known as the Mariner's Church of Philadelphia, a compendious narrative was given of all the measures which had previously been adopted, in that city, for the religious benefit of seamen; and of those efforts in particular which had issued in the erection of that edifice. This narrative, which was printed and published as a report to the public, it seems proper to insert entire, in these memoirs. It contains a short but authentic history of the commencement, progress, and completion of an establishment, of which Mr. Eastburn may justly be considered as the founder: for although the liberality of the religious public, and the zealous exertions of several pious and public-spirited individuals, were concerned, and were indeed essential, in bringing this establishment to maturity, yet the labors of Mr. Eastburn gave origin, animation, and effect to the whole. The narrative will also make known, as it ought to do, to all who may read these memoirs, the benevolence and liberality of some of the chief patrons of the Mariner's Church in Philadelphia; as well as exhibit one of the happiest and most important efforts of Mr. Eastburn, in his incessant solicitude and unwearied activity in the cause of his divine Master. The narrative is as follows:

"The third Sabbath in October, 1824, was fixed upon by the Committee for opening the Mariner's Church in Philadelphia. The day was very fine, and the house was filled at an early hour with seamen and their families, and many citizens who felt an interest in the sailors' welfare. It was supposed that 1200, at least, formed the congregation, and many persons who went to the church were not able to gain admittance. The dedicatory services in the morning were performed by the venerable JOSEPH EASTBURN, assisted by the Rev. JAMES PATTERSON, of the Northern Liberties; and in the afternoon a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. BRODHEAD. After the concluding prayer in the morning, ROBERT RALSTON, Esq. rose and remarked, that it had been considered proper, on this occasion, to make known the commencement and progress of exertions for the benefit of mariners in this city, and for that purpose he read the following statement:

"The first public service for the Mariner's Church in the port of Philadelphia, was performed on the third Sabbath of October, 1819, in the sail-loft of Mr. Jacob Dunton, (who_generously offered the same gratuitously) by the Rev. Joseph Eastburn; this discourse was from the 31st and 32d verses of the 107th psalm, 'O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.'-The Rev. Mr. Joyce being present, also made an address, which, with the discourse, afforded the greatest satisfaction. From five to six hundred persons were present, of which, at least, one-half the number, including masters of vessels, were mariners. On the following Sabbath, a Sunday School was opened, between the morning and afternoon services, which has continued, and now numbers on the roll, one hundred and sixty children.

The worship continued in the sail-loft until the month of July, 1822, when a removal was made to the lecture room of the Second Presbyterian Church, in Cherry street, where the audience has generally been crowded, and the attendance of the mariners as numerous as could

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