are given to vanity, their children will be still more vain. If they are regardless of civil restraint, their children will be unwholesome members of society. In short, children will be more influenced by the example of their parents, than by all their precepts and instruction.

It is very natural for parents to feel an anxious solicitude about their children, should they be called to leave them in this vain and sinful world. But we should console ourselves with the idea, that we leare them in the hands of that God, who has supported and sustained us all our days; and who, if we have true faith in him, will visit and take care of them also: "Leave thy fatherless children; I will preserve them alive," saith the Lord. Although we die Christ lives, and is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever: therefore the Psalmist saith, "The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee." Your offspring have the same God to protect them, that protected you; the same word to direct and comfort them; the same almighty Saviour to redeem them; the same rich covenant of grace for their security; a covenant "well ordered in all things, and sure.” And are the stores of God's bounty and grace exhausted? Doth his promise fail? Why then should we suspect that our children will not be the objects of his gracious care?

But to conclude: Let the expectation of death quicken you to do what you can for God and your generation. If death find you employed in works of benevolence and duty, with your lamps trimmed and burning, you need not fear; for God will surely visit you with his light and love, bring you to the heavenly country, and finally establish you in the glorious liberty of the children of God.

It is the ardent prayer of your affectionate father, that you may live together, in this world, as brethren; "endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond

of peace;" never suffering any "root of bitterness to spring up," that may destroy the happiness of your fraternal friendship. The most of you are professedly journeying to the same eternal home; and whatever different subordinate views you may have, your principal and ultimate end is (I trust,) the same. The heavenly Jerusalem is the place where you all hope to arrive at last.

Although you are providentially so located, that you can but seldom see each other, yet be constant in praying for each other, that your prayers may form a sweet concert, and ascend to heaven together. And may the Lord give you understanding to know and do his will in all things. The God of love and peace dwell with you, and bless you here, and finally receive you all home to his eternal kingdom of glory, for Jesus sake.

And now I close this address, by bidding you a long farewell; hoping, that, by the mercy of God, through the merits of Christ, we may all, one day, have an infinitely appier meeting than we have ever had in this world of sin and sorrow, even at Christ's right hand in Zion above; being clothed upon with the spotless robe of His righteousness, to spend an eternity with saints and angels, in singing hallelujahs to the Triune God.-AMEN.

FUNERAL SERMON,

DELIVERED IN AMHERST,

SEPT. 12, 1815,

AT THE

INTERMENT

OF

DOCTOR SETH COLEMAN, A. M.

WHO DIED ON THE 9TH OF THE SAME MONTH,

AGED 76.

BY NATHAN PERKINS, JUN. A.M.

Pastor of the Second Church in Amherst.

Published by Request.

NEW-HAVEN:

PRINTED BY FLAGG & Gray, AT THE HERALD OFFICE.”

Y

Funeral Discourse.

PHILIPPIANS, CHAP. I. VERSE 21.
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

THE great art of living, is to live so as to die

well. For as there is a time to die; and as all know that this time will most assuredly arrive, so the great secret of life is, to be prepared to die. We fondly cling to life. Notwithstanding its numerous pains, perplexities and woes, life is sweet. It has so many pleasurable scenes, so many flattering prospects, and so many endearing connexions, that it strongly tempts us to desire its continuance. But the fashion of this world passeth away. These scenes must vanish, these prospects fail, these connexions be dissolved. Death will remove us from them at an everlasting distance. To discover the way to meet such an event with composure, to leave the world without anxiety, and the happiness it promises without regret, is the grand secret of living. To die well, is a condition desired by all. And various schemes have been formed, by mortal men, to effect this object. Philosophy has tried its utmost, and accomplished nothing.