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oratorical display. Many inferior preachers, with more imagination, and a thousand fold less sound sense, have been more popular with the multitude, than James Covel. The more intelligent and thinking part of his congregations, were the best pleased with his pulpit performances. It was often said: "Brother Covel wears well." His personal appearance was somewhat commanding. Above the ordinary stature, inclined to corpulency, dark complexioned, of a grave and dignified aspect, and a thoughtful, studious air, his entire figure and bearing were calculated to command respect.

He was a pious, consistent Christian. Tenderness of conscience, sincerity and uncompromising integrity, were prominent traits in his Christian character. Few men knew him, during the last years of his life, as intimately as Doctor Skilton, of Troy, who says of him, that "his moral qualities were of a high order;" that “in honesty and godly sincerity, there have been few like brother Covel. In him, these principles needed not to be inquired for, nor claimed in egotism; for they stood out prominently, in all his public transactions, and in private life, in the church of God, and in the walks of retirement."

Mr. Covel's health had been failing for more than a year previous to his death. His disorder was a disease of the spine, producing excessive pain in the face, throat and arms, and at length paralysis of the limbs and lower part of the body. For about two months before he died, he was unable to attend to his duties as a minister, and for four weeks he was confined to the house, during which time his bodily sufferings were very great. It is believed that his disorder was greatly increased, and his death hastened, by going into the water to baptize several persons by immersion, in February or March. Divine grace was magnified in the patience with which his extreme sufferings were borne. His

confidence in the Lord was strong, and the peace of God filled his soul. On the arrival of his brother, Rev. Samuel Covel, he said to him, "I do not think that I shall live; but death has no terrors. I feel that I am

on the side of heaven." To brother S

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he said: "You will attend my funeral; it is my desire, and the desire of my family." Brother S replied, "Bishop Hedding is in town." "Very well," said he," you can arrange that between yourselves. I wish to have no parade. All I desire is, the lowest place among my brethren."

To a clergyman who had been a former colleague, and who reminded him of his toils and success in the ministry, he replied: "Brother, I do not depend upon these things as the ground of my hope, but wholly on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ." His friend, Doctor Skilton, who attended him in his last illness, says: "He evidently reviewed his life with great care and impar tiality, in his last moments. Some of the last words that he uttered, being intended to clear up a slight misunderstanding, which from imperfect recollection on his part, had for a short time existed. His mode of settling it, was to admit the statement and more perfect recollection of his friend and brother. "The ruling passion strong in death!" On something being said about singing, he remarked, "I am waiting to hear the angels sing." During all his last illness, he manifested a decided interest in the prosperity of the work of God, and especially in the church of which he then held the pas toral charge. At one time, after quoting several passages of scripture relative to the ministry of angels, he said, "If I am permitted to come, I shall be very busy about State street, attending and serving the brethren." Finding himself near his end, he called his family around him for the last time, that he might give them his dying counsel. As may well be imagined, the scene

was one of affecting interest. Surrounding his bed, bathed in tears, were his wife and children, two brothers, a sister and a number of his flock. For some time his emotions overcame him, and an impressive silence prevailed. At length he gave his stricken companion and older children his last advice; then turning his eyes toward the two youngest, with an affection which I will not attempt to describe, he said: "These little fellows will soon be fatherless, but leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.'" Thus did he in the last conflict, confide in God's unchanging truth, and administer the consolations of inspiration to his mourning family. His mind was clear, and he was able to speak until very near the last.

When on the verge of dissolution, Doctor Skilton observed to him, "You are very near your end;" to which he replied, "I hope so." To his wife, who sat by him, watching with intense interest the last flickerings of the lamp of life, he said, “You are seeing me for the last time." She replied, "You can not stay long." He asked, "Are you not willing to let me go?" His sympathizing companion answered, "Your sufferings have almost reconciled me to it.' He responded, "I long to be gone." The last words that he was heard distinctly to articulate were, "Tell brother Mattison that I die happy."

His funeral was attended in the State street church, on Saturday, the 17th, at which Bishop Hedding delivered a very appropriate discourse from 2 Tim. iv, 6, 7, 8, "I am now ready to be offered," &c. There were present twenty or more of his brethren in the ministry. The deep feeling which was manifested throughout the exercises of the day, bespoke the estimation in which he was held.

REV. THOMAS KIRBY.

BY REV. B. M. HALL.

"The stranger's eye wept, that in life's brightest bloom
One gifted so highly should sink to the tomb;

For in ardor he led in the van of the host,
And he fell like a soldier-he died at his post."

Brother Kirby was born of pious parents, in the town of New Lebanon, N. Y, July 23, 1815. Many of the great and good men of our own, and former days, have owed much to the wisdom and piety of their mothers. Luther, Cecil, Doddridge, Wesley, and a host of others, have received essential benefit, in very early life from the gentle, yet powerful influence of that most tender friend. This was the case with the subject of this memoir. But, as she yet lives, delicacy forbids the saying of some things which might otherwise be recorded with propriety. Suffice it to say, that she discovered in her son Thomas, an unusual degree of inquisitiveness in early life, and taking advantage of this mental trait, she implanted the seeds of religious knowledge, nurturing them with care, and doubtless watering them with prayers and tears. And she was made to rejoice, as she saw those seeds producing under grace the choicest fruitage, while her son was yet a mere lad.

In the summer of 1829, a camp meeting was held in the vicinity of Mr. Kirby's residence. There a company of Christians were offering fervent prayers for the members of their families who were unconverted. In this company were found the parents of young Thomas, who was, himself, at the paternal residence. On return

ing to their home, they found their son, a boy of fourteen summers, in deep distress on account of his condition as a sinner. "It seemed to me," said he,

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as though an arrow from the quiver of the Almighty came from the camp meeting and pierced my heart."

A few friends met that evening at the house of Mr. Kirby, for a prayer meeting. Thomas made known his anxieties, and joined with the pious parents and friends, in prayer to God. His distress continued for a few days, when the way of faith was revealed, and he entered into rest by believing in Christ. His conversion was clear, and the witness of his adoption into the family of God satisfactory. His name being written in heaven, was entered also upon the records of the church on earth, the next sabbath day; and from that time his course was steadily onward until "God took him."

Chiefly through his endeavors, a sabbath school and regular prayer meeting were established near his father's house. In these it was his delight to labor with other Christians, in behalf of children, and for the promotion of religion. When from seventeen to nineteen years of age, a society or class was organized a few miles from his abode, and mostly through his labors. Of this class he was made leader, which office he held until the summer of 1835, when he entered the academy, at Wilbraham, Mass. About the same time he received an exhorter's license.

In 1837 he entered the ministry, and was employed by Rev. Dr. Levings (then P. E. of the Troy district), on Dalton Circuit, as the assistant of Rev. Joseph Eames. Though young and retiring, he was well received, and his name is remembered with affection in that field of labor.

The young minister will feel the force of trials,

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