His unparalleled assiduity in preaching declared him very sensible of those dear and strong obligations that lie upon ministers to be very diligent in that blessed work. What a powerful motive our Saviouu urged upon St Peter ! John xxi. 'As thou lovest me, feed my sheep, feed my lambs.' And can any feed too much when none can love enough ? Can any pains be sufficient for the salvation of souls, for which the Son of Glod did not esteem his blood too costly a price ? Is not incessant, unwearied industry requisite to advance the work of grace in them to perfection ? In this the work of a minister has its peculiar disadvantage. That whereas an artificer, how curious and difficult soever his work be, yet has this encouragement, that what is begun with art and care he finds in the same slate wherein it was left ; a painter, that designs an exact piece, draws many lines, often touches it with his pencil to give it life and beauty, and though unfinished, it is not spoiled by his intermission ; a sculptor, that carves a statue, tliough his labour be hard from the resistance of the matter, yet his work remains firm and durable ; but the heart of mnn is of a strange temper, hard as marble, not easily receptive of heavenly impressions, yet fluid as water. Those impressions are easily defaced in it ; it is exposed to so many temptations that induce an oblivion of eternal things, that without frequent excitations to quicken and confirm its holy purposes, it grows careless, and all the labour is lost that was spent on it. This faithful minister ' abounded in the work of the Lord ;' and, which is truly admirable, though so frequent in preaching, yet was always superior to others, and equal to hiujself. In his last time, when declining to death, yet he would not leave his beloved work, the vigour of his mind supporting the weakness of his body. I remember when, oppressed with an obstinate hoarseness, a friend desir- ing him to spare himself, he rejected the advice with indignation.
He was no fomenter of faction, but studious of the public tranquillity. He knew what a blessing ])eace is, and wisely foresaw the pernicious consequences that attend divisions. By peace, the bond of mutual harmony, the weakest things are preserved and prosper ; but where discord reigns, the strongest are near to ruin. The heavenly consent in the primitive church was a principal cause of its miraculous increase and flourishing ; but after dissensions prevailed amongst christians, that was destroyed in a short time which was built by the divine union and heroic patience of the primitive christians, and the glorious begin-
^ Si sudare aliter nou potes, est aliud. VOL. XXII. K
14G DR manton's funeral sermon.
ninp^s that promised the reformation of all Europe were more obstructed by the dissensions of some employed in that blessed work, than by all the power and subtlety, the arms and artifices of Eome itself. How afflictive is the consideration of our divided church ! Sweet peace ! whither art thou fled ? Blessed Saviour ! who didst by thy precious blood reconcile heaven and earth, sent down thy Spirit to inspire us with that wisdom that is pure and peaceable, that those who agree in the same principles of faith, in the same substantial parts of worship, in asserting the same indispensable necessity of holiness, may receive one another in love. I am affectionately engaged in a matter that so nearly touches all those that value the Protestant interest.
Briefly, Consider him as a christian ; his life was answerable to his doctrine. It is applicable to some ministers, what is observed of the carbuncle, by its colour, lustre, and fiery sparklings, it seems to be actually a fire, but it has only the name and appearance of it. Thus some in the pulpit seem to be all on fire with zeal, yet their hearts are as cold as a stone, without holy affections, and their lives are imworthy their divine ministration. But this servant of God was like a fruitful tree, that produces in its branches what it contains in the root ; his inward grace was made visible in a conversation becoming the gospel of Christ.
His resolute contenrpt of the world secured him from being wrouglit on by those motives that tempt low spirits from their duty. He would not rashly throw himself into troubles, nor, sp7'eta conscientia, avoid them. His generous constancy of mind in resisting the current of popular humour declared his loyalty to his divine Master. His charity Avas eminent in procuring supplies for others when in mean circum- stances himself. But he had great experience of God's fatherly provision, to which his filial confidence was correspondent.
His conversation in his family was holy and exemplary, every day instructing them from the scriptures in their duty.
I shall finish my character of him with observing his humility. He was dee{)ly affected with the sense of his frailties and unworthiness. He considered the infinite purity of God, the perfection of his law, the I'ule of our duty, and by that humbling light discovered his manifold defects. He expressed his thoughts to me a little before his death : If the holy prophets were under strong impressions of fear upon tlie extraordinary discovery of the divine presence, how shall we poor creatures appear before that holy and dread majesty ? Isaiah, after his glorious vision of God, reflecting upon himself, as not retired from the commerce nnd corruption of the world, breaks forth, 'Woe is me, for I am undone ! because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips ; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.' It is infinitely terrible to appear ' before God, the judge of all,' without the protection of 'the blood of th(3 sprinkling, that sjjcaks better things than the blood of Abel.' This alone relieved him, and sui>ported his hopes. Though his labours were abundant, yet he knew that the work of God, passing through our hands, is so blemished, that, without an appeal to pardoning mercy and grace, we cannot stand in judgment. This was the subject of his laat public sermon.