"at home and in himself, the perfect image of that meekness, simplicity, gentleness, and contentment, which his writings "recommend. He was long happy in his domestic relations; "and though doomed at last to feel, through their loss in "succession, the heaviest strokes of affliction, yet his mind, "fortified by religious habits, and buoyed up by his native 66 tendency to contentment, sustained itself on God, and "enabled him to persevere to the end in the active and "cheerful discharge of the duties of his station; preparing "for the world the blessings of elegant instruction; tender"ing to the mourner the lessons of divine consolation; guid"ing the young by his counsels; aiding the meritorious with “his influence, and supporting by his voice and by his con"duct the civil and ecclesiastical institutions of his country. 66 "With such dispositions and habits it was natural that he "should enjoy a distinguished portion of felicity. And perhaps there never was a man who experienced more completely that the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and "that all her paths are peace. His Country was proud of "his merits, and at different times conferred on him, through "the hands of the Sovereign, the most honourable and sub"stantial proofs of her approbation: foreign lands learned "from him the way of salvation: he saw marks of deference "and respect wherever he appeared: and he felt within him"self the gratulations of a good conscience, and the hope of "immortality. It was peculiarly delightful to see him in the "latest period of his life, at the venerable age of eighty-two, "looking back on almost three-score years spent in the public "service of his God, pleased with the recollections which it 66 gave, possessing a mind still vigorous and clear, the delight "of his friends, sensible to the attentions which they paid to "him, burning with zeal for the good of the Church, and, "with all the ardour of youthful ambition, preparing the "materials of a new claim to the gratitude and admiration of posterity. In this active state of preparation, with the "lamp of life still clear and bright, he was found by the "Great Lord of All when he came to say, it is enough;' 66 " and, after a single night of pain, to call him gently to his ❝rest. "He has gone to give an account of his stewardship. "The Church mourns in him the loss of her brightest orna"ment. Let us submit to the stroke with resignation and "reverence; and as the most acceptable proof of respect to "his memory, let us learn to practise the lessons which he "taught." J. FINLAYSON. EDINBURGH, March 13th, 1801. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. SERMON I. On the Union of Piety and Morality. ACTS, X. 4. Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. SERMON II. On the Influence of Religion upon Adversity. Page 1 PSALM Xxvii. 5. In the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock. SERMON III. On the Influence of Religion upon Prosperity. 16 PSALM i. 3. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. SERMON IV. On our Imperfect Knowledge of a Future State. 35 1 CORINTH. Xiii. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly. 51 SERMON V. On the Death of Christ. [Preached at the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.] JOHN, Xvii. 1. Jesus lifted up his eyes to Heaven, and said, SERMON VI. Who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life, which he spendeth as a SERMON XIII. On the Power of Conscience. GENESIS, xlii. 21, 22. And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us; and we would not hear: Therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? Therefore behold also his blood is required. SERMON XIV. Page 224 On the Mixture of Joy and Fear in Religion. PSALM ii. 11. Rejoice with trembling, SERMON XV. On the Motives to Constancy in Virtue. 246 GAL. vi. 9. And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. SERMON XVI. * On the Importance of Order in Conduct. 1 CORINTH. xiv. 40. Let all things be done SERMON XVII. On the Government of the Heart. 262 in order. 282 PROVERBS, iv. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out ! of it are the issues of life. SERMON XVIII. The same Subject continued. 299 PROVERBS, iv. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 315 |