CONTENTS OF VOLUME XI. Janu'y-OCCASIONS OF LAMENTATION IN THE DEATH OF A MINISTER: by Rev. Wm. T. Brantly, Ga., Page 1 Feb'y -THE PASTORAL RELATION: by Rev. R. B. C. March -THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S END: by Rev. A. J. NOTE: by the Editor, August-CONSOLATION IN THE DEATH OF THE PIOUS: by Rev. R. Furman, of S. C., 137 Rev. John E. Massey begs, that in his sermon on the Lord's Su e 162, the reader will substitute "bad" for "base," before the use." An ordinary error of a compositor he would not mention is unwilling that those from whom he differs in his argument, s pose him to ascribe to them dishonorable motives. It is their argur condemns, not them.-EDITOR. Supper, the word tion; but t, should guments Lamentation for the departed, is r resignation to the Divine will which in all our afflictions. The pious murmur, to any blow which a Fa cause although it cannot but feel in the severity of the stroke, yet in th faith, it may receive it as an evide When God chastens us; when he which we had been accustomed to struction, or happiness, he designs t deeply feel, the loss. I envy not th to drop into the grave of his friend. of the man who can resign without he has been intimately associated in affliction can be beneficial, unless w by." And to be exercised thereby loss which we have experienced; to tion from heaven; to be smitten wit in general, to make such an impro may contribute most effectually to ment. Accordingly, we find that, in ev whilst they have repressed every co suffered the rising sigh and indulged the flowing tear over the tomb of departed friendship. When the patriarch Jacob died, we are informed that his son Joseph went up with chariots and horsemen, in great numbers, to bury him in the land of Canaan; and there he made a mourning for his father seven days. When Aaron died, all the congregation of Israel mourned for him thirty days. When Moses died, they wept for him, during the same period, in the plains of Moab. When the martyr Stephen was put to death, devout men carried him to his burial and made great lamentation over him. At the grave of his friend Lazarus, we behold even the Son of God in tears. The text exhibits the Israelites convened for the purpose of lamenting the departure of a great man. Samuel had been a prophet as well as a ruler. Called of God in early youth to consecrate himself to his service, his life was one of uniform piety. No man, in his day, labored with a more ardent zeal for the promotion of the temporal and spiritual interests of the Israelites. It was right that they should lament their loss, and mourn for one who had sustained towards them so many interesting and sacred relations. In accordance, my brethren, with the promptings of your heart, as well as with the example of the pious of old, you have appointed this public lamentation for the loss which, in the providence of God, you have recently experienced. God has taken away him whose office it was to minister unto you in holy things. A few short months ago, he stood where I now stand, and discoursed to you of the precious truths of the gospel of Christ. Well do you remember his form, his features, his tones. The countenance so recently radiant with youth and health, is now changed and faded; the eye which beamed with affection for you is sightless; and the tongue upon whose persuasive accents you have been accustomed to dwell, is speechless in the grave. He came among you with the dews of youth yet upon him; and many hearts fondly hoped that his might be a protracted as well as a useful career. But it has been ordered otherwise. He has been summoned early to his reward. On earth his sun seems to have gone down whilst it was yet day; but it has set here only to rise in another firmament: and the unclouded splendor with which it sank below the horizon, justifies the persuasion that it has appeared with glory in a brighter |