ECCLESIASTES, XII. 1.-Rememmember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth; while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

"WISDOM is the principal thing," says Solomon in another passage; "therefore get wisdom *.' He speaks not of the wisdom of this world, but of that wisdom which is from above, which consists in the knowledge and remembrance of God our Saviour, and in à deep and serious attention to the care of the soul. This alone is true wisdom. This, therefore, the Scriptures again and again press upon us as the great attainment after which we ought to aspire, and as the supreme object of our pursuit. Our blessed Lord speaks of it as the " one thing needfult." He represents it under the figure of a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who having found a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it;"-and again, as the "hidden treasure," for the attainment of which man will sacrifice all that he hath." St. Paul also speaks of it as the "one thing §" which occupied his mind and excited his diligence. The text may be considered an exhortation to the same purpose, expressed in general terms "Remember now thy Cre

ator."

66

a

But it is not by precept alone, that the importance of religion is urged upon us. There is another method, perhaps of greater weight, by which God designs to instruct his church. He places before us examples of those who have kept the faith, and "fought the good

fight;" affording us at once a lively representation of the nature of our duties, and an animating incentive to diligence in our spiritual warfare. When we see before us those of like passions with ourselves, beset with the same trials, opposed by the same difficulties; when we see them proof against the glittering temptations of the world, warring a good warfare,

66

overcoming the wicked one," and receiving the crown of victory; for our own defects. We are enwe feel humbled and reproached couraged to imitate their faith and finally attaining to the same blessed zeal, and receive fresh hopes of end.

With the view of thus exciting in Heb. xi. the example of holy us, the Apostle places before us, men, of old, who, through faith, spiritual enemies, and had entered had successfully combated their into rest; and hence urges us to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race set before us."

66

66

Nor has this mode of instruction ceased. We are still taught by the example of the saints. It pleases God, from time to time, to raise up amongst us those who eminently display the power and beauty of religion, and who thus become flock of Christ." He then perhaps profitable as ensamples to the permits them to be removed; by which, for obvious reasons, our attention is more powerfully awakened, our better feelings excited, and the important admonition most forcibly impressed on our minds, "whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation ¶."

In this light, I think, we must view the dispensation with which

we have been visited. The Lord, in his unsearchable wisdom, has removed from us, in the full bloom of youth, and but lately in the vigour of health, one whose days seemed marked out for days of usefulness, whose principles and conduct, we had every reason to believe, would have long been an ornament and credit to the Gospel which she professed. Truly was she "like the tree planted by the rivers of waters, that bringeth forth his fruit in season *"

But she is gone. Her "days have been, as grass; as a flower of the field, so she has flourished. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more t." She " being dead, however, yet speaketh." Her character, her example, her early removal, cry aloud to us all; but they speak especially to the young. "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth; while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh in which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."

I have been directed in the choice of these words, not only by their suitableness to the occasion, but because, as our departed friend observed shortly before her death, "A great lesson is set before us in the last two chapters of Ecclesiastes." The words of the text are a brief summary of that lesson. Consider them then, my brethren, especially my younger brethren, as addressed to you by her; and under this impression, let me beg your serious attention while I endeavour,

I. To show in what true religion, or the care of the soul, consists; observing, as we proceed, how it was exemplified in our departed

sister:

II. To make a practical application of the subject, particularly to

young persons.

Psalm i. 3. + Psalm ciii. 15, 16.

Let us implore the divine blessing on our attempt, without which our best efforts will be altogether in vain: let us seek the aid and influence of the Holy Spirit, that a call of Divine Providence like the present (for which we must give an account) may not be lost upon us.

I. It has been already observed, that we consider the text a general exhortation, to attend to religion in early life. "Remember now thy Creator."

This does not of

course mean that we should merely remember that God is our Creator, or that we should exercise a bare speculative belief in him; but it requires us to know God aright-as he is revealed in his word; to worship him, serve him, and obey him as we ought to do: that is, in the way which he has prescribed.

This, then, brings us at once to the leading doctrines of the Bible,

repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ‡." To be practically acquainted with these is the grand turning point in religion; apart from which we must be in a state of condemnation, and can render no acceptable worship to the great Creator.

Man stands before God, in the character of a guilty sinner. Every one, without exception, young as well as old, has broken the divine law. 66 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God §." A weak and corrupt nature leads us astray even from our youth, and constitutes us "children of disobedience" and "children of wrath ||." Men are too apt to forget this, or we should not hear sin so lightly spoken of; we should not hear so much of the venial faults of youth; we should not so often see parents bringing up their children without imposing any check on the evil tendencies of hearts naturally prone to go wrong.

All this arises very much from an ignorance of the true character of God. We think of him too much as if he were such an one as ourselves. We remember not that he is a perfectly pure and holy Being; whose law, being the expression of the divine will, is holy, just, and good, and cannot suffer, without reparation and atonement, the slightest breach of its perfect precepts.

But when any one obtains a correct view of the character of God, and at the same time becomes thoroughly convinced of his own sinfulness, he begins to think very differently of his condition; he feels himself justly under condemnation; his vague and indefinite views of the divine mercy vanish at once; he finds that he has been leaning on a broken staff; the foundation on which he has built gives way beneath him, and leaves him without a dependence and without a hope. Then he trembles at his future prospects, and earnestly looks for a way of escape. He bitterly repents of his past neglect, and anxiously inquires, "what must I do to be saved?"

When a person is brought to these views and feelings, he will rejoice in the tidings of a salvation full, free, and perfect, through a crucified Redeemer. Convinced of his need, he flies for refuge to this hope set before him; convinced of his own unworthiness, he does not claim salvation as his right, but accepts it on God's own terms, as his free gift through Jesus Christ*; and, lastly, convinced of the willingness and sufficiency of Christ to save, he reposes himself with full confidence on his pardoning love and perfect righteousness.

Such, my brethren, were the views and principles of our dear friend. She, although young, had

* See Rom, vi. 23, and Eph. ii. 8.

through mercy been brought to feel herself guilty in the sight of God; to renounce all dependence upon a comparative freedom from sin, or on any good thing she had done, and to fix her hopes on the only solid scriptural foundation. I know not that her views of the way of salvation can be better illustrated, than by referring you to two passages of Scripture, which have been found particularly marked in her private Bible. The first, Rom. v. 1. 2—“ Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." The other, Heb. vi. 17-19, where the blessing is traced to the free promise of God, and secured to us by his oath : "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast."

And permit me to observe, that these sentiments were embraced not as subjects for conversation, not as mere speculative truthsthey had an abiding influence on her heart, they were the spring of exemplary Christian patience during her sufferings, they were her support in death. She had learned them from the Bible; they were deeply impressed on her heart by the Holy Spirit, and were reduced to practice. Her faith was not a barren one, but one which purified the heart. She for the most part, at least latterly, enjoyed a sweet sense of her privilege as one of the children of God, and in a striking manner verified

the Apostle's assertion, "He that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure."

And here, therefore, it may not be improper, briefly to advert to some points in the character of our friend as a practical Christian. I need scarcely observe, that my object is not to eulogize the dead, but to edify the living. As respects our sister, we would glorify God in her-we would join in that blessed employment in which she is now engaged, ascribing every good thing that she was enabled to do to the power and grace of the great Redeemer. With this in view, we shall not greatly err in displaying some features of her Christian character, and exhorting you to follow her as she followed Christ.

1. The most remarkable feature in her religion, was one which is generally acknowledged to be the most satisfactory evidence of a renewed heart, viz. a real Christian humility. She seemed to live under a deep and abiding sense of her own unworthiness. The difference which religion had made in her (a difference sufficiently evident to all who knew her), was carefully traced to the grace of God. This was not only acknowledged, but so habitually felt as never to raise the idea of any self-superiority: truly it might be said, "she esteemed others better than herHence she possessed a remarkable teachableness of mind, and was ever ready to receive advice with a meek and Christian spirit.

The way in which she spoke of her comforts and her blessings was expressive of humility; it was always in connection with the remembrance of her own utter unworthiness of them. I have been permitted to see several of her letters

an acknowledgment is added how little it was deserved.

2. Another remarkable part of the character of our dear sister was, a strong attachment to the means of grace. How greatly did she love the public ordinances of the house of God. The being prevented from attending these seemed to be the trial most deeply felt during her illness. Those Psalms were frequently in her mind wherein the Psalmist expresses a longing desire for the presence of God. I well remember her one day adverting with peculiar emphasis to Psalm xxvii. 4, as very expressive of her feelings. "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. About a month after she became seriously ill, her symptoms seemed to take a favourable turn, and with some difficulty she once more attended church. In a letter to a friend begun about that time, but never finished, the first thing she mentions is her gratitude for this privilege. "I thank God, who was the giver of this slight affliction, that he has removed the complaint, and very far restored me to health; so that I was enabled through mercy to get to church again last Sunday, there to join with the people in praise and glory to Him who ordereth all things well."

To the private duties of religion she was equally attentive. Her Bible was her constant companion; I may add, it was the source of her privilege and comfort. In the

* The following lines struck her much, and seemed quite to suit her feelings: "When six days of labour, each other succeeding,

Have with hurry and toil my spirits oppress'd;

wherein frequent mention is made of some blessing or privilege which she enjoyed; and almost invariably

To-morrow will be a sweet sabbath of

ceding,

rest."

season of trial (and she had many trials), this was her constant resource. "Here," she would say, pointing to her Bible, "is all my pleasure." Next to the Bible, Doddridge's Rise and Progress, and the Olney Hymns, were her favourite books; some of which she carried constantly about with her, and employed every minute she could seize from necessary occupations in reading them.

Many other points in the character of this departed saint might be mentioned, showing the power of religion; but I must confine myself to one other, viz.

3. Her holy resignation to the will of God. This was the more remarkable, from her natural disposition and the nature of her complaint. It has been sometimes thought, that to view death with composure is the effect of a morbid melancholy and discontent. This could not, however, be said of our friend; her disposition was cheerful, and her spirits generally buoyant. She seemed to retain during her illness the love of life, which was natural in a person of her age and circumstances; and this was much cherished by her very fluctuating complaint, which frequently promised her a speedy recovery, and as often suddenly disappointed the fondly raised expectation. In this anxious time she never uttered a single murmur; she never expressed a wish to escape from one suffering. She continually preserved a sweet and unruffled serenity of mind, and exhibited a bright example of Christian faith and patience. In a word, her will seemed to be brought un

der implicit subjection to the will of God. She resigned herself into his hands, in full confidence that he would do all things well. Her chief concern was, that she might not lose the benefit of his dispensations, whether afflictive or otherwise. Thus she observes in the letter above mentioned: "I feel I cannot show my thankfulness † enough to Almighty God for all his mercy and goodness to me in my affliction, and for the many comforts I am favoured with above others. O what a blessing it is to have such a friend as the Lord in all our trials and pains. My prayer is, that while living in this world, I may walk nearer and nearer my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And when called from it, O that I may be admitted into the heavenly kingdom, there to join with those that are gone before in praise and glory to God."

These aspirations after a state of blissful purity, doubtless, entered with acceptance into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Her prayer has been answered. Those who knew her, especially those who had the privilege of seeing her during her illness, could not but observe her growth in grace, and early maturity for heaven. She did indeed walk nearer and nearer to her Saviour every day; and now she has exchanged a state of pain, and weakness, and suffering, for the everlasting rest which remaineth for the people of God.

The nature of her complaint, which five days before her death entirely deprived her of the power of speech, deprived us of the privilege of hearing what were her views and feelings at that solemn

season.

She seemed, however, especially at intervals, to retain

It was her practice every morning during her illness, while her first meal was preparing, to read "The General Thanksgiving" in our church service.