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CONCLUSION of SERMON from Eccl. xii. 7. preached in the High Church of Edinburgh, by Dr HUGH BLAIR, 13th April 1783, on occafion of the death of Mr ROBERT WALKER.

AFTER what has been faid on the fubject of death in general, and in particular upon the uncertainty of the time of it, your minds muft naturally have turned towards that melancholy event which has lately befallen, in the fudden removal of your faithful and worthy Paftor; and you will eafily imagine, that this has given occafion to the train of meditation we have now been pursuing. Upon fuch an occafion, I know this Congregation will indulge me, in paying the laft tribute of respect to the memory of a colleague whom I esteemed and loved; and in connection with whom I have comfortably paft a great part of my life. He was the acquaintance and com

panion of my youth. For nearly the period of twenty-five years we were associated in the charge of this Congregation; and during all that long tract of time, though we often differed in fentiment about public inatters, yet that difference never interrupted our cordial correfpondence, nor occafioned any breach of mutual friendship. The character of his mind, indeed, was fuch as fitted him for agreeable intercourse with all who had any connection with him. His understanding was found and juft. His paffions, though originally strong, were brought under remarkable government. His difpofition was cheerful: his temper calm and regular. God had bleffed him with great natural abilities. To a quick and folid judgement, were added the powers of the most correct tafte, which he enjoyed in a high and uncommon degree. Seldom have any been endowed with a more just difcernment of what is beautiful in compofition and difcourfe, or with a more accurate fenfibility to what is becoming in manners and behaviour.

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Poffeffing

fing thefe talents, he was at the fame time modeft, unaffuming, unpretending. He

was fimple in his manners; fimple in his taste of life; altogether free from oftentation or vanity. A manly firmness formed the diftinguishing part of his character. As he acted uniformly upon principle, he was bold and undaunted in maintaining what he judged to be right; but without the heat of violence or paffion. No man ever poffeffed a more independent fpirit. About the adyantages of worldly fortune he was little folicitous. He formed no high views. He made no ambitious claims. He was eafily contented and fatisfied; and as he was entirely free from covetoufness, fo he was a ftranger to envy. To the merit of others he was ever difpofed to do juftice. His eye was not evil when they profpered. He was fuperior to the little competitions and jealoufies which prevail in yulgar minds.

THESE particulars, relating to his character as a man, I am thoroughly quali

fied,

fied, from my long perfonal knowledge of
him, fully to ascertain.
With regard to

his public labours, my testimony is of less
confequence to thofe before whom I now
fpeak, who have fo long had full proof of
his talents, and experience of his affiduity
and fidelity in the ministry of the gospel.
There, indeed, he appeared in his highest
character, as an eminent and fuccefsful
labourer in the Lord's vineyard. To this
important work his greatest application
was bent. With this, he allowed nothing
elfe to interfere. His whole ambition
centered in acting his part with the dig-
nity and propriety that became the facred
character which he bore. By the elegance,
neatness, and chafte fimplicity of compo-
fition in his Sermons, and by the uncom-
mon grace and energy of his delivery, he
rofe to a high and justly acquired repu-
tation. But mere reputation was not his
object. He aimed at teftifying the whole
counfel of the grace of God; at dividing
rightly to every man the word of truth;
instructing the ignorant, awakening the

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careless,

carelefs, reproving the finner, and comforting the faint; as all who belong to this Congregation well know.

SUITABLE to fuch a life were the manner and circumftances of his death. It pleafed Providence to carry him away as in a moment, from the discharge of that work in which he delighted, to the enjoyment of its reward. His death was like an immediate tranflation from the work of the fanctuary on earth to the employments of the fanctuary above. He was permitted to escape, in a great degree, from the melancholy approaches of the laft foe. He endured no long continuance of pain. He underwent no violent ftruggle. The gar

ment of mortality easily dropt off; and the fervant of God fell asleep in the Lord. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the latter end of that man is peace. Blef fed are the dead which die in the Lord; they reft from their labours, and their works follow them. May the memorial of the just remain with us in everlasting remembrance! Let us remember