1808.

paring for a publick service. Those, who then SEC.XVII. saw him brought down,in an instant, and without any previous warning, to the gates of death, can never forget the steadfastness, with which he received the alarm, and the singular humility and composure, with which he waited, during many days, doubtful of life, and expecting every hour to leave all, that was dear to him on earth, to present himself before God.* Next to the satisfaction of behaving well ourselves, in an hour of trial, is that of witnessing the tranquillity of our friends, and finding, that we need not fear for their example, while flesh and heart is failing, for God is the strength of their heart and their portion forever.

The same steadfastness, and tranquil foresight 1811. of his dissolution God has enabled him to exhibit, through the whole of the distressing and lingering disorder, of which he died. A few hours before his death, he overheard some conversation respecting those, who should pass the night with him; and he summoned strength enough to articulate "God is with me!" The great interest, with which some persons always watch the

*It was in the year 1808, that he was attacked with a profuse hemorrhage from the lungs, from the effects of which he never completely recovered. But the disease, of which he died, had not probably the remotest connexion with this bleeding. It appeared upon examination, that the lower orifice of the stomach was almost entirely closed by a schirrhous tumour, or hard swelling, which on the inside was ulcerated. So completely was the passage of the pylorus obliterated, that a drop of water could hardly be pressed through it from the stomach, which was full.

EE

326

1811.

EMERSON.

SEC.XVII. last intelligent exercises of a spirit, which has been warned of its departure, was here not disappointed. No one could leave his presence without a secret consciousness, that the collected, intelligent, and strong indications, which he daily gave, of profound submission to God's will, and unshaken faith in his gospel, were very much to be preferred to the indistinct raptures and ejaculations, which are so often caught from the lips of the dying, where more is supposed to be meant, than meets the ear, and more is put into the speech, than was originally contained in the thought. The approach of death gave no new colour to his faith; and he has left us a proof, which will long be remembered, not of the truth indeed, but of the power of those principles, by which, for nearly twenty years, he had preached and practised.

Of hear

He was a faithful as well, as a pious man.
his fidelity in his ministerial office, you, my
ers, are of course better judges, than the preacher.
But from his extraordinary correctness of man-
ners, and disposition to method in the disposal of
his time, great fidelity might be expected in what
he regarded, as his duty; and this sentiment as
well, as the desire of doing good, would engage so
careful a mind, as his, in the punctilious discharge
of the duties of his profession. The prosperity
of this ancient church was peculiarly dear to him.
He looked back with veneration almost unbound-
ed on some of his predecessors here; and while
he breathed much of their spirit, he successfully

emulated their merits. He was a happy example of that correct and rational style of evangelical preaching, of which the yet lamented Clarke has left so fair a specimen. Our departed brother had long been employed on a history of the First Church; and was engaged in the analysis of the works and character of Chauncy, when his progress was arrested by the disease, of which he died, and he was called to join the company of those great and good men, whom he had before known only in their works, but now face to face.

Such is the constitution of society among us, that much of the care of our literary and charitable institutions devolves upon those clergymen, who have disposition and qualifications for the task. Mr. Emerson's industry, integrity, accuracy, and fidelity were well known in the numerous societies, of which he was a member. The town has lost a diligent observer of its youth and their education; the Academy and Historical Society an associate greatly interested in their flourishing state; the University an attentive overseer. The clergy throughout the country have lost a hospitable and liberal brother; his family a most careful and excellent father, husband, and master; and his friends an honourable and faithful friend.

SEC.XVII.

1811.

O'tis well

With him. But who knows what the coming hour,
Veil'd in thick darkness, brings for us?

SEC.XVII. The following is, we believe, a correct list of his acknowledged publications.

1811.

1. Sermon at Harvard, 4 July, 1794.

2. Sermon at the artillery election, Boston, 1799.

3. Sermon before the Roxbury Charitable Society, Sep.

1800.

4. Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Robert Smiley, 23 September, 1801.

5. Boston Oration, 4 July, 1802.

6. Sermon on the death of Rev. Dr. Thacher, 1802.

7. Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Thomas Bedé,1803.
8. Sermon on the death of madam Bowdoin, 1803.
9. Sermon before the Boston Female Asylum, 1805.
10. Sermon on the death of Charles Austin, 1806.
11. Discourse before the Humane Society, 1807.

12. Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Clark, Bur-
lington, 1810.

His father was son of Rev. Joseph Emerson and Mary his wife, daughter of Rev. Samuel Moody of York. The following extract from an obituary notice of his early death is dated

"Concord, Nov. 1st 1776.

On the morning of the Lord's day, the 20th of October last, died at Rutland, on Otter creek, the Rev. Mr. William Emerson, pastor of the church of Christ in this town, in the 35th year of his age. His zeal for the liberties of his country, which appeared from the beginning of the present troubles, animated him to accompany his brethren in the reinforcement lately sent by this state to our army at Ticonderoga, as chaplain of a regiment. But the hardships, to which he was exposed, soon overcame his delicate constitution, and brought on the symptoms of a bilious fever; which, when he had proceeded a few miles on his return, attacked him with greater violence, and prevailed, until his Lord called him from the labours and sufferings of this life to receive his reward."

GOOD MEN ALWAYS DESIRE THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

A SERMON,

DELIVERED AT FIRST CHURCH, BOSTON, 17 JULY, 1808, THE DAY

OF LEAVING THE PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR A NEW EDIFICE.

BY WILLIAM EMERSON, THE PASTOR.

Exod. xxxiii. 15.

If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

WE have arrived, my brethren, at so noticeable a period in the history of our church, that I was unable to restrain myself from addressing you, on the singular occasion. For sufficient reasons, and, I hope, for our own and the common benefit in time to come, we are about to abandon this house, which, for ninety-five years, has been used, as a place of worship. In resigning it to a ruin, which, in a few years, would, in spite of all our exertions, inevitably have overtaken it, and which, in a few years more, will creep over all terrestrial things, we are naturally led to review the records of our society. We feel a strong inclination to recur to the days of our fathers, and trace the most memorable passages in their christian pilgrimage. This duty I had proposed to my.