HO DIED AT THE ISLE OF FRANCE, NOV. 30, 1812, TO WHICH ARE ADDED MEMOIRS OF HER LIFE. BY LEONARD WOODS, D. D. PRINTED FOR SAMUELT ARMSTRONG, Sold also by W. W. Woodward, Philadelphia; Dodge & Faye, New York; She don & Goodwin, Hartford, and others. Dec. 1814. DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS-To witz BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the thirty-first day of March, A. D. 1814, and in the thirty-eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America, SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor; in the words following, to wit: "A Sermon, preached at Haverhill, Mass. in remembrance of Mrs. Harriet Newell, wife of the Rev. Samuel Newell, Missionary in India, who died at the Isie of France, Nov. 30, 1812, aged 19 years; to which are added Memoirs of her life. By Leonard Wools, D. D. Abbot Professor of Christian Theology in the Theol. Sem. Andover." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, "An act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an act intitled, "An act supplementary to an act, intitled an act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching, Historical and other Prints." WILLIAM S. SHAW, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. Profits of this Work are devoted to the support of the Foreign Mission from America. SERMON. MATTHEW xix, 29. ÅND EVERY ONE THAT HATH FORSAKEN HOUSES, OR BRETHREN, OR SISTERS, OR FATHER, OR MOTHER, OR WIFE, OR CHILDREN, OR LANDS, FOR MY NAME'S SAKE, SHALL RECEIVE AN HUNDRED FOLD; AND SHALL INHERIT EVERLASTING LIFE. TH HE Scripture sums up all that is in the world under three heads; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. According to this, it has been common to make a threefold division of natural men; the sensual, the covetous, and the ambitious. But our blessed Lord, in the text, exhibits a character widely different; a character formed on another principle; a character altogether superior to any thing which can result from man's unrenewed nature. The devoted Christian is born of the Spirit. All his moral beauty, his usefulness, and enjoyment are the work of divine grace. But where shall we find the singular character exhibited in the text? I answer, in every piace, and in every condition of life, where we find true religion. The poor cottager, far removed from public notice, and destined to the meanest employment, possesses this character. He gives himself and all that he has to the Lord. He loves Christ above his cottage, his food, and his rest, and is ready to part with them all for his sake. In the sight of God, that same poor 237863 5503 man forsakes all for Christ. He who can forsake his sins, and resist the claims of corrupt passion, performs, to say the least, as difficult a service, as to forsake houses, brethren, and lands The poor man who has little to give and much to bear, frequently shows the selfdenying spirit of religion to the greatest advantage In his heart often burns as pure a flame of love and zeal, as in the heart of an apostle. It may not be visible to the world; but it is visible to Him who seeth in secret. His prayers are animated by fervent affection for God and man. And when he contributes his mite for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, he does it with a heart large enough to part with millions. The character here exhibited belongs to the devoted Christian who is possessed of opulence. Though he does not literally forsake houses and lands, he uses them for the glory of Christ. And as he supremely regards the divine glory, and uses the things of this world in subserviency to it, he is ready when duty calls, to surrender them for the same object. To use riches for Christ, and to forsake them for Christ, evince the same elevation above self-interest, and the same devotedness to the cause of God. He, then, who values his estate for Christ's sake, and uses it for the advancement of his cause, has the same disposi all to thee. I will either use thents or part quith them, for thy sake, as thou wilt. Animated with such sentiments, he esteems it comparatively loss, to do any thing with his property which tends merely to secure his private advantage, while he esteems that as the best use of his property, which tends most to advance the kingdom of Christ It is for the sake of that kingdom that he values his earthly possessions. Take away that kingdom, and his possessions lose their highest worth. The character presented in the text clearly belongs to every faithful minister of the Gospel, even in the most peaceful days. Whatever may be his earthly prospects, he cheerfully resigns them for Christ's sake. The love of Christ bears him on. He declines no labor, no sacrifice, no suffering. He foregoes induigence and ease. In private, he gives himself to reading, meditation, and prayer. In public, he preaches the word; and is instant in season, and out of season. Worldly pursuits he totally abandons, and sets his affections on the kingdom of Christ. "If I forget thec," says he, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning." This character is strikingly exhibited by a devoted Christian in times of persecution. lic feels as Paul did, when his friends, anxious for his safety, besought him not to go to Jerusalem. "What mean ye," said he, "to weep, and to break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Times of persecution and distress have a favorabic in*↓ |