with respects of the Auth A Retrospect on the Ministry and Church of Saybrook. A HALF CENTURY SERMON. PREACHED ON LORD'S DAY, September 22, 1833. BY FREDERICK WM. HOTCHKISS, PASTOR OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN SAYBROOK. "Knowing that_shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord NEW HAVEN: PRESS OF WHITMORE & BUCKINGHAM. 1833. 94721133 83 1860, Jan. 2... US 14 890.30,5 At a Meeting of the First Ecclesiastical Society in Saybrook, October 15th, Voted, That the Society's Committee be directed to request of Rev. Fred- Attest, SERMON. 2 TIMOTHY, iv. 7. I have finished my course. THIS is a part of Paul's valedictory to Timothy. "Watch thou in all things; do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of thy ministry." To animate him to fidelity and perseverance, amidst trials that may assail him, he develops the feelings of his heart, and the triumphs of his faith, in view of speedy death. "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also, that love his appearing." Such was the holy tranquillity of his soul in view of his last hours. Here I might dilate on the labors, sufferings, successes, and triumphs of this faithful martyr; but I use only the words of my theme. "I have finished my course.' This I have chosen for a subject suitable to the present solemnity. The Lord hath showed me, by evidences which admit of no doubt, that I am soon to finish my course; and that there remains but the concluding scene of my ministry: that I must speedily put off this tenement of clay, and my spirit intermingle with the departed. Half a century has flitted over me, since I received the solemn charge to feed this flock of the Lord, over which I was ordained to be overseer. I stand, this day, in the desk, for the last sabbath of fifty years; and to-morrow closes the last day of that period. I came to you like the one to whom this address of Paul was written, a youth in years and experience,* accompanied with often infirmities, feeling my need of your prayers, and the counsel of the fathers; and, having obtained help of the * I graduated, at Yale College, before I was sixteen years; was licensed for the ministry before I was twenty years; and was ordained before I was twenty-one. I began to preach to this people, in the beginning of Nov. 1782: soon received a unanimous invitation to settle here in the ministry, but conscious of the inexperience of my youth, I deferred compliance with repeated requests till 24th of Sept. 1783. |