can more deeply and painfully wound him? Yet thus wounded, many times, are Christ's faithful ministers. Their time, their strength, and their lives are wearing away, without the comfort of satisfactory evidences that "their labor is not in vain, in the Lord."

I have been long, perhaps too long, in sketching out the dark side of the picture of a Christian minister's situation. Still nothing has been said but what I believe to be a just representation, and what is often realized, by persons in the sacred office. This may have led many ministers, of the present day, to apply to themselves, the remark which the apostle made, relative to himself, and his brethren in the apostolic office. "If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable."

But is there no bright side to this picture? Is there no counterpart to what hath been described, of a minister's labors, trials and conflicts? Hath he no pleasures and comforts, while discharging the duties of his station? He undoubtedly has, if he is faithful, and some which are exceedingly endearing and supporting. The approbation of his own conscience, and comfortable hopes of the divine approbation. Sensible aid and assistance in his labors, from the spirit and grace of Christ. Delightful contemplations on the truths, and blessings of the gospel, for which his professional business gives him great advantages. The friendship, the warm affection, the sincere good wishes, and the fervent prayers, of the most amiable and worthy characters, among his people. Great satisfaction, sometimes, in seeing "the pleasure of the Lord prospering in his hands;" and "souls flocking to Christ, as doves to their windows:" And especially the prospect of those gracious rewards, which Christ hath promised to his faithful ministers, when they shall have finished their course, and the ministry they have received. "Be ye faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life."

Will not the faithful laborer, in the vineyard of Christ, who keeps the eye of his faith fixed on such gracious promises, be comforted, in all his tribulations? Will he not, like the apostle, though sorrowful, yet be always rejoicing? Yea it may be hoped that in the near views of death, he may be able in a good measure humbly to adopt his joyful and triumphant language. "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 me, at that day."

Who could be expected to enter into the sacred employment, or long to continue in it, if nothing of this sort was to be expected, or found, to balance the many trials and difficulties which

are inseparable from it? More virtue and fortitude, than most men are possessed of, would be requisite to prevent their shrinking from a service, so unpromising, yea so formidable. But our Saviour doth not leave, thus comfortless, his servants, whom he calls into his vineyard. Though the rewards of their diligence and fidelity are principally reserved to the future world, yet for their present support and comfort, he hath made such gracious declarations as the following: "Lo, I am with you always to the end of the world. My grace is sufficient for you, and my strength is made perfect in your weakness."

With an expectation of both these, the trials* and the supports, your minister consented to enter into the sacred work, in this place, and was solemnly set apart to it forty years ago, viz. on the fifth day of February, A. D., 1756. A day, and a transaction much to be remembered; and which he can truly say have hardly been out of his serious recollection, for a week or a day since.†

Soon after his entering on the work he was visited with such bodily infirmities, as led him to expect his life and labors would be short; that he should, in a little time, finish his course, and the ministry which he had received. Still, with truth he can say, he did not forget his vows and resolutions, to work while it was day; nor did he feel an unwillingness to spend what little strength he had, in the service of his beloved people. He did "not account his life dear to him," if he might spend it successfully in the great work, on which he had entered. To the honor of God, he desires thankfully to mention it, that he was strengthened to go on, in his professional labors, much beyond his expectations, and with no long interruptions, for a number of years. With sentiments of gratitude and affection, he often reflects on the kind, candid, and tender manner, in which his people treated him, and with which his feeble endeavors to serve them were received. They did not despise either his youth or his infirmities. The abundant marks of their sympathetic tenderness and affection rendered all his

*Seven members of the church, and three or four others, opposed his settlement. After a little time, he had the satisfaction of numbering them all, among his kind, affectionate, and confidential friends; and such they all continued, to the close of their lives.

+ Very frequently hath he recollected the leading sentiments of an excellent discourse delivered by the Rev. Mr. Appleton, on those words of the apostle, 2 Tim. ii. 15. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Often hath he recollected the charge by the Rev. Mr. Townsend of Needham, delivered, at once, with that parental tenderness, and that seriousness and gravity, which were happily united in the temper and conduct of that worthy servant of Christ. Often hath he recollected that profusion of Christian friendship, and brotherly love, expressed, in the right hand of fellowship, given by the Rev. Mr. Balch; all which friendship and brotherly love he continued to exemplify, while his valuable life was spared, towards the person then ordained, and towards his brethren, in the gospel ministry in general.

labors among them, eminently labors of love, which were their own reward.

After about eighteen years, feebly, yet pleasantly spent, in their service, God was pleased to visit him with a threatening fever, which reduced him, in appearance, to the very gates of the grave. The tenderness with which they ministered to him during that sickness, is fresh in his grateful remembrance. Their prayers,* which God was pleased graciously to answer, called him back to further labors among them. The blessing of Heaven, on the gratuitous, the careful, and judicious prescriptions and attendance of his skilful and benevolent physician,† recovered him to a better state of health, than he had enjoyed for some time before. With renewed pleasure and resolution he again entered on his public and private labors, in the gospel. And with renewed marks of respect his people received him.

During about seventeen years after this, he was not absent from public worship more than two Sabbaths, excepting the time when he had the small-pox, which detained him three. Frequently, however, in that term of seventeen years, has he come into this house of worship, weak and trembling, when it appeared to him hardly possible that, without special help from above, he should go through the services of the day. Strength was, as he desires thankfully to record, from time to time, vouchsafed to him.

About five years ago, he was visited with a slow fever, which detained him from the house of God, for five Sabbaths. Since that time, he hath every Lord's day attended the services of the sanctuary. He desires now to set up his Ebenezer, acknowledging that "hitherto the Lord hath helped him." He hath spared, and assisted him, to labor in his vineyard, feeble and imperfect as his labors have been, much longer than any of his predecessors, in this society. His term of service hath been protracted beyond that of most of his brethren, in the ministry.

Upon retrospecting this term of forty years, your minister finds much to lament, much to be humbled for, of his faults, defects, and imperfections. His hope is in the abundant mercy of God, and the merit of that blood, which was shed for the priesthood as well as for the congregation; to pardon what has been amiss; and to accept his feeble, though, he hopes, sincere attempts to promote the cause of Christ, and the good of souls. He finds, at the same time, many things which demand his gratitude to his divine Master; particularly, that he hath called him to labor in so pleasant a part of his vineyard; that he hath supported and assisted him so long; that he hath rendered his services, in a good degree acceptable to

*A day of fasting and prayer was observed by his people, on his account.
1 Doctor John Sprague.

his people; and that they have not, as he would humbly hope, been wholly useless and unsuccessful; though it is a painful consideration, that the evidences of their success have been so few. It is matter of pleasing and grateful reflection, that friendship and harmony among the people of his charge, and between him and them, have so generally prevailed. He fervently prays, that "brotherly love may continue." He rejoices with his flock that they have been, and now are, so free from those religious disputes, and contentions, which prevail in some societies; occasioned by different and militating sentiments, and by the prevalence of various sects and denominations of Christians.*

Many events in this society have taken place within the term of forty years past. The inhabitants of the precinct, and the members of the church, are, in a great measure, changed. But five males, and ten females, who were, so long ago, members of the church, continue alive among us. The church then consisted of fifty-five male members, and eighty-seven females, resident in the parish. It now consists of forty-two males, and ninety-nine females. The whole number is one less now than it was then. The disproportion between males and females is increased. The number of the former is thirteen less, and of the latter, twelve

more.

The number of persons admitted, who were not in communion with any church before, is two hundred and ninety-six, seven have been received by recommendation from other churches. Thirtytwo have been dismissed from this to other churches. The number of children which have been baptized, with us, in the above-mentioned period, is nine hundred and four. Ten adult persons have been admitted to the ordinance of baptism.

The number of couples, who have been joined in marriage, by your pastor, one or both of which belonged to this town, is twohundred and seventy-nine. A few have been married by magistrates, in the town.

The number of deaths in this society, within the term of forty years past, according to the most authentic records, is five hundred and twenty-nine. I have formerly mentioned, that the yearly average number of deaths was between nine and ten. It was so during the first nineteen years of my ministry. In the last twenty-one years, in which the small-pox hath several times prevailed among us; the dysentery, and some other epidemic distempers, the average number has been considerably greater.

*There is not, in the first precinct in Dedham, a family of professed Baptists, Quakers, Methodists, or Universalists, known to the writer of this discourse." There are now, and have been for more than half a century past, a few families of the Episcopal denomination. The Rev. William Montague is their minister or

rector.

Of the five hundred and twenty-nine persons who have died, nine have arrived to the age of ninety years, or upwards, which is nearly in the proportion of one to sixty. Forty-two have lived to be eighty years old and upwards, besides the nine who survived ninety years. This shows about one in twelve to arrive to the age of eighty years.

Seventy-four persons have died between seventy and eighty years of age, which, in connection with the calculations above, shows that as great a proportion as one in five, of those who have died, in the term aforesaid, have lived to see threescore years and ten, or more. I cannot ascertain the number of births in this society, during the term of forty years past. It may be about eleven hundred.

The above calculations show, that a greater proportion of persons, among us, than has been generally supposed, has lived to what we may call old age. If a regular, sober, and virtuous mode of living may be assigned, as the natural cause, it reflects honor on the society. A presumptive argument is hereby suggested, in favor of the situation, air and climate, as being friendly to health, and long life. We are bound however ultimately to ascribe it, to His kind providence, who is the "God of our life and the length of our days."

The number of females, who have lived to old age, is a little larger than that of males. There is not one man, now in the society, quite eighty years old. There is one woman, in her ninety-fourth year; and several between eighty and ninety years old. There are eleven women, and seven men, whose age is between seventy and eighty years, there are seven men and thirtyfour women in a state of widowhood.

The deaths, in the society, have mostly taken place by the common laws of mortality, or have been what we call natural deaths. None in the way of murder, or by the magistrate, "holding the sword, as a terror to evil-doers." The lives of several have been brought to an end, in the way of drowning, and by some other melancholy accidents. Two only have been lost at sea.* A small number have died in the army either by sword

or sickness.

The three worthy personst who sustained the office of deacons, when your present pastor entered on his labors among you, all lived to a good old age; but have, for many years, been num

* William Ames, and William Avery, Jr.

Deacons Joseph Wight, Ephraim Willson, and Nathaniel Kingsbury. The first of these died July 14, 1756, in the 75th year of his age, and 27th of his office. The second died July 19, 1769, in the 86th year of his age, and 34th of his office. The third died Aug. 20, 1775, in the 78th year of his age, and 29th of his deaconship.