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He was enabled to deal with great faithfulness in conversing with his friends. To one especially, in whose hearing he had formerly uttered sentiments the reverse of what he now believed to be true, he addressed a most affectionate exhortation; and took leave of him in the most impressive manner. A similar disposition was manifested also toward his beloved brother, who left the garrison at Sacket's harbor, to visit him, aud hear his dying advice.

But as his disease advanced, he seemed more and more ripened for heaven. On the morning of the day before his death his mind was, in a remarkable manner, occupied with heavenly contemplation, and his tongue employed in a strain of sacred eloquence, which it is regretted cannot be conveyed in the animated language of its author. For though several were present, they were engrossed with the subject of his remarks more, than with either his inanner, or peculiar words. He first dweit largely on the character of the eternal God, all-perfect, holy, just and good; and compared Him, under the appropriate appellation of "our God," with the vanities of the heathen, whether as exhibited in the classical mythology of antiquity, or in the accounts of modern times. He then dwelt on the manifestation of mercy in the atonement, and expatiated on the divine condescen [sion to us in the person of the Savior, whereby the eternal God became in some measure apprehensible by man. His heart was then engaged in contemplating the obstinacy of blinded sinners, and he continued to express his views in a manner the most convincing and affectionate, shewing the strongest desires that all might "repent and believe the Gospel." Being then interiogated by his physician, happily also a Christian brother, respecting his own hope and its grounds, he adverted to himself, stated his views of his own ill desert, and yet his entire resignation, as he trusted, to the will of God. Be observed that it was his desire to depart; but if it pleased his heavenly Father to prolong his stay and his sufferings, he hoped to be patient and to submit. These efforts were elosed by a brief, but peculiarly pertinent and affecting prayer.

He died the next morning, January 24th, in the 34th year of his age, tranquil, and mach at ease, with eyes raised to heaven, and a placid smile diffused upon his

Countenance.

Memoir of the Rev. Roger Newton, D. D.

Rev. ROGER NEWTON, D. D. was born at Durham, (Con,) May 25, A. D, 1737. His parents were Mr. Abner, and Mrs. Mary Newton. They were respected for their prudence and piety, their discreet management of their domestic concerns and the virtuous education of their children.

The subject of this memoir was the youngest of five sons. He received the advantages of a liberal education at Yale College. His improvements in literature were distinguished, and prepared him for that long series of useful labors, by which he served CHRIST and his church for more than fifty-five years.

He was ordained the pastor of the church and congregation in Greenfield, on the 18th of Nov. 1761. He continued in the discharge of the duties of his office with much reputation to himself and the holy ministry, and to the general acceptance of his people, until a few years before his death, when he was taken off from the more active services of the sanctuary by the infirmities of age.

In the last years of life, he was relieved from the burdens of the ministry by the assistance of the Rev. Gamaliel S. Olds, who was settled with him as colleague pastor; but was removed a few weeks previous to the Doctor's decease to a Professorship in Middlebury College, Vermont.

Dr. Newton received the honor of a degree of Doctor in Divinity from the Corporation of Dartmouth College, in 1805.

In Sept. 1762, he was happily united in marriage with Miss Abigail Hall, of Middletown, (Con.) With her he lived in all the tender sympathies of love and friendship until the 21st of Oct. 1805, when it pleased Gon to remove her from him, in the 67th year of her age. She departed deeply lamented and regretted by all her acquaintance.-Her amiable virtues rendered her beloved, and will be long affectionately remembered by her family connexions and friends.

By Mrs. Newton the Doctor had 8 children, 5 sons and 3 daughters: three only of whom yet remain. Isaac their youngest son. Abigail married to Rev. Nathaniel Lambert; and Susanna married to Mr. Proctor Pierce.

Their eldest son Roger was educated at Yale College; was a scholar of eminent talents and literature; was for a time a Tutor in that seminary, but was taken off from his official duties by a consumptive complaint under which he languished and died in the midst of life, while he was giving fair promise of high celebrity in the annals of science and literature. He died the 10th of Aug. 1789. Their second son Ozias, lived to have a family and died the 8th of April, 1815, leaving a sorrowful widow and six children to lament their loss.

Few ministers have lived in more intimate friendship and harmony with their people; or have left a more precious memory behind them than this man of God.

Under the slow decays of age, Dr. Newton sunk at length quietly into the arms of death; and in a good hope through Christ of a better life returned his spirit to God who gave it on the evening of Dec. 10, 1816.

On the 13th, his earthly remains were deposited in the earth, waiting the resurrection of the Just. A discourse upon the occasion, was delivered to a solemn and deeply interested auditory, from Heb. vii, 23; last clause.-The following extracts are made from it.

This venerable Minister of Christ consecrated himself to his Master's service from his youth. He willingly took the oversight of this people when they were feeble and few in number. Under his ministry they have greatly increased, and become a numerous and respectable people.

His care was to feed them with Gospel truth, to nourish their souls with the great saving doctrines of free sovereign grace in our Lord Jesus Christ. His public discourses were well studied, sound, compact, weighty, and full of useful and important instruction. An attentive and willing hearer could not faii of being profited and made better by his labors.

While he had reason to praise God for assisting and blessing him in his ministry, yet for wise purposes, God saw fit to afflict and prove him by some heavy domestic trials and bereavements, under which he was supported and comforted, and sanctified to his Christian and ministerial work. Like other good men under the chastisement of a Father's rod "be shone brightest in affliction's night." "Tribulation wrought in him patienceexperience and a hope which maketh not ashamed." It was the care of his life to make the providences of God subservient to the improvement of his mind in those ministerial gifts, which would render him of the greatest use to the people, and to the general interest of the church of Christ.

He studied to make himself approved of God, "a workman, who needeth not be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth and giving to every man his portion in due season."

A man of uncommox strength of mind and of discriminating powers, and richly furnished by study and contemplation, he held an eminent rank and station among his brethren in the ministry. Much employed as a counsellor and guide in cases of diffi eulty and ecclesiastical discipline, his able and pacific labors of love will long be remem bered with gratitude and thanksgiving to God, not only by the people of his charge but by the professors of Christ in the neighboring churches. A friend to peace, it was his desire and labor, "that brethren should dwell together in unity." He was a burning and shining light, and blessed be God that we so long rejoiced in his light.

Nor was our deceased father less distinguished by his amiable and useful talents in the walks of private life. By his discreet and circumspect deportment, the urbanity of his manners, his affectionate and affable conversation, he never failed of securing the love and esteem of his friends and acquaintance. His social intercourse was both pleasing and profitable, being seasoned with the salt of wisdom and benevolence. It was the fault of those who enjoyed his conversation, if they left him without improvement in knowledge and goodness. It was his object by courtesy and kindness, by prudence and a virtuous example, to cultivate in others those graces which adorn the social and Christian life, and to enforce on their minds the utility and importance of those practical and doctrinal truths, which he inculcated in his public ministrations.

Great was the blessing which this people enjoyed in having a minister, who enforced the precepts and doctrines of Christ by the living example which was daily set

before them.

But, alas! from these privileges, both of a public and private nature, a Holy God hath now removed them. A bereaved church and congregation and an extensive circle of affectionate friends, associates and acquaintance are now called to bemoan their loss, and to go to Jesus and tell him their grief and to pray to him that he would be to them a repairer of this breach and restorer of paths to dwell in.

The Ministers of Jesus, his professing children, and those who love the prosperity of Zion, will unite their voice and cry after him, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof."

It hath pleased that holy and faithful God, who, by his decree hath fixed to all men the bounds of their habitation, beyond which they cannot pass, to call off his servant from the trials and labors, the temptations and afflictions of this empty and transitory life, and, as we hope, to bring him home to himself, to receive the rewards of a faithful servant, and to participate in the nobler employments and joys of a blessed immortality.

Our venerable friend, our father and guide, after a few years of gradual decline; and after, to him, a painful period of suspense from his active public labors fell asleep and was gathered to his fathers, in the 80th year of his age, and the 56th year of his ministry. Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.""

At Boston, on the 28th of January last, Mrs. MEHETABEL SIMPKINS, wife of Dea. John Simpkins, aged 77. This lady was principally known to the public by her exertions as Treasurer of the Cent Institution, which was first commenced under her auspices

When the idea of such an association was suggested by the late Dr. Hopkins of Salem, she eagerly adopted it, and took upon herself the care of receiving donations and conveying them to the Treasurer of the Massachusetts Missionary Society. In this good work she continued from June 1803, more than thirteen years. For several years she received about $500 annually, which was expended in distributing the Bible and other religious books among the poor and destitute. It gave her great satisfaction to be employed in receiving and dispensing the charitable offerings of pious females, who sent their annual contributions to her care. The whole amount which passed through her hands in this service, was probably near six thousand dollars.

Mrs. Simpkins was remarkable for her devout attendance on public worship, and her diligent perusal of the Scriptures. Toward the closing scene, when fully aware that her departure was at hand, she enjoyed perfect composure, and gave pleasing evidence to those who witnessed the interesting event, that she was about entering

into rest.

At Montpelier, (Ver.) in January last, Miss CHARLOTTE BULKLEY, daughter of the Hon. Charles Bulkley, aged 25. This young lady sustained an excellent character for piety, and was in a very happy state of mind during her sickness and in the immediate prospect of death. Se devoted what little property she possessed to the service of Christ among the heathen; requesting her father to pay the income (supposed to be about $20 annually) to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

At Peacham, (Ver) on the 30th ult. Miss ELISABETH HOPKINS WORCESTER, oldest daughter of the Rev. Leonard Worcester, in the 21st year of her age. During childhood the deceased was very sprightly, active and promising. As she advanced to maturity she was considerate, reflecting, and uncommonly sensible. Several years ago, and when in perfect health, she became hopefully pious, and made a public profession of religion. For two or three years before her death, she suffered under a painful malady, which ultimately became fatal. Through the winter past she was subjected, at times, to much bodily pain, though her consolation in Christ her hope generally abounded. At length she has been released, and is gone, as we have good reason to believe, to a final and eternal rest. She had been looking for death for some time with evident desire. Her language was, "Precious Savior; I think I do love him, and I long to be with him. How long, dear Savior, O how long." When her father was about to leave her to attend publie worship, in the morning of the day on which she died, she said, "I hope I am going;" and expressed a confident persuasion, that through the merits of her Savior she was ready. After his return, the inquiry was made whether she still felt comfortably in her mind, to which she replied, “I do; Jesus is my support." Thus fell asleep this amiable young lady, in the very bloom of life. How unspeakably great is the consolation to reflect, that she is removed to a higher sphere of action and enjoyment than it is possible for mortals to Occupy here on earth. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

POETRY.

ISAIAH, CHAP. I.

JEHOVAH speaks-ye heavens above, give
ear!

And earth below, with mute attention hear!
Long did my children all my bounty share,
Were fed and nourish'd with parental care;
But now from me, their constant friend,

they fly;

Rebellion's standard they have rais'd on high,
Round which they rally, fearless of my word;
With hostile fronts they dare defy their Lord.
The lab'ring ox doth his kind owner know,
Nor will the ass his master's crib forego;
Bat Israel's tribes, the people of my choice,
Have stray'd away, regardless of my voice,
Far,far,have wander'd from the narrow road,
That leads the righteous to my bright abode.
Ab, wicked nation! laden deep with sin,
Vile are your works, your hearts corrupt
within.

Your fathers dar'd my laws to disobey,
And you are more degenʼrate still than they;
And by your base example now you dare,
To draw your children to the fatal snare.

You've left the Lord, and still his mercy
spurn,

And
see, his kind'ling wrath begins to burn.
Say why in mercy should I more chastise,
A harden'd nation that my pow'r defies?
Still more and more from wisdom you'l
depart,

Sick is the head, and faint is all the heart;
From head to foot is one continued sore,
With putrid wounds and bruises cover'do'er;
Unclos'd, unbound, they show on every
side,

And healing oil has never been appli'd.
Your fertile country now untill'd remains,
And desolation covers all your plains;
Your splendid cities only live in name,
All, all have met the wide-devouring flame;
Fell devastation has to ruin hurl'd,
The pride and glory of the eastern world.
Where rose the tow'rs that seem'd to touch

the sky,
Now nought but smould'ring ruins meet the

eye.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

FAMILIAR SERMONS.-NO. III.

PSALM CXVIII, 22. The stone, which the builders refused, is become the headstone of the corner.

AMONG other figurative representations of the church, we sometimes find it described as a building. "Ye are God's husbandry; ye are God's building," was the address of the apostle to the Corinthian Christians. For though no single church can with any propriety be considered the whole building, yet every Christian community is an important part, and as necessary as any other, to constitute a perfect whole. This seems to be more fully intimated in the epistle to the Ephesians. "Now therefore," says the apostle, "ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles, and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

This building has been rising ever since sinners began to believe in the promised seed of the woman. From that period to the present, one stone after another has been taken from the rough quarry of nature, and prepared by the great Master for a place in the building. Thus, by degrees, will it be growing into a holy temple, its different parts brought from all quarters of the world, being cemented together in heaven, and become a habitation of God.

In this glorious building, the text informs us there is a principal stone, a corner stone, and even the headstone of the corner: a stone, which was indeed refused of the builders, but which has been made to occupy the most important place in the edifice.

In attending further to this figurative representation of the Psalmist, it will be our object, first, to ascertain the person of whom he speaks, and to notice the propriety of his being denominated a stone.

The words themselves do not designate the person: yet they receive so exact an accomplishment in the Lord Jesus Christ, that VOL. XIII.

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