218 Memoir of Rev. John Prince, LL. D. 
and usefully spent, it can look forward and upward with peace, hope 
and joy. ‘Oh happy old age! he is unworthy to reach thee, who 
fears thee; he is unworthy to have reached thee, who wing serine of 
thee.’’* 
The last years of Dr. Prince’s life realized the brightest picture 
of a happy old age. By the kindness of his people he was released 
from labor and care,—a long respite was given him, after the day of 
toil was over, and before the summons came to depart. In the 
pursuits of philosophy and religion ; in the peaceful and cherished 
society of Miindred spirit ; in the company of his friends ; in the 
exercise of amiable affections towards man, and of admiring adora- 
tion towards God, the glories of whose creation he was continually 
exploring; and in the enjoyment of enough of this world’s goods 
to meet his wants, he quietly descended the lengthened vale of 
years. He had his trials, and at times they were severe indeed, 
but his patience and faith were sufficient to sustain him while they 
lasted, and when they had passed away, the very memory of them 
seemed to be obliterated by the pleasant engagements which, in 
cheerful conversation, in instructive books, in philosophical experi- 
_ ments, and in the employments of his workshop, were ever at hand. 
His faculties of body and mind remained sound and bright to the 
end, “his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated ;” and at 
last he came to his * grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn 
comes in the season thereof.” In contemplating such an old age, 
we cannot but adopt the sentiment, although the conceit may be re- 
garded as somewhat extravagant, which a quaint writer expressed 
on a similar occasion— What a lovely spectacle! the angels of 
heaven fly to the windows of heaven to look upon such a spectacle.” 
It is highly honorable to the society, of which Dr. Prince was the 
pastor, that they continued to him an unabated support, although he 
was fora great length of time disabled from the discharge of his 
ministry, and for twelve years it was necessary to supply his place 
by the maintenance of a colleague. On his death bed he gave the 
most affecting testimony that this generous fidelity was duly appre- 
ciated. He bequeathed a most choice and valuable library, of four 
hundred and fifty three volumes, being nearly the whole of his the- 
ological books, for the perpetual use of his successors in the ministry 
of the First Church in Salem. The last act of his life, was to cause 
* “O Felix A&tas! Paes ie ad te pervenire, qui te metuit. Indignus pet 
venisse, qui te accusat!”—Peir 
