2/0 LIFE AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE [l/^Q 



churches of Virginia in our General Conventions; and highly estimable 

 he was amongst us. He was a sound and able divine, a true son, and 

 afterwards a father, as a bishop-elect, of our church ; with his voice 

 always, with his pen occasionally, supporting and maintaining her just 

 rights, and yielding his constant and zealous aid in carrying on the great 

 work for which we are assembled at this time. 



Full of a devout desire for the final accomplishment of this work at 

 the present time, he came to this city; but it hath pleased the sovereign 

 goodness otherwise to dispose of him, and to call him, as we trust, to 

 become a member of the church triumphant in Heaven. 



With Christian patience and fortitude, though at a distance from his 

 family and his nearest relatives and friends, he sustained his short but 

 severe illness. Friends, nevertheless, closed his e}'e3. Friends and 

 brethren now accompany him to the grave, mournful as to the flesh, but 

 joyful and thankful to God in soul and sj^irit for his past usefulness and 

 example. . . . 



Let us not question the dispensations of Providence, nor murmuring, 

 ask. Whether it were not to be desired, that men endued with eminent 

 talents to serve their country and families, should be long preserved in 

 health of body and vigor of mind ; and that the hour of their death 

 should be protracted to the latest period of old age ? Say we not so. 

 For the commander of an army best knows when to call the sentinel 

 from his post. Every man in this world hath his office and station 

 assigned by Heaven, and continueth therein so long as it pleaseth the 

 supreme Ruler; and he that performeth his part best and liveth well, 

 may be said to live longest. 



Seeing, then, my brethren, that, by the faithful discharge of our civil 

 and religious duties, we may overcome death, be prepared for eternity, 

 and leave our names sweet to the world behind us ; let us take for our 

 example the virtue and goodness of our departed friends, and be pur- 

 suaded that there is no honor, no happiness to be acquired here on 

 earth, equal to that vv'hich we derive from acting our part with dignity; 

 steadfast in the practice, as well as profession, of our holy religion ; 

 zealous for the happiness of our country and mankind, and always 

 delighting in acts of love and goodness. The regard which is paid to 

 such characters as these, will grow w-ith their growing years ; and when 

 they come at last to take leave of this world, whether at an earlier or 

 later period of years, as they have lived the life of the righteous, their 

 latter end will be like his. . . . 



It is a grand description which is given of the angel in the book of 

 Revelation, who came down from Heaven to proclaim destruction to 

 time. " He had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right 

 foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud 

 voice, as when a lion roareth : and when he had cried, seven thunders 

 uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their 



