4o6 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^793 



" In the meantime, let U3 faithfnlly, and with good conscience, ac- 

 cording to our best understanding, strive to retain the form of sound 

 words and doctrine, concerning the immortality of the soul; the resur- 

 rection of the dead, a judgment to come, the rewards and punishments 

 of a future life, over which Christ's throne will be established in ricrht- 

 eousness, and his kingdom and dominion be forever." 



Tiie Christian religion has no fruits more precious than those which 

 sweeten our cup of affliction in life, exhilarate us to combat death, and 

 assure our hopes of a better world. Natural religion, and all the other 

 religions which have been professed among men, could go but a short 

 way even in teaching them how to live ; but in teaching them how to 

 die, there remained a dismal and dreadful blank. Before the Christian 

 revelation, death was only a leap into the dark, a wrench from the pre- 

 cincts of day, at which the astonished soul shuddered and recoiled. 

 But now the gospel lifts our eye to immortal scenes. It unlocks eter- 

 nity before us. It shows us a reconciled God, and Jesus the Mediator 

 seated on his right hand. It teaches, that through his merits, the just 

 shall live forever, passing from one degree of glory to another, and 

 entering still more deeply into the beatific vision and enjoyment of 

 God the Father, as their faculties are more and more enlarged and ex- 

 panded 



And now, O blessed God ! Father, Son and Holy Ghost, guide and 

 assist us in our preparations for this celestial bliss ; and be our rock and 

 salvation through all the scenes we have to pass towards its attainment. 

 Amen ! 



These nine sermons are among the best of Dr. Smith's dis- 

 courses. They added to his fame already great. They exhibit 

 an intimate acquaintance with all parts of the Holy Scriptures : 

 and give evidence that his mental powers, with advancing years, 

 had in nowise decayed, but, as usually happens, where those 

 powers were originally good and where the moral principles and 

 conduct had been sound, only ripened and grew more worthy of 

 admiration and respect. 



All these sermons, it is an agreeable fact for me to mention, 

 were preached by Dr. Smith not only gratuitously, but also with 

 the certainty that no pecuniary compensation would be received. 

 The desolation of the city, even after the plague had been stayed, 

 was, for a long time, great, and involved all pecuniary interests, 

 including those of the churches. Some of the principal parish- 

 ioners of the United Churches had died during the pestilence. 

 Universal leniency towards debtors was necessary, while the dc- 



