FarewcU Sermon. 165 



that Spirit who searcheth all hearts, and before 

 whose judgment-seat all secret things shall be re- 

 vealed. But to-day, on this solemn, and perhaps, 

 by the providence of God, the last occasion that I 

 am permitted to address you. I beseech you all, by 

 tlie mercies of God, young and old, rich and poor, 

 master and servant, to close with and accept the 

 offers of the Gospel. " Seek ye the Lord tvhile He may 

 he found, call ye upon Him while He is near^ '* Let 

 the wicked forsake his luay, and the unrighteous man his 

 thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will 

 have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He luill 

 abundanthj pardon. * '^ 



My friends, we have lived long together in 

 harmony and peace, and we part in friendship and 

 affection. Need I beseech your prayers for your 

 absent and solitary Pastor, or your friendship for 

 those whom circumstances command him to leave 

 to your care. 



For all past kindness, I thank 3^ou ; I would use a 

 more expressive word, could I find it. 



Conscious am I of many imperfections. Would 

 that 1 had performed my duty to you better ; yet, if 

 I have neglected or injured any of you, it was not 

 from design, and I pray your forgiveness. 



I have come to you, to day, with a body weakened 

 by disease, but with affections as warm as that of a 

 father or a brother. 



For many months to come, others will break to 

 you the bread of life. Should any think that the 

 step I am taking looks like a desertion of duty on 

 my part, I would say that I have never left you, 

 but in obedience to the calls of the Church, or in 

 ministering to the comforts of my aged parents. I 

 have stood by you during the desolation of Fever 

 and Cholera. I have performed my ministerial 

 duties even when exhausted nature admonished me 



