OBITUARY. DEATH OF Dr. WILLIAM M. TENNENT. The following extract is from Dr. Green's Address, LET me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Such, we have every reason to believe, was the death of that dear man of God, whose mortal part we have just committed to its kindred dust. Having known him fully, you know that he lived the life of the righteous; and many of you know, by personal observation, that he approached death in a manner most exemplary and desirable. I am not going to say much about him-I am forbidden to do it, not only by the want of time, but by his own injunction. A few weeks since, when I was with him, he desired every other person to retire from his chamber; when, calling me to his bed-side, he said-and it was with a manner which it was impossible to see, and not believe that he spoke from the bottom of his heart-he said, "I have to request that, at my funeral, but little may be said of me. Let the occasion be made use of to do good to others, but let as little as possible be said of me." Never was I so struck, as at that moment, with the charms of deep and unfeigned humility. I asked him if he was not willing that the circumstances of his sickness and death should be mentioned, with a view to improve them? He said, "he must leave that, in some measure, to the discretion of his brethren." But he still subjoined-" it will not be necessary to say much of me." Much, therefore, I will not, and, indeed, I need not say. A volume of eulogy, or a monument of marble, would do him less real honour than the temper which made him unwilling to be applauded. Dr. He was descended of a family by whom the American Church has been much benefitted. The name of Tennent is justly venerable and precious, to the lovers of evangelical truth, and a faithful gospel mi- N nistry. A man of this name and family has not been wanting in the sacred office, in our connexion, for about a century past, till now. Tennent died in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was early pious. He received his education at the college of New Jersey. His attainments in literature were respectable; and a few years since he was honoured with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He began to preach in his twenty-third year. He was first settled at Greenfield, in the state of Connecticut. Thence he was called to this Church, about twenty-seven years ago. Here he has laboured with fidelity, and not without effect. He has never dishonoured his Christian or ministerial character, by negligence, or by misdeed. He has incessantly inculcated the great truths of the Gospel, and he has adorned them by a life exemplary in all the relations which he sustained. He had been declining in health for more than three years, and last spring he began to die. So he then thought and said; and the event has proved that he judged rightly. Since that period, his declension to the grave has been regular; and certainly it has been one more instructive, comfortable, and edifying, than has ever before been witnessed by me. He had no fear of death. He had, indeed, a strong desire “to depart, and to be with Christ." (Phil. i. 23.) Yet, he was not in haste to be gone. He was willing to wait his appointed time. He sustained his long illness with a patience and cheerfulness that were truly surprising. He sought to employ every moment, and every opportunity that offered, to speak or do something that might promote the spiritual welfare of those around him. Many opportunities did offer, and much good has he done. The enviable state of his mind was mentioned by his friends; and numbers, not only of his own charge, but of his remote acquaintance, visited him in his sickness; and very favourable, and apparently deep impressions, have, in several instances, been made by his addresses to them. Perhaps he has preached more powerfully, and more effectually, since he has been dying, than in his most vigorous days. Those, indeed, must have stubborn hearts, who have not been softened by what they have seen and heard in the apartment where he expired. While he was tottering on the brink of the grave, he was several times brought into this house, and I think you can never forget how he looked, and how he spoke-May you remember, and improve, to your eternal benefit, these last and affecting labours of his love. He told me that he had none of those rapturous views of future glory which some have known. What he thought little, perhaps others would have thought much; for during the interview at which he said this, he seemed to talk like one who was looking right into heaven. But be this as it might, he certainly had an even, unshaken, animating hope, which was most uncommon. Though he had formerly been afraid of death-though he was constitutionally subject to fluctuating feelings and though his disease was calculated to exhaust the animal spirits, yet, for eight months past, I believe he did not pass one gloomy hour, nor suffer depression from one serious fear. What could so sustain him, but the grace and power of God? "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." In reading a pious commentator* on these words, I found a description of the last scenes of our brother's life, as exact as if it had been drawn for him-" That calmness, (says the writer,) with which a true believer expects and submits to the stroke of death; that hope full of immortality which supports him at the solemn season; and that prospect of eternal felicity in another world, in which he rejoices, and which he recommends to others, render his latter end desirable."-Desirable, indeed! Every other object of desire on earth is worthless and contemptible in the comparison. * Seott on the passage. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS, AND NEW EDITIONS. By S. Whiting & Co. The Christian's Great Interest, in two parts. I. The trial of a saving interest in Christ. II. The way how to attain it. By the Rev. Wm. Guthrie, late minister of the Gospel at Fenwick. To which is added, Memoirs of the Author; a Preface by the Rev. Mr. Robert Traill; and other recommendatory introductions.-N. B. In this edition, the reader will find the Scotticism belonging to all former editions, erased, and English words substituted: and also a note, explaining the meaning with which our author calls faith the con dition of the new covenant. Scott's Family Bible, Vol. I. To be completed in 6 Vols. Royal 8vo. Faber on the Prophecies, 2 vols. 3. Cicero Delphini, 8vo. $ 3. Letters and Conversational Remarks, by the late Rev. John Newton, during the last eighteen years of his life, selected from his private correspondence and conversations with the Rev. John Campbell, of Edinburgh, and lately published by him. By Ezra Sargeant. By The Resources of the British Empire, together with a view of the probable result of the present contest between Great-Britain and France. John Bristed. 1 vol. 8vo. $2 50. Beauties of Dr. Robertson, containing the most prominent works of that illustrious historian, being the lives and characters of the principal personages, together with the most memorable events delineated by him in his histories of Scotland, of Charles V. and of America. To which is prefixed, An account of the Life and Writings of the author. The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments. The text taken from the most correct copies of the present authorized version; with the marginal readings, a collection of parallel texts, and copious summaries to each chapter; with a commentary and critical notes; designed as a help to the better understanding the Sacred Scriptures. By Adam Clark, L.L.D. No. 1. of Vol. I. Websters & Skinner, Albany. The Excellency of the Scriptures, a Sermon, delivered before the Albany Bible Society, at their annual meeting, in the North Dutch Church, Feb. 12, 1811. By Samuel Blatchford, D. D. Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Lansingburgh. By E. Little & Co. Newburyport. Memoirs of the late Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, D. D. Founder and President of Dartmouth College, and Moore's Indian Charity School; with a Summary History of the College and School. To which is added, Extracts from his epistolary correspondence. By David Mc Clure, D. D. S. H. S. Pastor of a Church in East Windsor, Conn. With additions. By Elijah Parish, D. D. Pastor of a Church in Byefield, Mass. A Funeral Discourse, delivered at the interment of the late Rev. Nathaniel Hayes, in the North congregational Church of Newburyport, Dec. 14, 1810. By Samuel Spring, D. D. WORKS PROPOSED, AND IN PRESS. The Publishers of Macknight on the Apostolical Epistles expressed their determination, should that work meet with a favourable reception, to proceed immediately with the publication of Campbell on the Four Gospels. The large and important work of Macknight is now completed. Encouraged, therefore, by the liberal subscription, and great approbation which has universally been expressed of its typographical execution, the editors are now fulfilling their engagement to publish Campbell on the Gospels. S. Whiting & Co. publishers of this work for the state of New-York, &c. CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.-In consequence of the advanced period of the year, when proposals for the republication of the Christian Observer were issued, the publishers will commence the work with the first Number of the present year, which will be put to press, as soon as received. S. Whiting & Co. Have in the press, and propose to publish by the first of May, in 1 neat vol. 8vo. A contrast between Calvinism, and Hopkinsianism. By Ezra Stiles. Ely, A. M. Stated preacher to the Hospital and Almshouse, in the city of New-York. E. Sargeant, Proposes shortly to commence the republication of the Edinburgh Annual Register. John Elliot, Jun. · Has in press, A sequel to the Sketch of the Denominations of the Christian world; being testimonies in behalf of Christian candour and unanimity, by divines of the Church of England, the Kirk of Scotland, and among the Protestant Dissenters. To which is added, An Essay on the right of private judgment in matters of religion. By John Evans, A. M. Master of a Seminary for a limited number of pupils, Bullin's Row, Idington. T. B. Wait & Co. Boston, Propose to publish by subscription, Bigland's View of the World, in 5 vols. 8vo. Price to subscribers, $2 25 per vol. A. Lyman & Co. Portland, Expect soon to publish Robinson's Scripture Characters, in 3 vols. 8vo. John West & Co. Boston, Have in press, Messiah, by Klopstock, 2 vols. 8vo. A view of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland, abridged from the second part of Dr. Hill's Theological Institutes. 11. THE judicatories to whom the Church of Scotland has committed all authority, are, 1. Kirk Sessions. This judicatory is composed of the minister of the parish, who is officially modera. tor, and of lay-elders. New elders are chosen by the voice of the Session. After their election has been agreed upon, their names are read from the pulpit, in a paper called an Edict, appointing a day, at the distance of not less than ten days, for their ordination. If no member of the congregation offer any objection upon that day, or if the session find the objections that are offered frivolous, or unsupported by evidence, the minister proceeds, in face of the congregation, to ordain the new elders; that is, to set them apart to that office by prayer, accompanied with an exhortation to them, and an address to the people. According to the ancient laws and the universal practice of the Church, elders are required, at the time of their ordination, to declare explicitly their assent to all that is contained in the Confession of Faith. VOL. IV.-No. V. 2 G |