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if nothing more be done, that his example may be remembered and imitated by those who would be "followers of them, who through faith and patience, inherit the promises."

He was settled as pastor over the united congregations of (what was then called) Mill Creek and Harman's Creek, near the western line of Pennsylvania, which then lay scattered over a great extent of country. As circumstances permitted, new charges were erected within the same bounds; and his was contracted within narrower limits, until his meeting-houses were but eight miles distant from each other; the names of the congregations being changed to Service and King's Creek.

In the discharge of the various pastoral duties, Dr. Anderson was a remarkable example of diligence and fidelity. Indeed his whole heart was in his work-he lived wholly for his divine Master, and for the spiritual interests of his people. Perhaps no man since the days of the apostles, was more eminently endowed with the true spirit of his station. His pulpit exercises, in their matter, were always solid, judicious and practical; in method, distinct; in arrangement, natural; in style, like his printed compositions, they were models of plainness, simplicity and perspicuity.

As a professor of theology, which office he held from about the year 1792 until 1819, he was no less distinguished for his industry and singular usefulness. His lectures were written and re-written, from time to time, as his own reflections and various and extensive reading suggested improvements. But perhaps none of his qualifications as a professor, contributed so much to form the character of his students, as his critical acuteness in judging of a discourse. If a discourse was deficient in perspicuity or logical arrangement, his well trained and judicious mind soon detected and convincingly exhibited the fault. And the ear of the adept in music was not more quick to discern a discordant note, than was his to detect a sentiment that accorded not with the oracles of God; or even an expression that varied from "sound speech that cannot be condemned."

At the age of seventy-one or two his growing infirmities admonished him to resign the professorship, which he had held about twenty-seven years. He had several times before proposed tendering his resignation, but had still been prevailed upon by the members of Synod to defer it.

His bodily constitution was strong, and until the year before he resigned the professorship, he had never been prevented from preaching a single Sabbath, by sickness or bodily infirmity; when he had an attack of sickness, which greatly

impaired his constitution, and from that time he began visibly to decline in health and bodily vigor. But he still continued to discharge the various pastoral duties with a zeal and activity which yielded but slowly and reluctantly to his increasing frailties, until April 6th, 1830, when, in the 82d year of his age, and 48th of the exercise of his ministry in this country, he was suddenly called to his eternal rest.

The particulars of his death were singular, and are worthy of being recorded. He preached on Sabbath, two days previous to his death, at King's Creek, the more distant place from his residence. On Monday a meeting of the congregation was held, in order to take measures to procure an assistant to their venerable pastor. He attended at this meeting, and preached a discourse from these words, "Thy name is like ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee." (Song i. 3.)After sermon he rode on towards Buffalo meeting house, which was about twenty miles from King's Creek, where the Presbytery was to meet next day. He was accompanied by Mr. John Leiper, one of his elders. He sat in Presbytery all day, until evening, when it adjourned, and took his usual share and interest in the proceedings. After Presbytery adjourned, he and his elder rode about three miles homeward, and lodged at the house of Mr. James Patterson, an elder of the congregation at Buffalo. He complained a little of weariness, and retired to rest about 10 o'clock. Mr. Leiper retired also to the same room in which Dr. A. slept. He awoke, and remarked that he felt some headache, but appeared again immediately to fall asleep. About midnight he arose out of bed, and instantly fell on the floor. Both Mr. Leiper and Mr. Patterson heard the fall and sprang to his assistance; but before a light could be procured his spirit had departed to God who gave it.

Thus was this eminent and faithful servant permitted to continue in the actual service of his Master, in which he delighted, until the last hour of his long and useful life.

Dr. Anderson was capable of bearing an application to study, to which few men could ever attain. Unless when called out on official duties, he seldom spent less than fourteen hours out of the twenty-four in diligent application to study, or in devotional exercises. His body and his mind seemed alike insensible to the weariness of study, and neither seemed to require refreshment by exercise. As an evidence of the soundness of his bodily faculties, his hearing was unimpaired; and he was able to read in a small pocket Bible without glasses to the last.

As to his Christian graces, meekness and humility might be said to predominate. He was also most conscientiously and scrupulously tender of the feelings of all, even to the very least, with whom he had intercourse.

Dr. Anderson was married, shortly after his settlement, to Elizabeth McCoy, a member of his own congregation, but had no issue. Mrs. Anderson still survives, though laboring under the infirmities of extreme old age.

In closing this short sketch of the life and character of one, who stood to the writer in the interesting and important relation of pastor and theological teacher, the words of the Apostle suggest themselves, "Remember them who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever."

SERMON,

BY THE REV. JOHN ANDERSON, D. D.*

"Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." (Prov. xix. 27.)

In this exhortation, which speaketh to us with peculiar earnestness, as to children, we observe, 1. An evil of which men are in danger, which is, that of erring from the words of knowledge. By the words of knowledge, we are to understand the truths which God hath revealed in his word; which

"This Sermon was published shortly after it was preached, to which was prefix. ed the following Preface by the Author:

"The substance of the following discourse was delivered on the Monday after a communion Sabbath. Some, it seems, have represented it as of a schismatical tendency; and others, as having little or no relation to practical religion, and therefore improper for the occasion on which it was delivered. The writer hopes, that the candid and deliberate perusal of it, will with many, be sufficient to remove these objections.

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What is aimed at in this discourse is, to strike at a principal root of the numerous divisions now in the visible church. It teaches that we ought not to be in a state of separation from any church-communion, but upon such grounds as are scriptural; and upon such considerations, as involving the declarative glory of God, are of inconceivable and infinite importance. Were this doctrine embraced, there would be no separate church-communions upon trivial pretences; or for the sake of religious tenets or usages in the worship of God which have no foundation in his word; no separate church-communions on account of local customs, uncertain opinions, or uninstituted ceremonies; no separate church-communions founded on the narrow and interested views of a faction.

“What is here attempted is a seasonable application of the cautions, with which the scriptures abound, against false teachers. To direct church-members to the right use and application of such cautions will be the endeavor of the faithful ministers of Christ; an endeavor which is rendered peculiarly necessary by the corruptions which prevail in the present state of the visible church.

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Those who reckon that practical religion is not concerned in the subject of this discourse, should consider that true believers have it for their distinguishing character, that they abhor false doctrine, and avoid communion with the teachers of it. (John x. 5. Rev. xiv. 4.)

"That he who chooses the weak and despised things of the world to confound the most boasted things of it, may accompany this attempt with his blessing, is, through grace, the desire of the WRITER.

"YORK BOROUGH, May, 7th, 1794."

the apostle calls wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. To err from them is to deny them, or to be obstinately attached to any contrary opinions or practices. 2. The cause of that evil, which goes under the specious name of instruction, but which is to be understood of the schemes or methods that are taken to draw away persons from the faith, love and profession of the words of knowledge. 3. The duty to which we are exhorted with respect to this pretended instruction, which is, that we should cease to hear it; that we should be on our guard not only against erroneous doctrines, but against all the schemes or methods that are taken to propagate them.

It is now proposed, through divine aid,

I. To consider the evil of erring from the words of knowledge:

II. To enquire what is to be understood by that instruction which causeth to err; and

III. To explain and enforce the duty of ceasing to hear all such instruction.

I. The evil of erring from the words of knowledge appears from such considerations as the following:

1. Erring from the words of knowledge is direct rebellion against the authority of God, whose law binds us to believe whatever he reveals. The language of obstinate error is, I prefer my own wisdom and my own will in such a particular to the wisdom and will of God himself. Besides, it is a direct breach of an express command frequently repeated, Do not err-Be not deceived.

2. Supposing the erroneous not to be so far given up to a desperately wicked and reprobate mind, as openly to deny the authority and majesty of God shining in the holy Scriptures; supposing them to be such as allow the Scriptures to be the word of God, the only rule of faith and practice; yet their sin is exceedingly aggravated in regard that, while they represent their error as contained in the Scriptures, they make the God of truth a liar; nay, they make him the father of a lie. Since there is so much impiety and blasphemy in the perversion of Scripture for the support of falsehood, with what fear and trembling should we guard against that perversion; against walking in craftiness, or handling the word of God deceitfully?

3. Error proceeds from the corrupt bias which the human heart received at the fall. The understanding was then involved in darkness, and the will possessed with the love of it. It has ever since been the case with respect to spiritual and

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