To three other gentlemen, devoted adherents to the lamented deceased, warm acknowledgments are, also, most righteously due. Their kind, and still continued attentions, are gratifying proof of their attachment to him, who was so dear to them; and gratitude hath, with mournful alacrity, reared her altars in the bosoms of the widow and the fatherless.

Some strange occurrences were noted, which filled the heart of the venerable man of God with sorrow, unutterable sorrow. Everything seemed to point homeward to the sky, and upon Lord's day morning, August twenty-seventh, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, at four o'clock, an especial summons was despatched by the Most High, to recal his long-tried servant; but alas! we did not recognize the messenger; we rather believed that the circumstances which marked the acknowledged change, would look with a friendly aspect upon the health of the beloved man, during the succeeding autumn and winter; but the honored sufferer himself, apparently better informed, anticipatingly observed- Who knows, perhaps the liberating hour is at hand;' and his feelings were always elated or depressed, in exact proportion as the moment of his departure seemed to advance or recede.

The progress of the new disease was astonishingly rapid. A physician was summoned, who permitted the indulgence of hope. On Tuesday, 29th, his complaints evidently abated, insomuch, that while the features of his strongly marked face expressed the deepest inortification, he tremulously exclaimed, Am I then once more thrown back, the melancholy subject of alternate hope and fear?" On Wednesday, every symptom increased; he obtained little rest, and hope manifestly triumphed in his bosom. Another physician was called in, whose doubtful answers to proposed questions created much alarm. He seemed to consider nature as surrendering her offices. In the course of Thursday, 31st, he repeatedly and earnestly said, 'I cannot be sufficiently thankful to God my Saviour, that I suffer no pain, either of body or mind.' To a young, and tenderly interested friend, he smilingly observed, 'I am hastening through the valley of the SHADOW of deatn: I am about to quit this distempered state; yet a little moment and I shall be received into the city of the living God, with the innumerable company of the apostles, and spirits of just men made perfect, and I shall continue forever in the presence of my divine Master.'

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His family solicited his blessing. You are blessed,' he replied, 'you are blessed with all the spiritua spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus; and, remember,' he added, fixing his dying eyes upon them, remember, that however tried in this world, there is another and better state of things; and that, although pierced in this vale of tears by the arrows of unkindness and ingratitude, there is One who loveth you, with an everlasting love, and who will never leave you nor forsake you.'

On Friday morning, September 1st, some expressions gave positive proof of his sanity: but as the day advanced, his derangement was supposed unquestionable, and from this hour, until Saturday evening, a little after sunset, he continued, with few intervals, incoherently repeating the most consolatory passages in the book of God. His right hand was constantly in motion, and when any one approached, whatever might be the question, the answer was ready. 'TO HIM,' said the expiring christian, 'SHALL THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE BE, AND HIS REST SHALL BE GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS. I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Nor I alone, CHRIST JESUS HATH TASTED DEATH FOR EVERY MAN," &c. &c. These God-honoring, man-restoring truths, were audibly articulated, while voice and strength continued; and when speaking only in a whisper, to the listening ear applied to his moving lips, it was ascertained that the same consolatory assurances still dwelt upon his tongue. Was this delirium? or, if it were, was it not a delirium irradiated by the powerful influence of redeeming love? Did not the luminous truths, upon which the noble, the capacious mind had so long reposed, beam refulgent over the scattering fragments, then dissolving, which had for a term of more than seventy years, embodied the immortal tenant ?

Almost immediately after sunset on Saturday evening, he ceased to speak; his right hand no longer waved, and he continued in the same position, in which the enduring kindness of his faithful assistant had placed him, until six o'clock, Lord's-day morning, September third, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen; when, without a sigh, or a struggle, or a single distortion of countenance, he expired. His long-imprisoned spirit escaped to the God who gave it.

It did not appear through the whole of Friday and Saturday, that he suffered the least pain, except when an attempt was made to move him. His breath grew shorter and shorter, like the sweet sleep of a tired infant, until it could no more be distinguished. He departed this life in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

Sacred be the scene which immedately succeeded. We do not wish-we attempt not to lift the veil; but we exult in the convic tion, that we shall, ere long, foilow the emancipated spirit to the abodes of blessedness.

The interment could be deferred only until Monday evening, September 4th. Funeral honors were promptly and unanimously decreed. The children of the society, distinguished by a badge of mourning, preceded the body; a long, solemn, well-ordered and respectable procession followed the train of mourners; private car riages were added to those appointed by the society; the body was deposited upon stands in the aisle of the church; the pulpit and galleries were hung with black; religious exercises were performed; when it was entombed with the ashes of those to whom he had been fondly attached. Everything, which inmediately referred to the sacred remains of the deceased, was liberally provided by the religious adherents of the promulgator, and the arrears which would have been due to the family, had the vote of March, 1815, been similar to that of March 1814, were paid, to a single farthing.

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CHAPTER IX.
Conclusion.

And now the feverish dream of life is o'er.

HAD we talents, we would exhibit a portrait of the deceased :But, besides that we feel ourselves inadequate to a task so arduous, we are not perfectly convinced of its propriety. Friendship might be too warm, and admiration too lavish. His colleague has been his eulogist, and no friend of the deceased will pronounce the panegyric an exaggeration. Perhaps it does not contain a more just, or a more happy paragraph than the following: Without a second to aid him, you saw him pass along these shores from Maryland to New Hampshire, like the lonely Pelican of the wilderness, publishing, as with the voice of an angel, the tidings of everlasting life to the whole world, in the name, and through the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

It has been said that persuasion dwelt upon the lips of our philanthropist. The pages of recollection furnish many instances of his powerful and soul-subduing eloquence. We are impelled to select, from the fading record, two facts which are well authenticated:

A London mob had assembled in great force, with the most destructive and murderous designs. Time-honored edifices were to be demolished, and the weapons of death to be pointed at the most valuable lives. This scene of riot was exhibited during the troubles relative to Mr. Wilkes; all was tumult and tremendous uproar; an attempt at reasoning was stifled by outrageous clamor; the efforts of peace officers were fruitless, and the military was on the point of being called into action, when Mr. Murray, returning from some religious meeting to his peaceful home, found himself in the midst of the infuriated rioters, and instantly mounting a stand, which opportunely presented, he harangued the lawless multitude; and, by soothing their prejudices, addressing their passions, and pointing out the only legitimate steps for the purpose of outaining redress, he first obtained silence, next softened and ameliorated their passions, and finally dispersed, without mischief, a most enraged populace. A nobleman, seizing him by the hand, impressively said, 'Young man, I thank you; I aim ignorant of your name, but I bear testimony to your wonderful abilities. By your exertions, much blood and treasure have this night been saved.'

The second instance which we present is nearer home. A motion was made in the legislature of a sister state, then province, to raise a sum of money for the relief of the Bostonians, suffering from the severe decrees of a British ministry. Mr. Murray attended the debates; the motion was seconded, and supported with spirit and judgment, and it was opposed with some violence and little reason. It was put to vote, and lost by a majority of twelve persons; Mr. Murray's particular adherents voting against it. It happened he was on that day to dine at the house of a Doctor B-, one of the triumphant majority, with several gentlemen on the same side of the question, when his powerful animadversions and reasoning upon the subject wrought so great a revolution as to produce a re-consideration of the vote, and the motion for succoring the Bostonians passed, by a majority of nine persons.

Mr. Murray has been accused of licentious opinions and practices. His letters to his friends would fill many volumes; addressed to the private ear of those he best loved, they ought to decide upon his opinions; and, for his life, perhaps no man of abilities so stinted was ever a greater blessing to mankind. We indulge ourselves with giving one letter, written to the son of a most intimate friend:

You are placed at school for two purposes; the improvement of your understanding, and the formation of virtuous principles. It cannot be doubted that the improvement of the heart is esteemed by those to whom you are most dear, beyond the most cultivated intellect. It is your business to unite these estimable objects; your heart and understanding should be emulous in pursuit of excellence. Ethics, improved and elevated by the christian religion, become the guides to real wisdom and solid happiness; these they could never have attained in the schools of heathen philosophy. It is not expected that you should thus early be engaged in the profound disquisitions of theology. The plain doctrines of the religion, which it is hoped you will profess, have been explained to you; but the principal business is to open your heart for the reception of those sentiments and principles, which will conduce to the direction of your actions, in the employments and engagements of your subsequent life. Permit me, however, to remind you of the necessity of reading the scriptures, that is, of drinking the sacred waters at the fountain head. But, to read the scriptures with advantage, judgment is necessary, and as your judgment is not yet matured, you must submit to the direction of your instructers. The plainest, and most perspicuous passages will, for the present, best deserve and reward your attention. The historical parts of the Old Testament will entertain you, if you consider them only in a classical point of view, as valuable passages of ancient history; but I would call your attention more immediately to the books which are most replete with moral instruction, such as the Proverbs of Solomon, the Wisdom of the Son of Sirach, and the admirable book entitled, Ecclesiasticus. I trust the time will come, when the prophecies will most pleasingly instruct you; at present you will peruse them for the poetical beauties, which they confessedly display. Isaiah abounds with fine passages of this description, and Jeremiah is by no means deficient in this line. You have no doubt read Pope's Messiah, and could not but have observed, that its most pleasing imagery is selected from Isai

ah. If you read the Old Testament with a taste for its beauties, you will accomplish two important purposes; you will acquire a knowledge of the Holy Bible, which is your duty, and you will improve your taste and judgment. The New Testament requires the attention of every one, who professes himself a christian. You must read it with that humility, which becomes a finite being, but more particularly a young person; you will do well to pay especial attention to the Sermon on the Mount, and to that admirable epitome of all moral philosophy, the RULE OF DOING TO OTHERS AS WE WOULD THEY SHOULD DO UNTO US. If you pay due obedience to this precept, you will never hesitate in determining what part you are, upon every occasion, to act. It is proper you should familiarize your mind to the language of scripture; although you may not fully comprehend the sacred writings, you will thus treasure up in your memory many useful passages, which may become in future highly consolatory. An early acquaintance with the letter of the Old and New Testaments, has been found substantial props through lengthening years; but all this, my dear young friend, will avail but little, unless you add thereto prayer and praise. Make it therefore a rule, never to be violated, to pray night and morning. The Redeemer, while clothed in humanity, earnestly and fervently addressed the Deity; forget not, therefore, to offer your private addresses to the Father of your spirit, at retiring to rest, and with the early dawn. Your age is the age of inadvertence; you enjoy health, and you are a stranger to the cares of the world. Cheerfulness does indeed become you, but let me pray you to consider the value of time, and the importance of appropriating it to wisdom. Consider your parents; the anxiety they experience upon your account: most ardently do they desire your improvement. Laudably ambitious, they are solicitous that you should be eminent, in whatever profession or employment you may be destined to engage. To see you contemptible, would fill them with the extreme of anguish; and, trust me, nothing will rescue you from contempt, but individual merit, a good disposition, adorned by literature, and embellished by the lighter accomplishments, and especially elevated by christianity. Your parents have labored indefatigably, to promote you; but it remains with yourself to give success to their endeavors. The mind is not like a vessel, into which we may pour any good quality, whatever the director may choose; it is rather like a plant, which, by the operation of its own internal powers, imbibes the nutriment afforded by the earth. I repeat; it is certain that instructers can serve you only in conjunction with your own efforts. Let me then entreat you to exert yourself, if you have any regard for those parents, whose happiness so much depends upon your conduct; if you have any regard for your own honor, felicity, and prosperity; if you hope to be useful, and respected in society.

'Always consider me as your friend and servant,