SECTION XVII. The following character of Rev. Mr. Emerson is extracted from HELP, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men !" Psalm xii. 1. The godly man ceaseth. The Reverend William Emerson* gave early indications of devotedness to the service of God. He was a descendant of pious ancestors, through many generations; and the only son of one of the most popular and promising ministers of Newengland, who died early in the american revolution. The mother, who survives to mourn over the death of her son, saw him with delight soon giving his attention and studies to the word and ministry of that God, to whom the prayers and wishes of his parents had directed his first thoughts. They, who knew him best, during the most trying period of youthful virtue, bear witness to the sin * The following dates and facts, relating to Rev. Mr. Emerson and his family, may be grateful to his friends and the publick. He was the son of Rev. William Emerson and Phebe his wife, daughter of the Rev. Daniel Bliss. He was born at Concord, 6 May, 1769. Graduated at Cambridge, 1789. Ordained at Harvard, 1792. Installed in the First Church, Boston, 16 Oct. 1799. SEC.XVII. 1811.. SEC.XVII. gular purity of his mind, tenderness of his conscience, devoutness of his feelings, and strictness of his manners; qualities, which, by God's blessing, age and experience did not diminish, and which his christian profession afterwards secured and improved. 1808. May. In one of the longest conversations, which I was permitted to hold with him, a few days before his death, when his mind seemed to be lighted up anew, and his faculties to collect fresh vigour, he expressed the most grateful and pious satisfaction in the circumstance, that he, with all his father's family, had so early felt the obligations of the gospel, as to give themselves up to Jesus Christ by a profession of his religion. The privilege of being a christian then occupied his thoughts; and he continued to talk with unusual animation of the benefits of early communion; and to express his wishes, that his eldest son, then at his bedside, might not forget early to seek, nor be so unhappy as ever to forfeit, this christian privilege. That great article of the christian dispensation, the resurrection from the dead, was the frequent theme of his meditations, and of his publick instructions; so that his faith was not vain, nor his preaching vain; for his faith was always strong enough to render his preaching the expression of his own intimate persuasions, and the cheerful employment of his life. Of the practical strength of his faith and piety he was permitted to give us a memorable example, during that sudden attack, which he sustained, a few years since, in all the fulness of his health and expectations, when he was busily pre 1808. paring for a publick service. Those, who then SEC.XVII. saw him brought down,in an instant, and without any previous warning, to the gates of death, can never forget the steadfastness, with which he received the alarm, and the singular humility and composure, with which he waited, during many days, doubtful of life, and expecting every hour to leave all, that was dear to him on earth, to present himself before God.* Next to the satisfaction of behaving well ourselves, in an hour of trial, is that of witnessing the tranquillity of our friends, and finding, that we need not fear for their example, while flesh and heart is failing, for God is the strength of their heart and their portion forever. The same steadfastness, and tranquil foresight 1811. of his dissolution God has enabled him to exhibit, through the whole of the distressing and lingering disorder, of which he died. A few hours before his death, he overheard some conversation respecting those, who should pass the night with him; and he summoned strength enough to articulate "God is with me!" The great interest, with which some persons always watch the It was in the year 1808, that he was attacked with a profuse hemorrhage from the lungs, from the effects of which he never completely recovered. But the disease, of which he died, had not probably the remotest connexion with this bleeding. It appeared upon examination, that the lower orifice of the stomach was almost entirely closed by a schirrhous tumour, or hard swelling, which on the inside was ulcerated. So completely was the pas. sage of the pylorus obliterated, that a drop of water could hardly be pressed through it from the stomach, which was full. EE SEC.XVII. 1611. last intelligent exercises of a spirit, which has been warned of its departure, was here not disappointed. No one could leave his presence without a secret consciousness, that the collected, intelligent, and strong indications, which he daily gave, of profound submission to God's will, and unshaken faith in his gospel, were very much to be preferred to the indistinct raptures and ejaculations, which are so often caught from the lips of the dying, where more is supposed to be meant, than meets the ear, and more is put into the speech, than was originally contained in the thought. The approach of death gave no new colour to his faith; and he has left us a proof, which will long be remembered, not of the truth indeed, but of the power of those principles, by which, for nearly twenty years, he had preached and practised. He was a faithful as well, as a pious man. Of his fidelity in his ministerial office, you, my hearers, are of course better judges, than the preacher. But from his extraordinary correctness of manners, and disposition to method in the disposal of his time, great fidelity might be expected in what he regarded, as his duty; and this sentiment as well, as the desire of doing good, would engage so careful a mind, as his, in the punctilious discharge of the duties of his profession. The prosperity of this ancient church was peculiarly dear to him. He looked back with veneration almost unbounded on some of his predecessors here; and while he breathed much of their spirit, he successfully emulated their merits. He was a happy example of that correct and rational style of evangelical preaching, of which the yet lamented Clarke has left so fair a specimen. Our departed brother had long been employed on a history of the First Church; and was engaged in the analysis of the works and character of Chauncy, when his progress was arrested by the disease, of which he died, and he was called to join the company of those great and good men, whom he had before known only in their works, but now face to face. Such is the constitution of society among us, that much of the care of our literary and charitable institutions devolves upon those clergymen, who have disposition and qualifications for the task. Mr. Emerson's industry, integrity, accuracy, and fidelity were well known in the nume. rous societies, of which he was a member. The town has lost a diligent observer of its youth and their education; the Academy and Historical Society an associate greatly interested in their flourishing state; the University an attentive overseer, The clergy throughout the country have lost a hospitable and liberal brother; his family a most careful and excellent father, husband, and master; and his friends an honourable and faithful friend. SEC.XVII. 1811. O'tis well With him. But who knows what the coming hour, |