LETTER TO HIS PEOPLE.

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pared to meet and forever behold her in that blessed world to which she appears to be hastening; and O that I may be prepared to enjoy an eternal union in heaven with her with whom I have been so happily united on earth. O that I may be more faithful in the glorious cause of my blessed Redeemer. I am ready to fear that it is on account of my unfaithfulness in the work, that God is now taking me off from my ministerial labors; that it is on account of unfaithfulness to you, that I am separated from you so far, and so long. Never before did it appear to me so great and desirable a work, so high and precious a privilege, to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Though I never before had so earnest a desire to behold your faces in the house of God and address you in the name of Christ, yet I feel utterly unworthy of so great and precious a privilege. I know it would be just in God to separate me entirely from my dearly beloved and affectionate people; who have so greatly abounded in their kindness to me; with whom I have taken so much unspeakable comfort in conversation, in preaching, in singing, in praying, and in the sacraments. Unless I am very much deceived, my greatest concern under my present trial, as far as it relates to myself, is, that it may serve to make me more humble, more watchful, more prayerful, more diligent, more zealous, and in all respects a better man and a better minister. For this desirable end, I dare not trust to any present resolution; I dare not trust to my own heart, for it has often deceived me; and, but for infinite grace, it would long ago have destroyed me. But yet I do venture to entertain some hope that, through the prevalency of your prayers, God will enable me to be more faithful. I beg and entreat every one of you to pray daily and fervently for your unworthy minister; not so much that I may live long, as that I may be faithful while I do live.

I have already intimated, that my unexpected separation so long from you, may have been designed in Providence, as a judgment upon me for my unfaithfulness. But is it not possible, that God had some farther end in view? Notwithstanding all my unfaithfulness and imperfection, your consciences will bear me witness, that I have declared to you some truth-that I have declared to you much truth. A preached gospel is a privilege that but a small

part of mankind enjoy. What an evil and horrible thing must it be for any of those few, who do enjoy, to abuse it. My dear people, are any of you of the number? Do you realize what a great and distinguishing advantage it is, to be permitted to hear the joyful sound, the good news of salvation? How often did God deprive his ancient people of great privileges because they abused them! And what tremendous judgments have they suffered for neglecting and despising the gospel! If we neglect the great salvation of Christ, we have something worse to fear than merely being deprived of the gospel; we have reason to fear something worse than the loss of all the blessings of the gospel; we have reason to fear all the eternal curses it denounces.

Have you not some reason to fear, that God has been pleased to deprive you, in some measure, of the gospel, because you have so poorly improved it? Have you not reason to fear that unless you improve it better in future, he will deprive you of it entirely, and give it to others, who will bring forth better fruits? Have not many of you reason to fear that unless you improve the gospel-unless you soon improve the gospel, better than ever you have done, that God will tread you down in his anger, and trample on you in his fury, and make you the wretched monuments of his eternal displeasure?

I hope, my dear friends, I am not disposed to impute more blame to any of you than I am willing to take to myself. In a few moments, comparatively speaking, you and I must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, where every one must give account of himself.

If then

your Almighty Judge should ask you, why you did not better improve his preached word, it will not avail for you to reply by asking; Why did not our minister preach it more faithfully? That must be a question, (and an awful question it is,) for the minister to answer, and not the Judge; a question for the Judge to ask, and not for sinners. Many, no doubt, are disposed to take refuge in the unfaithfulness of ministers. But it is a miserable refuge that the hail must sweep away. My unfaithfulness will never save you. My sins, though they were ten thousand times greater than yours; though they might destroy me forever, could never save you. You will not be condemned for not improving light that you never enjoyed.

SICKNESS OF HIS WIFE.

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But you may be condemned for abusing the light that you do enjoy. Nay, if you believe not, you are condemned already; and the wrath of God abideth on you. O that you may all be wise, that you may understand this, consider of your latter end, and immediately prepare to meet your God and enjoy his blissful presence forever. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Your affectionate pastor and servant in the gospel, JOSEPH EMERSON.

The Third Congregational Church and Society in Beverly.

Considerable portions have been omitted in the above letter. The whole was nearly as long as a sermon, and was probably communicated to the people in public.

Oct. 15.-Mrs. E. is not much altered, for two days, though she seems rather more discouraged to-day than before. She has been bolstered up in a swing chair, above an hour. How much longer she may continue, God only can tell. My trial waxes greater and greater in almost every point of view; but God is able to hold me up Oh my dear people, may God send them a supply.

Oct. 29.-Though Mrs. E. is not much weaker than she was several days ago, yet her symptoms appear rather more unfavorable. She seems to think that her departure cannot be many days distant. Her mind appears to be in a good measure tranquil. Her meditations, when she is able to meditate, appear to be almost wholly upon objects that have an immediate relation to death, judgment, and eternity. God only can tell how much longer her life may be spared, and I feel willing that this interesting point should be determined according to the dictates of infinite wisdom and benevolence. My health as also that of sisters Charlotte and Burley, continues poor. I should be scarcely able to preach, were I at home. that I may have patience to bear whatever God may see fit to lay upon me, and ever be disposed to turn to Him that smiteth me, and trust in Him though he slay me.

Nov. 9.-I have just past through the solemn, affecting, and, I hope, improving scene of the funeral of my

dear, dear, departed companion. When I wrote before, I did not think of attempting to have the body conveyed to Beverly, this week. But we are now making arrangements for the purpose.

In very great haste.

The death of his wife took place, Nov. 7, two days previous to the date of the last letter.-For many of the deeply interesting circumstances respecting her I must refer the reader to her life as published by her husband, and since, in part, perpetuated as one of the tracts of the American Tract Society, by Rev. Daniel Smith, her pious friend, who has since followed her, through a peaceful death, to the recompense of reward. That thrilling tract has already been blessed as a timely warning to many a soul. May it be thus blessed to thousands more.

It would be an easy, and a mournfully delightful task, to enlarge on a character consisting of attributes so striking as that of my departed sister: but I must here be content with the above reference; and hasten to another chapter on the more immediate subject before us.

CHAPTER IX.

FROM THE DEATH OF HIS SECOND WIFE, TO HIS THIRD 1808-1810.

MARRIAGE.

On the connected duties of christian zeal and self-preservation-Dissertations on his studies, etc. recommended to a student-Death of his oldest brother-Evangelical Primer-On the best mode of preaching.

REDUCED again to solitude, my afflicted brother did not mourn as they who have no hope;-nor yet as one who had no further object for which to live and labor in this vale of tears. Indescribable as were his attachments to those whose loss he had thus been called in sad succession, to bemoan, there was yet a being, seen and felt by faith, whom he loved still more. For the promotion of his cause, it was still his delight to live and labor, and to do all in his power to excite others to labor through all the days that can here be attained. Proof of this, if needed, will be found in the following, to his sister, R. Eaton.

Beverly, Dec. 13, 1808.

Your letter of Nov. 22, afforded me no small satisfaction. At this time every expression of kindness from my beloved connexions, is peculiarly comforting and endearing. I hope, however, I enjoy higher comfort than man can give. May the Lord reward your sisterly benevolence a hundred fold. It is my fervent wish and prayer, that this winter you may be truly and constantly happy; but above all, that you may be useful; that you may not only increase abundantly in the knowledge and love of God, but also do much good to others and greatly advance the kingdom of our glorious Redeemer. O let us be up and doing; let us work while the day lasts. The night of