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worthy of himself. As his assistance was much desired in many other places, and his preaching was generally acceptable; I trust there are many, in whom he has been, under God, the instrument of forming a principle of virtue, and of cherishing and improving it by the word of God dispensed by him; who shall be to him, in the great day, a crown of glory and rejoicing. Notwithstanding the exactness of his own compositions, he was a candid hearer of others; and was a true friend, as well as an excellent pattern to younger ministers, in preaching and in conversation.

In his family he was a watchful guardian, a faithful monitor, an affectionate friend.

He had a great command of his temper and his words. He was scarce ever seen to be angry. He very seldom said any thing to the disadvantage of any one; and was much more apt to commend than find fault.

He was a steady friend. If any, who stood in that relation to him, came into trouble, he did not desert them, but liberally relieved, and affectionately comforted them, and persisted to take care of them under continued distresses and afflictions; though sometimes some such returns were made, as could not be altogether agreeable.

He was happy in the esteem and respect of great numbers of his brethren in the ministry, and many others; men of much reading, sound judgment, unquestioned probity, and eminent in their several spheres and stations. Not now to insist on the regard shown him by those of the congregation, to which he was more especially related, and in whom he had much comfort; which was mentioned before.

He scarce ever lost any friendship entirely for being always master of himself, he never irritated by hasty and offensive expressions the displeasure, which any through prejudice might conceive against him: and, as good-will had never ceased, nor enmity taken place, on his part, when opportunities offered, (which were not unlikely to happen, considering his reputation and influence in the world,) he cheerfully performed offices of kindness for such persons, or their friends, and thereby laid them under fresh obligations. Thus he overcame evil with good, and regained the love and esteem of those, who for a while had been estranged from him.

He was a sincere friend of religious and civil liberty: and was always of a catholic spirit, loving good christians of every communion.

Such were his attainments, that it may be well supposed he was particularly fitted for the conversation of men of

rank, and of extensive knowledge: but he could condescend; and in the society of meaner persons he was the same man; as well pleased, and as free and communicative, as in any other; provided he found an inquisitive temper, and some good understanding in the things of religion. In those seasons he appeared very amiable to such as were attentive, and disposed to observe.

The best judges have acknowledged the pieces published by him, which consist of several volumes, and are upon divers subjects and occasions, to be the works of a masterly hand. How constant he was in the public services of his ministerial office in this place, and how frequent elsewhere, are things well known: and when it is considered how laboured and finished all his compositions were; and that, besides, he read much, both in ancient and modern authors; had a numerous acquaintance, and a large epistolary correspondence; and that with care he revised many works of his learned friends, and kindly forwarded some of them to public view, and performed abundance of other good offices in private, and had a concern in many great and useful designs of a more public nature; it may be somewhat difficult to conceive, how he should have sufficient time and strength for what he did: but he was blessed with a most ready apprehension, which fitted him for quick despatch; and moreover, he loved employment, and could endure long and close application.

But to draw to a conclusion: Dr. Harris may be said to have excelled among good men, on account of the number of virtues possessed by him in a conspicuous degree; and on account of the great uniformity of his temper and conduct in the several occurrences of his life. Among great men, in like manner, he had a distinction, inasmuch as there have been few in whom so many accomplishments have met together and been united. What may serve to confirm this part of the character, however exalted it may appear, is his great reputation in the world, which began very early, and

a

a Dr. Harris was for a short time assistant to Mr. Read in Gravel Lane, Southwark. In 1698, the twenty-third year of his age, he was chosen to succeed the very eminent Mr. Timothy Crusoe in the pastoral care of the congregation in Crouched Friars, London. In 1703, he was entrusted by the executors of Mr. Nathanael Taylor with the publication of the posthumous papers of that celebrated preacher; to which he prefixed a preface, an example of that excellent manner, by which all his writings are distinguished. How great his credit has been of late years, is well known. I add no more. But, for some farther memoirs of Dr. Harris, would refer to the funeral sermon preached by Dr. Grosvenor.

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continued to the last; not sought by him, but attending him, as the shadow and concomitant of his merit.

By the greatness of his capacity he was qualified for the highest stations in life, and might have shone therein; but it is as glorious to despise great things, as to seek and obtain them. Merit is an intrinsic thing, and depends not upon outward advantages: nor is his at all the less for chusing to serve God, and abiding in the way most agreeable to his own judgment, and endeavouring to be useful among those christians, who were much of the same mind with himself; to whom he has been an ornament, and will be a lasting honour.

The relation that has subsisted between this excellent person and us, is now dissolved and broken by the stroke of death and it becomes us to submit our wills to the divine will and pleasure, and to acquiesce in this afflictive and discouraging event. But there are also other duties incumbent on us. It is a direction of the apostle: "Remember them that have had the rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God: and considering the end of their conversation," their steadfastness and perseverance, "follow their faith," Heb. xiii. 7. There is honour and respect due to the memory of such and we ought likewise to imitate their virtues. We should recollect the instructions that have been given us, and continue to follow and obey them. We are to be thankful for the blessing we have enjoyed; and are also to consider, that we have had a talent, of which we must give an account. If we shall be able to give a good account in the end, this will be joyful to those who have been our guides and instructors, and to ourselves. Both they and we shall, then, receive a full reward.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AN ARGUMENT

FOR THE TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

THREE DISCOURSES

ON ROMANS xi. 11.

I

say then, have they stumbled, that they should fall? God forbid. But rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Rom. xi. 11.

IN this context the apostle discourseth of an affecting scene of things, the reception of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews; the former a just occasion of much joy, the latter of like grief and concern that they, who had been long favoured and distinguished by religious privileges, should fall from them: and, when others received marks of divine favour, and indeed pressed in for a share in spiritual blessings, they should be offended at it.

St. Paul has a long argument upon these points in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh chapters of this epistle to the Romans. He enters upon it at the beginning of the ninth chapter in these words: "I say the truth in Christ, and lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow of heart. For I could wish:" I am almost ready to wish. He does not say, that he actually wisheth it. "For I could wish," says he, "that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came:" and it concludes with a pious acknowledgment, and humble adoration of the wisdom and equity of Divine Providence; though these and other events in this world appear to us, for a time, strange and surprising. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!For of him, and through him, and to him are all things. To whom be glory for ever."

My chief design at this time is to observe some advantages, which christians have in their argument for the truth of their religion, from the present afflictive circumstances, and low estate of the Jewish people and nation.

"I say then, have they stumbled, that they should fall?" As if the apostle had said: But by this their present re'jection, which I have been speaking of, do I intend to say, that they have so stumbled, as to fall; that is, so as never to rise again, and never to be again restored to prosperous ⚫ circumstances, as a people?'

Or, according to another interpretation: Do I by what 'I have said intend to intimate, that all of them should fall, ⚫ and none believe, and partake of the blessings of the Mes'siah's kingdom, and the divine favour?'

6

"God forbid:" or, which would be better, and more proper by no means, or far be it: for the name of God never is in the original phrase, by which this emphatical negative is expressed. No, by no means: that is not the 6 case, that none of the natural posterity of Jacob should 'believe, and come into the privileges of the Messiah's 'kingdom.'

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"But through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them unto jealousy." But by the 'Jewish people now generally rejecting the Messiah, it has so happened, that salvation has been conveyed unto 'the Gentiles: and herein there is not only a benefit to them, ' in their salvation, but also to the Jews: for by the Gentiles ' embracing the gospel proposed to them, and coming to 'partake of religious privileges, the Jewish people will be 'provoked to emulation: more of them will now believe, and be accepted of God, than if the gospel had not been 'preached to and received by the Gentiles.

When therefore I speak, as I have done, concerning the 'offence taken by the Jews against Jesus and his gospel, and concerning the divine displeasure against them upon 'that account; I do not intend to insinuate, that the poste'rity of Jacob are totally and absolutely excluded: or to 'deny, that such of them, who now, or at any time hereafter, 'shall believe, will be received and approved.'

The sense I have given of this text is confirmed by what the apostle says at the beginning of this chapter, where also, in the course of his argument, he has these like words: "I say then, has God cast away his people? By no means. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin," Rom. xi. 1. I reckon myself a proof 'to the contrary, and that God is willing to receive any of

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