,death disarmed of its sting4 ,a ,,tribute ,,to ,,the ,,memory ,,of ,,the ,,hon4 ,,roger ,,minott ,,sherman1 ,,being ,,the ,,discourse ,,preached ,,at ,,his ,,funeral1 ,january #b1 #ahde4 ,,by ,,lyman ,h4 ,,atwater1 ,,pastor ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,congregational ,,church ,,in ,,fairfield4 ,,new ,,haven3 ,,printed ,,by ,b4 ,l4 ,,hamlen4 #ahde4 ,,discourse4 #a ,,corinthians1 xv1 #ee4--,o death6 where is thy sting8 ,o grave6 where is thy victory8 ,this triumphant ejaculation1 which ,christ hath made the property of all dying believers1 implies that death may lose its sting and the grave its victory4 ,and whence comes this change in the issue of the conflict which man is ever waging with death1 and in which death is the natural conqueror8 ,how shall we account for this transmutation so strange1 so wondrous1 so heavenly1 by which this most resistless1 relentless1 unsparing conqueror1 is itself made to die1 is swallowed up in victory1 and at the very moment of seeming to crush its victim1 translates him to an endless life1 gilds him with fadeless glory1 transports him with the fullness of joy evermore1 and crowns him with an immortal diadem8 ,our answer is found in that record which ,god hath given of his ,son1 who hath brought life and immortality to light4 ,thanks be to ,god who giveth us the victory through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who has made the sublime annunciation on which all human hope depends4 ,i ,,am ,,the ,,resurrection ,,and ,,the ,,life2 ,,whoso ,,believeth ,,on ,,me1 ,,though ,,he ,,were ,,dead1 ,,yet ,,shall ,,he ,,live4 ,since then1 death1 through the wondrous work of ,christ1 may be disarmed of its sting1 and the grave robbed of its victory1 let us for a few moments consider more precisely in what way1 to what extent1 and with respect to what persons1 this comes to pass4 #a4 ,in the verse following our text1 the ,apostle declares1 the sting of death is sin2 and the strength of sin is the law4 ,hence it is something wholly distinct from the mere physical pangs of expiring nature1 or the instinctive dread and abhorrence of its own dissolution which it ever cherishes4 ,this dread of self-annihilation is a property of life itself1 which is in its very nature a ceaseless effort to be1 and to avoid non-existence4 ,irrespective of sin or holiness1 penalty or rewards1 whether the death of the body be1 or be not regarded as the only and certain passage to a perfect and blissful state of existence1 it is in itself what we instinctively dread and shun4 ,like pain1 we avoid it if possible4 ,we never choose it as in the least desirable for its own sake2 although we may cheerfully submit to it as we submit to bitter drugs and burning caustic1 because without it1 we cannot escape the pains of earth1 or reach the bliss of heaven4 ,in this light the ,christian may desire death1 because to die is gain1 and he desires to depart and be with ,christ which is far better3 but not because it is in itself lovely1 or otherwise than grim1 ghastly and terrific4 ,this natural aversion to the physical pangs of death1 therefore1 is not its sting1 since it is a part of our sentient nature1 and still cleaves to ,christians as to others4 ,but the sting of death is sin1 i4 e4 the violation of the law of ,god and consequent subjection to its tremendous penalties4 ,thus the law is the strength of sin1 so far forth as it is a sting4 ,now death is the penalty of sin1 its wages1 it passed upon all men for that all have sinned2 even death temporal and death eternal1 the death of the body and the death of the soul4 ,and unless its nature and power as a penalty be annulled by faith in him who conquered it1 the sting of death lies in this1 that it is not merely a natural but a penal evil1 not the mere dissolution of the body1 but the entrance of the soul upon the merited woes of the second death2 not the mere end of life1 but a transfer to the pains of eternal retribution4 ,it is the law1 the violated1 threatening1 immutable law1 that invests sin with this fearful power4 ,viewed in this light1 the only light possible out of ,christ1 death indeed has its sting1 which no tongue can tell or mind conceive4 ,we see then how this sting is removed by ,christ4 ,he took it upon himself4 ,sin is its cause4 ,he bore our sins1 was made under the law1 became a curse1 suffered and died1 the just for the unjust4 ,he thus discharges the demands of the law against the believing4 ,what then if the wages of sin is death2 is not the gift of ,god eternal life through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ8 ,what though death in its original nature1 be the first1 stinging1 insupportable stroke of ,god's wrath revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness8 ,we are delivered from the body1 the substance1 the sting of this death1 thanks be to ,god1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,his blood cleanseth from all sin4 ,whoso believeth on him shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life1 for he is not under law but under grace4 #b4 ,let us consider briefly the extent of this deliverance4 ,it is perfect4 ,it is co-extensive with sin and all its dismal fruits2 if sin abounds1 grace doth much more abound4 ,the destruction of sin1 involves the removal of all its direful effects1 the whole ghastly retinue which it brings with it4 ,christ the second ,adam restores us to the primeval perfection1 glory and bliss1 which we lost by the apostacy of the first ,adam4 ,the parts of this restoration are successive and gradual1 so that it is not wholly consummated1 till the body is raised and glorified at the last day4 ,but it is wholly and forever secured by the first act of true faith4 ,for we are justified by faith4 ,and whom ,god justifies1 them he also glorifies1 and none shall be able to separate them from his love or pluck them out of his hands4 ,with respect to the condemning or penal power of sin1 deliverance is perfect at the moment of our union to ,christ by faith1 and ever afterward3 for there is no more condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus4 ,whatever sorrows1 sufferings or calamities visit the believer1 they are not a part of the curse and penalty of the law4 ,they are chastisements sent in fatherly love and faithfulness1 and not in vengeance2 not willingly1 but for our profit2 for the very purpose of promoting our deliverance from sin4 ,as to sin itself1 at the new birth1 it receives a mortal blow1 by being subjected to a reigning principle of holiness1 which is then born into life1 and is ever waxing stronger and stronger until death1 when it extirpates the last remnant of sin1 and the spirits of the just are made perfect in holiness4 ,although ever dying1 sin is never perfectly extinct in this life2 it is the heaviest burthen under which the believer groans in this tabernacle2 its end is the sweetest part of the deliverance which death brings with itself4 ,with respect to the body1 it is not freed from the pains and infirmities in this life1 which belong to its frail and perishing nature4 ,nor does it escape death4 ,it is not renovated and glorified till the last day1 when the archangel's trump shall wake from the grave its slumbering tenantry1 the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed2 our vile bodies fashioned like unto ,christ's glorious body1 according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself4 ,but at death it sleeps in ,jesus4 ,its pains are forever ended4 ,the disembodied spirit is already glorified with ,christ in ,paradise1 awaiting its reunion to the glorified body4 ,thus death has lost its whole sting3 nay1 it is the birth-throe of an endless1 glorious and blissful life4 ,there the wicked cease from troubling1 and the weary are at rest1 undisturbed by the slightest annoying sensation4 ,they shall hunger no more and thirst no more1 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,blessed are the dead that die in the ,lord from henceforth1 yea1 saith the ,spirit1 that they may rest from their labors1 their works do follow them4 #c4 ,and who receive this stupendous deliverance8 ,to whom rightly belongs this strangely rapturous outburst1 which sheds a halo of glory even over sepulchral darkness8 ,i answer to those who die in the ,lord2 i4 e4 to those who are joined to ,christ by a living union4 ,this union is constituted by faith1 which lays hold of and rests upon ,christ as he is offered to us in the gospel1 and gives us an interest and participation in all the benefits of his salvation4 ,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life--he shall not perish or come into condemnation4 ,the just are saved by faith through grace--they walk by faith--they live by faith1 and overcome and triumph by faith4 ,without this faith it is impossible to please ,god4 ,unbelief is a rejection of ,christ2 he that believeth not is condemned already4 ,but since there are divers sorts of faith on which men rely for an interest in this inestimable boon1 we must distinguish that which is dead and spurious1 from that which is living and genuine4 ,omitting much that might be said on this topic1 ,i will only observe that true and saving faith shows itself in correspondent works1 in a life of holy1 conscientious obedience to all the requirements of ,god4 ,without such works1 faith is declared by the ,apostle to be dead4 ,ye are my friends1 says ,christ1 if ye do whatsoever ,i command you4 ,and any other faith than that which leads us to walk in all the commands and ordinances of the ,lord blameless1 gives no warrant for the triumphant exclamation1 ,o death1 where is thy sting6 ,o grave1 where is thy victory6 ,but he that truly believeth1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live1 and in his dying moments may with truth adopt the words of ,simeon3 ,lord1 now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace1 according to thy word1 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation4 ,the full and well-founded conviction that death has lost its sting and the grave its victory1 with respect to our deceased1 beloved and revered friend1 whose breathless body now lies before us1 chiefly assuages the grief produced by this melancholy dispensation of divine ,providence4 ,it has diffused a sensation of gloom1 as wide-spread as his honorable fame4 ,but we sorrow not as those without hope4 ,he ended a consistent and exemplary ,christian life1 with a serene and peaceful death4 ,after a life in which his piety had been known by its fruits1 and when the signs of death were stealing upon him with an unexpected and surprising rapidity1 he assured me that in the prospect of a speedy dissolution1 he felt supported by the consolations of that gospel he had long professed1 and that he rested calmly on that ,savior1 who had ever been1 and now seemed peculiarly1 his only hope4 ,and when the dying hour came1 he seemed free not only from the mental sting1 but the physical agonies of death4 ,there was not a pang1 not a struggle1 not even a motion of a muscle1 beyond the mere gasp of expiring nature4 ,so wholly had death lost its sting4 ,it was good to be there notwithstanding the gloom3 to see the venerable servant of ,god calmly and placidly falling asleep in ,jesus1 quite on the verge of heaven4 ,mark the perfect man1 behold the upright1 for the end of that man is peace4 ,it is due to the occasion1 to present such a sketch of his life and character as the time will permit4 ,the ,hon4 ,roger ,minott ,sherman was born at ,woburn1 ,mass41 ,may #bb1 #aggc1 and was the youngest of six children of ,rev4 ,josiah ,sherman1 then the ,congregational minister of that place4 ,his father was in the fourth line of descent from ,captain ,john ,sherman1 who emigrated from ,dedham1 in ,england1 to ,watertown1 ,mass41 about the year #afce4 ,he was brother to the ,hon4 ,roger ,sherman1 who was one of the signers of the ,declaration of ,independence1 and raised himself from a humble condition to a celebrity for statesmanship1 that brightens with the lapse of time4 ,the mother of ,judge ,sherman was ,martha1 daughter of the ,hon4 ,james ,minott1 of ,concord1 ,mass41 one of the distinguished men of his time1 and in the fourth line of descent from ,george ,minott1 who was born in ,england1 was one of the first settlers of ,dorchester1 ,mass41 and a ruling elder in the church in that place thirty years4 ,owing to the disturbances produced by the ,revolution1 ,judge ,sherman's father removed in #agge to ,milford1 in this state1 and was for some time pastor of the second church in that town4 ,he thence removed to ,goshen in this state1 and was pastor of the church in that place several years4 ,he finally removed to ,woodbridge1 near ,new ,haven1 where he preached the remainder of his life1 and now lies buried4 ,of his children1 the four oldest were daughters1 the two youngest sons4 ,they are all now dead1 ,judge ,sherman having been the last survivor4 ,in #aghi1 at the age of sixteen1 ,mr4 ,sherman entered the ,sophomore class in ,yale ,college4 ,six weeks afterwards his father died1 leaving no property1 since his income1 like that of most ministers1 had been barely equal to his current expenses4 ,he was thus deprived of the means on which he had relied for defraying his college expenses4 ,but by the kindness of his uncle1,a who received him into his family and rendered him other important aid1 together with his own exertions1 he was enabled to go through the academic course4 ,he kept a school in ,new ,haven during a considerable portion of his two last college years1 and at the same time attended regularly all the exercises of his class1 and graduated with a high standing4 ,he then took an academy in ,windsor1 and commenced the study of law under the ,hon4 ,oliver ,ellsworth4 ,he afterwards took a common school in ,litchfield1 and continued the study of law under the ,hon4 ,tapping ,reeve4 ,in ,march1 #agie1 he was appointed a tutor in ,yale ,college1 and instructed the class that graduated in #agig1 at the same time pursuing his professional studies under the ,hon4 ,simeon ,baldwin1 who still outlives his pupil1 and is here to attend his burial4 ,in his own class in college were several distinguished men4 ,the class which he instructed also numbers several eminent names4 ,in the office of tutor he was peculiarly successful4 ,instead of relying on official authority or magisterial airs to gain an ascendency over his pupils1 he rather won their respect and esteem by the ability and faithfulness of his instructions1 the benignity of his manners1 and the justness of his discipline4 ,his extraordinary power of disentangling the intricate1 mastering the profound1 and making the obscure plain1 combined with a rare faculty of expression1 must have rendered him a most able and brilliant instructor4 ,after holding this office somewhat more than a year1 he resigned it1 and in ,may1 #agif1 was admitted to the bar in ,new ,haven4 ,he then established himself as a practicing lawyer at ,norwalk4 ,on ,dec4 #ac1 of the same year1 he was married to ,miss ,elizabeth ,gould1 daughter of ,dr4 ,wm4 ,gould1 then of ,new ,haven1 previously of ,branford1 sister of the late ,judge ,gould of ,litchfield1 who after a happy conjugal union of forty eight years1 near half a century1 is still spared to mourn his loss4 ,they had but two children1 twin sons of high promise2 but by an inscrutable ,providence they were cut down1 and as we trust1 are sleeping in ,jesus4 ,in #ahjg he removed to this place1 where he has since resided for a term of near forty years2 and has become so identified with all our social and public interests1 that there is no sphere in which his loss will not be deeply and intensely felt4 ,mr4 ,sherman had not long pursued the practice of law1 before his powerful intellect and untiring industry raised him to that high eminence in his profession1 of which he had already given promise4 ,he realized the most sanguine anticipations of his friends4 ,as a jurist he had few equals1 and scarcely a superior in the country4 ,while he most excelled in handling abstruse1 mazy questions of law1 he maintained the very first rank in whatever belongs to his profession4 ,his legal knowledge1 his logical skill1 his high persuasive powers1 his commanding eloquence1 his unwearied industry1 his faithfulness to his clients1 gave him the highest success and celebrity in every department of legal practice1 attracted to him an overflowing business in this and other counties of the state1 and often led to a demand for his services in great cases in other states4 ,seldom does the bar suffer the loss of so distinguished an ornament4 ,from #ahad to #ahah ,mr4 ,sherman was a member of the upper branch of our state legislature1 in which he distinguished himself by his thorough knowledge of the laws1 policy and institutions of the state1 his mastery of all subjects under discussion1 his high power in debate1 his assiduous attention to business1 his patriotic devotion to the welfare of the people4 ,though among the younger members1 he rose rapidly to an ascendant influence4 ,in #ahad1 he was chosen by the legislature of this state a delegate to the convention of the ,new ,england states1 assembled at ,hartford1 for the purpose of devising measures suited to the exigency into which they were brought by the war4 ,this is not the time nor the place to discuss the merits of that convention4 ,this however is undeniable1 that ,new ,england sent to it her choicest1 most gifted1 trusted1 and honored statesmen2 and that whatever impartial history may say of the wisdom of the movement1 it will pronounce their intentions pure and patriotic4 ,it is proof of the estimation in which ,mr4 ,sherman was already held1 that he was selected to bear responsibilities which ,new ,england would confide to none but her most tried and able men4 ,in this galaxy of eminent statesmen he shone as elsewhere with his own peculiar lustre4 ,of the nature1 objects1 and doings of the convention1 he has given a detailed account as a witness in court1 under the responsibilities of an oath1 which has been published to the world4 ,from #ahah to #ahci he was almost wholly devoted to his profession1 and held no public office1 except that he was occasionally a representative of his own town in the legislature4 ,he was not however without interest in1 or influence upon1 the legislation of the state4 ,he originated and drafted many important laws1 which have become inwrought into her fixed policy4 ,most of these have reference to the administration of justice2 tend to abridge the cost and delay involved in vindicating our rights at law2 and to abolish cumbrous formalities1 which defeat or embarrass the attainment of justice4 ,in #ahci1 he was chosen ,judge of the ,superior ,court1 and ,associate ,judge of the ,supreme ,court for the revision of errors in this state4 ,this station he was preminently fitted to adorn4 ,he brought to it rare legal learning1 logical acumen1 expertness in the practice of law1 unbending integrity1 untiring industry1 a commanding person1 a dignified and courteous address4 ,i need not say that he filled the office with honor to himself and advantage to the state4 ,his written opinions in the ,court of ,errors1 published in the thirteenth and fourteenth volumes of the ,connecticut ,reports1 will speak for themselves2 and1 alas6 are the most important monuments of his great intellect which he has left to posterity4 ,in ,may1 #ahdb1 he resigned this office1 on account of ill health4 ,since that period1 he has passed his time chiefly in domestic retirement1 as increasing infirmities have increased his need of those genial supports and solaces which can only be found in the bosom of home4 ,while his body has been gradually giving way1 his intellect has wonderfully retained its pristine clearness1 vigor and elasticity4 ,it has scarcely been affected by the decays of age4 ,to the last1 so far as he had the power of articulation1 his mind appeared to seize all subjects that came before it1 with its wonted grasp4 ,after a short illness1 which reduced him more rapidly than the worst fears of his friends1 he died1 ,dec4 #cj1 #ahdd1 at the age of seventy one years and seven months4 ,i will now attempt a brief delineation of his character4 ,his intellect1 as has been already implied1 was naturally of extraordinary power1 invigorated by thorough discipline1 sharpened by constant exercise1 well stored by laborious research1 and polished to a classical finish by the study of the finest models4 ,to these high inward endowments1 he added a noble person1 a voice of uncommon compass1 clearness and melody1 a free and graceful elocution4 ,hence he was not only a powerful reasoner1 but a powerful orator4 ,his mind was clear1 capacious1 discriminating1 comprehensive4 ,nor was it fitful in its vigor1 now breaking forth in meteoric brilliancy1 and then sinking into dullness and indolence2 but it had an iron patience and perseverance1 and was ever active1 ever buoyant4 ,this trait it possessed in a most extraordinary degree4 ,it never seemed to flag or shrink from exertion1 or lose its elastic vigor under any degree of bodily exhaustion or pain4 ,there was no web of sophistry1 no covert flaw or labyrinthine maze in an opponent's argument1 which it would not readily detect and expose4 ,and in constructing a positive argument1 his method was logical and direct4 ,starting with some principle or fact which none could dispute1 he would evolve from it link after link1 till the conclusion which he sought to establish1 before it was looked for1 seemed fastened as by an adamantine chain4 ,above all1 his mind loved clearness1 and abhorred all obscurity and mist4 ,he delighted to make things plain himself1 and was impatient of all transcendental and dreamy speculations in others4 ,he had great confidence in the power of truth and argument1 and that what he felt to be true himself1 he could make appear so to others4 ,this gave an ardor and enthusiasm to his pleas1 which was one great cause of his success4 ,nor were his studies and attainments exclusively professional4 ,he was largely furnished with liberal knowledge4 ,he was well versed in theology and metaphysics1 and peculiarly fond of the exact and natural sciences4 ,he was familiar with the science of government and political economy1 and whatever it most concerns a statesman to know4 ,nor did he neglect elegant literature4 ,this various knowledge he made tributary to his profession1 in cases that could be illustrated by it1 and sometimes astonished and delighted his auditors1 as he poured forth its treasures4 ,but our venerable friend and brother was not only a great1 he was also a good man3 good1 not merely according to the standard of worldly and fashionable virtue1 but according to the ,christian and evangelical code4 ,his extraordinary gifts and endowments1 the great fame and influence which they won for him1 were strictly subordinated to moral and religious principle4 ,what things were gain to him1 those he counted loss for ,christ3 yea1 doubtless1 and he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,he united with the church of ,christ in ,yale ,college at the age of twenty two1 when he was tutor1 and for nearly half a century has adorned the doctrine he then professed4 ,as to his religious principles1 they were those of our ,pilgrim ,fathers1 in which he had been educated4 ,he loved and revered the ,puritan doctrine and the ,puritan character4 ,nor did he adopt his principles merely from traditional authority or hereditary attachment4 ,his great mind could receive nothing for truth1 without inquiry and evidence4 ,so thorough had this investigation been on his part1 that there were few abler theologians than he1 even among the clergy4 ,hence he was intelligent1 earnest and steadfast in his religious opinions4 ,without bigotry1 with the most catholic spirit1 with hearty love for all of every name who love the ,lord ,jesus ,christ in sincerity1 he was himself a ,congregationalist and a ,calvinist of the school of ,edwards1 ,dwight and ,scott4 ,these views he adopted because he believed them to be taught in the ,scriptures1 and to accord with his own religious experience4 ,he felt that by the grace of ,god he was what he was4 ,he was a man of prayer2 and he prayed with all prayer1 in the closet1 the family1 and the ,christian assembly4 ,he had great confidence in its efficacy1 and believed the promises made to it4 ,he was clothed with humility1 that most fundamental of ,christian virtues4 ,indeed his modest1 unassuming1 unobtrusive spirit and manner1 impressed all who became acquainted with him2 it made his greatness still greater1 and lent to it its peculiar charm1 its crowning glory4 ,he maintained the strictest integrity and uprightness in all his public1 private and professional transactions4 ,he scrupulously adhered to truth1 fulfilled his promises1 abstained from any which he could not fulfill1 would not sell his conscience for office or emolument1 and discouraged what seemed to him to be groundless litigation4 ,he was remarkably kind and benevolent in his disposition1 and free from the malevolent passions4 ,he was mild1 courteous1 and benignant in his deportment1 compassionate and tender towards the unfortunate and distressed1 condescending and affable to all--not appalling even the humblest4 ,he lent a charm and a dignity to the society in which he moved--of which he was always fond--which he illuminated and enlivened by his capacious mind and his high conversational powers4 ,nor will it be deemed an improper invasion of the sacredness of domestic grief1 if ,i say1 that he was a model of parental and conjugal love1 tenderness and fidelity4 ,mr4 ,sherman always cherished the strongest interest in promoting the cause of pure religion and sound morals4 ,he gave to it the benefit of his extended influence1 his persuasive powers1 his liberal contributions4 ,the cause of evangelical missions received his ardent and constant support4 ,he plead with great frequency and eloquence in behalf of home missions1 being persuaded that the welfare of our country and the permanency of its government1 depend more on ,christianizing the people than on the devices of statesmen4 ,he was among the earliest and most powerful advocates of the temperance cause4 ,he was deeply interested in the welfare of the colored people of this land1 and their relations to the well-being of this country and of ,africa4 ,he believed the ,colonization ,society to be the best medium of blessing the ,african race in this country and their own4 ,he was grieved that it received so feeble a support from the ,christian community4 ,he had of late deeply interested himself in the cause4 ,he had called the attention of clergymen to it1 as he had opportunity4 ,he was exceedingly anxious to attend the recent meeting of ,consociation in ,southport1 for the purpose of laying the subject before the ministers and delegates4 ,he had prepared himself to start2 but found himself so ill that he was obliged to desist4 ,from that time he sunk rapidly1 and before the lapse of a fortnight1 was released from all further earthly toils and responsibilities4 ,as an upholder of good public objects1 a counsellor and adviser in private and public affairs1 ,mr4 ,sherman was much resorted to from this parish1 town and vicinity1 and indeed from a still greater distance1 and from wider spheres4 ,in this respect his loss will be1 to human view1 irreparable4 ,but in his own church and society1 it will be most directly and intensely felt4 ,they were dear to him as the apple of his eye1 for he preferred ,jerusalem above his chief joy4 ,he was ardently devoted to its peace1 welfare1 and enlargement4 ,while he gave it a large pecuniary support2 yet this was not the most important of the services he rendered to it4 ,he was an invaluable counsellor4 ,by the amenity of his temper1 the suavity of his manners1 and his persuasive eloquence1 he gave a strong support to all important measures1 and did much to preserve peace and unity4 ,he delighted to attend and sustain all our social meetings4 ,and when the aid of the brethren was needed1 he was a powerful helper4 ,in expounding the ,scriptures and giving the word of exhortation1 he was mighty4 ,and how shall the void be filled8 ,of late he often expressed his grief to me1 that his feebleness disabled him from attending our evening meetings4 ,may his mantle fall upon his surviving brethren6 ,if beyond the sanctuary of domestic grief1 one place more than another feels an aching void1 it is the sanctuary of ,god6 ,if any beyond his own desolated fireside have cause of weeping and lamentation1 ,i more6 ,he was peculiarly fond of the society of ministers1 and far and wide enjoyed their confidence and esteem4 ,his influence and opinions were highly valued by them4 ,to his own pastors he was ever a stay and helper1 doing his utmost to promote their usefulness and salutary influence1 as my brethren who have preceded me will bear me witness4 ,and in these things1 with which a stranger intermeddleth not1 they alone can fully appreciate my meaning4 ,for the bereaved and estimable lady1 who is now suddenly left solitary after having been so long cheered by his presence1 and the helper of his joy1 this occasion has the deepest1 tenderest interest4 ,it is our hope and prayer1 that in this sorrowful crisis she will be supported by that gospel which she has so long received1 and which was the sufficient stay of her departed husband in the still more trying hour of death2 and that she will be enabled so to improve this melancholy dispensation1 that it shall work out for her a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory2 and that when her summons also shall come1 she may go to her rest as a shock of corn ready in its season4 ,great1 peculiar mercies are mixed in this cup of affliction4 ,indeed1 all that in the character of her bereaved husband which renders his loss peculiarly great1 is of ,god's peculiar mercy4 ,let me exhort this church and society1 together with his public associates1 professional brethren1 and personal friends1 particularly1 and all this great assembly generally1 to lay this dispensation to heart4 ,it is a great1 a solemn1 a mournful event4 ,how are the mighty fallen6 ,the fathers1 where are they8 ,one of our strong pillars is shattered and torn from underneath the temple4 ,he must be scarcely a man who is not softened and humbled by it4 ,as human helps fail1 let us go to the ,lord ,jehovah1 in whom is everlasting strength4 ,although men die1 he ever liveth2 and because he lives1 his church shall live also1 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it4 ,let us then be moved to especial and extraordinary prayer1 that ,god would supply what he has taken from us4 ,help1 ,lord1 for the godly man ceaseth1 for the faithful fail from among the children of men4 ,it is exhibited as a sign of a degenerate and sinking race1 to be unaffected by the deaths of ,god's servants4 ,the prophet sounds the alarm1 because the righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart4 ,let then those that survive1 ponder these things1 and be subdued and chastened4 ,let them consider1 that to them are now passed the burdens and responsibilities hitherto borne by ,god's servants1 whom he has taken to their eternal rest4 ,let them manfully1 and in dependence upon ,god1 meet the crisis1 and discharge the high trust he has confided to them4 ,let them put their two talents to use1 and he shall give them other two4 ,let them come up to the help of the ,lord1 the help of the ,lord against the mighty4 ,and the set time to favor ,zion will come1 because his servants take pleasure in the stones and favor the dust thereof4 ,let me speak a word to those who are without that faith1 and rejecters of that ,savior1 which were the support and solace of our venerated and deceased brother1 in his dying hour4 ,with all his vast endowments and resources1 his possession of all worldly good to which human ambition aspires1 he counted all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ4 ,he deemed man in his best estate to be altogether vanity4 ,if he then dared trust no other foundation but ,christ crucified1 received by faith1 and honored by a holy life1 ,,how ,,shall ,,ye ,,escape1 ,,if ,,ye ,,neglect ,,so ,,great ,a ,,salvation6 ,,footnote3 ,a ,hon4 ,roger ,sherman4