his warnings and reproofs, which were beraly salary and kindly received. La his whole deporteat, there was a so.nething, which made those who had no religon say, "We believe he is a Christian, and is happy. Ding the short sickness which terminated his life, he was wholly deprived ochis reason. But from what he said to his wife a short time before his death, there is reason to belove he did not pect to life but a few weeks, and therefor that the sum.aons of death came not before he expected it. ex Reader, art thou a Christian indeed, or art thou deceiving thyself with a fale hope, nor knorest what godly sorrow fr sia is Thou art in danger of taistaking conviction for conversion, and of balling on the sand. Some have the form of godliness without the power. Hast them given up thyself to Christ, and dist thou rejoice in his government? Dost tisa løve God with all thy heart and keep his conmand.nents? Is Christ precious to the soul? If a man thinketh, himself to de samething when he is nothing he decen eth himself. Oh, examine thy heart, lest thou be deceived with a false hope to thine eternal ruin. POETRY. From a poem of considerable length on the death of a sister, (communicated to as some time ago,) we publish the concluding lines. 4WHAT are we? What is life? and what is deat!?? We look around us, draw our mortal breath, Catch at the tinsel toys that float in air, And deem them treasures that we soon shall share. But vain our toils; the phantoms flit away, And disappointments ope each new-born day. Yet still we toil, regardless of our doom, Till death conducts us to the silent tomb, Oh, my lov'd sister, I am sick of life; "Tis fi'd with sorrow, vanity, and strife. Hope still deludes us, though afflictions wound, And still we range the same unwearied round. Our search for happiness in vain we waste; Th' immortal bev'rage none but angels taste." Farewell, dear sister, may affliction prove The lasting cement of our warmest love" The following delicate verses appeared in a London paper two or three years ag). We intended to have inserted them earlier in our pages. THE TWINS. Twas Summer, and a Sabbath eve, And my was the air, I saw a sight which made me grieve And yet the sight was fair: Within a little effia lay Two lifeless babes, as sweet as My. Like waxen dolls that infants dress, And in the coffin, short and wid', A rosebud nearly clos'd, I found And yet the flow'rs that round ther Were not to me more fair than they. Their mother as a lily pale, Sat by thera on a bed- Yet oft she cried, amidst her pain, TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE expediency of publishing the communication of E. $. still remaining on nor files, is so far doubtful that we decline inserting it. Memoirs of the Hon. SAMUEL Osgood, and Mr. JONATHAN SEWALL BUCK, wi will be published in our next. No. VII on Intemperance is rely for. the press. A paper on The Duty of monition will soon appear. THE PANOPLIST, AND MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. No. 10. NOVEMBER, (PART II.) 1813. VOL. IX. BIOGRAPHY. THE reader will not find in these remarks a portrait of one mighty in the field of battle, applauded in the hall of litigation, renowned in affairs of state, or high in the walks of science. But he will find an unflattering miniature of one, who, unobserved, and almost unknown beyond the limits of his native village, pas sed, in the deserted path of virtue, from his cradle to an early grave. Jonathan Sewall Buck was born at Buckstown, Maine, on the 27th of May, 1793. From his infancy he exhibited a mind much inclined to sobriety. This was manifested by indifference to most childish sports, a preference of retire ment, and the acquisition of some useful knowledge. As he advanced in years, he discovered the same indifference to those juvenile hilarities, which are so fatally alluring, and which so of ten plunge their unsuspecting votaries into vice and ruin. This VOL. IX. was neither the effect of stoicism, nor stupidity. But seeing the dangerous snare, he determined to avoid it. His cautious disposition caused him to speak with disapprobation of some amusements, which are, perhaps, perfectly harmless. Upon this point, however, the writer hazards no decision. He is aware, that the first step in guilt is near the last in innocence, The subject of this memoir became early attached to books, and particularly that book of books, the BIBLE. Amidst a variety of reading, this was his daily study. Having been blessed with a precise and retentive memory, he became a living concordance. Few persons of any age, or profession, are so well acquainted with the Scriptures as he was. His intimacy with the Sacred Volume held the divine rule of duty constantly before him. This operating upon a mind "whose very failings leaned to virtue's side," produced that habitual regard for morality which marked his conduct. Constant, and solemn attention to the worship of God; reverence for his sacred name; and strict observance of the holy Sabbath; were some of his most shining virtues. His filial affection and obedience, together 55 with his attention to the injunctions and wishes of superiors; assiduous care to promote the welfare of others, and grief when he saw any abandoned to destructive habits; chaste conversation and behavior; strict fidelity; undeviating veracity, and hatred of slander; punctilious rendering to all their dues; and unwearied efforts to influence others to like practices; proved him, no careless observer of the second table of commands. In him, penetration, prudence and judgment were ever far in advance of his age. When no known precept would apply; he seemed to adopt right by intuition. His disposition was benevolent and charitable. His manners being of a rigid cast, were calculated rather to secure the warm attachment of a few, than to win the friendship of the many. Added to this were his inflexible opposition to vice; his pointed, and in some instances, severe reproofs. Yet none of his age had a larger share of public esteem; none had fewer personal enemies. But we turn to a more interesting part of his character. While yet a child, he became convinced of the woeful lapse of man; his total depravity; the necessity of regeneration; and the impossibility of meriting salvation by the deeds of the law. Those weighty truths often made deep impressions on his mind, and determined him to repentance, and a life of holiness. But thoughts thus unpleasant were unwelcome visitors, and soon dismissed. He would then, notwithstanding his firm belief as above stated, quiet his apprehensions by endeavor ing to propitiate the Deity with his doubts, and confirming his tion by Christ, and resisted the Holy Spirit; then he loved the perfections of Jehovah, and holiness, wherever discoverable, and ardently desired more of it in himself. He wished for no other mode of salvation but through the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God; and sincerely implored the sanctifying and entightening influence of the heavenly Comforter. Upon this behief he built his hope; a hope of ten shaken, and sometimes almost demolished by a sense of bis extreme sinfulness and liability to yield to the temptations of Satan. Early in the spring, he manifested a desire publicly to dedicate himself to God, and join the church of Christ. Upon examination for admission to church fellowship, though he furnished not all the evidence desirable, he gave good satisfaction, and was cordially welcomed as a member in full communion. In May, he received the ordinance of baptism, and entered into covenant with the church under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Mighill Blood. After what has been said, it will be almost superfluous to add, that his conduct adorned his profession. We have followed our subject thus far without any thing to interrupt our pleasure. It remains for us to follow him, through the valley of affliction, down to the chambers of the grave. As increasing darkness in creases the brilliancy of luminous bodies; so he shone brighter as the clouds of affliction darkened, and brightest in the deep shades of death. From his birth his constitution had been feeble, but not so feeble as to make him incapable of business, until the spring of 1812. He then received an injury in his side, which greatly impaired his health, and disqualified him from bodily exer. tion. His complaints, however, were not very alarming until the succeeding autumn. Medical aid was resorted to, but without any lasting advantage. His disorder became more and more established, and every hope of recovery gradually gave place to apprehensions that his disorder must prove fatal. Upon this point he never expressed much concern; but waited with resignation the issue. When all expectation of recovery failed, he exhibited no alarm, but with perfect composure made all his arrangements for his departure. Among these was an interview with his brothers and sisters, collectively, a few days before his death; at which time he exhorted them, as a dying brother, to secure an interest in the only Redeemer, by devoting themselves to their Creator; distributed among them his books, &c. and, requesting them to kneel around his bed, commended them to the grace of God by prayer. His anxious concern for the souls of others was apparent in most that he said to those of his young friends, who called upon him. He once said, that should his sickness be the means of causing one soul to feel the importance of a preparation for death, so as to make its peace with God, that alone would be a sufficient inducement to bear it all patiently. As death drew near, his hope grew stronger. Indeed his faith was fixed. Disclaiming all personal merit, bis only ground of confidence was in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His views of the character of the Savior were exalted. The divinity of Christ was an article in his creed of prime importance. His pains greatly increased during the last days of his life, yet he seldom complained; and if he did, he mixed his com plaints with praises, that his sufferings were so disproportionate to his deserts. Whenever he requested the prayers of Christians, his request was for resignation and patience. Many valuable sayings which fell from his lips might be recorded; but it must suffice to quote a few of those which cheered his dying moments. After expressing his belief that he was dying, he added, "I am in great distress at my stomach, but I hope I shall have patience." A short time before he expired, he exclaimed, "None but Christ! none but Christ [for me!" He expressed his ardent desire to depart by repeating the following stanza of Dr. Watts's 17th Psalm. For the Panoplist. MEMOIR OF THE HON. SAMUEL THE subject of this notice was In In July 1766, he was admitted a member of Harvard College, and sustained the reputation of a good general scholar, throughout his collegiate course. Mathematics and the Greek language, he made distinguished proficiency. In the latter branch of education he was acknowledged to be the first in his class; and, when he graduated, was honored with the writing of the mathematical theses. Mr. Osgood acted a very decided and conspicuous part in the early difficulties which subsisted between this country and Britain. In the year 1774, when the dispute between the colonies and the mother country began to wear a gloomy aspect, the town of Andover appointed him their delegate to the State Congress, and by that body he was appointed a member of the Board of War. He was continued a member of the State Congress till the year 1780. During this year the State Constitution was adopted; and upon the first election under it, the Coun Soon after this, his father ask-ty of Essex returned Mr. Osed if his faith still supported good as one of their Senators. him? He replied, "O yes Sir!" In the spring of 1781, the Legisand 'immediately expiring, no lature appointed him a Delegate doubt was borne by waiting an- to the Congress of the United gels to the mansions of bliss. States. In this situation he was continued, as long as the consti tution would allow him to held "This life's a dream, an empty show, Thus died this valuable youth on the 28th of September, 1813. |