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things which thou hast heard of me among many wit nesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. ii. 2.) Respect to truth, to the honor of God, to the interest of the present and rising generation, requires this. Hence those church judicatories are highly culpable who show no proper concern in this matter; making little inquiry into the religious principles of their candidates for the ministry, or the tenor of their conversation; admitting those of doubtful principles, if not openly erroneous, from whom there is little reason to expect that they will teach the right ways of the Lord, or that "by following after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness," (1 Tim. vi. 11,) they should "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." (Tim. ii. 10.) In so doing, they are partakers of other men's sins, and, in some measure, chargeable with the injury done to religion and the souls of men, by the unsound ministry and the ungodly example of those whom they admit into the sacred office. The same is the case with respect to keeping in communion and the exercise of the ministry, those who, notwithstanding engagements to fidelity, make shipwreck of the faith, and turn aside from the holy commandment, to which they have promised obedience.

Upon the whole, let all in their respective stations, be concerned to serve the Lord faithfully in the suitable exercise of the talents entrusted to them, knowing from whom they have received them, and who hath said, "Occupy till I come." (Luke xix. 13.) Cleave to the Lord, his truths and ways, with purpose of heart. "Hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering." (Heb. x. 23.) In a time of such degeneracy from the truth, and such corruption of manners, "contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3.) Practice religion, and thereby recommend it to others. Keep your garments clean, “being blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shining as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life." (Phil. ii. 15, 16.)

Especially let my fathers and brethren in the ministry, as they would be accounted of as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, be reminded of their obligation to faithfulness. We must all soon give an account of our stewardship. It concerns us, therefore, to “take heed to ourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy

Ghost has made us overseers, and to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts xx. 28.) "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly: not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but ensamples to the flock." (1 Pet. v. 2, 3.) "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing." (Luke xii. 43.) "For when the chief Shepherd shall appear, he shall receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away." (1 Pet. v. 4.)

APPENDIX.

(A. p. 14. )

TO THE MEMORY OF

THE REV. ALEXANDER GELLATLY.

While some have no delight but where the cup

Of worldly mirth incessantly goes round,

Others more wise, where sorrow's children droop,
With sympathetic hearts are daily found.

If e'er it ought availed, to view the grave
Of him whose memory virtue had perfumed,
It will not be in vain a sigh to heave,

Where GELLATLY, the faithful, lies entombed.

In blooming youth he felt the power of grace,
Which called him to communion with his God:
And made his feet, (though arduous was the race,)
Like feet of hinds* along the heavenly road.
Constrained by love divine, nor friends that weep,
Nor aught that had endeared his native land,
Nor all the dangers of the boisterous deep,
Could him detain, Columbia, from thy strand.

To speak in God's great name where'er he rose,
His words were plain, but of celestial worth;
For so a heart, with love of truth that glows,
And with the love of souls, itself pours forth.
Recalled by fancy to our view he stands,
With countenance majestic and yet mild,
He saith to sinners, "God entreats, commands,
And will ye not to him be reconciled?"

The intercourse, thought meeting thought, how sweet,
Among these poor who from God's house return,

While they the instructive passages repeat,

"Did not our hearts," say they "within us burn?"
Stndious of life as well as doctrine pure,
He kept the steadfast tenor of his way;
Th' unchanging promise was his refuge sure,
Nor could a frowning world his heart dismay.

*Habbakkuk iii. 19.

In converse, though his jndgment was exact,
Yet wit and humor intermix would he,
And gentleness of mind he never lacked;
From learned pride and cynic sourness free.
But when he deemed it was a time to feel,
When truth divine lay prostrate in the street,
His kindling features would display a zeal,
Which oft appall'd the votaries of deceit.

Yes, Gellatly, their plan thou did'st detest,
Who lightly of some words of Jesus deem:
The poor pretence of holding all the rest,
But ill concealed the baseness of the scheme.
The foes of truth thou firmly hast withstood;
Now thou'rt departed from the well fought field,
Still may there be, who with thy spirit endowed,
The panoply divine in Zion may wield.

Upon the church, (which was thy hourly care,)
While more and heavier ills were yet to come,
Than which thy generous heart could well endure,
Thy God and Father pitying called thee home.

What though she's fled whose lot with thine was joined?
What though her Anna (once an opening flower,*
That smiling sweetly seemed to be designed
Of thee a long memorial,) is no more?

What though ambition mock, because no place
The world allows thee in her rolls of fame?

Dear to the saints on earth while time holds pace,
And to the saints in light shall be thy name.
O'er sin the palm of victory thou hast gained,
With us it oft appears a doubtful strife;
But grace which high in thy salvation reigned,
Can make the perilous conflict end in life:
It can, it will, cries Faith; a gracious God
Hath given us life eternal in his Son:†
'Twas in this faith that Gellatly abode,
And by this faith the palm of victory won.

His grave stone bears the following inscription:

THE REVEREND AND LEARNED

MR. ALEXANDER GELLATLY:

Minister of the Gospel, Middle Octorara ;

Who came from Perth in Scotland, into Pennsylvania, 1753,

And departed this life, March 12, 1761,

In the Fortieth and Second year

of his age.

"He endured hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and showed himself a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing

the word of truth." (2 Tim. ii. 3, 15.)

* Mr. Gellatly left a widow and an infant daughter, neither of whom long survived him.

+ 1 John, v. 11.

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