Sermon at the Funeral of Elder Evan Morgan Brother of Enoch Morgan of Welsh Tract (Duche) 1723

PSALM xxxvii. 37

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright;
At the end of that man is peace.

“DUST thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return,” was the awful sentence denounced against rebellious man by his infinitely just Creator. No sooner had he fallen from that state of innocence and perfection, that state of intimate communion with GOD, in which his light, and life, and happiness supreme consisted, than he became subject to the power and dominion of SIN and SATAN. By his transgression, Sin first entered into the world, and became the prolific parent of an innumerable offspring, that set themselves continually in array against the peace and happiness of man. The last, the most hideous and implacable of these is DEATH, the king of terrors, to whose iron sway we must all irresistibly submit. Neither age, nor sex, nor rank, nor fortune, nor merit, can exempt us. Thick, fast, and fatal, his arrows fly abroad. Every one of us, in his own little sphere, is almost daily presented with instances of his unlimited power. And could we be placed in a situation, that would enable us to enable us to take in the whole race of mankind at one view, the world would appear to us like a vast theatre, overspread with scenes of blood, where this grim ghastly tyrant, with his infernal messengers and attendants, were continually stalking from place to place, increasing and exulting in the carnage.

ON one part, we should behold fields covered with the carcases of thousands slain in battle; on another, whole cities unpeopled by a destroying pestilence: Here, we should see a monarch laid in the dust, who was the darling and comfort of his subjects; there, an infamous oppressor tumbled from his throne, and constrained himself to submit to a fate, which he had frequently and unjustly fastened upon others. On this side, a disconsolate widow bewails the loss of an affectionate husband; on the other, a RACHEL is weeping for her children, and refuses to be comforted, because they are not. Here, the long-loved partner of his heart is torn from the embraces of an afflicted spouse; there, a pious, tender, and indulgent father resigns without reluctance to the stroke, and leaves to his lamenting children the rich legacy of an exemplary life and death.

AMID this general daily devastation, whilst “thousands fall beside us, and ten thousands at our right hand,” one would think, we should stand in need of no other motive to awaken in us a sense of our danger, and excite us to lay hold of such methods as will most effectually support us under it. One would think that so melancholy a prospect would naturally lead us to some such reflections as these:—

EVERY day almost informs me of the Death of one or other of my friends or acquaintances. Many younger and seemingly more healthy than I have fallen to the grave. Surely I am mortal as well as they. Surely I am not exempt from the common lot of human nature, but sooner or later must obey the summons of Death. Today he knocks at the door of my neighbour. Tomorrow, perhaps, he may knock at mine—And should this be the case, am I prepared for such a visit!——

THE misfortune is, my brethren, that men choose to keep this prospect at a distance; and, whenever these reflections come across their minds, as frequently, and in spite of all their endeavours to resist them, they will obtrude, they immediately seek to banish them, by that round of worldly cares and pleasures in which they are continually engaged. But why, vain man! why dost thou so industriously seek to drive from thy heart the thought of Death?—Is it, that it embitters thy cup of delights, and casts a deadly damp upon thy sprightliest enjoyments? Does his grim visage and envenomed shaft affright thee? Does horror freeze thy blood, when thy imagination presents to thee the shroud, the coffin, the cold dark grave, and all the dismal scenery of death?—Doubtless, these objects cannot but alarm thee greatly. But if thou art sincere and ingenuous, thou canst not but acknowledge, that thy terror and uneasiness proceeds not so much from the apprehensions of death itself, as of that subsequent state into which it instantaneously hurries thee.

FEAR is one of the most disagreeable sensations that human nature is subject to; and the fear of death is the greatest of all fears. To overcome it, or even to allay it, requires more than human fortitude. Our natural strength will stand us in poor stead at this dire encounter. There is, however, a remedy, and a never-failing one too, which a GOD of infinite love hath provided for us. The fear of death is a spiritual malady. The great physician of souls hath, therefore, furnished us with a noble Prescription. ’Tis at hand. You have it in my text: And, if you are humble and patient of instruction, you cannot but derive considerable advantages from it: “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.”

THAT I might comply in some measure with the dying request of my dear departed friend, by improving this melancholy occasion to the spiritual benefit of his survivors, I made choice of the words which I have read to you, as elegantly expressive of the way and means, by which alone we can obtain an undisturbed peace and serenity of mind through life, and an unshaken firmness and consolation in death. This being the great and important lesson which they inculcate, I shall naturally be led from them to set before you the LIFE and DEATH of the RIGHTEOUS MAN; only making this previous observation, that by the words “perfect” and “upright,” here made use of, we are to understand that degree of holiness and perfection, which it is possible for every one of us to attain on this side the grave.

I AM now speaking to a CHRISTIAN AUDIENCE, and, as a CHRISTIAN MINISTER, I am bound to give you the life and character of the righteous man, agreeable to that glorious system of divine truth, which GOD hath been graciously pleased to reveal to mankind, by his own well-beloved Son. According to this word of truth, the righteous man is he, whose actions are conformable to the WILL OF GOD, have an immediate tendency to promote the GLORY OF GOD, and flow from no other motive than the LOVE OF GOD.—But if these things are so, if it requires all this to be righteous, who is he that shall be saved? Does not this far surpass the natural strength of man?—Ask the experienced Christian, and he will not be at a loss for an answer.

BORN in sin, and laden with actual transgression, poor guilty Man cannot advance one single step in the paths of righteousness, till he lays hold by FAITH on the hand of a REDEEMER. Resting solely upon the merits of his all-atoning blood, he dares to approach with confidence the throne of grace, and ask of his heavenly father that sanctifying SPIRIT, which he hath promised to bestow liberally upon all those that believe in his Son. Here then is a rich fountain opened to the house of DAVID. Here is the pure inexhaustible source from whence alone true holiness can flow. “He that is born of GOD cannot but overcome the world. The love of GOD can only be shed abroad in our hearts by this holy spirit, which he hath given us.” Till we are born of this spirit, all our righteousness is but unrighteousness. Till we have this principle of love in our souls, all our doings are nothing worth. That image of GOD, which man lost by his first disobedience, can only be renewed by the same creating energy that breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. “‘Tis the spirit alone that beareth witness to our spirit that we are the children of GOD.” Actuated by this divine principle, “the good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things.” His actions must be conformable to the will of GOD, they must have a tendency to promote the glory of GOD, they must flow solely from a love and veneration for GOD, because they are immediately inspired by the spirit of GOD, by that spirit, “which worketh in us to will and to do, according to his good pleasure.”

“EXCEPT your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees,” says our BLESSED LORD, “ye cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” These Scribes and Pharisees were extremely rigid and exact in their observance of the ceremonial law, being so very minute as to pay tythes of mint, and annis, and cummin. How comes it then that our Saviour so repeatedly condemns them? Why, because their sole motive for this practice was a sinful worldly one, viz. that they might be seen of men; that they might be distinguished by greetings in all public places, and honoured with the venerable appellation of “RABBI, RABBI.” I would fain hope, my brethren, that, among our christian societies, there are very few that are actuated by this pharisaical principle: I am afraid, however, that there are too many who build their hopes of salvation upon sundry external performances, which are indeed right, and their bounded duty, but which are of no avail in the sight of GOD, unless they flow from from that spirit of love, which I have just mentioned. All the outward ordinances of religion are intended as channels of divine grace, by which it is conveyed to those who have it not, and strengthened and increased in those who have already received it. ’Tis the children of GOD alone, those who have received this spirit of adoption and love, that can profit anything by these outward ordinances. ’Tis to them alone that they are “the savour of life unto life.”

HAVING thus seen the grand principle and source from whence alone all righteousness can flow, let us now attend to the influence which it hath upon the life and conversation of him, to whom GOD hath vouchsafed to communicate it. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.”

OBSERVE him, first, in his devout exercises of religion.—His very countenance glows with the flame that is kindled in his heart. By the spirit of prayer, he is raised far above this scene of vanity. The world, with all its empires and kingdoms, and riches, and pomps, and pleasures, sinks beneath his feet. He is borne upon the wings of love to the heaven of heavens. He mixes with that immortal choir of angels and seraphs that surround the throne of GOD. Nay, he enjoys, in some degree, the beatific communion of GOD himself. His soul is possessed of that peace of GOD which passeth all understanding, of that transcendently great and glorious joy which is beyond the power of words to express. In the course of his meditations, the wonders of a REDEEMING LOVE pass in order before his view, and make deeper and deeper impressions upon his yielding heart. His eyes are fixed to the top of trembling CALVARY, to a crucified SAVIOUR—groaning—bleeding—dying—for his sins. At this instance of unexampled tenderness and affection, his love blazes afresh, his heart is melted beneath the flame, and his whole soul rushes forth, as it were, to embrace a compassionate REDEEMER. He has no rest till he finds himself in the arms of his BELOVED, where, shielded from the temptations of the world, and the assaults of SATAN, he enjoys a heavenly peace and repose, which nothing here below can rob him of. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.”

VIEW him, secondly, in the exercise of the several duties in which he stands engaged to his brethren, considered either as the workmanship of the same almighty Creator, or as fellow-members with him of his REDEEMER’S mystical body. For he cannot but attend to the excellent distinction made by the apostle, and in conformity thereto, is constantly disposed to “do good unto all men, but especially unto those that are of the household of faith.”—He is a companion of all those that “fear GOD, and keep his commandments.” His love to his brethren is always proportioned to the degree of love which they exercise towards GOD. Consequently, none can be his intimates but those whose hearts are animated by the same warmth of affection which he continually feels. To others, however, he is always ready to minister in temporal as well as spiritual things. “He is eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.” His presence brightens the gloom of poverty and cheers the retreats of distress. At his approach, the languishing sick revive, and the disconsolate mourner smiles. The tears of the orphan cease to flow, and the hopeless widow sings for joy. The same spirit of love diffuses itself throughout his whole conduct in every relation, which providence calls him to sustain. The same divine principle, working in his soul, renders him a dutiful child, an affectionate husband, a tender father, a kind master, an obedient subject, a just magistrate, a sincere friend. Thus is his whole life a series of benevolent actions, every one of which is attended with that sweet peace of mind that flows from an approving conscience. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.” CONSIDER him, in the next place, either as blessed by the hand of providence with a flow of prosperity, or visited with the rigours of adversity. In the former case, his affluence is sanctified to pious and charitable uses. He expends none of it upon the luxuries and vanities of the world, but considers himself only as a steward entrusted with it by his lord and master for the good of his brethren, to be employed in the relief of those poor famished souls, for whom, as well as for him, a merciful Saviour died.—Is adversity his portion, he submits to it with patience and resignation; nay, he deems it a blessing, and kisses the rod, wherewith he is chastised. For he remembers that “whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, and chasteneth every son that he receiveth.” His faith and love are always at hand, and administer to him an unfailing consolation and support. His peace of mind remains inviolate, since he is taught by the spirit of truth, that abideth in his breast to receive every dispensation of his heavenly father with submission, nay, with thanksgiving.

I NOW come to finish the character of the “perfect, upright man,” by setting before you the firmness, peace, and serenity of mind with which he meets the approaches of Death.

COME, then, my fellow-christians! accompany me for once to a scene, which I could wish was more frequently the object of your attention and serious reflection! Follow me to the death-bed of the RIGHTEOUS—Nor be ye alarmed at the invitation, or imagine that I intend to depress your spirits, and make you melancholy. ’Tis no tragedy, I can assure you, for the HERO is victorious and triumphant.—

To a man, my brethren, who has obtained an interest by FAITH in the blood of a REDEEMER, who hath experienced the birth of the SON OF GOD in his soul, whose heart and affections are sanctified by the indwelling of the spirit of love, who, by the powerful aid of the same spirit, hath been enabled to triumph over the devil, the world, and the flesh; whose conversation is in heaven, and whose hopes are fixed upon a better country; on the other side the grave;—to such a man, death is so far from being a rude, unwelcome guest, that he is embraced with all the eagerness and satisfaction with which we receive a long-expected Friend. Ghastly and terrific as he is, the reflection that he has come to rescue him from this scene of temptation and transport him to the Bosom of his FATHER and his GOD strips the monster of his native horrors, and irradiates the gloom that attends his approaches.

STRETCHED upon a bed of sickness, languishing beneath the successive Shocks of some inveterate disease; surrounded, perhaps, by an afflicted wife, with her little, lovely train of weeping innocents, behold the good, perfect, upright man lies calm, peaceful, and unruffled amid so many rude assaults. His faith hath fixed him to the rock of ages, and the storms of adversity can never beat him off.—“I know that my REDEEMER liveth,” says the expiring hero, “I know that he that speaketh in righteousness, is mighty to save: And tho’ I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil.” Though the region I am about to travel through is a dreary region, covered with midnight darkness, and infested with foul fiends, and legions of devils, yet I know that the rays of the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will enlighten my path. I have his buckler to repel the fiery darts of my adversaries. I have his rod and staff to comfort and support me.—The struggle betwixt life and death is a painful one, ’tis true—but ’tis a very short one. And shall I shrink at the agony of a moment, when that agony is to open the glories of paradise upon my soul?—Shall I recoil from the embraces of Death, when I know that he is my friend and deliverer, who alone can unfetter my soul, and let me out of this prison-house of clay?—Weep not, then, thou dear afflicted partner of my heart! Weep not ye sweet innocent pledges of our chaste affection!—I have learned not to weep even for you—Surely you would not keep me back from my REDEEMER, when his arms are stretched forth to receive me!—’Tis he alone that gives me confidence in this hour of danger; and the same that I feel for myself, he teaches me likewise to feel for you.—He will be a husband to my disconsolate widow: He will be a father to my poor orphan babes.—I have not then one single worldly tie, that makes me wish a moment’s longer stay. “My desire is to depart, and be with CHRIST.” A holy impatience hath taken possession of my soul. I can brook no delay. “O why are his chariot wheels so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariot? Come, LORD JESUS, come quickly!”——

THUS, my brethren, have I endeavoured to set before you, in the strongest colours that I was able, the character of the RIGHTEOUS MAN, together with that peace and serenity of mind which accompanies him through life, but is more fully and eminently displayed at the approaches of Death. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.”——

AND now permit me to add a few words in memory of that departed Friend, whose remains will, in a few moments, be committed to the dust.

“FUNERAL panegyrics were originally designed as auxiliaries to us, in recommending piety and virtue from the consideration of some striking instance of mortality, or from the excellencies of the person departed. By degrees, these best institutions are corrupted. The preacher was expected to gratify the vanity of survivors by attributing all human perfections to the person whose memory he celebrated. This naturally weakened the force and lessened the credibility of discourses of this sort. But I am encouraged to lay before you the example of my deceased friend by this happy circumstance, that you yourselves were witnesses to most of his virtues; and therefore, instead of disguising by the imperfect justice I shall do to his memory, I might have been justly censured by others, and should certainly have condemned myself for omitting it.” Besides, the relation in which I stood connected with him from my infancy, demands this tribute at my hands. He answered in my name at the baptismal font; and from that time hath been a faithful guardian over my spiritual interest. And ’tis with sincere pleasure I now acknowledge, that I received much assistance and improvement in practical religion from his pious counsels, and exemplary conversation. FROM his earliest years he was a zealous professor of our true gospel religion. That gay and showy season of life, which too many employ in the pursuit of secular pleasures and vanities, did he sedulously devote to the attainment of the “one thing needful,” even the “knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” His extraordinary success herein soon manifested itself by the visible influence it had upon his conduct, in all the different relations he was called upon to sustain. For ’tis the peculiar excellence of Christianity, that all its sincere disciples are thereby rendered capable of knowing and fulfilling their duty in all, even the most difficult instances. Influenced by this holy principle, the private as well as public character of our deceased friend was, in most respects, amiable and praiseworthy.

As to his private character, he was indeed naturally of a warm and impetuous temper; fixed in an opinion he had once deliberately formed, and rather impatient of opposition. This he would frequently acknowledge was troublesome and painful to him, and that he was obliged to have recourse to all the aids of religion to keep it under. And yet even this natural violence of temper, when seasoned by the grace of God, contributed not a little to his spiritual advancement. This warmth, when it had once received a proper direction from the spirit of love, became a sincere and ardent zeal for the glory of GOD. In other respects, his passions were generally under the control of religion, and he was always distinguished for a remarkable temperance, chastity, and sobriety.

IF we consider him in his private connections; as an husband, he had an high and affectionate sense of the purity and dignity of the conjugal state; as a father, he was not so much concerned for the temporal as the eternal welfare of his children, which he endeavoured to secure as far as lay in his power, by a good and pious education; as a friend, he was cautious of forming intimacies, but fixed and sincere, when he had formed them.—Nor did his light shine alone before his family and friends, but was visible to the world, by his regular attendance on the public ordinances of religion. So punctual was he in this respect that, unless sickness prevented him, these doors were never open on the weekly days of prayer, but he was one of the few that “neglected not the assembling themselves together.”

A MAN so exemplary in his private life could not fail of attracting the public regard. Civil as well as religious communities are generally fond of enrolling men of virtue and integrity in their ranks. I need not mention to these united congregations the many great services which he hath cheerfully and industriously rendered to them, by his faithful discharge of the office of a church-warden and vestry-man for above twenty years past. He had indeed the interest of these churches much at heart: And ’tis owing greatly, under God, to his active, persevering zeal, that we have at present so fair a prospect of their increase and advancement.

Besides his connections with the church, he was likewise honored with a secular distinction, having been for several years a member of our honorable House of Representatives. And in this station, he might perhaps have been continued till his death, by the voice of his countrymen, had not the prospect of parties and divisions in the state threatened him with a breach of his peace of mind, and prompted him to a timely resignation, when he was convinced that the influence of a good man would have but little weight *.

THE

The author does not intend, in this part of the character, to reflect upon the conduct of any particular set of men, who were at that time concerned in the administration of public affairs. ’Tis a matter of fact that there was too much heat and violence shewn on both sides, by the coinciding parties. It is not the author’s business to pronounce which of them was in the right. The censure is meant as a general one, and the sentiment here expressed was that of the deceased himself, which he has repeatedly declared to numbers of his acquaintance.

 

THE last public employment in which he engaged, and which I believe he held till his death, was as a manager of one of the most excellent institutions that human benevolence could devise, an institution that will ever do honour to the memory of its pious founders; I mean the hospital, for the reception and relief of the sick and lunatic in this province. Here, his charitable disposition amply manifested itself to the eyes of all, as well by his generous contribution to its first establishment, as by his regular attendance on the duties of his station there, and the zeal which he at all times exerted for its advancement.

IN general, then, we may pronounce on the character of our departed friend that his life was distinguished by a regular, constant practice of piety towards his God and charity, in all its branches, to his brethren. And as he was exemplary in his life, so was he also in his death. His life was pious, and his death happy. He underwent a lingering, painful illness, with a patience and resignation that was truly Christian. His hopes were extended to a better country. Death and the grave, therefore, could have no terrors to him. Peaceful and serene, he took his farewell of mortality, and fled on the wings of love to that paradise of bliss, where his REDEEMER liveth, where joys immortal cluster round the throne of GOD, and saints sing everlasting hallelujahs to GOD and the LAMB.

GOD grant that we may all so profit by this excellent example, that with him we may be partakers of the same heavenly kingdom, through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.