While here, they were often at a distance from him, whom their souls loved: and even deprived at times, of the comforting evidence of his favor. "They went forward, but he was not there; and backward, but they could not perceive him: on the left hand where he doth work, but they could not behold him. He hid himself on the right hand, so that they could not see him." But now every vail is withdrawn-every interposing object removed. They see him face to face! They are like him! and they reign with him! But "we know not yet what we shall be." We must be "unclothed" of these clay-tabernacles; and "clothed upon with our house from heaven;" before we can comprehend the "exceeding and eternal weight of glory hereafter to be revealed." Indeed, "The rapt Seraph that adores and burns," is lost in the immensity of the theme; and will forever be encircled, as he stretches towards God, with an height and depth, and length and breadth, which his perpetually expanding powers will never be able to explore.. It is hardly necessary to state, that the death of an aged member of this church has given occasion to the preceding discourse. Mrs. Abigail Waters, whose remains were last week committed to their kindred dust, was so long, and so generally known among us, that an attempt to sketch the outlines of her character in this place, may perhaps be deemed superfluous. Neither my feelings, nor my judgment, however, will allow me to be wholly silent. For nearly a century, this sacred temple has been to her, as was that of Jerusalem, to Anna the prophetess, "the house of God-the very gate of heaven." And now she has passed the vestibule which separates the inner from the outer court; I would wish her once more to speak to those whom she has left behind.* 1 * *. * * * The mourning relatives have my sympathy and prayers. Their loss is great; but it may become their gain. In the delivery of the discourse, some account of the character of the deceased, including the most prominent circumstances of her sickness and death, was here introduced. But as the substance of the account has been embodied in the following Memoir, it has been thought best to omit the whole. Smitten friends, Are angels sent on errands full of love: For us they languish, and for us, they die. That you my friends, may not lose the benefit of this dispensation; but may "hear the rod," as well as feel the stroke; let the dying counsel of your departed mother, sink deep into your hearts. Cherish with tender, grateful, devout recollection, the memory of her virtues. Transcribe them into your own lives. Be worthy of such an alliance. What can I say more? "Walk worthy of him who hath called you to the kingdom and glory," in which she is now rejoicing. Brethren and friends of this Christian church;-a mother in our Israel has fallen or rather, I should say, has ris-` en borne, not in a chariot of fire, but on seraphs wings, to the mansions prepared for her. But where, O! where, is her falling mantle? God of his mercy grant, that it may rest upon each of us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.-Amen. MEMOIRS, &c. MRS. ABIGAIL WATERS was the twelfth child of Thomas and Sarah Dawes; and was born in Boston, Jan. 13th, 1721. Blessed with pious parents, she was early devoted to God; and received the Christian seal of the covenant of grace, by the hand of the venerable Dr. Sewall, the second day from her birth. The nature, and design, of this sacred ordinance, with the duties, and obligations resulting from it; were communicated to her, in the course of domestic instruction, as soon as she was able to comprehend them. Not satisfied with hearing her repeat; day after day, in a hasty, heartless manner, a short form of prayer; her parents early taught her to pray for herself--to express her own desires, in her own words; and would frequently send her away to some retired part of the house, for this most import ant, but sadly neglected exercise.* This, they were especially accustomed to do, after she had been guilty of some more *However severely this practice may be reprobated by some, as calculated to lead children into a dangerous dependance upon their own works; it is believed that experience will justify the assertion, that children who have been inured to it from their earliest years, are more generally brought into the covenant of grace than others. It is necessary however that they should be thoroughly instructed in the nature of prayer; guarded against performing it in a hurried or formal manner; and frequently reminded of the holy requisitions of that heart-searching Being in whose sight "the prayer of the wicked is abomination." Having such apprehensions of the duty of prayer; and habituated to perform it with correspondent emotions, it is believed, that children are more likely in that than in any other way, to obtain discoveries of their own vileness in the sight of God—their destitution by nature of those qualifications which alone can render them acceptable worshippers at the mercyseat-and their consequent need of the renewing grace; atoning blood; and all prevalent intercession of our Great High-Priest. The duty of teaching their children to pray, was viewed by our pious fore-fathers as all important; and the effects of our declension from their example, are mournfully visible, in the great decay of vital religion which prevails |