All them that love his appearing. For certain it is, that none will love and long for the appearing of Christ from heaven, but those who love and serve him on earth. I wish I could enter into the full glow of the apostle's breast, when he expressed this pious sentiment; but it is impossible! I presume it must contain the sweet essence of his experience, his discourses, his writings, and his prayers, concentrated in one point. He gives full vent to his feelings in favour of the children of love, to meet with him the embraces and honours of their Lord, when the earth and all its glories shall be hurled into oblivion. What a noble proof is this dying testimony of Paul's, that precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. God leaves not his children when they most need his aid. While he gives grace to live to his praise, he also confers sufficient grace to die in triumph. No prospects are presented to mortals to animate them to pursue the journey of life with honour, usefulness, and joy, like those which the glorious gospel of the blessed God affords, and the sweetest comforts are reserved for the last. In this, however, let the votaries of deism, the enemies of the cross, and the persecutors of christianity be clothed in sackcloth, until they shall produce either an instance of equal piety and virtue enrolled in their annals; or God shall grant the same grace to them which was conferred upon Paul, to commence, to pursue, and to finish a course so honourable to God, and so worthy the true dignity of human nature. We shall now proceed to give a short Narrative of our deceased brother, and combine with it some account of his daughter, and two sons, whom it is believed died in the faith of the Lord Jesus. NARRATIVE. MR. ELIJAH HUNTER was born at New Castle, near White Plains, in the state of New-York, August 4, 1749, and spent his early years in the usual way of gay young people. At the age of 18 he was put to a store in Tarry Town, afterwards was removed to the store of Mr. Gilbert Drake, near the same place, at which he continued one year. At this period Mr. Hunter formed his marriage connexion with Mr. Drake's daughter, Anna; who now survives him. He and his wife removed to Bedford, and opened a dry-good store; at which place he was very prosperous in business, and had three children. Immersed in worldly concerns, he was frequently led into companies where levity and mirth abounded, which had a strong tendency to lead him further from his God, and to prevent him from cultivating a solicitude for his more important interests. The revolutionary war breaking out, Mr. Hunter entered the first campaign under Colonel Holmes, and marched with the army to the northward; and after staying six months, he returned, and was at the battle of White Plains. Soon after this he had a severe fit of sickness, under which, like many others, he made many promises, should he be restored to health, that he would reform his conduct; but on his recovery became still more thoughtless. The village of Bedford was burnt by the British, which compelled Mr. Hunter to remove his family 30 miles distant, and in three months after he returned and built another house. The revival of hostilities in this neighbourhood soon obliged him to remove again, and he with his family lived two years at Pound Ridge. At the latter end of this period it pleased God to produce some serious impressions upon Mr. Hunter's mind, which caused him to rectify many parts of his conduct, put his family under more moral regulations, and to be very assiduous in attending the public worship of God. Now the time drew nigh in which the Lord designed to express to him the riches of the Saviour's grace. In order to this he was again arrested by a violent sickness. The physician's skill was apparently abortive, and his family looked for the mortal change. The horrors of Mr. Hunter's mind were extremely great, and he concluded that it was impossible for God to save him. This was the more increased by recollecting the violation of his promises made under former sicknesses. His jovial companions who came to visit him he earnestly exhorted to abandon their evil courses, lest iniquity prove their everlasting ruin. On the night he was expected to expire, he had awful apprehensions that evil spirits hovered round about him. But at sun-rise, while in prayer, his heart received an impression from these words: "Fear them not. Come unto me, and I will give you rest." To the astonishment of all in the chamber, he immediately arose out of bed, walked, went to his Bible, and began to praise the Lord for the prospect of his mercy! Thus the Lord bringeth down to the grave and raiseth up again. Eventually Mr. Hunter's mind obtained solid rest and peace in Christ, to the glory of his grace; bodily health was happily restored, and in about five months he returned again to Bedford. Now settled with his family, in greater tranquility, he was the better able to review his past life, estimate the mercy of the Lord Jesus, penetrate into the grounds of his hope, and to reflect in what manner he should best glorify God in a future course of obedience. In order to obtain the necessary information upon these important subjects, he read his Bible with serious attention and devout prayer. In the process of this, he was convinced that it was his duty to make a public profession of his faith, and to form a union with a church of Christ. Convinced of his duty to be baptized by immersion, he went to Stamford, in Connecticut, and was baptized by the Rev. E. Holmes, and was received into membership with the church in that place. The doctrines of divine grace, which before he but partially understood, progressively were unfolded to his mind, and te him they became inestimably precious. In the year 1783, Mr. Hunter and his family removed to the city of NewYork, and continued eighteen months; at the end of which, he purchased a tract of land at Sing-Sing, now called Mount Pleasant, and there formed a settlement. Soon after, the Rev. Mr. Ferris, of Stamford, repeatedly visited this place, and preached the gospel to the inhabitants. God blessed his labours—many were brought to the cross of Jesus, and in the course of eighteen months, a number were baptized here and received into the communion of the church at Stamford, over which Mr. Ferris was pastor. Some time after this, a church was constituted in Mount Pleasant, by the dismission of members from the church at Stamford. Here the pious energy of Mr. Hunter became highly visible. He opened his own house, and the church worshipped under his roof for seven years. Such was his love and zeal for the cause of his Saviour, that he gave a piece of ground, on which, materially at his own expense, was erected a very neat and commodious place for worship; and is occupied to the present time. In this place the ministry of the gospel has been continued, and several happy revivals of religion have been experienced. Mr. Hunter was blessed with several children. But as our dearest earthly enjoyments are frequently torn from our embraces by death, the king of terrors, we have here to record the death of three of his children, grown to maturity, which to him and his wife were extreme afflictions. His only daughter, Eliza, was the joy of his heart, and the delight of the family. No cost was spared to enrich her mind with a virtuous and useful education. As she advanced to maturity, the fond hopes of her parents were increased that she would be the solace of their declining years; but these charming prospects were soon blasted. The bloom and strength of her youth began gradually to decay; and although every possible medical aid was obtained, accompanied with a change of air, all these means proved ineffectual. Justly has Dryden described the affecting case: "The rose is fragrant, but it fades in time; While death was advancing, it pleased the Lord of mercy to gain access to her heart. She saw, and felt the burden and sorrow of sin. An interest in the salvation of Jesus was her predominant desire and ardent prayers. Eventually, she so happily enjoyed these blessings as not only made her willing to resign her beloved parents and family, but desired to depart, to be with Christ in glory. On the 12th day of April, 1802, she breathed her last in the bosom of her Lord, aged 18 years and 5 months. The loss of this amiable young person produced some serious impressions upon the surviving family. Mr. Hunter renewed his strength in the ways of the Lord, and made greater exertions to promote the honour of Christ in his glorious kingdom of grace. In these he was not without his discouragements and trials; yet had the happiness to see the church at Mount Pleasant increase, in which he held the office of deacon.-We have now to record another loss he sustained by the death of a son. Mr. Ezra Hunter, at a proper age, entered into business, married and had three children, two sons and one daughter. He was a regular attendant on public worship, but gave no evidence of feeling the power of grace 'till his last illness. From a private letter, which at this time he wrote to his mother, perhaps the best information may be collected of the state of his mind, and from which I make the following selection:-In the most affectionate terms he gratefully acknowledges the attention he received from his parents, and prayed that the Lord would keep him firm in the performance of his duty to them. He considered himself as a wanderer upon the dark mountains of sin and sorrow, making the inquiry, if there was no balm in Gilead, no physician there to heal his sorrowful heart, and ease his disturbed mind? His strong cry was, Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me, a poor sinner! Some time, said he, I thought within myself, that through the advice of my mother, and sound reasoning, the tempest of my heart would be brought into a placid sea; but it is the reverse, and the storm would drive me on the rocks of despair. Happiness is much sought after by mankind, but it never can be found but in Christ. I am confident that I have violated God's law, which saith, The soul that sinneth it shall die. O Jesus, the friend of publicans and sinners, have mercy upon me! When my mind is in any degree composed, by meditation I can realize the scene of Christ in Gethsemane and on Calvary. I behold the bleeding Lamb of God, who pardons all the sins of his true penitent flock. I see him, the beloved Friend and Redeemer, extended on the cross, lifted up between the heavens and the earth, his side pierced, and his blood flowing to the ground. This work of Christ, the redemption of sinners, is the most glorious work of God. Without the death of Christ, all the rites and sacrifices of old would be in vain.-Those pious persons who visited Mr. Ezra Hunter in his dying hours, express their belief, that he had obtained a good hope in the blessed Saviour; which yielded great consolation to his surviving parents and family. He died March 21, 1806, aged 32 years. In 1811, Mr. Hunter, feeling increasing infirmities of age to advance, he considered it his duty to settle in the city of New-York, where, in the larger circle of his friends, and having more extensive privileges of religion, he might finish his days with greater satisfaction. Yet God's ways are not as our ways, for in this year Mr. Hunter passed under the rod of affliction by the death of his youngest son, Nathaniel, at the very time when it was anticipated that he would enter into public life. A brief account of him shall now be recited. Mr. Nathaniel Hunter was raised by his parents with great assiduity and affection, while he promised to be a blessing to his family. Having re ceived a liberal education, he commenced the study of medicine under able physicians, in this city. Notwithstanding the many religious instructions he had received, and his general attendance on public worship, his mind became greatly warped from christianity by some of his fellow students, who had cultivated prejudices against the authenticity of the scriptures. His health declining, he took a voyage to the Southward, without deriving any advantage. On his return to his family, his opposition to revelation became more visible. Not knowing himself correctly as a sinner, his chief objections were against the divine person of Jesus Christ, and to certain historical parts of the Old Testament. The rapid progress of consumption soon confined him to his bed; and every possible argument was used to instruct his mind, and to liberate him from his incorrect principles, At length, conversation with him upon such subjects became unwelcome. But an attached friend wrote to him a letter, in a sort of medical style, presuming, that in some degree, it might gain his attention.* This letter, how *This letter is here introduced for the gratification of the reader. DEAR N. H. I sometimes regret that, at present, my avocations are such as to prevent my making you more frequent visits. Still, you are not out of my prayers, or my best wishes, that it may please God to bless means for your recovery; or, if otherwise determined, you may enjoy adequate support and consolation. The love of life is natural to human beings; but, in the bloom of years, and charming earthly prospects, the desire proportionably increases. Of course, when sickness, or other affliction overcast our sky, it cannot but produce painful sensibility. I know but of one adequate re. medy in this case. IT IS A CHEERFUL RESIGNATION TO THE DIVINE WILL, FROM A PERSUASION THAT HE PARDONETH OUR SINS, AND DESIGNS OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE BENEFIT. words, you have it in Psalm xlviii. 14. Or, if you wish the recipe in other A quack doctor, or an apothecary, you know, may make up a prescription presented to his hand, without either knowing the qualities of the drugs or the nature of the disease which the medicine is intended to cure. But a thorough-bred practitioner will, with the utmost assiduity, make himself master of both, in order to success. You will, I suppose, admit, that there may be quacks both in the profession of medicine and divinity. Though I am but the physician's servant, I must open my prescription, and inform you of the nature of its compound: A persuasion that God pardoneth our sins. This is the principal, because sin is our mortal disease. Analyzing this, I find that it contains, Justice, Mercy, and Love: not produced by the supposed benevolence of the Deity, but is found only on the hill of Calvary, through the sufferings and death of the Son of God. The efficacy of this arises from the dignity of Christ's person; his appointment by Jehovah as our Redeemer; and the execution of his work, perfectly corresponding with the requirements of the law which we have violated, and the positive demerit of sin. Now, |