dissolution, though very sudden, did not discompose him.* With many expressions of humility and self abasement, he declared his hope in the infinite mercy of God through the atonement of Christ. In redeeming grace he found rest to his soul. After such solemn and prayerful examination of himself, as becometh a man hastening to the bar of eternal justice, he found reason to hope, that he was the subject of saving religion, and finally had strong consolation.

Only one or two particulars of his dying exercises will be mentioned. When his wife expressed some of the tender feelings, which were excited by the thought of parting with him, he said; "If God is glorified, I am made forever. Can't you lay hold of that? Can't you lay hold of that?" To his sons, then undergraduates, he expressed his paternal concern for the welfare of the University. On being told, that the students were more attentive, than they had been to the Bible, he replied; Well, the Bible ever has been, and ever will be the best guide for young men. He died Aug. 27, A. D. 1803, aged 51.

Doctor Tappan's death was no common calamity. To the surviving partner and children, and other near connexions, the affliction was indescribable. Youthful genius and virtue mourned the decease of a friend and patron. The church and nation lost one, who had sought and prayed for their welfare. The University felt, that one of her pillars was fallen. Religion herself wept over the tomb of TAPPAN, who had pleaded her cause, lived for her honour, and rejoiced in the hope of her approaching triumph.

* Many interesting particulars respecting the character and death of Dr. T. will be found in the funeral sermon, which follows.

The following is a complete List of the Publications of Dr. Tappan.

1, 2. Two Discourses delivered on the Sabbath after his Ordi. nation at Newbury.

3. A Sermon on the Character of Amaziah. 1782.

5. A Thanksgiving Discourse, on the Peace. 1783.

6. A Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Moses Parsons. Dec. 14, 1783.

7. Two friendly Letters to Philalethes. 1785.

8. A Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. Timothy Dickinson, Feb. 18, 1789.

9. Address to the Students of Andover Academy, July 18, 1791. 10. Election Sermon, May 30, 1792.,

11. A Sermon before an Association at Portsmouth. 1792. 12. A Farewel Sermon at Newbury. 1793.

13. A Fast Sermon delivered at Cambridge and Charlestown, April 11, 1793.

14. A Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. John T. Kirkland, Feb. 5, 1794.

15. A Sermon on eight persons drowned at Newbury, July 24,

1794.

16. A Discourse to the Class, which was graduated in 1794. 17. A Discourse to the Class, which entered in 1794.

18. An Address to Andover Students, July, 1794.

19. A Thanksgiving Sermon at Charlestown, Feb. 19, 1795. 20. A Discourse on the Death of John Russell, student, Nov. 17, 1795.

21. A Discourse to the Class, which entered in 1796. 22. A Sermon before the Convention of Ministers, June 1, 1797. 23. A Fast Sermon at Boston and Charlestown, April 5, 1798. 24, 25. Two Sermons at Plymouth, after the Ordination of the Rev. James Kendall, Jan. 5, 1800.

26. A Discourse on the Death of Gen. Washington, Feb. 21, 1800. 27. A Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Nathaniel H. Fletcher, 1800.

28. A Sermon on the Death of Lieut. Gov. Phillips. 1802. 29. A Sermon at the Installation of Rev. Hezekiah Packard, Sept. 1802.

30. A Discourse on the Death of Enos Hitchcock, D. D. Providence, 1803.

31. A Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Mary Dana, April, 1803. 32. Lectures on Jewish Antiquities. 1807.

33. Sermons on Important Subjects.

A

DISCOURSE,

DELIVERED AT CAMBRIDGE,

AUGUST 29, 1803,

AT THE FUNERAL

OF THE

REV. DAVID TAPPAN, D. D.

HOLLIS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE,

WHO DIED ON THE 27th OF AUGUST, Æt. LI.

BY ABIEL HOLMES, A. M.

PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN CAMBRIDGE.

Acts xi. 24. He was a good man. THE solemn stilness and melancholy aspect of this assembly, silently, but expressively, apply this character to the man, whose obsequies we are called to celebrate. Ye fix your eyes on these relics, and your first thought is, He was a good man. A sentiment so spontaneous and so universal, as this, carries with it one of the strongest evidences of its justness and truth. With this witness in yourselves, therefore, ye are already prepared to attend to the delineation of the character, and happiness, of a good man, with special reference to the person, whose death we lament, and to the occasion, which hath convened us in this temple.

The person, to whom this character was applied in the passage now recited, was Barnabas. His very name denotes the benignity and sweetness of his temper; for it was given him by his fellow apostles, as expressive of his character. He was originally a Levite, of the Island of Cyprus; but had now become a sincere and zealous convert to Christianity. With the change of his religion, the apostles changed his name Joses, by surnaming him Barnabas, which signifies, The son of consolation. At the very first time of his introduction to our notice by the sacred historian, he ap