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effects on his own mind, and what Christian would not wish to excel in these! At the same time, we cannot but warn men, who wish to be deceived by strange things, that trances are not religion. It is not the strength of impressions on the mind, or of affections within it; but their moral nature, by which piety and hypocrisy must be discriminated. The effects wrought on the body are a thing of little consequence, nor is the singularity of them any evidence they are wrought by the Holy Spirit; unless the consequence of them is to take away sin, and increase a love of God, as his character is described in his holy word. No one ought to suppose that Mr. Tennent was actually car. ried to heaven; but that he had such views of spiritual things as he had conceived could be had in no other place beside heaven. In such a case it is not strange he should be mistaken concerning the place, while he was certain of the views.

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O comparatively few are the examples of living virtue worthy to be recorded for posthumeus imitation, that to eulogize the dead, is but rarely the duty of the biographer. And even in garnishing the sepulchres of the prophets, great caution is needful both to the writer and reader, against the almost imperceptible influence of sinister motives. Yet the memory of the just is blessed. A due respect to the characters of the pious dead, whose lives have been a constant lesson of important instruction to mankind, is a debt we owe to the interests of the living. We are to "mark the perfect man and behold the upright."

On the whole, what may we conclude from this scene of entrancement? Not that the whole was a delusion. Not that any thing was added by the trance, either to the excellence or evidence of divine truth; or that it is to be judged by any other rules, than such impressions of the Spirit as are often experienced by good people: but, that views of truth may be such, by a divine operation on the mind, as wholly to overpower the body; in which case it is less capable of distinguishing between reality and imagination. Infinite wisdom may see such impressive views of truth to be suitable ❘ing memoirs, whose praise is in means for assisting his people, to all the churches, was a son of

The aged and venerable personage, the subject of the followthe Rev. Philemon Robbins, aing, and an unusual solemnity

former pastor of the church in Branford. He was born in that town on the 25th of August, O. S. 1740. He evidenced the important benefits of religious parental instruction, by becoming a subject, and example of early piety. He dated his conversion near the beginning of his Collegiate life. Having completed his literary education at Yale College, he received the honors of that university, in the year 1760. Theological knowledge being his most favorite object, and the gospel ministry, the profession to which he chose to devote his life; after a term of preparative studies, under the instruction of the Rev. Dr. Bellamy, he commenced a preacher of the gospel; and by the call of the church and society in Norfolk, was ordained to the pastoral office in that town, on the 28th of October, 1761. There, with few interruptions in his sacred work, he hath bestowed with unwearied diligence, and uncommon usefulness, the services of a long life, amounting to the term of fifty-two years of ministerial labor, and closed his earthly course on Sabbath the 31st of October, 1813,---aged seventy-three years. An aged widow, and eight childrenlament their loss in his death. His funeral was attended on the Tuesday following by a number of the neighboring clergy, and a very large collection of people from that and the adjacent towns; and a sermon delivered by the Rev. Chauncey Lee, from 2 Kings ii. 12. My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. The occasion ✓ was very interesting and affect

appeared throughout the numerous assembly. A death which drew forth the tears of community, and covered every countenance with the sadness of special mourners, presented a scene both solemn and instructive. It was fitted to impress upon the serious and attentive mind, a deep, if not an overwhelming sense of eternal realities.

In Mr. Robbins' first settlement at Norfolk, was exhibited a singular instance of a young minister and a young people. He was but just turned of twentyone when he received ordination, and the town was an infant settlement: twenty-three members only composed the church, and sixty families the whole town. The hardships and privations, embarrassments and distresses, incidental to the ministerial life, in such a situation; and to which this young soldier of the cross, for a course of years was necessarily subjected, were many and great : yet he endured them with patience and fortitude; cheerfully shared in all the wants, troubles, and trials of his flock; and gradually grew up with the people whom he had thus early and affectionately taken by the hand. By his prudence and frugality, and especially by his industrious application, and extraordinary exertions to do good; particularly, in preparing many young gentlemen for a collegiate education; he has been enabled to rear a numerous and respectable family, three of whom have received a liberal education. His life and usefulness were lengthened out, much beyond the usual term of ministerial service. His labors

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For a number of the last months of his life, he was unable to perform public duties.He was attacked with a cancerous trumor in his face, which continually increased, till it terminated in his death. Great and distressing, at times, were his bodily pains in his last sickness, yet he appeared to endure them with Christian patience and submission. With his reason unimpaired to the last, he was able to converse, and to give much important counsel to his family and friends, until within a few hours of his death. Then, like the venerable patriarch of old, he died with all his children around his bed, and exhibited that most sublime and interesting spectacle on earth---an aged Christian expiring in the arms of faith.

have been greatly blessed, and society are sufficiently detailbis heart animated and encour-ed. aged in his work, not only by individual conversions from time to time occurring, and a gradual and constant increase of his church; but by three special,rich, and glorious harvests of souls, which he has been given to reap,in the field of his ministerial labors. He was spared, strengthened, and furnished to feed the church of God, and to teach two whole generations the way to heaven. In reply to the following remark, made to him, a few years since, by the writer of these memoirs, "How happy are you, Mr. Robbins. in your people-so united as they are so attached to your person, and so attentive to your ministry!" "Oh," said the good man, with the tear of parental affection glistening in, his eye, "the people of Norfolk are my children-I have buried all their fathers, and have brought them up from their infancy."

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Two weeks before his death, the writer asked him this question, "Are you not desirous with Paul, to depart and be with Christ?" To which, raising his trembling hands, he replied, " I have strong attachments to earth-I love my wife as my nearest earthly friend-I love my children dearly-I love my people, and I never before so sensibly loved all mankind: but, unless I am greatly deceived, I do love my Saviour, more and above all earthly friends and connections. Oh. it is a heaven worth dying for, to see Christ, as he is." His views appeared to brighten, and his spiritual comforts to increase, as he drew nearer the close of life, though he became less and less able to converse.

Two years since he delivered to his people, his half Century sermon; taking for his text, those words of the Apostle in Acts xxvi. 22, 23. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets, and Moses did say should come; that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." The history of his ministerial life, being blended with that of the town, I need only refer to his aforesaid excellent sermon in print; in which the historical in- | Some expressions he uttered to cidents of minister, church and his children, though in a broken

and desultory manner, on the day but one, and the day immediately before his death, and which were faithfully penned at the time, are still more interesting and distinctive of the Christian character. "If, said he, I know my own heart, all is right -but I am afraid of self-deceit. Christ has employed me as a laborer for him, but I have been a poor unfaithful one-my good works are of no value they are nothing, and I deserve nothing for

them. If I have been an instrument in God's hands, the praise is his, not mine. It is he that

Christ

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I'll go to immortality."

With respect to his character as a man, a Christian, and a minister, it is believed, there is but one opinion; nor will envy itself so far detract from his merits, as to refuse him a high and honorable standing in the list of the ex

builds the kingdom. If I may cellent of the earth. The charwork in it, besure it is a privilege for which I desire to thank God acter of a faithfül servant of my Saviour. I do hope in God, we have reason to think, is my Saviour, and trust he will not not misapplied to him; when in forsake me, when I go down lamenting his death we unitedly through the dark valley. I shall cry, in the words of the prophet, be dismissed in a few days. I My father, my father, the chariot think I can see the other side of of Israel, and the horsemen thereJordan. Then I shall be clean- of. He was indeed a child of sed from sin-how beautiful it Adam, and therefore not free is to be cleansed from sin-Oh, from imperfections. His own how desirable to be freed from sinfulness however, he appeared this body of death. I think I deeply to feel and lament; and have a spirit of prayer. I hearti- he professed to found all his ly pray for you my children-I hopes of divine acceptance, in pray for the whole world. I mere sovereign mercy, through fear to express all my feelings, the atoning blood of the Lamb of lest I should appear ostenta- God. tious; but many times I have glorious discoveries of the heavenly world. I have got nearer home. I hope soon to see my dear friends in heaven-many of my dear people-my parents-my brother, *-my sisters; and one whom I wish still more

to see." Making a solemn pause, he was asked, whom? "Christ," he replied. "When

* The late Rev. Dr. Robbins, of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

As a companion, his society and conversation were engaging, edifying, and instructive. His address was peculiarly pleasing, kind, and conciliatory; manifesting a mind richly stored with the treasures of divine knowlledge, and a heart warmed with

the love of God and his Saviour.

In all the various relations of domestic life, as a husband, a parent, a brother, a neighbor, and a friend, he constantly manifested the most kind and tender affection, in a conscientious dis- | sively known and appreciated to

charge of duty, animated and directed by the principles, precepts, and promises of the holy word of God.

uced public recital. To many, they will long be the themes of admiring and grateful recollec tion. But, alas!

"How lov'd, how valu'd once, avails him not."

As a preacher of the everlasting gospel, his talents were distinguished-uniting ease and el. cgance, with plainness and pungency; and happily adapted to please, to persuade, to convince, to instruct, and to edify his hearers. He was a scribe well instructed in the things of the kingdom of God. His tongue was as the pen of a ready writer. He appeared in the fulness of the | earthly course--finished the min

blessings of the glorious gospela son of consolation to the broken hearted penitent, and a Boanerges to the stupid conscience of the impenitent sinner. Always attentive to the concerns of his people, and desirous to promote their best interests, his labors have been instant, in season, and out of season.

In min

istering to the sick and afflicted; in preaching lectures, attending conferences, prayer-meetings, funerals, and all religious occasions; in visiting the families of his people, kindly soothing their sorrows, and rejoicing with them in all their joys; in frequenting the schools, and catechising the dear lambs of his flock; in instructing, and guiding, the awakened, the convicted, and the converted sinner; in healing divisions; exercising the discipline of the gospel; assisting his brethren in the ministry; serving in the public counsels of the churches; and laboring for vacant and destitute parishes, how diligent, unwearied, faithful, and useful he has been, in all these various branches of ministerial duties; are subjects too exten

Neither talents, nor learning, nor office, nor piety, nor usefulness afford any security from the shafts of death; any indemnity from the all-devouring grave."The fathers where are they, and the prophets do they live for ever?" He has finished his

istry he received of the Lord Jesus, and gone to his everlasting home. His immortal spirit has returned to his God and Judge; escorted, as we humbly trust, by angels to the bosom of Abraham; and welcomed by the voice of redeeming love, to the bright and blessed abodes of them that sleep in Jesus. While all must unite to lament the removal of this excellent man of God; the trembling friends of Zion, with their eyes raised to heaven, and their hearts fixed on covenant mercy, will united. ly cry, "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, for the faith. ful fail from among the children of men."

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