thought it wrong to attempt to be wise above what. is written. What God had declared, he maintained, was to be implicitly believed, notwithstanding it might not be comprehended by finite minds.

He sought instruction and improvement from the best sources he could find. It appears, by some letters, discovered among his papers, that he was favoured with an epistolary correspondence, on religious subjects, with the late president Edwards.

He had a happy faculty of silencing the cavils of the censorious and supercilious. A person of this character, once interrogating him, with a captious spirit, about some of the most abstruse points in religion, he said to the inquirer, do not the scriptures explain these great truths to your satisfaction? to which he replied, they do not. Surely then, said mr. French, you cannot suppose that I am able to explain them. These are the revealed truths of God's word; and, as such, are to be received and believed, though neither you nor I may hope fully to understand them in this world.

His different situations and occupations in life, were conducive to his acquiring a more, than ordinary knowledge of human nature.

His temper was naturally quick, but he was enabled, by the gracious influence of the gospel upon his heart, to exhibit, on the most trying occasions, great self-possession. His sensibilities were uncommonly keen. Whenever called so scenes of distress, his sympathy was instantly awake: yet be ever had so far a self-command, that he was

able, like a workman, who needeth not to be ashamed, in the most kindly manner, to administer the balm of consolation.

When addressing his beloved church, at the com. munion table; when speaking to the sons and daughters of affliction; or, when preaching upon some of the most interesting truths of the gospel, he often remarked, that it was with the greatest difficulty he could, in his own apprehension, attempt to utter a word, so tenderly was he affected; yet, he would express himself in a manner, so happily adapted to the occasion, that he seemed like one inspired. His words were like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

On the evening before his death, he agreed with professor Woods, that the conference meetings of the young gentlemen of the Theological seminary, and those among his parishioners, should be united, as there was already a hopeful and increasing attention to religion in the place, and as they mutually thought greater benefit would result from such a union. Thus, so long as he had the power, he spent his life in the service of his Master.

On the morning after this conversation, he was suddenly attacked with a paralytick affection. During the day he was able to say but little, which could be understood; but, at some lucid intervals, had so far the exercise of his reason and speech, as to give testimony to the truth of the gospel he had preached, and to express a becoming resignation to the will of God. Doctor Griffin prayed with him

a little before the last scene, for which he expressed his thanks, in broken language, to the professor, and fell asleep in Jesus.

He died on friday, the 23 of July, 1809, in the seventieth year of his age, and the thirty seventh of his ministry. His funeral was attended on the monday following, by a numerous concourse of people, in whose countenances it was plainly depicted how greatly they sorrowed, that they should hang upon his lips, that they should profit by his instructions, and that they should see his face no more. A sermon was delivered on the occasion, from John 14. 28, by the rev. Eliab Stone, of Reading, the senior minister of the Andover Association.

ANDOVER, MASS.

287. Sacred to the memory of SAMUEL ABBOT, esquire, who died, 30 April, 1810,

æt. 80.

Note. Such is the simple inscription to the memory of one of the greatest benefactors, of the present age, in the cause of literature, science, and religion.

To mr. Abbot, under Providence, is the christian world indebted, in no small degree, for the establishment of the noble Theological Seminary in Andover, an institution, which, there is every reason to believe, will continue a rich blessing to mankind to the latest period of time. At the first

organization of this seminary, he presented the sum of $20,000, and, in his last will, after specifying sundry legacies, he bequeathed to the same object, the residue of his estate, which will probably make the additional sum of $100,000.

At different periods of his life, he made the following donations; $500 to the south church in Andover for the benefit of the poor; $400 for the purchase of a bell for the south parish in Andover; $650 for procuring a clock for the same parish; $159 which was vested in a flaggon and tankard for the use of the south church in Andover; an Encyclopedia worth $130 to the library of Phillips' academy; $500 to the Society for promoting christian knowledge; $150 towards rebuilding the New-Jersey college; a considerable sum for lengthening ont the schools in the several districts in the south parish of Andover. "It was a remarkable proof of his solicitude for the improvement of the rising generation, that he continued to visit all the schools in the parish twice a year, till he was confined by sickness. Besides these acts of benevolence, he contributed to the education of several young men at Harvard college,and bestowed thousands of dollars in charities to ministers of the gospel, and to the poor in different places."

-The subject of this article was the second son of captain George Abbot of Andover. [see article 244. Having but a feeble constitution, his parents were induced to give him every advantage in their power for acquiring a knowledge of merchandise. C

PEN. I.-VOL. II.

In process of time he was established in business at Boston, where he amassed a handsome fortune, which enabled him, as by divine grace he had the disposition, to do incalculable good for the present and future generations.

From the discourse, founded on Heb. 6. 12, delivered at his funeral, by rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. the gentleman, whom he elected for his first professor, the following characteristick traits will be read with satisfaction by all, who revere the memory of the righteous.

"The first thing in his character, which I shall mention, as deserving imitation, was habitual devotion. On this and all other parts of his character, I shall speak according to the manifestation, which was made by his life, and not with any pretence of knowing the heart. From his fruits we have pleas ing evidence, that he was sincerely and unreservedly devoted to God, saying, with the devout king of Israel, Lord, I am thine. How are we to come to the conclusion, that a man loves God supremely, and is devoted to his honour? Is it evidence of this that he loves the house of God? that he loves the saints? that he loves the Holy Scriptures? Is delight in religious contemplation and prayer, is a conscientious observance of the commands of God evidence of supreme love? All this evidence appeared in our departed friend.

"His devotion had no flights, and usually no raptures. But it had the characters of humility, of se