kingdom of Christ, experiencing peculiar joy and peace in believing, and having clear and distinguishing views of divine things. His succeeding long life of devotedness to God, has well attested the genuineness of his conversion. The testimony of his acquaintance, especially, of those most intimate with him, concur in the declaration, that few men have led a more exemplary life of uniform and ardent piety. At the age of twenty-one, he entered Yale College, and graduated, September, 1765. He studied the profession of physic with Doct. Hubbard, of New-Haven; during which time he married Miss Sarah Beecher, a young woman of distinguished piety. After the attainment of his profession, they removed to Amherst, where he continued through life, a respectable practitioner of physic. His marriage connexion proved a source of mutual spiritual improvement; it being the highest aim of both to advance in the divine life. But happiness, or usefulness in earthly connexions, is no security for their continuance. And she, having exhibited an example of uncommon faith, and prayer, and holy living, and a striking manifestation of Christian composure, resignation and triumph in death, was taken from him at the age of 43; having been the mother of eight children; five of whom survived her, and are yet living.

Jan. 27th, 1785, he was married to Mrs. Eunice Warner, of Hadley, who survives him. In delineating Doct. Coleman's character as

a Christian, it seems insufficient to say, in general terms, he was a pious man. By the grace of God, he made rare attainments in faith and holiness. He had a deep, heart-felt sense of partaking with others in human depravity; but its evil effects were, in a high degree, subverted by that heaven-born principle of holy love, which divine grace had implanted in his heart, and which evidently actuated him in all the concerns and relations of life, and produced that uniformity of character which constitutes the beauty of holiness. His religion was the experience of the heart, diffusing itself through all the life. The bent of his mind appeared in his readiness to convert every thing to religious use. Every object of his attention was made subservient to spiritual improvement. Things, which a mere speculative mind would notice only with curiósity, always furnished him with materials for devout reflection.

He was of a retiring, contemplative turn, but also communicative and active in the cause of religion; zealous and experimental, but without bitterness and enthusiasm; mild and candid, without coldness and indifference; serious, but cheerful; high in religious attainment, but humble, and most charitably condescending towards others.

He was peculiarly attentive to the intimations of Divine Providence. In his personal concerns he uniformly studied its leadings with the most scrupulous attention, and cheerful acquiescence, that filial love could dictate.

Nothing seemed necessary to determine the course of his procedure, but a knowledge of his heavenly Father's will. And though his conduct, in this respect, may be regarded by the unregenerate as the superstition of a weak mind; yet the children of God cannot fail to admire it, as a charming trait of Christian character. Indeed, in proportion as the influence of true love and obedience to their Father in heaven, is felt in their own hearts, they will bless God for such a grace in their breth

ren.

He was eminently a man of prayer; both in respect to his faith in the duty, and his faithful performance of it. He seemed to go to his heavenly Father with the filial confidence of a child, expecting and looking for an answer. And so distinct and peculiar were many which he received, that no one, except an infidel, could doubt their reality. But I would not trouble the reader with a recital of them in this place, and shall only notice one, as an example. After the withdrawment of the Holy Spirit, in an awakening in Amherst in 1803, for the promotion of which he had been very earnest, he expressed a confident belief to some of his friends, that he should live to witness a great display of Almighty power and grace among that people. A few years after, the place was again visited with the special operations of the Spirit; and the particular friends to whom he had before expressed his faith, congratulated him, supposing that his

expectations were fully realized. He united in the joy, but observed, that the secret assurances which he had received from that God, who hears and answers prayer, were not yet fulfilled; and that if he was not deceived as to the reality of those assurances, he should live to see greater things than these. And though no revival of religion appeared until after he was severely threatened with death by repeated shocks of the palsy, yet he uniformly maintained his prediction. A few weeks before his death, to his great joy, he realized his hopes, and the gracious answer of a faithful God to his prayers. A powerful shower of divine grace refreshed the two churches in the town, and added in one day ninety to their number. The hopeful subjects were about a hundred and fifty. This irradiated his entrance to the vale of death, and he seemed, like Simeon of old, to say, "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

His deep concern for the salvation of his children, was manifested by the most faithful course of religious instruction, and an earnest spirit of prayer for them. And for an addition to the many encouragements to faithfulness in prayer, it may not be unprofitable or improper to mention, that he had the happiness of seeing all his children and their partners profes sors, and the most of his grand-children hopeful possessors of the religion of Jesus. By his writings it appears, that in the latter part of his

life he became convinced, that praying for his children collectively, did not answer the demands of duty he therefore made a resolution, to go to the throne of grace for them separately twice a day in secret, while he lived. And it is confidently believed, that this resolution was faithfully kept for the last thirteen years of his life.

His punctual attendance on the public worship of God, evinced his love for that service. He was never absent from the house of God on the Sabbath, except when personal illness, or an attention to professional duties, did not render it absolutely necessary. And his appearance in the sanctuary, uniformly denoted the engagedness of his whole heart. The preaching which he most admired, was that which exhibited the doctrines of grace in the clearest and plainest manner, and was the most directly calculated to affect the hearts and consciences of sinners.

As a Deacon in Christ's church, which office he held for more than thirty years, he manifested the same conscientious fidelity, that marked the performance of all his duties; and by his zeal for the purity, order and discipline of God's house, gave full evidence of being justly numbered with those, who, "by using the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."

His decided preference and love for religious company and conversation, was, also,