prayer, in which he engaged with such solemnity and fervor of feeling as deeply affected many of the assembly, and left all wholly indisposed to engage that evening in their expected revelry. The whole assembly dispersed without a dance. It is to be regretted that only a meagre biography of Mr. Clarkson can be presented.

It is but seldom, that the life of a gospel minister, settled in a country congregation, and whose only aim is the faithful discharge of his pastoral duties, affords any great variety of incident. But that example which the life of a good man exhibits is always profitable and instructive to the people of God.

The following particulars respecting Mr. Clarkson were communicated by his son, the Rev. Thomas B. Clarkson, who has also now ceased from his labors in the vineyard below.

Mr. Clarkson came to America about the year 1772, or 1773, being the first missioned by the General Associate Synod of Scotland after Messrs. Smith and Rodger. He was called, in the providence of God, to sustain an important part in defending and maintaining the cause of divine truth, as exhibited in the Secession Testimony.

He was settled as pastor over the Associate congregation of Guinstown, in York Co., Pennsylvania, shortly after his arrival in this country; and in this congregation he continued to labor with persevering diligence until within a few years of his decease; when he was compelled to resign his charge, on account of increasing infirmities. He died about the year 1810, or 1811. Mr. Clarkson's congregation was located in that part of York County denominated "the Barrens," where the land is proverbially poor; and his salary never exceeded £80 Pennsylvania currency, equal to $213 and a few cents, per annum; with this, and the proceeds of a small farm, he was enabled to support his family, and devote himself to his pastoral duties; in attention to which he was exemplarily diligent; catechising and visiting his whole congregation every year. He had a stated meeting of his session every month for religious exercises and for inquiring into the state of the congregation, and making provision for the poor. A small fund was kept up by stated collections every Sabbath, for the relief of the poor, whose burdens were in this way very much alleviated, without the knowledge of any, except the session.

"I remember," says Mr. T. B. Clarkson, "that my father seemed to consider this, a matter of some importance, for I recollect of hearing him once in conversation with some clergyman, say, that this would be a condition, without which

he would not accept of a congregation, viz: that of lifting weekly collections for the purpose mentioned."

Although Mr. Clarkson was naturally hasty in his temper, yet, in his session, and also with others, he was persuasive, mild, and patient, and at no time had he any unhappy jangling. He never had an ear for tattlers, but always endeavored to turn their attention to themselves; this generally cut the tale short, and kept him in ignorance of every thing in the congregation, but what would come before the session in a regular way,

In admitting members to communion he was exceedingly particular; this he used to think was one of the most difficult duties he had to perform as a minister, and it gave him the greatest anxiety.

His manner was, to request those who made application and were admitted to attend on the next communion, to converse with him, in order to see whether they had made any attainments in knowledge, and that he might have another opportunity of instructing them as to the nature of the ordinance, and of recommending books for their perusal; accordingly before a communion, in appointing a day for young people to converse with him, a day was mentioned for all those to come who had been admitted at the last communion. This was no doubt one way in which his people were well instructed in Secession principles. With regard to his preaching, he pursued the old and the best plan of expounding the psalm, and lecturing in the forenoon. He might be called a systematic and doctrinal preacher generally. Though he could not be called an elegant speaker, yet he was an interesting preacher; he had an impressive earnestness in his manner, well calculated to draw attention; his enunciation was clear, manly and distinct; and though he sometimes hesitated, he would frequently speak with fluency. All his talents were of the useful rather than brilliant kind. As a man, he was cheerful and affable, at the same time he possessed a native dignity of which he could not easily divest himself-undeviatingly adhering to whatever he conceived to be right, regardless of consequences. Mr. Clarkson was a zealous, faithful and conscientious supporter of the Secession Testimony in America; and his labors seem to have been blessed with unusual success. The Secession Church has now upwards of one hundred and eighty congregations in America, the great majority of which, lie in the United States, west of the Alleghany mountains; and it has been remarked, by those who have opportunities of personal acquaintance in most of those

congregations, that there is scarcely one known, in which some of those, that were members in Guinstown congregation are not to be found. And in many cases, they formed, (if we may borrow a term,) the nucleus of the congregation.

Mr. Clarkson was twice married. By his first marriage he left three sons, and three daughters, and one son by the second marriage. The youngest of his sons by his first marriage, he named after his intimate friend and fellow-laborer, Rev. Thomas Beveridge. This son, the Rev. Thomas B. Clarkson, entered the ministry, and was settled at Mercersburgh and McConnelsburgh, Pa. where he preached with much success for a few years; but his health failing, he was obliged to desist from public speaking altogether several years before his death.

SERMON,

BY THE REV. JAMES CLARKSON

(Preached at Guinstown, Nov. 27, 1774.)

"We have an Advocate with the Father." (1 John ii. 1.)

CHRIST is a Priest. We have the oath of the eternal Jehovah to assure us of this truth, (Heb. vii. 21,) "The Lord sware and will not repent. Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." His priesthood consists of two parts, his oblation and intercession: his offering up of himself to satisfy divine justice, thereby reconciling us to God; and in making continual intercession for us. The first of these he long ago perfected on earth, (Heb. v. 14,) “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." The last he is always carrying on in heaven, accor-> ding to the words now read as the subject of discourse. "We have an advocate with the father."

In the 7th verse of the preceding chapter of this general epistle, which is addressed to all those into whose hands the Bible should come, the Apostle informs those to whom he wrote of Christ's blood as an atonement-"and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanseth us from all sin." In the 9th verse he discovers to all how they may make a profitable improvement of this blood, namely by owning their sin, confessing their guilt before God, and going to him for pardon. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins." In the first clause of the 1st verse of the context, he informs them of the end and tendency of this comfortable doctrine; 'My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not. Seeing that God is merciful and gracious ready to hear the cries and forgive the sins of his people, surely this is a strong and forcible obligation on them to guard against sin which is so offensive and contrary to his nature. But as there

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is no perfection in this life, the very best of God's people being subject to many failures that tend greatly to discourage them, the apostle here discovers a proper relief for their despondency. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous." Let your failures be matter of deep concern and humiliation to you before God; but be not so discouraged under them as if they could cause a final rupture or breach between God and you. It is Christ's business as an intercessor or advocate to prevent that; "And if any man sin," &c.

Notice more particularly in these words,-First, a sufficient remedy or powerful antidote against despondency declared; namely, an advocate with the Father: "If any man sin," &c. An advocate is a person that pleads the cause of another in court so Christ pleads the cause of his people in the court of Heaven. The word here translated advocate is no where else in scripture (that I remember) ascribed to the Son, though the thing meant by it is frequently ascribed: thus in Heb. vii. 25. "Wherefore he is able also to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Rom. viii. 34,) "It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." It is also ascribed to the Holy Ghost, (Rom. viii. 26,) Likewise also the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what to pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

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ひと

The business of an intercessor we noticed was to speak or plead for another. So we may observe that there is this difference betwixt the intercession of the Holy Ghost and Christ's, that the Holy Ghost speaks for Christ in the heart... by discovering and recommending him as precious to the soul, (John xvi. 14.) "He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you;" but Christ speaks in, heaven for the believer. The Holy Ghost pleads the cause, of Christ in our hearts and indites our requests for us; Christ pleads our cause in heaven and presents our supplications there for us. Thus both the Son and the Holy Ghost are, advocates in the believer's interest. Christ is said to be an advocate with the Father. Not with his Father only, as if believers had no interest in him. Not with their Father only, as if he were contradistinguished from them. But with the Father: which implies that both Christ and believers have but one Father. (John xx. 17,) "Jesus saith to Mary touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But.

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