FUNERAL SEEMON.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1814, 26 October 1874, Page 2

FUNERAL SEEMON.

The Eev. James Hi]l- preached a funeral sermon on the death of the late Mr. Stewart Wilson in the Presbyterian Church last evening. The church was very crowded, Mr. Hill's popularity as a preacher having attracted many persons of other congregations. The rev. gentleman took his text from the First Epistle General of Saint Peter, Chap. 1, 24 verse —" For all flesh is as. grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away, but the word of God endureth for ever." There was (he said) in this a resemblance and a contrast. The resemblance was between the human life and grass. All flesh was as grass, and all the glory of man was as the flower of gras: the grass withered, and the flower thereof fell away^. The contrast was between human life and the word of God: the word of God endured for ever. Mr. Hill then proceeded to enlarge upon the text to show the resemblance and contrast he had alluded to; to show how inevitably the life of man withereth in old age as th« green grass of the earththough untouched by the mower — became deadened in the winter months; and, further, to shew tho uncertainty of life in the fact that many were mowed down by the hand of death where age had not approached. What did the graves of this district declare ? Were there many old and infirm lying there ? Very few. There they would see the graves' of many husbands and fathers who had been able to support those depending upon them;, graves of children, cut down in the morning of life; graves of young men, hurled into eternity by some unforseen event; and graves of young woman who, in the bloom and beauty of womanhood, did say of corruption, "Thou art our brother," and of the worms, " Thou art our brothers and sisters." In no city were there so many young and strong buried beneath tlie earth, and over no cemetery could the application of the text bo more truly applied that "all flesh was as grass." After some further remarks, ia which the reverend gentleman eloquently alluded to the eternity of the word of God as a book, and, as an awful contrast, the doubtful nature of our existence in this world, hesaid : These ideas," brethren, are appropriate to the subject of the lamented death of which it is my duty to speak to you to-night. As you are, doubtless, aware, the Eev. Mr. Wilson came here from Australia some five years ago, to act as pastor to the Baptists in this district. After ministering to these people for two years, he resigned his charge: he then devoted his time to weekly teaching, and conducted Divine Services on Sundays at St. George's Hall. This, after a little time had gone by, was given up. and since then he occupied the position of minister to the Presbyterian congregation at Tararu. This he kept up uniil the time of his death. After coming here, and, indeed, for a considerable time before, he enjoyed very indifferent health, and during the last few months was compelled to remain at home. It was his intention to have gone back to Victoria at the end of this year. Alas, we see not far before us! • Another journey was awaiting him, of a differentkind. After a short week's illness, he went to his last home, and, to the many millions of cases gone before, added proof "that all flesh is as grass." But, again, we have another instance of the fact that tho word of God endureth for ever: we have good reason to believe that the departed, has gone to glory in eternity. Mr. Hill then spoke in high terms of the late minister's life as a servant of God. He was a man of superior ability, and used it in the methodical arrangement of the Truth. He gave his mind to the parish in which his labors were centred; and while furnishing the knowledge which he possessed, was changing and sanctifying by the word of God. The rev. gentleman earnestly warned his hearers that there was something more nearly affecting them in the death of Mr. Wilson. The deceased had preached among them, and they would have to give an account of how they had accepted that preaching. It was the duty of ministers to speak frequently on.the subject of death. All would meet before one great judge, when it would be for the ministers of religion to tell how they had preached, and for the people t» tell how they had heard. The rev. gentleman was listed to with profound attention, though Ihe sermon ex teadf d considerably over tho usual time.

Wintbb Ciothing, consisting of Gentlemen's Overcoats, Real Mackintosh Coats, aro being Bold to suit all purchasersi at Joseph MoS£S^Tb«tnes Cloth Hall.—ApvT.