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occur in the haste of writing. It would have been desirable that the discourse had been more full, but even in its imperfect state, it can do no discredit to the dead, and by the divine blessing, may do much good to the living.-Editor.]

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF THE REV. JOSEPH SHAW, L. L. D.

THE subject of the following memoir was born at Rattray, Perthshire, Scotland, and baptized, December 6, 1778. He gave evidence of early piety. The early part of his life was spent in preparing himself for the arduous and highly responsible duties of an "Ambassador of Christ." He was educated at Edinburgh, and finished his collegiate course with credit and reputation. He prosecuted the study of Divinity under the Rev. Professor Bruce; and having spent the usual time, was commissioned to preach the everlasting gospel. Soon after this, a request was made by the Associate congregation of Philadelphia, to the General Associate Synod of Scotland, to appoint one to labor among them in word and doctrine. Mr. Shaw was selected and appointed to this work. In the fall of 1805. he arrived in this country, and after a fair hearing, the congregation called him to be their fixed pastor. In this situation he continued until the year 1810, when, for reasons which he deemed sufficient, he gave in the demission of his charge of the congregation.

He was afterwards called to the professorship of languages in Dickinson College, Carlisle, where he continued till the operations of that institution ceased. In 1815, he received a similar call to the Academy of Albany, New-York. Here he taught with reputation and success. His labors as a minister were occasionally, and for a time, almost statedly enjoyed by the congregation in Fox-street, and he was the principal instrument in bringing that congregation into connection with the Associate Church. Those who were educated under him, always spoke of him with gratitude and affection, and regarded him as a father and friend. He was elected a mem

ber of many literary societies, and received the title of Doctor of Laws from Union College.

At the commencement of the vacation in August, 1824, he left Albany for Philadelphia. Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and not being apprehensive of any danger, he was seized with a violent cold. On Sabbath he was engaged to preach; on the morning of that day he rose, having spent a sleepless night. The cause of his restlessness was a soreness of the tongue, which, upon examination, was found to be much inflamed and excoriated. Though this was a symptom of the fever which succeeded, he was unwilling that the people who had invited his services should be disappointed, and therefore ventured, though attended with much pain, to preach the discourse which follows.

On Monday, the fever set in, and continued till Thursday, when it abated, and on Friday seemed to have left him. His physician and attendants had not the slightest suspicion that he was dangerous; towards morning, he was visibly worse-and before ten o'clock, the spirit had left its clay tenement. His death was attributed to inflammation in the stomach.

In his death, society lost a valuable member, the church an able defender, and that portion of it to which he was attached, a firm and undeviating friend; as he was sincerely and zealously attached to the principles of the Reformation, as maintained by the Associate Synod of North America.

Being naturally of a contemplative and taciturn disposition, his first impressions on a stranger were not prepossessing, it was only those who were in habits of intimacy with him that knew and duly prized his private worth. But, though he was naturally contemplative, he was not so to the breach of decorum. On the contrary, few men had a better knowledge of men and manners. His conversation generally led to subjects of a heavenly and divine nature, and few had a happier turn in directing it to subjects of this kind. His composition was dignified and smooth, and he evidently labored more for perspicuity than embellishment. He always gave due time for preparation for public duties, and never attempted to serve the Lord "with that which cost him nothing." His discourses were written in full, and delivered nearly as they were written. He was not backward in administering reproof, when he saw it to be necessary; and with prudence and discretion, peculiar to himself, he discountenanced that disposition which prevails with some, to levity, and to trifling with serious things. He was possessed of great equanimity

of mind, which, sanctified by the Spirit of God, was of great advantage to him in the troubles and afflictions he was called to endure.

The sermon which follows, if not the best of his compositions, is at least good; it was selected as being his lastwhich will give it interest. It was not prepared for the press by the author, and it is probable he had not the most distant idea of giving it to the publie. It is given, however, just as he left it, and is a convincing proof of the care and diligence with which he prepared for public services.

His earthly sufferings terminated in the congregation in which he was first settled. His remains were deposited in front of the Associate Church, beside those of Mr. Marshall, his venerable predecessor.

The following inscription is on his tomb-stone:

En Memory of

THE REV. JOSEPH SHAW, L. L. D.,

A NATIVE OF SCOTLAND;

LATE PROFESSOR OF LANGUAGES IN THE ALBANY ACADEMY, NEW-YORK, AND FORMERLY PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH,

Who Died August 21st, 1824,

In the 46th year of his age, and Twenty-Third of his Ministry.

His last sermon he preached to this congregation on the Sabbath immediately preceding his decease, from the words, 'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man.' Prov. viii. 4.

SERMON,

BY THE REV. JOSEPH SHAW, L. L. D.

1

"Unto you,

O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man." (Prov. viii. 4.)

We need not, my brethren, bring into contrast different nations and ages-we need not compare together the savage, the semi-barbarous and the civilized races of men-we need not visit even in imagination all the inhabitants of the globe existing under all the varieties of climate, from the polar regions of the north to the torrid zone--we need not oppose the rude and gloomy inhabitants of the cave, the forest, and snow-built hut, to the refined society of splendid courts and cities--we need not compare christian with heathen, or the untutored peasant with the well educated man, in order to discover that man is not the same every where, at all times and in all respects, in regard to the state of his mind, any more, than in regard to his bodily habits and external circumstances. No: take the case of but one man, compare that man with himself, and in the few years which constitute his natural life, you will see how in all its succeeding stages, he is constantly differing from his former self. The same individual in his boyhood, in the strength of manhood, and in the decrepitude of old age, differs not more in vigor and appearance from himself, than do his taste, opinions and emotions of mind in the different stages of his being. As an historical illustration of this point, we call you to observe--what must be obvious to every one, on the bare mention of itthat the author of the three sacred books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, must have been in three very different states of mind, when he penned them. The most striking diversities indeed are apparent in these three divine compositions. The Song is a sublime allegory, setting forth in all the glow and sprightliness of a youthful mind, the intimate connection between God and the church. The book of Proverbs, fraught with the choicest rules of conduct in all

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