THE AGED MINISTER'S ENCOURAGEMENT

TO HIS YOUNGER BRETHREN.

TWO SERMONS

OCCASIONED BY

The Death

OF

THE REV. THOMAS SCOTT,

LATE RECTOR OF ASTON SANDFORD, BUCKS;

PREACHED AT

ST. JOHN'S, BEDFORD ROW,

On Sunday, April 29, 1821.

SIXTH EDITION.

TWO SERMONS,

&c.

SERMON I.

2 TIMOTHY, iv. 6-8.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

up for me a crown

Henceforth there is laid of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge will give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

IF all are interested in the death of a Minister of Christ who have esteemed his character and been instructed by his labours, seldom has an occasion occurred which is likely to excite a deeper or more wide-spread attention than the present. For it is not too much to say, that there is scarcely a country where the English language is known, to which the name and writings of the venerable man, whose death it is

the purpose of my present address to consider, have not reached. Nor do I conceive there are many passages of Scripture more applicable to his long and most useful life, and his holy and instructive death, than my text; in which the blessed Apostle St. Paul, now on the eve of martyrdom', animates his son Timothy to redoubled ardour in the discharge of his ministry, by the consideration of his own approaching departure, and the eternal reward which awaited him. Watch thou in all things, saith the Apostle, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry ; and then in the striking language of the text, he assigns the reason for this earnest admonition, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. St. Paul here appears like an aged combatant, discharged from his long and honourable toil, who is anxious to encourage those whom he shall leave behind, to fresh effort and vigour in the same struggle. His own services were on the point of termination. He could do

Sce Note A, in the Appendix.