FUNERAL SERMON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1068, 8 October 1883, Page 2

FUNERAL SERMON.

At the Presbyterian Church yesterday morning there was an unusually large congregation. Two reasons may be assigned for this one being that the periodical celebration of the Lord’s Supper is near at hand, and another that the pastor, the Rev A. M. Beattie, M.A., was expected to make reference to the recent death of an aged elder of the church—Mr James Reid, one of the pioneers of Ashburton, who died on the 25th of September at the ripe age of 75Mr Reid was the father of Mr Charles Reid, blacksmith of this town, of Mr W. Reid of the firm of Muir and Reid, builders, and father-’n-law o( Mr Muir of the same firm, and also of his Worship the Mayor, Mr Donald Williamson. The deceased gentleman lived a quiet unobtrusive Christian life, and no member or office-bearer in the Presbyterian congregation enjoyed more implicitly than he the confidence of his follow members and ' rother elders, nor was more deservedly respected. The Rev Mr Beattie’s sermon was more particularly devoted to the approaching ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, at which, had he lived, Mr Reid’s office as elder would have required him to take part in the dispensation. Referring to' the deceased gentleman, Mr Beattie, who evidently spoke under great, emotion, said ; In addition to what has already been advanced in reference to our approaching Communion, I think it my duty to call our attention to God’s providence in removing by death one of the eldest, if not the eldest man amongst us, who was ordained as an elder of this church fully three years ago. His venerable presence will be missed at the Lord’s tabta by us here on earth, but his glorified spirit must even now be among those who are “ before the throne and serve Him day and night in His temple.” It is comparatively seldom, at least in this new colony, that we are privileged to have such a fine specimen of a God-fearing man placed so publicly before us in the eldership, and bearing testimony to the Lord Jesus so modestly, unflinchingly, anduncompromisingly down to the age of threequarters of a century. Certain features of Christ’s character seem to make more deep impressions on the hearts of some believers more than others ; but, in the case of our departed friend, a keen and strong sense of God’s majesty, almighty power, and spotless purity, as contrasted with our insignificance, weakness, and sinfulness was moat clearly observable. Hence his profound respect for God’s day, God’s house, God’s people—especially the ministers of the gospel—God’s laws, God’s name, and .perhaps, most of all, God’s Book. Now that he is no more here, it it most interesting and instructive to consider the verses he has marked with his pencil in the large-type Bible used by him for some years past at family worship, which he scrupulously kept up both morning and evening for very many years. These passages appear throughout both the old and n.ew Testaments, for he persevered to the very last in what wo believe to be the grand, old, and praiseworthy practice of perusing regularly on from beginning to end the whole of the scriptures, firmly believing that all scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for’ doctrine, for reproof, fjr coprection, for instruction, in righteousness,; that tl\e man of God may ba complete, furnished completely unto every. good work. Those marked passages must have formed his chief spiritual food in his daily raidings in private and 1 in secret at home. As examples rf these let us take the few following ones, viz:—“Christ in you the hope of glory;” “Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ;” “ For the bread of God is He which oometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the world ;” “Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation;” “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord;” “Upon thy statutes my delight shall constantly be set. And by thy grace I never will thy holy word forget;” “When Christ who is our life.shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” These are only a few examples taken at random from his own markings in that revered old Bible, an unfathomable mine infinitely more precious than i gold, and over which he habitually rejoiced as one that findeth groat spoil. Well, the sun of the longest day goes down at last, yet our dear old friend is not lost but only gone before, leaving to those who are left behind for a little, and especially to us in the eldership, the words “Watch ye.” His faithfulness utno death ought to be an additional stimulus to ours, whilst we continue to look to the same Saviour whose grace never fails, and who says to His own, “ I will never leave thee." Our aged Christian friend’s last prayer to God for us has been offered, and the last warm grasp of his hand has been given. The rare phase of piety so unostentatiously exhibited in him is now removed from our bodily vision, and the great question is, shall we all meet him again in that better world where friends meet to part no more, but remain for ever with the Lard 1 His place is now empty in this house, but you all know that ho never missed a chance of being here both morning and evening on the Lord’s Day, and ho was always present also at our Wednesday evening meetings as long as ho was able to come, and sure I am he does not regret that where his glorified spirit is to-day.

Asleep in Jesus, peaceful resf, whose waking is supremely blest, No fear, no woe, shall dim that hour, that manifests the Saviour’s power. Asleep in Jesus, oh! for me, may such a blissful refuge be, Securely shall my ashes lie, waiting the summons from on high.