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happiness of his friendship and acquaintance; amongst the former was the writer of this brief sketch, who has
so frequently heard him breathe out the consolations of the holy Gospel, with infinite satisfaction, for more
than 40 years. - Eulogy, in general, is considered rather as injurious to the character of a great man; but,
in this instance, we cannot omit to speak, in a becoming manner, of his exemplary life and exalted character; it
seems due to the living, and an offering of gratitude to the illustrious dead. - And although the writer has no
pretentions to be considered as an author; and being conscious of his inability to do justice to this eminent
divine; yet, from the very great respect and friendship which he and his family connexions have always manifested
towards this great and good man, he has been induced to write this imperfect and hasty sketch, confiding
in the indulgence of the liberal and candid mind to pardon its imperfections. He has been actuated by
pure motives to offer up this feeble testimony to the virtues of a pious man.
John Henry Livingston was born in 1746. He finished his education at Yale College; graduated, and then
became a student at law, in this city, during the period of the ministry of the Reverend Doctor Laidley, of
blessed memory. It was under his mild and persuasive arguments that he was converted, and quitted the study of
law, and commenced the study of theology. But as it was then a prerequisite to resort to Holland before he
could exercise his ministerial functions, he went to that country, and remained in the university of Utretcht four
years, with great reputation: and having returned home in the year 1770, he was invited to become Pastor of the
Reformed Dutch Church, in the city of New-York; and continued, with unabated zeal, in the cause of his
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Master, until the year 1810, when he was appointed, by the general Synod of North America, to be the President
of the Theological College, established at New-Brunswick, in New-Jersey, for the instruction of pious
young men for the ministry; where, under his fostering care, he exercised his great usefulness in his valuable
instructions to his dear children, even up to the 19th January, 1825. - On that day, in the full vigour
of his intellect, he delivered an interesting lecture to those dear children, in the college; and on the morning
of the 20th, his soul was called home, without a sigh, and without a groan, in the 79th year of his
age, full of honours, full in the hearts of his dear children, full in the wisdom of his Divine Master -
"FOLLOW ME." - "COME AND SEE." With what zeal, with what fervency of spirit he explained to us the
unsearchable riches of the Gospel! Although the following is derived from another source, yet it so much resembles
that which we have so often heard from his lips, it is deemed appropriate on this occasion, and I have taken
the liberty to insert it.
"In the time of Augustus Caesar, a wise and amiable prince, in his reign, for the first time, the temple
of Janus was shut since the foundation of Rome: and this era was distinguished by the appellation of the
Augustan or Golden Age. It was in his reign that the promises of God were realized which had been made
to Adam, to Abraham, to Jacob, to Judah, to Moses, and the promise of God to the world, by all his prophets,
was now accomplished in this peaceful reign. The star appeared in the east, the wise men followed
its direction to the Babe at Bethlehem; the angelic host proclaimed in anthems of praise -- Glory to God
in the highest; peace on earth, good will to men.
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