Transcribed from the 1847 Josiah Fletcher edition by DavidPrice.
A SERMON
OCCASIONEDBY THE LAMENTED DEATH OF
JOSEPH JOHN GURNEY,ESQ.,
AND PREACHEDIN
PRINCE’S STREET CHAPEL,NORWICH,
ON
SUNDAY EVENING, JAN. 17th,1847,
BY JOHN ALEXANDER.
PUBLISHED ATTHE REQUEST OF THE CONGREGATION.
NORWICH:
PRINTED BY JOSIAH FLETCHER, UPPER HAYMARKET;
SOLD ALSO BY
JARROLD AND SONS, LONDON STREET;
LONDON: JACKSON AND WALFORD.
1847.
p. 2Thefollowing sermon, which the Author composed and preachedwithout the slightest intention of publishing it, andwhich he prepared for the press at the bedside of a dyingson, is now presented to his congregation, incompliance with their earnest request; and to thepublic, in the hope that they will mildly censure itsdefects, and that they will imitate the example ofChristian excellence which it describes.
Some additional extracts from Mr. Gurney’s works arenow inserted, which were omitted in the delivery of thediscourse.
Acts xiii, 36.
“For David, after he had served his own generation bythe will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto hisfathers.”
There are, as you will readilyperceive, several interesting points of resemblance, betweenDavid, here spoken of, and our beloved and honoured friend, whoselamented death has occasioned this discourse. Both of thembecame religious early in life; and consecrated their youth tothe God of their fathers. Both of them were men afterGod’s own heart; who, in the midst of human infirmities andimperfections, reverenced the divine authority, looked for pardonand salvation to the divine mercy, and esteemed the divineloving-kindness to be better than life. Both of them hadthe tongue and the pen of a ready writer; and said much, andwrote much, for the edification of the church of God. Bothof them contributed largely and cheerfully of their own property,for the support and extension of the cause of God and of truereligion. Both of them, when brought into varioustribulations, found it good to be afflicted, and made theeverlasting covenant of their God, all their salvation and alltheir desire. And of both of them it may with propriety p. 4be said, in thelanguage of our text, “They served their own generation bythe will of God; they fell on sleep; and they were laid to theirfathers.” There are also, as you are aware, somepoints of difference between them, as well as of resemblance; towhich, however, it is not needful to refer particularly;especially as I am desirous to direct your attention, in thisdiscourse, not so much to specific instances of resemblancebetween these holy men, as to the beautiful accordance whichther