Litchfield enquirer., 1838-06-28


 after short illness of only two three days coniin uance, the Rev. JosErH E. CAMP, for upwards of 4O yeaFs the Pastor of the Congregational Church in snd society. His funeral was attended on the 2lst by large assembly of people from that and neghboring towns. discourse was delivered on the occasion by the Rev. Mfr. Andrew of WOodbury, from Revelations xiv. l9-"I heard voice from heaven saying unto me- write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them" In this discourse brief historical sketch of the life, death, and character of the deceased was given, of which the following is an abstract:
 MT. Camp was born in Bethlem, Con. April 6, l766 and died on the last Sabbath in May, being little past p years of age. Hewas educated nt Yale Col lege where he received his first degree in I7S7. He studied theology under the instruction of the Rev. Dr. Smalley of Berlin. He was ordained as the Pastor of his late flock in Northfeld Feb 13, l795 and was the first settled minister in that parish. or the council of ministers who acted in his ordination none are now living, and ofhe delegates of the churches present on that occasion but one survives Gen. Potter of Plym outh The ecclesiastical society, the spiritual over sight of which he was now called to assume, was n- corporated by act of the Legislature of the state at
 
 on the lst day of the following January then consist ing of lS members. 1tnow contains according to the last printed returns, l35 members. He experienced several seasons of specarelgou interest among his people during his ministry The greatest number re- ceived into his church in any year 5s in the year 1891. His pastoral connexion with his people had been dissolved about a year previous to his de- cease. But he continued to oficate in neighhoring vacant churches up the time of his death The last Sabbath preceding that on which he died he preached and administered the sacrament at w-Preston.- He at the time of his death the oldest member liv ing of the South Consociation of Ltchfeld county By the surviving members of that body his removal from among them is sincerely lamented for his long intercourse with them previous to his death had al ways been courteous and afIectionate. He had little opportunity to say much the subject of dying after his symptoms became alarming, owing to the rapid progress of his disease, and the speedy prostration of his physical and mental powers. Nor is this perhaps so much to be regretted as might be disposed to consider it. The words of dying man are not al ways the trues index of his character: 1t is, rather the life which he has led and the principles by which he has been governed, that should be chiefly relied on, in ordinary at leas determine what his future reward will be in the world to come and what in the sight of heaven the state of his heart was in this world In relation to the character of our departed friend and ministerial brother it is no part of the wri- ters object to pronounce his euogy, or to speak of him as though he was exempt from the common weak nesses and failings which we see in other men. But it is believed that may say of him, that as pastor he was judicious and faithful, and God gave him cheering evidence of hs acceptance of his labors. In his family he was kind companion to the now wi dowed and feeble partner of his joys and sorrows through the best part of long life, and his children an afectionate father and prudent counsellor and guide. As member of our ecclesastcdl councils and
 brother in the ministry, respected and loved him. As preacher the doctrines which he taught were the great doctrines which lie the foundation of true re- gion and sound morality; and his manner of inculca- l ting them was grave and solemn. He made the chris tai ministry, as it ever should be made, not step. ping stone to worldly ambition, medium of seci- ring to himself worldly honor or applause, nor simply the source of gaining honest livelihood, but an in. strument of doing good the souls of men, the grand agency which God had appointed for fescuing this lost and ruined race from perdon. In this blessed work he was employed up to the very close of long life. Let surviving ministers of the gospel and all christians be admonished to be faithful uhto death, and not to expect resting place from their abors on | earth: Blessed are tho de1d who die in the Lord for they from their labors and their works do fol- 1 low them."-C0mTa. t