Memorial of Alvin Simonds; Cashier of Mechanics Bank of Boston for Fifty Years, Deacon of Phillips Church of Boston for Thirty-Nine Years (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1887 Excerpt: ... Memorial Discourse preached in Phillips Church, June 6th, 1886, by the Rev. F. E. Clark. Psalm xxxvii. 37: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." 'I "HIS is a verse that I should very seldom dare to use as the text of a memorial discourse concerning any man. We have no more right to overpraise the dead than to underrate the living. Least of all are words of fulsome eulogy fitting as we contemplate the modest, simple life of the godly man for whom our hearts grieve to-day. And yet is there any one here who feels that language is strained, when we say of him, pointing with steady finger to the record of that long life: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright." We use these words in the same relative sense that the Psalmist did. We interpret his meaning as we do our own by other passages of God's Word: "There is none righteous" (that is, absolutely righteous), "no, not one." "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Our brother would be the last one to claim perfection; doubtless he, in common with every child of Adam, had his defects and committed his sins. His humble soul realized, as a coarser nature, and one more seared and calloused by sin, could not, how far short even he came of the standard of spotless purity which our Lord left us. But, when all this has been said, I appeal confidently to you every one and say, speaking relatively as the Psalmist spoke, was there ever a man within the circle of your acquaintance of whom these words could be uttered with more confidence and less qualification: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright"? If it were proper, I should have no hesitation in uttering words of glowing praise. Were all the inhabitants of this city within the sound of my voice, d...