The consecrated pen may be more powerful than the consecrated tongue.

I devoutly thank God for having condescended to use my humble pen to the spread of his Gospel; and I purpose with His help to spend much of the brief remainder of my life in preaching His glorious Gospel through the press.
I am sincerely sorry that the necessities of this hour seem to require so personal a discourse this morning; but I must hide behind the example of the great Apostle who gave me my text.

Because He reviewed His ministry among His spiritual children of Thessalonica, I may be allowed to review my own, too--standing here this morning under such peculiar circumstances.

These thirty years have been to me years of unbounded joy.

Sorrow I have had, when death paid four visits to my house; but the sorrow taught sympathy with the grief of others.