Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 07:4 (Winter 1964)
Article: The Funeral Sermon On The Death Of Rev, Spencer Houghton Cone, D.D.
Author: Anonymous

CenQ 7:4 (Winter 1964) p. 12

The Funeral Sermon On The Death Of Rev, Spencer Houghton Cone, D.D.

Late Pastor Of The First Baptist Church, New York.
Preached By The Rev. Thomas Armitage, D.D.,
Sunday Afternoon, Sept. 16, 1855.

Published by request of the Church. 1855.

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It is not my design, this afternoon, to preach what would be denominated a methodical Gospel sermon. To such labor, your departed pastor has devoted all the energies of his body and mind, for the last forty years. And now, one of the most profitable things left for us to do, is to contemplate all the way in which the Lord has led him—how he was set apart to the Lord from his birth, by fervent and effectual parental prayer—how he was brought out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay—how he was endowed with a high order of qualifications for the ministry—how God thrust him out into the ministry, and crowned him with success, and counted him faithful therein. We may stand and wonder, and adore, and “glorify God” in him, as we see Jehovah’s sovereignty and grace magnified here. For they are fully made known in his mental and moral characteristics— his head, and heart, and walk;—in his “doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, love, patience, persecutions, afflictions” which came upon him; and in the manner in which the Lord delivered him out of them all, and brought him to his “grave, in hoary age, as the sheaf is gathered in, in its season.”

For this end, I have prepared a brief sketch of Dr. Cone’s life, with some remarks thereupon; “by his fruits shall ye know” him. Men find it as impossible to gather

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grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles, now, as it was in the days of the Saviour; a good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and an evil tree evil fruit, still.

The narrative must of necessity be very brief, a mere sketch, as I have said. And I regret this the less, because you are already quite familiar with the principal current of his life, and also because steps have been taken by his beloved family to procure an extended and authentic memoir, at an early day.

The Narrative.

Spencer Houghton Cone was born in Princeton, N. J., on the 30th of April, 1785. His ancestry, on his father’s side, can be traced to the first settlers of New England; and on his mother’s side, to the first colonists of Virginia. His father was a high-spirited and fearless man, remarkable for his finished and gentlemanly manners, and his stern republican principles. He fought with great bravery in the Revolutionary War. Dr. Cone’s mother was a woman of great personal beauty, vigorous intellect, and ...