[p. 111] from the labor of composition.
Having commenced an exposition of the Scriptures many years before his decease, it was continued to the last week of his life, and he often rejoiced at feeling himself laid under a necessity, imposed by his task, of writing more or less every week.
The few last years of his life were in one respect most happy, as he saw himself surrounded by a number of young friends just entering on the ministry, whom he could with reason regard as the fruits of his own labors.
He expressed the highest satisfaction when in the forty-fifth year of his ministry he stood in the pulpit for the first time with one of his own parishioners.
Two others in succession occupied that place with him previous to his death, and they were followed shortly afterward by three more.
Rev. John Pierce, D. D., of
Brookline, Mass., writing of him in 1848, says:
The first thing which gave him great celebrity was a political sermon in 1794, occasioned by an appeal to the people from the decision of the American Government under Washington, by Genet, minister to the United States from the French Republic.
This discourse passed through three editions within a few months, the last at Philadelphia.
From this period he was greatly admired and caressed by many of our leading politicians of the Federal school, and both in public and in private he stood forth the earnest and powerful advocate of their principles.
It is not a little remarkable that of his twenty-two published discourses just one-half should be on political subjects.
Of these the most celebrated was his election sermon, preached in 1809.
It was nearly two hours in delivery; was pronounced wholly memoriter, and with prodigious effect.
Dr. Osgood was of about middle height, inclining in the latter part of his life to corpulency.
He was to the last erect in stature.
His countenance was strongly marked, indicating great power of intellect and firmness of purpose.
He ruled well his household; but whatever of austerity belonged to him, it never prevented a
