18. His mind appeared composed and happy. He told me that, on the Sunday before, he had felt some doubts and fears, but engaged earnestly in prayer, and was afterwards enabled to see his title to heaven clear, and to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And from this time up to the period of his death, he enjoyed a settled peace of mind. In the course of our conversation, we were speaking of some persons who had lately been called to their last account-of one person in particular, who had neglected religion up to the time of his death, and whose unhappy situation he seemed deeply to lament-and he observed, "How glad I am, that God has been so gracious to me as to spare me so long, and allow me such a length of time for repentance! Oh, if I could but write down what the Lord has done for me, such a history could I write!" About this time he was confined almost entirely to his bed; but although weak and feeble, he was frequently singing psalms and hymns which he had learnt to repeat, and with which he was much pleased. But indeed his whole time seemed employed, and his whole soul engaged in the exercises of prayer and praise. As he drew near his latter end, he became indeed so weak that he at times spoke incoherently; but in all his wanderings, the love of his Redeemer, the concerns of his

soul, and the hope he had of a better life beyond the grave, were the themes of his conversation: he seldom, if ever, wandered from these. It was truly delightful and edifying to visit him. And many were the visits that were paid him by persons of his acquaintance, who seemed forcibly struck and deeply affected with the peace and composure he manifested when so near the hour of death. May the Lord bless the happy scene which they so often witnessed to the good of their souls! He repeatedly urged upon some young persons of his acquaintauce who called to see him, the care of their souls.

But the closing scene of life was now near at hand. I visited him on the following Tuesday and found him much altered: he was scarcely able to speak. But he had sufficient strength to tell me, that the Lord dealt very graciously with him, and that he had no doubts or fears whatever as to his acceptance. His mother told me that he had said to her the day before, "Oh, that this was the Lord's time, how glad should I be to go! But perhaps it is wrong to wish; and I should be very sorry to offend God by wishing to die. O Lord, not my time but thy time." I should have mentioned that he suffered much, in the course of his sickness, from a very troublesome and painful cough :

bu the bore those sufferings with great patience and resignation, not a murmur was heard to escape his lips. I took my leave of him at this time under the impression that I should see him alive no more, and so it proved. It pleased the Lord to visit me with a sickness which rendered me unable to take any part of my duty for several weeks; and he died the following Friday.

His mother and sister afterwards told me, that he continued to enjoy much peace and comfort of mind up to the last hour of his life. On Wednesday he requested his mother to ask Eleanor (his eldest sister, to whom he was much attached) to come and pray with him, if it would not too much affect her. "I am not tempted (said he). nor do I despond; but I wish her to pray with me." He then said to them, "when I am dying, do not cry, but pray for me." He frequently entreated them all to pray for him. The affection and concern he manifested towards his mother, and sisters, and brothers, during his illness, and his gratitude to them for all their kindness shown to him, were very great and very pleasing. On Thursday about noon (the day before he died) he earnestly requested his uncle, who was sitting by his bed-side, to be very kind to his mother and her family when he was gone. He entreated them

not to give way to sorrow-adding, "I must die-and you must die-and the Lord bless you all! 'I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.'" In the same evening, while all the family were standing weeping around his dying bed, expecting his dissolution, which appeared to be very near, he said to a young person who was near him, "look you, there is my mother crying, and Eleanor crying, and they are all crying; but if they only felt what I feel, they would not cry :--I feel that peace of mind which passeth all understanding." He requested to be left alone for a few minutes. When he wished to be left by himself, it was usual with him to say, "leave me to the care of God." In the course of the night, he said to a person who was sitting up with him, "Do you think I shall die soon?" She replied, "indeed, I cannot tell, God only knows.""" "Yes," he repeated, "God only knows, but I wish to be going, I long to be at home." He lived till the following morning, when he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, without a struggle or a sigh. There had been for some days before, such a heavenly smile upon his countenance as forcibly struck the beholders, and which death itself was not able to de.

stroy. Lord, "let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his !" H, October 28th, 1828.

F.

THE FRIENDLESS BOY.

(From an American publication.)

It was on a pleasant summer's eve, that the pastor of one of our New England villages took his walk, after spending the day in study. He was a good old man, who had long been faithful over the beloved people of his charge; and he had been a successful labourer in the cause of his Master, till his head had become silvered from age, and his feeble and tottering body needed the support of a staff. The sun had already sunk in the west, and was pouring his last rays into the golden sky, as the pastor entered the village grave-yard. The good man was pressing the sods which covered many of his beloved parishioners, when he came to the spot where lay his wife and three daughters. He was