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 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 OF 
 
 JOIIX S. NEWBOLD. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 There is in the Library of " the Society of Inquiry 
 on IMissions" in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, 
 N." J. a most interesting- manuseript-work in two vol- 
 umes, called " The Obituary," in which, as its name 
 imports, the last days, especially, (though a brief bio- 
 gvaphy commonly attends it) of all deceased persons 
 who have once been members of that Institution — are 
 recorded. 
 
 It is a w^ork, which, alas! is but too certain of enlarge- 
 ment. It is replete, already, with affecting and useful 
 sketches of the life and death of some of our most devoted 
 and distinguished young Ministers, or candidates for the 
 sacred office . 
 
 Not less than forty names are here registered among 
 the dead; and the second volume is rapidly filling up. 
 Who next shall be there enrolled, God alone can tell! 
 
 As a memorial of departed worth, these volumes are 
 most creditable to the Society : — and to the future his» 
 
2G8 ADVEKTISEMENT. 
 
 torian of the American Church, will be rich in impor- 
 tant matter. 
 
 But, in the mean time, it seemed a circumstance 
 greatly to be regretted, that so many interesting and 
 profitable narratives siiould be entirely withheld from 
 the Christian public. 
 
 We feel this the more, from having intimately known 
 many of the lamented subjects ; from a careful perusal 
 of the solemn contents ; and from a persuasion that 
 candidates for the Ministry, generally, might derive 
 from them important benefit, as well as great pleasure. 
 With these views it was, that we (having a special re- 
 gard to the Candidates under the care of the Board of 
 Education) requested permission of the Society, through 
 a friend, to publish a portion of these narratives in the 
 little volume in which they now appear : — and we can- 
 not too heartily thank our young brethren of that vene- 
 rable Seminary, for the promptitude and kindness with 
 which they yielded to our washes. 
 
 We present the following as specimens only, of 
 the entire work, having no space in the present 
 volume of our Annual for more. But we hope to be 
 permitted to enrich its future pages with similar and 
 more copious extracts. 
 
 It is due to the " Society of Inquiry" to say, that 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 269 
 
 though the pieces arc generally well written, most of 
 them are the productions of early youth, and were not 
 originally designed for the press. We have thought it 
 best, however, with the exception of a few verbal correc- 
 tions, to publish them as they were written, proceeding 
 as they do, from the hearts of pious youth, weeping at 
 the tombs of departed brethren and fellow-students. 
 
 If these pages should meet the eye of surviving rela- 
 tives of the deceased, we are persuaded they will ap- 
 prove our humble attempt to honour their memory, and 
 to make them speak from the grave. The facts are 
 considered public property; and having been furnished 
 by their friends for the Archives of a public institution, 
 there can be no indelicacy in making the present use of 
 them. 
 
 May these simple and almost sacred annals do much 
 good, as they go forth upon the minds of a great num- 
 ber of youth, now looking to the sacred office ! May 
 they learn from these solemn memorials, that no extent 
 of present usefulness — or promise of it for the future, 
 can avert the stroke of death! 
 
 THE EDITOR. 
 
 Philadelphia, Oct. 8th, 1832. 
 
iuo(;KAriiv OF 
 
 JOHN S. NEWBOLD. 
 
 John Sflirni Nkwi:oj.d, was born on the 1st October, 
 1795, in the city of Philadelphia. Ho was distinguished 
 from early youth by a disposition peculiarly amiable and 
 engaging, an active and ingenuous mind, a memory un- 
 commonly retentive, and a conscientious regard for truth. 
 His deportment was cheerful, and, in his early years, 
 even gay; yet a consistency and dignity marked iiis 
 character, wliich caused him to be regarded almost with 
 reverence by the youthful members of the family. 
 After finishing the usual term of preparatory education, 
 and with marks of peculiar approbation from his teach- 
 ers, he left Philadelphia on the 8th November, 1813, 
 for Princeton, and was admitted into the College of 
 New Jersey, as a member of the Sophomore class. 
 
 We have been often led to admire the manifest lead- 
 ings of an all-wise Providence at this time. His mother 
 had always objected strongly to his going to college, on 
 account of the fear of exposing her son to the tempta- 
 tions and dangers associated in her mind with a college 
 life. He had endeavoured to quiet her apprehensions 
 and sooth her fears on his account, considering them as 
 
 7. 
 
272 BIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 groundless, but her reluctance was still great at parting 
 with him. How little did she know the rich blessings 
 that were in store for him ; that at this very place ho 
 should see his lost state as a sinner, and be enabled to 
 flee to that Saviour who was his confidence and hope ! 
 
 It was his intention, when he had finished his college 
 course, to study medicine. He frequently expressed his 
 sentiments on this subject with much animation, and 
 thought the ability to relieve the sufferings of his fellow 
 creatures would be productive of great happiness to 
 him. At this time he seems to have have had no claims 
 to the character of a christian ; — but liis conduct and all 
 his intercourse was distinguished by a dignity, joined to 
 an affability, that secured the respect and affection of 
 all that knew him. 
 
 In the October vacation of 1814, he was remarked by 
 his family to be more serious than usual, but they could 
 not account for it then. At this time he said, (referring 
 to what he supposed would be his future profession) 
 that he wished to be a Physician to the soul as well as 
 to the body, and asked, priva,tely, to have a Bible put 
 into his chamber. He returned to college, and continued, 
 without any particular indications of seriousness, until 
 the 14th January, 1815, when his family received a 
 letter stating the change which lie hoped he had under- 
 gone. Addressing his mother, he says : " Although I 
 shall not have time to write much, I thought I had bet- 
 ter write to you in order to communicate to you a cir- 
 cumstance, which I hope will make you and the rest of 
 the family sincerely glad. You have heard me speak 
 
JOHN S. NEWBOLD. 273 
 
 sometimes of tfic excellent preachin*T we have here. 
 I have now to inform you, that through the hlessing of 
 God upon it I have been made to have some serious im- 
 pressions in regard to my situation, which I hope and 
 trust, througli the mercy of God, will not be extin- 
 guished, but will continue to increase and accompany 
 me through my whole life, and finally gain for me a 
 blessed immortality. I do not doubt, my dear mother, 
 that this information will give you sincere pleasure ; at 
 least, it has had this effect upon some pious young men 
 in college ; — how much more, then, upon you, who, I am 
 certain, take such a deep interest in my welfare. It 
 gives me pleasure also to mention, tliat there are ap- 
 pearances of several others being inclined soon to follow 
 the same path which I am endeavouring to follow; 
 and God grant that I may be enabled to persevere in 
 following it. How happy should I be made, if, at my 
 return home in the vacation, I should find a like change 
 had taken place in all at home : that you had all been 
 made to know your best interests ! It is my daily 
 prayer that this joy may be mine ; and oh, may my 
 prayers be heard I" 
 
 From this time we shall make frequent extracts 
 from his weekly communications with his family, which 
 afford the most faithful transcript of his religious views 
 and feelings, and the most interesting outline of his 
 noble character. Although this change in his senti- 
 ments appears to have been very sudden, yet in his next 
 letter he mentions, it was not so much so as was sup- 
 posed — " Serious impressions were made upon my mind 
 
274 BIOGRAPIPY OF 
 
 in some degree towards the close of the last session, 
 Avhicli were considerably interrupted during the vaca- 
 tion, but revived with double force on my return to col- 
 lege tliis fall. I did not know that there was any body 
 similarly affected in college, which, of course, kept me 
 from declaring my sentiments until I thought they 
 w^ould, through the Divine blessing, be lasting." 
 
 From this time it was his constant endeavour, by the 
 most faithful and affectionate exhortations, to interest 
 those who were nearest his heart, in the concern of their 
 soul's salvation. This will be exemplified fully in the 
 following extract of a letter dated March, 1815: "I 
 have written you so often on the subject of religion, my 
 dear *****, that I do not know what more I can say. 
 But I do hope I have not written altogether in vain. 
 Have you not felt sometimes that what I told you, how- 
 ever feebly expressed, was nevertheless true, and of the 
 utmost importance ? Have you not felt sometimes half 
 inclined to be religious ; and do you not intend to be so 
 yet some time or other ! Surely you do not intend to 
 die without making some preparation for eternity ; then 
 why delay ? What hinders you but want of inclina- 
 tion ! Why don't you, then, strive, my dear *****, 
 while God is inviting you so tenderly, and promising 
 that if you will strive you shall obtain it? When Jesus 
 Christ died to save you, why will you destroy your- 
 self? This short and sorrowful life will soon, very 
 soon, be past, and our spirits will return to God who 
 gave them ; and oh, how awful will that return be for 
 us, if we should be called away in an unprepared state ! 
 
JOHN S. NEWROLD. 
 
 275 
 
 The time murd come, and however it may seem to hn- 
 ger, it is approaching with dreadful rapidity. Can you 
 look forward without being dismayed ? Can you look 
 into the grave, that cold and silent mansion for all the 
 living, and to which we arc all liastening, and not shud- 
 der ? Can you look forward to the morning of the re- 
 surrection, and not almost think you hear the arch- 
 angel's trump. summoning you to appear at the dread 
 tribunal of an offended God? Remember that the 
 same Jesus whom you might have for an Advocate and 
 Saviour, will otherwise be your Accuser and your Judge ; 
 that as his mercy is infinite, so also is his wrath. Oh, 
 then, while you have time and opportunity, make him 
 your Saviour ; try to obtain an interest in his death and 
 inconceivable sufferings. Do not think me too harsh in 
 what I have written ; indeed, it is a subject not to be 
 trifled witli. Oh, may God make us all trophies of his 
 redeeming love and grace 1" 
 
 Of these letters, one of his sisters says, "I trustjwith him 
 that these affectionate remonstrances have not been in 
 vain. All that this dear brother said and did, deeply in- 
 terested us ; and if any of us have a hope, through grace, 
 of eternal life, it is entirely through his instrumentality." 
 In the spring vacation of 1815, (the first he spent at 
 home after the revival in the college,) his whole deport- 
 ment was impressively solemn and affectionate. He 
 took the earliest opportunity to converse, and "I think," 
 says his sister, "piety never shone in a more amiable, 
 yet forcible light, than in him ; bringing every power into 
 subjection to Christ Jesus, without the least appearance 
 
276 BIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 of ostentation or gloom. Yet it could not but be ob- 
 served, that his face, generally pale, was now more than 
 usually so, and a slight pain in his breast caused us 
 some apprehension on account of his health." 
 
 From that time till he left Princeton, he was more or 
 less subject to this pain ; and dated its origin, it is be- 
 lieved, from the time when his mind became occupied so 
 much, as he said, with things of a higher nature, that 
 bodily exercise was for a season almost entirely ne- 
 glected.* On his return to Princeton, he was led to more 
 frequent exercise, and in consequence was mucli better, 
 and more free from pain than when in the city. At the 
 close of the vacation spoken of above, he was confirmed, 
 and afterwards made a public profession of religion in 
 the Episcopal Church. From the time that he was first 
 religiously impressed, his views, which had formerly 
 been towards the study of medicine, were directed to the 
 Ministry. He graduated 25th September, 1816, highly 
 distinguished for talents, scholarship, and piety, having 
 received the first honours of the class. On the 7th of 
 November he entered the Theological Seminary in 
 Princeton, 
 
 In his first letter from thence he says, "I hope and 
 pray that it may please God to bestow upon me the ne- 
 cessary qualifications to make me a usefiil and faithful 
 minister of the Gospel. My wants are very great, but 
 in Jesus there are inexhaustible treasures of grace, from 
 which I hope to be supplied. Oh, that I were more sen- 
 
 * How often is the Church of Chi-ist called to deplore this sad 
 indiscretion in some of her most promising sons I— Ed. 
 
JOHN S. NEWBOLD. 277 
 
 piblcof tlie greatness of my necessities, and more earnest 
 seeking to have them supplied I" 
 
 " From tlie tenor of two or three letters during his 
 last session," says his sister, "our friends were in some 
 measure prepared for a conversation we had -with him 
 in January, 1817, in which he mentioned the probability 
 of his going, at some future period, as a IMissionary to 
 the heathen. In the first of these he mentions the fre- 
 quent and pleasant walks he had with one of his most 
 intimate friends, and that the subject of their conversa- 
 tions was of a nature very interesting to them ; and of 
 which, perhaps, he would give us some account in the 
 vacation." In another, a short time afterwards, he 
 writes, " We do not know how widely we may be sepa- 
 'rated in this world ; and we ought to be ready and will- 
 ing to make every sacrifice which our duty may re- 
 quire. This remark does not apply so immediately to 
 the case in hand, as to what may be the case a year or 
 two hence. We do not know, however, but that some 
 separations of a more solemn and interesting kind may 
 take place before that time, and for these it should be 
 our constant and assiduous endeavour to be prepared. 
 For this purpose we should study to have our affections 
 very much loosened from earthly objects, we should 
 walk in communion with God, in the faith of Christ, and 
 in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost." In a third, (one 
 of the last he wrote from Princeton,) after mentioning 
 how much we had been separated for the previous eight 
 years, he says, " But there are many who spend a longer 
 time than that without being at home at all, and many 
 
278 BIOGRAPRY OF 
 
 whom distress, or the love of wealth, and a few whom 
 the love of Christ and of perishing souls, lead to spend 
 their whole lives in foreign lands. How many and how 
 different are the causes which separate the members of 
 the same family from one another ; yet if they are also 
 members of the family of Christ, they ought not grieve. 
 Though in this world they are debarred the pleasure of 
 each other's society, yet they have a mansion where they 
 shall dwell together forever. It is o, truth, there re- 
 maineth a rest for the people of God. Do we think se- 
 riously and frequently enough of this consoling truth ? 
 I know, that for myself, I do not ; and I believe this is a 
 common fault among Christians. If we did, we should 
 not live such cold, unprofitable lives as we do; we would 
 not make so much of every trifling object of time and 
 sense, and be so much concerned about the ease and 
 comfort with which we should pass through life. Our 
 time of continuance here is short; our rest is sure and 
 glorious ; it has been bought with blood ; it is bestowed 
 on the unworthy; shall we not labour then to fill up our 
 time in that way which was our Saviour's constant 
 aim ? O, let us pray for the grace of his good Spirit to 
 mould our hearts into perfect conformity to his will." 
 He afterwards speaks of the Missionary Society in the 
 Seminary, and says, " It is to be lamented that a mission- 
 ary spirit does not prevail more amongst us. It seems as 
 if one might say, if a missionary spirit does not glow in 
 your breasts, where are we to look for it ? I do not be- 
 lieve a single one am.ongst us is resolved for this work ; 
 
JOHN S. NEWKOLD. 279 
 
 and tlicrc are not more than two or tlircc wlio think 
 seriously about it!" 
 
 From the time tliat he became deeply sensible of the 
 value of liis own soul, he manifested a deep concern for 
 the Heathen ; and it is not recollected that he ever ad- 
 dressed a throne of grace without mentioning them. 
 
 The frame of liis mind on entering the last year of 
 his life may be known by the following extract from a 
 letter dated January 2d, 1818 : " This is the first time 
 I have made the figures of the new yeaj,^ and as this 
 is the first letter of the year, I begin with sending 
 you the compliments of the season, my sincere and 
 hearty desires that you may have many and happy 
 returns of it; and that every succeeding one may find 
 you more engaged in religion, luore devoted to the ser- 
 vice of God, and experiencing more of the blessedness 
 of it ; that Jesus may become more and more precious, 
 and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit more constant, 
 purifying, and comfortable. How much reason have I 
 to be thankful to the Lord for his continued goodness 
 and mercy to me. Indeed, we have all cause for thank- 
 fulness ; and now, at the beginning of this year, it be- 
 comes us to enter upon it with humiliation for the sins 
 of the past, and with purposes of new obedience for the 
 future. Whether we shall be permitted to see the end of 
 it, is known only to the Lord ; but we should endeavour 
 so to live, that whatever may be his will concerning us, 
 we may be prepared for it." 
 
 He had been admitted a candidate for holy orders in 
 the Diocese of Pennsylvania, October 28, 1817 ; and on 
 
280 BIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 May 20th, 1818, he left the Seminary with the expecta- 
 tion of finishing his theological course in Philadclpliia. 
 
 Here his alFectionate fellow-students would record 
 their testimony to that uncommon Avorth, which is so 
 deeply engraven on the hearts of all who knew any 
 thing of the humble and vigorous mind, — the noble, and 
 disinterested, and holy spirit of this exemplary Chris- 
 tian. The memorials of liis excellence are not confined 
 to a few intimate friends who knew him best. All his 
 fellow-students, as they were the objects of his love, and 
 the subjects of his fervent prayers, were sharers in the 
 influence of his godly example, and will affectionately 
 remember Neweold, their departed brother, to the end 
 of their days. In the circle of private friendship he was 
 cheerful, entertaining, faithful, and edifying. In societies 
 for doing good he was always extremely active, taking a 
 leading part in every scheme for the glory of God that 
 was within his reach. The plan of Sabbatli School in- 
 struction,'which promises do so much for the world, was 
 commenced in Princeton by him. He possessed an 
 uncommonly penetrating mind, well stored with the 
 most useful information; and one spurred on to fatal 
 diligence by the best of motives, which, while it was 
 accumulating with surprising activity the best of all 
 knowledge, was laying it at the feet of Jesus. Yet he 
 was well known, too, among the numerous poor whom 
 he visited, instructed, and comforted; and even the 
 stranger whom he met in his private walks, was soon 
 apprised by his pious exhortations that he was a disciple 
 of Jesus. In a word, his whole character was such as 
 
JOHN S. NEWBOLD. 281 
 
 this world had rarely known, even amongst those who 
 have devoted the longest lives to its attainment. 
 
 Soon after he left the Seminary, it was observed that he 
 had a slight cough, but it did not excite in us any alarm, 
 till on the evening of the 27th, when, having coughed 
 harder than usual, he said with great composure, "I am 
 spitting blood." This was the beginning of his fatal 
 disease. The family physician was sent for, but he ap- 
 peared to look to the great Physician, for, as he after- 
 wards said, he knew not what might be the immediate 
 result. His mind seemed occupied the remainder of the 
 evening in meditation. Bleeding, and a low regimen, 
 were prescribed for him, and he was prohibited much 
 conversation. At each return of hemorrhage, which 
 was frequent, his strength was gradually reduced. It 
 was, therefore, advised that he should spend as much as 
 possible of the hot weather in the country. He left 
 home on the second of July, attended by one of his 
 sisters, and visited several of his relations residing in 
 New Jersey. In the minds of air who saw him during 
 this little tour, he excited a deep interest. Many of them 
 viewed him as much nearer eternity than he really was, 
 and already ripe for heaven. So perfect an example of 
 patience and submission was he, that he seems to have 
 left, in these, that proved, indeed, farewell visits, impres- 
 sions that will never be effaced. " Perhaps you will be 
 surprised," says his sister, " that but little conversation 
 on the subject of the removal of this dear brother passed 
 between him and us. The fact is, to us the suggestion 
 of the idea was agonizing; he knew how we loved him, 
 
282 BIOGRArHY OF 
 
 and, when he remotely hinted at it, ho saw the pain 
 which it occasioned. This was the reason why so little 
 was said. But often he took occasion to speak of the 
 happiness of the saints in light. One Sunday evening 
 in particular, when we were setting alone in ««r1tttle 
 room in the Pines, how sweetly did he discourse on the 
 privilege of being called home in the season of youth, 
 of the blessed employments of Heaven, and of the sin- 
 fulness and selfishness of immoderate sorrow for the 
 loss of those wliora we did not doubt were before the 
 Throne of God." 
 
 He returned from the excursion on the 12th Septem- 
 ber, and, through the pleasant weather of the fall, his 
 health was thought to be certainly improving, and a 
 strong hope was entertained, that his passing the 
 winter in a warmer climate would, with the Di- 
 vine blessing, improve, if not entirely restore it. "Ac- 
 cordingly, on the 5th of November, he lefl home for 
 Savannah. The parting was most painful to us all- Our 
 trust w^as in God alone, to preserve and restore us again 
 to each other. All this time my dear brother preserved 
 the utmost composure. He seemed to indulge a faint 
 hope that his journey might be of benefit, and with that 
 hope, wished rather to go than not, though he said, per- 
 haps it would be better for me, as Dr. Alexander once 
 observed of persons surprised by an ill-turn, to set my 
 house in order, and prepare to die, instead of travelling 
 abroad seeking health. He took with him some suitable 
 books, but never opened them. The Bible alone, of all 
 books, interested iiim. While he had strength, nothing 
 
JOHN S. NEWBOLD. 283 
 
 prevented liim from perusing it daily with meditation, 
 and oflen it was read to liim at his request. At these 
 times his remarks were most edifying and beautiful. 
 On religious subjects he eontinued to the last to speak 
 with animation. His missionary views did not decUne 
 with his health. He frequently expressed regret that 
 he was leading so useless and inactive a life, and that 
 he did not feel that zeal for God that he once felt. 
 It was observed to him, that he was now incapable of 
 active exertion from weakness; but that if he had 
 strengtli, he would, no doubt, be as ready to engage in it 
 as ever; which he admitted might, perhaps, be the case. 
 "He sailed from New Castle November 7th, and was 
 favoured with a mild, short passage. At sea he was 
 subjected to many inconveniences, of which, however, 
 he never complained; but which, as an invalid, he must 
 have felt sensibly. He arrived at Savannah on Sunday 
 evening 15th, and went to reside in the family of a friend 
 and physician. He appeared to have taken no cold at 
 this time, from which favourable conclusions were 
 drawn, much as he had been unavoidably exposed on 
 board, and in landing, and the weather had been cool 
 and rainy. In a day or two, however, he raised a small 
 quantity of blood ; from that time he was subject to 
 hoarseness and some degree of oppression at the breast 
 in damp weather, from which he always recovered as 
 soon as it became clear. Every fine day he either rode 
 or walked out, and though all saw how weak he was, it 
 was still hoped he would soon become stronger, as his 
 symptoms had assumed a favourable appearance. The 
 A a 
 
284 BIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 week preceding the last of his life, he walked out with 
 more pleasure and less fatigue than he had since our ar- 
 rival. At this time the weather changed most unfavour- 
 ably; it was very damp and cold, such a season as had 
 not been known there for many years. This was too 
 much for his weak frame to endure. He soon com- 
 plained of a pain in his side, and a difficulty of breath- 
 ing. On Tuesday morning he came down stairs, while 
 the family were at breakfast ; appeared to be weak, and 
 ate but little. His mind, tlirough the whole of his last 
 day upon earth, seemed quite abstracted from the world. 
 He spoke with great difficulty; not without drawing a 
 breath between every word. He asked Dr. K. when he 
 came in, to look at what he had expectorated. He before 
 said that he thought it was ulcerated matter. The Dr. 
 told him it was ; he heard this without the least change 
 of countenance, and seemed to think the time of his 
 departure near. He said to his sister, as she sat by him. 
 It seems as if the Lord's blessing has not attended our 
 coming here. It would be almost impossible to give an 
 idea of his appearance and manner through this da3^ 
 He suffered great pain ; but unless he had been asked, 
 none of us would have known it. Not a single com- 
 plaining word escaped him, nor any expression of suf- 
 fering. Several times through this day he took medi- 
 cine. At dinner and tea he occupied his usual place, 
 though he eat but little. It was evident through the 
 whole day that his illness had increased. In the even- 
 ing the family all retired. During this time he said but 
 little, but did not sleep. He sometimes inquired tlie 
 
JOHN S. NEWBOLD. 285 
 
 hour, and between one and two, asked if it was not time 
 for the Doctor to come in. The Doctor was called. His 
 patient was evidently worse, and did not appear to have 
 sufficient strength to raise the phlegm which oppressed 
 him. As his sister leaned over him, he said in a low, 
 inarticulate tone, "/ hope it will please God to release 
 me soony How hard was the struggle to part with 
 such a brother ! But strength and resignation were 
 given. She told him she hoped he would soon be re- 
 lieved. He said I do not hope that, but that I may be 
 released. She asked if it was because he suffered so 
 much. He replied, I am afraid it is. He was told that 
 he had no cause to think so, that he had always been 
 resigned to the Lord's will. I was not prepared to dia 
 so soon, said he, that is, from the nature of his symp- 
 toms, he had not been prepared to expect his removal so 
 speedily. When the Saviour, the Rock of Ages, on which 
 he had rested, and the glories of that world to which he 
 was soon to be introduced, were mentioned to him, and 
 he was asked if he had not a good hope of acceptance 
 through Christ, "Oh, yes !" he replied. On being asked 
 if he had any thing to say to his dear family at home, 
 he answered nothing very particular at this moment ; 
 give my love to all the dear children, and tell them to 
 prepare for death. He then said, give me time to pray. 
 For several moments he -was engaged in earnest prayer. 
 His voice was so low that his sister could understand but 
 little of what he said ; the tenor of it was in humility, 
 confessing himself to have been unfaithful and sinful, un- 
 worthy of mercy, but hoping for it through the blood of 
 
286 BIOGRAPHY OF, &C. 
 
 his Redeemer. At this time his eyes were closed, 
 but the serenity of his countenance was not for a mo- 
 ment disturbed. He sunk rapidly, and spoke no more, 
 nor opened his eyes again upon the world. "I would 
 not," says his afflicted sister, " interrupt (by speaking to 
 him) the peacefulness of his departing spirit." During 
 the last fifteen minutes his breathing was scarcely per- 
 ceptible ; and it was difficult to say whether he was an 
 inhabitant of this or a brighter world. On Wednesday, 
 A. M. at quarter before 4 o'clock, the 23d of December, 
 he was released. He feel asleep in Jesus. Truly " the 
 righteous hath hope in his death." We can adopt for 
 him the language of his favourite hymn, 
 
 " Jesus can make a dying bed 
 
 Feel soft as downy pillows are, 
 While on his breast I lean my head, 
 
 And breathe my life out sweetly there." 
 
^ 
 
m