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OBITUARY.

DIED, October 21, RR, of this city, in the 26th year of his age *.

For several years preceding his death, he passed his time in thoughtless levity and dissipation. From his childhood he had seldom been seen in the house of God, and was very ignorant of the truths contained in the Scriptures. In the carly part of his sickness, which was a consumption of the lungs, he was extremely averse to hear of the subject of death. He could hardly be persuaded of his danger until a few days before he died, when he consented to see a minister. The minister who was sent for, in the short time he spent with him, stated to him plainly and explicitly the cause of all our distresses the improvement we ought to make of them-the awful nature of sin-our total apostasy-the fulness and freeness of salvation through the Lord Jesus-and the necessity of a thorough change of heart to be acceptable to God here, and obtain eternal life hereafter. Mr. R. confessed his former sinful life-his abuse of past merciesand appeared to be filled with sorrow at the recollection of what he had been in his conduct, as well as what he was by nature. The minister directed the 51st Psalm, the 3d chapter of the Gospel of John, the 3, 4, 5, and 6th chapters of the Romans, and the 2d of Ephesians, to be read to him, and having prayed with him, left him. He was much affected and agitated after this, and expressed a wish not to be spoken to at that time.

On the day following he was more indisposed than before, and very weak, so that he could speak but little, and could not bear even to hear reading. There is reason to believe he was much engaged in prayer and in meditation, as he called fervently on Jesus to have mercy on him. The minister visited him again this day, and finding him so low, merely directed his attention to

* The name is not given at the request of a near relation.

the simple truths of the Gospel in very few words, and prayed with him. After he was gone, Mr. R. expressed some doubts that he could not be saved if he was not one of the elect; but was quieted on this head, when told, that he had reason to think himself of that number, if the Lord made him willing to seek for salvation through Christ." The day following he grew feebler, but expressed his willingness to depart. He was much engaged in prayer, crying fervently at intervals for

mercy.

On Wednesday his sister read to him the 51st Psalm, and 3d of the Gospel of John. He was frequent in ejaculatory petitions for mercy, and prayed to be brought to the throne of grace, and taught to pray. He seemed to be much delighted with the loveliness of a Saviour, as his exclamations were, Sweet Jesus!-Noble Jesus! and these often repeated.

On Thursday he was restless; and when he could speak, called on Sweet Jesus to have mercy on him. His lips were continually moving in prayer; but few words were distinctly articulated. There is reason to believe, from his engagedness in prayer and his subsequent conduct, that the Lord made some great manifestation of his glory. He begged not to be spoken to or disturbed till the following day. Towards the evening he seemed inclined to talk, and calling his sister to his bed, told her he was happy, he had made his peace with God, and was happy.

The day following the Lord strengthened him to speak in a remarkable manner. He indeed put a new song in his mouth, and left him without a wish to live. He expressed much desire to see some pious friends of the family, and spake with confidence of meeting them in heaven. He reasoned much with his parents on the necessity of a speedy repentance. He called his father to the bed-side, and warned him in these words: "Father, I am but twenty-six years old, and the Lord has afflicted me, and is about to remove me to heaven. I hope I shall see you there. You are now eighty years old, and have not called on Jesus as you ought to do. I beg you will give up the world, and seek for sweet Jesus. He has spared you to this hour; but do not put off

your repentance to a death bed, as I have done; for you may be afflicted with the loss of reason, or pain which will disable you from calling on him." To his mother he gave a similar exhortation. His brother-in-law sat

up with him a great part of the night. He spoke with coolness of his approaching dissolution, and repeated with fervency after his brother-in-law, various verses from the Psalms, and other short ejaculations. He also repeated the Lord's Prayer-after which, in answer to an inquiry on that subject, he replied, he was not at variance with any person. Rapturous expressions of love to Christ, and hope of glory, frequently burst from his lips.

On Saturday, the minister who had twice visited him, called again, and though he rejoiced in the change he found in Mr. R's state, deemed it his duty to warn him of the deceitfulness of the heart-of the wiles of Satan-of the awful consequences of a mistake-urging upon him the necessity of strict self-examination, as far as his feeble state of body would permit. He told the minister he was happy-expressed his sense of his own unworthiness-and declared all his hopes rested on the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before prayer he was asked if he had any thing particular to solicit at the throne of grace. He requested that his parents might be remembered; and added, but in so low a voice, that the minister did not hear it, or know what it was till afterwards, "Pray that I may again see what I have seen." At eight o'clock that night he told his brotherin-law he would depart before morning, and called on Jesus to receive his soul. He said his breath came from his heart, and he felt the stroke of death upon him. His cheeks, he said, were already stiff and cold, which was the case! and his cough which had not intermitted for two minutes a-time for a week before, now entirely ceased, and seemed to give him repose in death. He took leave of his father and mother, and all in the room, in the most affectionate manner, and called on Jesus several times. Af 10 o'clock he asked if his feet were not cold, and expressing a wish not to be disturbed, he breathed his last, without a, struggle, in a sigh scarcely audible, about an hour before morning.

The preceding account naturally suggests some important truths to the mind of every reflecting person.

1. Why did not this young man die as insensible as he had lived? To say that the fear of death awakened his conscience, will merely account for his alarm in the first instance, but by no means for his hope at the end. Although deeply sensible of his unworthiness, he was full of consolation, and looked for the time of his departure without fear. He had heretofore considered Christ as without form and comeliness, and by his conduct said' Depart from me;' but now he considered him as precious, and with rapture called him Sweet and Noble ! From whence proceeded this revolution in his views and feelings? Was it produced by the powers of his mind? The Scriptures declare that the carnal mind is enmity against God. How then could that heart, which by nature hated, by its own ability be made to love God? The change must have been produced by some power out of itself. Scripture declares, that we are saved by grace. Was this grace which operated in him at this time, the same grace which operated in him before? Was it common or special? If the former, why was it more effectual at this time than before? Because he willed it, or exerted his powers of mind? But whence this successful exertion? What made him willing? The grace of God, unquestionably. Thus if we say the grace which changed him was common and not special, we run the circle of our own folly, and end where we began. It was special grace which wrought in this young man ; for special grace can alone subdue our rebellious natures, and make us willing subjects of the Prince of Peace. By grace are ye saved through faith, saith the Apostle, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of WORKS, lest any man should boast. The spirit of God imparted to him believing views of the Lord Jesus, as able and willing to save sinners of our race. These views, thus obtained, banished his fears, and caused hope to spring up in his soul.

2. In this instance, divine sovereignty, absolute sovereignty, was displayed in all its glory. There was nothing in the former conduct of this person-nothing in the temper of his mind when he was taken sick, that could

influence God to bless him with his favour. Here was a life spent in vanity-here was a heart hostile to the truth-here was a sinner who had manifested in the midst of Gospel light, an open and persevering neglect of the ordinances of God's house. And yet the Lord revealed himself to him in a way of mercy. How strikingly does this prove his own declaration to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then,' adds the Apostle, and his words deserve especial attention, as containing an eternal and indubitable truth, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.' Do any feel disposed to cavil at this, and ask, Why doth he yet find fault, for who hath resisted his will? God himself, by his Apostle answers the question. Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?

3. The truths which were blessed to this person's conversion, were those which are commonly called the doctrines of grace. These, whilst they lay the axe to the root of human pride and cut down all self-righteous pretensions, exalt the free grace of God, and the all-sufficiency of the Saviour-a grace not to be purchased by human merit-an all-sufficiency adequate to human corruption and human imbecility. Of course, these doctrines alone are suited to our wants as fallen creatures, and can alone appease the alarms of an awakened conscience, by directing the trembling sinner to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. All these doctrines may be summed up in that one grand, fundamental, essential truth, of a radical, total change of heart by the almighty power of the Holy Ghost. In this change the principles of spiritual life are implanted in the sinner, so that he arises from his death of sin, and walks before God in newness of life. The change itself is wrought by God-the sinner is the mere recipient. Thus God declares by the Prophet, "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put

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