earliest information from the persons who should first come out, how my friend had passed the night.

Neither had the good man, amidst all his pains, forgotten him. He mentioned to me several times, with much pleasure, the hopes which he had conceived of serious impressions forming on the youth's mind, from the conversation which he had with him. And upon being told of the lad's frequent and earnest inquiries after him, it served to confirm him in this opinion the more; and he very much wished to see him. The poor boy was soon introduced, and the interview was truly affecting. After frequent visits, the youth acquired some little confidence; and my friend found many opportunities of instructing him in that wisdom, which, under GOD the Holy Ghost, maketh wise unto salvation.

It was seemingly a long season of uncertainty for the exercise of my mind in waiting the LORD's will, respecting the final issue of my friend's state. Sometimes my hopes were high, and at others low, according as the symptoms appeared to vary. But, having acquired a little portion of that precious lesson in the school of grace, that the LORD's mercies are nearest unfolding, when our expectations of them are nearest closing; I felt, I thought, much sweetness in that scripture; it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD,

It was in the midst of these exercises the surgeon informed me, that his apprehensions were, that a mortification had taken place. He had, as usual, in his morning visit, examined my friend's bruised body; and then for the first time it was, that he discovered the advancing gangrene. Our hopes now were all over.Whether my poor suffering friend, from our looks, or from the whispering of the surgeon, was led to suspect the cause, I know not; but so it was, that he anticipated the question, by saying, "I believe, sir, that you find a morti"fication hath taken place, I have been free "from pain in the part injured for several "hours." The surgeon expressed his hopes, that it might not be so. But my friend, with a look of complacency which I shall never forget, replied, "Why would you wish so? It is not "the smallest reproach surely, to men of skill "and ability, when the ordination of the LORD

baffles all the efforts of art. And with respect "to my feelings, allow me to assure you, sir, "that it is an event more to be desired than "dreaded. I have long been looking forward "to this period, as to the happiest moment

upon earth. Although I have the least cause "of all men to be dissatisfied with the pil"grimage of this world (few travellers through "it having been more highly favored); yet I "long to be at home in my father's house, and "cannot but rejoice in the pleasing prospect: "knowing that when I am absent from the body, I shall be present with the LORD."

The surgeon expressed much satisfaction in seeing his patient so composed and tranquil; and soon after withdrew. When he was gone, I sat down by his bedside. Taking me by the hand, with that warmth of affection which distinguished his character, he thus spoke: My kind friend and companion, I am going "to leave you; but I would say to you, as Joseph did to his brethren, GOD will surely "visit you. I have nothing to bestow upon you, but my prayers. Had I indeed the "wealth of the whole earth, it would not be "worth your consideration. The most invaluable

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legacy I pray the LORD to give you, is what "the apostle coveted above all things for him"self; to know JESUS, and the power of "His resurrection, and the fellowship of His "sufferings. If the LORD gives you this;

possessing it, you possess all things. And "the GOD of all grace, who hath called us unto "His eternal glory by Christ JESUS, after that you have suffered awhile, will make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle you. "With respect to myself" (he continued) "and my views concerning the awful state about "to open before me, blessed be GoD, from "the security I possess in Him who is the resur"rection and the life, I have no fears. I have "been enabled again, and again, during my "confinement on this bed of sickness, to take "the most deliberate reviews of the evidences "of the renewed life. "whole enables me to

And the result of the rejoice in the finished

"salvation of my GoD. It is indeed a solemn “idea, that in a few hours I am to appear before GOD, the Judge of all. But it is my

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mercy, that I am come also to JESUS the "Mediator of the new covenant. While, there"fore, I look at Him, who is Fellow to the "LORD of Hosts, I find holy confidence. For "I discover in Him, and His redemption, a full, "complete, and all-sufficient righteousness, "adequate to every want, and answering to "every demand, to satisfy the law of GOD.

"Under the influence of this well-grounded "persuasion, which God the eternal Spirit "(I trust) hath graciously wrought in my soul; "I have more than once, since this illness, "been refreshed by the same comfortable "promise, with which the LORD favored the "Patriarch of old, to encourage him in his journey; Fear not to go down into Egypt, I "will go down with thee. LORD encourageth me. "that JESUS will go down with me to the "chambers of the grave. He hath the keys of

So, methinks, the
And I know indeed

"hell and the grave. He openeth, and no man "shutteth. He shutteth, and no man openeth. "Oh! it is a rapturous consideration to my "soul, that in all places, and in all states, my "Redeemer is with me. The covenant holds "as firm as ever in the grave And death, "which dissolves all other bonds, looseth not "the bonds of the everlasting covenant. Our "union, my brother," (he continued)" with our great mystical Head, is as perfect when

"in the dust of the grave, as when that dust is animated in the body. When JESUS from "the bush proclaimed himself the GoD of "Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the "GOD of Jacob; this blessed distinction of "character was carefully marked and preserved," "GOD is not the GOD of the dead, but of the "living, for all live unto Him." "Those 86 patriarchs, though mouldered at that time "for many years into dust, were still as much "living to GoD, in all the purposes of covetr nant-connections, in their dust, as when in "an animated body. And hence the Apostle "observes, whether we live, we live to the LORD;

or whether we die, we die to the LORD; "whether we live therefore or die, we are the "LORD'S."

My friend paused a moment to recover strength, and then proceeded" This body of "mine, my dear brother, will very shortly be "fit only for worms and corruption. And "when in this state, the tenderest hearted "friend, the fondest lover would say of such a

carcase, however engaging before it might ❝ have been, as Abraham did of Sarah, Bury my "dead out of my sight. But as these sensations "are not His, with whom we have to do; as

Jesus never set His affection at first upon His people, for the comeliness of their persons; "so neither doth that affection lessen, when "their comeliness is turned into corruption."Neither is their union with His person, even "for a moment only, interrupted by death.

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