38. JOHN KNOX.

"Was this then death?

O soft, yet sudden change, what shall I call thee?
No more-no more thy name be death. And thou,
Corruption's dreaded power, how changed to joy!
Sleep, then, companion of my first existence,

Seed sown by God to ripen for the harvest."-BULMER'S MESSIAH.

JOHN KNOX, the Scottish reformer's dying words were: "Come, Lord Jesus, sweet Jesus; into thy hands I commend my spirit: be merciful, O Lord, to thy Church, which thou hast redeemed; raise up faithful pastors." After this, calling his friends to his bedside, he broke out in these rapturous expressions: "I have been meditating on the troubled state of the Church, the spouse of Christ; I have called on God, and committed her to her Head, Christ; I have fought against spiritual wickedness in high places, and have prevailed; I have tasted of the heavenly joys, where presently I shall be." "Now, for the last time, I commit soul, body, and spirit into his hands." Uttering a deep sigh, he said, "Now it is come!" His faithful attendant desired him to give his friends a sign that he died. in peace. On this he waved his hand, and, uttering two deep sighs, fell asleep in Jesus.

39. ROBERT BRUCE..

ROBERT BRUCE, another bright and shining light of that Church, had been educated for the law by his father, one of the first barons of Scotland, and had got a patent to be one of the lords of session. But he was called by the grace of God to the ministry, and abandoning all his

fascinating prospects, he joyfully took up the cross and followed Jesus. He was ordained to the ministry in Edinburgh, where he withstood king James' attempts to overturn the religion and liberties of Scotland, until he was exiled. He died in his seventy-second year. He had taken his seat as usual at breakfast, and having eaten an egg as he used to do, and feeling still a good appetite, he called for another; but suddenly reclining his head in a musing posture, he said, "Hold, daughter, my Master calls me!" He lost his sight in a few moments; but calling for the Bible, he told them to open it at the eighth chapter of the Romans, at these words: "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Now," said the venerable man, "put my finger on these words;" and being told that it was, he said, "Now, God be with you, my dear children; I have breakfasted with you, and I shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night." And saying this, he gently fell asleep.

40. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD.

"Ah yes! the hour is come

When thou must hasten home,

Pure soul! to Him who calls;

The God who gave thee breath
Walks by the side of death,

And naught that step appals."-LANDOR.

SAMUEL RUTHERFORD, one of the most resplendent lights that ever rose in Scotland, was the professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrew's. When the parliament of Scotland summoned him for trial because he stood up for liberty and religion, he was on his dying bed. "Tell the parliament," said he to the messenger,

"that I have received a summons to a higher bar; I must needs answer that first; and when the day you name shall come, I shall be where few of you shall enter."

In his last moments he said to the ministers around him, "There is none like Christ. O, dear brethren, pray for Christ, preach for Christ, do all for Christ; feed the flock of God. And O, beware of men-pleasing." Having recovered from a fainting fit, he said, "I feel, I feel, I believe, I joy, I rejoice, I feed on manna; my eyes shall see my Redeemer, and I shall be ever with him. And what would you more? I have been a sinful man; but I stand at the best pass that ever a man did. Christ is mine and I am his. Glory, glory to my Creator and Redeemer forever. Glory shines in Immanuel's land. O for arms to embrace him! O for a well-tuned harp!"

He continued exulting in God his Saviour to the last, as one in the full vision of joy and glory.

41. DR. WM. P. CHANDLER.

"I will tell thee even more,

Ten thousand years from now; if but with thee
I too reach heaven, and with new language there,
When an eternity of bliss has gone,

Bless God for new eternities to be."-COXE.

MR. CHANDLER was a native of Maryland, and became a member of the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1797. His health failed and he was compelled to desist from preaching in 1810, but he lingered on with broken health till 1822.

The closing scene of his life is thus described by a physician and Christian brother:

"I visited Dr. Chandler daily during his last illness, which was of long continuance. His disease was an al

most universal paralysis. The attack had at first been confined to one side, and, after a partial recovery only of that side, the other became affected in like manner with the first. His mind, as well as his body, felt the effects of the disease, which at times caused a considerable derangement of intellect; but notwithstanding the confusion that was apparent in his mental operations, his constant theme was his God and the salvation of his soul, and on these subjects it was truly surprising to hear him converse. Although Dr. Chandler seemed incapable of rational reflection on other subjects, yet on that of religion, at intervals, he never conversed with more fluency, correctness, and feeling, at any period of his life. He appeared to be exceedingly jealous of himself, and occasionally labouring under fear lest he might have deceived himself, and that he should finally become a castaway; but of these apprehensions he was generally relieved whenever we approached a throne of grace, which we were in the habit of doing on almost every visit. In this state he remained until within a few days of his death, when the Lord was graciously pleased, in a most extraordinary manner, to pour out his Spirit upon his servant; and although his body was fast sinking, his mind, for two days, was restored to perfect vigour and correctness. During this time he seemed to be in the borders of the heavenly inheritance. He spoke of the glories, the joys, and the inhabitants of heaven, as though he had been in the midst of them. He remarked to me at the time that he felt that his soul had begun to dissolve its connexion with the body; and that there was a freedom, a clearness and ease in its views and operations that was entirely new to him, and that he had never before formed a conception of In fact,' said he, 'I know not whether I am in the body or out of it.' Soon after this he sunk into a stupor, in which he remained to the last."

42. WM. ROMAINE.

ROMAINE was a zealous and successful preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and adorned it by a suitable character, above fifty years. In his last illness he said, "I have the peace of God in my conscience, and the love of God in my heart. I knew before the doctrines I preached to be truths, but now I experience them to be blessings. Jesus is more precious than rubies, and all that can be desired on the earth is not to be compared to him." He was in full possession of his mental powers to the last moment, and near his dissolution cried out, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Glory be to thee on high, for such peace on earth, and good-will to men."

43. AN AGED MINISTER.

A GOOD old minister, who died in 1807, at nearly ninety years of age, had been long incapable of engaging in public services, and had lost his recollection. On the evening before his death, a neighbouring minister visited him, but he did not know him. Being told who he was, he answered, "No, I do not remember any such person." His beloved son was introduced to him; but he did not know him. In short, his memory was so impaired that he knew none of his friends or family about him. At last he was asked, "Do you not remember the Lord Jesus Christ?" On this his eyes brightened; and attempting to lift his hands in the hour of death, he exclaimed, “ () ! yes, I do, I do! I remember the Lord Jesus Christ! He is my Lord and my God, by whom I hope to be saved!"