sin against God. Therefore, I have no ground of hope, in my own case, but the following. I believe that God has begun his good work in me; if so, I know that He began it, and has hitherto carried it on, in a sovereign way. If He has a people whom He has loved with an everlasting love-a people sovereignly chosen, redeemed and called, and I am one of that people, then I believe that He will, of his distinguished mercy, save me to the end. Surely He will work in some extraordinary way-surely He will work in every needful way to bring me to Him, and to keep me by Him. Sovereign free mercy is the only ground of my hope. Some may think this doctrine liable to be abused—it may be so-but it is my last resort, my stronghold. "Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope." God's abso lute, free and sovereign mercy in Jesus, is the sole and only basis of my hope. "Mercy, through blood, I make my plea; O God, be merciful to me." I need GREAT GRACE: I belong to that boat's crew, whose cry must be, Lord, SAVE, or we PERISH! O that mine head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night over my own faults. My goodness, like Ephraim's, is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew, so it passeth away. I am not well to-day, I feel weak, sickly-have a pain down the spine, and no appetite. If I have strength enough I have none to spare. The rest are well, but the weather is hot and trying. I hope to hear from you often. 1 Your affectionate Friend, ED. BLACKSTOCK. LAST CHAPTER XXXV. [1852.] DAYS CLE TESTIMONY-DEATH OF MR. BLACKSTOCK, THE letters of the preceding Chapter are supposed to be the last that Mr. Blackstock ever wrote. On the 27th of July he was seized with one of his usual painful attacks. It was subdued, by the blessing of God, on the 31st ult.; but it returned on the 13th of August, and continued. During this period of suffering the flock of Salem pressed on his heart, and he not only preached twice on the Sunday of the 22d, but also on Wednesday evening, the 25th, only five days previous to his decease. On descending from the pulpit that evening, Le observed to some friends that he had never before preached under such excessive bodily suffering. But he appeared very cheerful, and several persons remarked (at the time) that there was a peculiar solemnity on his spirit, and that in expounding the 107th Psalm, he seemed to have a sacred opening into its depths and grandeur. As he traced the path of the people of God, "redeemed from the hand of the enemy"-followed them through their "troubles "howed their deliverance "out of distress," and proved that it was a "RIGHT way to a city of habitation," he appeared to be taking a LAST review of the land through which the Lord had led his REDEEMED, and to be calling upon them to unite with him [the departing servant of God] in praising "the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!' The following letter from Mrs. Blackstock, to a friend, announces the almost sudden death of our beloved and much lamented pastor : London, August 31, 1852 I KNOW you will weep with me, when I tell you that my head is taken from me, and that your pastor is no more! His departure from all the sufferings of this life, took place at eight o'clock last evening. I doubt not of your being informed that he had three attacks in quick succession, of that painful malady to which he had occasionally been subject; and he expressed his conviction that it was in this way his earthly tabernacle would ultimately be dissolved: but he remarked, that the Lord seldom revealed to his children when the time of their departure was to be. The violent sicknesses attending those agonizing attacks of stone, were succeeded by copious vomitings of blood, which so reduced the powers of nature, that all the various remedies prescribed by the kind and affectionate solicitude of Mr. Cheyne, availed but little. Indeed, so great were his sufferings and his debility, that towards the last two days it required two men (besides female attendance) to give the dear sufferer those changes of posture which he was often craving. To all he expressed much gratitude, wishing they might be as suitably ministered to when brought into a like condition. And on the last day, towards his decease, he said, "I could hardly have believed there had been so much kindness in all the world, as I have now experienced in one day." His patience throughout his sufferings was most striking, and not a murmur nor a repining word escaped his lips, but all was submission and thankfulness. He obtained the manifestation that he so especially craved; and more than once broke out in holy raptures such as these— "O bless the Lord, my soul, Nor let his mercies lie O how grand and precious did ATONING LOVE and BLOOD appear as he spoke of them! And with what energy and triumph did he four times shout-Victory-Victory-Victory-Victory! But I cannot at this moment give you particulars as I wish From the same. THE intensely hot weather, when it set in in June and July, greatly weakened Mr. Blackstock, and led him to fear that if it continued, he might be disqualified for labour, for he said he felt the old symptoms of his malady ready to break in, if the Lord should permit. The last attack came on the forenoon of Friday, the 20th August, and caused him to retire to his room, and there remain until nearly time to go to chapel on the Sunday morning, when the Lord so strikingly lightened his sufferings, that he was enabled to dress and go forth in his Master's name, to his little flock at Salem. In addressing them he was unable to stand, though wonderfully strengthened to speak. After his descent from the pulpit his sufferings returned, and compelled him, on reaching home, to go back to his bed. There he remained until the evening service, when the same divine aid was vouchsafed. He was again confined to his bed from that evening, until Wednesday the 25th, when he rose, dressed, and went to chapel, and delivered his last testimony from the pulpit. The care of this servant of God for his people, and his charge, was to the last tender and strong, and exhibited itself more anxiously as his strength declined None, he said, but a Pastor, could form any conception of it. Shortly after his return home from addressing his people that evening, his illness assumed a more threatening aspect, and his sufferings were very affecting. He continued for some nights and days in most solemn prayer and converse with God. His petitions were espe cially for renewed experiences of the virtue and efficacy of the love and blood of atonement. And one time, when his pain was agonizing and his groans loud, he said—“ But I am a witness, that Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are.' "O, what a base return I have made for all his mercies' And aid my tongue to bless his name, "Could I but climb where Moses stood, And view the landscape o'er, Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood, On the Saturday morning he requested Mrs. Blackstock to read to him, "very slowly," the 71st Psalm. it being (he said) peculiarly expressive of his state of mind. Not long after, seeing one of his children in tears. he repeated in a cheerful, encouraging tone "No fearing, no doubting, with Christ on our side; On Saturday evening (28th August) he appeared very ill; he had been much tried during the day, not knowing what might be arranged for the ensuing Sabbath. He said that the church of Christ and its |