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are firmly established. Oh, seek it, press after it, lay hold of this one, this main thing. Though painful my nights, and wearisome my days, yet I am preserved in patience and resignation. Death has no terrors, nor will the grave have any victory. My soul triumphs over Death, Hell, and the Grave.

"Husbands and wives, parents and children, health and riches, must all go. Disappointment is another name for them. I should have been thankful, had I been able to have attended where I have been so often refreshed with the conversation of pious men; but it is otherwise allotted. The Lord knows best what is best for us. I am content and resigned to his will. I feel a foretaste of the joy which is to come; and who would wish to change such a state of mind? As I have lived, so shall I die with the most unshaken assurance, that I have not followed cunningly devised fables, but the pure living eternal substance. Let the aged be strong, the middle-aged be animated, and the youth encouraged for the Lord is with Zion, the Lord will bless Zion.

"If I am now to be removed (as I apprehend I soon shall) out of Christ's Church militant, where I have endeavoured, in some measure, to fill up my duty, I have an evidence that I shall gain admittance into his glorious Church triumphant, far above in the heavens. My dear love to all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Farewell 2"

REFLECTION.-When we see so many Christians blessed at the hour of departure with such a foretaste of heavenly joys, we cannot consider it

2 Sick Man's Friend, by Sir J. Stonhouse, p. 98, ed. 1835.

otherwise than as a pledge of the approaching realization of the words, "Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant"."

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RIGHT HON. LORD LYTTELTON.
DIED 1773. AGED 64.

GEORGE Lord Lyttelton was the author of several valuable works. Among these his "Observations on the Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul," may be considered the most important and in

structive.

An affecting account of his death has been given by his physician, Dr. Johnstone of Kid

3 Heb. xii. 22-24.

derminster. He says, "On Sunday evening the symptoms of his lordship's disorder, which for a week past had alarmed us, put on a fatal appearance, and his lordship believed himself to be a dying man. From this time he suffered by restlessness rather than pain, and though his nerves were apparently much fluttered, his mental faculties never seemed stronger when he was thoroughly awake. Though he wished his approaching dissolution not to be lingering, he waited for it with resignation. On Sunday, about eleven in the forenoon, he sent for me. He then

6

proceeded to open the fountain of that heart from whence goodness had so long flowed as from a copious spring. When I first set out in the world,' said he, 'I had friends who endeavoured to shake my belief in the Christian religion. I saw difficulties which staggered me, but I kept my mind open to conviction. The evidences and doctrines of Christianity, studied with attention, made me a most firm and persuaded believer of the Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life, and it is the ground of my future hopes.' "When Lord and Lady Valentia came to see him, he gave them his solemn benediction, and said, 'Be good, be virtuous, my lord; you must come to this.' Thus he continued giving his dying benediction to all around him. On Monday morning a lucid interval gave some small hopes, but these vanished in the evening; and he continued dying, though with very little uneasiness, till Tuesday morning, Aug. 22nd, when, between seven and eight o'clock, he expired without a groan

599

* Viscount Valentia, afterwards Earl of Mountnorris, married Lucy, Lord Lyttelton's daughter.

5 Dr. Johnson's Lives of the Poets, vol. iv.

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REFLECTION. Of all wise men, he is the wisest who is duly prepared for eternity.

REV. MR. LONGUEVILLE.

DIED Feb. 7th, 1776.

THE following interesting communication is extracted from a letter sent by a minister from Amsterdam, to his friend, a clergyman, in England, giving an account of the exemplary death of Mr. Longueville, minister of the English Church at Amsterdam, who died there.

"Reverend Sir,

"Amsterdam, Feb. 12th, 1776.

"Your kind letter, inquiring about the state of Mr. Longueville's health, came to my hand yesterday; and had it come a few days sooner, it might have been communicated to him before he entered into his Master's joy. As his life was exemplary, so his death has been edifying and instructive.

"I had the honour to attend him for several days and nights when he was laid upon his deathbed, and to assist him in his last moments; and I must own, that during this solemn occasion I found stronger evidence of the truth of Christianity, and more conviction in my own heart, than can be found from the arguments and proofs given by divines, either ancient or modern. He retained his senses and understanding to the last moment, and reasoned on the truth and excellency of religion with such energy, clearness, and strength of argument, that the weeping bystanders were filled

with delight and amazement. Indeed, the celestial joys which darted in upon his mind served to wipe away the tears from our eyes. His farewell address to his dear wife and children, his grandchildren, his colleague, and the servants of his family, all standing together by his bed-side, was such a scene of awful grandeur and solemnity, and attended with such a variety of circumstances, so moving and pathetic, that I was never witness to the like. His dying instructions to me (delivered with a pathos and an earnestness which pierced my very soul), his anxiety for our flock, and his extreme concern for the poor of it, shall never drop from my remembrance. When he perceived his last end to be nearly approaching, he composed himself a little to rest, in order to acquire as much strength as might enable him to recommend to us the important concerns of religion; and he performed this last duty with such dignity and composure, such noble elevation of soul, as brought to our remembrance the words of our great Lord, 'Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.' Luke xxiii. 28. About twenty minutes before he expired, we prayed by his bed-side, and after the prayer was done, he returned me thanks in distinct and articulate words.

"Thus, Reverend Sir, I have given you a short account of the dying behaviour of my dear and much beloved colleague.

"I remain, Reverend Sir, "Your most obedient and very humble servant, "N. C.6"

REFLECTION.-The declaration made by the author of this narrative is important and much to

6 The Sick Man's Friend, by Sir J. Stonhouse, Bart., M.D.

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