American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-02-28

tuaon, and have death and eternity full in your
view will it be possible for you to conceive the vast
weight and importance of the truths you declare.
Oh. sir, it is serious thing to die; no words can
express what is needful to support the soul in the
solemny Of dying hour -
"When visited her again she sad feel thas
my hope is fixed upon the Rock of Ages: ! know
In whom have believed. But he approach Of
death presents prospect which is till then, hide
den from US, and which cannot be described She
said much more to the same purpose; and in all she
spoke there were dignity weight, and evidence,
We may well say. with Elihn, Who teacheth like
the Lord"''
Many instances Of the like kind have met with
here. have poor girl near me, whose natural
capacity is very small; but the Lord has been pleas
ed to make her acquainted alternately with great
temptations, and proportionably great discoveries OF
his love and truth sometimes, when her heart is
enlarged, listen to her with astonishment think
no books or ministers ever met with, have given
me such an imp, ession and understanding of whae
the Apostle styles the deep things of Cod as
have, upon some occasions, received from her con"
versation."
We have lost another of the people here: a per-
son OF much experience eminen, grace wisdom, and
usefulness. She walked with God for forty years.
She was one OF the Lords poor; but her poverty
decent, sanctlhed, and honorable. She lived res.
pected, and her death is considered as public loss.
1t is great loss to me; shall miss her advice and
example, by which have been often edited and
animated Almost the last words she uttered wereS
/ The Lord IS my forton, saith my soul +"
My attendance upon the sick is not always eqa-
ally comfortable; but could learn aright it might
be equally instructive Some confirm to me the
preciousness Of Saviour by the cheerfulness with
which, through faith in his name, they meet the
king oil telrors. Others no less confirm 1t, by the
terror and reluctance they discover, when they find
they must die. For though there are too many who
sadly slight the blessed GOSPEL, while they in
health,yet IN this place most are too far enlightened
to be quite thougttless about their souls, in their
last illness, II they retain lheir Then like
the foolish virgins, they say, Give Of your o' %
Through the Lords goodness, several whom
have visited in these circumstances, have afforded
me comfortable hope. / have a marvellous
and blessed change take place In lew days IN ther
language, views, and temper. now visit young
person, who is cut short in hei nineteenth year, by
a consumption, and who think cannot live many
days. | found her very ignorant and insensible and
she remained so good while; but Of late, hope.
her hear: is touched She feels her lost state; she
seems to have some right desires; and cannof hut
think the Lord is teaching her, and will reveal hm
sell to her before she DEPARTS"
But the scene is sometimes different. saw
young woman die last week. / had been often with
her; but the night she removed, she could only
say, $ 0 cannot lve | cannot liven She repeated
this mournlul complaint as long as she could speak:
for as the vital powers were more oppressed, her
voice was changed into groans; her groans grew
fainter and fainter; and in about quarter of an hour
alter she had done speaking, she expired. Poor
creaure said to myself, as stood by her bed
side, if you were duchess, in this situation, what
could the world do for you now! thought likewise,
how many things are there that now give us plea
sure or pain. and assume mighty importance in
our view which, in dying hour, will be no more
to US, than the clouds that fly uunoticed over our
heads. Then the truth OF our Lords declaration
will be seen, felt, and acknowledged; One thing is
needui.' And we shall be ready 10 apply Grotius's
dying confession to great part o. our lives: An.
have consumed my time, in laborousy doing no.
thingp"
How greatly does it exalt the mercy and good
ness OF the universal Parent OF mankind to perceive
that his regard is equally towards his children and
people, whatever may be their stations and condis
tons in the world! To the poor and iiterate, as
well as to the rich and learned, the Gospel
rs preached; and those of every class who become
truly humble and poor in spirit, and those only villa
cordially receive and rejoice in it Learning and
knowledge are, indeed ornaments ard improvements
of our nature; and, as well as riches tank and in
huenoe, enable us TO enlarge the sphere of GU ui
lily and benehcence: bat it is not hence to be infer
red either that these qualifications re not attended
with peculiar dangers temptations, and inquieudess
or that the Father Of Spirits who is Just an equal
in all his ways, regards their possessors with dstn-
gushed marks Of his favor. The wisdom OF Pro-
vidence TO promote order ard government IN The
earth, has. indeed ordained dive y OF talents and
conditions amongst men; but he has also grac,ously
declared, that to The religious aud faithful improve
ment, even OF the fewest .aents. shall be annexed
the highest reward that can be conferred upon us;
namely that of Well done. good and faithful SER
want; enter thou into the joy ofthy Lord.-An hum
bic and teachabe disposition pious, upright, and
benevolent temper of mind, are incomparably of
han all he shrnnan md