South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-05-20

they now were. How he had oaos /,
read it expressly to find fault with it
to see if he could not make one fact |
contradict another. But now it was
entirely different--1ts declarations were
all true and excellent-He delighted
IN hearing it read-and yet he said, II
fear to call myself a christian-I am
wholly unworthy Of the name--I am
still poor, vile sinner"
Having to set out the next day on a Jour
ney, now took my leave of him, not expect
ing to see his face in the flesh again-nor did
|. Three days after my departure, he closed
his eyes in death. His kind friends who still
attended him, have since told me thathe con-
tinued to the last wholly engrosscd with the
interests Of his undying spirit; and though
very reluctant to make en- open profession of
conversion, he gave brighter and brighter ey-
idcDce to the last, that God had heard his bro
ken.hearted cry for mercy and granted him
forgiveness. One of the last acts of his life
was to exhort his venerable and much loved
wife, to devote the remnant of her days to the
service Of God. A little before he expired,
he called the attention of a friend, to new
symptom in his disease-"T >" said he, sis
always the immediate f0re-runner of death-I
am surely dying--but am ready--I have no
| fear"
Thus terminated the life ofone who was re-
! spected and beloved by all who knew him.
| The best friend he had on earth cannot re-
gret moro than he did, that he should have liv-
ed so long stranger to the spirit and the con-
solutions Of the Gospel of Christ. This in
deed was the only consideration which EN-
Uttered the last three days of his existence.
close with two or three other general re-
marks.
1t has been asked by some If ho was entire
lly rational during the conversations detailed
In the above narrative. To this question re-
Joice to be able to answer in the affirmative.
That there were slight alterations Of mind
during his illness we do not DENY. But these
were extremely slight--occurring commonly
immediately after awaking out Of sleep, and
otvery short duration. | spent much the lar
ger portion of five days with him, and twice
during this time his remarks wero somewhat
| incoherent-but this never was the case when
conversing on the subject ofreligion-nor can
l suppose that the vigor of his mind tyag in
the least impaired. In this opinion am am
ply sustained by those who knew him in
health, and who were much with him during
bis last illness.
q. His bereayed family and friends have a.
bundant reason to believe that their loss has
been his eternal gain-and they may leave his
hfeless body to repose in the tomb, in the as
sured hope that it will finally enjoy share in
the resurrection unto life-and that even now,
his ransomed spirit reposes on the bosom Of
Him who died that we might live.
8. Can any refuse to yield. to his dying tes-
tlmony in behalf of the truth and excellence of
Christianity its oft repeated and SOL
emn declarations staring them in the face, will
any still persist in rejecting revelations? Has
not his testimony in all other subjects been
universally regarded as strictly true. Was
the sincerity or truth of his assertions ever
called in Question? Never! VIII any one
dare to do it now' They who do, would not
be persuaded, though "ons should arise
from the dead"
4. Some may take encourasem n1t from this
ease. to defer all preparation for future state,
until the last moments Of their earthly exis-
tence.
A purpose of this sort, deliberately formed,
betrays an amazing indifference to ones eter-
nal interests. The disease OF our lamented
friend was long and lingering-and one too
which had no tendency to obstruct the cur
rent Of thought, or darken the understanding
Our departure may be wholly unexpected
--INsrANrANEous; or if gradual. attended
BY circumstances which may utterly preclude
all attention to subject of so much difficulty,
and Of such incalculable importance. Let it
never be forgotten, that in all the word of
God; there is record of "0ne such case, that
none should despair, and nut ONE, THAT
NONE SHOULD PREsUME--and that although
TRUE REPENTANCE IsNEvER TOO LATE, YET
LATE REPENTANcR Is SELDOM TRUE"
w. S. w.