Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-08-06

lied in the last hour Of the dying Chris
tian-never was more literally fulfilled
the saying, "Death is swallowed up IN VIC
tory" Judge CLAYTON was man of ed
ucation and high NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
in Judicial and political ife--he had beer
a conspicuous member of Congress, and
had been active even in party politics-ir
private life he was exemplary in every
relation, a moralist, relying on good works
AMI although inclined to scepticism in reli
gion, vet consoled IN prospect of death BY
the reflection that he did not know the
man he had wronged. This was his state
of mind, as late as August last, when al
attack of paralysis threatened to put al
end to his existence, and when he express
ed to the preacher of this discourse hi
conviction that he was prepared for hi
| final account. The conversations, how
ever, which he then and subsequently had
with his spiritual counsellor, seem TO have
been the means, under providence, O
efecting a complete revolution in his re
igious views, and Of bringing the Sc FIRE
lying moralist and sceptc of fifty -fy
years, as an humble convert and peniten
to the foot of the kedeemer's cross. ii
soon after made public profession offaitf
aud in the presence of large congrega
ton united himself with the Methods
Episcopal Church. From this time, wit
unimpaired mental vigor, he devoted hi
whole soul 10 the subject of religion, do
clarmg that he shad lost oceans of happt
ness By not beginning earlier, and, in III
peace and triumph of his death, whicI
took place on the 21st June last, he CAV
striking proof of the sincerity Of his prcI
fession. We suhjoin the concluding pa
of this highly instructive discourse,
containing one of the most extraordinary
instances on record, in modern times,
the triumph of the Christian in the az
onies of death.
On the Wednesday morning before
died, being attacked with violent spasm
his family supposed that he about to be ia
ken away from them. While OVERWEIGHT
ed with grief at the anticipation ofhis los
they wept around him, he minstered cor
ISOLATION TO them ALL Throughout the da
those paroxysms continued, and in the 4
ternoon were still more violent. 1t Wa
in the close Of one of those agonies, th I
he distinctly, though slowly, uttered the4
words: "Oh 1chat ddrkneSsl achat diSm
darkness hooc Profound physically Spea1
: ing-but all is bright beyond" He Ii !
gered until Friday night, slowly sinking
and throughout all this time, never did
seem to lose sight of the great object of b
faith and hope. Frequently and emphat
callv would he say, BLESSED be God,'-
F Blessed be God forever"
And when at last his hour had come,
pleased God to give him calm and cas-
passage. AS we hurg near him to cate
his last accents, family and softly we cou
hear him murmur, "The way is bright
"Here's room'-"Over ordon''-Entd
in'-"Door is opcn''-"This is Heavenl
PIN so happy"-"It is ended an
through Blessed God" These shoI
| sentences he would frequently repeat, Il
soft and gentle whispers. But they wer|
sufficient to indicate what were the excl
cises of his mind as be passed away
Doubtless, could we have seen as he bd
/ held. we should have witnessed the minis
) terng spirits as they gathered round, bee
oning him onward to the throne of God
5 Without groan or struggle, or any
/ the pangs which usually attend the dlssd
luton of man, our brother sweetly breatI
4 ed his spirit into the bosom of his Fathi
) and his God; illustrating what one has
d beautifully said of the Christians death:
"He sets as sets the morning star. viii
goes
: aNot down behind the darkened west;
C hides
i'll "Obscured amid the tempests of the sky;
"But melts away into the light ofHeav'r
From what has been said, and from
brief review which we have taken of o
n brothers history, we learn, the goodnd
e ana long suffering of God. Had O.
!. friend been taken from US one year earl
it how different would have been our fel
l. ings! But it pleased God to spare hi {
$ and his long suffering and forbearance Il
7 him to repentance Is there one here d
: day, who has long lived in the neglect
h these sacred and important things; al
t. whose heart, now seriously impressed,
ii bordering on despair, thinking that It b;
been put of until It is two late. In Il
5. instance we have just been considerin
" let him learn that God is gracious al
:, ready to forgive; yea, our God is nero
l. fu. And if he will repent and believe,
IS may vet obtain that blessed hope whis
N can support his spirit in the hour of heal
e lest trial. But let no one presume to d
&c fer this interest, because our brother foul
j; pardon at so late day. Let his oY
y words proclaim TO you the folly of such
$ course, and remember, that while he /
n Ioiced in the pardoning mercy Of Cd
e sought and obtained at so late a perid
le he felt, that he had lost oceans of hnpI
ness 6y not beginning edrlier.-Th d
oceans of happiness you may enjoy,
D. devoting yourselves to God in early life.
'r Bur as. examples of this kind are col
u paratively rare, we learn secondly, th
x such manifestations Of divine grace, a
g intended for the benefit of all within t
range of whose observation they cor