Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-04
The last pavs of the Hon. John M. Clay.

The following interesting account of the last
DAYS and death of the Hon. John NJ. Clayton,
of Delaware. is from the pen of minister of the
Gospel, who visited him during his sickness:
Few men could have died whose death
would be so generally and deeplyly lamented,
or whose loss to the country would be SO
great as that of the Hon. John NJ. Clayton Of
Delaware. As a lawyer, statesman, cabinet Off
Ger. and diplonatist, he stood as high any man
of his age. But lie has gone to occupy high
er and happier position than earth affords. Be
fore his death he cordially embraced the religion
of Jesus Christ and became possessed of
bright and cheering hope of a blessed immortal
ity beyond the grave. For thirty years he had
been firm believer in the truth of the Chris
tan religion. and uniformly defended it in pub
lie and in private, whenever the occasion re-
ouired His convictions on this subject were
the result of full and thorough examination of
the evidences. he thought, We're conclusive but
those which had most weight or Influence with
him were the internal evidences, for they. ap
pealed, as he said, to the tbe heart.
The claims of God upon him, 81 the necessi-
ty of personal interest in the atonement OF
Christ occupied his thoughts for many months
before his last illness. When called upon, as
minister, to visit him, found him reading such
works as Baxter's Saints Rest but seemed not
to have discovered the plan of salvation. Like
most Others under conviction of sin, he seemed
to be attempting to work himself into state OF
grace by all those means which are commonly
resorted to by those who are inqurlng what
thew must do to be saved. And it was not
until all earthly dependencies and human
merits and means were removed rs the ground
of justification, and he was led to see him.
self utterly lost and to look alone to Jesus and
his righteousness as the ground ofhis acceptance
with God, that he found true comfort andpeace.
Before, he seemed to be building his hopes mp
on foundation of sand; now he was establish
ed upon "the Rock of Ages" A hope sprang
up within him which was as an anchor to the
soul. His last words to me were, MY hope
grows brighter and brighter, all the. time
Thank God, not cloud is permitted to obscure
it,
Mr.. Clayton often expressed the great
pleasure and profit he derived from the reading
of "The way of life," by DR.. Hodge. shall not
soon forget how he wept, wondered and adored
as Christ was presented to him in the character
of surety. His legal mind at once compre--
hended the scriptural idea, aed ever afterward
he was enabled by faith to rest upon and trust
in Him. Not long after this he told me that
his doubts were removed and his fears were
gone. lie saw God could be just and yet the
iustifer of the ungodty. During my frequent
interviews with him he gave me abundant eYl-
dence that good work on grace had been
wrought in him by the Spirit
He became very anxions to JOIN the Church
and take the sacrament. Fearing that he was
entertaining false notions of the nature ana de-
sipn of this ordinance, asked him if he thought
en1uofinn It jc necessary.
said he. because commanded We had hope
that he would recover from his sickness; he had
none, and thought that he had but short time
TO live. and | baptized him and administered the
Lords supper to him. When asked him it he
would be ashamed to acknowledge Christ be-
fore men, he looked me in the face, and said with
great emphasis-"No--no Let it be known as
far as I am known that have renounced tile
world and professed the religion of Christ.
During his sickness he often stated and answer
ed the objections of intidels to the Bible.
few hours before he died (when he was able to
talk but little) he called me to his bedside and
said-"Skeptcs have asked Where was the
wisdom of God in giving his only begotten, CO.
eoual and co.eternal Son TO die fts such race
as ours9 p This said he, is my answer The
arrangement intensifes the love OF the sinner,
and to all eternity, not only to one, but 10 all
the manifestations Of the Godhead."
These were nearly the last distncts words IN
connected form he spoke. He soon after fell
asleep in Jesus, and death was swallowed up IN
victory. He thought it strange that he had not
many years ago embraced religion, and wonder
ed that men cannot now be pursuaded TO DC
reconciled to Christ. Being told it was because
the carnal mind is enmity against Cod he re-
plied ssIt must be So" He said it was good for
him that he was afflicted. If he had not been,
he never would have come to Christ Inc
thought that such Affections were necessary,
humbled him, and he seemed like chastened
child
He deplored the infdelty of public men, as
his own irregous life, and towards the end de-
sired to live and return to Washington, that MS
example and influence might be different from
what they had been He often regretted that
he had not been in the habit of attending the
public preaching of tie gospel, and that IN all
his life he had done nothing for the cause OF
Christ, who had suffered SO much for him. 1t
was upon one of these occasions, when he was
expressing such regrets, and saying that now
there was nothing that he could do that the
case of an ''aged minister in need' was brought
to'his attention. He Immediately said, "l'll help
bi,n.n and gave his check for handsome sum-
He was q large-hearted, and liberal-souled man
naturally, but this was given to disciple IN the
name of disciple. He often spoke of his love
for Christians-all Christians-and over ana o,
YER again said that he forgave his enemies, ana
cherished not an evil thought against any one
though they sometimes arose in his mnd. ny
the grace of God he was enabled to DANISH
them. -. :,
ANY one who knew Mr.. Clayton in life and
health will think, upon reading this account,
that great change had been wrought III MN ;
ana so there was. He ascrbed the change TO
the grace of God; and surely no other person
could have affected it. 1twas the Spirits work.
Of this feel assured.
The religion which had broughtso much com
fort to him he earnestly recommended to oth-
ers and urged them to seek 1t. a lew days De-
fore the last he addressed one OF his relatives,
and asked him whether he had ever seriously
contemplated death-bed? and urged upon MN
to do so. His voice will be heard no more, nor
will our eyes behold his form again. until tne
last great day, when the voice ol tlie arcnansei
and the trump OF God shall awake VIC oeau'
ToMRs OF MoRDEcAI AND EsTHER.-Ihese
Toonbs which are held in the highest venera
tion bv the Jews of Persia, are situated IN the
centre Of Hamadan. the former capital OF Persia.
They are carefully kept in the highest state OF
renor The following is translation OF the in
scrinton on the dome over these tombs On
Tbnrsday the l6th of the month of Adar, in the
raar M of If the creation of the world 4474, the bull
dine M Of this temple over these tombs of Molde-
oa; oe ond Ether was finished by the hands of two
anavo,ant brothers. Elias and Samuel, the
" tba late Isbmael of Kachan." Ferrier, in his
"Carsvsn @ a, an ,ourpeys and WanderiDgs," says: ut
is now nearly eleven centuries and half since
this monument was constructed. The toombs
are m made of rather hard black wood. which has
suffered little from the effects OF time, They
ore covered with Hebrew Inscriptions, still very
legible of which Sir John Malcolm has given
the following translation: "At that time there
was WA in the palace of Suza, certain jew OF the