The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-23

and earth had come together and the ground on
which we trod was holy Kings have their tatter-
ers, cOnduerers their menials, but none but the
magnanimOus, the noble, the true hearted can de-
part from our midst with life and death that ex-
tracts the tribute of affection and lamentation from
every good man in society," from the highest to the
very lowest.
The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev.
Stuart Robinson, D. D., from the text, And by
| it, he (AbeD being dead, yet speaketh. The
speaker aim evidently was to give strong consoa
ton to those whose fears and doubts have been ex-
cited by the early decease of the gifted and lntu-
entail pastor. The great truth was untOded that
the grace of God is Oftentimes more magnihed In
the death of His saints than even in their lives;
of which truth the text gives remarkable exam
pie For in the accepted sacrifice OF Abel, and IN
the martyrdom which followed, the voice of saliva
ton by grace, resounded through the ages IN more
distinct and louder tones than would ever have
issued from the living lips of Abel, sacrificing TIL
old as Methuselah."
We have not space for even an outline OF the
DISCOURSE or to describe the emotions of that large
congregation, all of whom felt as though mem
Der of their own family had been taken away; or
to attempt to picture the scene at the close of the
sermon, when the tribute of respect which had
been adopted by the session read to the church.
| The means and tears that responded to every ut
terance from all parts of the house, testified that
these were no formal resolutions of respect, but
the sincere convictions of hearts full and overflow
ing. After referring briefly to incidents In the
| life of this good man, and as putting a capstOne
on the monument thus reared to Chrlsts glory IN
such life, DR.. Robinson proceeded to narrate the
dying scene and its testimony as follows:
On Saturday night, he began to sink so rapidly
as to indicate speedy dissolution. And seeing on
the eountenance of his beloved wife traces Of the
agony of heart that beg to overwhelm her, he
calmly said: The told me all along
that death is near, feel so till now l
am now conscioU mug way. But,
Wife stay yourself Ut give way to grief
and tea" As she the words of Jesus,
| Let not your heart be troubled, &C., he nodded
the cordial assent which his lips could not utter;
and when she repeated, Jesus Christ, the same
Yesterday, to-day, and forever, heavenly smile
/ lit up his cOuntenance.
| On Sunday morning he seemed to rally little,
and at his request was sung
Mercy, D Thou Son of David
He said How | love that old tune-and the
words, how they cover me all over as they dovetai
in with each other" While they sang Rock Of
Ages, he expressed by the motion and pressure
of his hand, his pleasure and concurrence IN the
petitions.
He then began to speak to all of the glory aud
greatness of Christ as a Saviour, and seemed to
| labor for words expressive enough of his convic
tons of Christ's greatness as a Saviour. And, as
though taking this opportunity to leave his final
testimony, he said: Now | am in no exstacy, nor
under excitement of any kind, but calm as if wri-
| ting business paper; and | say Jesus Christ Is
Just such Saviour as intellectually spiritually and
infinitely meets my full appreciation. Heis my IN
finite, infinite truSt-ths raising his hand as one
testfying in court is my testimony living or dy-
ing. ~
He spake cheerfully and tenderly to the children
and Young people; and in that peculiar method
which marked his utterances IN days OF health, ne
sent his messages Referring to a dearly beloved
sister in North Carolina, afflicted in a somewhat
similar manner as himself, he said: Write to
sister Kate, and tell her, from me, not to allow
herself to be worried and frightened by the stories
she hears of the horror and darkness Of dying;
that l say there is not word of truth In II, tor
am now at the very place myself, and with Jesus
here, fud it a happy way. And l say this not be-
cause am a good man, for | am not, but only
\ poor miserable sinner-yet l have such mighty
/ Saviour-mighty and glOriOus-wlth his own eter-
nal arms around me- And he did not just begin
to love me lately, but before, when yet sinner
/ and beforehand BEFORE-back into eternity.
"Tell Robinson, was another message-"I
want him to preach at my funeral, and not to have
any stuff about me in It,
When elder John Brown-whom, to distinguish
from his brother and neighboT, Arch. Brown, he
ever addressed in affeetionate playtuness as Mr..
Johnny'-came In to ask OF his condition, he an
swered, 80 JOHNNY the bank is caving in all
around me, but l have such Saviour-a mighty
Saviour and then, he is so good to me- Always
before, have felt such care about leaving my
dear wife and children-but now He has taken
even that care away. o. it is not that | am good,
for am such sinner-but have such mighty
Saviour Johnny, study the Bible closely, and
You will find what mighty Saviour he is. y
When the poor colored servant came to his bed
side, saying, Master, l am sorry to see you sut-
fer so, he said, taking her hand YES, Phoebe
| am suffering, but He gives me songs In the night
and helps me to suffer joyfully-joyfuly, and He
will do just the same for you, Phoebe, if you will
do lust like me-when you sin, go and ask Him,
and He'll blot it all out, and when you sin again
for you will SIM then just go again. | have been
a great sinner, and sometimes felt much ashamed
to have to go back so often to ask him to blot out
more sins, but He always did it, Now rem ember
this way of doing with sin, Phoebe, and you will
be able, like me, to suffer jOyfuly.
On Sunday night he seemed to be sinking rap
idly. And when sympathy was expressed, he
whispered, "Jesus is leading me-He will lead
me all right " And through the night and dur
inc the forenoon of Monday, though most of the
time in dreamy halt delirium, he was often heard
whispering, All is we'll Peacel peace p
The arrival of his brother, DR.. McPheeters OF
St Louis, on Monday evening, greatly comforted
him. and, as he whispered, after settling some bu
siness, it ENABLED him to turn his family over to
Christ 81 wish you, he said, dear wife, to
take the children and use your best Judgment
ASK Christ to help you-and am now going to
ask Him too"
During the early part of Tuesday he was thought
to be about to die Immediately, but he rallied
aoain about noon, and in the evening, was able to
converse in whisper with his friend Robinson, who
= - 1 Ulo1 RohinSop ~ voS
his Sanitation, "that you got here before l got
1lp1v | longed to see you, but did not think
would " And in response to the remark OF his
friend. expressing regret at the shortening OF
ministry 80 much blessed as he had lately seen the
evidence of it in St. Louis, engraved in the life
and character of many children OF God-he whls
pered ives the Lord has kept being so good to
me in that way that l have felt all the while mean
as dog that | should be such an ungratetul SIN
ner Now pray with me and thank Him for me. "
Subsequently, calling his friend again to his bed
side he said. 4" | have loved you with a true,
heart love-as one that has testified with me for
Cbrist-Cbrist as the glorious King and Head in
his Cbureh-Christ as the Lord our righteousness,
obeying for us. suffering - for us, doing all
for MS And I want y y charge to all
the brethren to hold -althtully' Tell
them, that, after preaehu IS gospel more than
twenty years, and believing it to be true now l
k,o1 it to be true, and that he is mighty to save,
as He has said He is Now pray again with me
then good bye"
Shortly after this he dropped into apparent un-
consciousness, and so continued generally till
morning when his friend. DR.. S. R. Wilson, (of
Louisville visited him. He revived little, and
seemed to unite in the prayer with his friend, and
fully to comprehend Dr. Wilson's expressions OF
sympathy and love, though able to respond only
with inarticulate whispers and with the expression
of the eve. After this, as occasionally his wits
pers became articulate and reached the ear, they
we're, Peace peace p as he had before said to
his beloved wife and brother, Christ commands
it to rain. and it does rain down peace, peace