The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-02-09

gave me his hand again as kneeled down
to pray. And when closed with the Lord s
prayer, the grasp Of his hand tightened as
! seated myself again by him THAT Lords
For many years never closed my eyes in
sleep without repeating il And that one
petition, Forgive rs our trespasses as We
forgive those that trespass against us
hardly know, believe, what II altogether
means" ! gave him my my view Of it,
"Yes, " said he, s'that must be it think am
willing TO forgive; continue TO pray for me,
and come again" And 50 We parted
After several conversations, he at last said
to me, sAll is peaceful now; l can trust
in Jesus, and do trust in him want no
other help, but the blood Of Jesus; I want 70
rest on nothing but the merits Of his blood.
Pray that may not be deceived in myself;
pray that may not rest upon anything but
the blood OF Jesus" o, how happy felt
when these words come 50 slowly, so truly,
50 peacefully, from his lips. And was he de-
ceiyed? Let me tell you about his closing
hours. He was wont TO quote whole passages
from the Bible, HesWas very familiar with
II, owing, in great measure TO his early
training. He was also wont TO quote pas
sages from the poets, and familiar hymns,
pants away his breath" A few hours be-
fore his death, he lay in almost stupor.-
Whenthe apparently revived little, his
aged father.passed his hand over his forehead
and cheek, when suddenly he opened his
eyes The father said. "Do you know me 2"
The answer was NO" aDO you not know
your father7" Again the answer was 'sNo''
flames. do you know Jesus ? Jesus Yes, l
know Jesus" And again he lay quietly,
struggling for breath.
Toward evening, when the shadows Of the
earth were gathering. the summons came
from the throne for Doctor James Spayth-
Did the sun Of his life go down in the clouds?
Blessed be God, no. II was very bright and
very beautiful Some twenty minutes be-
fore he bTeathed his last, he again suddenly
opened his eyes. and looking upwards, they
frightened, as II Jesus was pouring sun light
into them from heaven And was not Jesus
there? 20, the sunshine, the sunshine
upon his faee!" So full Of Joy was the dying
Christian as he lifted his hands and contin-
ued 70 gaze upward. "Jesus, yes the Lord
Jesus o, my Lord, my Lord ~ The Joy
that filed his soul be could not express, as
he drew them down and kissed them. See
that expression still upon his countenance,
preston OF greatjoy and great peace.
Peace to the ashes Of DR.. James Spayth
Let US learn lesson from his mortality, and
from the bright faith he had in that Savior
who alone has the keys Of the gate Of death
and the unseen world beyond. Could these
silent lips speak, they would say: alive not
as have lived so long from the house OF
God but die as l, in the mercy Of God, have
died in the blessed hope Of the resurrection"
No one could regret more than the beloved
dead, who lies before US, that he had not
trusted in Jesus sooner. Shortly before his
death, IL seemed as II he wanted TO say =
"And now, father, and now mother-and
now all-O, II could only talk to you HOt0,
of Jesus" This coffin breaches to us ser
mon the text, " Come TO Jest,s nOlO %
After the close Of the address, prayer was
offered by Rev. R. H. Hollyday, and the ben
edictiOn pronounced by Rev. o. Kennedy
The remains were then taken charge Of by
the members Of the Masonic fraternity, and
conveyed to the cemetery. The beautiful
and impressive ritual Of the fraternity was
read by Rev. A. B. Fields, Acting Master, and
the body lowered to its last resting place,
with the usual ceremonies. peace to his
ashes"