Year: 1876

POA0OANu ~~AAA~Oo
other hearts; and if there is any word that
have said that has hurt the pastors of near
churches, or churches afar off, I would to
God that could 80 utterly recall them that
they should never think of them again; and
l would be the first of all to humble myself
before them and crave that pardon of them
which have asked before of God. And If
that which have said or done is a hindrance
to full reconciliation, would to God that
all the waters of the Jordon might wash it
out from every memory. disown it and take
it back, and beseech Of you, as beseech of
every other one, to remember of me only
those things that are like the Lord Jesus
Christ, and that by His grace have been
enabled to do rightly. | am discharged of all
jealousy. have no pride that hinders me
from saying these things to you and giving
you leave to give to them the utmost latitude
in their application.


Allusion has been made to sadness on my
part, of which no man may know. For
Whatever may be the range of mans outer
life, there is world within, unknown to any
but God, and the most vital part of any mans
life is that which, is within the


CRYSTAL OF HIS OWN SILENCE


and secrecy, and Of that do not propose to
l.
felt that my life had often come very near to
its end l live in the shadow of that feeling
eyery day. At some hour or other of every
day it seems to me as though but a hands
breadth was between me and the New Jeru-
salem 1t is not either necessary desire for
dying nor an expectation of dying; it is
sentiment and live very much in that habit;
not altogether painful one-often far from
it. But this have felt in looking back in
these moments upon my past life-I have
felt great JOY that no man can take it from
me. lived when the reformation of temp
erancc first begun, and have great time and
strength to recover my countrymen from the
vice. began early my career, when there
were few to plead for the liberty of the slave. l
have lived in a minority all my days, contest
ing for right and for liberty. | had the
privilege Of living through that glorious revo-
lutionary epoch of our time, when the politi-
cal economy and the politics and the consti-
tutional elements of our land were regenerated.
Few men have ever had such chance, nor
the health nor the opportunity to put in labor
IN field so rich in future results. No man
can take it from me that have loved my
country, and that | have labored for her. No
man can take it from me that | have loved
the chnrch Of Jesus Curist and that


HAVE LABORED FOR 1T.


No man can take it from me that have loved
my kind without caste or distinction. No
man can take it from me! No, do not care
for my reputation after am dead and gone.
That kind of love of reputation have never
had, but there is something that is as sweet
to me as the bells of heaven. If / have been
able to inject into the literature of my time
truly sweet and Christian spirit, it l have
been able to clOthe nature SO that children
and women and grown people shall be associ-
ated with trees and clouds, with the ground,
with all the processes of annual resuscitation
if Ihaye been able to clothe them with relig-
ious associations so that the heavens declare
again the glorv of God and the truth of His
handiwOrk, if | have put into literature that
which will cheer the sick and the poor, that
will inspire the young, and that that some
thing that have done will so down working
after am dead-this has been a very sustain
ing and very comforting thought to me.
There is my Joy for posterity, that when by
and by the clouds are all gone, when by and
by the truth is as much known as the earth
will ever know truth, that which have done
will stand; that which | am God will know,
and cause it to stand for ever and ever. |
speak now with very great thankfulness and
gratitude to you, fathers and brethren Of the
council, for that succor and sympathy which
you have brought to this distressed and
troubled church. We lay off the coast and
sent up


SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.


We fired minute guns, and by every means
in our power sought to bring succOr. Some
there were that would not put off because the
sea was dangerous, and they said, ''We are
all secure; why should we risk ourselves to
be swamped in such surf as that?' And
some said, "They are blunder-heads that did
not know how to steer, or they would never
have got there, and now, as they have got
there themselves. they may get OFT them
selves" And some came down to the coast
and said, I'VE will come off tomorrow morn
ing" But you said none Of these things.
The boom Of the signal cannon had no sooner
reached you than with alacrity you signitied
that you were ready, come veal or come woe,
to succor US, and you have succored US, and
we are profoundly grateful to you for your
labor of love-


Christian brethren, you have carried noble
idea OF Christ likeness into hundred families
in this city, that will never forget your abid-
ing with them. You names will mngle with
the remembrances of Plymouth church, and
60 down to other times. You have brought
great strength and great comfort to us, and
we thank you. l told you in opening this
council that you had been much prayed for.
You, also, have brought an atmosphere of
prayer with you am witness of the truth
of that which has been stated here, that the
Spirit of God has rested-1 will not say upon
the council alone-but upon this church, and
upon this whole community dur
ing your tarry in our midst. and when you
shall go away you will leave it in a


REVIVED CONDITION,


better fitted for the work of Christ than you
found it; and may not hope and believe
that YOU will hear from this altar. and from