17. REV. DR. HAMILTON. "Isle of the ev'ning skies, cloud-vision'd land, And drink of endless joys at God's right hand."-WILLIAMS. Most of the preceding sketch is extracted from the Rev. Dr. Hamilton's "Posthumous Works of the late Rev. John Ely, with an Introductory Memoir." The ink of that writing was scarcely dry before the author was called to pass through a similar scene. A notice of his own bearing, in the crisis, will not be inappropriate :— "During his whole illness, amidst intense pain and oppressive languor, he had experienced 'the peace of God which passeth all understanding,' and a heavenly enjoyment arising from a sense of Divine love, which he himself described as amounting to 'transport.' No impatience ruffled the calm, thankful, and humbled frame of his mind. When informed by his medical men, after their consultation on Sunday night, that his end was near, he exclaimed, 'That is the best tidings you could have brought me.' He calmly summoned his family and friends; he set his house in order; he saw his deacons, and many other friends, and spoke to them all in the strain of a Christian hero standing on the brink of eternity. He said that he had taught his people how to live, and now it became him to teach them how to die. A combined dignity and tenderness characterized his manner during the last day of his life. His entire hope was in the atoning blood of the Saviour. "When a friend, who had co-operated with him on many public occasions, stood by his bedside twelve hours before his departure, and asked, 'Do you hold all your great principles clear and firm to the last?" the eye of the dying man kindled and opened wide, while he said, with extraordinary emphasis, 'O yes, my principles! if those principles fail, everything fails. I have always relied upon principle.' The look which accompanied this declaration was never to be forgotten. It was the last leaping flame of the expiring lamp. After this, weakness so much prevailed, that the great mind, unhinged, scarcely retained coherent thought unless when directly appealed to. The drowsiness of death each hour gained upon the vigorous intellect, till at length the mortal part sank down in death, and the immortal sprang 'The bosom of his Father and his God.'" 18. REV. DAVID SIMPSON. "Like a shadow thrown Softly and lightly from a passing cloud, Death fell upon him."-WORDSWORTH. DAVID SIMPSON was born October 12, 1745, in the county of York, England. To his name the highest titles of earthly distinction can add no importance. The character he maintained in the world as a Christian, his usefulness in the Church of God as a minister, and his labours as an author, rendered him a burning and shining light while living, and will perpetuate his memory now he is numbered with the dead. While pursuing his studies as a candidate for the ministry, on one occasion he visited the Rev. T. Lindsey. This good man, learning that the young student was pursuing his studies too much in the spirit of the times, without any knowledge of experimental religion, and in entire neglect of the Holy Bible, expostulated with him in the most earnest and affectionate manner. The expostulations of his friend came with effectual power to his mind. A decisive revolution took place in his sentiments and feelings, which determined the character of his future studies, and issued in a life of eminent usefulness to the cause of evangelical religion. He felt the criminality of his former indifference and inattention to the Divine writings, and was filled with corresponding remorse. The awful concerns of eternity so powerfully impressed his mind, that all other concerns dwindled into insignificance, and were almost wholly forgotten. Till the memorable day when it pleased God thus to illuminate his benighted understanding, this candidate for the ministry had no Bible! The book of God had no place in his library. However, he now purchased a quarto Bible, with marginal references, and devoted himself to the study of it with full purpose of heart. From this time, Biblical knowledge became the supreme object of his ambition and delight; he pursued it with that degree of avidity which proved the deep sense he entertained of its importance to the work before him; and few have excelled him, either in the extent of his attainments or in the useful application of sacred literature. At first, indeed, as he afterward acknowledged, he was rather ashamed that his new Bible should be seen by his companions, lest he should incur the imputation of Methodism. But the glories he discovered in the doctrines of it, soon raised him above the fear of reproach, and inspired him with unshaken confidence and courage. In full assurance of the truth of the Gospel, and of his personal acceptance with God, he soon became settled and happy in mind, and longed for the period when he should proclaim to others the salvation he had obtained himself. Having completed his academical course, he entered upon his ministerial career, buoyed up with the delight ful thought of publishing the Gospel to a ruined world. But, without detailing the various events of his life, we shall hasten to its "final scene." A few days before his own dissolution he was called to a severe trial in the death of his wife. She had almost unceasingly watched over the sick-bed of a daughter for five months; and soon after the death of her daughter, she, too, was laid upon a bed of sickness and death. Mr. Simpson himself, not many days after, was taken ill, and complained of a hectic cough, accompanied with a slow fever, which, daily increasing, at length brought him to the house appointed for all living. But he was not unprepared for the event. All his affairs had been settled and wound up by the predisposition of a gracious Providence. The paralytic affections, with which he had been for some time afflicted, now returned so frequently, and had so much impaired his health, that, as he himself expressed it, his work as a minister appeared to be done. As a writer, he had just finished his last intended publication. He had brought to a close the numerous executorships in which he had been engaged, with only one exception of inconsiderable moment. His younger daughter had been just removed to a better world, his elder daughter had shortly before been married, and his son was happily fixed in a situation very congenial to his wishes. But in other respects his situation was affecting in the extreme. Mrs. Simpson lay in a helpless and dangerous condition in an adjoining room, while he was unable to afford her the least consolation by his presence. He had, nevertheless, the satisfaction of hearing that, as she approached her last hour, her confidence in God increased; and, finally, that she closed a useful and exemplary life, rejoicing in the God of her salvation. At this painful juncture, he felt acutely; but his expressions evidenced the most perfect submission to the will of God. The religion which he had so many years zealously and successfully propagated, was his support. He said, “All is well-all will be well. These dispensations of God are right and just. I have every reason to praise him." After he had taken finally to his bed, he was quite calm and happy, excepting that now and then he discovered some anxiety for Mrs. Simpson. "God," said he, "is going to close up the scene at once, and end our lives and our labours together. It is an awful providence; but it is the will of God." The next day he desired a friend to read to him, saying, "I want some comfortable portion from the blessed Scriptures; all human supports now fail me. Read some comfortable portion." The text was then repeated to him, "When my flesh and my heart fail me, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." He said, "That, and other comfortable passages, frequently occur to my mind, and support me." He afterward said, "I consider all my eternal concerns as settled. All my dependence rests upon the great atonement. I have committed all my concerns into the hands of my Redeemer." He then called to the person who attended him: "Peter," said he, "tell the people I am not dying as a man without hope;" and expressed his strong assurance of the happiness that awaited him, and a desire to depart. In the evening he said, “This is a very serious dispensation. It appears severe— very severe; first the shepherdess is taken away, and then the shepherd, and both as by one stroke. But I am perfectly satisfied respecting it; and I know that this light affliction, which is but for a moment, shall work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." His fever continued to increase, and his recovery be |