the mountain of his guilt. blind warrior of Raiateia.

Thus died poor Me, the

I retired from the over

whelming and interesting scene, praying, as I went, that my end might be like his."

25. DONALD MORRISON.

THE Rev. M. Gilfillan has given us a sketch of this eminently pious man:

Donald Morrison was the oldest member in the Secession Church at Comrie, and the oldest man in the parish. He was always an early riser, his food was the simplest that could be found, and he had a great command over his passions. His temper was gentle and calm; his disposition, sweet and agreeable. From his early years he feared God, delighted in prayer, meditation, reading the Scriptures, and hearing the word preached. His acquaintance with the Scriptures was very profound and extensive. You could hardly mention a portion of them which he did not remember, and, considering his education, well understand. Truly, this blessed book was his daily companion, and unfailing consolation through life. Indeed, he never read many other books-this was always new, and always refreshing to

his soul.

The lot of this good and venerable man was peculiarly afflictive and trying. It was truly through great tribulation that he entered the kingdom. No man was known in the place to have ever had such a large share of domestic trouble as he had. Besides the death of his wife and some children a long time ago, and personal affliction in no small degree, he had two sons who were idiots, and a third who had the epilepsy, or falling sickness, and who perished in a fit of that disorder, as was supposed, in the water of Lednock, not far from his

father's house. One of these boys was sprightly and active till he was five years of age, and, at that period, which, perhaps, is not to be paralleled in the history of man, sunk into stupidity and inaction. Donald was put to incredibly great trouble and anxiety with these three sons. As they were intractable themselves, the great burden of managing them lay upon him. Though they frequently wandered from his house, and sometimes to a great distance, he never grudged time, nor exertion, nor expense, in seeking them out, and bringing them home again. One petition he frequently preferred to the throne of grace was, that if it were the will of God, he would wish to survive them, that no other person might be troubled with them but himself. This prayer God graciously answered, for the last of them died about twelve years since, aged forty.

Amidst all these heavy trials he was wonderfully supported, and no man ever heard him complain. In patience he possessed his soul, finding that Divine grace was sufficient for him, and the strength of Christ perfected in his weakness. It is, beyond controversy, a strong proof of the reality and importance of religion, when we see a man struggling with adversity for many years; and trials accumulating with his age; and trials, too, of a very uncommon kind, and still cheerful, serene, and submissive. We must seek for the cause of all this in the faith of the Gospel. This is a remedy for all human evils, an antidote to all fears, a consolation in all afflictions, and the grand asylum in every danger. When the world around him stood amazed at his fortitude and resignation, he felt himself entirely dependent on the grace of Christ, by which he could do and suffer everything. The cause of his submission was perhaps hid from them, but its effects were obvious and certain. The contentment of this good man in every situation was almost proverbial in the place where

he lived, and strongly recommended genuine Christianity.

Suitable to this life and walk of faith, was the death of this old disciple. He had been for several years very infirm, but was able to attend the church in the summer every year except the last before his death. But he still continued to love the Bible and the duty of prayer. "He felt his ruling passion strong in death." He declared, times without number, to his pastor, that he had enough of life and its vanities; that he was well pleased with the thorny path through which God had lead him; that he had a deep sense of his guilt and misery as a sinner, and that he approved of the way of salvation by Christ, as worthy of God, and suitable to perishing sinners; that he had good hope through grace, and would soon be with Christ, whom he loved above all things in heaven and earth; that his desires after the enjoyment of God were strong and unquenchable. "O," said he, "what a sight will it be to see Christ as he is! Farewell, all things below the sun! I shall never see hell! I shall be forever with the Lord! Nothing shall separate me from the love of God! He hath done all things well!" He retained his senses till the last, and sunk into eternity, like the sun retiring below the horizon, and fell asleep in Jesus.

'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." No monument records his name, no epitaph adorns his grave, no sculptor can exhibit his piety and patience; but such as he was shall be held in everlasting remembrance. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace!"

26. LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL.

"The soul uneasy, and confined from home,
Rests and expatiates in a world to come."

LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL, son of the duke of Bedford, and a distinguished patriot, fell a victim to the tyranny of Charles II., in 1683. When his last interview with the countess, his wife, on the evening before he was executed, was over, he observed, "The bitterness of death is past." Just before he was beheaded he said aloud, "Neither imprisonment nor fear of death has been able to discompose me in any degree. On the contrary, I have found the assurances of the love and the mercy of God, in and through my blessed Redeemer, in whom alone I trust. And I do not question but I am going to partake of that fulness of joy which is in his presence; the hopes of which do so wonderfully delight me, that I think this is the happiest time of my life, though others may look upon it as the saddest."

27. LORD BACON.

LORD BACON was one of the greatest geniuses of England, and, what is more than all, a sincere Christian. How delicious to turn away from the vapouring pomp and parade of philosophists and infidels to the pages of such men as Bacon, and hear him saying, “A little philosophy inclineth men's minds to atheism; but depths in philosophy bring men's minds about to religion." We find a prayer of his which begins with these words, and which we record as his last testimony:-"Thy creatures, O Lord, have been my books, but thy holy Scrip

tures much more. I have sought thee in the courts, fields, and gardens; but I have found thee, O God, in thy sanctuary, thy temples."

28. JOHN WELCH.

"O what new life I feel!

Being of beings, how I rise! Not one,
A thousand steps I rise! And yet I feel
Advancing still in glory-I shall soar

Above these thousand steps. Near and more near
(Nor in his works alone, these beauteous worlds)

I shall behold the Eternal face to face."-BULMER'S MESSIAH.

JOHN WELCH, the son-in-law of John Knox, was one of the most gifted ministers of the Church of Scotland; a man of apostolic zeal and extraordinary devotion; he lived in holy communion with God. He died an exile in France for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Having preached to a congregation of Protestants in France, he was taken ill immediately as he left the pulpit. On his death-bed he seemed to feel himself on the very threshold of glory; he was filled and overpowered with the sensible manifestations of God's love and glory. The last words of this holy man were uttered in an ecstasy of joy: "It is enough, O Lord, it is now enough; hold thy hand; thy servant is a clay vessel, and can hold no more!"

29. BERGERUS.

BERGERUS, an illustrious councillor of the emperor Maximilian, and one much admired by Melancthon, said on his dying bed, "Farewell, O farewell, all earthly things, and welcome heaven! Let none hereafter make mention of earthly things to me."