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He then listened to my poor endeavours to point out the way of
return and accefs to God, with as much attention and
humility as if I had been worthy to teach him- See

page 153

Edinburgh Published by W. Oliphant 22 South Bridge Street 1827.

little of death. Have you your Bible here? I have no Bible." I brought my Bible, but intreated him to try to rest, as the doctor had desired. He did so, and commanded me to do the same. I wrapped my cloak around me, and lay down by his bed. Early in the morning he took my Bible, and began to read. I got up, but he commanded me to rest till he called me. He did not again speak for more than an hour, then said, "Cameron, come and tell me how you have read this Bible, so as to acquire that son-like feeling of confidence with which I heard you address God the other night. I feel none of it. The more I think of appearing before Him, the more I shrink from the reality as tremendously awful." He then listened to my poor endeavours to point out the way of return and access to God, with as much attention and humility as if I had been worthy to teach him. God gave me words, and my love for him gave me earnestness, and my heart prayed for a blessing as I spoke. It was wonderful how soon he embraced the Scripture offer of a Saviour. I was enabled to point out passages in the Bible, which seemed to meet the very longings of his soul. He never thought he would recover. However, he did every thing that was prescribed. His time was spent in preparing for another world, and to his friends who visited him he spoke very openly. Many an officer left him with looks of thoughtfulness seldom seen

in their countenances; but Colonel Aberley had such a noble frank manner, that every thing he said was attended to. The last two days he spent almost entirely in prayer. He said to me, "I know now, Cameron, that son-like confidence in God, which so much struck me in your prayers." He then condescended to give me his hand, and said, "We are all sons of God, my friend, through faith in Christ Jesus-that Lord whom I have known so late, yet who has manifested himself to me so as to overcome all the cavils of an ignorant and unbelieving heart. Once I would not have credited what I now feel. Oh! how lovely, how gentle are those characters in which our Lord and Master represents himself as coming to call us to another world-" The Son of Man-the Bridegroom!" How cold, how useless in the time of need-what an empty nothing is that, which, in the vanity of our reasoning, we call natural religion. How altogether suitable--how altogether adorable, the religion of my Lord, my Saviour, my God and portion for ever!” (EDW. GER. and ANNA are much moved. Mr. LORNTON takes the Bible, and leans over it.)

EDW. (addressing Mr. Ross.) How wonderful is all this! How near it brings us to an unseen world-to God, the hearer and answerer of prayer! How real is His presence every where ! How similar the overpowering, the subduing effect of his adorable grace in every soul! My

beloved Father-it seems as if he was at this

moment present with us.

me to act as if he were.

Oh! may God enable

Mr. Ross. (earnestly.) He will, he will. He leaves no work that he begins unfinished.

EDW. (goes forward towards the people, who gather round him.) My dear friends, in speaking to you to-day, I have felt conscious that, in declaring my own determination to devote my life to the service of God, you could not feel much confidence in my resolutions, young and untried, and full of faults as you know me to be. (cries of," We only know your goodness and kindness.") Hear me without interruption, my friends. I have now an example to offer you, that you will think worthy of following. You loved my Father. (people, "Ay, as our own souls.") Look at this Bible. Your Master, when he came to die, felt that he needed from this to learn how. See, it is all marked with his own dying hand. (the people gather close to look, and exclaim mournfully, "His own hand !") Yes, his own hand. I shall read you some of the passages-here is one: "There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved,. but the name of Jesus." I have told you that in this name is my only hope; but here is my father's own dying hand subscribing to the same single trust. You know the strict propriety of his life. If any man could have approached.

God in his own righteousness, he might, (people, "Ay, at an earthly bar none could have laid a fault to his charge.") Yes, my friends, but when about to appear at an heavenly, even he found that he needed One to stand between him and the judgment he deserved there; and which of us then need hope? (people, "None, none.")

Then I trust you will all flee for refuge to that Saviour to whom he trusted the salvation of his soul. I will read another marked passage from this Bible. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And this, "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." These are some of the passages of this word of life on which my father rested his hopes for eternity. My friends, shall we not follow his steps? This is my own Decision, in the strength of God my Saviour. It is the Decision, in the same strength, of all my family. (the people are much moved.) Mr. Ross, you are our guide and teacher-you will, I am sure, also be our faithful reprover. Now, my dear Sir, before we separate, will you entreat God for us, that he may enable us to obey his most gracious command, to believe in his Son for the salvation of our souls; and to awaken all of us to the vast importance of that which Christ himself calls," the one thing needful." Pray,

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