vine Being to place him in life, and the great advantage he had enjoyed in the acquaintance and friendship of some of the best and wisest of men of the age in which he lived, and the satisfaction he derived from having led an useful as well as happy life. He this day gave directions about printing the remainder of his notes on the Scriptures (a work, in the completion of which he was much interested,) and looked over the first sheet of the third volume, after it was corrected by those who were to attend to its completion, and expressed his satisfaction at the manner of its being executed.

the grave, and we shall meet again."

"On Monday morning, the 9th of February, on being asked how he did, he answered in a faint voice, that he had no pain, but appeared fainting away gradually. About eight o'clock he desired to have three pamphlets which had been looked out by his directions the evening before. He then dictated as clearly and distinctly as he had ever done in his life, the additions and alterations which he wished to have done in each, Mtook down the substance of what he said, which was read to him. He observed, "Sir, you have "On Sunday the 5th he was put in your own language; I much weaker, but sat up in an wish it to be mine." He then arm chair for a few minutes. He repeated over again, nearly word desired that John, ch. xi. might for word, what he had before be read to him; he stopped the said, and when it was transcribreader at the forty-fifth verse, ed, and read over to him, he said, dwelt for some time on the ad-"That is right; I have now vantage he had derived from done." reading the scriptures daily, and recommended this practice."We shall all (said he) meeted to a cot. finally; we only require different degrees of discipline suited to our different tempers, to prepare us for final happiness." Mr. -coming into his room, he said, "You see, Sir, I am still living." Mr. observed, "that he would always live.— "Yes, I believe I shall; we shall meet again in another and a better world." He said this with great animation, laying hold of Mr.'s hand in both his own. After evening prayers, when his grand-children were brought to his bed-side, he spake to them separately, and exhorted them to continue to love each other, &c. "I am going (added he) to sleep as well as you; for death is only a good long sound sleep in

"About half an hour after he desired that he might be removAbout ten minutes after he was removed to it, he died; but breathed his last so easily that those who were sitting close to him did not immediately perceive it. He had put his hand to his face, which prevented them from observing it.

"He was born March 24, 1733.

The following remarks on the pre

ceding account of Dr. Priestly, are extracted from the Christian Observer.

SUCH is the account inserted, as it should seem, by the Doctor's friends, of his las moments. It evinces great composure and tranquillity, a vigor of mind and industry unabated by disease, and a confidence in the truth of

tion with pleasure. It is remarkable, that the scripture no where lays any stress upon the feelings which distinguish the hour of death, or holds up any remar kable example of a death-bed scene, as a model for imitation, or a proof of true religion. In fact, its great aim is to direct the attention to a proof far less equivocal than feelings dependent upon circumstances; the tenor of a holy life spent in con

the religious principles he professed. We think it our duty, however, to caution the younger part of our readers against confounding the soundness of principles with the sincerity with which they are believed, or considering the composure which any principles inspire as a proof of their truth. Too much stress has, we apprehend, been laid by all parties on the firmness with which their respective adherents have met their last hour. Com-formity to the word of God. An posure in that awful moment erroneous idea is also frequentmay arise from various and even ly entertained concerning the opposite causes. Natural forti- true nature of a Christian detude, a habit of great submission parture. Mere tranquillity, nay, to what is inevitable, a morbid abounding hope and triumphant insensibility, a regard to deco- assurance, form, of themselves, rum, and even to posthumous no just and clear indication of character, will produce it. Still the right state of the soul. A more frequently will it originate different standard of excellence, in ignorance of the guilt of sin, or proof of the reality of reliand of the purity of the divine gion, must not be assumed for nature, in habitual insensibility the hour of death from that of conscience, or in a self-right- which was justly laid down for eous confidence. In a word, let the vigor of health. In both seaa high idea of the mercy of God, sons it is not the excellence of without regard to his justice, be one grace or virtue, which stamps combined with a low standard the character, but rather the posof morals, and the result, in al- session of all, the uniform and most every case, will be an ex- complete conformity of the tememption from uneasiness res- pers and conduct to the definepecting a future state. Hence ation of them exhibited in the we may account for the similar scripture. Upon a death-bed, indifference which persons of therefore, no peculiar or new very different religious systems have exhibited at the prospect of death. The soldier braves its approach, the savage exults in its tortures, the enthusiast greets it with rapture. Hume was sportive in his last hours, and Rousseau* contemplated his dissolu

Rousseau, the hardened villany of whose life is almost without parallel in modern times, and who seems to have assumed the mask of virtue for no other purpose, than that of propagating, with more success, the

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blackest vice, says, in that very work which contains a confession of his crimes, that no man can come to the throne of God, and say, I am a better man than Rousseau. And just before he expired, he observed to his mistress, Ah! my dear, how happy a thing it is to die when one has no reason for remorse or self-reproach!" Then addressing himself to the Almighty, he said, "Eternal Being! the soul that I ain going to give the back, is as pure, at this moment, es it was when it proceeded from thee; render it partaker of thy felicity."

graces are called into action; but, and best of men. It would have

given us pleasure also to have heard the promises of the gospel urged to cheer the fainting. spirits, to confirm the doubting mind, and to encourage the wellfounded expectations of peni

the solemnity of the circumstances, and the greatness of the occasion, will heighten and exalt them all. Not only should faith be more lively than usual, or hope be elevated to assurance, but repentance ought to be deep-tence and faith. Above all, we er, humility more profound, looked with earnest desire (and charity more fervent and exten- we deeply regret our disappointsive, resignation more perfect, ment) to have seen the mention love to God of a purer kind, and of that adorable name, which, obedience to his will more con- unto all who believe, is precious spicuous. Judging by this rule, we confess that we are not entirely satisfied with the frame of require his present thoughts; to which he replied, That he was meditating mind the Doctor appeared to the number and nature of angels, and possess as far as we can judge of their blessed obedience and order, without it from the narrative of his which peace could not be in heaven; and, friends. We could wish to have ob! that it might be so on earth.' After heard the language of humilia- which words, he said, I have lived to see this world is made up of pertur tion, and should have been glad bations, and I have been long preparing to perceive the traces of a reverto leave it, and gathering comfort for the ential awe at the prospect of ap-dreadful hour of making my account with pearing before the judge of the earth. Such just and suitable feelings have marked, and we may truly add, adorned the closing scene of some of the wisest

God, which I now apprehend to be near: and though I bare by his grace, loved bim in my youth, and feared him in mine age, and labored to have a conscience void of offence to him and to all men; yet if thou, O Lord, be extreme

to mark what I have done amiss who The dying expressions of Hook- can abide it; and, therefore, where I er occurring to us while we were wri-bave failed, Lord, shew mercy to me, ting this paragraph, we insert them for I plead not my righteousness but the in this note, not as exhibiting the best forgiveness of my unrighteousness, for his illustration which might be found of merits who died to purchase a pardon for the last moments of an excellent man, penitent sinners: and since I owe thee a but as sufficiently expressing that death, Lord let it not be terrible, and general assemblage of Christian dis- then take thine own time. I submit to positions on which we have insisted. it. Let not mine, O Lord, but let thy will be done.' With which expression he fell into a dangerous slumber, dangerous as to his recovery; yet recover he did, but it was to speak only these few words- Good Doctor, God bath beard my daily petitions, for I am at peace with all men, and he is at peace with me, and from which blessed assurance I feel that inward joy which this world can neither give nor take from me?' More he would have spoken, but his spirits failed him; and after a short conflict betwixt nature and death, a quiet sigh put a period to his last breath, and so he fell asleep."-Walton's Life of Hooker.

"After receiving the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord, his friend Dr. Saravia, who attended him, thought he saw a reverend gaiety and joy in his face; but it lasted not long, for his bodily infirmities did return suddenly, and became more visible, insomuch that the Doctor apprehended death ready to seize him. Yet after some amendment, he left him at night with a promise to return early the day following, which he did, and then found him better in appearance, deep in contemplation, and not inclinable to discourse, which gave the Doctor occasion to

those holy volumes much diminished, by reflecting on the unwarrantable liberties he was accustomed to take with them, on his rejection of the authority of an evangelist, on his denial of the conclusiveness of the argu ments of an apostle, on the ingenuity exercised to explain away the obvious sense, or the bold

above every name that is named in heaven or in earth. It could not, indeed, have been introduced, according to the Doctor's system, as the foundation of hope, but it might, one would conceive, according to any system which professes to be built upon the scriptures, have been mentioned with that affection, veneration, and gratitude with which the in-ness with which he refused to spired writers, as well as good men in every age, have uniformly spoken of it.

submit to the plain declarations of scripture. The mere study of scripture is of little moment compared with the humility with which its dictates are received, and the ready submission of the mind to its authority.

tem from his own reasoning, and then endeavored to accommodate the scripture to it, instead of humbly receiving his creed from scripture and casting down every imagination of his mind which opposed it. This was his fundamental error, and it naturally led him to cherish a spirit of rash innovation, inconsistent with cool deliberation or sound judgment. Yielding him. self to the influence of this spirit, he trampled with disdain upon the bounds which the wisdom and piety of former ages had fixed.

As a substitute for that ancient foundation of hope, faith in the atonement of the Son of God, the Doctor rests upon the expectation of universal salvation. Indeed we conceive, that the This is well calculated, we ac-leading defect in the Doctor's knowledge, to allay apprehen-mind, from the first, was a want sion. Indeed, there cannot be of humility. He formed his sysmuch ground for alarm, when it is believed that there is no worm which dieth not, and no fire that is not quenched. It is very consoling to look upon God as only preparing all his creatures for final happiness, by different degrees of discipline suited to their different tempers.The encouragement this idea holds out is of a very general and extensive kind; for it affords hope alike to all, and nearly annihilates all distinction of character. But our readers will, probably, agree with us that it is a ground of hope never mentioned by the inspired writers; That the Doctor was sincere that the great founder of our re- in the principles he held we ligion evidently, directed the doubt not, and that his princiweight of his influence to estab-ples were calculated to free his lish a contrary belief, and that mind from alarming apprehen whoever rests upon it, must de- sions, and produce tranquillity at ny or explain away the obvious the hour of death, we readily declarations of scripture. We allow. But God forbid we are told, indeed, that the Doctor should consider this as any evidiligently perused the sacred dence of their truth. By their writings; but we feel our confi- conformity to scripture, and by dence in this mark of regard for the fruits they produce, they