what is the grave? It is but a refining pot. Since my Saviour lay in it, it is but a bed of roses. O delightful thought, that I, who was going on in sin, should be plucked as a brand out of the burning! 0 how will they lie on a death-bed, that have nothing but their works to fly to! With only this to depend on, I should be the most miserable of all creatures; but the long white robe of my Redeemer's righteousness is all my desire. This is a robe which hides every sin of thought, word, or deed, that I have committed. Lord, I live upon Christ, I live upon, his righteousness, I live upon his blood and merits; yea, I die also, leaning wholly upon this!"

John Knox, the great Scotch Reformer, when dying, was much engaged in prayer, and would cry out,

"Come, Lord Jesus! sweet Jesus! into thy hands I commend my spirit." When asked if his pain was great, he replied, "he did not esteem that a pain, which would be to him the end of all trouble and the beginning of eternal joys." His last words were, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

The Rev. Mr. Halyburton, an eminent minister of the gospel, in Scotland, said, when taking a last farewell of his family, "Here is a demonstration of the reality of religion, that I, a poor weak, timorous man, as much afraid of death as any, am now enabled by the power of grace, composedly and with joy, to look death in the face. I dare look it in the face, in its most ghastly shape, and hope within a little, to have the victory. I cannot but com

mend the Lord Jesus. As far as my words will go, I must proclaim it, He is the best master that I ever Saw."

The holy Mr. Rutherford, among many triumphant expressions, uttered in his last hours, exclaimed, "O that all my brethren did know what a Master I have served and what peace I have this day! I shall sleep in Christ, and when I awake, I shall be satisfied with his likeness;" and again, "I shall live and adore him! Glory, glory to my Creator and to my Redeemer for ever. Glory shines in Immanuel's land."

When the Rev. Thomas Hooker was dying, a friend remarked to him, "Sir, you are going to receive the reward of all your labours." His reply was appropriate. "Brother, I am going to receive mercy."

The Rev. John Janeway who died in his 24th year, was filled with triumph in the contemplation of death; "Methinks," said he, "I hear the melody of heaven, and by faith I see the angels waiting to carry my soul to the bosom of Jesus, and I shall be for ever with the Lord in glory. And who can choose but rejoice in all this!""*

The last record which David Brainerd made in his diary runs thus: "O my dear God, I am speedily coming to thee, I hope. Hasten the day, O Lord, if it be thy blessed will. O come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" And shortly before his death, he said, "He will come, he will not tarry. I shall soon be in glory; soon be with God and his angels."

When the Rev. Risdon Darracott

was told that he was dying, he exclaimed, "Surely it cannot be; it is

so easy.

What a mercy it is to be in Christ! O precious, precious Jesus! Now I am hoping and believing, rejoicing and triumphing too. He is coming! He is coming! But surely this cannot be dying. O how astonishingly is the Lord softening my passage! Surely God is too good to such a worm! O speed thy chariot wheels! Why are they so long in coming? I long to be gone!"

The Rev. James Hervey in the midst of his last distressing pains, could say, "These light afflictions are but for a moment, and then comes an eternal weight of glory. O welcome, welcome, death! Thou mayest well be reckoned among the treasures of the Christian. To live is Christ, but to die is gain."