all outward things were stained in his eyes, there was nothing but
religion that could be of any avail for any of us; and it mattered not
when we were taken--young, old, or middle aged--if we were but ready,
that was the great point!" His experience, however, during the last few
days of his life shewed, that although the ground might have been
prepared, the work was by no means effected; deep and sore conflict was
then his portion, and oh! with what fervency did he call upon his
Saviour, beseeching him in his mercy to be pleased to look down upon his
poor unworthy creature, for he alone could help in that awful hour. Once
he exclaimed, "what could all the world do for me now?" His wife, under
great exercise of spirit, replied, "Nothing! the best, when laid upon
such a bed as thou art, have nothing to look to or depend upon, but the
mercy of the Saviour;" the poor sufferer earnestly pleaded that that
mercy might be extended to him, remarking, "He has all power in heaven
and in earth." He then fervently prayed that the Lord would save his
never dying soul. It is believed, that whilst his many sins of omission
and commission were brought vividly before his view, by the unflattering
witness, he was made very fully sensible that the great work of salvation
rests between the soul of man and his Creator, and that "no man can
redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him." Through the night,
he was mostly engaged in prayer, with uplifted hands invoking for mercy
and forgiveness.

Some time before his death, the great conflict of mind he had been under,
appeared to subside, and to be succeeded by a sweet calm, and he
intimated to his wife, that he felt comfortable and satisfied. Till
within half an hour of the close, prayer continued flowing from his lips,
the last audible sounds being an appeal to the Lord; and but a few
minutes before he ceased to breathe, a conscious look at his dear wife,
seemed to say, "all is peace;" and it was granted to her exercised spirit