DEATH-BED SCENES. FIRST CLASS. THE REV. ROBERT SIMPSON, D. D. LATE THEOLOGICAL TUTOR OF HOXTON ACADEMY. "The death-bed of the just is yet undrawn DR. R. SIMPSON was born at Little Tillerye Farm, Orwell, in Kinrosshire, Scotland. On that farm the family had resided for several generations; and one of his progenitors stands enrolled in a list of worthies, whose names have been transmitted to us by Woodrow, as sufferers for conscience sake, in the reign of James the Second. At the age of seven or eight, Robert was taken to reside with his maternal grandmother, a widow much esteemed in the religious circles of that vicinity. After some years spent in rural life, he removed to Dunfermline, where he apprenticed himself to a cloth-dresser and dyer, with whom he remained several years. Anxious to improve himself in the knowledge of his business, he came to England; and either in his first or second journey, he reached Cotherstone, near Barnard Castle, Durham; where he took up his abode, and sat under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Prattman, who was for many years a valuable minister of Christ in that dark part of the country. The experience of Mr. Simpson about this period of life was rather singular. A power now attended the preaching of the word to which he before was a stranger: an arrow cf conviction was sent into his heart by the plain and faithful preaching of Mr. Prattman. A single sentence from the pulpit opened his eyes. He saw the exceeding sinfulness of sin and felt its bitterness. His strong convictions wrought up his feelings to a pitch of extreme agony. His spirit found no peace; and after continuing long in this state cf alarm and misery, he found relief in the free and sovereign grace of the gospel. He formed the resolution of casting his whole care and confidence upon Christ Jesus, and almost immediately his soul found that peace, which the world can neither give nor take away. He would start from his bed at midnight, unable to sleep for joy. "For days together," said he, "I was like one transported to the third heavens, so that I could scarcely tell whether I was in the body, or out of the body. Oh! what days of heaven were those! The recollection of them, after a lapse of fifty years, is still fresh and delightful! I seemed to have got within the very GRASP of the INVISIBLE!" Shortly after this period, being called to pray at one of the social meetings of the church, he had such an abundant outpouring of the Spirit of grace, and by his strength had such power with God, that all present were filled with surprise; when they rose from their knees, they gazed on him, and on each other, for some time, in silent admiration; till at length one said, Oh! Simpson, you have indeed been wonderfully favoured-you have been transported to the very gates of heaven, and carried us along with you; it has been with difficulty that I withheld myself from getting up several times to embrace you, as you proceeded. These extraordinary communications of Divine influence very naturally appeared to Mr. Pratt F man and his friends to mark out Mr. S. for some extraordinary work; and he was induced, by their advice, to direct his attention to the Christian ministry. In the year 1776, he was admitted on the recommendation of his pastor, into the Independent Academy, at Heckmondwicke, Yorkshire, then under the superintendance of the Rev. James Scott. There he remained four years, greatly beloved by his tutor, and eagerly bent upon the acquisition of knowledge, in which he profited above many. After he had finished his academical studies, he was settled first at Hastingdon in Lancashire, then at Elswich, and then at Balton; and in 1791, he was chosen theological tutor of the Independant academy, at Hoxton, near London. In his official capacity, he had made himself fully master of those branches of science which he undertook to teach. His attainments as a classic scholar were highly respectable. He was well read both in Greek and Latin authors; but in the Hebrew he greatly excelled. In the earlier years of his residence at Hoxton, he connected a pastoral charge with his academic functions; but when his age and infirmities increased he resigned it, and preached only occasionally. As a preacher he was justly celebrated for his energy, and warmth of expression; and for his enthusiastic attachment to the essential doctrines of the gospel; and though he did not excel in the gracefulness of a captivating manner, or the powers of a subduing elocution, yet he was never heard without exciting a deep interest in the pious breast; and leaving a strong impression on his audience that he was a true minister of Jesus Christ. But I must now call the attention of the reader to the close of his life, which presents one of the most interesting death-bed scenes on which mor→ tals ever gazed. Of the chamber where he resigned his happy spirit into the hand of the Lord Jesus: we may say in the language of Young: "See here resistless demonstration dwells; You see the man-you see his hold on heaven: During the last four years of his life, his health gradually declined, till at length the time of his departure evidently approached. In the month of May 1817, he tendered the resignation of his office to the committee of the Academy, and in a manner highly characteristic of the man. His disorders were of the most distressing kind; and demanded constant surgical attention. His sufferings became so great during the last few weeks of his life, as to allow him few moments of comparative ease; and therefore the sayings that he |