bottom. Exhausted with perplexity and fatigue, I went to a distance, and sat down to weep, and, while weeping, I saw a drop of blood fall upon that mountain, and in a moment it was dissolved.' "Wishing to obtain his own ideas of what had been presented to his imagination, I said, 'This was certainly a strange sight: what construction do you put upon it?' "After expressing his surprize that I should be at a loss for the interpretation, he exclaimed, 'That mountain was my sins, and the drop which fell upon it was one drop of the precious blood of Jesus, by which the mountain of my guilt must be melted away.' "I expressed my satisfaction at finding he had such an idea of the magnitude of his guilt, and such exalted views of the efficacy of the Saviour's blood, and that, although the eyes of his body were blind, he could, with the eye of his heart,' see such a glorious sight. He then went on to state that the various sermons he had heard were now his companions in solitude, and the source of his comfort in affliction. On saying, at the close of the interview, that I would go home and prepare some medicine for him, which might afford him ease, he replied, I will drink it because you say I must, but I shall not pray to be restored to health again; for my desire is to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better than to remain longer in this sinful world.' "In my subsequent visits I always found him happy and cheerful, longing to depart and to be with Christ. This was constantly the burden of his prayer. I was with him when he breathed his last. During this interview, he quoted many precious passages of Scripture; and having exclaimed, with energy, O death, where is thy sting? his voice faltered, his eyes became fixed, his hands dropped, and his spirit departed to be with that Saviour, one drop of whose blood had melted away the mountain of his guilt. blind warrior of Raiateia. Thus died poor Me, the I retired from the over whelming and interesting scene, praying, as I went, that my end might be like his." 25. DONALD MORRISON. THE Rev. M. Gilfillan has given us a sketch of this eminently pious man: Donald Morrison was the oldest member in the Secession Church at Comrie, and the oldest man in the parish. He was always an early riser, his food was the simplest that could be found, and he had a great command over his passions. His temper was gentle and calm; his disposition, sweet and agreeable. From his early years he feared God, delighted in prayer, meditation, reading the Scriptures, and hearing the word preached. His acquaintance with the Scriptures was very profound and extensive. You could hardly mention a portion of them which he did not remember, and, considering his education, well understand. Truly, this blessed book was his daily companion, and unfailing consolation through life. Indeed, he never read many other books-this was always new, and always refreshing to his soul. The lot of this good and venerable man was peculiarly afflictive and trying. It was truly through great tribulation that he entered the kingdom. No man was known in the place to have ever had such a large share of domestic trouble as he had. Besides the death of his wife and some children a long time ago, and personal affliction in no small degree, he had two sons who were idiots, and a third who had the epilepsy, or falling sickness, and who perished in a fit of that disorder, as was supposed, in the water of Lednock, not far from his father's house. One of these boys was sprightly and active till he was five years of age, and, at that period, which, perhaps, is not to be paralleled in the history of man, sunk into stupidity and inaction. Donald was put to incredibly great trouble and anxiety with these three sons. As they were intractable themselves, the great burden of managing them lay upon him. Though they frequently wandered from his house, and sometimes to a great distance, he never grudged time, nor exertion, nor expense, in seeking them out, and bringing them home again. One petition he frequently preferred to the throne of grace was, that if it were the will of God, he would wish to survive them, that no other person might be troubled with them but himself. This prayer God graciously answered, for the last of them died about twelve years since, aged forty. Amidst all these heavy trials he was wonderfully supported, and no man ever heard him complain. In patience he possessed his soul, finding that Divine grace was sufficient for him, and the strength of Christ perfected in his weakness. It is, beyond controversy, a strong proof of the reality and importance of religion, when we see a man struggling with adversity for many years; and trials accumulating with his age; and trials, too, of a very uncommon kind, and still cheerful, serene, and submissive. We must seek for the cause of all this in the faith of the Gospel. This is a remedy for all human evils, an antidote to all fears, a consolation in all afflictions, and the grand asylum in every danger. When the world around him stood amazed at his fortitude and resignation, he felt himself entirely dependent on the grace of Christ, by which he could do and suffer everything. The cause of his submission was perhaps hid from them, but its effects were obvious and certain. The contentment of this good man in every situation was almost proverbial in the place where he lived, and strongly recommended genuine Christianity. Suitable to this life and walk of faith, was the death of this old disciple. He had been for several years very infirm, but was able to attend the church in the summer every year except the last before his death. But he still continued to love the Bible and the duty of prayer. "He felt his ruling passion strong in death." He declared, times without number, to his pastor, that he had enough of life and its vanities; that he was well pleased with the thorny path through which God had lead him; that he had a deep sense of his guilt and misery as a sinner, and that he approved of the way of salvation by Christ, as worthy of God, and suitable to perishing sinners; that he had good hope through grace, and would soon be with Christ, whom he loved above all things in heaven and earth; that his desires after the enjoyment of God were strong and unquenchable. "O," said he, "what a sight will it be to see Christ as he is! Farewell, all things below the sun! I shall never see hell! I shall be forever with the Lord! Nothing shall separate me from the love of God! He hath done all things well!" He retained his senses till the last, and sunk into eternity, like the sun retiring below the horizon, and fell asleep in Jesus. 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." No monument records his name, no epitaph adorns his grave, no sculptor can exhibit his piety and patience; but such as he was shall be held in everlasting remembrance. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace!" 26. LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL. "The soul uneasy, and confined from home, LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL, son of the duke of Bedford, and a distinguished patriot, fell a victim to the tyranny of Charles II., in 1683. When his last interview with the countess, his wife, on the evening before he was executed, was over, he observed, "The bitterness of death is past." Just before he was beheaded he said aloud, "Neither imprisonment nor fear of death has been able to discompose me in any degree. On the contrary, I have found the assurances of the love and the mercy of God, in and through my blessed Redeemer, in whom alone I trust. And I do not question but I am going to partake of that fulness of joy which is in his presence; the hopes of which do so wonderfully delight me, that I think this is the happiest time of my life, though others may look upon it as the saddest." 27. LORD BACON. LORD BACON was one of the greatest geniuses of England, and, what is more than all, a sincere Christian. How delicious to turn away from the vapouring pomp and parade of philosophists and infidels to the pages of such men as Bacon, and hear him saying, "A little philosophy inclineth men's minds to atheism; but depths in philosophy bring men's minds about to religion." We find a prayer of his which begins with these words, and which we record as his last testimony:-"Thy creatures, O Lord, have been my books, but thy holy Scrip |