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leading his family to the throne of grace. In order to this, he found it neceffary to economize his time. He therefore chose an early hour to convene his family for focial worship. When the days were fhort, he ufually went to morning prayers by candle-light; and his habits of early rifing had been fo long formed, that it was no uncommon thing for him, during the laft winter of his life, to have performed family-worthip, and finished breakfast before day-light was fully fet in. He had a pleafing talent in introducing religious hints in converfation. As the fcriptures were the fubject of his frequent meditation, he was often referring to their contents in his domeftic circle; and 1poke of the love of Chrift in the wonderful economy of redemption, like one who felt the subject. The harmony of the Old and New Teftament, and the exalted strains in which the prophets fpake of the Meffiah, were topics on which he dwelt with peculiar delight.

Of late years, Mr. R. difcovered much pleasure in recapitulating the many mercies with which Providence had favoured him during a long life. When he heard of his old religious friends being called to glory, he seemed to be furprized that he was fpared fo long; and adverting to the uncommon fhare of health and ftrength which he ftill enjoyed, he used to fay, he was "a wonder to himself." He was habitually inclined to view the hand of Providence in the common events of life, whether of a profperous or adverfe nature; acknowledging the former with thankfulness, and recollecting under the latter, that our faith and patience muft be tried.

Although the principal defign of the writer is to fpeak of Mr. Rumley's religious principles and conduct, yet it would be injuftice to his memory to país over in filence the honourable and refpectable character which he maintained as a medical practitioner, during a refidence of almoft half a century in Chefham. His mild and pleasant manners rendered him very acceptable to his patients; while the humane attention he paid to their fufferings, and the unequivocal proofs he gave of his profeffional skill, particularly as an accoucheur, juftly entitled him to their confidence and efteem. The florid marks of health which his venerable countenance retained when entering on his 80th year, the activity of his body, the clearness and ftrength of his intellectual faculties, and the ferenity and cheerfulness of his fpirits, formed altogether a ftriking inftance of what has been aptly called the "viridis fenectus.”

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doubt but temperance, exercise, and especially his early rifing, contributed greatly, under Providence, to produce theic happy effects; and at the fame time gave the promise of yet further years of usefulness.

Mr. R. received a fevere attack of a painful complaint in Feb. 1799, which for a few hours wore a serious aspect. His fufferings were very acute, but not a murmur or fretful fpeech was heard: on the contrary, he expreffed the grateful fenfe he felt of the divine goodnefs in indulging him fo many years with fo large a portion of eafe and health. It pleafed God to remove this affliction, and to restore him to his former health, which continued with very little interruption till his laft illness, which commenced on March 31, 1800. For fome hours he felt only a flight indifpofition; but, after paffing a very indifferent night, he found himself confiderably worse; and in the courfe of the forenoon his diforder became extremely violent. He continued to fuffer great pain, with only flight intervals, during the three fucceeding days. Throughout this fhort but fevere illness, he evinced great refignation; repeatedly praying that "patience might have her perfect work" and when his fufferings were moft acute, he seemed to fear nothing fo much, as left he fhould be tempted to murmur at the dealings of God toward him.

One of his family fat up with him part of Thursday night (April 3); and as he was not much disposed for fleep, and was favoured with an abatement of pain, he fpoka very freely of the ftate of his foul and his religious experience; the fubftance of which pathetic and edifying converfation is here prefented to the reader, and in many parts Mr. R.'s. own words. He began by faying, "The doctrines of grace have been my fupport:" and after res peating fome paffages of Scripture relating thereto, he defired the two following chapters to be read to him, the fubftance of which, he faid, had of late dwelt much on his mind, viz. Ifaiah liii. and Revelation v. While they were reading, Mr. R. feemed greatly affected, and spoke very feelingly of the love of Chrift, both in his ftate of fufferings and glory. At the fame time he obferved, that " he had never read the fcriptures with fo much pleasure, nor ever had fuch an infight into them, as of late." As to his prefent feelings, he faid, "I have not that full affurance which fome tpeak of, but a comfortable hope:" adding, "Abraham, the father of the faithful, hoped against hope." He renounced all dependence on any righteoufnefs of his own.

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Although he had lived many years in the fear of God, and had been a ufeful member of fociety, yet the fource of confolation, and ground of his hope, in the hour of death, was not the retrofpect of a well-fpent life, but folely the merits and righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift. Of himself he fpoke in the most humiliating language: "I have," faid he, to lament the irritability of my temper in my old age." So exceedingly depraved is the human heart, that every fucceffive period of life has its peculiar propenfities to fin. Mr. R. had been fond of repeating a converfation he had in the early part of his life with a pious friend. Mr. R. was obferving to this perfon, that he thought if he arrived at old age, he fhould be fubject to fewer temptations than at an earlier period. But his more experienced friend told him, that "the Devil had a bait for every age:" and Mr. R. was at length fully convinced of the truth and value of the remark.

But to return to his midnight-converfation. Mr. R. went on to repeat feveral fcripture-promifes, which feemed to afford him much peace and confolation; and after dropping a hint or two respecting his temporal affairs, he made this remark" I have found that portion of fcripture make an early impreffion on my mind, Seek ye firft the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all thefe things fhall be added unte you. I have lived to fee many ups and downs in the world; but have found his mercies ever to exceed my fears.". This confeffion of an aged faint, at the clofe of a long pilgrimage, is well adapted to cheer the fpirits of the dejected believer.

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During the whole of this converfation, Mr. R. found it very difficult to breathe; fo that his fentences were very broken only a few words, fometimes only a few fyllables, could be uttered between each breathing. He was fully aware of his approaching diffolution. My generationwork," faid he, "is over. Every thing which has been tried for the relief of my complaint has failed, and I feel fuch a difrelifh for every thing, and fuch an univerfal lofs of ftrength and if that does not forebode diffolution, I don't know what does." He then mentioned the names of two minifters, whom he wished to fee the next morning, as he had occafionally attended their miniftry. The medical part of his family had hitherto been cautious of admitting vifitors, left it fhould difturb or fatigue him. In reference to this circumftance, he obferved, "I do not wifh to be debarred from the converfation of ferious friends

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on account of its fatiguing me. It may fatigue the body but what of that, if it quickens the fpirit?"

At another time Mr R. remarked, "I have found much comfort in the converfation of poor religious perfons; whofe want of education is often amply compenfated by a deep experience of the power of religion on the heart." Not long after Mr. R. made this laft remark, his friend took leave of him for the remainder of the night; and just inquiring if he felt himself comfortable and refigned; Mr. R. answered, "I do; and I hope you do alfo.-May the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon me, and enable me to appreciate to myfelf that paffage,→ He was bruifed for cur iniquities."

On Friday morning (April 4th) one of the minifters whom Mr. R. had named in the night, called upon him; with whom he was able to converfe a good deal, notwithftanding his weak condition.. In answer to the ufual inquiry how he did, he antwered, “I am a poor unworthy creature; I have only the finners plea, the blood of atonement. The oath and promife of God afford ftrong consolation to thofe who have fled for refuge to the hope fet before them." Looking forward to the change which was rapidly advancing, Mr. R. faid, "Though I walk through the valley of the fhadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy ftaff they comfort me." With great emotion, for his weak ftate, he exclaimed, "Oh, the love of God! that he should promife that the feed of the woman fhould bruise the ferpent's head!" Speaking of what Chrift had done and fuffered for rebellious finners, he cried out, "Who can exalt him high enough!!!" Being cautioned againft exerting himself too much, he faid, "This is the time to talk, juft as we are entering the heavenly world." After refting a little, he faid, "It is grieving to fee what a light and trifling spirit appears in many profeffors! How much fpiritual profit is loft by that worldly converfation which takes place when they meet together!" He likewife obferved, that a difference of fentiment in the circumftantials of religion among real Chriftians, fhould not prevent their converfing freely together; and at the fame time expreffed his "affection for the faithful of every denomination."

A friend obferved to Mr. R. that, if it should please God to remove him at that time, his lofs would be greatly felt by many. He replied, with great humility, "I have many things to lament, though I hope I have been made ufelul to fome and I have many things to be thankful for.' After speaking very affectionately of the attention of his

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Children (and none could have ftranger obligations to do every thing in their power to foothe a parent's feelings) he added, "I never defired that they might be rich, but that they might live in the favour of God."

During the early part of this day, feveral of his religious friends vifited him; with whom he feemed to feel much, pleasure in converfing, as far as his declining ftrength permitted. His whole behaviour evinced the utmost placidity and refignation of fpirit, in the arms of death. But he repeated a remark, which he had feveral times made in the courfe of his illness, viz. "That a bed of sickness and death is a very unfit time to make preparation for eternity."

From about noon, on Friday, he laboured fo hard for breath, that he could converfe but very little. He had hitherto fubniitted willingly to whatever medical treatment was propofed; but feeling now that his disease baffled every effort, he wished to difcontinue any farther means, and to fubmit quietly to the event. From this time no very material alteration was obfervable in his appearance, excepting decay of ftrength, until early on the following morning. Soon after midnight, one of his family, who fat up with him, perceived that he grew worfe very faft; yet he was just able to be once inore removed from his bed. Between one and two o'clock on Saturday morning, with much affiftance and difficulty, he walked a few fteps, from the bed to the firefide. Being feated in his great chair, he called for a table, his fpectacles, and a Concordance. Speaking was now extremely difficult; but he expreffed a wifh to find the following paffage," as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke," &c.--" which prophet," faid he, " is it in ?" The Concordance being laid before him, he fearched for the paffage under letters B and Y:- fo fully did he yet poffefs his intellectual powers. But this Concordance not containing a reference to the paffage, Cruden's was reached, which directed to Jer. xxxi. Mr. R. read part of this chapter to himself; and expreffing himself fatisfied, the book was elofed. In a few minutes after, a vifible change was perceived in him; his eye-fight and fpeech failed, his breathing became fhorter and lower, and all the powers of life continued rapidly finking until a little before four o'clock, when, furrounded by all his family, and fitting in an eafy pofture in his chair, juft as if falling into a common fleep, without pain, ftruggle, or a distorted feature, his happy fpirit was releafed from its earthly tabernacle, and, doubt Jefs, conveyed to the bright regions of eternal bliss. - VOL. IX. 3 X

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