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 THE 
 
 lat| 0f % |lig|tem : 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 PEEACHED IN THE 
 
 OAMDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 
 
 Lagauchetiere Street, Jan. I2th, 1862, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. WILLIAM TAYLOR, D.D. 
 
 (PASTOR.;) 
 PUBLISHED BY BEQUEST. 
 
 MONTBEAL: 
 
 FEINTED BY JOHN 0. BECKET, 38 GREAT ST. JAMES 8TEEET. 
 
 1862. 
 
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THE 
 
 \m{\ of t|e llig^eotts: 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED IN THE 
 
 CANADA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 
 Lagauchetiere Street, Jan. I2th, 1862, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. WILLIAM TAILOR, D.D. 
 
 (PASTOR.) 
 
 PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 
 
 MONTREAL: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN 0. BECKET, 38 GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. 
 
 1862. 
 
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C|e f eat| of i\t '§x0mB, 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 BY THE KEY. WILLIAM TAYLOR, D.D. 
 
 Psalm 37. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the 
 end of that man is peace. 
 
 I shall not consider theso words at this timo as a text, but 
 rather as a topic. The topic which they present, the death 
 of the righteous, is one which possesses peculiar interest at all 
 times, and \vhJch events, that have been lately taking place around 
 us, invest at this day with peculiar claims. The affliction that 
 has befallen our beloved Sovereign, the Queen, has plunged the 
 whole of her subjects into sorrow ; and many of the families con- 
 nected with this Congregation, have, within a late period, been 
 visited with bereavements that more nearly aifect ourselves. At 
 such a timo the voice of Divine Providence seems to be calling 
 on us to prepare for our latter end ; and, as a means of instruct- 
 ing us how to do so, let us consider the peace and hope of the 
 righteous in his death. 
 
 Nothing can be of greater importance to mortal man, than his 
 state at death. Wo know that we must die ; and that every day, 
 as it passes over us, brings us so much nearer that eventful hour, 
 so much dreaded by one class of mankind, and desired by an- 
 other, when we shall yield up our spirits into the hands of Him 
 that gave them. With this knowledge before us, it might be 
 expected that every man would consider it a business of the first 
 concern, to be prepared for death ; and that no one would allow 
 
tiny other mutter to intorvciio, or withdraw hiM attention, till he 
 iH certain that he huH pot popseHhion of a hojx;, that will carry 
 him Hnfcly through tho lust, dcciHivo conflict. But, alas, how 
 generally iH thiH expectation disappointed ! Tho maHS of man- 
 kind Hcom to live afl if they wcro never to die; or as if death 
 were one of tho moat unimportant events that can befall them. 
 
 And yet we think it Hcarcely posNiblc for any man, po8HCSi>inp; 
 intelligence and the power of thought, to bo really happy, until 
 ho feels certain that he has niudn provinion for tho great change 
 which death will soon mako in hiu condition. Wo read in an- 
 cient history, of a tyrant who awoke one morning, and found a 
 sword suspended over him, by a single hair, from the roof of his 
 ohnmber. Such a situation was fitted to teach him u lesson, but 
 we may well conclude that ho found it so alarming that he lost 
 no time in escaping from it. Yet tho situation of every mortal 
 man is somewhat similar, having tho sentence of death suspend- 
 ed over him ; while, perhaps, there may bo something more fra- 
 gile than a hair, between him and tho execution of it. 
 
 And while no man can taste a purer or more rational joy, than 
 the man who carries in his bosom a clear, and well-founded hope 
 of immortality, so no man gives such evidence of true greatness. 
 The man, I say, who journeys through life, conscious that ho is 
 prepared for his dying hour, has a principle within him which 
 ennobles his character. Especially when he draws near to the 
 end of his course ; when he goes down to the valley of the sha- 
 dow of death, and tranquilly resigns himself to die, in the sure 
 and certain bope of a blessed immortality ; he exhibits a greatness 
 of soul, a magnanimity of spirit, which raises him far above 
 mortals of the ordinary class, and allies him with those kindred 
 spirits, whoso society he goes to join in the heavenly world. 
 What an impressive scene is that, which the inspired Apostle 
 presents to our mind, when, speaking of himself as if he had al- 
 ready arrived at the farthest boundary of human life, and had 
 but one step more to take to reach eternity, he stops, as it were, 
 to look back on the way he had come, and says, " I have fought 
 a good fight ; I have finished my course ; I have kept the faith :" 
 
until 
 
 but 
 
 and then, 1o«)kinK forwurd to tho glory he was about to enter, ho 
 adds, " McDccfurth thore Ih laid up for niu u crown of rightuouH- 
 11688, which tho liord, the righteous jnd<;o, Hhall ^ivo to nio on 
 that day !" That in greatness indeed. Kuch u person ruiHo» our 
 poor fallen nature tu u dignity that pourn contempt on all worldly 
 grandeur. '* Mark the perfect man, and behold the tipright, for 
 the end of that man in peace." 
 
 There are some who receive, with suspicion, the descriptions, 
 which they sometimes read or hear, of the happy death of Chris- 
 tian believers. They will soinctimes ascribe them to tho parti- 
 ality of affection ; or stigmatise thorn as exaggerated pictures of 
 tho imagination ; or, at the farthest, will maintain, that, if such 
 triumphant doath-be<ls have ever been witnessed, they must bo 
 confined to the times of inspiration ; and aro to be found only in 
 tho history of those extraordmnry men, whose supernatural en- 
 dowments gave a supernatural tone to their character, and to their 
 whole lives, But tho prejudice of such men arises from a limit- 
 ed and imperfect knowledge of Christian society ; their situation 
 in life pci-haps, giving them no opportunity of becoming ac- 
 quainted with facts, and of seeing with their own eyes, huw tho 
 Christain faith can support a dying believer's hope. Such 
 happy death-bods aro not unfrequent in the Church of Christ, 
 even in tho days in which we live ; and, if the time could over 
 arrive in which thoy would entirely disappear, tho statement of 
 the Psalmist in the text would cease to be true. 
 
 But, blessed be God, there is such a thing to be witnessed 
 still, as a dying bed rendered happy, by the faith and hope of the 
 gospel. And it lias been our privilege to witness not a few of 
 those, within the limits of our own Congregation, within a recent 
 period. Some of these have been so instructive and impressive, 
 that, I think, I only discharge a duty to you, by presenting a 
 brief account of them to this audience, in the hope that it may 
 lead some to resolve, that they shall immediately prepare to 
 meet death, as a Christian believer alone can meet it. 
 
 Not long ago, T was called to visit a young woman, a member 
 of the church, in her last sickness. Perceiving that her case 
 
 m 
 

 6 
 
 was a very critical one, I spoke to her as a dying person ; and 
 while receiving from her the most unqualified acknowledgment 
 of her unworthiness as a sinner, she professed, at the same time, 
 to rely, with perfect confidence, on her Saviour, Jesus Christ. — 
 In his *' precious blood," she found firm footing for her hope. 
 She had no fear to die, for she was persuaded that Christ was 
 both able and willing to save her ; and in him she could place 
 an humble, yet unwavering trust. In this happy persuasion she 
 continued till she breatheu her last. 
 
 A second young person, ^hom I visited in similar circum- 
 stances, expressed the same faith and hope, though with some- 
 what greater timidity and reserve. Yet she was not afraid to 
 die ; and, when I questioned her as to the ground of her hope, 
 I found that her eye also was directed to the same quarter, and her 
 soul clinging to the same refuge, — " the precious blood of Christ, 
 which cleanseth from all sin." Herself, a sinner, ready to perish, 
 she trusted in Him who died to save the lost. 
 
 A third young person who has been lately taken from among 
 us, suffered a long and lingering illness, and died with still 
 greater comfort, or, I may say, with more evident triumph. 
 Naturally of an active and vigorous mind, he was able to form a 
 very clear conception of the Gospel-plan of salvation ; and he not 
 only embraced it, as one that was worthy of God, but expressed 
 to me his admiration of it ; because it made such a wonderful 
 provision fc* condemning and punishing sin, while it saved the 
 traTisgressor by a free pardon. For some time, he did not realise 
 such a clear and unclouded hope as might have been expected, 
 though he could always look to the cross of Christ with a calm, 
 sustaining confidence. As his end drew near, however, his 
 doubts were completely scattered, and he died rejoicing. " Oh, 
 I could leap," he said, " into the bosom of Christ. I have seen 
 Christ in three different persons, (aspects,) and though it was, 
 as through a glass, darkly, yet, in all, he seemed a perfect 
 Saviour to mo. Oh, I think, I have the boldness of Paul, and, 
 if I were in the pulpit, I would preach Christ;" at the same 
 time, raising his arms, he said aloud, " Awake to righteousness, 
 
•n ; and 
 edgment 
 me time, 
 
 hrist. — 
 er hope, 
 rist was 
 
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 •Christ, 
 perish, 
 
 among 
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 "Oh, 
 t^e seen 
 it was, 
 perfect 
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 same 
 isness. 
 
 and sin not." So far from having any fear of death, on the 
 contrary, when told by his physician, that his time on earth 
 might be counted by hours, instead of days, he said " I am glad 
 of it ; I am glad of it ; come, Lord Jesus, come auickly." When 
 near his end he said : " How delightful would it be to go homo 
 on a New Year's eve, and spend ray New Year in that world, 
 while you are spending it here. I have always been a lover of 
 pure water, and T will get it pure there." In this happy state 
 of mind he continued till he gently fell asleep. 
 
 1 make mention of another, who has been taken from us in the 
 * mid-time of her days.' She had long been agitated with much 
 anxiety, and had suflFered much distress, about the state of her 
 soul, and seemed to belong to that class of persons whom Bunyan 
 has described in the ' Pilgrim's Progress,' under the character of 
 Mr. Fearing. The disease, of which she died, soon aflfected the 
 state of her mind, and almost cut off all possibility of holding 
 any communication with her. Among the last questions I put to 
 her were these ; I asked her if she was still able to look to 
 Christ, and to find him an all-suflBcient Saviour, and refuge for 
 her soul 1 To which she answered, " I desire to do so." I 
 asked her again, If she could look to him as the Lamb of God, 
 and trust in his precious blood, as the only gi'ound of her hope 
 oi pardon 1 She again replied, " I desire to do so, I have no 
 other hope." Immcliately after this, her mind wandered ; and 
 I could no longer get her to understand what was said ; but from 
 what I have known, in past years, of the spiritual exercises of 
 her soul, and her earnestness in seeking the Saviour, I have no 
 doubt that * the root of the matter was found in her,' and that 
 she has risen now above all those doubts and fears that so often 
 depressed her here. 
 
 I make mention finally, of the death of an aged person, who 
 has been lately removed from us. He was one of patriarchal age 
 and character ; like Obadiah he had " feared the Lord from his 
 youth," and he followed him to the end. His experience was 
 large and varied. In the course of his long life, many changes 
 went over him ; and, indeed, his history would furnish materi- 
 
8 
 
 als for a more extended narrative than I can possibly give at this 
 time. In his youth he was apprenticed to a trade in one of the 
 tOT;ns in the north of Scotland. " Some of my apprentice com- 
 panions," he writes in his diary, " were profligate and immoral, 
 and presented such examples of depravity as I had never seen 
 before. But fortunately for me, there were others of an opposite 
 character. These were decidedly pious, and, though belonging 
 to diffarent communions, they stood firmly by one another as 
 brothers. Two of them were church-members; and, besides 
 taking part in conducting a Sabbath-school, they met once a-week, 
 along with some others, in the evening, for mutual prayer. To 
 these meetings they invited me. They had a number of religious 
 books at their command, and they freely offered me the use of 
 them : of which I gladly availed myself. They also invited me 
 to attend their several places of worship on the Sabbath evening ; 
 and of this I also availed myself ; but I attended the Parish 
 Church in the forenoon, in which I paid for a sitting.* At the 
 age of 19, after much serious reflection, I resolved to devote my- 
 self to the Lord ; and accordingly, I applied to my minister, and 
 was admitted to the Communion of the Church, in the summer 
 of 1809." 
 
 The above account of his conversion was written in his old 
 age, and, in commenting upon it, he adds : '' At this distance of 
 time, I have no distinct recollection of the influences which 
 wrought on me, to lead me to take such a decided step, at so 
 early a period of my life. But I think that the bent given to 
 my mind in the Sabbath-school, which, (then a novel institution 
 in the north of Scotland, had been established in his native 
 parish, by some members of an Antiburgher Church) and the 
 fortunate circumstance of my being brought afterwards into the 
 society of religious persons, were mainly instrumental in leading 
 me to do so. Nor must I forget to mention the early and care- 
 ful training that my mother gave me ; a part of which was mak- 
 ing me commit to memory Psalms, and hymns, and portions of 
 
 * His mother was a worthy and devoted member of the Established Church, and 
 he afterwards says, that respect for lier memory, led him to prefer the Communion ot 
 that Church. 
 
9 
 
 Scripture, most of which I remember to this day. The first 
 Psalm was a special favourite with my mother, and the whole 
 family were required to learn it with great care ; because it was 
 penned by David, under Divine inspiration, for the express pur- 
 pose of guarding the young against the contagion of evil example. 
 Our attention was also particularly directed to the 23 and 121 
 Psalms, which describe the care that God takes of hia own chil- 
 dren, and teach the duty and privilege of placing ourselves con- 
 tinually in his hands, for guidance and protection." 
 
 Such was his introduction to the Christian church, and such 
 the influences which wrought in his conversion. And you will 
 particularly observe the place which is hero assigned to the Sab- 
 bath School, and to the pious care of a God-fearing mother. 
 Time forbids me to follow his history farther, and speak of the 
 dealings of God with him, after he emigrated to this side of the 
 Atlantic* I shall only observe that he lived to old age, in 
 beautiful consistency with the public profession which he made 
 in his youth. He was for many years an Elder in the church, 
 and filled that ofiice with credit to himself, and benefit to others. 
 He was the first to open a Sabbath School in the part of the 
 country where he resided, and was Superintendciit of it for many 
 years. He was also one of the first to open Branches of the 
 Bible and Tract Societies, — he was a warm advocate, and liberal 
 supporter of Christian Missions ; in short, wherever the honour, 
 or cause of Christ was concerned, he was ready to give his word, 
 his money, his personal labour, and the moral weight of his 
 character, to the interests of his kingdom. 
 
 On the anniversary of his birthday, in 1859, he thus writes : 
 " This is my seventieth birthday, and I have now, by God's 
 goodness, arrived at the age mentioned by the Psalmist : ' The 
 days of our years are three-score years and ten.' It becomes me 
 to humble myself before the Most High God, and examine the 
 way he has led me hitherto, in his gracious Providence. And 
 here, at the very outset, his more common, and daily, and hourly 
 mercieSj call for my grateful acknowledgment. And when I 
 
 • See Appendix. 
 
•■t t 
 
 10 
 
 think of the many instances in which he has interposed his 
 Almighty arm to save mo from bodily harm, and from moral 
 defilement, with what feelings of deep abasement and thankful- 
 ness should I appear before him ! My time here must now bo 
 short ; oh, that I may be enabled to be watchful and resigned 
 to the will of God ; and to look constantly to Him, through his 
 Divine Son, for preparation for that inevitable change which I 
 must soon undergo !" 
 
 On the last return of his birthday, 1861, he writes as follows : 
 " I am reminded that this is my seventy-second birthday. How 
 great has been the loving kindness of the Lord to me, to spare 
 me to see such an advanced age, in such vigorous health. The 
 close of my life must, however, be near at hand ; and it becomes 
 my imperative duty to be ready to obey the call of my Redeemer. 
 I am also reminded, that on the 8th day of this month, fifty 
 years ago, I left home for America. What a multitude of 
 mercies my heavenly Father has bestowed on me, during that 
 long period ! " Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all 
 the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord 
 for ever." 
 
 A few weeks ago, his health and strength began to fail, but 
 the hope with which he could look to Christ, was as clear and as 
 strong as ever. He felt that he must leave this world ; but he 
 could look forward with much hope, as he said to me emphati- 
 cally, to the future. And that hope rested on the one foundation, 
 " Christ, and him crucified," — a Saviour presently received and 
 realized, in the exercise of an humble faith. His end was peace. 
 He died rather by the exhaustion of the vital powers of nature, 
 than by any form of disease. With the calm composure of a 
 child, he fell asleep, without a struggle and without a fear ; 
 resigning his spirit into the hands of God, whom he had served 
 from his youth ! 
 
 But it is now time to inquire what lessons do these facts pre- 
 sent to us ? We reply, many ; and all of them, weighty and im- 
 pressive. To some of these let me now direct attention ; 
 
11 
 
 (1.) It is worthy of observation that all those persons belonged 
 to the Communion of this Church. I do not mention this in a 
 spirit of boasting, but for the purpose of noticing an objection, 
 which is sometimes brought against narratives of this kind, viz : 
 that they relate to persons, or times, so remote, as to render it 
 impossible for us to subject them to the test of personal examina- 
 tion. Now, all these persons belonged to this Congregation; 
 they went out and in amongst yourselves. It was here they met 
 the summons of death ; and it was here they were prepared for 
 it. The three first in particular, were brought up in this Con- 
 gregation from their infancy ; they were trained in the Sabbath 
 School and Bible Class ; and had no other means of salvation 
 than such as you enjoy every Lord's Day. And the fact, that 
 these means were sufficient for their salvation, will leave you 
 without excuse, if you continue strangers to the grace of God. 
 They found Christ here, in his word and ordinances ; they found 
 sufficient encouragement to come to Christ ; sufficient light to 
 guide their footsteps to heaven. And, if you fail to do so, the 
 blame must be your own. 
 
 I feel that Christ has conferred an honour upon this Church, 
 as well as on the families concerned, in the peace and joy granted 
 to these persons in their dying hour ; but I feel that he has also 
 been reminding us of the solemn responsibility which is connect 
 ed with the place we occupy here, and the privileges we enjoy. 
 For the faith of these departed friends socms to throw back a 
 sentence of condemnation against every one who remains uncon- 
 verted, amid the light and grace which meet us in the Sabbath- 
 school, and in the ordinances administered amongst us. Are 
 there any amongst us, who shall be separated from their society 
 in the future world ? Are these words, which Christ used re- 
 specting another matter, applicable to this congregation, "one 
 shall he taken and another left ?" It would be a terrible sur- 
 prise to the rich man in the parable, to behold Lazarus in Abra- 
 ham's bosom, while he himself was plunged into the horrors of 
 perdition. It would be a terrible aggravation of his misery, to 
 see that poor man raised so high in glory, whom he had long 
 treated with pity and contempt ; because it would remind him 
 
that he might havo been saved also ; — he had the same means 
 and opportunities of being saved that Lazarus had, if he had 
 been equally wise to improve them. T warn and entreat you to 
 take care, that this may not be the case with any of you, in rela- 
 tion to those whose death we now bewail. 
 
 (2.) The example of all these persons teaches us that the only 
 hope, which will be found of any value in the hour of death, is 
 that which rests exclusively upon Christ. None of these persons 
 could trast in their own goodness, or prayers, or repentance, or 
 religious life. They all felt themselves shut up to an exclusive 
 dependence on the blood of Christ, as alone sufficient, and suffi- 
 cient in itself, for their salvation. All of them entered the eternal 
 world, confessing that they were sinners ; and all trusting in Him, 
 who came to save sinners, even the chief. All of them entered 
 the eternal world, — entered Heaven, shall I say, — with the same 
 sentiment upon their minds, which is so beautifully expressed in 
 these lines :— 
 
 No other argument I bring ; 
 
 I arge no other plea ; 
 But 'tis enongb, the Saviour died, 
 
 The Saviour died for me. 
 
 And from their example we may all learn what it is to "believe 
 in Christ to the saving of the soul." 
 
 (3.) The death of these persons,' of whom we have been speak- 
 ing, is a warning to the young of this congregation to prepare for 
 their latter end. Three of them were young. Now, I see many 
 before me who are of the same age, and not a few who were their 
 acquaintances and friends. To all such a loud warning is given 
 in their early decease. It admonishes you of the folly of look- 
 ing upon your youth as a security from death ; or supposing that 
 because you are young in years, you are far from the grave. This 
 year you r-iay die, or this week, nay, this night * thy soul may 
 be required of theo.' The question of your life or death may be 
 trembling in the balance, and, before many days shall have passed 
 over your heads, the awful decision may be given. Of this much 
 however, we are certain, that you must die ; — that the series of 
 
IS 
 
 second causes, which are destined to bring you to the dust of 
 death, are already in operation ; and, if, when they shall have 
 worked out their appointed issue, you are found impenitent and 
 unconverted, you cannot bo saved. Now, then, is the time to 
 set yourself in order ; in this day of mercy, and of gracious vi- 
 sitation. Begin now the work of your salvation ; prosecute it 
 with the earnestness which the momentx}us interests at stake de- 
 mand ; and never relax your efforts till you find yourself in pos- 
 session of a hope, which will enable you to meet death without 
 fear. " Be followers of them, who, through faith and patience, 
 arc now inheriting the promises." — Amen. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 ., .. > 
 
 This excellent person has loft some writings behind huu, from 
 Tihich we append the following extracts. He has the following 
 reflections on his joining the communion of the Church in his 
 youth :— ,, . ^ ; . , ^ , , 
 
 " To some, it may appear rash and presumptuous, to associate 
 thus early with the company of believers ; but I am of a very 
 different opinion ; and am persuaded that no greater evil can 
 befall a church, than to permit her young people to postpone, 
 from year to year, their making a public profession of the Faith, 
 till they become so immersed in the ways of the world, that they 
 lose all relish for religion, or the society of religious persons. 
 Such persons, when they get married, will probably apply to the 
 church for privileges ; not to themselves, (for they are quite 
 ready to admit that they are unworthy of them,) but for baptism 
 to their children ! And sorry am I, that they but too readily 
 obtain their wishes ! I regret exceedingly that such a practice 
 should ever have been tolerated in the church ; I believe it to be 
 unscriptural ; and a most ensnaring thing for unreflecting men* 
 In my own case, I can conscientiously say, that my early con- 
 nexion with the Church has been blessed to me in a variety of 
 ways. In the first place, I feel assured that it has been instru- 
 mental in keeping me from many temptations to sin ; into which, 
 but for the check of my being a Christian professor, I would 
 certainly have been carried headlong. In the second place, I 
 have found that when beset with commercial difficulties, exposed 
 to sudden and extreme personal dangers, or visited with personal 
 or family affliction, on humbling myself before God, praying to 
 him for direction, and firmly relying on his promises, he has 
 never forsaken me ; but, on the contrary, has vouchsafed such 
 protection- and guidance, as enabled me to surmount all my 
 
difficulties, escape all my dangers, and to say, *' Whom the Lord 
 lovetli, ho chastencth, and scourgcth every eon whom ho rc- 
 ccivcth." I would, therefore, recommend all younp; people to 
 give themselves early, even earlier than I did, to the Lord." 
 
 In the followinj» extract ho expresses his feelings on being 
 elected to the Office of Elder in the Congregation with which he 
 was connected. This took place in 1815, when ho was only 2G 
 years of age. Three others were chosen along with him. Ho 
 says : " I pleaded hard to be excused, at least at that time, on 
 account of my youth and inexperience ; but, after much debate, 
 the Congregation adhered to their choice. It may well be con- 
 ceived that this event proved a subject of deep and serious reflec- 
 tion to me, as well as of earnest prayer for divine guidance. I 
 felt an entire want of confidence in my qualifications for so im- 
 portant and solemn an office. All the other nominees, as well as 
 those already in office, were old enough to bo my fathers. The 
 responsibility which lay upon me, whether I accepted or rejected, 
 perplexed me very much ; in fact, the reasons on both sides, 
 seemed to hang, for some time, in even balance. Not knowing 
 well to what sido duty impelled, I prayed earne.itly to God for 
 direction ; when tho Lord himself seemed to lead me, by a way 
 I knew not, to stand for the honour of his name ; saying to me, 
 " Fear not, my strength is perfect in weakness." Having devot- 
 ed myself anew to my Heavenly Father, in prayer, and suppli- 
 cated Him to lead me in the way he would have me to go, (to 
 cast in my lot more unreservedly with the people of God than I 
 had even yet done,) and to keep me from improper desires of the 
 riches and honours of this world, I consented to be ordained an 
 Elder. This office I continued to hold 41 years, that is, till 
 1856, when I resigned it, preparatory to my removing to Mon- 
 treal. Here let me pause, and bless God fur this further token 
 of his loving kindness, in permitting me to exercise the office of 
 a steward in His vineyard, here below; and in making that 
 office instrumental in keeping me aloof from many of the 
 fashionable sins and follies of the time, and place. All the others, 
 who were ordained with me, have long since paid the debt of 
 nature.'* 
 
16 
 
 Attention is particularly called to the following extract. In 
 previous portions of his journal ho had given an account of 
 " manifold trials," which ho suffered, arising from commercial 
 losses, and domestic bereavements, and in conclusion ho says :- • 
 
 " Here it may not bo unprofitable, cither to myself or the 
 readers, to take a short retrospective view of what I have written, 
 bearing, as my case docs, such a close resemblance to that of the 
 patriarch Job. Cast on my own resources at the early age of 22, 
 in a land where everything was new and strange to me, with only 
 a solitary guinea in my pocket ; twelve years later, I was at 
 
 the head of a business, second to none in , Shipping yearly 
 
 from 10 to 15 cargoes of Timber to Great Britain ; 3 to 4 car- 
 goes of Fish to the West Indies, and receiving in return as many 
 cargoes of West India Produce ; — Fitting several vessels to the 
 Gulf and Labrador Fisheries; and building a vessel yearly 
 for the British market ; so that, had any person, at that time of- 
 fered mo £10,000 for my property and business, it is not at 
 all likely I would have accepted it. Four years farther, 
 I was reduced to the verge of bankruptcy ! God saw meet, for 
 my good, to strip me of all the substance he had bestowed on me. 
 Not only so, but I was in debt alto, to the extent of between 
 £4000 and £5000, for which I had nothing to pay ! True I 
 had a good deal of real estate, but, at that time, it was unsale- 
 able, at any price. What then was I to do, in these circum- 
 stances 1 Very many when so situated, lose their moral charac- 
 ter, never to be retrieved, either by defrauding their creditors, or 
 betaking themselves to dissipation, or both ; and ultimately sink 
 into an early, and dishonoured grave. It pleased God, in his 
 great mercy, to order my lot otherwise. It was not the wish of 
 my creditors to discourage me, by subjecting me to the painful 
 alternative of bankruptcy, always distasteful to a true Scotchman. 
 All they asked of me was my promissory note ; to which I added 
 mortages of all my Real Estate, without reserve, as a security. 
 But, in fact, that was no security at all, for, at that time, it would 
 not have sold for half the sum it represented. 
 
 The year 1827, therefore, saw me commencing a new lino 
 
17 
 
 of buHiooss, boginoing, in short, iho world afresh ; Avith a biuuU, 
 helpless family to provide for, nnd about £200 a ycnr of interest 
 to pay, besides kecpiti':i; up my credit with my new furnishers of 
 stock. A part of niy daily prayer then was, that God would so 
 prosper mo, as to permit me to live till I could pay off all my 
 debts. To this end I now bent all my energies, by close appli- 
 cation to business, and economy in every department ; and by 
 this course, I began in 1836, to retire some of my mortgages, and 
 continued, year after year to diminish them, till, in 1850 I paid 
 off the last; and in 1857 I was able to retire from business, with 
 a comfortable provision for my old ago. 
 
 This affords a remarkublo example of what may be accom- 
 plished, under the blcsning ol God, by a steady adherence to 
 habits of industry and perseverance, and a firm dependence on 
 the Divine Providence. In fact, the result appears in my eyes , 
 almost mu'aculous; and had it depended on my own unsanctified 
 efforts, I must have utterly failed. But as, in the workings of 
 Providence, the means are nevtr separated from the end, it 
 pleased God, in the year 1827, to bring mo into close intimacy 
 
 with W M , Esq., and to incline him to place 
 
 unbounded confidence in my integrity. So that, whenever any 
 of my creditors began to feel uneasy, and shew restiveness, 
 pressing me at the same time for payment, I had recourse to my 
 friend, who always lent me a helping hand ; and consequently 
 became, in the end, my only creditor ; so that I may safely say, 
 he was the means, under God, of bringing me through my diffi- 
 culties ; for which I shall always bear his memory in grateful 
 remembrance." 
 
 This extract presents a rare example of sterling integrity, 
 noble independence, and indefatigable perseverance. Twenty 
 four years labour ! to pay off a debt, which, in many cases, would 
 have been extinguished with a stroke of the pen. Honour to the 
 man who could enter on such a struggle ; and thanks to the Di- 
 vine Hand that sustained him, and brought him triumphantly 
 through.