attack as trifling, and yet one evening he spent a long time in advising me with regard to my future course, if I should be deprived of his guidance; saying that it is always wise to be prepared for exigences of this nature.  After the month of November, he failed gradually, occasionally rallying in such a manner as to deceive us all, but at each relapse sinking lower than at the previous one, though still full of hope and courage, and yielding ground only, inch by inch, as compelled by the triumphant progress of disease.  During some hours of every day he suffered intense pain; but his naturally buoyant spirits and uncomplaining disposition led him to speak so lightly of it, that I used sometimes to fear the doctor, though a very skilful man, would be fatally deceived.

As his health declined, his mental exercises at first seemed deepened; and he gave still larger portions of his time to prayer, conversing with the utmost freedom on his daily progress, and the extent of his self-conquest.  Just before our trip to Mergui, which took place in January, he looked up from his pillow one day with sudden animation, and said to me earnestly, “I have gained the victory at last.  I love every one of Christ’s redeemed, as I believe he would have me love them—­in the same manner, though not probably to the same degree as we shall love one another in heaven; and gladly would I prefer the meanest of his creatures, who bears his name, before myself.”  This he said in allusion to the text, “In honor preferring one another,” on which he had frequently dwelt with great emphasis.  After farther similar conversation he concluded, “And now here I lie at peace with all the world, and what is better still, at peace with my own conscience.  I know that I am a miserable sinner in the sight of God, with no hope but in the blessed Saviour’s merits; but I cannot think of any particular fault, any peculiarly besetting sin, which it is now my duty to correct.  Can you tell me of any?”

And truly, from this time no other word would so well express his state of feeling, as that one of his own choosing—­peace.  He had no particular exercises afterwards, but remained calm and serene, speaking of himself daily as a great sinner, who had been overwhelmed with benefits, and declaring, that he had never in all his life before, had such delightful views of the unfathomable love and infinite condescension of the Saviour, as were now daily opening before him.  “Oh, the love of Christ! the love of Christ!” he would suddenly exclaim, while his eye kindled, and the tears chased each other down his cheeks, “we cannot understand it now—­but what a beautiful study for eternity!”