lS02] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 417 



my great and gracious Creator, that amidst the many visitations of 

 sickness and mortality which I have been called to witness in the place 

 of my late residence, the city of Philadelphia, and the bereavements in 

 my own family during those visitations, He hath been pleased to spare 

 me to a very advanced age, and to raise me up and restore me so far 

 from a late dangerous sickness, in the borough of Lancaster, during the 

 months of January and February, 1800, and also a late severe sickness 

 in February, 1802, that I am now able (in respect to strength of body 

 and soundness of mind, the last of which he hath at all times graciously 

 preserved to me both in sickness and in health during the whole period 

 of my life) to set mv household in order and to stand prepared through 

 his grace for my great change. Therefore, I do make, publish and de- 

 clare this as my last will and testament. 



In the first place, I recommend and bequeath my soul to Almighty 

 God, who gave it, trusting in him for the forgiveness of my sins and 

 salvation, through the merits and intercession of his blessed Son, Jesus 

 Christ, grounded on a firm belief of the truths of Divine Revelation as 

 contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament (and as I 

 have endeavored to teach and preach them through the grace given me) 

 with all zeal and fidelity, during a long period of near fifty years; striv- 

 ing for the propagation of heavenly knowledge and wisdom amongst all 

 the nations of the earth, and especially amongst those who yet sit in 

 darkness and the shadow of death through this American continent to 

 its remotest western bounds. 



As to my body, whensoever God shall be pleased to call it from the 

 light of this world, and to close my eyes in death, I will it to a plain 

 Christian interment in the place and in the manner hereinafter 

 directed. 



Concerning my worldly estate and goods with which it hath pleased 

 God to bless my lawful, and I trust honest, industry (being conscious 

 of no wrong done or intended to any man in the acquisition of the 

 same), I will and dispose of it as follows — that is to say: 



First. My funeral expenses being first paid, I will and ordain that my 

 just debts (which are at present but few and small, the debt to my dear 

 brother Thomas excepted) be next, and as soon as possible fully and 

 fairly paid and discharged out of my personal estate, so far as it will 

 reach, and then, if need be, out of any part of my real estate, which I 

 empower them to sell and convey in fee for this purpose. Respecting 

 which, having always considered it to be the duty of a parent, after a 

 good and virtuous education of his children, according to his station in 

 life, as far as his abilities and a due measure of prudence will allow; and 

 having upon those principles given or conveyed to my children respec- 

 tively, with an equal and impartial hand, a considerable part of my 

 property, as they came of age (or as their settlement and advancement 

 in life seemed to require), and having confirmed the same by separate 

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