THE HAPPY AND HONOURED CLOSE. 461 



each succeeded by a relapse into greater weakness, like the 

 sudden upward flickerings of the expiring taper before it 

 subsides into final darkness. His breathing grew more and 

 more difficult, and was attended by an ominous sound in 

 the lower chest ; but he never complained of any suffering. 

 Like Fontenelle, he frequently said, " I hae nae pain ; " and 

 he might have added, like the brilliant Frenchman, " I have 

 only a little difficulty in keeping up life." In his quiescent 

 periods, which lasted longest, he was perfectly calm and 

 resigned, waiting peacefully for the close. His gratitude 

 for the unremitting services rendered him was deep, and 

 amidst all his helplessness, it was frequently expressed in 

 thrilling whispers of thanks. Some days before his death, 

 when he was lifted in his friend's arms, he murmured the 

 feeble but earnest words, " May the Lord bless you ! " twice 

 repeated. When asked, on the same day, if he had any 

 message for me for Mr. Taylor wrote me regularly of his 

 state he muttered several things in an inaudible voice, the 

 only words that could be made out being, " I'm very 

 sober." 



A day or two before the end, Mr. Brander prayed with 

 him very briefly. In doing this, he used the expression 

 "the God of Nature and the God of Grace." Notwith- 

 standing his deep prostration, the words struck an old 

 congenial chord, and the dying man opened his eyes, and 

 with an earnest gaze and firm grasp of the hand, he 

 whispered it was all he was able to do "Very com- 

 prehensive ! He is the God of Nature and the God of 

 Grace ! " They then parted for ever, and as the clergyman 

 walked down the burnside, he felt, as he says, "that in 

 John's heart, these words had touched two chords, the one 



