302 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



the front rank, and my removal at any time will not be 

 extraordinary, but may be expected soon in the regular 

 course of mortality. I await the event with calmness, not 

 from any confidence in my own merits, but I confide en- 

 tirely in the mercy of God, manifested through his Son, 

 whose atonement covers even the vilest sinners if they 

 repent and submit themselves. 



August 8." Birthday, Aged Eighty -Four. Prayer of 

 Thanksgiving, Penitence, Faith, and Hope. O Thou great 

 and glorious God, revealed to us in three persons, 

 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! Although we cannot com- 

 prehend the unity of God manifested in three persons, we 

 see that there are manifestations of Creator, Redeemer, 

 and Sanctifier, in the creation of the universe, in the mer- 

 ciful provision for the redemption and salvation of man- 

 kind, and their sanctification by the Holy Spirit as the 

 means of preparing them for salvation. O heavenly Fath- 

 er, Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier! I humbly accept 

 the fact as I accept the revelations of science, which are 

 equally inscrutable to me as regards their nature and 

 cause, although the effects are manifest. I am aware, 

 blessed God, that my mind is dark and ignorant by 

 nature ; still, enough is brought to light in nature and 

 revelation to justify our faith in what we cannot now un- 

 derstand ; and what we know not now, we may know here- 

 after. My life has been prolonged to fourscore years and 

 four. I trust, heavenly Father, that I am deeply grateful 

 for this long life full of mercies, although very imperfectly 

 requited to Thee by the obedience due from a humble being 

 to my great benefactor. To recite my mercies would be to 



recount the story of my life While recounting my 



mercies, I woul<J not forget my sins and follies. When I 

 compare my heart and life, O Thou infinite triune God ! 

 with the purity and strictness of thy holy law, with thy 

 law which is all reasonable and right, I feel how unreli- 



