DR. JOHN D. GODMAN. 21 



nations. Humiliation of pride, denial of self, sub- 

 jection of evil tempers and dispositions, and an 

 entire submission to His will for support and direc- 

 tion, are the best preparatives for such an approach. 

 A perusal of the gospels, in a spirit of real inquiry 

 after a direction how to act, will certainly teach the 

 way. In these gospels the Saviour himself has 

 preached His own doctrines, and he who runs may 

 read. He has prescribed the course; He shows how 

 the approval and mercy of God may be won; He 

 shows how awfully corrupt is man's nature, and how 

 deadly his pride and stubbornness of heart, which 

 cause him to try every subterfuge to avoid the humi- 

 liating confession of his own weakness, ignorance, 

 and folly. But the same blessed Hand has stripped 

 death of all the terrors which brooded around the 

 grave, and converted the gloomy receptacle of our 

 mortal remains into the portal of life and light. Oh ! 

 let me die the death of the righteous ; let my last 

 end and future state be like his ! 



This is all I know on the subject. I am no theo- 

 logian, and have as great an aversion to priestcraft 

 as one can entertain. I was once an infidel, as I 

 told you in the West Indies. I became a Christian 

 from conviction produced by the candid inquiry re- 

 commended to you. I know of no other way in 

 which death can be stripped of its terrors; certainly 

 none better can be wished. Philosophy is a fool, 

 and pride a madman. Many persons die with what 

 is called manly firmness; that is, having acted a 

 part all their lives, according to their prideful creed, 



