24 MEMOIROF 



narrow prison. His infidelity now began to give 

 way, and he inquired with solicitude : " Is there 

 such a thing as the new birth, and if so, in what 

 does it consist ? " He at length consented to make 

 the investigation recommended by Dr. Godman. He 

 took up the New Testament, and read it in the spirit 

 of candid inquiry. A conviction of the truth of its 

 doctrines fastened upon him. The clouds which had 

 so long enveloped him were dissipated, light broke 

 in upon his mind, and he was enabled to lay hold 

 of the promises. The remaining days of his life 

 were devoted to fervent prayer and the constant 

 study of the Scriptures. Through the holy influ- 

 ences of Divine grace, he was enabled to rely with 

 undoubting confidence on the infinite merits of his 

 Redeemer, his soul was filled with heavenly compo- 

 sure, and the last words he uttered were, " Peace, 

 peace." If he did not die with " manly firmness" 

 he " rested in Jesus." 



Dr. Grodman's views of the authenticity and prac- 

 tical tendency of the gospel, are expressed with sin- 

 gular force and beauty in the following extract from 

 an essay written not long before his death : 



"Is proof wanting that these gospels are true? 

 It is only necessary for an honest mind to read them 

 candidly, to be convinced. Every occurrence is 

 stated clearly, simply, and unostentatiously. The 

 narrations are not supported by asseverations of 

 their truth, nor by parade of witnesses : the cir- 

 cumstances described took place in presence of vast 

 multitudes, and are told in that downright, unpre- 



