in.] COLLEGE COURSE, 1827-28. 39 



a thrilling impression of mind, yet am not insensible to 

 its real difficulty in general life, though now so appall- 

 ingly thrust upon me. Yet with the aid of the Omni- 

 potent nothing is impossible ; and I crave His power to 

 enable me to perform this matter, so that when my time 

 comes I may die the death of the righteous and my last 

 end be like his, who but an hour ago since left me his 

 example as a legacy. 



*JAMES D. FORBES. 



'Sunday, November 22nd, 1828. This day I had the 

 satisfaction of receiving the. Holy Communion with our 

 whole remaining family, being the first time of our being 

 at chapel since our father's death. Such a judgment, if 

 anything, was fit to prepare me for the due reception of 

 that sacrament, and I took it with contrition and sub- 

 sequent satisfaction. I proposed to myself the following 

 resolutions, the first of which took its origin in the hour 

 of my father's death : 



' 1st. To keep stedfastly in view, as a tone of mind, 

 that I am created for a future and eternal life. 



' 2nd. What naturally flows from the former : to curb 

 pride and over-anxiety in the pursuit of worldly objects, 

 especially fame. 



' 3rd. To be diligent in the pursuit of my winter 

 studies.' 



'CoLiNTON, Sunday, November IGth, 1828. 



' Feeling myself now also on my own footing, I have 

 ]!< I i;i nd a letter to my excellent brother Charles, my 

 Dest friend in our present state, as to the disposal of my 

 ]>n>] >. T! y in event of my death. In looking to future 

 arrange 1 )! I mean not here to express the pangs which 



parting from the members of our family and leaving the 

 spot so long our paradise fix on my mind. 



' I am anxious to carry on my literary career in such a 

 way as may possibly one day make me independent of 

 a profession, which is undoubtedly a mn1l T rather of 

 necessity than satisfaction. I have commenced my l,i\\ 

 studies, and am not without hopes that that P.\\ T \\ hi< -h 



