304 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



executions of our time, but by long hours of cruelty and 

 protracted sufferings, this death is to us a great mystery. 

 It is hardly permitted to us to inquire whether the noblest 

 visitant of our earth, clothed indeed in human form, but 

 without sin ; who went about doing good ; who spake as 

 never man spake ; who commanded the elements, and 

 knew what was in man ; whether his life, his teachings, 

 his works of mercy, and his miraculous ascent to heaven, 

 leaving his commission to his disciples of every age to 

 preach the Gospel to every creature, whether all this 

 would have been sufficient to prove his heavenly mission 

 and secure its end without subjecting the Son of God to 

 the ignominy and heartless cruelty of a heathen, a Roman 

 execution. Here, again, we must " wait the greater teacher, 

 death, and God adore." Even the Saviour cried : " If it 

 be possible, let this cup pass from me ! " but his heart re- 

 plied : " Not my will but thine be done." He left to his 

 friends the consolation of the Eucharist. 



" 'T was on that dark and doleful night " 



The whole hymn is copied in the Diary. 



He participated with warm interest in a success- 

 ful effort to procure a monument to be placed in the 

 Cemetery at North Stonington, in honor of his 

 grandfather, Rev. Joseph Fish. He took part in the 

 ceremonies relating to this venerated ancestor, when 

 his descendants were gathered together, and a com- 

 memorative discourse was preached by Mr. Hubbell, 

 the present pastor of the church in that place. This 

 occasion excited many interesting recollections. 



Several persons who had carriages took our party by 

 appointment to the site of the ancient black meeting-house, 

 of which not a vestige remains. We next visited the cem- 

 etery, and saw the new monument, which gave us entire 



