294 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VII. 



that I wished to prepare for death and what lies beyond it, 

 whilst my faculties were clear and my emotions comparatively 

 undisturbed, for I knew well that if the operation were speedily 

 followed by death, I should be in a condition in the last degree 

 unfavourable to making preparation for the great change." 



Being thus brought face to face with death, let us inquire 

 what fitness he had to meet it. From boyhood onwards evi- 

 dences have not been wanting of his interest in religion : a 

 sense of life in its higher developments being imperfect without 

 it, seems to have been felt even in his most ardent longings 

 after success in scientific pursuits ; while a deep reverence for 

 God, and a groping after Him in vagueness and darkness are 

 perceptible in early letters. So blameless was his youth in the 

 estimation of his fellows, that one of the most intimate friends 

 of his student-life has indignantly repelled the thought of con- 

 version being needful, declaring that " he was always a Chris- 

 tian." Scarcely consistent with this estimate is the compromise 

 with conscience when preparing for his last examination for 

 the degree of M.D. : " On the Sunday I went through the 

 morning service of the prayer-book at home, and then took to 

 Surgery, which I nearly finished that night." 



Eelatives younger than himself received kindly sympathy 

 and encouragement from him in their Christian profession, he 

 was too generous to cast a stumbling-block in the path of a 

 " little one," yet with all this, one thing was lacking, and 

 often was it said, " If George were only a Christian, what a noble 

 character he would be !" And this desire, transmuting itself 

 into fervent prayers, entered into the ear of the Lord of Sabaoth, 

 to be answered in a way little anticipated, by " terrible things 

 in righteousness." 



For some years previous to the time of which we now speak, 

 Dr. Cairns had visited the household as an intimate friend. To 

 him James Kussell owed deliverance from many doubts and 

 difficulties, and a clear perception of the method of salvation, 

 and this formed an endearing bond of union, so that John 

 Cairns became by degrees like one of the family. His influence 

 over George was of great power and immeasurable value, the 

 very difference in their casts of mind forming a strong bond of 



