1855. NOT DEATH, BUT LIFE. 407 



bed seemed surrounded by the spirits of those of the family 

 gone before. Some words of a psalm which he had read just 

 before lying down kept a place in his mind through all its wa- 

 verings : " I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the 

 Lord." 



Medical aid was obtained next day, and so probable was the 

 return of the hgemorrhage deemed, that on the third night there 

 was little hope that he would see the dawn. It passed safely 

 over, however, and he gradually regained strength in a way that 

 made the words of the psalm seem prophetic. At first the 

 hgemorrhage was supposed to proceed from the lungs, but ulti- 

 mately it was ascertained to be from the stomach, resulting, in 

 fact, as was discovered two years later, from a great enlarge- 

 ment of the spleen, unsuspected at the time. The following 

 was received by Dr. Cairns shortly after he was able to leave 

 bed:- 



"Feb. 7th, 1855. 



" DEAR JOHN, 



I am persuaded 



That neither Death, Avhen the faint soul, invaded 

 By its last enemy, awaits the strife ; 

 Nor all the boundless energies of life ; 

 Nor all the awful might that dowers 

 Angels and principalities and powers ; 

 Nor present things, nor things to come ; 

 Nor height, though higher than the heaven's dome ; 

 Nor depth, though deeper than the Gulf of Gloom ; 

 Nor aught that in the universe finds room, 

 Shall be able us to sever 

 From the love of God, which ever 

 Is in Jesus Christ our Lord. 



" What madness, you will say, what audacity and folly, to 

 meddle with that sublime passage, and spoil it by a paltry para- 

 phrase ! To which I say Amen ; and yet I went and did it whilst 

 lying awake in darkness on Sunday night. It insisted on being 

 paraphrased, and won't trouble me again. ... I have had a 

 perilous attack, and was close upon the grave. ... I was in 

 bed both times, and on the second occasion, when there was a 

 gush of blood, a very dying-like sensation came over me. God 

 has still preserved me, and I trust to do Him some service. I 

 have enjoyed much peace of mind this winter. Pray for me, 



