Ills Illness. 61 



I had endeavored to discharge faithfully that 

 great duty of leading the sinner to the cross of 

 the Saviour, and directing my fellow-men to the 

 paths of virtue, integrity, and religion. Ere I 

 had time much further to reflect, a sweet peace, 

 a heavenly calm came over my mind, and I 

 felt a joy which passeth all understanding. It 

 seemed as if some kind angel from heaven had been 

 sent on a message of love and mercy, to cheer and 

 bless me. About this time, my old friend, Dr. 

 Mayer, from Philadelphia, called to see me. I could 

 hear, by his voice, that he was much affected, but I 

 could not see his countenance, and we parted as for 

 the last time in this world. In the meantime, 

 another physician had been called in, without my 

 knowing it for some days. I was still waiting for the 

 determination of tlie Almighty. I had no wish of my 

 own. Death to those who are prepared does not 

 appear to me to have as many terrors as I once 

 thought. Providence seems kindly to blunt the 

 arrows of pain, and to extract the sting of death. 

 About the fith or sixth day of my blindness, I began, 

 one night, to feel an unusnal pain in the back of my 

 neck. It seems a blister had then taken effect, and 

 the next morning I could see again. I gazed with 

 inexpressible delight upon the light of the sun, and 

 on the countenances of my friends — and now it ap- 

 peared to me that it was the will of God that I 

 should again go forth in this busy world to dis- 

 charge my duty as a husband, father and a Chris- 

 tian minister. From day to day I continued to im- 

 prove. 



My friends had kindly watched around my bed 

 in all my sickness — my sister, (Mrs. Dale,) Miss 

 Martin, and Miss Cross never left me for many 

 nights together. Rev. Mr. Schaeffer was with me 

 continually. Mr. Buckley, and Mr. Ralston, (a plan- 



