2 4 o DA VID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. xi. 



To this note Livingstone, as was his wont, made a 

 hearty and Christian response : — " Many blessings be on 

 you and yours, and if we never meet again on earth, may 

 we through infinite mercy meet in heaven ! " 



The last days in England were spent in arrangements 

 for the expedition, settling family plans, and bidding 

 farewell. Mrs. Livingstone accompanied her husband, 

 along with Oswell, their youngest child. Dr. Living- 

 stone's heart was deeply affected in parting with his 

 other children. Amid all the hurry and bustle of leaving 

 he snatches a few minutes almost daily for a note to one 

 or more of them : — 



"London, 2d February 1858. — My dear Tom, — I am soon going 

 off from this country, and will leave you to the care of Him who 

 neither slumbers nor sleeps, and never disappointed any one who put 

 his trust in Him. If you make Him your friend He will be better to 

 you than any companion can be. He is a friend that sticketh closer 

 than a brother. May He grant you grace to seek Him and to serve 

 Him. I have nothing better to say to you than to take God for your 

 Father, Jesus for your Saviour, and the Holy Spirit for your sanctifier. 

 Do this and you are safe for ever. No evil can then befall you. 

 Hope you will learn quickly and well, so as to be fitted for God's 

 service in the world." 



"'Pearl,' in the Mersey, 10th March 1858.— My dear Tom, — We 

 are off again, and we trust that He who rules the waves will watch 

 over us and remain with you, to bless us and make us blessings to our 

 fellow-men. The Lord be with you and be very gracious to you ! 

 Avoid and hate sin, and cleave to Jesus as your Saviour from guilt. 

 Tell grandma we are off again, and Janet will tell all about us." 



In his letters to his children from first to last, the 

 counsel most constantly and most earnestly pressed is, to 

 take Jesus for their friend. The personal Saviour is 

 continually present to his heart, as the one inestimable 

 treasure which he longs for them to secure. That treasure 

 had been a source of unspeakable peace and joy to himself 

 amid all' the trials and troubles of his chequered life ; if 

 his children were only in friendship with Him, he could 

 breathe freely in leaving them, and feel that they would 

 indeed fare well. 



