Surely the loss of them is not to be lamented, when the soul is possessed of such calm and peaceful resignation. It is my heart's desire that I may die the death of this righteous man, that my latter end may be like his. * I can say nothing more expressive of Mr. Walker's present condition, than that he grows weaker daily, though he has yet strength to sit up, and that it will be no surprise to hear of his death to-morrow, though it is not improbable that he may continue yet some weeks. * I have lately had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Haweis, who has been here to take a last leave of his dear friend and father in Christ. I trust he is well suited to his situation; he appears to grow in grace, and while he does so, he shall want no manner of thing, whether spiritual or temporal, that is needful for him. Dear Mr. W. is just now persuaded to make trial of a medicine of Dr. Ward's. There is little room to expect success, but if it should please God to make it effectual to bring him back again from the dead, I will not fail to rejoice your heart with the account. I am dear Sir, With a grateful sense of your kindness, Ever yours, Mr. Walker went down slowly and with extreme suffering to the grave, but those who witnessed his blissful state of mind, described it as perfect peace. To a friend, who shed tears, he said, "why do you trouble yourself? I am going to heaven; Christ my Lord died." When Mr. Burnet wept over him, he exclaimed, “do you not rejoice with me?" Five days before his death, he caused a letter to be written to Mr. Conon, in which he assures him that "with great confusion of thought he had no doubts, great confidence, great submission, no complaining." To this he added, 66 as to actual views of the joys that are coming, I have none, but a stedfast belief of them in Christ;" but lest he should be supposed to be wanting in satisfactory experience, he proceeded, "what I have found in myself for months past, and the present workings of the Spirit, have left me without any doubt of my union with Christ." This last observation will explain the reason of a remark made by the Rev. J. Jane in a letter to Mr. Rawlings, written the evening of the very same day Mr. Walker dictated his communication to Mr. Conon. DEAR SIR. Blackheath, Tuesday night, I can truly say, it has not been my fault that I have not written a line to Mr. Walker's dearest relations, and chief friends, every post. I have usually prevented his request by the proposal, and he tenderly considering my weakness, has often dissuaded me from attempting it, always cautioned me to write but a line. It was my desire to have written to you this morning, but my Lord not returning till just now, I had not received your letter, and want of franks, be sides indisposition and other hinderances, put me by. Writing is quite another task to me, at the best, than it is to you. As soon as I had read you favour, I told Mr. Walker, "I have a letter from R. in answer to that I wrote by your order for the sermons on the law. B- has them, and he has written to him to send them to Lord D. He begs your prayers." "I cannot pray for him, I am not able to pray for myself." "You may sigh for him." “God bless him, and keep him unspotted from the world. That I can say for him with all my heart, and perhaps that short prayer is better than a multitude of words." To this fervent ejaculation it is owing that I take pen in hand the instant, late as it is, while the incident is fresh in my memory. I know too, now my Lord is come, my writing is superfluous. Any thing in my power, though it be as inconsiderable as the widow's mite, shall not be wanting, be it only to show my zeal. I doubt not that we agree in every point of Christian doctrine. The matter of "animal sensations" has, in truth, nothing to do with the gospel of Christ. The grief is that they are taken for spiritual, by many imaginary converts, and not a few weak brethren, through the crude notions of injudicious teachers, magnified by their own folly and conceit. This is a kind of tare, which, I am of opinion, by the artifice of the devil, will ever accompany the semination and growth of true religion. I have had frequent occasion to reprove and admonish young people concerning it, and even the more advanced in years and grace, are not always free from some little misapprehension of the nature of spiritual joy, of no consequence indeed, while kept within their breast; but hurtful, when divulged and recommended under the said character of Christian experience. Spiritual discernment ever increases, in proportion to real experience and proficiency in spiritual life, but alas! for want of being well guarded and well instructed, clearly principled and thoroughly disciplined; much of what passes for experience with many, is very erroneous and delusive. I will here set the name of, Dear Sir, Your very affectionate humble servant, J. JANE. Fit it is indeed that all Christians, especially ministers of the gospel, be united in heart and affection. Amen. To this was added, "Thursday noon. 'Two days nearer heaven' is the great comfort of the departing spirit and his surviving friend." The last struggles of expiring nature in this eminent servant of Christ, are represented to have been very severe, and were perhaps designed to display to those who witnessed them, the perfect victory of faith over the sting and terrors of death. In the midst of convulsions, spasms, and such a dreadful sensation in his heart, that it seemed, to use his own words, be tied round with thongs," he maintained always a praying, patient, and sometimes an exulting spirit. On the same day that Mr. Jane's postscript was writ 66 to ten, he expressed a sense of the most rapturous foretaste of future bliss. Awaking from a doze, he seized the hand of his nurse, and said, "I have been upon the wings of the cherubim, heaven has been in a manner opened to me; I shall be soon there myself, and am only sorry I cannot take you with me." He also observed to Mr. Burnet, that if his strength allowed, he could tell him news which would rejoice his heart"I have had," he said, "such views of heaven; but I can say no more." These raptures were however qualified by the deepest humility; for when one present rejoiced over his apparent ripeness for heaven, he said, “nay, my dear friend, the body of sin is not yet done away, I shall continue a sinner to the very last. gasp." He begged another person to pray for him as a poor miserable sinner. Such indeed were more satisfactory evidences of his right condition, than the ecstacies he had experienced in a doze, which may be in some measure attributed to the common effects of the disease under which he laboured, just before it terminates in death. Repentance, faith, love, and obedience, graces which so delightfully adorned the character of Mr. Walker, were the true proofs of his preparation for heaven, and confidence in them could not have been shaken, even had his dying moments been deprived of all pleasurable sensations. Neither raptures in Christians, nor indifference in unbelievers, prove any thing of the unknown hereafter. How can we have actual views of things. above, when eye hath not seen nor ear heard them; inasmuch as they are alone perceptible to angelic faculties, and we must be made like Christ before we |