,transcribed from the #ahbb ,r4 ,thomas 
edition by ,david ,price1 email         
ccx#jgdpglaf4org                        
,picture3 ,public domain book cover     
,,the                                   
,,glory ,,of ,,grace                    
,effected by weak ,means3               
,,being ,,the ,,substance ,,of          
,a ,,sermon1                            
,,preached ,,on ,,the                   
,,death ,,of ,,samuel ,,church1         
,aged ,twelve ,years4                   
,on ,,sunday ,evening1 ,,april #ad1     
#ahbb1                                  
,,by ,j4 ,,church1                      
,at the ,surrey ,tabernacle4            
99 99 99 99 99        ,and ,eli         
perceived that the ,lord had called the 
,child4--#a ,sam4 iii1      #h4         
,and there is hope in thine end1 saith  
the ,,lord1 that thy ,children          
shall come      again to their own      
,border4--,jeremiah xxxi1 #ag4          
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,southwark1               ,,printed    

,,by ,r4 ,,thomas1 ,,red ,,lion         
,,street1 ,,borough4                    
#ahbb4                                  
99 99 99 99 99          ,a ,,sermon1 c4 
,out of the mouths of babes and         
sucklings hast thou ordained strength1  
because of thine enemies1 that thou     
mightest still the enemy and the        
avenger4  ,psalm viii1 #b4    ,,when    
,david had his mind most divinely       
elevated and filled with holy  thoughts 
of the person1 work1 and glory of the   
dear ,redeemer1 he burst  forth in holy 
admiration1 joy1 and praise1 in this    
adoring language3 ,i  will extol thee1  
my ,god1 ,o king6  ,i will bless thy    
name for ever and  ever6  ,one          
generation shall praise thy works unto  
another1 and shall  declare thy mighty  
acts3 and surely the most wonderful and 
astonishing  act1 is the everlasting    
salvation of lost1 ruined1 guilty man4  
,this is a  greater act than the        
formation of worlds1 either heaven or   
earth4  ,the  salvation of one poor     

sinner is a more marvellous display of  
,god1 than  the creation1 with all its  
wonders4  ,this salvation we are to     
speak of to  others1 both ministers and 
people2 and in proportion as we see our 
interest in it1 so are we to declare its
 greatness1 because it is the  highest  
act of ,god1 as the ,god of all grace1  
and        ,why should the wonders he   
has wrought      ,be lost in silence and
 forgot8    ,but babes1 men1 and        
children1 let them praise the name of   
the ,lord4    ,i could wish this task1  
on this solemn1 and to me1 painful      
occasion1 had  devolved on one suitable1
 but supported by the ,lord's presence1 
upheld by  his power1 and cheered with  
his approbation in my mind1 ,i humbly   
attempt  to rehearse the wonders of his 
love1 the riches of his grace1 and the  
displays of his mercy to me1 and mine1  
and attempt1 in my poor way1 to  prove  
the glorious truth in the text3 ,out of 
the mouths of babes ,god has  ordained  
his own glory1 the glory of his love1   

his grace1 his  mercy1 his truth1 his   
power1 his faithfulness1 and infinite   
condescension4  ,it is true that ,i can 
do no justice to the important  words1  
by way of a ,sermon4  ,they contain a   
vast store of rich truth and  precious  
experience4  ,i must therefore merely   
glance at the meaning1 and  shew1 in as 
concise a manner as ,i can1 to whom they
 belong1 and to whom  they will1 with   
scriptural propriety1 apply4    ,the    
title of this psalm is to the chief     
musician upon ,gittith1 a psalm of      
,david4--,various are the conjectures of
 learned men on this title4  ,some      
think the word ,gittith signifies the   
wine press1 and the title means1 ,to    
the conqueror over the trodden wine     
press1 wrath2 and if so1 we are not  at 
a loss to know to whom it belongs4  ,a  
psalm of1 or concerning the  beloved    
one1 to whom be glory4  ,amen4    ,the  
ever blessed ,redeemer is the subject of
 this psalm4  ,hence we find it  quoted 
in the ,new ,testament1 and twice       

applied to him4  ,it is a  revelation of
 ,christ1 as ,god-man1 in his headship1 
his empire1 dominion1  and excellent    
name1 his royalties1 majesty1 and glory1
 with his union1  relation1 and interest
 in his people4  ,it is addressed to him
 as ,jehovah1  the covenant ,god of the 
church2 as one of the glorious and      
divine  persons1 subsisting in the      
divine essence1 with the ,father and the
 holy  ,spirit1 the incomprehensible    
,god1 the most high ,god1 blessed for   
evermore2 the mighty ,god1 the          
everlasting ,father1 the first and the  
last4  ,if the first1 there were none   
before him1 and if the last1 there can  
be  none after him4  ,he is the         
,almighty1 himself has declared it2 the 
true  ,god and eternal life1 possessing 
every divine and glorious perfection1   
the maker of heaven and earth1 the      
centre1 the foundation1 the glory1 the  
beauty1 and ornament of creation2 and   
the whole is sustained by him--he is    
omnipotent1 omniscient1 omnipresent1    

eternal1 unchangeable--the adorable ,i  
am1 that ,i am6--and as ,god in         
covenant1 as well as absolute deity1 he 
is  called our ,god1 your ,god1 their   
,god1 my ,lord1 and my ,god1 the most   
mighty1 the great ,god1 the living ,god2
 and must not that person have          
diabolical effrontery to deny the       
essential and eternal ,godhead of the   
,lord ,jesus ,christ8  ,such conduct    
clearly demonstrates that such persons  
are in nature's thickest gloom1 nor can 
those characters give the church  or the
 world any scriptural account of the    
holy ,spirit's work upon their  hearts4 
,we1 therefore1 can never allow such    
unconverted persons to be  proper judges
 of any one truth in divine revelation4 
,when persons are  called by divine     
grace1 they are brought to feel their   
need of just such  a saviour as ,christ 
is1 and are led to prize the infinite   
value of his  blood1 the merit of his   
obedience1 the power of his arm1 and the
 love of  his heart4  ,but amidst the   

host of enemies to the person and       
dignity of  ,christ1 we humbly and      
gratefully unite with the ,psalmist3 ,oh
 ,lord1 our  ,lord1 how excellent is thy
 name in all the earth1 thy perfections1
 and  thy gospel1 wherever it has been  
carried4  ,and how glorious it will be  
in  the new heavens and earth1 during   
the millennium1 his thousand years      
personal reign with his people4  ,there 
he has set his glory above the  heavens1
 his everlasting love1 his holy         
humanity2 and his church1 as  considered
 in himself1 are exalted above the rial 
or starry heavens4  ,this is his glory1 
the joy of the redeemed1 the wonder of  
elect angels1  and the envy of devils4  
,the ,psalmist1 having been led to adore
 ,jehovah ,jesus1 as ,god in covenant1  
and as ,god-man1 the brightness of the  
,father's glory1 is sweetly brought  on 
to view him in his humiliation1 final   
victory1 and exaltation2 and  while     
considering the heavenly bodies1 their  
glory and greatness1 with  his own      

insufficiency to celebrate his power1 he
 yet adores him for that  knowledge with
 which his mind was favored1 and        
exclaims1 ,what is man that  thou art   
mindful of him8  ,this passage is quoted
 by the apostle1 and the  whole of it is
 applied to ,christ1 as the mediator1 as
 the ,son of man1  admiring that grace  
which conferred so great an honor upon  
him1 as to  choose his individual       
nature1 his humanity1 as to unite it    
with the  ,godhead1 that he should      
prepare it in the covenant1 anoint it   
with the  oil of gladness above his     
fellows1 delight in it1 exalt it1 and   
take such  providential care of it2     
support it under his direful sorrows1   
raise it1  and give it glory4  ,thus the
 sacred ,messiah is represented1 as     
filled  with holy and admiring thoughts 
of the subject1 and in extacy asks1     
,what  is man8 the human nature made a  
little lower than ,god1 but next unto   
him1  and in personal union with the    
,son of ,god2 a little lower than the   

angels  for the suffering of death1 but 
crowned with glory and honor1 as the    
whole election of grace1 and as the     
mediator of reconciliation4  ,christ  by
 delegation1 hath universal dominion    
over all things1 visible and  invisible1
 nature1 providence1 grace1 glory1      
earth1 and hell2 and this  will ever    
form a subject for the admiration of    
,god's people4  ,o ,lord1 our  ,lord1   
how excellent is thy name in all the    
earth6 for as thou hast formed  thy     
people for thy praise1 thou hast        
ordained the wonders of thy grace  shall
 be celebrated by them in time and      
eternity4  ,out of the mouths of  babes 
and sucklings thou hast ordained        
strength1 because of thine  enemies1    
that thou mightest still the enemy and  
the avenger4    ,we may consider these  
words as justly applicable to #a4       
,david4  #b1 ,david's  ,lord4--#c1 ,the 
children of the temple4  #d1 ,the       
apostles in their  minority4--#e1 ,the  
experience of believers4--#f1 ,the      

salvation of children4  ,this good man  
was chosen and ordained for the glory of
 ,god1 and for the  benefit of his      
people2 eternally chosen in ,christ to  
salvation2 he was  impressed with the   
power of converting grace in very early 
life1 and long  before he was introduced
 to public notice1 long before his      
elevation to  the throne of ,israel4    
,no doubt1 while a youth1 the holy      
,spirit took  possession of his heart1  
and led his mind to hope in the promised
  ,messiah1 for life and salvation1 and 
being selected from the busy world1  and
 the cares1 vanities1 and snares of the 
court1 he had many sweet  moments in the
 sacred enjoyment of his ,god4  ,times1 
his mind often  afterwards reflected    
upon with heaven-felt pleasure4  ,it    
appears ,god had  endowed him with      
astonishing skill in music1 and a       
sublime talent for  poetry1 so that he  
probably filled his leisure hours with  
close attention  to the exercise of     
those gifts2 and as ,mr4 ,toplady       

strikingly remarks1 on  ,david's        
composing this beautiful pastoral psalm3
 ,we must form to  ourselves an idea of 
,david1 the stripling1 and think we see 
him watching  his flocks on a summer's  
night1 under the expanded canopy of the 
skies4  ,the air is still1 the heavens  
are serene1 the moon arrived at her     
full1  is pursuing her majestic silent  
course1 the stars1 like peeresses1 on a 
coronation solemnity1 assume their      
brightest robes1 to attend the          
beauteous sovereign of the night1 while 
both moon and stars concur to  shed a   
soft undazzling lustre on all the       
subjacent landscape4  ,david1 at  this  
happy period1 a blameless youth1        
unpoisoned with ambition1 and           
unfacinated by the witchcraft of court  
corruption1 and his hands undipped  in  
blood1 is seated on a rising hillock1 or
 on the protuberant root of  some       
stately tree4  ,all is hushed1 not a    
bough rustles1 not a leaf  trembles to  
the breeze2 the silent flocks are either

 carelessly grazing  by his side1 or    
slumbering securely at his feet4  ,the  
birds have  suspended their songs1 until
 waked by the superior sweetness of his 
voice1 and the music of his hand2 for1  
charmed with the loveliness of the      
scene1 and wrapt by the holy ,spirit    
into a seraphic flame of exalted        
devotion1 he has lain aside his         
crook--he has taken up his harp1 and    
transmitting to the throne of ,god1     
these grateful1 these inexpressibly     
beautiful lines contained in this psalm1
 this divine testimony of ,jesus1       
although perhaps wrote more than a      
thousand years before his incarnation4  
,david's mind was illuminated with      
spiritual knowledge1 his faith          
centering in the ,messiah1 his hope     
resting on his covenant engagements1    
his affections cleaving to him1 his mind
 at this time1 happy in his love2  and  
astonished at the infinite condescension
 of the ,god of all grace1 in  looking  
upon him in early life2 saving him from 

the follies of youth1  converting his   
soul1 anointing him though a stripling1 
to be a king2  working deliverance for  
him1 when by a supernatural power upon  
him1 he  slew a lion at one time1 and a 
bear at another4  ,surely as his heart  
glowed at the reflection1 his mouth     
spoke forth the high praises of the     
,lord2 and as ,god was his strength1 so 
he had ordained the effects of it  for  
the glory of his own name1 that he might
 be praised and adored1 and  that the   
enemies of the ,lord and his people     
might be confounded4  ,this  was        
frequently the case in the wars of      
,david1 but particularly while a        
stripling2 and in comparison to men of  
war1 he was but a babe or  suckling1    
when he went to meet ,goliah1 the       
gigantic champion of the  ,philistines1 
who for forty days gave a challenge to  
decide the fate of  the war by a single 
combat1 defying them to produce a man in
 the whole  army of ,israel that dare   
engage him4  ,the ,lord stirred up the  

mind of  this pious youth1 this         
shepherd's boy1 the son of ,jesse1 to   
attack this  unwieldy monster1 near     
eleven feet high1 and covered with      
brass4  ,david1  armed with divine power
 and skill1 and encouraged by his ,god1 
went forth  to meet the insulting foe1  
and slung a stone1 which being divinely 
directed1 sunk into his forehead1 and   
brought him to the ground4  ,surely1  in
 reading the whole history1 we may see  
the text evidently fulfilled1  and      
sweetly confirmed2 but surely1 if the   
power1 glory1 and faithfulness  of ,god 
were so eminently seen in the victory   
given to this babe2 out of  whose mouth 
,god was glorified1 and his enemies     
stilled1 silenced1  overcome1 and       
defeated1 how much more so in the       
instance of ,david's ,lord1  who having 
taken our nature into union with his    
divine person1 is called  the ,holy     
,child1 ,jesus1 7,acts iv1 #bg7 by whom 
,god had ordained his highest  glory1   
the honor of all his perfections1 in a  

way of grace1 in the  salvation of      
innumerable millions4  ,and are we not  
often led to  contemplate the appearance
 of this holy child8  ,when but a babe1 
as it  were1 we find him in the temple1 
disputing with the learned doctors      
there1 hearing them1 and asking them    
questions about many points in the  laws
 of ,moses1 and probably many important 
questions concerning the  promised      
,messiah2 and all that heard him were   
astonished at his  understanding1 and   
answers4  ,out of his sacred lips ,god  
ordained his  truth1 his word1 his will 
should be known4  ,may we not see this  
accomplished by the mouth of his        
ministry1 miracles1 praises1 and        
prayers8  ,and those who were taught of 
,god1 wondered at the gracious  words   
which proceeded out of his mouth4  ,his 
lips were like lilies1  dropping        
sweet-smelling myrrh1 when he opened his
 mouth and taught1 and  blest his       
people4  ,every doctrine he preached1   
every invitation he gave1  every truth  

he taught1 every declaration he made1   
every word he spoke1  was truly blessed1
 of everlasting importance1 and for the 
glory of ,god4  ,his prayers and        
intercessions for his dear people were  
ever prevalent  with ,god1 while every  
tear he shed1 every sigh he heaved1     
every groan he  uttered1 every stripe1  
and every pain1 with every drop of blood
 which he  shed1 were as so many mouths 
pleading for all who believe in him2 and
 now  he lives in glory1 he appears     
before the throne in the full virtue and
  dignity of his sacrifice and          
obedience1 pleading for all that come to
 ,god  through him1 seeing he ever      
liveth to make intercession with ,god   
for  them4  ,by his infinitely          
meritorious obedience to the law1 and by
 his  bearing its dreadful penalties1 he
 stilled the avenger1 the curse of a    
broken law1 and the insulted justice of 
,god4  ,he made full satisfaction  by   
enduring the curse1 being made a curse  
for us1 so that the threatening  being  

thus executed upon the surety1 and      
justice satisfied1 it can no  longer    
pursue that poor sinner1 who flies to   
the city of refuge1 to lay  hold on the 
hope set before him2 and this city is   
divinely set forth in  these blessed    
,scriptures3 ,a man shall be as an      
hiding place from the  wind1 a refuge   
from the storm4  ,the eternal ,god is   
thy refuge4  ,christ1  ,god-man1        
mediator1 is the refuge4  ,here the     
righteous flee1 and are safe  from the  
avenger of blood4  ,god1 revealed in a  
broken law1 is an enemy to  sinners as  
such1 just as a judge is to a guilty    
criminal2 but when viewed  as           
reconciled1 and well pleased we see him 
well pleased with us in him2  the       
,father looks upon us in ,christ1 views 
us holy1 and pronounces us  righteous2  
as a man looking up a wall1 or on any   
object through a red  glass1 it appears 
red2 so are we view in ,christ4  ,ye are
 complete in him1  having forgiven us   
all trespasses--,christ having finish   

the work1 overcome  all enemies1        
disappointed ,satan1 bruised his head1  
and took away his  power2 drew the      
envenomed dart of death1 barred the     
mouth of hell from  his people1 overcome
 the grave2 put an end to sin1 and      
triumphed over  death in his own        
dominions2 he has for ever stilled the  
enemy and the  avenger1 and fulfilled   
the purposes1 and gracious decrees of   
,god1  respecting the redemption of his 
chosen4  ,worthy is the lamb that was   
slain6 how great his love1 how infinite 
his condescension1 how eminent  his     
victories1 but how dreadful an evil must
 sin be1        ,how damnable must sin  
appear1      ,if we reflect how dear    
,it cost the ,saviour to atone      ,for
 all our weight of guilt1      ,for sin 
his precious blood was spilt4    ,this  
scripture was also divinely fulfilled1  
when our ,lord rode in triumph  to      
,jerusalem1 as related by the           
evangelist4  ,having sent two of his    
disciples to fetch him an ass and a     

colt1 he sat thereon4  ,while vast      
multitudes were collected1 and attended 
him in the way to the city1 some  laid  
their cloaths on the beast1 others cast 
them on the ground for him  to ride     
over1 and many cut down branches of palm
 trees to adorn his  entrance into the  
city1 the children in the temple sung   
their hosannas to  the ,redeemer1 in    
harmony with the loud shouts and        
acclamations of the  populace4  ,the    
,pharisees1 those most inveterate       
enemies of ,christ1 who  had been a     
little mortified just before1 by the    
display of the power and  ,godhead of   
,christ1 in raising ,lazarus from the   
dead1 were still more so1  on beholding 
the triumphant entrance of ,jesus1 the  
approbation of the  people1 and the     
anthem of the children4  ,they had the  
daring effrontery  to ask him1 hearest  
thou what those children say8  ,the     
,saviour said1 ,and  did you never read1
 that out of the mouths of babes and    
sucklings thou  hast perfected praise8  

,here was the real literal fulfilment of
 this  text1 for the ,redeemer on this  
occasion1 stilled and silenced those    
enemies and avengers4  ,this triumphant 
entrance was indeed an emblem of  his   
future exaltation4  ,the animal which   
bore ,him perhaps intended to  shew the 
characters he would make use of to bear 
his name in the ,jewish  and ,gentile   
worlds1 and amongst all persons1 high   
and low1 rich and poor1  learned and    
illiterate4  ,the conduct of the people 
in casting their  cloaths from them1 to 
shew the effect that grace has upon the 
heart1 in  causing the soul to renounce 
its own righteousness1 as more fit for  
the  feet of an ass1 than to recommend  
it to ,god2 while the branches of palms 
which they bore were ensigns of the     
future victories which the              
all-conquering captain of our salvation 
would gain over all his enemies4  ,and  
the very songs of the children1 the     
prayers1 and the praises which  would   
ascend from his redeemed in the temple  

of his church1 in all future            
generations4  ,their hosannas were a    
prayer for salvation in all its         
branches--save ,lord1 ,i beseech thee6  
and it was a wishing success1 and       
prosperity to his kingdom4  ,these two  
are found together in the souls of  the 
called children of ,god4  ,where there  
is prayer for our own souls1  there is  
an earnest desire for the increase of   
the ,redeemer's kingdom1  and a hearty  
welcoming his visits3 ,blessed is he    
that cometh in the name  of the ,lord4  
,this is the soul's echo to the pleasing
 tidings3 ,behold the  king cometh unto 
thee4  ,may not this group of children1 
singing the  praises of the adorable    
,messiah1 though perhaps unconscious of 
the  meaning1 be a beautiful figure of  
that vast body of children who are      
saved by his grace1 and shout his fame1 
his love1 and his victories1 in  the    
temple of heaven for ever4              
,babes1 thither caught from womb and    
breast1      ,claim'd right to sing     

above the rest1      ,because they found
 that happy shore      ,they never saw  
nor sought before4    ,and surely ,god  
has ordained the praise of his own grace
 in the salvation  of children1 and this
 will be confessed for ever by them1 to 
the eternal  confusion of those who live
 and die despisers of salvation by      
grace4  ,here1 such enemies will be     
confounded in beholding the freeness1   
the  sovereignty1 riches1 and victories 
of electing1 redeeming1 calling1 and    
glorifying grace3 for ,out of the mouths
 of babes and sucklings thou hast       
ordained strength1 because of thine     
enemies4    ,i humbly conceive this     
beautiful passage may1 with propriety1  
be applied  to the apostles1 and first  
ministers of our ,lord4  ,this was a    
name he was  pleased to them4  ,the     
great head of the church having chosen  
his twelve  apostles1 it pleased him to 
call and appoint seventy disciples      
besides1  in allusion to ,moses choosing
 twelve princes and seventy elders in   

the  wilderness4  ,the ,lord ,jesus sent
 them out two by two1 and giving them   
power to preach the kingdom of ,god1 and
 to heal the sick1 they went forth  and 
did as ,jesus commanded them4  ,upon    
their return1 and laying their  labours 
at his feet1 astonished at their        
success1 that it exceeded their         
expectations1 even to the casting out of
 devils4  ,at that time ,jesus  rejoiced
 in spirit1 and said1 ,i thank thee1 ,o 
,father1 ,lord of heaven and  earth1    
that thou hast hid these things from the
 wise and prudent1 and  hast revealed   
them unto babes--even so ,father1 for so
 it seemed good in  thy sight4  ,these  
ministers of ,christ are called babes1  
weak1 ignorant1  and foolish1 when      
compared with what they should be after 
the day of  ,pentecost1 or when compared
 with the wise ones of this world1 men  
of  great natural gifts1 wisdom1        
sagacity1 penetration1 and skill1 in    
natural  things2 but these were babes in
 comparison to such knowing ones1 and   

they  were babes in their own esteem1   
weak1 defenceless1 impotent1 dependent1 
and knowing little or nothing in their  
own opinion1 yet humble1 docile1  and   
teachable1 sitting at their master's    
feet1 and looking to him for  divine    
teaching4  ,it was out of the mouths of 
these persons ,god had  ordained the    
gospel to be preached1 and this is      
called the rod of his  strength--the    
power of ,god to salvation in every one 
that believeth4  ,their testimony was   
plain and simple1 but it did wonders in 
the world4  ,nor can there be a greater 
proof of the divine authenticity of the 
word  of ,god1 than the work it has     
accomplished1 for in the hands of the   
holy  ,spirit1 and by the preaching of  
it1 proud1 profane1 prejudiced1 and     
carnal persons1 have been humbled1      
subdued1 quickened1 illuminated1 made   
holy1 saved4  ,the wolf has been brought
 to lay down at the feet of the  ,lamb  
of ,god1 the cow and the bear4  ,the    
ministers of ,christ1 and a raging      

tyrant by nature1 have walked together6 
yea1 a little child has led those       
fierce characters into all truth6       
7,isaiah xi47  ,instrumentally1 such    
enemies have been subdued1 changed1 and 
become distinguished monuments of       
sovereign1 converting grace4  ,the ,new 
,testament is full of those  instances1 
and millions in heaven1 and thousands   
upon earth1 have felt  the power of a   
gospel ministry4  ,this is most         
strikingly remarked by the  apostle3    
,but if all prophecy1 or preach1 and    
there came in one that  believeth not1  
or unlearned1 he is convinced of all1   
judged of all1 and  thus are the secrets
 of his heart made manifest2 and so     
falling down on  his face he will       
worship1 and report that ,god is in you 
of a truth1  because the same ,almighty 
power is put forth in the word1 that    
called  light out of darkness at the    
creation1 and that called ,lazarus from 
the  tomb4  ,nothing short of this1 can 
produce any good effect upon the        

understanding1 the will1 the affections1
 the mind1 and conscience of a  sinner4 
,what powerful reproofs1 cutting        
convictions1 consoling  influences1     
supporting and delivering power1 have   
been felt by the ,lord's  people1 in    
hearing and reading the gospel of       
,jesus1 whether in the ,old or  the ,new
 ,testament4  ,and this has cast out    
,satan1 and sin's dominion1  tyranny1   
power guilt1 and distress1 from the     
soul2 has answered many an  accusation1 
freed from many a doubt1 and overcome   
the enemy and the  avenger4  ,this is no
 small mortification to that implacable 
foe1 to see  the astonishing power and  
success of the gospel1 and himself1 at  
times1  put to flight1 by a simple act  
of faith in ,god's truth4        ,oh6 ,i
 have seen the day1         ,when with a
 single word1      ,god helping me to   
say         ,my trust is in the ,lord2  
,my soul has slain a thousand foes1     
,fearless of all that could oppose4     
,for so the promise runs1 and so the    

victorious believer has found it4  ,one 
of you shall chase a thousand 7by the   
word17 and two of you 7by faith  and    
prayer71 shall put ten thousand to      
flight4    ,blessed be ,god for the     
gospel1 and for its power and influence 
upon our  hearts4  ,this is the sweet   
evidence of our eternal election of     
,god1 for  our gospel came not unto you 
in word only1 but in power2 in the ,holy
  ,ghost1 and in much assurance4  ,it is
 in this way1 even a babe in ,christ    
has stilled the enemy and the avenger4  
,the people of the ,most ,high are      
called babes2 and little children1 being
 born again1 not of blood1 nor of  the  
will of the flesh1 but of ,god--created 
anew in ,christ ,jesus1 unto good       
works1 which ,god hath before ordained1 
that we should walk in them4  ,this  new
 birth is produced by the almighty power
 of ,god1 the holy making  ,spirit4  ,it
 is an evidence of everlasting love1 and
 of the soul's  interest in the blood   
and righteousness of ,christ2 and none  

have any  right to consider themselves  
in ,christ1 who are strangers to the new
  birth4  ,it is the gracious indwelling
 of the holy ,spirit in his divine      
influences--forming a new man of        
grace--a new heart--a right spirit1     
infusing every holy principle1 in       
conformity to the image1 of ,christ4    
,when this work is begun in most of     
,god's children1 it is hard to tell1    
but some blessed effects of it may be   
clearly seen4  ,such souls1 may be  long
 under the terror of the law1 the       
bondage of their spirit1 the fears  of  
death1 the dread of judgment1 eternity  
and hell1 yet the ,lord hears  their    
groans1 sees their oppressions1 tears1  
and fears1 and will in due  time1 bring 
them out of prison4  ,some1 indeed1 are 
led on more smoothly1  but none are left
 ignorant of their lost state by nature1
 their  condemnation by the law1 and the
 value of ,christ1 as the atonement and 
righteousness of his people4  ,such     
babes are humble1 simple1 sincere1 and  

teachable2 they desire the breast of    
consolation1 from heart-felt misery2    
they desire the sincere milk of the     
word1 not only the word1 but the  milk  
of it1 that they may grow thereby into a
 deeper knowledge of  ,christ1 till     
their faith is grown up to full         
assurance1 and their hope  big with     
expectations2 till a sense of divine    
love casts out all doubts  and fears1   
which sadly torment their minds1 and    
till they know the whole  armour of     
,god2 and surely there can be no actual 
enjoyment with ,christ1  or entering    
into truth1 or the privileges of the    
gospel1 or into eternal  glory1 till    
this new birth takes place4  ,there can 
be neither seeing  nor entering the     
kingdom2 there may be a superficial     
knowledge1 and  plenty of talk about    
truth2 but it is a cordial reception of 
it in the  heart1 and digesting it in   
the mind1 that will ever produce any    
good  effect1 either in the soul1 or in 
the conversation4  ,and except we become

  as little children1 we can in no wise 
enter the kingdom2 but having been      
blessed with this divine change in the  
heart1 confession is to be made to  the 
glory of ,god4  ,this is the ordinance  
of ,heaven3 there is to be an           
acknowledgement of the truth1 a         
declaration of what ,god has done for us
  to the church1 to one another2 and    
when prudent opportunity offers1  before
 the world1 by words1 and by facts1 open
 and visible1 sincere and  hearty1      
likewise in prayer2 and praise1 when the
 ,lord is pleased to give  us strength  
so to do1 that others may be led to see 
that there is a  reality in religion1   
and may be blessed with the strength of 
grace to  seek the ,lord1 and glorify   
,god in the day of their visitation3 in 
so  doing1 you still the enemy1 and by a
 ,god-glorifying conduct1 put to        
silence the ignorance of foolish men1   
the enemies of ,god and truth4  ,and    
where the conscience is made tender1    
every thing that is contrary to  this1  

is a source of inconceivable grief4     
,these babes are at times1 also  enabled
 to silence ,satan himself1 with all the
 accusations of a  distressed and       
burdened conscience1 when the atonement1
 obedience1 love1  person1 offices and  
promises1 invitations and faithfulness  
of the dear  ,redeemer is powerfully    
brought into the mind1 by the holy      
,spirit1 and  strength given to baffle  
the enemy1 with his satanic suggestions1
 as a  young man did lately1 upon his   
death bed1 depending upon1 and pleading 
the great work of ,christ1 for his      
acceptance with ,god1 just going into   
eternity4  ,the enemy plagued him with  
this question continually3 ',tis  true  
,christ died for sinners6 but how do you
 know he died for you8  ,the  young man 
had strength given him to answer the    
enemy as fast as he  plagued him6  ,but1
 ,satan1 how do you know he did not8    
,thus he gained the  victory over the   
enemy1 and died in sweet confidence4    
,thanks be to ,god1  who giveth us the  

victory1 for out of the mouths of such  
babes he has  ordained his own glory4   
,it is also evident1 that ,god is       
glorified by the  displays of the       
riches1 power1 and freeness of grace1 in
 the salvation of  children4  ,this must
 be favor indeed1 as such can perform no
 act of  demotion to recommend them to  
,god6 nor can their innocence do it1 as 
they  are conceived in sin1 born1 or    
shapen in iniquity1 under the imputation
  of the guilt of ,adam1 and with the   
seeds of every sin in them that can be  
committed in this world1 though guilty  
of no actual transgression1 yet by      
nature they are sinners1 destitute of   
the image of ,god1 and under guilt4     
,how great that grace which chose       
them--how infinitely dear that blood    
which redeemed them--and how            
condescending that holy ,spirit that    
takes  possession of them before their  
little souls leave their bodies3 they   
are  to be considered1 passively1 the   
capable subjects of converting          

grace--and  who can tell what passes on 
the soul of a departing infant1 under   
the  operations of the spirit of ,god8  
,millions of infants are1 doubtless1    
before the throne of ,god1 and the      
,lamb1 praising1 adoring1 and blessing  
that mercy that saved them so early1 not
 on account of their natural  purity1   
nor their religious descent--not because
 their parents were pious  persons1 for 
this can make no difference--nor because
 they were  superstitiously baptized1 as
 it is erroneously called1 but because  
,god  has set his love upon             
them--because they are interested in the
 covenant of  grace--because the        
,redeemer has died for them--his        
righteousness is imputed  to them--and  
because the holy ,spirit takes          
possession of their  hearts--sanctifies 
them in a moment--and because ,god has  
ordained the glory  of himself1 in the  
everlasting salvation and happiness of  
those who are  not able to save         
themselves4  ,i acknowledge the         

salvation of all infants  has been a    
subject of dispute1 amongst many1 and   
,satan has taken the  advantage to      
distress many a parent upon the subject4
  ,but secret things  belong to the     
,lord1 our ,god1 the things that are    
revealed belong to us4  ,here we want   
grace to rest1 yet ,i am bold to affirm1
 that we have no one  solid proof of the
 everlasting destruction of an infant4  
,it is no where  positively asserted nor
 yet implied4  ,i am now speaking of    
babes4  ,millions have been destroyed in
 public calamities1 and died a corporeal
  death1 but not punished with an       
everlasting death2 nor can we find any  
infants amongst those of whom it is     
affirmed1 that they suffer the          
vengeance of eternal fire4  ,it was     
,david's consolation that his child was 
saved1 though born under adulterous     
circumstances4  ,i shall go to him1  but
 he shall not return to me4  ,this does 
not refer to the grave1 for  there could
 be but little pleasure in that thought1

 but to eternal rest4  ,the pious       
,shunamite woman said of the death of   
her son1 ,it is well4  ,and  the ,lord  
promised that that son of ,jereboam     
should go to his grave1  because in that
 child there was found some good thing  
toward the ,lord ,god  of ,israel4      
,thousands of dear children were        
massacred by order of ,herod1  with an  
intent to murder the ,redeemer4  ,these 
dear children were the  first martyrs   
for ,christ1 and the ,lord assures us of
 their salvation1  7,jeremiah xxxi1 #ae1
 #af1 #ag47 to which ,i refer you4  ,the
 border there  spoken of1 is most       
undoubtedly the millennium1 the heavenly
 country1  where these precious stones  
would adorn the crown of the ,redeemer1 
and be  everlasting monuments of the    
wonders of his grace4  ,these dear      
children  will to eternity1 acknowledge 
how infinitely indebted they are to the 
adorable trinity in unity1 for so great 
a salvation4        ,and now they range 
the heavenly plains1      ,and sing his 

love in melting strains2      ,or1      
overwhelm'd with rapture sweet1         
,sink down adoring at his feet4    ,i   
come now to speak of the closing scene  
of my much-loved son4  ,on this  subject
 ,i want much fortitude and power from  
on high1 to sustain my  deeply affected 
heart4  ,none but ,god knows the strange
 mixture of my  feelings1 grief and     
gratitude1 sorrow and wonder4  ,i have  
not room here  to enlarge on the subject
 of nature and affection1 and the       
feelings these  ties inspire in the loss
 of one so dear to my heart4  ,cruel    
memory recals  to mind a thousand       
endearments1 in such departed worth1 but
 ,i fall at the  footstool of divine    
mercy1 and bless the ,god of all grace1 
that ,i am not  sorrowing as one without
 hope4  ,many whom ,i am now addressing1
 knew him  well1 and all who knew him   
loved him4  ,he was beloved of his      
,god--blest  from infancy with peculiar 
powers1 which no doubt would have shown 
brightly in life1 had he been spared4   

,but though the subject of deep         
affliction1 yet grace shone in his mind1
 and its radiance was sweetly  emitted  
to an eminent manner1 as his afflictions
 abounded4  ,he was the  last son of his
 dear mother1 who is in glory2 and being
 favored at his  birth with a peculiar  
answer to prayer1 ,i adopted the method 
of ancient  believers1 on extraordinary 
occasions1 and called him ,samuel1 heard
 of  ,god6 and so he proved to be4      
,about six years ago1 he broke his leg1 
which afterwards produced great weakness
 through the fright2 the pain1  and long
 confinement4  ,this had a serious      
effect upon his whole mass of  blood1   
which afterwards shewed itself in       
several abscesses4  ,these  baffled all 
the skill of medicine1 and though well  
attended by medical  persons1 and most  
tenderly and carefully nursed1 and      
watched by day and  by night1 yet ,god  
had determined to bring him to glory1 at
 nearly twelve  years of age1 nor can ,i
 wish him back again4        ,to be with

 dire afflictions tost and tore1        
,the suffering little boy he was before6
    ,but during the last months he was  
with his kind affectionate1 attentive   
,aunt and ,uncle1 who have been long in 
the ways of ,god1 and have had a  most  
clear and blessed experience of grace   
and truth themselves1 they  were often  
highly delighted to see the work of     
grace so eminently  displayed in their  
dear little suffering nephew4  ,many    
precious things he  said to me1 but as a
 father1 perhaps it might be attributed 
to weakness1  or an inordinate affection
 for a son1 if ,i made any remarks4     
',tis  however very pleasing to me that 
his dear ,aunt was enabled to seize a   
few  opportunities1 secretly1 to pen    
down some of those words which fell from
  him at times4  ,a few only1 can be    
asserted here1 but which plainly        
indicates the work of grace upon his    
heart1 by the confession of his  lips1  
and sweetly proving1 that out of the    
mouth of this dear child ,god  had      

ordained his own glory4    ,the contents
 of the following letter1 sent to me by 
his ,aunt1 ,i beg leave  also to insert1
 without a single comment of my own4    
99 99 99 99 99    ,,dear ,,brother1     
,believing you would be desirous of     
knowing the dealings of the ,lord with  
your dear child1 ,i have endeavored to  
preserve a small part of what fell  from
 his lips during the last weeks of his  
afflicted life4  ,i say a small  part1  
because the whole1 had it not been for  
the necessary and close  attention to   
his person1 would have swelled a volume4
    ,previous to the time when he was   
confined to his bed1 which was the      
latter end of ,december1 when ,i had an 
opportunity to set with him1 he  would  
often talk on divine subjects1 and      
appeared deeply interested in  the      
things that pertained to his own        
salvation4  ,he mentioned several       
sermons he had heard ,dr4 ,andrews1 of  
,walworth1 preach1 but particularly     
one1 from1 ,oh my ,dove1 that art in the

 cleft of the rock4  ,he ran through    
the several ideas that was advanced1    
with great correctness and interest4    
,at another time when we were conversing
 about eternal things1 he said1  ,aunt1 
,i should not be afraid to die1 if ,i   
was sure ,i had an interest in  ,christ6
  ,you know it is possible to be        
deceived1 and many people are4  ,i      
never said so much to any one as ,i have
 to you4  ,i talked to my dear  father1 
and he answered me much the same as you 
have4    ,about the middle of ,february1
 when helping him out of bed1 very      
helpless1  and in great pain1 he said1  
,aunt1 ,i seem to have a hope that ,i   
shall be  saved6  ,do you not think that
 answer to prayer is some evidence8 and 
,i am  sure that many of my poor simply 
prayers have been answered4    ,february
 #bf4--;,he held a truly interesting    
conversation with his ,uncle1           
expressing the strongest desire to know 
if he was truly drawn to ,christ6  ,on  
the evidences being given to him1 he    

appeared much refreshed1 and  said1 ,it 
may be when ,i am nearer to death that  
the ,lord may give me a  full assurance4
  ,he often said how good the ,lord is2 
,i have more to be  thankful for than to
 complain of6  ,once he said1 ,well     
,aunt1 who can tell  but the ,lord may  
cure me8 and if he does not1 he will do 
a great deal  better for me6--,but for  
want of time1 ,i must omit many very    
blessed  things1 and relate what more   
particularly transpired towards the     
close4  ,the few last days in ,february1
 and the first and second of ,march1 he 
was  in great pain1 and there was an    
evident alteration for the worst4  ,in  
the  night of the second of ,march1 he  
said1 ,oh6 affliction6 affliction6  ,my 
poor body is quite worn out6  ,oh6 ,i   
wish for more patience and  resignation4
  ,aunt1 ,i had rather lay here1 with   
all my pains1 than be  running about the
 streets1 in health1 like many boys ,i  
know1 cursing and  swearing1 and sinning
 against ,god4  ,in the same night1 he  

said1 ,oh6 ,i  hope we shall meet in    
,heaven6  ,on my expressing the same    
hope1 he cried  out1 ,ah6 but ,i want   
more than hope6  ,i want assurance6     
,oh6 ,i hope the  ,lord will sanctify   
this affliction4    ,lord's day1 ,march 
the third4--,he asked me to read4       
,after reading the  word1 and some      
hymns1 he smiled1 and said1 ,how        
precious that is6  ,i wish  you had     
nothing else to do but to talk and read 
to me4  ,in the evening of  that day1 he
 was in great pain4  ,from twelve at    
night till three in the  morning1 his   
tongue was like the pen of a            
ready-writer4  ,i said to him1  ,my     
dear1 have you long had serious thoughts
 about your soul8  ,he  answered1 ,no1  
,aunt1 not any thing particularly1 till 
within a  twelvemonth4  ,how was it at  
the beginning with you8  ,why1 ,i was   
very much  alarmed for fear ,i should go
 to hell6  ,i used to have such dark    
horror on  my mind as ,i cannot         
describe6  ,i used to cry till ,i fell  

asleep1 and then  ,i used to dream it   
was the day of judgment1 and wake very  
much terrified6  ,i dreamt this a great 
many times4  ,i cannot tell you what ,i 
went through1  with the dark horror at  
day1 and the terrifying dreams at night4
  ,did you  not feel at times1 hopes    
springing up1 that the ,lord would save 
you1  through ,christ ,jesus8  ,yes1    
very often1 when ,i have been hearing my
  father1 and ,dr4 ,andrews1 but        
afterwards ,i have been much distressed1
 for  fear they were not right hopes4   
,i never talked about what ,i felt4  ,i 
thought people might think as ,i was a  
child that ,i heard a great deal  about 
religion1 it was what ,i had picked     
up--then added1 with a strong  voice and
 great satisfaction1 ,but ,i know that  
what ,i picked up then1  does me good   
now6  ,aunt1 the last time ,i sung that 
hymn1 ,ah6 ,i shall  soon be dying1 ,i  
never sung so in my life6  ,i sung and  
cried6  ,i sung as  if ,i had another   
voice besides my own--,i was so full of 

joy4--,i spoke to  ,him of the great    
love of ,god1 in calling him to the     
knowledge of himself1  and bringing him 
to ,jesus1 for life and salvation4  ,he 
replied1 ,oh6 it is  a great love4  ,i  
keep you awake1 but my heart is so full 
that ,i cannot  help talking4  ,this is 
but a small part of what passed on that1
 to me1  memorable night4    ,march the 
#dth4--,a young man was saying1 when he 
was about thirteen years  of age1 he was
 so ill that used to pray to die4       
,samuel remarked after he  was gone1    
,that he did not know what death was1   
nor what it was to have a  hell in his  
heart1 or else he would not talk        
so4--,aunt1 what a very  precious hymn  
that is3 ,all the fitness he requireth1 
is to feel your need  of ,him4--,oh6 ,i 
hope ,i shall be able to say1 as dear   
,mrs4 ,lawson said1 when  near death1 ,i
 know in whom ,i have believed4--,i hope
 my father will not  grieve when ,i     
die--why should he8  ,he often said1 ,o 
that my warfare was  ended4    ,march   

the #eth4--,very comfortable all day4   
,about eleven at night1 he  suffered    
much4  ,he said1 ,oh6 ,i am quite worn  
out6  ,i hope ,i shall not be  long4    
,it seems as if ,i could leave all      
now--,aunt1 ,i can leave you6  ,i  hope 
,i shall not suffer much at last--do you
 think ,i shall8  ,i do not  think you  
will my dear1 but in all your sufferings
 the ,lord will support  you2 you are   
not without sweet support now1 are you8 
,oh1 no6  ,i am  greatly supported1     
,what a mercy it is to have promises to 
rest on4  ,oh6 ,i  want to go--not so   
much to get rid of suffering1 as to see 
,jesus1 which is  better4  ,adding1     
,aunt1 this is a comfort to me1 you will
 not be long  after me1 nor uncle       
neither4--,once1 when holding him up in 
my arms1 he  feared ,i should let him   
fall and cried out1 ,hold me up1 hold me
 up6  ,after a short pause1 in a very   
expressive manner1 said1 ,hold thou me  
up1  and ,i shall be safe2 and then to  
me1 ,as thy day is1 so shall thy        

strength  be4    ,one day1 he said1 ,i  
have longed when ,i have seen people go 
down into the  water to be baptized1 to 
go too4  ,he was answered1 ,that there  
was no  salvation in water4  ,he        
replied1 ,oh6 ,i know that1 but you know
 it is so  sweet to follow the ,lord6   
,at another time1 he said1 ,aunt1 ,i    
have a  secret hope1 that if ,i was to  
recover1 the ,lord would never let me   
forget  his goodness to me2 these       
afflictions would be useful to me       
through life4  ,once1 when in great     
pain1 he said1 ,its only weaning--,i    
want a great deal  of weaning4  ,oh what
 a mercy to be reconciled to the will of
 the ,lord4  ,the ,lord is very good4   
,the following ,saturday1 when lifting  
him into bed1 he said1 ,oh6 ,aunt1 may  
the ,lord give me patience1 and you     
strength4  ,i answered1 ,i believe he   
will4  ,and though we could mot see the 
end of the ,lord1 in thus  afflicting   
him1 yet if not before1 we should in the
 light of glory4  ,he  answered1 ,what a

 mercy to know we are going there4  ,i  
hope my dear you  know for yourself1 you
 are going there8  ,he replied with     
great firmness1  ,yes1 ,i can say ,i    
believe ,i am4--,and last night         
7alluding to some hours of  great pain  
and agony7 he said1 ,if ,i could have   
spoken1 though my poor  body was so much
 afflicted1 and my patience almost gone1
 ,i could have  said1 ,i know ,i am     
going to glory6  ,he added1 ,if ,i am   
not deceived1 ,i hope  ,i am not4  ,oh6 
what a great thing to be reconciled to  
the will ,god4  ,oh6  pray for me1 that 
,i may have more patience to hold out4  
,march #bf4--;,for several hours in     
great extremity of pain1 but declared   
himself happy in soul4--,something      
having been said about faith1 he        
answered1 ,ah6 it is easy enough to talk
 about faith1 but to be afflicted  as ,i
 am1 then we see how little faith we    
have got4  ,oh6 ,aunt1 pray for  me8    
,ask the ,lord1 ,oh6 do1 do6  ,observe1 
this latter expression1 ,ask the  ,lord1

 was continually his request4  ,i once  
said to him1 then you believe  the ,lord
 heareth prayer8  ,he answered with     
great quickness1 ,yes1 and  answering   
too4  ,being encouraged not to fear1 he 
said1 ,but sometimes ,i  have fears6    
,but why art thou cast down1 ,oh my     
soul8  ,this day1 when much  distressed 
in body1 he said1 ,but why should ,i    
complain8  ,what did the  ,lord suffer8 
,he sunk beneath our heavy woes      ,to
 raise us to a throne2      ,there's not
 a gift his hand bestows1      ,but cost
 his heart a groan6    ,march #bh4--;,he
 said1 ,aunt1 ,i am not desirous to     
live1 but ,i hope ,i shall  not go off  
in agony4  ,oh6 ,oh6 let me be the      
subject of your prayers1  continually6  
,oh6 spend all your time in wrestling   
for me4    ,lord's day1 ,march          
#ca4--;,in the afternoon a few friends  
came to see him1 and  a few hours he was
 cheerful1 and free from pain4  ,about  
ten1 his pains  became intolerable4  ,it
 was a time of great distress4  ,between

 eleven and  twelve1 he became more     
easy1 and a sweet colour appeared in his
  countenance4  ,he said1 ,aunt1 when ,i
 am in glory ,i shall sing as loud as   
any one1 ,the crowned ,lord of all4     
,oh6 ,i long to go--,i long to be       
singing  hallelujah6  ,he then sung     
,hallelujah1 hallelujah6  ,he then      
repeated the  whole of the hymn1 ,grace1
 'tis a charming theme2 laying a        
particular  emphasis on the words1      
,wrote my name--repeating 7,my name74   
,oh6 ,i long  to be singing4  ,crown him
 ,lord of all6  ,calling to his ,uncle  
in the next  room1 to come1 ,crown him  
,lord of all6  ,on its being complied   
with1 he  joined with the sweetest      
voice4  ,on our retiring to the next    
room1 he  sung alone1 in a soft voice1 a
 great part of the hymn1 called         
,gethsemane4  ,he then called1 ,uncle2  
come and sing again8  ,on his replying1 
,my dear2 ,i  am very low1 he said1     
never mind1 ,i will help you6  ,he then 
sweetly  joined in1 ,grace1 'tis a      

charming sound4  ,at the conclusion1 he 
said1 ,it  is all of grace4  ,oh6 ,i    
long to ,crown him ,lord of all6  ,he   
requested his  ,uncle to go to prayer8  
,when concluded1 he shook him by the    
hand1 saying1  ,i thank you1 ,i thank   
you4--,monday4--,extremely low all day4 
,on turning him  in bed1 he said1 ,oh6  
what should ,i do without you8 but      
instantly added1  in a louder voice1    
,what should ,i do without the ,lord8   
,tuesday1 ,april #bnd4--,a day full of  
pain and distress indeed4  ,about noon1 
he said1 ,i shall not be long here6  ,i 
expressed a hope of meeting him in      
glory4  ,he answered1 ,yes1 ,i do not   
fear that4  ,i replied1 yes1 for ,he is 
able to save to the uttermost4  ,he     
replied1 ,if he has not saved you1 he   
never will--adding1 ,saved from the     
beginning of the world6  ,what a mercy  
,aunt1 to be in                         
,christ8--,wednesday4--,very low all    
day4  ,several times in the  day he     
expressed a desire to depart1 and be    

with ,christ4  ,he cried out1  ,oh6 this
 poor sinful body--a body of sin and    
death6--,late at night1 he  sighed1 and 
said1 ,lord1 what is                    
man6--,thursday4--,suffered much all    
day4  ,about noon1 he said1 ,to-morrow  
is ,good ,friday--,ah6 what did the     
,lord  suffer for us8  ,and in a very   
emphatic manner1 said1 ,oh              
,gethsemane6--,friday4--,evidently much 
worse4  ,about noon he was very         
restless4  ,i said1 ,my dear1 who can   
place your pillow easy8  ,he replied1   
,only one ,god--must be my physician4   
,about noon1 he said1 ,oh6 pray to the  
,lord to take me very soon8  ,then you  
are willing to go to him8  ,he  replied1
 ,yes1 before tea time1 if it was the   
,lord's will6  ,oh that ,i  could fall  
asleep in his arms4  ,oh6 wrestle ,aunt1
 ,oh6 wrestle6  ,on  uttering a few     
short petitions in his behalf1 he       
affectionately thanked  me1 saying1 ,oh 
that our united prayers may be answered4
  ,about three  o'clock1 he said1 ,oh6  

why doth he tarry so long8  ,oh that his
 chariot  was waiting for me6  ,on      
assuring him that was the case--that the
 holy  angels were surrounding him1 to  
convey him before the throne of ,god and
  the ,lamb1 he cried1 ,oh that he would
 come quickly6  ,oh6 to hear the sound  
of his chariot wheels6  ,why doth he    
tarry so long8  ,when about to fall     
asleep in his arms1 he whispered3       
,cease fond nature1 cease thy strife1   
,let me languish into life4    ,the     
remainder of the evening spent in great 
pain1 but fervent expressions  after the
 coming of the ,lord1 often crying1 ,oh6
 ask the ,lord why is his  chariot so   
long in coming6  ,about three in the    
morning1 he fell into a  sleep1 and     
without pain or groan1 sweetly fell     
asleep in ,jesus4    ,thus terminated   
the life of this believer in ,jesus4    
,may you1 and ,i1 and  all his dear     
friends1 be partakers of the like       
precious faith4  ,amen4                 
,your's1 most affectionately1           

,e4 ,bonner4                            
99 99 99 99 99    ,farewell1 my dear    
son--and while ,i embalm thy memory with
 tears1 a ,gospel  hope points me to a  
time when ,i shall meet you again1 in   
the sacred  blissful presence of a      
reigning ,saviour1 and a smiling ,god4  
,amen4                                  
99 99 99 99 99                          
,,finis4