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in bearing ample testimony to his faithfulness in promoting the glorious cause of Him who is
the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. But we now behold and hear no more that blessed voice
which had converted so many from darkness to marvellous light. - His church is now shrouded in the sable
emblems of mourning for him who was, but is now no more among us. How often has he proclaimed the glad
tidings of great joy to all men, and to all those who unfeignedly believe, and confidently rely on the blessed
truths contained in the Gospel.
Small incidents often indicate the disposition of the mind of man, and the following evinces his benevolent
disposition: on a certain occasion, in his family, he had a faithful female servant, who was cheerful, and had a
natural innocent turn of mind to sing during her domestic occupations, almost every day. One day in particular,
his amiable wife, of sweet and mild disposition, observed to him, that she was tired of hearing her sing.
"Oh, my dear," said he with a smile, "I would not even prevent a grasshopper from making innocent
melody."
It was never known that a poor person asked charity at his door in vain. His uniform request was to be always
ready to give liberally.
It may not be amiss nor unprofitable to introduce here Lord Byron's opinion on Christianity, extracted from
his orginal letter, dated at Pisa, in Italy, December 3d, 1821. Speaking of the last moments of one of his
relations, a Christian woman, in England, who had prayed most fervently that he might be awakened to a
sense of his own danger, and led to seek that peace of mind in a proper sense of religion, which he had found
this world's enjoyments unable to procure. This letter is an answer to one from the partner of this pious woman.
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Lord Byron observes: "Her last moments were particularly striking; and I do not know that in the
course of reading the story of mankind, and still less in my observations upon the existing portion, I ever met
with any thing so unostentatiously beautiful. Indisputably, the firm believers in the Gospel have a great
advantage over all others - for this simple reason, that if true, they will have their reward hereafter; and if
there be no hereafter, they can be but with the infidel in his eternal sleep, having had the assistance of an excellent
hope through life, without subsequent disappointment. - Your brief and simple picture of the life
and demeanour of the excellent person, whom I trust that you will again meet, cannot be contemplated without
the admiration due to her virtues, and her pure and unpretending piety."
Some persons may be predetermined to cavil and say, why introduce the name of that infidel with
that of the pious Livingston? There is no parallel, nor resemblance in their characters: let us inquire a
little into a plain matter of fact, and see how far it will bear us out. The pious Livingston had a strong
lucid mind, was a lawyer, and every body knows their general character respecting religion. He was converted
by the mild accents of the Gospel, through the instrumentality of that good man, the Reverend
Dr. Laidley. Lord Byron was a poet of wonderful discriminating powers of mind: we do not know that
he was converted, but we can duly appreciate the effects that the fervent prayers of this pious woman
had on that gigantic mind, as expressed in his own words. Here is another evidence in favour of revealed
religion.
Those who have been well acquainted with the
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